why is nicoya, costa rica a blue zone

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. For just over 15 years he has been monitoring and accompanying the long-lived people that . 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). Speaking of work, finding work/life balance is a constant challenge for many. Nicoyan centenarians get frequent visits from neighbors. It is believed that one factor which may contribute to the high number of Nicoyan centenarians is the high calcium content in the water. He then went on release a book The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who Have Lived the Longest in 2008. The Nicoya Peninsula is in many ways isolated from the rest of Costa Rica due to geography. About two hours down the coast from Tamarindo is Nosara, Nicoyas yoga center (the Nosara Yoga Institute here offers teacher training). 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. Check out all of our favorite travel companies. Blue Zones: Lessons For Living Longer From The People Whove Lived The Longest. 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. The Nicoya Peninsula has five cantons where middle-age morality is lowest and centenarians are the most abundant. Inadequate calcium means weak muscles -- including the heart. A "Blue Zone" is an area of the world where it is typical for people to live past 100 years old. On today's podcast, Gina does some serious myth-busting about what has kept the centenarians so well, for so long. 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? One is the plan de vida, or reason to live, which propels a positive outlook among elders and helps keep them active. It is the reason why the founder of Omega Institute set up Blue Spirit in Nosara and a Longevity center. Every day, most people eat a breakfast of black beans and rice (called gallo pinto), eggs, fresh corn tortillas (with batter soaked in lime juice), with a cup of coffee. 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. Win-win! We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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. 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. A blue zone is a geographical area in which the population is the longest-lived. Try our meal idea that reflects elements of the Nicoyan Peninsula Blue Zoners' diet. 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. In the Nicoya Peninsula, the water is particularly rich in calcium and magnesium which studies show is good for cardiovascular health and preventing cancer. When Dan Buettner introduced the concept of Blue Zones, he formed the Blue Zones Project. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 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. 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. Even the cancer rates on the Nicoya Peninsula are lower than those elsewhere in the world! Dan Buettner is really the man behind Blue Zones, so I suggest you start your interest with him. Nicoyans regularly take in the sunshine, which helps their bodies produce vitamin D for strong bones and healthy body function. Moderate alcohol intake, especially wine. Nicoya is located on the Guanacaste peninsula in Costa Rica, and is considered one of the 7 blue zones found worldwide. They feel needed and want to contribute to a greater good. They begin each meal with a prayer. They also practice good physical and mental health. This Central American nation isnt that far from the U.S. geographically, but it is way ahead of us in longevity. So, having extra-hard water may help keep Nicoyans' hearts strong, and longer. 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. O que so Zonas Azuis? These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 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. 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. We can start making healthier choices today, thus living more enriching lives and encouraging others to adopt similar healthy ways of living. 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. Imagine yourself in a future not-so-distant, where more conscious lifestyle decisions you make at an individual level, are supported by a branch of medicine that attempts to change the course of diseases and regenerates failing parts of our bodies. Warm, Sunny Climate. Its name is due to the tribe that reigned prior to the arrival of the Spanish in 1520, it is said to come from the Nahuatlas words Nica, Necoclau or Necocyanh, which means surrounded by water. There are plenty of good-for-you activities to keep you busy on the Nicoya Peninsula jump in the water with a surfboard or snorkel, get up high on a zipline, stretch out with a yoga class, or take a hike (call it forest bathing if you wish) in a nature reserve. seen in blue zones. It includes the five cantons of the Nicoya Peninsula: Hojancha, Nandayure, Carrillo, Santa Cruz and Nicoya. Toss gently. So why is it that the people of Nicoya outlive so many others? This goes along with the decision to widen the country's tourism offerings and venture into industries with high potential, such as wellness tourism. Look for howler and capuchin monkeys, parrots and parakeets, and bigger birds like herons and hawks. This vigorous village is one of the Blue Zones' unique hotspots. 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. 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. Due to the Nicoya Peninsula's location in Central America, the area has an abundance of warm days with tons of sunlight. 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. obesity, or heart disease. Getting up in the air on tree canopy tours via ziplines and rope bridges is popular throughout Costa Rica. According to researchers, most inhabitants live to at least the age of 90.. The daily breakfast consists of gallo pinto (rice and beans) with a basket of homemade corn tortillas and hot coffee. 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. Stir in two chopped plum tomatoes, half of a finely chopped onion and one . And here are two great reports done that will give you a better understanding of the Nicoya people, area, and mindset. It is fascinating to see which factors play into long lifespan including how you can emulate this lifestyle. In Nicoya, Costa Rica, where average incomes are among the nation's lowest, the average lifespan is 85 among the world's highest. Nantipa means blue in the language of the Chorotega people, some of the first known people to live in the Nicoya region. Some of the roads in Nicoyas interior and south arent paved, so the deeper you go into the peninsula the more you may prefer to fly (for example, its a 20-minute flight from San Jos to the tiny Tambor airport in the south). 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? 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. 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. English is widely spoken and the town has lots of tourist infrastructure with a wide variety of restaurant and accommodation choices. There are other blue zones in California, Italy, Greece, and Japan. Community. I will be visiting Costa Rica next week to meet with Jorge who founded a local organization that helps the small Blue Zone villages. All rights reserved. It includes the five cantons of the Nicoya Peninsula: Hojancha, Nandayure, Carrillo, Santa Cruz and Nicoya. Nicoyan centenarians have been the focus of many articles. We must make the health of future generations our responsibility by implementing the lifestyles of the Blue Zones people now. 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. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Technology permeates everyday life and Nicoya is the perfect place to go for a digital detox. Get some sensible sun. For most Americans, an entrance ramp for a new lifestyle change is through their mouth, Buettner says. Loma Linda, California. Wellness enthusiasts will delight in the abundance of nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables. Is the Nicoya Peninsula good for a Wellness getaway? Some sea turtles have even lived to age 150. The occasion was also used to release the most recent study on longevity by the Institute of Social Studies in Population (Instituto de Estudios Sociales en Poblacin, IDESPO) at the National University of Costa Rica. 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. Many believe it will be through the cutting-edge innovations of regenerative medicine that the privileges of the Blue Zones can be democratized, so that anyone, anywhere, and at any time has access to the technology that allows us to replenish, replace and rejuvenate our physical bodies., What weve witnessed during 2020 are healthcare systems around the world that are reactive, bureaucratic, inefficient, and saturated. Who knows, maybe it will change your life! 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. 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. Living Hotel partners with the Spacio spa, a five-minute walk away, which has several treatments geared to surfers. These cantons are: Carillo, Hojancha, Nicoya, Santa Cruz, and Nandoyure. The heart is a muscle, and all muscle contractions depend on calcium. Several of Nicoyas beaches like those in the Ostional National Wildlife Reserve are nesting grounds for Kemps Ridley, green, and leatherback turtles. 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. This has paid off, with Costa Rica frequently scoring high in world happiness and environmental rankings. 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. 11 talking about this. On the peninsulas southeast coast is Tambor, with Nicoyas most southerly airport. 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. What are Blue Zones? Of course, there is still a desire for success (especially in the cities) but in general, the priorities are shifted. He worked with several notable anthropolgists, dieticians, historians, and geneticists to identify and further understand what contributes to a long lifespan. Nearby are waterfalls at Montezuma, ziplining near the Cabo Blanco Reserve, and kite surfing. 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. Nicoya, Costa Rica, is a Central American Caribbean nation that boasts economic security and excellent health care. Face-to-Face Conversations. What are Blue Zones? 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. 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. Nosara also has three beaches remote black sand Playa Nosara, Playa Guiones with some of Costa Ricas best surfing, and Playa Pelada for tide pools, blow holes, snorkeling, and swimming. Blue Zones Nicoya desarrolla alimentos, bebidas y suplementos inspirados en los centenarios de la. 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. The Nicoya Peninsula has several on offer, including near Tamarindo, outside the Cabo Blanco Reserve near Playa Mal Pais, and above the Montezuma waterfall. Research shows that 30% of longevity comes from genes, and the remaining 70% from lifestyle. This treasure includes the atmosphere around you." It is not unusual for many generations to live on one property or in very close proximity to each other. Tamarindo is the most popular destination for international visitors with its golden beaches, many with consistent and gentle surfing waves, and nearby national parks and wildlife refuges. At the southern tip of the peninsula is Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve. 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. As of now, there are 5 blue zones: Icaria, Greece. Rare species like pumas, ocelots, and margay cats make their home here too. I cant blame you. In other words, people in these zones to live longer than any other areas in the world. What Is The Potential Of Generative AI In Healthcare? Surprisingly, happiness and keeping a focus on family are two of the main components. Eco-tourism is a natural must in this out-of-this-world scenario, where everything that happens is in a quiet, lovely pace. 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. This is an excerpt fromBlue Zones: Lessons For Living Longer From The People Whove Lived The Longestby Dan Buettner, copyright 2008, all rights reserved. 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. 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. These centenarians help teach us the value of those important little things," said Mauricio Ventura, Minister of Tourism, with pride. Costa Ricans called Ticos say pura vida instead of hello, how are you, fine, thanks, and see you later and youll quickly find yourself saying it too. To my delight, Costa Rica has its own Blue Zone - the Nicoya Peninsula! However, both towns have a more touristy vibe to them. Directions: Toss the cabbage with the orange juice, season with salt and pepper and let sit 30 minutes. I feel lucky to have found this information, though the credit doesn't belong to me, but rather to the older residents. Just note, you might have trouble finding a place to stay. The climate in the Blue Zone is very mild, which may help to protect against diseases. Ed #2798 Oficina #8 The forest here is more tropical than further north and is home to deer, pacas, monkeys, armadillos, laughing gulls, pelicans, frigates, and brown boobies. Tamarindo is also a great place for solo travelers. 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. LIKED THIS? As indicated by the World Health Organization, "active or positive aging is the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation and security in order to enhance quality of life as people age". Access to natural foods and organic fruits and vegetables (stables of the Nicoyans) is difficult to come by. Meaning, family ties are strong. The beautiful view of the beaches may also have a hand in this. 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. One of the world's Blue Zones is in Nicoya, Costa Rica. A "Blue Zone" is a region of the world where people commonly live past the age of 100 years.In "Blue Zone Nicoya Peninsula", residents live even longer than those in other areas of Costa Rica. Do you ever wish you could know the secrets to a long and happy life? So, Nicoya is another blue zone in the world alongside Okinawa (Japan), Cerdea (Italia), Icaria (Greece) and Loma Linda (California). By TCRN STAFF October 5, 2022 528 0 WED LOVE IF YOUD ADD IT ON PINTEREST! Modern Nicoyans roots to the indigenous Chorotega and their traditions have enabled them to remain relatively free of stress. Hi! They typically do not consume a lot of meat. Buettner had spent several years before penning the article leading expeditions including tracing Darwin's route in the Galapagos and Marco Polo's trip along the Silk Road. The reason why they are called "blue zones" is a curious story The Nicoya Peninsula, in Costa Rica, is one of them, . Wildlife is abundant. Try cutting out some meat and replacing it with fresh vegetables and fruit. 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. Go to a soda, thats the name of a small, local caf, and look for casado this popular dish is rice and beans served with vegetables and either fish or meat. Located on the Guanacaste Peninsula in northwestern Costa Rica, Nicoya is a rural, beachside, blue-zone community. 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. Nantipas special wellness booking includes yoga, meditation, Ayurvedic and sound therapies, and sessions with wellness coaches and personal trainers. "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. It is also one of the world's Blue Zones. For those who might need some meal ideas, Dan Buettner, wrote the Blue Zones Kitchen cookbook. 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. 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. The Adobe Rent-A-Car discount includes.. DISCOUNTED SMARTPHONE USAGE WITH UNLIMITED DATA. That sense of purpose drives them in all aspects of their lives. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. I have been exploring the data reported by National Geographic and Dan Buettner in the Blue Zones Solution: . 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. Soltara Healing Center is located on the calm and pristine Gulf of Nicoya in the mountainous jungle of Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula. Or, get your zen on at La Senda, the wellness center on a 74-acre forested property near Tamarindo. . 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. The peak nesting time is from August to November and in the days before a new moon, thousands of turtles congregate in the Pacific waiting for the perfect time to come ashore and dig a hole to lay their eggs. You can, thanks to the world's "blue zones." The Power of Nine is the name Buetnner has given to the characteristics that all Blue Zones seem to share. 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. 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. Lane cites the impact of COVID-19 on minorities like Blacks and Hispanics throughout Chicago. 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. Required fields are marked *, car rental deal! Black beans contain high doses of antioxidants and they are eaten for almost every meal among Nicoyans (and most Costa Ricans).

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why is nicoya, costa rica a blue zone