Plants...*

In his book, "The Blue Zones Solution," Dan Buettner examines the diets that have sustained some of the oldest living humans over the last century in Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Loma Linda, California; Icaria, Greece; and the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica.

 "First of all they're eating mostly a plant-based diet  about 90 percent. It's also a high-carb diet, about 65 percent of their caloric intake are things like whole grains, corn, sweet potatoes in Okinawa, and beans are the cornerstone of every longevity diet in the world.  The big epiphany in these Blue Zones is that longevity wasn't something individuals pursued. It was the outgrowth of having the right environment."

In Sardinia, olive oil and wild greens are eaten abundance. In Okinawans rely on tofu and sweet potatoes for high nutrition. People on the Nicoya Peninsula eat plenty of squash and yams. And in Loma Linda, centenarians tend to avoid processed foods and eat lots of salmon and oatmeal.

In Icaria, Greece, age-related dementia is nearly nonexistent. Buettner attributes that phenomenon to eating a Mediterranean-style diet and drinking certain teas rosemary, sage and mint on a daily basis. 

Daily physical activity, a sense of purpose, slower pace of life and strong family bonds all contribute. "Having a strong sense of purpose is worth eight extra years of life expectancy. Having a social group with at least five friends you can count on a bad day is worth about seven years of life expectancy.    Just a thought.