A piece of land of 254 square kilometers in the southeastern Aegean. An island different from the others that has been much discussed. The reason is well known. The long life expectancy of its inhabitants. “One of the places in the world with the longest-lived population” as they typically say, Ikaria.
You will also hear them call Ikaria a “paradise of longevity” or “the island where people forget to die“.This is confirmed by the various investigations that have been carried out for this reason from time to time.
Longevity in Ikaria: The secrets of life, nutrition and famous festivals
What is the life expectancy in Ikaria?
The Ikarians lived longer than the Europeans, the Americans, and beyond. According to the so-called “Ikaria Study”, conducted by the Medical School of the University of Athens and published in the “Cardiology Research and Study” edition, Ikarians live at least until their 90th year of age. This means that they live longer than the average American, and are four times more likely to reach 90 than the average American.
In April 2017, a new study was published in the reputable scientific journal “Nature” that reinforced the claims about the particular longevity of The Ikarians. A large epidemiological study called “IKARIA” was conducted on the island in 2015. The particular demographic, social, environmental, and gene characteristics that give the approximately 8,000 Ikarians (2011 census) the coveted privilege of longevity were thoroughly investigated.
Repeated studies continuously observe, in Ikaria, a percentage of the elderly corresponding to 13% of the total inhabitants. This is an extremely high index of elderly people compared to the rest of the Greek population. To understand the difference, the average life expectancy in our country is 79.78 years. More specifically, the proportion of people over the age of 80 does not exceed 5%.
What is the reason for the longevity of the Ikarians?
However, in addition to the numbers of ages and percentages of the over-aged and often without health problems inhabitants of the island, the reasons that have made the island located in the so-called “blue zone” have also been studied. These zones, thus characterized, are the corners of the planet in which the inhabitants live longer and in better health than both the local and the global average.
So what are these habits, lifestyles, and environmental conditions that lead to these rates, on the island? Is it the DNA? The way of life? The environment? All of them together or maybe the island of Ikaria itself?
According to Professor Stefanadis, one of those who signed the study “IKARIA”, the reasons that lead to this longevity seem to be more than one. “The Mediterranean diet, rich in legumes, vegetables, fruits, and fish, preference for the consumption of Greek coffee, moderate wine consumption, daily exercise, reduced stress levels, low rates of depression, companionship, and participation in social events are some of the behaviors that are common to young and elderly residents of the island and which combined with the particular geophysical characteristics of the place, contribute to achieving longevity,” he said.
The Ikarian diet, the key to longevity in Ikaria
Photo Source: ikariaki.gr
A key factor seems to be the diet of the locals ultimately. Icarians are a role model for their eating habits. Their first and main feature is that they refrain from overeating. Besides, their meals are based on the Mediterranean diet. They eat a lot of green vegetables, olive oil, tomatoes, and legumes, and all of them are unprocessed since they come from their own fields. In terms of protein intake, the main source of it is fish, which, according to the Ikaria Study, protects the kidneys. Also, Icarians don’t eat much meat. It could take them weeks or even months to consume a slaughtered animal. As far as dairy products are concerned, Icarians exclusively prefer milk from their own goats, choosing to refrain from eating saturated fats.
Social life and relaxed rhythms
No stress! That’s the number one motto on the island. The Icarians may be working a lot, but stress has never been typical of them. They stay up late at night, sleep until late in the morning, and almost always get their lunch, a habit found to protect against heart disease. Another thing they usually say is that wearing a watch in Ikaria is as mismatched as wearing a suit at sea. Research has shown that 86.7% of men and 76.7% of women over 80 participate in social events. This can be a visit to a house, a local fair, or a card game in the café. The strict program is something foreign to the Ikarian way of life condensed into the adverb “loosely”.
This connection with family and social life are the characteristics that scientists consider to be responsible for saving the over-aged Icarians from melancholy and depression, as the indicators they present are practically negligible.
And they may have relaxed rhythms, but exercise is not missing from their lives. And we don’t mean, of course, visiting a gym. The Icarians work out in their natural environment. When you consider that agriculture is their main activity, they must constantly walk on paths sometimes difficult to reach their fields. Movement is a central part of their daily lives. For this reason, the phrase ‘you can go there on foot as well’ has a completely different meaning for the Icarians than for us residents of the major urban centers.
Take care of yourself, and he’ll take care of you, too.
This is the basic philosophy of the Ikarians and apparently, the one that gives them the longevity that makes them special. They take care of their bodies and their souls. They really love life and she repays them. In the best of ways…
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Frequently Asked Questions
Ikaria is a 254 square kilometer island in the southeastern Aegean Sea, known as one of the world's five 'blue zones' where people live significantly longer than average. It's called the 'paradise of longevity' or 'the island where people forget to die' because Ikarians have a life expectancy of at least 90 years, living four times longer than the average American.
According to the Ikaria Study conducted by the Medical School of the University of Athens, Ikarians live at least until their 90th year of age. About 13% of the island's population is elderly, compared to only 5% in the rest of Greece where the average life expectancy is 79.78 years.
Two major studies have investigated Ikarian longevity: the 'Ikaria Study' by the Medical School of the University of Athens and a large epidemiological study called 'IKARIA' published in the journal Nature in 2017. These studies examined the demographic, social, environmental, and genetic characteristics of the island's approximately 8,000 inhabitants.
According to Professor Stefanadis, key factors include the Mediterranean diet rich in legumes and vegetables, consumption of Greek coffee, moderate wine intake, daily exercise, reduced stress levels, low depression rates, strong social connections, and participation in community events. These lifestyle factors combined with Ikaria's unique geophysical characteristics contribute to the island's exceptional longevity.
The Ikarian diet is based on the Mediterranean diet and includes abundant green vegetables, olive oil, tomatoes, legumes, and fish from unprocessed, locally-sourced ingredients. Ikarians practice portion control and consume minimal meat, with fish as their primary protein source. They also prefer goat's milk dairy products, all contributing to kidney health and overall longevity.
According to research, longevity in Ikaria results from a combination of factors rather than genetics alone. While the island's geophysical characteristics play a role, the primary contributors are lifestyle habits including diet, exercise, stress management, and strong social bonds. This is why Ikaria is classified as a 'blue zone' with optimal health and longevity conditions.
Ikarians practice moderation in eating and avoid overeating. Their diet emphasizes whole, unprocessed foods grown locally, particularly vegetables, legumes, and fish rather than meat. They consume Greek coffee and moderate amounts of wine. This approach to food, combined with daily physical activity and strong community involvement, sets them apart from populations with lower life expectancies.
