This Blue Zone diet can help you live past 100 — and Americans are flocking to a high-end resort to eat it

Can beans, maize and a sunset adhd years to your life? In this Costa Rican hotspot, nan reply mightiness beryllium yes.

Locals successful nan Nicoya Peninsula — 1 of nan planet’s 5 original Blue Zones — regularly outlive nan mean American by a decade, fueled by generations-old dishes made from whole, earthy ingredients.

Now, arsenic wellness-chasing jet-setters flock to nan region, luxury resorts for illustration The W Costa Rica Reserva Conchal are putting a five-star rotation connected that age-defying fare, drafting travelers and expats alike who are quiet for nan look to a longer, healthier life. 

“Costa Rica’s culinary civilization has ever been natural, honorable and health-focused,” Diego Mollenhauer, nan resort’s executive chef, told The Post. “It is rooted successful contented — nutrient prepared ‘the old-fashioned way,’ preserving spirit and nutritional worth without additives, chemicals aliases artificial enhancements.”

So it’s nary wonderment that mindset informs what they service up astatine their restaurants — including a five-course tasting paper inspired by nan Blue Zones of nan world.

What fuels Nicoya’s centenarians

The mean lifespan successful this lush, sun-soaked peninsula is 85, yet galore residents thrive for decades beyond that. In fact, nan coastal region’s stock of centenarians is astir 3 and a half times nan world average, according to nan BBC.

“Here, fare plays a important domiciled successful well-being and longevity,” Mollenhauer said.

Science agrees. A 2024 study tracked nan diets and wellness of 2,827 Costa Ricans aged 60 and up complete 15 years. They recovered that those who ate a accepted fare had a importantly little consequence of decease from immoderate cause.

Elderly Costa Ricans pinch nan highest adherence to nan eating style had an 18% little consequence of decease compared to those pinch nan lowest.

“The instauration lies successful nan ‘golden trio’ of corn, beans, and squash, which provides a balanced operation of analyzable carbohydrates, plant-based macromolecule and fiber,” Mollenhauer explained.

Low depletion of reddish nutrient and animal fats complements nan diet, pinch locals opting alternatively for earthy sources for illustration avocado and seeds.

“This nutritional attack supports cardiovascular, digestive, and metabolic health, contributing not conscionable to a longer life, but a amended one,” Mollenhauer said.

It’s not conscionable what they eat — it’s besides what they drink. The section h2o contains precocious levels of calcium and magnesium, minerals that thief forestall bosom illness and fortify bones.

Couple that pinch regular sunshine and plentifulness of clip spent outdoors, and you get a manner built for longevity.

Now, Americans are taking notice.

Live agelong aliases dine trying

The W Residences Costa Rica, a high-end enclave tucked wrong nan gated Reserva Conchal organization successful nan Guanacaste Province, is home to a increasing number of expats chasing nan Blue Zone lifestyle.

Buyers antecedently told The Post that cleanable eating was a apical privilege erstwhile they decided to acquisition a location successful nan luxury edifice community.

“Being a small spot older, I americium trying to beryllium much wellness conscious,” said Nils Thorjussen, a 59-year-old from Park City, Utah, who owns a five-bedroom eco villa connected nan property.

“When I’m here, there’s entree to a batch of really patient nutrient options. You’ve sewage nan oversea correct there, truthful if you want caller fish, that’s easy to travel by. Otherwise, earthy fruits and vegetables are rather accessible,” he continued.

But it’s not conscionable residents who are drawn to Nicoya because of its food. The W’s Reserva Conchal spot is besides location to a luxury hotel, which has 5 restaurants serving visitors quiet to observe nan region’s concealed to a agelong life.

“More and more, we’re seeing group that want to eat what we tin connection from nan section community,” said Fabián Fernandez, nan property’s business manager. “We are really including menus that are aligned to nan Blue Zone.”

It’s a awesome trading point. Surveys show that much than half of guests are consenting to walk much astatine a edifice for healthier, cleaner nutrient choices — portion of a larger roar successful wellness tourism.

In crafting The W’s offerings, Mollenhauer emphasized nan usage of seasonal, locally originated ingredients, galore harvested correct from nan resort’s on-site plot and apiary.

“We proudly service beloved classics for illustration gallo pinto, on pinch different vegetable- and legume-based dishes that correspond nan balanced, nutrient-rich characteristic of nan country’s accepted diet,” he noted.

At nan resort’s good eating restaurant, Latitud 10º Norte, caput cook Erick Agüero takes things a measurement further, offering a five-course tasting paper inspired by nan Blue Zones of nan world, incorporating cardinal ingredients and culinary traditions from each that beforehand longevity.

Guests tin moreover study to hole a Nicoyan staple, pinch chefs guiding them step-by-step to make caller ceviche utilizing locally caught fish.

The locale doesn’t conscionable person delicious food, Mollenhauer said — “it promotes a sustainable, health-conscious manner rooted successful Costa Rican contented and Blue Zone wisdom.”

“Visitors time off not only having tasted ‘pura vida,’ but genuinely taking it pinch them — for life.”