The so -called blue zones are specific areas of the world where their inhabitants are 100 years old, following a healthy lifestyle but mainly the balanced diet.
After years of research, writer Dan Buettner, along with his associates, discovered that the inhabitants of Ikaria (Greece), Okinawa (Japan), Sardinia (Italy), Nikia (Costa Rica) and Loma Linda (California) Fruits, legumes, beans and nuts.
There are not many who are wondering what is the secret to the longevity of the “blue zones” inhabitants, who manage to have better health and well -being, completing a century of life.
The experts investigating these areas revealed a ‘overflow’, which is none other than soybeanwhich you can also include in your eating habits if you want to increase your chances of living by 100.
It is noteworthy that in Sardinia, the Melis family from Perdasdefogu managed to win a place in the Guinness Book as the longest family in the world in 2012, as nine members (all brothers) exceeded 818 years of life.
Family members were also included in the Dan Buettner documentary screened (2023) on Netflix “Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones”, in which he said that foods containing soy were never missing from their plate.
Experts also met with soy foods in Okinawa, where, according to scientific research, its residents are 10 times more likely to live up to 100 compared to the “average” American citizen.
Residents of Okinawa tend to have strong ties with their family environment, spend more time in the countryside and engaging in gardening, while their diet is engraved by low calorie intake. Besides, however, soy can be the key to their overall health.
“The Okinawa diet is rich in soy -made foods, such as Tofu and the Miso soup,” he said specifically.
“Flavonoids in tofu benefit heart health and reduce the risk of breast cancer. Fermentation foods also contribute to bowel and digestive health, offering more nutritional benefits, ”he added.
For her part, nutritionist Helen Bell told the Mirror that soybean is rich in unsaturated fats, which shield the body from the risk of heart disease.
“From my experience, soy products are actually linked to significant benefits for cardiovascular health. Several studies suggest that soy can improve circulation by reducing the risk of heart disease. “
And he added that residents who consume high soy foods, such as those in Okinawa, tend to have lower rates of heart disease.
The key, the nutritionist noted, is the preparation of soy in a healthy way, such as fermentation.
She also said that there is a wide variety of soy products, such as Tofu, Edamame (soy beans), temple and soy milk, depending on each person’s preferences and goals they set for better health, and there are several ways of cooking, such as steam or vapor.
Soy may provide countless benefits for your health, but a balanced diet plays an important role.