Successful centenarians have a strong sense of purpose. Your email address will not be published. In mid-November 2017, the first World Meeting of Blue Zones was held. Exploring the Blue Zones of Costa Rica: The Nicoya Peninsula Due to the Nicoya Peninsula's location in Central America, the area has an abundance of warm days with tons of sunlight. Costa Rica Experts 2023. Gone are the days of making your own food and growing organic produce. We can no longer afford to allow the COVID pandemic to cause us to live in or out of a place of fear. Nantipa means blue in the language of the Chorotega people, some of the first known people to live in the Nicoya region. Nicoya, Costa Rica A Latin American Blue Zone. Costa Rica's Blue Zone - Special Places of Costa Rica 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. And a breakfast rich with antioxidants helps to protect a persons cells from disease. In Nicoya, Costa Rica, where average incomes are among the nation's lowest, the average lifespan is 85 among the world's highest. This is a BETA experience. How many blue zones are in Costa Rica? - 2023 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. Another is a focus on family and a special ability to listen and laugh. Located on the Guanacaste Peninsula in northwestern Costa Rica, Nicoya is a rural, beachside, blue-zone community. Centenarians seem to have enjoyed physical work of all their lives. It is not unusual for many generations to live on one property or in very close proximity to each other. 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. So, Nicoya is another blue zone in the world alongside Okinawa (Japan), Cerdea (Italia), Icaria (Greece) and Loma Linda (California). So, what's the secret behind our region's long life? Dubbed "blue zones," residents of these areas share a common environment and lifestyle that . 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. For many the hope is that the lessons that these centenarians can teach us and the secrets of well-being and longevity that live in this extraordinary part of the world, will be able benefit all of humanity in the future. The surroundings dictate ways of operating, not personal decisions. In the south between the Paquera ferry and the village of Tambor, youll have an excellent chance of seeing wildlife within the privately-owned Cur Wildlife Reserve. Long-living creatures like sea turtles are frequent visitors to the Blue Zone too. Why is Costa Rica a blue zone? - 2023 - fiosdl.hioctanefuel.com Costa Rica's Blue Zone - Live to 100 Years - Costa Rica Vibes There are five areas of the world that meet the qualifications of Blue Zone as defined by Buettner. Wellness enthusiasts will delight in the abundance of nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables. The climate in the Blue Zone is very mild, which may help to protect against diseases. 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. Learn more about typical diet with our Guide to Costa Rican Food. Sardinia, Italy. Nicoyans regularly take in the sunshine, which helps their bodies produce vitamin D for strong bones and healthy body function. Why Nicoya is Considered One of the Anti-Aging Zones in the World Few really know what aging is and how it can be controlled, here experts from Costa Rica and around the world talk about it and define the Nicoya Peninsula as one of those with the most long-lived people. My Nicoya Peninsula Blue Zone Retreat. You can, thanks to the world's "blue zones." By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Blue Zones: How The World's Oldest People Make Their Money Last - Forbes It includes the five cantons of the Nicoya Peninsula: Hojancha, Nandayure, Carrillo, Santa Cruz and Nicoya. 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. Even the cancer rates on the Nicoya Peninsula are lower than those elsewhere in the world! They are eye-opening and heart-tugging. Some sea turtles have even lived to age 150. Required fields are marked *, car rental deal! But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. What are Blue Zones? Contents1 Is Costa Rica considered [] 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. For most Americans, an entrance ramp for a new lifestyle change is through their mouth, Buettner says. The expat community in Coco is generally older retirees, however, there are some younger expats running around. What they generally don't know, however, is that a part of Costa Rica tourists rarely visit (the rural Nicoya Peninsula towns of Nicoya, Santa Cruz and environs) contains the largest. Blue Zones: Lessons For Living Longer From The People Whove Lived The Longest. 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. 1 - The Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica. Theyre focused on sick care, and so the actual healthcare is often neglected, says Chaves. Also, the environment just exudes joy. The Caribbean nation is economically secure and has excellent health care. The Ikarians and the Ikaria is another one of the Blue Zones, and the Costa Ricans, Nicoya, they're taking a nap. Dinner is typically a light meal, consumed early in the evening which allows plenty of time for digestion before bed. This provides the nutrition they need to work hard during the day. [Try this 5-Minute Tasty Squash and Beans for a taste of Costa Rican homecooking.]. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Wildlife is abundant. 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. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Also, calcium is important for bones. 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. To my delight, Costa Rica has its own Blue Zone - the Nicoya Peninsula! We met in Virginia, moved to Germany, and now live in sunny Costa Rica. Nicoya, Costa Rica. 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. Let's start with our home - the Nicoya Peninsula.This tropical region in the north west of Costa Rica, has the world's lowest rate of middle-aged mortality, and the second highest amount of men over 100 years of age. Is the Nicoya Peninsula good for a Wellness getaway? Staples of the traditional Nicoya diet include homemade corn tortillas, black beans, white rice, a variety of squash, yams, papaya, bananas, and pejibayes. Brand Storytelling At Sundance: Championing Excellence And Filmmakers With Purpose, Profitable ECommerce Growth For CPGs Is In Reach. We have a full guide to the ferry here. Nicoya, Costa Rica - Blue Zones 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. For the first time ever, the world's most prominent researchers shared their knowledge and most recent research on the topic of Blue Zones. By Ty and Charlene Bollinger. Buettner approached National Geograhic with his idea and they agreed to help fund his research. What they generally don't know, however, is that a part of Costa Rica tourists rarely visit (the rural Nicoya Peninsula towns of Nicoya, Santa Cruz and environs) contains the largest. Modern Nicoyans roots to the indigenous Chorotega and their traditions have enabled them to remain relatively free of stress. 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. 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. Hi! 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. Try our meal idea that reflects elements of the Nicoyan Peninsula Blue Zoners' diet. Lets explore the Blue Zone in Nicoya, Costa Rica and what the Nicoyan lifestyle can teach us about humanity and what we could do better in the future. 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. A stay at Nantipa will help you have a true Blue Zone adventure, especially if you book its transcendental wellness experience. Would you like to visit the Nicoya Peninsula? Get your fill of fresh fruits like pineapple, mango, papaya, banana, and passionfruit and vegetables and legumes like squash, cassava, plantain, yam, and beans. In the interior, the town of Nicoya is one of Costa Ricas oldest and also has one of the countrys oldest churches the Parroquia San Blas, first built in 1544. Guevara lives in the Nicoya peninsula of Costa Rica. However, Costa Rica's blue zone is so much more. What Is The Potential Of Generative AI In Healthcare? 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. Still planning? 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. 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. Dan Buettner on the Diets that Help People Live Longer Surprisingly, happiness and keeping a focus on family are two of the main components. Read more below about the lessons that Nicoya, Costa Rica can teach you about longevity. Offering barefoot luxury on Playa Langosta this family-owned boutique hotel is a 15-minute walk from downtown Tamarindo. Costa Rica: Land of the Centenarians Nicoya is a small, rural beach community located on the Guanacaste peninsula on the northwest coast of Costa Rica. Santa Teresa is great for surfing and enjoying a small but vibrant town with a backpacker vibe. Why People Live So Long On Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula - TravelAwaits 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). It consists of 100 recipes with ingredients used by those who live in Nicoya, Costa Rica and the other four Blue Zones. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Having a Blue Zone helps strengthen the country's constant striving for quality of life, both for Costa Ricans and for tourists. Longevity then would not be a luxury only reserved for a few living in Blue Zones, but a reality for billions.. In terms of a definition, these zones are geographical areas with a high concentration of long-lived populations, who frequently reach ninety or one hundred years of age. 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. But other factors are at play, especially in Nicoya, an 80-mile peninsula just south of the Nicaraguan border. Alternatively, Blue. The Caribbean nation is economically secure and has excellent health care. These geographical areas are considered special, because most people live at least 90 and often over 100 years of age. However you may visit Cookie Settings to provide a controlled consent. Lane reasons why Chicago should use the Blue Zones template to improve the lives of people who live there. They eat many fruits and vegetables often grown on their own lands, and they tend not to consume much meat. Heres how to plan a trip to the Blue Zone in Costa Rica. The most popular towns to visit here are Montezuma and Santa Teresa. 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. In other words, it lives longer than the average global life expectancy.