why is nicoya, costa rica a blue zone

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. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. They have been able to exceed their life expectancy and serve as an example for the entire world. Hi, my name is Mike Gillespie & I'm fundraising to help support the Blue Zone communities in Nicoya Costa Rica. Black beans contain high doses of antioxidants and they are eaten for almost every meal among Nicoyans (and most Costa Ricans). Here are some of the factors that make Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula a blue zone worth visiting. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. All of our step by step Costa Rica planning tips in one spot. Its difficult to maintain family bonds and friendships when school and work take us far from home, into strange communities. Blue Zones: Lessons For Living Longer From The People Whove Lived The Longest. 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. It is also one of the world's Blue Zones. San Jose, Costa Rica 10104. Beyond this context, however, the health authorities are taking measures to help Costa Ricans reach over 80 years of age in good health. Full of natural beauty, endless sunlight, white beaches and radiant ocean, Nicoya reigns as one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica. There are five areas of the world that meet the qualifications of Blue Zone as defined by Buettner. 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. These cantons are: Carillo, Hojancha, Nicoya, Santa Cruz, and Nandoyure. 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". About two hours down the coast from Tamarindo is Nosara, Nicoyas yoga center (the Nosara Yoga Institute here offers teacher training). It is a template outlining the lifestyles of people who live in places like Nicoya, Costa Rica. While Nicoyans start their day by eating a healthy breakfast, their diet is not the only secret to living long lives. Nicoya is located on the Guanacaste peninsula in Costa Rica, and is considered one of the 7 blue zones found worldwide. We know that the diet here is different than that of the rest of the country, and that the character of the people here is unique in the world. The world has a number of Blue Zones, areas where the locals live healthier and longer lives. Physical activity, diet, good mineral-rich water, friends, a satisfying job, eating light in the evening, and a "plan de vida" are the other aspects. Moderate alcohol intake, especially wine. Staples of the traditional Nicoya diet include homemade corn tortillas, black beans, white rice, a variety of squash, yams, papaya, bananas, and pejibayes. Do you ever wish you could know the secrets to a long and happy life? Read more below about the lessons that Nicoya, Costa Rica can teach you about longevity. Nicoyans often live more than 100 years and Nicoya boasts of the highest number of centenarians 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 . It would be hard to imagine two more different places than free-wheeling Costa Rica and legally rigid Singapore, yet both are among the happiest places on earth. The climate in the Blue Zone is very mild, which may help to protect against diseases. Lunch is the main meal in Costa Rica (its better for your digestion to eat a bigger breakfast and lunch and a lighter dinner). 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. The World Meeting of Blue Zones laid the groundwork, in a spirit of s se puede (yes we can), envisioning a blue Costa Rica, following the example of healthy habits set by more than 900 inhabitants aged 90 or older, and the centenarians of Nicoya Peninsula. Barrio La California, Successful centenarians have a strong sense of purpose. There are five regions around the world called the Blue Zones: Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece, and Loma Linda, California. Inadequate calcium means weak muscles -- including the heart. Would you like to visit the Nicoya Peninsula? By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The distinguished list included pioneering researchers on this subject: Michel Poulain of Belgium, Dr. Gianni Mario Pes and Paolo Francalacci from Sardinia, Italy, Christina Chrysochoou from Icaria, Greece, Makoto Suzuki from Okinawa, Japan, Gina Siapco from Loma Linda, USA, and Diego Bernardini from Argentina. There are other blue zones in California, Italy, Greece, and Japan. To understand some of the reasons why Blue-Zoners live healthier, longer lives, let's take another look at Ricardo's daily routine. While we may not increase the average life expectancy throughout the world we can use Nicoya as a template for healthier living. Why Nicoya is Considered One of the Anti-Aging Zones in the World Few really know what aging is and how it can be controlled, here experts from Costa Rica and around the world talk about it and define the Nicoya Peninsula as one of those with the most long-lived people. Or, get your zen on at La Senda, the wellness center on a 74-acre forested property near Tamarindo. Nicoya has an abundance of accommodation options but these selections should help your Blue Zone focus whether its healthy food, yoga, spa, surfing, and hiking, connecting with family, or getting a sense of purpose by helping protect Nicoyas wildlife and their habitat. Montezuma: Best Hotels in Costa Rica. 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. Hi! Ministry of Health data indicate that life expectancy is nearly 80 years, which is the highest in Central America, according to the World Bank. Many Nicoyans choose to walk from one destination to another instead of driving. 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. In the interior, the town of Nicoya is one of Costa Ricas oldest and also has one of the countrys oldest churches the Parroquia San Blas, first built in 1544. Though Costa Rica has just 0.03 percent of the planets surface, it has almost six percent of the worlds biodiversity and you might see (or hear!) Speaking of work, finding work/life balance is a constant challenge for many. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. While starting the day off with rice and beans may not be an ideal breakfast for most people, the key to a healthy breakfast is one rich with protein, complex carbs, and antioxidants (minus the preservatives). If coming from San Jose, the easiest way to get to the Nicoya Peninsula is to take the ferry from Puntarenas. A "Blue Zone" is a region of the world where people commonly live past the age of 100 years.In "Blue Zone Nicoya Peninsula", residents live even longer than those in other areas of Costa Rica. Wellness enthusiasts will delight in the abundance of nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables. My Nicoya Peninsula Blue Zone Retreat. Feel free to leave them in the comment section below. It is not unusual for many generations to live on one property or in very close proximity to each other. Blue zones are regions where some of the oldest and healthiest people live. Buettner had spent several years before penning the article leading expeditions including tracing Darwin's route in the Galapagos and Marco Polo's trip along the Silk Road. For those who want to explore the peninsula at their own pace, renting a car might be best (you can use your home countrys drivers license for a maximum of three months). 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. Still planning? 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. Blue Zones Nicoya desarrolla alimentos, bebidas y suplementos inspirados en los centenarios de la. You can hike along trails, go horseback riding, kayak through the mangroves, and swim off the beach. 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. Community. 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." 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. The proper mindset about longevity is not about aspiring to live to a very old age, but to enjoy the best quality of life possible during the last ten years we live, says Alvaro Cedeno-Molinari, a former Costa Rican diplomat and ambassador who works intensely promoting bioliteracy, regeneration, and well-being as holistic healthy mindsets. Costa Rica is known for its pura vida lifestyle and attitude. Your email address will not be published. Results were also shared from the research carried out by the demographer Luis Rosero and Dr. Elizabeth Lopez, both from Costa Rica, who made significant contributions on the subject of healthy longevity. Let's start with our home - the Nicoya Peninsula.This tropical region in the north west of Costa Rica, has the world's lowest rate of middle-aged mortality, and the second highest amount of men over 100 years of age. Dan discovered five places where residents have low rates of chronic disease and live longer than anywhere else. These include Nicoya, Costa Rica; Loma Linda, California; Ikaria, Greece . These cookies do not store any personal information. The Nicoya Peninsula has five cantons where middle-age morality is lowest and centenarians are the most abundant. We're going to focus on the last one, mostly because it hits close to home. If you want to really embrace the Nicoya Peninsula blue zone vibe, head to any small village in the area. By Ty and Charlene Bollinger. Many of us in Western countries know we need to eat less junk and add more natural food to our diets. mobile app. Throughout Costa Rica, youll find vegetarian gallo pinto (rice and beans) served at breakfast, lunch, and dinner the name means spotted rooster because the black beans dot the rice. The Nicoya Peninsula has several on offer, including near Tamarindo, outside the Cabo Blanco Reserve near Playa Mal Pais, and above the Montezuma waterfall. It includes the five cantons of the Nicoya Peninsula: Hojancha, Nandayure, Carrillo, Santa Cruz and Nicoya. This is a BETA experience. They typically do not consume a lot of meat. 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. Lets explore the Blue Zone in Nicoya, Costa Rica and what the Nicoyan lifestyle can teach us about humanity and what we could do better in the future. The Nicoya Peninsula is in many ways isolated from the rest of Costa Rica due to geography. There are common factors that exist in these populations, such as good physical and mental health, a healthy traditional diet, respect for the family, deep faith, constant mobility, and a purpose in life. Nicoya, Costa Rica - And then there's Nicoya, where Ricardo and his family live, a notable exception to the rule that people in developing countries have shorter life spans than those in developed ones. Dubbed "blue zones," residents of these areas share a common environment and lifestyle that . . It's also an area identified as a "Blue Zone . Sign up for theBLUE ZONES free weekly email where webring youexclusive interviews, cutting edge longevity news, and fresh tips for living longer, better. 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. So, having extra-hard water may help keep Nicoyans' hearts strong, and longer. Demographers have identified the area, located on Costa Rica's northern Pacific coast, as a Blue Zone or "longevity hot spot," typified by a higher-than-normal number of people living past the age of one hundred. Do you have any questions about the Costa Rica Blue Zone? 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. A "Blue Zone" is an area of the world where it is typical for people to live past 100 years old. He then had the idea to research areas in the world with the longest lifespan. This information has been translated into lessons that can be implemented into your everyday life. 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. Guest Writer for Wake Up World. One of the world's Blue Zones is in Nicoya, Costa Rica. El propsito de la compaa es promover y crear conciencia sobre el consumo de productos de alta calidad, con valor nutricional y . "This meeting commits us to preserve this Blue Zone, but most importantly, it should have a multiplier effect and serve as an example for the other cantons of the country" said Ana Monge, Commissioner of the Presidential Social Council of the Government of Costa Rica. However, both towns have a more touristy vibe to them. The Nicoya Peninsula Blue Zone, in addition to aligning with our Wellness Pura Vida strategy, are important as a driver of wellness tourism throughout the country, highlighting the importance of creating authentic travel experiences. Most residents here live to be over the age of 90 and there's a high number of centenarians as well. It definitely runs contrary to what was written up about the Nicoya people in "The Blue Zones." In that book, their diet was characterized as primarily vegetarian. Imagine yourself in a future not-so-distant, where more conscious lifestyle decisions you make at an individual level, are supported by a branch of medicine that attempts to change the course of diseases and regenerates failing parts of our bodies. The world has 5 recognized Blue Zones (as determined by the authority of National Geographic ). I have been exploring the data reported by National Geographic and Dan Buettner in the Blue Zones Solution: . 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. In one of Buettner's most recent visits to Costa Rica, he defined Blue Zones as "a kind of lifestyle and environment that creates longevity. These commitments also included mechanisms to develop best practices in health promotion in the "five blue cantons" of the Peninsula, strengthening support networks, and incentivizing the recuperation of life lessons and traditions.

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