5 Recipes & Secrets to Living a Longer Life

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Ikaria, Greece

In addition to their active lifestyles, regular naps and strong social ties, Ikarians consume a Mediterranean diet, considered one of the healthiest in the world. With an emphasis on vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, beans, whole grains and unsaturated fats like olive oil, it's full of heart-healthy, nutritious foods. On the other hand, fish and meat consumption are kept to a bare minimum, contrary to more lenient adaptations of the Mediterranean diet. Today, Ikarians live "eight to 10 years longer than Americans with half the rate of heart disease, much less cancer, and most extraordinarily, almost no cases of dementia," according to Dan Buettner.