5 Countries in the World Where People Live Longer

Living many long and healthy years is certainly desirable to all. After all, who would not want to spend several more decades with his family, a little precious time with friends, or travel around the world, seeing as many other lands as possible?

Although life expectancy depends largely on genetics, it is becoming increasingly common to live up to 80, 90, and perhaps even reach a full century. In fact, the United Nations expects the number of people who turn a hundred years of age to increase by eight times until 2050.

One way to know if you have more chances of reaching age 100 is to see if you live in a Blue Zone.

First mentioned as term by scholar Dan Buettner, the Blue Zones are called those areas where some of the oldest and healthier people live in the world. According to Buettner, there are five places where you are most likely to find people in your 80s, 90s, or even who easily reach the age of 100.

Sardin, Italy

Sardin was the first Blue Zone to be identified by Buettner and his team in 2004. According to the Blue Zoes Web site, researchers discovered a strange <x0) genetic behavior” carried by many of Sardinia's inhabitants, which was associated with the population's great life expectancy.

But genetics is not unique to the inhabitants of this destination. As this website points out, people living in Sardinia continue to have a very active life - style and hunt, fishing, and reaping most foods locally.

This community consumes a largely healthy diet consisting of whole - grain bread, beans, garden vegetables, fruit and mastic oil, which are extremely important to heart health. Also, another important fact to mention is that “they laugh and drink wine together”.

Okinawa, Japan

According to Blue Zoes, people living in Okinawa are very fortunate because they have extremely low rates of cancer, heart disease, and degeneracy compared with other peoples. Their life span can also be attributed to strong social ties, as well as to their deep sense of purpose.

The elderly Okinawans can express very simply why they wake up every morning”, reports the Blue Zone website. Their purpose - filled “gives them clear roles regarding the responsibilities and feeling of being needed even when they are 100.” People here also consume a diet mainly plant-based.

Nicoya, Costa Rica

Costa Rica residents have a saying that we should all follow: “pura vida”, which is translated into pure “”. This desire to live happily every day has served people well here and has given them many other healthy years.

Again, life expectancy also here depends on strong family ties, a sense of purpose every day, and, as you might imagine, a healthy diet. “Consuming less calories seems to be one of the safest ways to add years to your life expectancy,” observes Blue Zones.

Nicoya's subs are consuming a light dinner early in the evening. For most of their lives, the centenarians from Nicoya have followed a traditional meso - American diet based on agriculture sisters - pumpkin, corn, and beans. ”

Icaria, Greece

The Greek island is inhabited by fewer than 10,000 people, but they are very healthy. According to Blue Zones, almost no resident of this island suffers from malaria or chronic illness. Moreover, one in three residents here lives up to 90.

How? According to researchers, this is related to their social culture, their levels of activity and diet, as well as their love for a glass of good wine. They taste strong red wine, play dominoes late at night and follow a relaxed pace of life.

Clean air, warm breezes, and rugged terrain make them appear often in nature, thus following an active lifestyle,” says the Blue Zone website.

Loma Linda, California

Although southern California offers a generally pleasant environment for all, the inhabitants of Loma Linda seem to benefit more than others.

In fact, according to Blue Zones, they live about a decade more than a person with normal life span, which may result from their vegetarian diets and love of training. This may also be due to their passion for helping others.

“Like many other beliefs, the Seventh-Day Adventist Church encourages and offers its members access to volunteer work,” writes Blue Zones, adding that the inhabitants of Loma Linda are active and “find the meaning of purpose and remove depression by focusing on helping others”.