why is nicoya, costa rica a blue zone

why is nicoya, costa rica a blue zone

The chance to do yoga in an open-air pavilion on the beach is not to be missed! They are joined by 42 other centenarians in the Nicoya Peninsula, located in the 5 blue cantons: Nicoya, Santa Cruz, Hojancha, Nandayure and Carrillo (according to data from Jorge Vindas, a field researcher for the Nicoya Peninsula Blue Zone Association). He then had the idea to research areas in the world with the longest lifespan. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. 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. Changing the American diet and culture around the food we eat can help save lives. As of now, there are 5 blue zones: Icaria, Greece. The way Nicoyans choose to live their lives gives us a template from which we can learn to improve our health and find our sense of purpose. The forest here is more tropical than further north and is home to deer, pacas, monkeys, armadillos, laughing gulls, pelicans, frigates, and brown boobies. Buettner's studies on the Nicoya Peninsula revealed eight key factors that affect people's life expectancy. 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. 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. 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. It helps them remain positive. The world has a number of Blue Zones, areas where the locals live healthier and longer lives. 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. This has paid off, with Costa Rica frequently scoring high in world happiness and environmental rankings. We know we should include exercise into all parts of our lives (not just an hour at the gym). The Nicoya Peninsula, a Blue Zone in Costa Rica, is renowned for its tranquil, laid-back ambiance. 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. 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. Join 19k+ subscribers in receiving FREE travel advice, news & promotions! Offering barefoot luxury on Playa Langosta this family-owned boutique hotel is a 15-minute walk from downtown Tamarindo. March 2nd, 2023. 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. 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. The climate in the Blue Zone is very mild, which may help to protect against diseases. I suggest visiting Cabuya (a small town between Montezuma and Santa Teresa) or San Francisco de Coyote (a remote beach town). They feel needed and want to contribute to a greater good. There are five regions around the world called the Blue Zones: Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece, and Loma Linda, California. The term 'Blue Zone' was coined by Dan Buettner, a New York Times bestselling author, who was studying areas to some of the oldest people 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. 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. 11 talking about this. 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. 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? Customer Experience Critical To Consumer Preference: IAAPA CEO Comments On Key Trends, When It Comes To Advertising, Multicultural Representation Is Not Enough. Centenarians seem to have enjoyed physical work of all their lives. The Caribbean nation is economically secure and has excellent health care. 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). These cookies do not store any personal information. All of our step by step Costa Rica planning tips in one spot. 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. It is home to some of the most active, hard-working, and friendliest people on earth. Having a Blue Zone helps strengthen the country's constant striving for quality of life, both for Costa Ricans and for tourists. Surprisingly, happiness and keeping a focus on family are two of the main components. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Nicoya is located far off in Northeastern Costa Rica. Several of Nicoyas beaches like those in the Ostional National Wildlife Reserve are nesting grounds for Kemps Ridley, green, and leatherback turtles. Inadequate calcium means weak muscles -- including the heart. Here you will find some of the most beautiful beaches and hotels in Costa Rica, along with lush tropical forests perfect for hiking or horseback riding. For most of their lives, Nicoyan centenarians ate a traditional Mesoamerican diet highlighted with the three sisters of agriculture: squash, corn, and beans. 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. When Dan Buettner introduced the concept of Blue Zones, he formed the Blue Zones Project. The most southerly point is Cabo Blanco Reserve and the south coast also has the town of Tambor. 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. Scarlet macaws are bred in Tambor and youll have a chance of seeing them, even on the beach. howler and white face monkeys, red variegated squirrels, sloths, anteaters, raccoon-like coatis, butterflies, plus some 900 bird species including the fiery-billed aracari toucan and the rufous-tailed hummingbird. 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. Do you have any questions about the Costa Rica Blue Zone? Nicoya was introduced as a Blue Zone in a 2004 National Geographic article by Dan Buettner. [Try this 5-Minute Tasty Squash and Beans for a taste of Costa Rican homecooking.]. 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. On the peninsulas southeast coast is Tambor, with Nicoyas most southerly airport. You may opt-out by. Another option is to take the 75-minute ferry across the Gulf of Nicoya from Puntarenas to Paquera. We hope you love the Blue Zone Costa Rica stays we recommend. 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. Warm, Sunny Climate. 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. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. They have been able to exceed their life expectancy and serve as an example for the entire world. While we may not increase the average life expectancy throughout the world we can use Nicoya as a template for healthier living. It includes the five cantons of the Nicoya Peninsula: Hojancha, Nandayure, Carrillo, Santa Cruz and Nicoya. The Adventists are praying. By Ty and Charlene Bollinger. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Another is a focus on family and a special ability to listen and laugh. Nicoyan centenarians get frequent visits from neighbors. uma atrativa pergunta explica que os habitantes de Guanacaste e sim dvida contar com uma das cinco que existem no mundo um orgulho para todos os habitantes da provincia. But other factors are at play, especially in Nicoya, an 80-mile peninsula just south of the Nicaraguan border. Try our meal idea that reflects elements of the Nicoyan Peninsula Blue Zoners' diet. A blue zone is a geographical area in which the population is the longest-lived. It remains to be seen if the COVID pandemic will affect that average. There are two trails for visitors and a pristine white sand beach. Their traditional diet of fortified maize and beans may be the best nutritional combination for longevity the world has ever known. If we can harness that, we can hopefully improve the health of future generations. Speaking of work, finding work/life balance is a constant challenge for many. Nicoya, Costa Rica: A Puzzling Blue Zone Diet Light on Vegetables and High in Carbohydrate and Sugar. The Nicoya Peninsula has five cantons where middle-age morality is lowest and centenarians are the most abundant. Nicoya is a small, rural beach community located on the Guanacaste peninsula on the northwest coast of Costa Rica. According to researchers, most inhabitants live to at least the age of 90. Some sea turtles have even lived to age 150. 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. LIKED THIS? Contents1 Is Costa Rica considered [] Staples of the traditional Nicoya diet include homemade corn tortillas, black beans, white rice, a variety of squash, yams, papaya, bananas, and pejibayes. The peninsula is one of the worlds five Blue Zones where many people live exceptionally long and healthy lives. Successful centenarians have a strong sense of purpose. We are always happy to help you out! Nicoyans often live more than 100 years and Nicoya boasts of the highest number of centenarians in the world. 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. 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. The best way we can mourn those lives lost is to honor them by creating a better future for our children, their children, and their childrens children by making healthier choices now. The heart is a muscle, and all muscle contractions depend on calcium. Nicoyans regularly take in the sunshine, which helps their bodies produce vitamin D for strong bones and healthy body function. These factors are present, to some degree, in the other four Blue Zones in the world, according to world experts who participated in the World Meeting in Nicoya in mid-November.

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