It is not unusual for several generations to gather on a regular basis for lively gatherings. The gateway to the Nicoya Peninsula is the beach town of Tamarindo on the west coast, which is very popular with international travelers. The Adventists are praying. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Jorge Vindas, Costa Ricas Blue Zone expert, says that its a combination of good genes, healthy food and water, regular low-intensity exercise, few vices, a strong connection to family, putting importance on religion or spirituality, and having a sense of purpose. You can design your own holistic retreat too, choosing from a Kirtan sound bath, detox program, cacao ceremony, blue clay treatment, drum circles, and more. Nicoya was introduced as a Blue Zone in a 2004 National Geographic article by Dan Buettner. For many the hope is that the lessons that these centenarians can teach us and the secrets of well-being and longevity that live in this extraordinary part of the world, will be able benefit all of humanity in the future. Of course, there is still a desire for success (especially in the cities) but in general, the priorities are shifted. Were Thomas (the German) and Sarah (the US-er). The sustainable and equitable promotion of the long-living population of seniors and the establishment of a cultural agenda aimed at strengthening sustainable, rural, community tourism stood out among the commitments made. This calcium leads to stronger bones and the ability to stay physically active at a later age. The reason why they are called "blue zones" is a curious story He then went on release a book The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who Have Lived the Longest in 2008. We must make the health of future generations our responsibility by implementing the lifestyles of the Blue Zones people now. The forest here is more tropical than further north and is home to deer, pacas, monkeys, armadillos, laughing gulls, pelicans, frigates, and brown boobies. Contents1 Is Costa Rica considered [] It includes black beans, cooked plantains, fresh papaya, yams, squash, homemade corn tortillas, and fish (if near the coast). They include good physical and mental health, upholding a traditional diet, a deep faith and spirituality, support and respect to family networks that go across generations, where grandchildren spend time with their grandparents and share in their knowledge, physical activity and constant mobility, and a purpose in life associated with spirituality. March 2nd, 2023. Everywhere you go in Costa Rica, youll hear pura vida! and soon feel the freedom to adopt the pura vida lifestyle yourself. Try spending quality times with your loved ones. Lane reported isolation, alienation, and high rates of depression in Chicagos poorest neighborhoods as some of the reasons behind the high rates of COVID cases. However, both towns have a more touristy vibe to them. It's also one of the happiest places in Central America: Costa Ricans report a high level of life satisfaction and the country has the highest literacy rate in Latin America. We can no longer afford to allow the COVID pandemic to cause us to live in or out of a place of fear. Ministry of Health data indicate that life expectancy is nearly 80 years, which is the highest in Central America, according to the World Bank. Another option is to take the 75-minute ferry across the Gulf of Nicoya from Puntarenas to Paquera. seen in blue zones. Nicoya, Costa Rica: A Puzzling Blue Zone Diet Light on Vegetables and High in Carbohydrate and Sugar. Guevara lives in the Nicoya peninsula of Costa Rica. The most popular towns to visit here are Montezuma and Santa Teresa. Wildlife is abundant. We have obtained information from Nicoya, Costa Rica on ways to live longer and be happier. Dan discovered five places where residents have low rates of chronic disease and live longer than anywhere else. Are We Headed To A World In Which We Own Nothing? By encouraging Nicoyans belief community and sense of purpose through work, family, or nature, cities could help their poorest thrive. Montezuma is great for long beach walks and jungle hikes. You can hike along trails, go horseback riding, kayak through the mangroves, and swim off the beach. Look for howler and capuchin monkeys, parrots and parakeets, and bigger birds like herons and hawks. Nicoya, Costa Rica. Costa Rica is generally a healthy country because its government decided that education, healthcare, and protecting the environment are more important than funding its armed forces and it abolished its army in 1948. 11 talking about this. Despite that, the area has many of the same ideals that the rest of Costa Ricans have. Blue Zone is a term created by author Dan Buettner, building off of research by demographers Michel Poulain, Ph.D., and Giovanni Pes, Ph.D. I mean, how can you not be happy when the average daily temperature is 85 degrees fahrenheit, you can easily get to the beach or jungle, and youre surrounded by an abundance of nature and wildlife? These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The surroundings dictate ways of operating, not personal decisions. Changing the American diet and culture around the food we eat can help save lives. Check out all of our favorite travel companies. Add the red onions, sliced radishes, tomatoes, orange supremes, cilantro and 3 tablespoons oil to the cabbage. Its difficult to maintain family bonds and friendships when school and work take us far from home, into strange communities. I had visited the famous Costa Rica "must-see" spots - Arenal, Manuel Antonio, the cloud forest, the Osa Peninsula - some of them a few times. Also, calcium is important for bones. Directions: Toss the cabbage with the orange juice, season with salt and pepper and let sit 30 minutes. There are many factors that go into the long life of Nicoyans, and some of them will be impossible for you to replicate (unless you plan to move to an area of the world where the sun is always shining, the nature is amazing, and then you also need to bring all of your family with you). There are four similar places on earth: Costa Ricas Nicoya Peninsula, Okinawa in Japan, the Greek island of Ikaria, as well as Loma Linda in California (though that one might just be due to its large population of Seventh-day Adventists and their healthy lifestyle). Also, the environment just exudes joy. Poor communities are notorious for living in food deserts. Personally, I find that a combination of a healthy diet, exercise, and social contact all help lower my stress; which is crucial in a long life span. Predominantly catering to families, this 402-room property has four restaurants, including for surf and turf and Japanese, two pools, a nightclub, and a 200-seat amphitheater. Along with starting every morning with a healthy breakfast, Nicoyans also eat nutritious food throughout the day. That's why this part of Costa Rica is designated a Blue Zone, the term used for just five areas of the world where people live extraordinarily long and vibrant lives. In mid-November 2017, the first World Meeting of Blue Zones was held. Nicoyan water has the countrys highest calcium content, perhaps explaining the lower rates of heart disease, as well as stronger bones and fewer hip fractures. The daily breakfast consists of gallo pinto (rice and beans) with a basket of homemade corn tortillas and hot coffee. According to researchers, most inhabitants live to at least the age of 90.. The international attendees also included Dan Buettner, a reporter and researcher for National Geographic, who has been responsible for popularizing the concept of Blue Zones through the publication of various articles and best-selling books that explore the direct connection between this issue and diet, spirituality, purpose in life and physical exercise, with happiness as a cross-cutting element. Eating fewer calories appears to be one of the surest ways to add years to your life. Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula joins Sardinia, Italy, Okinawa, Japan, Lima Linda, California, and Icaria, Greece as one of the world's five blue zones. It remains to be seen if the COVID pandemic will affect that average. By Ty and Charlene Bollinger. Famous for its gorgeous Pacific Coast beaches and well known for its surfing, wellness, yoga, and vibrant sunsets, the Nicoya peninsula is a paradise for the mind, body, and soul. Nicoyans regularly take in the sunshine, which helps their bodies produce vitamin D for strong bones and healthy body function. Meanwhile, last year the average individual from the United States ate 222.2 pounds of meat and poultry. A "Blue Zone" is an area of the world where it is typical for people to live past 100 years old. They also practice good physical and mental health. By comparison, a person in the United States can reasonably expect to live to just 77, according to federal census data. Youre sure to be on the path to a long and healthy life after the four-handed Abundance Treatment, which combines Reiki, Shiatsu, Swedish massage, sound and aromatherapy, and acupressure. According to researchers, most inhabitants live to at least the age of 90. Pura vida means pure or simple life and Costa Ricas Nicoya Peninsula has what you could call extreme pura vida. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. I will be visiting Costa Rica next week to meet with Jorge who founded a local organization that helps the small Blue Zone villages. Now, visiting Nicoya doesnt mean youll automatically live to 100, but a trip there is likely to put you on the path to pure life thanks to its natural environment and abundance of healthy activities. The town of Nosara, located in the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica, is a surfing and wellness hot spot located in one of the five "blue zones" in the world. If youre eating a standard American diet, its probably shaving about six to 10 years off of your life expectancy, Buettner says. Nicoyans attribute much of their longevity to social values of faith and family. The Nicoya Peninsula, in Costa Rica, is one of them, . Try opting to walk places instead of driving. Its about 75 miles long and 35 miles wide, with the northern section a part of Guanacaste province and the southern section in Puntarenas province. For Priscila Chaves, a Costa Rican social tech-entrepreneur and ethics thought leader, the question that still stands is, how can we translate these apparent otherworldly effects, to the rest of us? Each region has its own diet, types of exercise, and community structure, but each has specific elements in common - all starting with a sense of purpose. Blue Zones Nicoya desarrolla alimentos, bebidas y suplementos inspirados en los centenarios de la. The world has a number of Blue Zones, areas where the locals live healthier and longer lives. The people of Nicoya value their families a lot, and you can often see them joking with their neighbors, working hard for long hours, and enjoying the sunshine. Get your fill of fresh fruits like pineapple, mango, papaya, banana, and passionfruit and vegetables and legumes like squash, cassava, plantain, yam, and beans. These include Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Loma Linda, California; Ikaria, Greece, and you guessed it; Nicoya, Costa Rica. Although the Blue Zone Project isnt all about diet, and its certainly about more than food for the people of Nicoya it is a big difference from the typical American diet (no matter what type of community). So why is it that the people of Nicoya outlive so many others? Blessed with sandy beaches and tropical forest, it's something of a backpackers' paradise. I have been exploring the data reported by National Geographic and Dan Buettner in the Blue Zones Solution: . It was a spontaneous decision to move here, but it was the best decision! We know we should include exercise into all parts of our lives (not just an hour at the gym). "Looking beyond Costa Ricas Blue Zone in Nicoya, elements that make our population stand out and that describe our focus on well-being can be found in every corner of our territory. This is due to key decisions the country has taken through its history that have positively affected its performance in social progress, environment, society and overall peace indicators, explains Daniel Valverde, Essential Costa Rica country brand director. Healthy and supportive relationships with friends and family are another one of their keys to longevity. While the Blue Zones project Lane discusses isnt a cure for COVID-19, the principals lived by the people in those zones could increase the chance of livelihood for people of other cultures. Longevity then would not be a luxury only reserved for a few living in Blue Zones, but a reality for billions.. Nicoya is famous for being a marvelous playground for surfers all over the world. Thomas Ramsauer / Shutterstock. That means family ties are the backbone for most peoples existence. Where are the world's Blue Zones located? This Central American nation isnt that far from the U.S. geographically, but it is way ahead of us in longevity. Every day, most people eat a breakfast of black beans and rice (called gallo pinto), eggs, fresh corn tortillas (with batter soaked in lime juice), with a cup of coffee. In the southern part of the peninsula, Santa Teresa is a popular surf area that sprawls for miles along the coast. Drain and pat the onions dry with paper towel. Check out all of our favorite travel companies. The beautiful view of the beaches may also have a hand in this. Every morning, at dawn, before the men of Nicoya ride their horses through the mountains of the Costa Rican peninsula, they eat a healthy breakfast. Some sea turtles have even lived to age 150. Nicoyans often live more than 100 years and Nicoya boasts of the highest number of centenarians in the world. Because of this, they enjoy extremely low rates of heart disease. howler and white face monkeys, red variegated squirrels, sloths, anteaters, raccoon-like coatis, butterflies, plus some 900 bird species including the fiery-billed aracari toucan and the rufous-tailed hummingbird. Nicoyan centenarians frequently visit with neighbors, and they tend to live with families and children or grandchildren who provide support, as well as a sense of purpose. For example, we know that Nicoya is the driest part of Costa Rica, that it used to be part of Nicaragua, and that more Indians intermarried with the Spanish who began settling here in 1510. Protein helps to rebuild and repair tissue, as well as it helps a person to feel full. I'm a Chief Metaverse Officer and a web3 luxury and fashion innovator. I suggest visiting Cabuya (a small town between Montezuma and Santa Teresa) or San Francisco de Coyote (a remote beach town). For just over 15 years he has been monitoring and accompanying the long-lived people that . Lane reasons why Chicago should use the Blue Zones template to improve the lives of people who live there. This information is complemented by studies carried out by Costa Rican demographer Dr. Luis Rosero Bixby, which show that the mortality of inhabitants of the Nicoya Peninsula aged 90 is 10% lower than for Costa Ricans of the same age elsewhere in the country. The 9 Secrets Boosting a Long Life in Nicoya, Costa Rica: They have a strong sense of purpose No matter how old they are, Nicoyans have a strong sense of purpose, a reason to live longer. Nicoyans eat a light dinner early in the evening. Located in northwestern Costa Rica, near the border with Nicaragua, Playas del Coco which is more commonly called Cocois a beach town, popular with both expats and Costa Ricans. The chance to do yoga in an open-air pavilion on the beach is not to be missed! This provides the nutrition they need to work hard during the day. But we must also consider the impact of our individual health and lifestyle choices on future generations. Many Nicoyans choose to walk from one destination to another instead of driving. This treasure includes the atmosphere around you." They first noticed that people in several villages on the Italian island of Sardinia were living well into their 90s and 100s and that they had few significant mental or physical health problems. Warm, Sunny Climate. But the simplest truth is that what one needs is to sleep eight hours every night, eat a nutritious, plant-based diet during a six-hour period to give your pancreas an 18-hour break until your next meal, and be at peace with everything and everyone all of the time, he adds. All of our step by step Costa Rica planning tips in one spot. You may opt-out by. As indicated by the World Health Organization, "active or positive aging is the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation and security in order to enhance quality of life as people age". Reporter Dan Buettner closed by saying "it is a great honor to see the results of the idea of researching the issue of longevity that emerged fifteen years ago is coming to fruition in the meeting of the major scientific researchers on the subject of Blue Zones." Fish is a lean protein and provides oils which help with overall brain function. The heart is a muscle, and all muscle contractions depend on calcium. Ed #2798 Oficina #8 Located on the Guanacaste Peninsula in northwestern Costa Rica, Nicoya is a rural, beachside, blue-zone community. Would you like to visit the Nicoya Peninsula? What they generally don't know, however, is that a part of Costa Rica tourists rarely visit (the rural Nicoya Peninsula towns of Nicoya, Santa Cruz and environs) contains the largest. A nine-hole golf course is a mile away. If coming from San Jose, the easiest way to get to the Nicoya Peninsula is to take the ferry from Puntarenas. Dubbed "blue zones," residents of these areas share a common environment and lifestyle that . Gone are the days of making your own food and growing organic produce. In the future, when we do emerge from the current pandemic, many cities and companies will revisit well-being as a main topic for their citizens and employees. He worked with several notable anthropolgists, dieticians, historians, and geneticists to identify and further understand what contributes to a long lifespan. The most southerly point is Cabo Blanco Reserve and the south coast also has the town of Tambor. When that day comes, Nicoyas Blue Zone will continue to be an example of the resiliency of the human body and spirit. Nicoyas interior where most of the centenarians and almost-centenarians live and northeastern coast are less visited by tourists but still have much to offer. Soltara Healing Center is located on the calm and pristine Gulf of Nicoya in the mountainous jungle of Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula. Meat, fish, and poultry only make up 5% of the usual diet. Dinner is typically a light meal, consumed early in the evening which allows plenty of time for digestion before bed. Water sports are on offer pretty much everywhere along Nicoyas coast, whether you prefer surfing, kayaking, standup paddleboarding, snorkeling, scuba diving, or just checking out whats happening in the tide pools. It's a question that inhabitants of Guanacaste are happy to be asking themselves, since it's a true pride for the province's population to be home to one of the five such zones that exist worldwide. According to Buettner's studies, the Nicoya Peninsula has the world's lowest rates of middle-age mortality and the second highest convergence of male centenarians. It is not unusual for many generations to live on one property or in very close proximity to each other. Book a transfer from your hotel, opt for a shuttle or public bus, or take a domestic flight to one of the peninsulas larger towns. Do you have any questions about the Costa Rica Blue Zone? My fourth investigation into exactly what our Blue Zone folks eat has left this dietitian, well, intrigued. Join 19k+ in receiving Expert travel advice, news & promotions! This has paid off, with Costa Rica frequently scoring high in world happiness and environmental rankings. Nicoyan centenarians tend to live with their families, and children or grandchildren provide support and a sense of purpose and belonging. In an article in the Chicagoan, Marc J. Almost 40 percent of the residents of the Nicoya Peninsula (about 5,000 of the population of 132,000) are over the age of 75, more than 900 are over the age of 90, and many are over 100. Pablo Jenkins, a regenerative investor and futurist explains that it is a great time to take on that wisdom from the local ancestors and combine it with new regenerative ways of living. You can drive to Tamarindo in about 80 minutes from the Liberia airport (its about four hours from Costa Ricas other main airport in the capital, San Jos). Enjoying good health conditions shouldn't depend on economic or technological factors, but rather on protective factors that are evident and proven in the region. It consists of 100 recipes with ingredients used by those who live in Nicoya, Costa Rica and the other four Blue Zones. The Nicoya Peninsula has several on offer, including near Tamarindo, outside the Cabo Blanco Reserve near Playa Mal Pais, and above the Montezuma waterfall. These places are full of one-hundred-year-olds who have reached such like live wires, not in bed or in hospital. He added that "we must somehow emulate, duplicate or copy the lifestyle of centenarians, and their way of living, but above all, their environment, diet, activity; above all, the connections they make, human connections, not technological ones. The Caribbean nation is economically secure and has excellent health care. The Nicoya Peninsula is in many ways isolated from the rest of Costa Rica due to geography. So, what's the secret behind our region's long life? The term "Blue Zone" was first used in a 2005 National Geographic cover story entitled "The Secret of Long Life" written by a man named Dan Buettner. There are 5 Blue Zones around the world, one of which is located on the Nicoya Peninsula; the others on the list are Sardinia in Italy, Okinawa in Japan, Loma Linda in the United States, and Icaria, in Greece. Due to the Nicoya Peninsula's location in Central America, the area has an abundance of warm days with tons of sunlight. Costa Rica is home to one of the five original blue zones regions, the Nicoya peninsula, with a high number of centenarians in excellent health. Residents of this 80-mile peninsula found south of the Nicaraguan border have the world's lowest middle-age mortality rates, and the second highest number of male centenarians in the world. It requires descending 17 yards down a ladder to see cave formations that resemble fried eggs, popcorn, roses, and shark teeth. In other words, Nicoyans receive a healthy dose of vitamins in their daily diet. However you may visit Cookie Settings to provide a controlled consent. mobile app. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. It is a template outlining the lifestyles of people who live in places like Nicoya, Costa Rica. People who have diabetes, heart conditions, or are overweight tend to have a more difficult time if they are infected by COVID-19. La Senda has a 2.5-acre labyrinth with a two-mile-long path (said to be the biggest in the world) as well as horseback riding. When on vacation in Costa Rica, its also easy to pick up Blue Zone habits like getting regular outdoor exercise and a good nights sleep (though be sure to go to bed early if you want to do your sun salutations at actual sunrise). Nicoyan centenarians get frequent visits from neighbors. Adapting our lifestyles wherever we live to healthier practices such as intermittent fasting, walkability, exploring plant-based gastronomy, and low glycemic index food intake sound like your everyday doctors recipe for a healthy life, says Cedeno-Molinari. The term 'Blue Zone' was coined by Dan Buettner, a New York Times bestselling author, who was studying areas to some of the oldest people in the world. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with a host of problems, such as osteoporosis and heart disease, but regular, smart sun exposure (about 15 minutes on the legs and arms) can help supplement your diet and make sure youre getting enough of this vital nutrient. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Costa Rica is generally a healthy country because its government decided that education, healthcare, and protecting the environment are more important than funding its armed forces and it abolished its army in 1948. We're going to focus on the last one, mostly because it hits close to home. It includes the five cantons of the Nicoya Peninsula: Hojancha, Nandayure, Carrillo, Santa Cruz and Nicoya. Several of Nicoyas beaches like those in the Ostional National Wildlife Reserve are nesting grounds for Kemps Ridley, green, and leatherback turtles.