Zone blu Sardegna: la Terra più Longeva al Mondo
Le Zone blu Sardegna custodiscono il segreto per vivere più a lungo. Ce lo raccontano i centenari della Sardegna, la terra più longeva al mondo
The blue zones indicate areas where life expectancy is higher than the rest of the world: these are places where, according to researchers, people tend to live longer, often surpassing the age of 100.
Sardinia is one of these, and not just any: among all the blue zones in the world, our island has the highest number of centenarians by far, thus achieving the record for the longest-living land in the world. Consider that in the province of Nuoro, especially in Perdasdefogu, Ogliastra, there is one person over 100 years old for every 222 inhabitants. But what is the secret to the longevity of this region?
Zone Blu Sardegna e il primo segreto per vivere più a lungo: le buone abitudini
What unites the inhabitants of all the blue zones in the world, with no exceptions for Sardinia, is a healthy lifestyle that mainly follows two principles: staying fit and not abusing substances. One of the secrets of many Sardinian centenarians is never giving up on their daily walks, while the more athletic regularly engage in excursions and trekking in Barbagia. Self-care also involves what goes into one's body: eating in the right quantities, without overindulging, and giving up cigarette smoking.
The Sardinian-Mediterranean diet of Sardinian centenarians
Nella zone blu Sardegna, la dieta sardo-mediterranea è, però, il più prezioso segreto custodito dalle famiglie dell’isola. Le abitudini alimentari sarde sono infatti fra le più equilibrate e salutari: sulla tavola si ritrovano ancora alimenti semplici come pane, latte, formaggi, verdura, frutta e frutta secca, si consumano tante fibre, poca carne e moltissima acqua. Piatto tipico per eccellenza è infatti la minestra‘e istadi in cui tutti questi alimenti si combinano nelle giuste quantità, tanto che questa ricetta è stata spesso soprannominata come “minestrone sardo della longevità”.
The trick is always the same: do not give up anything and do not overdo it. Consider red wine: in Sardinia, it's a must-have, but it's always consumed in moderation.
Living peacefully is living long
We conclude this overview with an unsurprising note: to live longer, it is necessary to learn to manage stress, the enemy of health.
Sardinian centenarians talk about leading a calm and peaceful life, but far from carefree: the typical Sardinian lifestyle involves naturally mitigating stress levels through factors that counteract it by keeping the mind occupied elsewhere. Among these factors are active membership in a religious faith, strong family ties, and solid networks of mutual support.
