There are a few places around the world where people live unusually long and healthy lives, called Blue Zones. For the past five years, Dan Buettner has been taking teams of scientists and writers to these places, and documenting their secrets to longevity.
In Sardinia, Italy, for example, there is a Bronze-Age mountain culture that has, proportionally, 20 times as many 100-year-olds as the United States does. Their secret: wine with staggering levels of antioxidants, and a tradition of celebrating old age.
This is not to suggest you should drink your way through the Thanksgiving holiday, but antioxidants in general? By all means. And definitely give some to grandma.
The tryptophan in turkey and a plate loaded with carbohydrates often lead to soporific thoughts after the Thanksgiving meal. But what about the other ingredients in the feast? How can you add a few Blue Zones ingredients to your Thanksgiving and keep yourself and your loved ones in the longevity zone?
It’s not too difficult. Just be sure to include these things in your celebration:
Goat cheese or pecorino cheese (Sardinia): Both of these cheeses are eaten in Sardinia. Pecorino is high in omega-3 fatty acids and both are excellent sources of calcium and protein. Serve with whole-grain crackers.
Sweet potatoes (Okinawa): A staple food for Okinawans until recently, these tubers are rich in antioxidants in the form of beta-carotene and vitamin C. For real authenticity, see if you can find the purple Okinawan variety.
Tofurkey (Loma Linda): A plant-based diet offers numerous benefits in the form of longer (and healthier) life. Branch out, if you are so inclined, and serve a tofu turkey.
Red wine (Sardinia) and apple pie made with red delicious apples and cinnamon: These foods are rich in procyanidins, a class of flavonoid that has been linked to heart health. The red wine commonly enjoyed in Sardinia has two to three times the amount of procyanidins as other wines.
Take a walk: All the Blue Zones populations get outdoors, naturally. So after your meal, gather up your friends and family and take a walk. The exercise (and sunshine, if it is sunny) is the perfect way to end your celebration.
Remember to give thanks for your bounteous table and the wonderful folks who join you around it.
Read more about food and health…
❁ The Anti-aging Diet that Follows Your Gut
❁ Home on the Free Range
❁ Holiday Food Survival Skills
