Ikaria, Greece is one of the world's Blue Zones where people live longer than average. They nap often, drink herbal tea, and value family.
Kim Schewitz
- Blue Zones are regions of the world where people regularly live longer than average.
- In Ikaria, Greece, it's common for people to remain active well into their 90s.
Ikaria, located in the Aegean Sea, is one of Greece's many islands. What sets it apart is how long its residents live. Known as the island of longevity, one in three of its residents make it to their 90s and rates of dementia and some other chronic diseases are very low, according to the Blue Zones website.
The island is one of the world's five Blue Zones, which are regions of the world where people regularly live about a decade longer than the US or Western European average.
In Ikaria, people also tend to have lower rates of cancer, heart disease, and depression than in the US, The Guardian reported.
The first Blue Zone, Sardinia, Italy, was identified by researchers Gianni Pes and Michel Poulain, and the concept was built upon by Dan Buettner, who named four more and has explored the habits and lifestyles of people in all five locations for the past 20 years.
Around one in three Ikarians lives into their 90s
Ikaria is a tiny island located around 30 miles from the Turkish coast with a population of around 8,400.
Due to its geographical location, it has historically been the target of invasions by neighboring nations, which Buettner said forced residents inland, leading to an isolated culture heavily rooted in family life.
Remaining active well into your 90s is common there, as well as staying sexually active into old age. A study on Ikaria from the University of Athens found that 80% of Ikarian males between the ages of 65 and 100 were still having sex.
Ikarians follow the Mediterranean Diet
Ikarians follow the Mediterranean Diet, which focuses on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and limits meat, processed foods, and refined sugar.
Centenarians on the island typically eat lots of potatoes, beans, olive oil, and fish, according to Blue Zones.
Natives also drink goat's milk, which contains potassium and the stress-relieving hormone tryptophan, Buettner said.
People drink herbal tea everyday
Ikarians drink a lot of herbal tea, made using staples such as oregano, sage or rosemary. As well as containing antioxidants, as Greek dietitian Elena Paravantes previously told Insider, they are low in calories.
Dr. Ioanna Chinou, one of Europe's top experts on the bioactive properties of herbs and natural products, told The New York Times that many of the teas Ikarians drink are traditional Greek remedies, used for ailments such as gout, digestive problems, and to improve blood pressure.
Exercise is woven into daily life
The Ikarians who have lived the longest on record tended to inhabit the island's mountainous highlands, according to Blue Zones website.
Through gardening, walking to their neighbors homes or to visit friends, exercise is built into their daily lives.
One Ikarian centenarian told The Guardian he makes the one mile journey to his favorite cafe and back twice a day, which amounts to a daily four-mile walk through mountainous terrain.
Relationships with family and friends are prioritized
Ikarians spend a lot of time together and have a collective mindset. Dr. Ilias Leriadis, one of the island's few physicians, told The New York Times: "It's not a 'me' place. It's an 'us' place."
There are frequent religious and cultural holidays and people pool their money to buy food and wine, Leriadis said. If there is anything left over, it is donated to someone who needs it.
People typically end their day by sharing a cup of herbal tea, followed by a few glasses of red wine with friends. Spending time with family is also a central element of Ikarian culture, with older people typically living with their children and grandchildren rather than an old age home.
Napping is common
Having a nap in the afternoon is part of most Ikarians' daily routine. This could be a factor in the island's extraordinary longevity record.
A recent study that included people aged 40 to 69, and found a modest link between daytime napping and brains shrinking at a slower rate with age.
The researchers found that the brains of people who napped regularly were two to six years younger, in terms of brain volume, than those who did not.
Popular Right Now
Advertisement