This Is What the World’s Longest Living People Eat - Baton Rouge Clinic (2024)

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The diet of people in the Blue Zones may help them live longer. Here’s what they eat.

If you’re looking for ways to increase the healthfulness of your diet, you may want to take a few cues from people who live in five areas around the world designated as “Blue Zones.” These are places that have been shown to produce the highest number of centenarians (people who live to be 100 or older), as researched by Dan Buettner, an award-winning journalist and best-selling author.

The Blue Zones include Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Ikaria, Greece; Nicoya, Costa Rica; and Loma Linda, California. Although each of these locations is very different, the people living there share a number of diet similarities, as well as other healthy lifestyle habits. Adopting some of their eating guidelines may help keep you healthier, too.

Blue Zone Eating Principles

Here is an overview of the dietary guidelines of some of the longest-living people on the planet, as determined by surveys completed by people living in the Blue Zones:

  • Follow a mostly plant-based diet– Blue Zone centenarians follow a predominantly plant-based diet, eating 95-100% plant-based. They primarily eat a variety of in-season fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grains and beans.
  • Eat animal foods sparingly– When they do eat animal-based foods, such as meat, eggs, fish and dairy, they are used to flavor dishes rather than being the main focus of the meal or are enjoyed as celebratory foods. That’s not to say that eating animal-based foods is bad, but the diets of people in these locations are comprised mostly of fresh, local foods.
  • Enjoy beans daily– One of the primary sources of protein in Blue Zone diets is from beans and legumes. They eat at least one-half to one cup each day.
  • Consume nuts regularly– Another good source of protein, nuts are a common snack in this diet. They typically eat one to two small handfuls a day.
  • Focus on whole foods– Single-ingredient foods in their original form (not highly processed) are the mainstay of this diet. The foods can be raw or cooked but do not come out of a box, bag or can.
  • Slash sugar– Daily sugar intake is kept to less than 28 grams per day, which is equivalent to 7 teaspoons of sugar. In contrast, the average American consumes about 17 teaspoons of sugar a day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  • Drink mostly water– Water is the beverage of choice and about 7 glasses or more is typically consumed daily. They may also drink coffee, tea and wine in moderation.

In addition to their diet, other aspects of how people live in the Blue Zones may help increase longevity – in fact, these may be even more important than diet itself. This includes making movement a natural part of the day, having a sense of purpose, connecting with the community, putting family first, being part of social circles that support healthy behaviors, prioritizing stress relief and eating until about 80% full.

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Date Last Reviewed: November 16, 2023

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This Is What the World’s Longest Living People Eat - Baton Rouge Clinic (2024)

FAQs

What diet do the longest living people eat? ›

Follow a mostly plant-based diet – Blue Zone centenarians follow a predominantly plant-based diet, eating 95-100% plant-based. They primarily eat a variety of in-season fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grains and beans.

What is the number one food for longevity? ›

The best diet for longevity is one that includes plenty of fruits, nuts and legumes, vegetables, and whole grains. 1 Foods to limit or avoid for longevity include those high in added sugar, saturated fat, and sodium. 2 Keep in mind that exercise, in addition to a healthy diet, is important for life expectancy.

Why do people in Loma Linda live so long? ›

Today, a community of about 9,000 Adventists in the Loma Linda area are the core of America's blue zones region. They live as much as a decade longer than the rest of us, and much of their longevity can be attributed to vegetarianism and regular exercise. Plus, Adventists don't smoke or drink alcohol.

What single food would keep you alive the longest? ›

What Is the Most Complete Food? It is argued that the single, most complete food a human needs to survive is human breast milk. Other foods may be nutritious but inevitably lack certain vitamins, minerals, etc.

What is the healthiest diet to live longer? ›

Certain eating patterns such as the Mediterranean Diet, healthy plant-based diets, or the Okinawan Diet, are rich in whole foods and have been linked to reduced disease risk and improved longevity. Hu said that people can mix and match elements of these diets—or use their basic principles to create something new.

What two foods can you survive on every day? ›

What 2 foods can you survive on? You can survive on a balanced diet of potatoes, kale, trail mix, grains, and beans. This combination offers plenty of protein, carbs, minerals, and vitamins to keep your body healthy and energized.

What is the best drink for longevity? ›

The top 5 beverages for longevity, according to Blue Zones founder Dan Buettner
  • Green tea. Buettner claims that in Okinawa's Blue Zone, people may fill up a 20-ounce jar of green tea leaves and drink it throughout the day. ...
  • Black tea. ...
  • Coffee (black) ...
  • Water. ...
  • Red wine.
Jan 4, 2024

What is the healthiest food to eat every day? ›

Top 15 healthy foods you should be eating
  1. Fish. ...
  2. Broccoli or any of the cruciferous vegetables. ...
  3. Beets. ...
  4. Spinach and other leafy green vegetables. ...
  5. Kale. ...
  6. Peanut butter. ...
  7. Almonds. ...
  8. Mangos.
Apr 5, 2019

What body type lives the longest? ›

Researchers also discovered that “shorter, smaller bodies have lower death rates and fewer diet-related chronic diseases, especially past middle age.” The lifespans of shorter people appear to be longer than their taller counterparts, the paper says.

What are the 5 things to do everyday to live longer? ›

The researchers calculated that people who adhered to five things—drink no more than one glass of alcohol per day (two for men), maintain a healthy body weight, eat a high-quality diet, abstain from smoking, and exercise at a moderate-to-vigorous pace (think a brisk walk, at least) for 30 minutes or more a day—had a ...

What are the 5 foods to avoid for a long life? ›

“Consuming excessive amounts of foods high in added sugars and refined carbohydrates such as white flour, foods high in saturated fat and/or trans fat and frequent consumption of red and processed meats have a negative effect on our health,” Murray said.

Which religion has more life expectancy? ›

Life expectancy at birth was highest among Christians followed by others, Muslims and Hindus.

What city in the US do people live the longest? ›

Tucked away in California is the small city of Loma Linda, home to a large Seventh-day Adventist community. Studies have found that residents here can live up to around a decade longer than the rest of the U.S. population. The secret? A strong emphasis on health and nutrition as part of our beliefs.

What do 7th day Adventists eat? ›

The Seventh-day Adventist diet promotes a wide variety of whole plant foods, including fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and grains. If eggs, meat, or dairy products are incorporated, they should be low-fat versions and consumed in moderation.

How many times a day do Okinawans eat? ›

Okinawans tend to eat three times a day, but they stop when they are 80 percent full. It's more about what the meals consist of and how much they eat than when they eat that makes up the health benefits of the diet.

How much longer do healthy eaters live? ›

According to the model, switching to a feasible and optimal health diet at age 60 could add up to about 5 and 9 years to life expectancy, respectively.

Does eating less increase lifespan? ›

Eating fewer calories may slow down aging and increase longevity. Eating less may lengthen your life. Researchers have increased life-spans in yeast and mice by having them consume fewer calories per day, and ongoing studies suggest that a strict low-calorie diet may slow aging in primates, too.

Do centenarians eat eggs? ›

People in Blue Zones areas typically eat an egg every other day, or 3 per week. Favor eggs from cage-free, pastured chickens just like the Blue Zones centenarians. Beans are an important source of protein in the Blue Zones areas with centenarians eating at least one cup of cooked beans daily.

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