Two drinks long-livers of Greek island of Ikaria consume: They hardly ever get sick
What drinks do long-livers drink (photo: sights.com.ua)
You've probably heard of the so-called "blue zones" - five areas in the world where people typically live for more than 100 years. They are Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Loma Linda, California; and Ikaria, Greece. On the Greek island of Ikaria, people drink two drinks and have almost no diseases, including dementia, according to the Live Well Be Well podcast.
What do the long-livers of the Greek island of Ikaria eat
Dan Buettner, a longevity expert, told an interesting fact that people from the island of Ikaria live about eight years longer than US citizens on average. Also, Greeks are almost never diagnosed with dementia.
So, what is their secret? In his blog post, Buettner wrote that the Icari follow the strictest version of the Mediterranean diet in the world, using fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, legumes, olive oil, and moderate amounts of red wine.
But the Icarian diet is different in that they eat much less fish and meat and much more greens.
"They regularly eat about a hundred wild greens and garden greens like mustard, chicory, fennel, and herbs. These wild greens contain 10 times more antioxidants that cleanse the arteries than red wine," the scientist says.
What drinks do the long-livers of the Greek island of Ikaria drink
However, he also noted that Ikaria residents are big fans of two drinks that help them stay sharp even in old age. These are herbal tea and coffee.
"Ikaria people drink herbal teas every day. They make these teas from plants from their homes, gardens, and wild plants. They make them from herbs such as oregano, dandelion, sage, and rosemary," he added.
Note that a 2023 study found that drinking tea (green or black) reduces the risk of general dementia by 29%. According to a 2024 study, the popular South African herbal tea rooibos reduces the effects of Alzheimer's disease.
A 2010 study found that drinking 3 to 5 cups of coffee daily in middle age reduces the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease in the future by 65%.
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
