By comparison, a person in the United States can reasonably expect to live to just 77, according to federal census data. Stir in two chopped plum tomatoes, half of a finely chopped onion and one . You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Many of us in Western countries know we need to eat less junk and add more natural food to our diets. For just over 15 years he has been monitoring and accompanying the long-lived people that . Learn more about typical diet with our Guide to Costa Rican Food. Its one of our favorite places in Costa Rica and most likely where we would move if we ever moved to the beach. This has paid off, with Costa Rica frequently scoring high in world happiness and environmental rankings. Nicoya. Loma Linda, California. 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. Your email address will not be published. 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. Centenarians seem to have enjoyed physical work of all their lives. Try opting to walk places instead of driving. The Nicoya Peninsula is on Costa Ricas north Pacific coast. 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. Nicoya is located far off in Northeastern Costa Rica. Its name is due to the tribe that reigned prior to the arrival of the Spanish in 1520, it is said to come from the Nahuatlas words Nica, Necoclau or Necocyanh, which means surrounded by water. These cookies do not store any personal information. The most popular towns to visit here are Montezuma and Santa Teresa. That means family ties are the backbone for most peoples existence. Are We Headed To A World In Which We Own Nothing? It remains to be seen if the COVID pandemic will affect that average. Nicoya, Costa Rica is one of those unique locations where lifestyle, diet, and low stress have dramatically bettered the lives of Ticos and expats alike. Come to Nicoya, Costa Rica, One of the World's Five 'Blue Zones' The Nicoya Peninsula has a high concentration of people over 100 years old and a low incidence of health problems like cancer or heart disease. 11 talking about this. These include Nicoya, Costa Rica; Loma Linda, California; Ikaria, Greece . Living Hotel partners with the Spacio spa, a five-minute walk away, which has several treatments geared to surfers. Ministry of Health data indicate that life expectancy is nearly 80 years, which is the highest in Central America, according to the World Bank. Moderate alcohol intake, especially wine. Costa Ricans called Ticos say pura vida instead of hello, how are you, fine, thanks, and see you later and youll quickly find yourself saying it too. Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica: Researchers found that the probability of becoming a centenarian for a 60-year-old man residing in Nicoya is 4.8%, which was even more than double that of Okinawa, the second highest in the comparison, and it was almost seven times that of Sardinia and Japan (6). When that day comes, Nicoyas Blue Zone will continue to be an example of the resiliency of the human body and spirit. 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. Going down the west coast from Tamarindo youll find several beach towns, most notably yoga center Nosara and surfers paradise Santa Teresa. They feel needed and want to contribute to a greater good. He worked with several notable anthropolgists, dieticians, historians, and geneticists to identify and further understand what contributes to a long lifespan. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. This Central American nation isn't that far from the U.S. geographically, but it is way ahead of us in longevity. He has written numerous books on the topic, but I suggest starting with: Blue Zones of Happiness and The Blue Zones Kitchen (a cookbook). The peninsula is one of the worlds five Blue Zones where many people live exceptionally long and healthy lives. 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. They are places where people get around by walking more than by car, they eat more plants than meat, and a diet that includes beans or grains such as corn, where the family is their number one purpose. Contents1 Is Costa Rica considered [] In other words, it lives longer than the average global life expectancy. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. San Jose, Costa Rica 10104. Nicoyan centenarians get frequent visits from neighbors. The reason why they are called "blue zones" is a curious story Lane reasons why Chicago should use the Blue Zones template to improve the lives of people who live there. 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. For one, Costa Rica is a small country and most people never move away from the area they were born in. The volcanic beach has calm swimming in Bahia Ballena (despite the name, whales are no longer frequent visitors), and theres birdwatching and hiking along the Rio Panica. 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". Some of the roads in Nicoyas interior and south arent paved, so the deeper you go into the peninsula the more you may prefer to fly (for example, its a 20-minute flight from San Jos to the tiny Tambor airport in the south). In Nicoya, Costa Rica, where average incomes are among the nation's lowest, the average lifespan is 85 among the world's highest. Costa Rica is known for its pura vida lifestyle and attitude. Would you like to visit the Nicoya Peninsula? Thanks to the peninsula's reputation as one of these Blue Zones, Nicoya has become a haven for digital detox. Of course, there is still a desire for success (especially in the cities) but in general, the priorities are shifted. Join 19k+ in receiving Expert travel advice, news & promotions! Certain common characteristics were also established in order to determine whether additional Blue Zones could be added in the near future. 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. Modern Nicoyans roots to the indigenous Chorotega and their traditions have enabled them to remain relatively free of stress. Protein helps to rebuild and repair tissue, as well as it helps a person to feel full. It includes the five cantons of the Nicoya Peninsula: Hojancha, Nandayure, Carrillo, Santa Cruz and Nicoya. According to researchers, most inhabitants live to at least the age of 90.. 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. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. It is not unusual for many generations to live on one property or in very close proximity to each other. But other factors are at play, especially in Nicoya, an 80-mile peninsula just south of the Nicaraguan border. American researcher, Dan Buettner, discovered that people in these areas shared several lifestyle characteristics: They don't smoke; They eat a plant-based diet For most Americans, an entrance ramp for a new lifestyle change is through their mouth, Buettner says. While walking gives Nicoyans a chance to exercise and get fresh air, it also gives them time to enjoy the natural beauty for which Nicoya is known. O segreto da Zona Azul de Nicoya. Sustainability is said to be a way of life, and Costa Rica has actually reversed deforestation; protects more than a quarter of its landmass via 29 national parks, 19 wildlife refuges, and eight biological reserves; gets 93 percent of its electricity from renewable resources, and aims to be completely decarbonized by 2050. Read more below about the lessons that Nicoya, Costa Rica can teach you about longevity. There will be a lot to learn and a lot to do to get back to a healthier normal. A "Blue Zone" is an area of the world where it is typical for people to live past 100 years old. However, Costa Rica's blue zone is so much more. These cantons are: Carillo, Hojancha, Nicoya, Santa Cruz, and Nandoyure. The world has a number of Blue Zones, areas where the locals live healthier and longer lives. I will be visiting Costa Rica next week to meet with Jorge who founded a local organization that helps the small Blue Zone villages. 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. The climate in the Blue Zone is very mild, which may help to protect against diseases. If you want to get underground, Barra Honda National Park has a system of 42 caves and you can explore Terciopelo Cave on a tour. It is a template outlining the lifestyles of people who live in places like Nicoya, Costa Rica. Join 19k+ subscribers in receiving FREE travel advice, news & promotions! 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. 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. Costa Rica indeed does celebrate its elderly citizens; every person who has a 100 th birthday is . We met in Virginia, moved to Germany, and now live in sunny Costa Rica. Longevity then would not be a luxury only reserved for a few living in Blue Zones, but a reality for billions.. Calles 27 & 29, Ave 2, Ed #2798 Oficina #8 Is the Nicoya Peninsula good for a Wellness getaway? 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. Even in areas like Nicoya, this has been replaced with the ease of processed meals and fast food (although there are very few fast food options in Nicoya in my experience). Getting up in the air on tree canopy tours via ziplines and rope bridges is popular throughout Costa Rica. Here you will find some of the most beautiful beaches and hotels in Costa Rica, along with lush tropical forests perfect for hiking or horseback riding. Inadequate calcium means weak muscles -- including the heart. The Tortuga Islands are offshore and are a frequent destination for snorkeling trips, even from other parts of the peninsula. The Adobe Rent-A-Car discount includes.. DISCOUNTED SMARTPHONE USAGE WITH UNLIMITED DATA. 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. Costa Rica Experts 2023. Over the last several months, the world has mourned the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives. 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. Pura vida means pure or simple life and Costa Ricas Nicoya Peninsula has what you could call extreme pura vida. The occasion was also used to release the most recent study on longevity by the Institute of Social Studies in Population (Instituto de Estudios Sociales en Poblacin, IDESPO) at the National University of Costa Rica. He then went on release a book The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who Have Lived the Longest in 2008. Rooms have a mini fridge and theres a communal kitchen plus bikes to rent. Community. Dan discovered five places where residents have low rates of chronic disease and live longer than anywhere else. In other words, people in these zones to live longer than any other areas in the world. But other factors are at play, especially in Nicoya, an 80-mile peninsula just south of the Nicaraguan border. Eco-tourism is a natural must in this out-of-this-world scenario, where everything that happens is in a quiet, lovely pace. 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. Here are some of the factors that make Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula a blue zone worth visiting. 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. Maintaining close ties with family and friends helps reduce stress. These include Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Loma Linda, California; Ikaria, Greece, and you guessed it; Nicoya, Costa Rica. It is not unusual for several generations to gather on a regular basis for lively gatherings. Tamarindo is also a great place for solo travelers. Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. I have been exploring the data reported by National Geographic and Dan Buettner in the Blue Zones Solution: . "The sense of community, shared purpose and celebration and appreciation for life in all its forms allows for a way of thriving that can even be seen today to have a connection to vitality and mitochondrial health." In the southern part of the peninsula, Santa Teresa is a popular surf area that sprawls for miles along the coast. Tamarindo is the most popular destination for international visitors with its golden beaches, many with consistent and gentle surfing waves, and nearby national parks and wildlife refuges. 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). 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. The world has 5 recognized Blue Zones (as determined by the authority of National Geographic ). It was a spontaneous decision to move here, but it was the best decision! In Nicoya, Costa Rica, where average incomes are among the nation's lowest, the average life span is 85among the world's highest. Who knows, maybe it will change your life! "The five cantons of the peninsula continue to appear with greater longevity and we've confirmed this everywhere we've investigated. Costa Rica is one of the few tropical countries where its safe to drink tap water even for foreigners and theres no need to buy plastic water bottles. We have a full guide to the ferry here. Barrio La California, Throughout the world, the average life expectancy is 71 years of age (70 for males and 72 for females). Without a doubt, this is a challenge for the next generations, in the context of the world's age pyramid turning upside down, with ever more senior citizens. The five known Blue Zones identified in Buettner's book include:. 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. 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. 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. My fourth investigation into exactly what our Blue Zone folks eat has left this dietitian, well, intrigued. These regions are considered Blue Zones. Heres how to plan a trip to the Blue Zone in Costa Rica. For those who might need some meal ideas, Dan Buettner, wrote the Blue Zones Kitchen cookbook. Perhaps youll also figure out your lifes purpose, which studies show contributes to a longer and higher quality life, and make the effort to reconnect with family whether youve brought them with you or will see them again once youre home. This trend has been here for many years, but I was the one to notice this special feature in the data," said Bixby, a pioneer in longevity research. Changing the American diet and culture around the food we eat can help save lives. It was time for me to conquer the Nicoya Peninsula. The gateway to the Nicoya Peninsula is the beach town of Tamarindo on the west coast, which is very popular with international travelers. The Ikarians and the Ikaria is another one of the Blue Zones, and the Costa Ricans, Nicoya, they're taking a nap. 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. 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. "Year after year, our surveys indicate that its the Costa Ricans themselves that set our destination apart, and it's certainly always a marvelous experience to spend time with the older generation. March 2nd, 2023. In other words, Nicoyans receive a healthy dose of vitamins in their daily diet. 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. One Nicoyan, a centenarian, said he knew death would eventually come for him but it is the love for his children that motivates him to keep going every day. Costa Rica Tourism Board, Institutional Site, Costa Rica Convention Center, Promotional Site, Costa Rica Tourism Board | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Site Map. Oftentimes, this helps maintain healthy and supportive relationships within their communities, and develop a strong sense of faith and purpose along the way. They have been able to exceed their life expectancy and serve as an example for the entire world. 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. Possessing the highest density of biodiversity of any country in the world, it is also labeled as one of the 5 "blue zones", a term coined by National Geographic author Dan Buettner, describing places where a high percentage of the population lives active . These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. They are joined by 42 other centenarians in the Nicoya Peninsula, located in the 5 blue cantons: Nicoya, Santa Cruz, Hojancha, Nandayure and Carrillo (according to data from Jorge Vindas, a field researcher for the Nicoya Peninsula Blue Zone Association). First and foremost, the competition to get ahead isnt the same here as it is in some other western countries. Do you have any questions about the Costa Rica Blue Zone? If we can harness that, we can hopefully improve the health of future generations. It includes the five cantons of the Nicoya Peninsula: Hojancha, Nandayure, Carrillo, Santa Cruz and Nicoya. 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. The Blue Zone of the Nicoya Peninsula stands out for the beauty of its landscapes, its tourist attractions, and its conservation areas, but above all, for the stories told by the long-lived inhabitants of the region, who have exceeded the life expectancy in Costa Rica and continue to be lucid and active, and who enjoy long, healthy lives. Soltara Healing Center is located on the calm and pristine Gulf of Nicoya in the mountainous jungle of Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula. Montezuma is located on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula making it an ideal place to stay when exploring this unique part of Costa Rica. Get your fill of fresh fruits like pineapple, mango, papaya, banana, and passionfruit and vegetables and legumes like squash, cassava, plantain, yam, and beans. Their traditional diet of fortified maize and beans may be the best nutritional combination for longevity the world has ever known. Meat, fish, and poultry only make up 5% of the usual diet. All rights reserved. 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." This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. However you may visit Cookie Settings to provide a controlled consent. And a breakfast rich with antioxidants helps to protect a persons cells from disease. 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. Because of this, they enjoy extremely low rates of heart disease. Some sea turtles have even lived to age 150. Guest Writer for Wake Up World. Try spending quality times with your loved ones. For most of their lives, Nicoyan centenarians ate a traditional Mesoamerican diet highlighted with the three sisters of agriculture: squash, corn, and beans. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2008-2023 Law Dissertation Writing Services. Despite that, the area has many of the same ideals that the rest of Costa Ricans have. If youre eating a standard American diet, its probably shaving about six to 10 years off of your life expectancy, Buettner says. 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. We know we should include exercise into all parts of our lives (not just an hour at the gym). The expat community in Coco is generally older retirees, however, there are some younger expats running around. Fish is a lean protein and provides oils which help with overall brain function. 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. In the Nicoya Peninsula, the water is particularly rich in calcium and magnesium which studies show is good for cardiovascular health and preventing cancer. Its also easy to eat healthy in Costa Rica, with its abundance of local foods grown in its fertile volcanic soil. English is widely spoken and the town has lots of tourist infrastructure with a wide variety of restaurant and accommodation choices. You can hike along trails, go horseback riding, kayak through the mangroves, and swim off the beach. The centenarians of the Nicoya Peninsula have also captured the interest of the Institute of Social Studies in Population (Instituto de Estudios Sociales en Poblacin, IDESPO) of the National University (Universidad Nacional) of Costa Rica, which is carrying out a study on the subject this year. 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. Blue Zones Nicoya desarrolla alimentos, bebidas y suplementos inspirados en los centenarios de la. Where are the world's Blue Zones located? Your best bet might be finding a VRBO instead of a hotel. 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. Dinner is typically a light meal, consumed early in the evening which allows plenty of time for digestion before bed. We use cookies for analytics tracking and advertising from our partners. The Adventists are praying. Several of Nicoyas beaches like those in the Ostional National Wildlife Reserve are nesting grounds for Kemps Ridley, green, and leatherback turtles. Montezuma: Best Hotels in Costa Rica. Buettner approached National Geograhic with his idea and they agreed to help fund his research. Directions: Toss the cabbage with the orange juice, season with salt and pepper and let sit 30 minutes. 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. Nicoya, Costa Rica. Wildlife is abundant. The Today Show's Cynthia McFadden accompanied Blue Zones founder Dan Buettner to Costa Rica and Singapore to learn why they these two different places have such happy residents. To understand some of the reasons why Blue-Zoners live healthier, longer lives, let's take another look at Ricardo's daily routine. The best way we can mourn those lives lost is to honor them by creating a better future for our children, their children, and their childrens children by making healthier choices now. The template laid out in the Blue Zones Project: natural foods, daily movement, community, and sense of purpose, can help anyone develop stronger immune systems, so they can live healthier and longer lives.