IN BLUE ZONE NICOYA

These geographical clusters have been defined as ‘Blue Zones’. National Geographic fellow Dan Buettner identifies five ‘Blue Zones’ in Okinawa (Japan), Sardinia (Italy), Nicoya (Costa Rica), Ikaria (Greece), and Loma Linda (California).

The Nicoyan region of Costa Rica, located in the northeast of the Republic and bordering the Pacific Ocean, is considered another zone of longevity. Considering the high life expectancy of elder Costa Ricans in a general sense, inhabitants (particularly men) of the Nicoya Peninsula particularly stand out, with a death rate of 0.71 compared to the rest of the country (Rosero-Bixby et al., 2013).

The probability for a 60 year old Nicoyan male to become a centenarian is seven times that of a Japanese male, with a life expectancy 2.2 years greater. Studies show that telomere lengths are a significant marker for the longevity of the Nicoyans (Rosero-Bixby et al., 2013).

Additionally, Nicoyan diet is rich in traditional foods with historical roots such as beans, rice and animal proteins, all of which have a relatively low glycemic index and high fiber content.