why is nicoya, costa rica a blue zone why is nicoya, costa rica a blue zone

I suggest visiting Cabuya (a small town between Montezuma and Santa Teresa) or San Francisco de Coyote (a remote beach town). One of the five designated blue zones in the world, the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica features residents who live even longer than those in the rest of the country. What we can incorporate about Nicoya into our culture is the sense of purpose Nicoyans enjoy. And here are two great reports done that will give you a better understanding of the Nicoya people, area, and mindset. Gone are the days of making your own food and growing organic produce. Costa Rica is known for its pura vida lifestyle and attitude. It includes black beans, cooked plantains, fresh papaya, yams, squash, homemade corn tortillas, and fish (if near the coast). 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. January 18, 2022 . Offering barefoot luxury on Playa Langosta this family-owned boutique hotel is a 15-minute walk from downtown Tamarindo. Predominantly catering to families, this 402-room property has four restaurants, including for surf and turf and Japanese, two pools, a nightclub, and a 200-seat amphitheater. In these areas people have low rates of chronic diseases, so they tend to live longer than in other places. The volcanic beach has calm swimming in Bahia Ballena (despite the name, whales are no longer frequent visitors), and theres birdwatching and hiking along the Rio Panica. The term first emerged in 2005 in a Nation Geographic magazine cover, "The Secrets of a Long Life.". For one, Costa Rica is a small country and most people never move away from the area they were born in. They embrace the relaxed Pura Vida lifestyle and family always comes first. All of our step by step Costa Rica planning tips in one spot. 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. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. 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. So, what's the secret behind our region's long life? He cautions though that one of the reasons Nicoyas centenarians live so long is that they dont have high incomes, which means theyve had to do physical labor since they were young, their meals are light and mainly of vegetables and legumes, and they cant afford a lot of protein or processed foods. Beyond this context, however, the health authorities are taking measures to help Costa Ricans reach over 80 years of age in good health. 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. Nicoya, Costa Rica A Latin American Blue Zone. 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. Nicoya was introduced as a Blue Zone in a 2004 National Geographic article by Dan Buettner. Its about 75 miles long and 35 miles wide, with the northern section a part of Guanacaste province and the southern section in Puntarenas province. Customer Experience Critical To Consumer Preference: IAAPA CEO Comments On Key Trends, When It Comes To Advertising, Multicultural Representation Is Not Enough. English is widely spoken and the town has lots of tourist infrastructure with a wide variety of restaurant and accommodation choices. Theyre focused on sick care, and so the actual healthcare is often neglected, says Chaves. We hope you love the Blue Zone Costa Rica stays we recommend. If you want to get underground, Barra Honda National Park has a system of 42 caves and you can explore Terciopelo Cave on a tour. Costa Rica Experts 2023. Directions: Toss the cabbage with the orange juice, season with salt and pepper and let sit 30 minutes. Old people often have too little calcium in their bodies. They know how to listen, laugh, and appreciate what they have. 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. Nicoya. The peninsula is one of the worlds five Blue Zones where many people live exceptionally long and healthy lives. Although the Blue Zone Project isnt all about diet, and its certainly about more than food for the people of Nicoya it is a big difference from the typical American diet (no matter what type of community). Now is the time for cities like Chicago to learn from the five Blue Zones throughout the world like Nicoya, Costa Rica. Barra Honda is on the peninsulas northeast about a half hours drive from the town of Nicoya. They feel needed, and their daily lives revolve around their family and community. It includes the five cantons of the Nicoya Peninsula: Hojancha, Nandayure, Carrillo, Santa Cruz and Nicoya. Look for howler and capuchin monkeys, parrots and parakeets, and bigger birds like herons and hawks. 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. "The five cantons of the peninsula continue to appear with greater longevity and we've confirmed this everywhere we've investigated. They find joy in everyday physical chores. Add the red onions, sliced radishes, tomatoes, orange supremes, cilantro and 3 tablespoons oil to the cabbage. Also, we would love to hear your thoughts on Blue Zones and what constitutes a long lifestyle. Even the cancer rates on the Nicoya Peninsula are lower than those elsewhere in the world! Your email address will not be published. Rooms have a mini fridge and theres a communal kitchen plus bikes to rent. And a breakfast rich with antioxidants helps to protect a persons cells from disease. Or, get your zen on at La Senda, the wellness center on a 74-acre forested property near Tamarindo. 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Speaking of work, finding work/life balance is a constant challenge for many. The five blue zones are: Loma Linda, California; Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan; Ikaria, Greece; and the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica. WED LOVE IF YOUD ADD IT ON PINTEREST! Each region has its own diet, types of exercise, and community structure, but each has specific elements in common - all starting with a sense of purpose. There will be a lot to learn and a lot to do to get back to a healthier normal. By comparison, a person in the United States can reasonably expect to live to just 77, according to federal census data. A three-course farm-to-table dinner with a tour of the organic garden is available Mondays and Thursdays. It is believed that one factor which may contribute to the high number of Nicoyan centenarians is the high calcium content in the water. 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." The template laid out in the Blue Zones Project: natural foods, daily movement, community, and sense of purpose, can help anyone develop stronger immune systems, so they can live healthier and longer lives. 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. Certain common characteristics were also established in order to determine whether additional Blue Zones could be added in the near future. Ed #2798 Oficina #8 Nicoya is a small, rural beach community located on the Guanacaste peninsula on the northwest coast of Costa Rica. 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? Surprisingly, happiness and keeping a focus on family are two of the main components. 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. 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. We met in Virginia, moved to Germany, and now live in sunny Costa Rica. In other words, it lives longer than the average global life expectancy. Compreende os 5 cantos da Pennsula de Nicoya: Hojancha, Nandayure, Carrillo, Santa Cruz e Nicoya. They also practice good physical and mental health. Nicoya has an abundance of accommodation options but these selections should help your Blue Zone focus whether its healthy food, yoga, spa, surfing, and hiking, connecting with family, or getting a sense of purpose by helping protect Nicoyas wildlife and their habitat. Adapting our lifestyles wherever we live to healthier practices such as intermittent fasting, walkability, exploring plant-based gastronomy, and low glycemic index food intake sound like your everyday doctors recipe for a healthy life, says Cedeno-Molinari. Of course, there is still a desire for success (especially in the cities) but in general, the priorities are shifted. Access to natural foods and organic fruits and vegetables (stables of the Nicoyans) is difficult to come by. 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. In an article in the Chicagoan, Marc J. 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. 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. The heart is a muscle, and all muscle contractions depend on calcium. 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. Fish is a lean protein and provides oils which help with overall brain function. 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. Blue Zones Nicoya desarrolla alimentos, bebidas y suplementos inspirados en los centenarios de la. 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. The Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica is one of the five areas in the world that hold the distinguished classification of a Blue Zone. Try spending quality times with your loved ones. The world has 5 recognized Blue Zones (as determined by the authority of National Geographic ). The Nicoya Peninsula has several on offer, including near Tamarindo, outside the Cabo Blanco Reserve near Playa Mal Pais, and above the Montezuma waterfall. O que so Zonas Azuis? 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. We must make the health of future generations our responsibility by implementing the lifestyles of the Blue Zones people now. Buettner approached National Geograhic with his idea and they agreed to help fund his research. In other words, people in these zones to live longer than any other areas in the world. Were Thomas (the German) and Sarah (the US-er). Nicoyans often live more than 100 years and Nicoya boasts of the highest number of centenarians in the world. ", 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. 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. Nicoyan centenarians have been the focus of many articles. Throughout the world, the average life expectancy is 71 years of age (70 for males and 72 for females). The beautiful view of the beaches may also have a hand in this. First . By Ty and Charlene Bollinger. - save 10% Plus other perks . It is not unusual for many generations to live on one property or in very close proximity to each other. You may opt-out by. Stir in two chopped plum tomatoes, half of a finely chopped onion and one . Is the Nicoya Peninsula good for a Wellness getaway? So, Nicoya is another blue zone in the world alongside Okinawa (Japan), Cerdea (Italia), Icaria (Greece) and Loma Linda (California). Their traditional diet of fortified maize and beans may be the best nutritional combination for longevity the world has ever known. They are places where people get around by walking more than by car, they eat more plants than meat, and a diet that includes beans or grains such as corn, where the family is their number one purpose. He worked with several notable anthropolgists, dieticians, historians, and geneticists to identify and further understand what contributes to a long lifespan. If you would like to be near things but get a bit more of a feel for traditional Nicoya life while also enjoying a bit of the touristy perks (surfing, fun restaurants etc.) Not long after, he began to lead trips to the first Blue Zones that he had discovered. Warm, Sunny Climate. Nicoya, Costa Rica. The Power of Nine is the name Buetnner has given to the characteristics that all Blue Zones seem to share. 4. Most people in this area never move. 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. Getting up in the air on tree canopy tours via ziplines and rope bridges is popular throughout Costa Rica. Buettner's studies on the Nicoya Peninsula revealed eight key factors that affect people's life expectancy. Are you interested in learning more about the Costa Rica Blue Zone and other zones of the world? The Ikarians and the Ikaria is another one of the Blue Zones, and the Costa Ricans, Nicoya, they're taking a nap. This has paid off, with Costa Rica frequently scoring high in world happiness and environmental rankings. The Caribbean nation is economically secure and has excellent health care. 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. Costa Rica indeed does celebrate its elderly citizens; every person who has a 100 th birthday is . 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. LIKED THIS? The Adventists are praying. 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). The traditional diet in the area is also notable. The information and example set by the inhabitants of the Blue Zone of Nicoya are highly valuable, and some of the life habits can be emulated, planting a blue seed throughout the country. Do you ever wish you could know the secrets to a long and happy life? 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. 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. But other factors are at play, especially in Nicoya, an 80-mile peninsula just south of the Nicaraguan border. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Actually, it is home. 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. They feel needed and want to contribute to a greater good. In one of Buettner's most recent visits to Costa Rica, he defined Blue Zones as "a kind of lifestyle and environment that creates longevity. The world has a number of Blue Zones, areas where the locals live healthier and longer lives. Its one of our favorite places in Costa Rica and most likely where we would move if we ever moved to the beach. O segreto da Zona Azul de Nicoya. Full of natural beauty, endless sunlight, white beaches and radiant ocean, Nicoya reigns as one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica. To understand some of the reasons why Blue-Zoners live healthier, longer lives, let's take another look at Ricardo's daily routine. obesity, or heart disease. 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. Get some sensible sun. All rights reserved. In other words, Nicoyans receive a healthy dose of vitamins in their daily diet. Join 19k+ in receiving Expert travel advice, news & promotions! Black beans contain high doses of antioxidants and they are eaten for almost every meal among Nicoyans (and most Costa Ricans). There are five regions around the world called the Blue Zones: Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece, and Loma Linda, California. 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. Lane cites the impact of COVID-19 on minorities like Blacks and Hispanics throughout Chicago. "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. The international attendees also included Dan Buettner, a reporter and researcher for National Geographic, who has been responsible for popularizing the concept of Blue Zones through the publication of various articles and best-selling books that explore the direct connection between this issue and diet, spirituality, purpose in life and physical exercise, with happiness as a cross-cutting element. 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 Nicoya Peninsula, a Blue Zone in Costa Rica, is renowned for its tranquil, laid-back ambiance. Lunch is the main meal in Costa Rica (its better for your digestion to eat a bigger breakfast and lunch and a lighter dinner). After living there for four years I have my own theories as to what makes people so happy, and in turn have a longer life span.