Secrets to a healthy life from the 5 longest-lived regions in the world

Women in Okinawa, Japan, rarely get breast cancer thanks to fermented soybeans. Icarians, Greece, don’t go insane because they eat olive oil. And Sardinians, who love wine, rarely get heart disease.

Dubbed as “green spots”, the regions of Sardinia (Italy), Okinawa (Japan), Loma Linda (USA), Nicola Peninsula (Costa Rica) and Icaria (Greece) not only top the world in terms of life expectancy but also have low risks of cancer, heart disease, dementia and many other problems. Below are the secrets to a long and healthy life in these 5 regions listed by News.

Sardinia, Italy

As the second largest island in the Mediterranean, Sardinia is isolated both geographically and culturally. However, the rate of residents living to 100 years old is 10 times higher than the average in Western countries.

Today, Sardinians still maintain a traditional lifestyle, valuing family, fishing, and growing food sources such as whole grains and vegetables. They mainly eat plants to supplement fiber and antioxidants and drink goat and sheep milk to control cholesterol levels.

Sardinians also drink tea made from milk thistle, which is known for its powerful anti-inflammatory properties. They also love wine, which is rich in antioxidants, so they rarely suffer from heart disease.

Okinawa (Japan)

Tofu is an indispensable dish on the Okinawan dining table. Photo: Hideki Ueha.

Rates of cancer, dementia and heart disease are very low in the islands of Okinawa, the southernmost prefecture of Japan. Okinawan women are also the longest-lived women in the world. The reason is that they eat a lot of vegetables and fruits, especially sweet potatoes and tofu, which are low in calories and rich in antioxidants. Fermented soy products also help significantly reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Loma Linda (USA)

Loma Linda is home to a large number of vegetarians, who rely heavily on nuts, vegetables and whole grains for their diets. Research shows that eating lentils or chickpeas three to four times a week can reduce the risk of colon cancer by 30%. In addition, Loma Linda residents avoid alcohol, drink plenty of water, exercise regularly and eat light dinners.

Nicoya Peninsula (Costa Rica)

Compared to the rest of Costa Rica, people in the Nicoya Peninsula are much more likely to reach 100. They consume little or no processed foods and focus on calcium and magnesium supplements to strengthen bones. Sunlight, tropical foods including fish, fruits and vegetables are also essential.

Abundant fruit resources in Nicoya Peninsula. Photo: News.

Overall, scientists believe that a low-calorie diet combined with an active lifestyle and abundant sunlight is the reason why people in Nicoya Peninsula live both long and healthy lives.

Icaria (Greece)

Icarians eat a lot of fruits, vegetables and olive oil.

This Greek island of 8,000 inhabitants has no cases of dementia or chronic diseases. Thanks to its abundant fresh food resources, Icarians eat a lot of fruits, vegetables and olive oil. They absorb fat from milk and meat. In addition, Icarians often drink herbal tea, fast religiously, are sociable, take regular naps and rarely refuse a glass of wine.

According to VNE