Things they do in Sardegna to be the oldest living on the Planet.
I was excited about going to Sardegna as I had previously read the book Blue Zones by Dan Buettner. It was really clear when visiting why they are amongst the longest living in the World. Blue Zones identifies 4 places in the world that have more living Centurions than any other places on the planet. One of those places is Sardegna and I have identified the traits that I personally witnessed while visiting that makes them amongst the longest living in the World.
1.Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
There was an abundance of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables everywhere we went. The fruit and vegetables we consumed were amazingly fresh and juicy and they grow the majority of their own produce locally. Every meal we consumed while in Sardegna always had a large supply of locally grown Fruits and Vegetables.
2.Non Processed Foods
Everything we consumed was very fresh and for the most part not processed. We went to the supermarket a few times and it was amazing that the selection of foods were very limited and were mostly fresh, non processed foods. In fact at the suggestion of one of the guys I went with, we went for dinner at a local farm and everything served was organic and grown or raised on the property that we ate at.
3.Consumption of Locally Grown Grapes for Wine(this was may favourite trait of the Centurions!)
One of the traits that Dan talked about in his book was that all the Centurions he interviewed all consumed locally grown Red Wine. I was pleased to read that this extended longevity as I made sure we indulged in our fair share of locally grown Red Wine when we were there! In particular, many of the Centurians drank the locally produced Red Wine from a grape – Cannonau, grapes that have an abundance of very rich flavonoids in them that they attribute to longevity.
4.Everyday Work as Fitness
Instead of going to the gym or jumping on a treadmill for 30 minutes a day, one of the most common traits of the Centurions was that the work they did provided a level of fitness all day long. Many of the Centurions interviewed worked on their properties herding sheep, working with Cattle, working their farm land etc. Therefore they had a level of ongoing fitness and many were still doing this labour well past 100 years of age. Dan sites an example of a 102 year old Centurion he interviewed that beat him in an arm wrestle!
5.Focus on Family
The Centurions that Dan interviewed all had a close bond and lived with their family. The home was a family dwelling and the Centurions lived with their children and grandchildren(and great grandchildren) in most cases. The Centurions were the head of the family and were an integral part of the family unit and very much felt a sense of belonging and love.
So MY takeaways based on my visit to Sardegna as well as Dans book Blue Zones are as follows:
1.Eat an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables and locally grown/organic when possible
2.Eat as few “Processed” food as possible
3.Drink moderate amounts of locally grown organic Red Wine
4.Everyday Fitness as a way of life
5.Continue to focus on family and strong family relationships
Yours in Great Health, Kev
P.S. I just received a Blue Zones newsletter that outlines Cameron Diaz’s secrets to living a long and healthy life.
1 comment
Hi Kevin.
Another great story. I am sure everyone who reads your blog appreciates your effort and will certainly give your ideas, some deep thought.
It is amazing that you are sharing your experiences with so many people.
You are setting a good example for your children too.
Well done.
Marge