In Sardinia, the number of centenarians is surprising and the concept of active aging is based precisely on this phenomenon. What are the secrets to getting over a hundred years healthy?
They are called Blue Zone, Identify parts of the world where it is possible to live happily and for a long time, there are very few: the Greek islet Icaria and the Japanese Okinawa, the peninsula of Nicoya in Costa Rica and the community in Loma Linda in California, but above all our Sardinia. On the beautiful island, there are magical corners where the inhabitants arrive and often easily exceed the 100-year goal, as in the area Ogliastra in the province of Nuoro, for example. Indeed, in the village of Seulo, in the Barbagia, they were counted well 20 centenarians between 1996 and 2016 confirming the longest living country in the world! It will be the sea and mountain air, the favorable combination of climate, the traditional social structure or simply the food based on Mediterranean diet? Let's find out together.
The invasion of the ultra centenarians
Antonio Todde, called Tziu Antoni, was officially recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records 2001 as the oldest man in the world who died at the age of 112 and 346 days. Guess where he was born? Exactly, in the province of Nuoro, in Tiana to be precise. At the BBC the Sardinian shepherd had revealed his secret: to live one day at a time without stress, to love others and drink a glass of red wine every day. Another example is Giovanni Frau, born in 1890 in Orroli in the province of Cagliari, who came to extinguish the 112th candle on the cake.
At their last birthday parties there was also the doctor Luca Deiana, For years professor of Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Sassari, and one of the greatest scholars of the mystery of Sardinian centenarians. Its the project Akea, acronym of the Sardinian wish A kent’annos (up a hundred years old), which since the 2000s has been collecting data and testimonies on the territory up to census over 4 thousand ultra Sardinian centenarians. "On our island we have certain evidence that centenarians have always existed. And they are a constant. Thanks to the research we have carried out over the years, even with the Akea project, we can confidently say that there is a personality of the Sardinian centenary, The scholar, who also registered the brand, released the newspaper La Nuova Sassari THEonly of the centenarians.
The secrets of Sardinian grandparents
The discovery of the field elixir of long life could start right from the Sardinia, where certainly the original DNA is indispensable but not sufficient. It should be accompanied by other important factors (food, environmental, behavioral) that can certainly be an example to help everyone live longer and healthier.
In fact, at an anthropological level, typical essential elements such as the value of the social role (the family in the foreground), the sense of community (winning especially in the small inhabited centers of the hinterland, which live in the shadow of the bell tower), the awareness of the meaning of life. Let's not forget thephysical activity daily, which operates the locomotor system by spending the calories acquired – even in a playful version such as traditional dances, for example the Passu Torrau comparable to interval sports training.
Then we come to the secret of Pulcinella: the fundamental role of nutrition. Roberto Pili, president of the World Longevity Community, carries forward the concept of active aging right from Sardinia, emphasizing the Sardinian Mediterranean diet as a strength. "Healthy eating that respects nutritional and metabolic needs is in fact one of the pillars on which the privilege of overcoming the century of life is built."Says Pili, who recognizes the way to go in food sobriety and in conscious nutrition. The Sardinian environmental cradle with its wide biodiversity is winning starting from the local diet that allows the metabolism to dialogue with foods born in the same land.
The diet of centenarians
Eating habits in Sardinia are rooted in tradition and are based on a consumption of food mainly of vegetable origin (such as fruit, vegetables and legumes, not forgetting nuts) and a small percentage of animal origin (necessary for essential amino acids), seasoned with olive oil, rich in antioxidants, without forgetting the wine, strongly healthy when consumed in a way measured at meals, especially the red one as the typical one Cannonau.
From the point of view quantity, let's not forget that tradition is the single dish to compose the meal and is plant based with a minimal animal component for a balanced supply of macro and micro nutrients, without exaggeration or excess. A smart way to keep caloric intake under control, unlike what is happening in the world today.
We close with an example of the Sardinian centenary breakfast: from the high hill, it is based on the strong pastoral component with cow's milk or goat's milk (this last omega 3 and 6 virtuoso), the Sardinian yogurt called Gioddu and the wholemeal bread made with flour from the mills. And if you need to sweeten honey, but certainly not refined sugar. A first life lesson to learn for longevity – since morning.
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