There is no way to guarantee durability, but there are certainly ways to claim it.

Scientists always refer to this good food as one of the factors of longevity, arguing that we can learn a lot by studying the eating habits of the world’s centenarians.

Five “blue zones” of the planet

Scientific research has identified five places in the world, among them the Greek place, where the inhabitants live long days, often over a hundred years. These areas are called “blue zones” and include Icaria, Sardinia, Okinawa in Japan, Loma Linda in California, and Nicoya in Costa Rica.

Life expectancy appears to depend on a number of factors. According to some studies, genetic factors, usually genes, determine 25% of a person’s lifespan, with the remaining 75% related to diet, environment, exercise, and other lifestyle factors.

When it comes to diet, this is not the only factor associated with a long lifespan. Science has shown that people who manage to live long hours usually have strong bonds with their friends and family, have goals and purposes in life, and have a positive attitude towards everything. In addition, they play sports and spend a lot of time outdoors – gardening and growing or just socializing with other people, explains Dan Bander, author of American Kitchen in the Blue Zones.

Buettner spent many years studying and documenting his findings about the Blue Zones, carefully analyzing the dietary habits of their inhabitants. As he notes, while their diets differ in many ways, they have at least four common denominators, which he summarizes below:

Eat one cup of beans, peas or lentils a day

Legumes are extremely popular among people living in the Blue Zones as they tend to eat a variety of beans and other fiber-rich plant foods.

Soy is a key part of the traditional diet in Okinawa, as are horse beans in Sardinia and Ikaria and black beans in Nicoya.

According to research, eating foods rich in plant fiber promotes satiety and raises cholesterol and sugar levels. In addition, it protects the body from cancer and diabetes, while reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes, the two leading causes of death worldwide.