MOST of us would there’s no single thing you can to make yourself live longer.
But a longevity guru has claimed that eating three foods in particular could increase your chances of living past the age of 90.
AlamyThe Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica has been dubbed a Blue Zone, meaning inhabitants regularly live to a ripe old age[/caption]
GettyAuthor Dan Buettner claimed Nicoyans’ longevity can be attributed to three key foods[/caption]
Author and National Geographic fellow Dan Buettner has made a name for himself studying five regions across the world where inhabitants regularly live to a ripe old age, which he dubbed the ‘Blue Zones’.
He’s urged people pay close attention to one spot in particular – the lush Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica.
According to Dan, “this place has the lowest rate of middle age mortality in the world”, meaning Nicoyans are likely to live well past middle age.
The longevity guru claimed their long lifespans were largely helped by a potent cocktail of three foods, in a recent post to his Instagram.
“Their diet is composed of three foods that I would argue are the best diet human beings have ever invented,” Dan stated.
“Because of these foods, the people living on the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica are two and half times more likely to reach the age of 92 than people living in the United States or Europe,” he went on.
Here are the three foods Dan said Nicoyans swear by.
1. Corn
GettyPeople in the Nicoya Peninsula use corn to make tortillas[/caption]
The food on Dan’s list was corn.
He said Nicoya Peninsula inhabitants make ‘delicious whole grain tortillas’ out of it.
In his Netflix docuseries Live to 100, the author said the inhabitants of Nicoya traditionally process corn by soaking corn kernels in wood ash “boosts the nutritional value”.
Corn is rich in fibre and the tortillas are rich in complex carbohydrates. But you can still reap the nutritional value of the grain without making it into a tortilla.
2. Squash
GettySquash is another cornerstone of the Blue Zone diet[/caption]
Next on Dan’s list of longevity boosting foods was squash, which is rich in vitamins A, B, and C, as well as magnesium and potassium, which are critical for bone, blood, and heart health, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Whether roasted or added to a hearty stew, this is an easy veg to incorporate into your diet.
3. Beans
GettyInhabitants of the Nicoya Peninsula eat five varieties of beans, according to Dan[/caption]
Finally, Dan said Nicoya inhabitants regularly add beans to their meals, enjoying up to five different varieties of beans.
Black beans feature heavily, mixed into a dish called gallo pinto.
Beans are a staple in the diets of many other Blue Zones – including Ikaria in Greene and Sardinia in Italy.
These three ingredients are known as the “three sisters” by Indigenous cultures in the Nicoya Peninsula.
“Those three foods together you can live your entire life,” Dan claimed.
“You need a little vitamin B12, but it has all the complex carbohydrates and protein necessary for human sustenance.”
Scientists say Blue Zoners share nine common lifestyle traits, dubbed the “Power 9”, which cover diet, lifestyle and exercise.
They’re simple but surprisingly effective.
Read how implementing them for six weeks could improve your health.
There are also marked similarities in eating patterns across the five Blue Zones.
From eating lots of plants to staying away from meat and having a wine happy hour with friends, here are 11 diet rules centenarians stick by.