The author and National Geographic Fellow has become well known for his work on the world’s “blue” zones — areas on Earth where people often live into old age.
Buettner, 64, studies everything related to these subjects, from relationship dynamics and exercise to climate and diet.
One of these regions, the Nicoya Peninsula, “has the lowest middle-age mortality rate in the world,” according to the New York Times best-selling author.
Nicoyans are more likely to live past middle age, and Büttner believes that’s mainly down to “the best diet mankind has ever invented.”
“Their diet consists of three foods that I would argue are the best diet mankind has ever invented,” Buettner said.
The explorer continued: “Thanks to these foods, people living on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula are 2.5 times more likely to live to age 92 than those living in the United States or Europe.”
Here are three foods that are staples of the Nicoya Peninsula diet and why you should incorporate them into your own.
corn
Buettner said Nicoya Peninsula residents make “delicious whole-grain tortillas” from corn.
The National Geographic Fellow also spoke about the traditional method Nicoya residents use to soak corn kernels in wood ash during the Netflix documentary series “Live to 100.”
This process “increases the nutritional value,” Buettner claims.
It’s high in fiber, so you can get all the nutritional benefits of corn without having to make it into a tortilla.
Crush
According to the Cleveland Clinic, pumpkin is rich in vitamins A, B, C, magnesium and potassium, which are all important for bone, blood and heart health.
@uktoday_ Love pasta? Dan Buettner has the good news for you #uknews #pastatiktok #pastapasta #uknewsheadlines ♬ Original Sound – UKToday 🇬🇧 Newsquest
Pumpkin is a simple vegetable that can be easily roasted or added to healthy, hearty stews and soups.
beans
Finally, Dan points out that Nicoya residents regularly add beans to their diet and apparently enjoy up to five different kinds of beans.
For example, black beans are a key ingredient in a popular dish called gallo pinto.
The authors also highlight that beans are grown in many other Blue Zones, including the Greek island of Ikaria and the Italian island of Sardinia.
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These three ingredients are known as the “Three Sisters” in the indigenous cultures of the Nicoya Peninsula.
“You can survive on these three foods together for the rest of your life,” Dan claimed.
“Vitamin B12 is needed in small amounts, but it contains all the complex carbohydrates and proteins necessary for human nutrition.”
