Food & Lifestyle Habits of the Oldest Peoples on Earth

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Nicoya, Costa Rica

When you see a place as beautiful as Nicoya, Costa Rica, it's not hard to imagine living a long, healthy life there. But beyond the abundance of Vitamin D, there are a handful of reasons that might help to explain how its native residents frequently live well into their 90's and older. Not unlike the previously mentioned peoples, Nicoyan centenarians have cultivated strong social connections within their communities and live purposeful lives. Their diet and lifestyle also contributes to their longevity: 

• The water in Nicoya is particularly rich in calcium, a key nutrient for maintaining bone strength and warding off heart disease.
• Don't expect to find keto-followers or low-carb diets here! Nicoyan centenarians traditionally consumed a trio of Mesoamerican staples: beans, squash and corn. Nowadays, they also eat plenty of rice and plantains, a smaller amount of veggies, tropical fruits and very little meat, fish and poultry.
• Their calorie intake remains reasonable compared to what we see in many Western countries, and they favor a light dinner.
• They enjoy staying active at home with chores or doing physical work, and they're relatively stress-free.