Every July 25, as we celebrate the annexation of the Nicoya District, one of the wonders of this province comes to mind: What is the secret behind longevity in Guanacaste? Although today we associate health with fad diets (or very expensive ones), the reality of our ancestors’ lives is much simpler, more intriguing, and within easy reach.
The five cantons on the peninsula (Nicoya, Santa Cruz, Carrillo, Hojancha, and Nandayure) make up Guanacaste’s Blue Zone of longevity.
The greatest secret of this population before 1930 was not the “superfoods” consumed today.
You can replicate this well-being at home with a few simple adjustments to your diet and routine.
The Myth of Superfoods and the Reality of the Land
When people talk about Blue Zones—those places in the world where there is a concentration of people who live longer—Nicoya is often cited as a well-known example. Not only is it common to find people there who are 80, 90, or older, but many of them also lead active, independent lives in good health.
So what did these people do differently when it came to their diet (especially those born before 1930)? People often look for a “magic” food behind longevity, but the explanation lies in something more everyday: the way these communities ate.
Johanna Quesada, a nutritionist at the Hikma Clinic, part of the Medismart medical network, explains the role of diet in longevity.
“They didn’t eat foods like (processed) ‘superfoods’ or anything particularly specific, but what most of them had in common was that they ate real, fresh, locally grown foods that they harvested and produced themselves, without many chemicals,” he explained.
