why is nicoya, costa rica a blue zone

What are Blue Zones? 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. Join 19k+ subscribers in receiving FREE travel advice, news & promotions! Healthy Blue Zone Recipes | Best Health Magazine 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. Nantipas special wellness booking includes yoga, meditation, Ayurvedic and sound therapies, and sessions with wellness coaches and personal trainers. I suggest visiting Cabuya (a small town between Montezuma and Santa Teresa) or San Francisco de Coyote (a remote beach town). Rhuigi Villaseor Kept His Foot On The Gas. Costa Rica - Why is it Considered a Blue Zone? - TraveLLuxCurator My fourth investigation into exactly what our Blue Zone folks eat has left this dietitian, well, intrigued. Take a trip to one of these Blue Zones to learn the secret of living The most southerly point is Cabo Blanco Reserve and the south coast also has the town of Tambor. Costa Rica's Blue Zones This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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. All rights reserved. Fish is a lean protein and provides oils which help with overall brain function. We must make the health of future generations our responsibility by implementing the lifestyles of the Blue Zones people now. 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. But other factors are at play, especially in Nicoya, an 80-mile peninsula just south of the Nicaraguan border. 1 - The Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica. One of the world's Blue Zones is in Nicoya, Costa Rica. 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. Ed #2798 Oficina #8 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. 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. 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. Soltara Healing Center is located on the calm and pristine Gulf of Nicoya in the mountainous jungle of Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula. 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. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. He then had the idea to research areas in the world with the longest lifespan. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Just note, you might have trouble finding a place to stay. 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. The town of Nosara, located in the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica, is a surfing and wellness hot spot located in one of the five "blue zones" in the world. The most amazing part about people who live in Nicoya, Costa Rica is that many of them live without medication or disability. "Looking beyond Costa Ricas Blue Zone in Nicoya, elements that make our population stand out and that describe our focus on well-being can be found in every corner of our territory. None of these staples are processed, and because all of these foods are locally grown they are not faced with genetically modified or pesticide laden produce. In other words, it lives longer than the average global life expectancy. Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula is a Blue Zone for long life | Enchanting This Central American nation isn't that far from the U.S. geographically, but it is way ahead of us in longevity. The Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica is one of the five areas in the world that hold the distinguished classification of a Blue Zone. We do not need to wait for our cities of residence to adopt the principles for healthier living outlined in the Blue Zones Project. 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, Costa Rica - Blue Zones Changing the American diet and culture around the food we eat can help save lives. Guest Writer for Wake Up World. Nicoya, Costa Rica: A Puzzling Blue Zone Diet Light on Vegetables and High in Carbohydrate and Sugar. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. That means family ties are the backbone for most peoples existence. According to Buettner's studies, the Nicoya Peninsula has the world's lowest rates of middle-age mortality and the second highest convergence of male centenarians. 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. Even the cancer rates on the Nicoya Peninsula are lower than those elsewhere in the world! The traditional diet in the area is also notable. It includes the five cantons of the Nicoya Peninsula: Hojancha, Nandayure, Carrillo, Santa Cruz and Nicoya. The daily breakfast consists of gallo pinto (rice and beans) with a basket of homemade corn tortillas and hot coffee. O segreto da Zona Azul de Nicoya | Visitar Costa Rica | Costa Rica Surprisingly, happiness and keeping a focus on family are two of the main components. Santa Teresa is great for surfing and enjoying a small but vibrant town with a backpacker vibe. Now I was excited to roam off the beaten path into a world-famous Nicoya Peninsula blue zone. 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. Modern Nicoyans roots to the indigenous Chorotega and their traditions have enabled them to remain relatively free of stress. Poor communities are notorious for living in food deserts. It helps them remain positive. 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. 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. 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. Try cutting out some meat and replacing it with fresh vegetables and fruit. They feel needed, and their daily lives revolve around their family and community. The Caribbean nation is economically secure and has excellent health care. Blue Zones Nicoya naci en 2014, una empresa 100% costarricense, que durante los ltimos 6 aos ha sido destacada por la investigacin de alimentos locales de la Zona Azul de Nicoya-Guanacaste. 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 supplement your diet and make sure youre getting enough of this vital nutrient. 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. The world has a number of Blue Zones, areas where the locals live healthier and longer lives. Nicoya, the "Blue Zone" in Costa Rica The Costa Rica News 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. We can no longer afford to allow the COVID pandemic to cause us to live in or out of a place of fear. 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. 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. Nicoya isn't full of marathon runners . 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. Complex carbs provide the energy a person needs to get through the day. 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. Check out all of our favorite travel companies. Now, visiting Nicoya doesnt mean youll automatically live to 100, but a trip there is likely to put you on the path to pure life thanks to its natural environment and abundance of healthy activities. seen in blue zones. Blue Zones Nicoya - Esencial Costa Rica Blue Zones: How the Oldest People in the World Make Their Money Last One is the plan de vida, or reason to live, which propels a positive outlook among elders and helps keep them active. First and foremost, the competition to get ahead isnt the same here as it is in some other western countries. You can, thanks to the world's "blue zones." Every morning, at dawn, before the men of Nicoya ride their horses through the mountains of the Costa Rican peninsula, they eat a healthy breakfast. 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. 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. O que so Zonas Azuis? This has paid off, with Costa Rica frequently scoring high in world happiness and environmental rankings. Join 19k+ in receiving Expert travel advice, news & promotions! 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. The Nicoya Peninsula, a Blue Zone in Costa Rica, is renowned for its tranquil, laid-back ambiance. Living Past 100: The Okinawan Diet and Blue Zone Centenarians By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Nicoyan water has the countrys highest calcium content, perhaps explaining the lower rates of heart disease, as well as stronger bones and fewer hip fractures. Protein helps to rebuild and repair tissue, as well as it helps a person to feel full. It's also an area identified as a "Blue Zone . These include Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Loma Linda, California; Ikaria, Greece, and you guessed it; Nicoya, Costa Rica. The Nicoyan way of life can enlighten people to make choices that will help to increase their life expectancy. Due to the Nicoya Peninsula's location in Central America, the area has an abundance of warm days with tons of sunlight. "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. Or, get your zen on at La Senda, the wellness center on a 74-acre forested property near Tamarindo. "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." On the peninsulas southeast coast is Tambor, with Nicoyas most southerly airport. For most Americans, an entrance ramp for a new lifestyle change is through their mouth, Buettner says. They also practice good physical and mental health. 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. 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!) These include Nicoya, Costa Rica; Loma Linda, California; Ikaria, Greece . Nicoyans regularly take in the sunshine, which helps their bodies produce vitamin D for strong bones and healthy body function. Successful centenarians have a strong sense of purpose. 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." 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. Genetics and Costa Ricas natural environment certainly play a large part, but lifestyle is a major factor in why Blue Zone residents live so long. Living the Pure Life in Nicoya, Costa Rica - Viva Tropical You can hike along trails, go horseback riding, kayak through the mangroves, and swim off the beach. 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. Most people in this area never move. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The Power of Nine is the name Buetnner has given to the characteristics that all Blue Zones seem to share. 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). He finished, stating emphatically "please keep it and put the new generation on the same line in the treasure of this Blue Zone.". Rare species like pumas, ocelots, and margay cats make their home here too. Also, the environment just exudes joy. Meat, fish, and poultry only make up 5% of the usual diet. 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). Is it Something in the Water? - ABC News Heres how to plan a trip to the Blue Zone in Costa Rica. Costa Rica Retreat Center in the Blue Zone - Soltara We know we should include exercise into all parts of our lives (not just an hour at the gym). When Dan Buettner introduced the concept of Blue Zones, he formed the Blue Zones Project. Where are the world's Blue Zones located? If youre eating a standard American diet, its probably shaving about six to 10 years off of your life expectancy, Buettner says. For the first time ever, the world's most prominent researchers shared their knowledge and most recent research on the topic of Blue Zones. They are eye-opening and heart-tugging. But we must also consider the impact of our individual health and lifestyle choices on future generations. In parallel, the ICT has drawn attention to the concept of the Blue Zone as part of its wellness tourism strategy as a distinctive feature in promoting the destination, while the Ministry of Culture and Youth has identified the long-lived inhabitants as bearers of a tradition which they can contribute to recovering for future generations. I also suggest watching his TED Talk. These characteristics are: Despite this, it is believed that 30% of a long healthy life comes from genes and 70% is based on lifestyle. Costa Rica Blue Zone: The Secret to Longevity? If coming from San Jose, the easiest way to get to the Nicoya Peninsula is to take the ferry from Puntarenas. The Adventists are praying. Dinner is typically a light meal, consumed early in the evening which allows plenty of time for digestion before bed. Even the cancer rates on the Nicoya Peninsula are lower than those elsewhere in the world! So, what's the secret behind our region's long life? 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. These cantons are: Carillo, Hojancha, Nicoya, Santa Cruz, and Nandoyure. What are Blue Zones? 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. The Ikarians and the Ikaria is another one of the Blue Zones, and the Costa Ricans, Nicoya, they're taking a nap. Here are some of the factors that make Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula a blue zone worth visiting. This treasure includes the atmosphere around you." These centenarians help teach us the value of those important little things," said Mauricio Ventura, Minister of Tourism, with pride. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. In these areas people have low rates of chronic diseases, so they tend to live longer than in other places. We can start making healthier choices today, thus living more enriching lives and encouraging others to adopt similar healthy ways of living. Costa Rica is known for its pura vida lifestyle and attitude. Their traditional diet of fortified maize and beans may be the best nutritional combination for longevity the world has ever known. Unlocking the secret to longevity in Nicoya region Costa Rica Costa Rica's Blue Zone - Live to 100 Years - Costa Rica Vibes It is fascinating to see which factors play into long lifespan including how you can emulate this lifestyle. 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. Nearby are waterfalls at Montezuma, ziplining near the Cabo Blanco Reserve, and kite surfing. Having worked with the pioneers in mind-body research and psychoneuroimmunology. Speaking of work, finding work/life balance is a constant challenge for many. In parallel, and with the purpose of generating public policies, a Framework Cooperation Agreement in order to establish, promote and support the Blue Zone in the Nicoya Peninsula. Blue Zone - Samara, Costa Rica, Samara Beach, Playa Samara, Carrillo Wellness enthusiasts will delight in the abundance of nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables. The expat community in Coco is generally older retirees, however, there are some younger expats running around. What makes a 'Blue Zone' a 'Blue Zone'? - eaglesnestcr.com Buettner's studies on the Nicoya Peninsula revealed eight key factors that affect people's life expectancy. We hope you love the Blue Zone Costa Rica stays we recommend. 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. 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? March 2nd, 2023. This calcium leads to stronger bones and the ability to stay physically active at a later age. They find joy in everyday physical chores. 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. When you book through our trusted partners we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. According to researchers, most inhabitants live to at least the age of 90.. So, having extra-hard water may help keep Nicoyans' hearts strong, and longer. 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. 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 surroundings dictate ways of operating, not personal decisions. While the Blue Zones project Lane discusses isnt a cure for COVID-19, the principals lived by the people in those zones could increase the chance of livelihood for people of other cultures. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. The reason why they are called "blue zones" is a curious story For those who might need some meal ideas, Dan Buettner, wrote the Blue Zones Kitchen cookbook. They typically do not consume a lot of meat. BOOK YOUR COSTA RICA RENTAL CAR AND SAVE 10%. But other factors are at play, especially in Nicoya, an 80-mile peninsula just south of the Nicaraguan border. It was a spontaneous decision to move here, but it was the best decision! Old people often have too little calcium in their bodies. My Nicoya Peninsula Blue Zone Retreat | Costa Rica Experts The Blue Zone Diet: Costa Rica's Secret to Living to 100 - Culture Trip Face-to-Face Conversations. The term first emerged in 2005 in a Nation Geographic magazine cover, "The Secrets of a Long Life.".

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