Here are the secrets of the planet’s so-called ‘blue zones’ where people typically live much longer than the average person.
Back in 2012, the tiny town of Perdasdefogu in Sardinia, Italy made global headlines after a Guinness World Record was given to the town’s Melis family who at the time had a combined age of 818 years.
The nine siblings were then known as the world’s longest-lived family, with the surviving siblings going on to feature in Dan Buettner’s 2023 Netflix documentary Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones.
So what is a blue zone, and why do some residents live so much longer?
The world’s blue zones, explained
According to various studies, across the past couple of decades there are currently five blue zones spread around the planet, these are: Loma Linda in California, Nicoya in Costa Rica, Okinawa in Japan as well as the islands of Sardinia and Icaria in Italy and Greece respectively.
So what makes these places so special?
Ever since Buettner coined the phrase back in 2005, there has been a global fascination over what makes these particular places so special when it comes to people living longer and healthier lives.
And it turns out there are a number of factors involving diet and lifestyle which makes these places particularly special. “The key factor across all the blue zones is that the centenarians living there did not wake up one morning and decide they wanted to live to 100,” Buettner explained in a previous interview with The National.
Sardinia is considered one of the planet’s five ‘blue zones’ (Getty Stock Images)
“They simply lived in environments that nudged them into daily movement, encouraged social connectedness and plant-based eating – making the healthy choice not only easy, but unavoidable.”
He continued: “We found that all the blue zones shared nine common characteristics that we feel create this environment of health.”
For example, the Melis family revealed that a daily staple in their diet included a three bean minestrone soup, which included a number of additional vegetables and is packed full of nutrients, fibre and protein.
Moderate amounts of alcohol are also common in these diets, as well as a more relaxed outlook on life and stronger sense of community. Buettner states that ‘knowing your sense of purpose’ can also be a crucial part of living longer as well.
Minestrone soup was a staple in the Melis family diets (Getty Stock Images)
Environment can also play a crucial role, with Giacomo Mameli – a distant cousin of the Melis siblings – telling The Guardian in 2021: “We live in a place where the air is clean. Our centenarians were in continuous movement in a healthy environment.
“Another important factor is that Perdasdefogu conserves the sense of community… if you talk, you live well.”
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Topics: Community, Health, Lifestyle, Food And Drink, World News
The oldest family in the world ate the same meal for their entire life and even experts swear by it.
Forget eating out at new restaurants, whipping up crazy recipes or trying to expand your palette, the Melis family from Italy apparently found the secret to a long and healthy life – and it’s all down to this one meal.
Who are the Melis family?
The nine siblings were known as the world’s longest-lived family, and in 2012 they were given the Guinness World Record for the highest combined age of 818 years.
The Melis family received widespread attention in 2012 (AFP/Getty)
In 2023, the Melis siblings featured in the Netflix documentary series Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones.
The show followed American author Dan Buettner visit five ‘blue zone’ areas of the world, which included Sardinia in Italy, where the Melis family lived.
A blue zone is an area of the world where people are claimed to live longer than average and Sardinia is one of the most well-known.
Buettner, an expert in tips to extend your life through healthy means, shone a light on the Melis family lunch that they ate every day.
What’s the meal?
So what’s the meal the Melis family munched on each day? You may want to reconsider your lunchtime options.
It is plant-based and contains foods full of vitamins. Explaining the meal, Buettner said: “Every day of their life they had the same meal for their lunch.
“A sourdough bread, a three bean minestrone soup – a chunky minestrone with garden vegetables.
“It always had three beans; a garbanzo, a pinto and a white bean.
“And then they had a small glass of red wine. I’m talking a two to three ounce glass.
“Now this wasn’t because ‘my diet requires me to do it’.
“No, they loved it.”
Samantha Cassetty Cassetty, a New York City dietitian, told Today.com: “People who live the longest, healthiest lives tend to eat half a cup to a cup of beans daily.
“It’s also noteworthy that the soup uses three types of beans and multiple vegetables.
“Research suggests that eating 30 unique plant foods per week can improve your gut diversity, a marker of a healthy gut.
“Your gut regulates health functions, like blood pressure and cholesterol, inflammation, mood, weight and nutrient absorption, so you’ll be more likely to live a longer and healthier life if you have a healthy gut.”
This is why the soup is so good for you (Westend61/Getty)
Why was the Melis soup recipe so healthy?
The pinto beans are packed full of nutrients, protein and fibre with zero cholesterol to be seen. Garbanzo beans are the same.
White beans are known as a ‘nutrional powerhouse’ according to Healthline, as they’re packed with fibre and protein and are a good source of micronutrients including folate, magnesium, and vitamin B6.
Where are the Melis family now?
In more recent years, members of the Melis family have passed away. Consolata Melis died in 2015 aged 108 and was her town’s longest-surviving citizen, The Guardian reported in 2021. She was the eldest in the family of nine. Her sister, Claudina, died in 2016 aged 103, and Maria died at 100 and Antonio died aged 97.
Featured Image Credit: ETTORE LOI/AFP/Getty Images/ETTORE LOI/AFP/Getty Images
Topics: Food And Drink, Health, World News, Community
