An extensive research by the National Geographic Fellow Dan Buettner has revealed five regions of the world that they report are home to the longest-living people, which he deemed the Blue Zones (Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece; Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan; and Loma Linda, California).
And while every location’s cuisine is unique, Buettner and his team have identified a few commonalities in what the locals in the Blue Zones eat and, more importantly, drink. “People in every Blue Zone drink tea,” Buettner says.
In this article, Buettner shares more about which three types most folks in Blue Zones consume on the regular which makes them the longest-living people on earth.
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1. Green Tea
According to Buettner, people in the region of Okinawa, Japan, drink green tea regularly. “Okinawans prefer green varieties, which have been shown to lower the risk of heart disease and several cancers,” he says. When it comes to health-promoting attributes, green tea is basically liquid gold: It contains high amounts of flavanols, which is a type of antioxidant linked to lower levels of LDL cholesterol and improved cardiovascular health. Green tea also contains catechins, a polyphenol and antioxidant that can help protect the body against free-radicals.
2. Herbal Teas
In Ikaria, Greece, it’s common to find teas made with herbs that were locally foraged. “Ikarians drink brews of rosemary, wild sage, and dandelion tea—all herbs known to have anti-inflammatory properties,” Buettner says. He notes that his research on the area has shown that there are very few cases of dementia and other chronic illnesses that impact the western world in Ikaria, which is partly due to their healthful dietary habits.
3. Milk Thistle Tea
According to Buettner, the preferred tea in Sardinia, Italy, is milk-thistle, which is known to help break down and digest food, store essential vitamins and minerals, and remove toxins from the system, among other things. This herb has also been linked to protecting against certain types of cancer. Studies also suggest that milk thistle extracts have anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective effects and can be used to protect the liver against toxins and control chronic liver diseases.
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