Live to 100 is a Netflix documentary series about the Earth’s Blue Zones – small geographical areas where the residents live unusually long lives. In the series, bestselling author Dan Buettner visits these Blue Zones to try to find the secrets these people hold to their longevity.
In one episode, Buettner visits a small Greek island called Ikaria to find out more about their way of life. Of course they followed a Mediterranean diet consisting of fresh ingredients, olive oil, while using meat only sparingly. Because of the lack of natural port, the island had to be self-sufficient and grow their own food on the island up until the 1980s.
The way of life there seemed less focused on the Western hustle and bustle of work and material success, and there was no indication of the strenuous workouts you would see in a Western gym. The pace of life is slower there than what most of us are used to. Everyone cooks their own meals (usually for others), and the residents stay active doing chores like gardening.
The five main secrets to longevity Buettner found from Ikaria were:
- Herbal tea: Herbal tea is full of antioxidants and other anti-inflammatory markers. Inflammation is the biggest cause of chronic illness such as heart disease, neurodegenerative disorders or almost any other disease you can think of. So the daily drinking of this tea in Ikaria, which it seems they also pick from their local surroundings and make in a traditional way, could be a key to their longevity.
- Raw Honey: The honey you can find in a grocery store is boiled, while the honey that is consumed in Ikaria is raw. The boiling of honey destroys the pollen grains which is reported to give health benefits. In Ikaria, raw honey is made in hives that are moved across various parts of the island so that the bees can gather nectar from different kinds of plants, along with other micronutrients.
- Partnership: In Ikaria, there’s an emphasis on marriage and partnership. In the show, Buettner meets a couple who both remarried around the age of 70, and 25 years later they are still healthy, happy and appreciative of each other. They both describe how they gave each other a new lease of life when they met.
- Wine: The wine in Ikaria is hand-made traditionally, and consumed sparingly. Buettner suggests that this could be a contributor of why Ikarians live so long.
- Dancing and laughing: Ikarians are a social group of people, holding parties where you can find people aged 14 all the way through to 100+. What Buettner noticed was the emphasis on dancing, which is an easy way to burn calories and increase heart rate, but also mixed with conversation and laughter which I’m sure is restorative to the soul.
The overall lesson that we can learn from the culture of people in Ikaria? Cook and eat local produce, live life slower, create loving and deep partnerships and enjoy company with others as much as possible.
Thought Canvas 