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. Eating fewer calories appears to be one of the surest ways to add years to your life. These cookies do not store any personal information. 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. While Nicoyans start their day by eating a healthy breakfast, their diet is not the only secret to living long lives. It is the reason why the founder of Omega Institute set up Blue Spirit in Nosara and a Longevity center. It includes the five cantons of the Nicoya Peninsula: Hojancha, Nandayure, Carrillo, Santa Cruz and Nicoya. In Nicoya, Costa Rica, where average incomes are among the nation's lowest, the average lifespan is 85 among the world's highest. 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. The Nicoya Peninsula has several on offer, including near Tamarindo, outside the Cabo Blanco Reserve near Playa Mal Pais, and above the Montezuma waterfall. WED LOVE IF YOUD ADD IT ON PINTEREST! Old people often have too little calcium in their bodies. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. There are several theories about why the Blue Zone of Costa Rica exists, but the most likely explanation is that it is due to a combination of factors. Loma Linda, California. The world has a number of Blue Zones, areas where the locals live healthier and longer lives. Getting up in the air on tree canopy tours via ziplines and rope bridges is popular throughout Costa Rica. It was a spontaneous decision to move here, but it was the best decision! That is when brands, businesses and cities will be able to look at Blue Zones like the one in Nicoya and find a model to follow. Who knows, maybe it will change your life! 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. 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. 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. LIKED THIS? It is not unusual for several generations to gather on a regular basis for lively gatherings. 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. They also practice good physical and mental health. He has written numerous books on the topic, but I suggest starting with: Blue Zones of Happiness and The Blue Zones Kitchen (a cookbook). Nantipa means blue in the language of the Chorotega people, some of the first known people to live in the Nicoya region. For most Americans, an entrance ramp for a new lifestyle change is through their mouth, Buettner says. Maintaining close ties with family and friends helps reduce stress. Even the cancer rates on the Nicoya Peninsula are lower than those elsewhere in the world! seen in blue zones. Sign up for theBLUE ZONES free weekly email where webring youexclusive interviews, cutting edge longevity news, and fresh tips for living longer, better. Blue Zones Nicoya desarrolla alimentos, bebidas y suplementos inspirados en los centenarios de la. 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. Many of us in Western countries know we need to eat less junk and add more natural food to our diets. Successful centenarians have a strong 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. Dan discovered five places where residents have low rates of chronic disease and live longer than anywhere else. These places are full of one-hundred-year-olds who have reached such like live wires, not in bed or in hospital. Do you have any questions about the Costa Rica Blue Zone? Wellness enthusiasts will delight in the abundance of nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables. First . They embrace the relaxed Pura Vida lifestyle and family always comes first. One is the plan de vida, or reason to live, which propels a positive outlook among elders and helps keep them active. This vigorous village is one of the Blue Zones' unique hotspots. In these areas people have low rates of chronic diseases, so they tend to live longer than in other places. Now I was excited to roam off the beaten path into a world-famous Nicoya Peninsula blue zone. People from Nicoya enjoy an ample dose of Vitamin D. They spend most of their time outside tending to the land and enjoy a healthy relationship with surrounding nature. Or, get your zen on at La Senda, the wellness center on a 74-acre forested property near Tamarindo. They have a simplistic lifestyle - Nicoyans ordinarily make a living as farmers and or cattle ranchers, and this consistent activity is said to be one of the reasons for their longevity. 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. 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. Hi, my name is Mike Gillespie & I'm fundraising to help support the Blue Zone communities in Nicoya Costa Rica. Not only do they live longer, their metabolism is better, the levels of cognitive impairment are lower, and they function at a higher level. If youre eating a standard American diet, its probably shaving about six to 10 years off of your life expectancy, Buettner says. The Nicoya Peninsula, in Costa Rica, is one of them, . Here are some of the factors that make Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula a blue zone worth visiting. There are two trails for visitors and a pristine white sand beach. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. As of now, there are 5 blue zones: Icaria, Greece. 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 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. All rights reserved. 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). 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). 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. He then had the idea to research areas in the world with the longest lifespan. Located on the Guanacaste Peninsula in northwestern Costa Rica, Nicoya is a rural, beachside, blue-zone community. For just over 15 years he has been monitoring and accompanying the long-lived people that . A nine-hole golf course is a mile away. They have been able to exceed their life expectancy and serve as an example for the entire world. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. My Nicoya Peninsula Blue Zone Retreat. Nearby is the Barra Honda National Park with its caves, the Monte Alto Nature Reserve where a variety of orchids grow, and other natural reserves where you can see wildlife. Full of natural beauty, endless sunlight, white beaches and radiant ocean, Nicoya reigns as one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica. Nicoyans regularly take in the sunshine, which helps their bodies produce vitamin D for strong bones and healthy body function. This is why the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT, Instituto Costarricense de Turismo) launched the Wellness Pura Vida country strategy, which seeks to position Costa Rica as a wellness destination with a difference, which offers unique, transforming experiences. 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. 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!) This Central American nation isnt that far from the U.S. geographically, but it is way ahead of us in longevity. Currently, three emblematic examples of this Blue Zone include the centenarians Jos Bonifacio "Pachito" Villegas, from Pochote de Quebrada Honda, Nicoya, who rides a horse every day at age 100, Trinidad Espinoza, who recounts anecdotes from Costa Rica in the 1930s continuously while she feeds her chickens, and Dmaso Mendoza, age 102, who, on receiving a visitor, always talks about her years as a dancer and how she enjoys the company of the five generations of her family in Santa Ana de Beln, Carillo. Warm, Sunny Climate. We have obtained information from Nicoya, Costa Rica on ways to live longer and be happier. Buettner approached National Geograhic with his idea and they agreed to help fund his research. What are Blue Zones? It is fascinating to see which factors play into long lifespan including how you can emulate this lifestyle. 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. A "Blue Zone" is an area of the world where it is typical for people to live past 100 years old. Guevara lives in the Nicoya peninsula of Costa Rica. Meat, fish, and poultry only make up 5% of the usual diet. Guest Writer for Wake Up World. We can start making healthier choices today, thus living more enriching lives and encouraging others to adopt similar healthy ways of living. 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. 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? Were Thomas (the German) and Sarah (the US-er). Though Chicago is not one of those cities that uses the template outlined in the Blue Zones Project, the city could adapt to the Blue Zones principals. In the Nicoya Peninsula, the water is particularly rich in calcium and magnesium which studies show is good for cardiovascular health and preventing cancer. "The five cantons of the peninsula continue to appear with greater longevity and we've confirmed this everywhere we've investigated. Modern Nicoyans roots to the indigenous Chorotega and their traditions have enabled them to remain relatively free of stress. To my delight, Costa Rica has its own Blue Zone - the Nicoya Peninsula! . You may opt-out by. Nicoya, Costa Rica A Latin American Blue Zone. Throughout the world, the average life expectancy is 71 years of age (70 for males and 72 for females). According to the most recent data from the Ministry of Health, this region will be painted blue for many years to come, as over 900 people over 90 have been recorded, along with over 5,000 inhabitants over 75, the majority of whom enjoy good health in their old age. 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. Not long after, he began to lead trips to the first Blue Zones that he had discovered. Learn more about typical diet with our Guide to Costa Rican Food. What are Blue Zones? It consists of 100 recipes with ingredients used by those who live in Nicoya, Costa Rica and the other four Blue Zones. Research shows that 30% of longevity comes from genes, and the remaining 70% from lifestyle. A Blue Zone is the name given to one of the areas in the world where a majority of people have a life expectancy of at least 100 years old. Arising from this need, one of the results of the meeting was the establishment of an International Network on Healthy Aging, which will be led from Costa Rica in order to "build knowledge collaboratively", said Montero. Costa Rica as a whole is a happy place. By TCRN STAFF October 5, 2022 528 0 Also, calcium is important for bones. The Nicoya Peninsula is in many ways isolated from the rest of Costa Rica due to geography. Thanks to the peninsulas reputation as one of these Blue Zones, Nicoya has become a haven for digital detox. BOOK YOUR COSTA RICA RENTAL CAR AND SAVE 10%. The beautiful view of the beaches may also have a hand in this. 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. 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. Buettner's studies on the Nicoya Peninsula revealed eight key factors that affect people's life expectancy. This provides the nutrition they need to work hard during the day. 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. On today's podcast, Gina does some serious myth-busting about what has kept the centenarians so well, for so long. This is a BETA experience. Blue Zones, those special places on earth where people live longer and healthier lives, first came to prominence in the ground-breaking book by Dan Buettner, Blue Zones. Another option is to take the 75-minute ferry across the Gulf of Nicoya from Puntarenas to Paquera. While a Blue Zone indicates a hotspot of healthy longevity, it also presents a challenge of how to extend these benefits throughout the population outside of these redoubts. I also suggest watching his TED Talk. A Blue Zone is the name given to one of the areas in the world where a majority of people have a life expectancy of at least 100 years old. What Is The Potential Of Generative AI In Healthcare? It remains to be seen if the COVID pandemic will affect that average. They find joy in everyday physical chores. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Montezuma: Best Hotels in Costa Rica. We have a full guide to the ferry here. Making the smart choice in traditional Blue Zones is often the only choice available, not really a choice at all. Try spending quality times with your loved ones. This healthy breakfast gives them the nutrients they need for a day of tending crops and livestock. 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. 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). Nicoyans often live more than 100 years and Nicoya boasts of the highest number of centenarians in the world. 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. They typically do not consume a lot of meat. The Nicoya Peninsula has five cantons where middle-age morality is lowest and centenarians are the most abundant. Most residents here live to be over the age of 90 and there's a high number of centenarians as well. 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. You can hike along trails, go horseback riding, kayak through the mangroves, and swim off the beach. "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. 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. Rare species like pumas, ocelots, and margay cats make their home here too. And now, it's a well-known fact: Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula, dubbed as a "high-longevity island," is one of the world's rare blue zones - one of only five original regions, joined by Icaria (Greece), Okinawa (Japan), Lima Linda (California, USA), and Sardinia (Italy). Are We Headed To A World In Which We Own Nothing? I feel lucky to have found this information, though the credit doesn't belong to me, but rather to the older residents. A blue zone is a geographical area in which the population is the longest-lived. Nicoya is located on the Guanacaste peninsula in Costa Rica, and is considered one of the 7 blue zones found worldwide. Costa Rica holds one of the original 5 blue zones of the world and you will find yourself in one of them if you decide on living in the Nicoya Peninsula. Having a Blue Zone helps strengthen the country's constant striving for quality of life, both for Costa Ricans and for tourists. Still planning? 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. In an article in the Chicagoan, Marc J. The world has 5 recognized Blue Zones (as determined by the authority of National Geographic ). I suggest visiting Cabuya (a small town between Montezuma and Santa Teresa) or San Francisco de Coyote (a remote beach town). When you book through our trusted partners we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. They know how to listen, laugh, and appreciate what they have. We hope you love the Blue Zone Costa Rica stays we recommend. 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. 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. 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. Required fields are marked *, car rental deal! The gateway to the Nicoya Peninsula is the beach town of Tamarindo on the west coast, which is very popular with international travelers. Butterflies in Costa Rica The Best Places to See Them, Irazu Volcano Visit the Highest Volcano in Costa Rica, 20 Free Things to Do in Costa Rica That Youll Love, Costa Rica Rental Car Discount Save Up to 20%, The feeling of a sense of purpose in life. Whether this pandemic impacts the average lifespan of people around the world or not, a lot can be gained by studying five specific regions in the world where people seemingly effortlessly live to over 90 years in age. 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. 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. 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. Its very interesting, and I mean, who doesnt love a good TED Talk? The forest here is more tropical than further north and is home to deer, pacas, monkeys, armadillos, laughing gulls, pelicans, frigates, and brown boobies. The surroundings dictate ways of operating, not personal decisions. 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. Within Nosaras lush forest and a three-minute walk to Guiones Beach, this small hotel has a daily yoga class plus private yoga instruction, surf lessons, a large pool, hammocks, and a juice and coffee bar. 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. Moderate alcohol intake, especially wine. 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. All of the international experts agreed that the factors that make healthy longevity possible must be communicated worldwide, in order to reflect on the implications of Blue Zones, unique geographical areas with a high concentration of inhabitants who live to ninety or one hundred years of age, whose aging process is positive, and most importantly, deliberate and active. 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. uma atrativa pergunta explica que os habitantes de Guanacaste e sim dvida contar com uma das cinco que existem no mundo um orgulho para todos os habitantes da provincia. 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. There are other blue zones in California, Italy, Greece, and Japan. There will be a lot to learn and a lot to do to get back to a healthier normal. 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? Nicoya is a small, rural beach community located on the Guanacaste peninsula on the northwest coast of Costa Rica. 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. Nicoyas west and south coasts are the most popular for visitors and offer a wide range of accommodations and access to the peninsulas wilderness and activities. Near the fishing village of Tambor (reached by a 20-minute flight from San Jos or a drive down from the Paquera ferry) is Costa Ricas first all-inclusive. The Power of Nine is the name Buetnner has given to the characteristics that all Blue Zones seem to share. Nicoyans regularly take in the sunshine, which helps their bodies produce vitamin D for strong bones and healthy body function. This goes along with the decision to widen the country's tourism offerings and venture into industries with high potential, such as wellness tourism. Get some sensible sun. 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. Inadequate calcium means weak muscles -- including the heart. There are five regions around the world called the Blue Zones: Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece, and Loma Linda, California. Brand Storytelling At Sundance: Championing Excellence And Filmmakers With Purpose, Profitable ECommerce Growth For CPGs Is In Reach. Nicoyan centenarians tend to live with their families, and children or grandchildren provide support and a sense of purpose and belonging. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Dinner is typically a light meal, consumed early in the evening which allows plenty of time for digestion before bed. Nicoya isn't full of marathon runners . Down on the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica's Blue Zone, visitors can book into a yoga retreat, eat freshly caught fish, go surfing and ride horses along the beach. Plantains are high in potassium, fiber, carbohydrates, vitamin B6 and vitamin C. The waters around the Nicoya Peninsula are also home to several species of fish including tuna and red snapper. They are eye-opening and heart-tugging. ", For Belgian researcher Michel Poulain, one of the most important message of the World Meeting of Blue Zones is to tell the world that "Costa Rica has a treasure of longevity in the Nicoya Peninsula, that comes from the past generations, which has been built year by year. Centenarians seem to have enjoyed physical work of all their lives. Now is the time for cities like Chicago to learn from the five Blue Zones throughout the world like Nicoya, Costa Rica. Nicoya is famous for being a marvelous playground for surfers all over the world. For those who might need some meal ideas, Dan Buettner, wrote the Blue Zones Kitchen cookbook. So, Nicoya is another blue zone in the world alongside Okinawa (Japan), Cerdea (Italia), Icaria (Greece) and Loma Linda (California). "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. 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. Alternatively, Blue. Despite that, the area has many of the same ideals that the rest of Costa Ricans have. 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. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The Tortuga Islands are offshore and are a frequent destination for snorkeling trips, even from other parts of the peninsula. Also, the environment just exudes joy. They feel needed and want to contribute to a greater good. Nicoya, Costa Rica, is a Central American Caribbean nation that boasts economic security and excellent health care. Another is a focus on family and a special ability to listen and laugh. So why is it that the people of Nicoya outlive so many others? - save 10% Plus other perks . Out of these cookies, 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). By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. By Ty and Charlene Bollinger.
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