Eating like the longest-lived people on Earth

Aliza Abarbanel (epicurious.com sponsored story); Ananda, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Eating like the longest-lived people on Earth just got a whole lot easier

Is it possible to eat for longevity? Are we really no more than what we eat?

These are the questions that float through my head as I wander the grocery store aisles in search of “superfoods” that aren’t just hype, picking up root vegetables and green powders alike.

Let’s be real: It can be hard to wade through all the hype around "healthy" eating these days. But if we’re looking to model our diet after something tried and true, start with the blue zones — home to the world’s longest-lived cultures.

Blue zones are parts of the world with the highest number of centenarians, a.k.a people over the age of 100.

There are five places that officially qualify:

1. Sardinia, Italy
2. Okinawa, Japan
3. Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula
4. the Greek island of Ikaria
5. the city of Loma Linda in Southern California.

At first glance, it might be hard to spot the similarities between these diverse geographic and cultural regions. But looking at lifestyles unlocks the secrets.

Blue zone residents eat a “plant-slant” diet that prioritizes vegetables over meat, gather together for meals, and naturally exercise with activities like walking and gardening. Most interestingly, they all eat beans [not beings].

Blue zone residents eat one half to a full cup of beans every day — at least four times as much as the average American eats.

From black beans in Costa Rica to garbanzo beans in Greece and prepared [fermented, cultured, broken down] soybeans in Japan, legumes are a cornerstone of their plant-based diets.

Cooking preparations vary as widely as geography, from simmering garbanzo beans with lemon juice and cilantro like the Greeks to transforming soybeans into miso and tempeh and tofu like the Japanese.

But regardless of region or flavor profile, the benefits of eating beans are seriously significant.

After all, we know beans aren’t just delicious — they are truly wholesome! These versatile legumes contain protein and fiber, both of which slow digestion to contribute long-lasting energy that powers our body with less meat and dairy, plant-slant style.

We don’t have to go vegetarian or vegan to start benefiting from eating plant-based like blue zone residents.

Supplementing our diet with legumes and other whole foods like unprocessed grains [excluding those with gluten, which are wheat, barley, rye, and oats], plus taking a few moments to enjoy our meals instead of eating in a rush, will go a long way.

After all, beans are too delicious not to be savored. Check out the four “Always Foods” that we can incorporate into our diet every day. More

• Dr. Steven Gundry (The Plant Paradox) is against eating beans
• Dr. Joel Wallach has a list of foods to avoid (criticalhealthnews.com) because our real problem is malnourishment, mostly due to the plant poison gluten ruining our digestion and assimilation of minerals, vitamins, and macronutrients. Avoid gluten, sugar, plant fats, and all processed junk
• Most Americans won't do well as veggies because they won't take the trouble to do it right and so end up with sweet tooths, eating too much grain, gluten, and sugars
• It would be better to go raw AND pay attention to everything one eats than to just stop eating a bunch of stuff and calling that a "balanced diet"
• Go slowly, like starting with Vegetarian Tuesdays
• Do cleanses to clear the colon of old, putrefying buildup
• Exercise easy since overdoing it is the ruin of bodies
• Fats are our friends, but not ALL fats! There are fats that heal (hemp oil, real olive oil, virgin coconut, and very few others) and fats (clear plastic bottle plant oils, processed oils, burned fats, rancid oils, solidified junk like margarine or Crisco)
• What makes fats go bad (rancid)? Air, light, and/or heat
• Take clean supplements, which are hard to find. Go to a health food store rather than trying to find vitamins and minerals at the supermarket or mall. Online is a good option
• Drink more water to clean out (non-plastic bottle)
• Eat much more fiber and whole foods without lectins, which is what Dr. Gundry is all about avoiding