Did you know Costa Rica has a Blue Zone?
Did you know that Costa Rica has a Blue Zone? Blue what?
Blue Zones are regions of the world where the population lives much longer than the global life expectancy average of 71.4 years. The name "Blue Zones" stemmed from the initial five blue circles that researchers drew on their map with the healthiest, longest-lived population, and the region of Nicoya + the Nicoyan Peninsula in Costa Rica just so happens to be one of those five Blue Zones. In fact, Nicoyans stay mentally and spiritually fulfilled to age 90 and beyond.
AND Tamarindo just so happens to be located on the Nicoyan Peninsula!
So what's the secret to healthy living on the Nicoyan Peninsula?
The Costa Rican people traditionally get the majority of their caloric intake from beans, squash and corn, plus tropical fruits -- in other words, they avoid processed food. A typical Costa Rican breakfast, called Gallo Pinto, is comprised of rice, beans, eggs, corn tortilla, and home made cheese. This plant-forward, nutrient-dense diet, in combination with plenty of time outdoors, makes for strong, well-nourished bodies. Meanwhile, a plan de vida, or reason to live, propels a positive outlook among elders and helps keep them active. Other contributing factors to longevity on the Nicoyan Peninsula are:
- Drinking hard water
- Focusing on family
- Maintaining social networks
- Getting some "sensible" sun
- Embracing a common history
- Keeping hard at work
- Eating a light dinner
To find out more about the Blue Zones, click here.
Pura Vida,
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