There are a few, very special places on our planet where people usually live longer and are healthier than anywhere else. These places are known as Blue Zones, homes to the highest concentration of centenarians around the globe. There are Blue Zones in Asia, a couple in Europe, in California, and one in the beautiful and unique province of Guanacaste, in Costa Rica.
This magical province in Costa Rica’s northwest is special for many reasons such as its use of all 5 renewable energies and the multiple marine and terrestrial ecosystems in its territory. And not only is it a Blue Zone, it is the only region in all of Latin America that’s part of this select group.
The concept of Blue Zones was coined by Gianni Pes and Michel Poulain as a result of a demographic investigation they made in which they circled in blue places around the world where people lived particularly long lives. The concept now also encompasses aspects of the lifestyle and environment of the inhabitants of these places.
Where exactly is Costa Rica’s Blue Zone?
As mentioned above, there is a region in Guanacaste Province in Costa Rica that is considered a Blue Zone. This place is called Nicoya. It is both the oldest cultural center of the province and an iconic place in Costa Rica’s political history.
Nicoya’s name comes from an indigenous origin. It is derived from the word “Necocyahn” in Nahuatl, which means "land with water on both sides". It was officially founded in 1848 and it is known as a canton which perceives peace, sustainability and longevity.
According to the Nicoya Peninsula Blue Zone Association, by the end of 2020 there were approximately 950 people in Nicoya in ages between 90 and 100, and at least 4,500 people over the age of 80. But what is the secret to this longevity the centenarians from Nicoya enjoy?
What makes Nicoya a Blue Zone?
Is it in the water? The food? The sun? Well, it's in a little bit of them all and in other things as well. There are some general lifestyle aspects that make it, so this community gets to enjoy a longer, healthier life span. Maybe there is a thing or two we can learn from the Nicoya Peninsula and adapt to our, usually, fast-paced lives.
Let’s start with food. The people of the region tend to include several rice, bean, and corn-based dishes in their daily diets. These nutritious foods are common in Costa Rican traditional dishes and guarantee good digestive health. The dishes also include meat varieties from naturally raised animals in the great Nicoyan plains.
But food is not the only secret ingredient to the longevity of the people. The water in the Nicoya Peninsula has higher levels of calcium in comparison to other regions. This helps strengthen the bone system through the course of a person’s life and more so when people reach an elderly age.
The sun is another important contributing factor. For the past several decades people have been spending more time indoors instead of outside in order to avoid the damaging sun rays. While the risk is real and it’s important to wear sunscreen and avoid prolonged exposure to sun, the absorption of vitamin D from a tropical sun reduces the risk of diabetes, osteoporosis, cancer, and heart diseases.
The centenarians in the region tend to enjoy being outside regularly. A 15 minute daily exposure should be more than enough and it is fundamental, as it not only has physical health benefits but is also good for mental health and improving the overall mood.
Now, you might think the secret is out, that you have all the necessary insight on the lifestyle of centennials. Food, water, and sun might seem like enough, but that’s not all there is to longevity of Nicoyans.
It’s an attitude kind of thing!
If you visit Nicoya, you are just going to feel it. The warmth doesn’t come only from the sun, but from the people as well. As you walk through the streets and get to know the beauties of the region, such as the Colonial San Blas Church (built in 1544, approximately), you can also stop and talk to the elderly people in the area, they always have a great story to tell and they are more than happy to do so.
The centenarians in the Nicoya Peninsula are known for being hard workers. Even as they grow older, they enjoy an active lifestyle not only working in the fields, shopping at the local fair, and doing housework, but also visiting and interacting with neighbors and family members.
The people and the community are important to the elderly in the area and these interpersonal relationships and the determination to get the most out of life also explain their enviable well-being and longevity. Nicoyans also place a great emphasis on having a life plan, seeking a purpose, striving to do good and resting as hard as they work.
It can be said that this long-lived status is an integral effort of both body and mind. There is definitely a lot we learn from the only blue zone in Central America, the Nicoya Peninsula. As we live our fast-paced lives, maybe we can stop every once in a while, to enjoy the warmth of the sun, to spend time with those important to us, to be generous and kind with people around us, but also with ourselves.
And why not take a more hands-on approach? How about learning all the secrets Nicoya can offer by coming to Costa Rica? You can replicate this eating routine based on rice, beans, corn, tropical fruits, and sunbathing in the tropics to begin this journey. And what better place to stay in Costa Rica other than Out of Office Villa?
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