Foods Consumed by the Healthiest People
Part 4 - Ikaria
Foods of the Healthiest People Part 5 - Costa
Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula
The Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica was a surprise discovery
when researchers from National Geographic began their study of longevity
hot spots (aka blue zones) around the world. When they heard the region
had a reputation of healthy ageing, they suspected it wouldn't stand
up to their scientific scrutiny. However, this changed when they reviewed
the quality work of demographer Dr. Rosero-Bixby.
Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica
Categorized as a hot, dry, forest climate, the region has no real summer
or winter. For eleven months out of the year, the temperature ranges
from a high of mid-80s to a low of mid-70s with one month, January,
being significantly cooler. There is a 7-8 month rainy season yielding
~60 inches a year. Measured geographically, the occupants of the 70-80
mile long, thirty mile wide peninsula reside in the world’s largest
longevity zone. Residents have the lowest middle aged mortality on earth.
When they celebrate their 60th birthday they are 2-4 times more likely
(depending on the source) to reach 90 than Americans are, even though
their healthcare expenditures are 84% less per person per year. And,
once they reach 90, their life expectancy continues to exceed the life
expectancy of American 90 year olds, even with our advanced end-of-life
treatment. Like other areas of healthy ageing, the people remain physically
active throughout their lives. They don't spend their days sitting and
looking at screens, nor do they hire others to take care of their homes
and yards. They do have social interaction with family, friends and
church..
Diet
Nicoyans eat a large breakfast, a moderate lunch and a small dinner.
Corn tortillas (made at home) accompany most meals. Black beans, white
rice, eggs and fruit are dietary staples. Longevity journalist Dan Buettner
states they also eat a lot of squash. Compared to other blue zones,
their diet includes the most meat (mainly chicken & pork) eggs (mostly
fried) and corn (mainly tortillas). They also eat more fruit than the
other blue zones including mango, papaya, passion fruit, plantains(generally
fried), mamones, guava, marañón (the seed is a cashew)
pejibaye, starfruit, zapote, coconut, pineapple, cantaloupe, blackberries,
lemons and limes. The water is very high in minerals, especially calcium
due to the regions limestone bedrock. Costa Rica is known for coffee
and the people of Nicoya make up the third blue zone (along with Sardinia
and Ikaria) to drink it daily. They sweeten their coffee with raw sugar
cane.
Blemishes
The politically incorrect finding ignored by everyone was pesticides.
Although many websites say the people eat organic produce, pesticides
are used throughout the nation. In fact, thousands are poisoned each
year. Agricultural statistics from the WHO show that Costa Rica uses
more pesticides per acre of cropland than any country on earth.
The finding which gets little mention from many alternative sources
but has been covered by investigators involves vitamin use. Like the
blue zones in Japan, Italy and Greece, the people of Nicoya do not use
nutritional supplements.
Comment
Ironically, their pesticide use supports what I’ve been telling
patients and colleagues for many years: Eating organic produce is a
little healthier than eating commercial produce – but eating commercial
produce is much healthier than eating no produce. In the case of the
people of the Nicoya region, there is no data available regarding their
level of exposure – only that they are essentially unregulated
and commonly used throughout Costa Rica.
Resources
Rosero-Bixby L. The Exceptionally High Life Expectancy of Costa Rican
Nonagenarians. Demography. 2008;45(3):673-91
Casselman, Anne Long-Lived Costa Ricans Offer Secrets to Reaching 100.
National Geographic News. April 14, 2008.
World Health Organization http://www.who.int/countries/cri/en/. Accessed
2-21-12
Rosero-Bixby, L.,Fernández,X., Dow, WH. CRELES: Costa Rican Longevity
and Healthy Aging Study, 2005 (Costa Rica Estudio de Longevidad y Envejecimiento
Saludable) [Computer file]accessed 2-21-12.
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/agr_pes_use-agriculture-pesticide-use