Secrets of Centurion Fit-Healthy Long Lives

The Ikaria, Greek Island people’s longevity lifestyle has interesting attributes that can be duplicated within almost any culture to receive the same healthy longevity anti-aging benefits. I say, “Almost any culture” because there are third world countries that simply do not have the resources that Westernized cultures do. Our nation, like other similar cultures have no excuse for many illnesses and disease pain placed upon ourselves because of our unwillingness to change lifestyle habits. Much of our poor health and fitness levels occur because of our quick fix and results expectations, convenient and plentiful transportation, jet set lifestyle, fast pace society, family and value system(s) breakdown, drug and alcohol addiction, nonorganic-fast food diets, etc. This is a very simple comparison of differences within our two cultures. But by no means is a total list of lifestyle differences to make my point. I recently read an article by Dan Buettner, author of The Blue Zones: “Lessons for Living Longer” from the People Who’ve Lived the Longest (National Geographic, 08). This article captivated my attention which I thought was important to share with you.

Following is a list of Ikaria’s habitual lifestyle differences from their culture and a testament to their long and healthy centurion lifestyle.

This Greek Island culture has 150 wild greens grown in an area that has 10-times the super food anti-oxidant quality found in red wine for example. The Ikaria’s people grow their own gardens and shop at farmers markets. All fruits and vegetables purchased at the local markets are naturally organic. They are also void from chemical pesticides and fertilizers. It is well documented that organic fruits and vegetables are far healthier for your body with greater anti-oxidant properties while promoting-preventing cancer and heart disease. I personally supplement my diet with super food quality vitamins and minerals twice daily.

Olive oil is considered a high quality anti-oxidant and these residents use much extra-virgin oil in their cooking. Extra-virgin oil is the only oil I cook with when I break out the frying pan. My family has been cooking this way for years. Heat does not denaturize (destroy) the healthy anti-oxidant & healthy oleic acid properties of this oil.

Although I don’t drink herbal tea, I prefer coffee (also an anti-oxidant). The Ikaria’s people drink plenty of wild mint, chamomile, or other herbs. Science supports that many teas lower blood pressure which also reduces the probability of heart disease.

In many of my MAE (Mirror Athlete Enterprises) videos I promote walking is the key to good health and the best cardiovascular fitness program one could participate for life. Walking is something I do daily regardless of daily pain experiences. If you suffer chronic pain, you can manage the pain in many cases to allow daily walking “if able.” I also mention this is a key healthy life choice ingredient to maintain weight, healthy-fit body, mind and soul while reducing stress, heal and/or alleviate body pain while living life to the fullest.

The Ikaria lifestyle supports my healthy-fit mind, body and soul philosophy. If you want to achieve healthy long living anti-aging goals, then one should consider the Ikaria’s walking discipline if able to walk. These people walk everywhere in a mountainous geography. There walking is by necessity, there is very little public transportation, or personal luxury’s such as cars. Every trip is a cardiovascular exercise workout. For example, I drive very little in my local area while I walk with a dual goal in mind. For example, I walk to the video and grocery store. Grocery loads are what I can manage. Usually two bags of equal weight, not more than 3 lbs each for no greater than a 1.5 mile distance. The human physiology is greatly dependent on movement activity to maintain optimum overall mind, body, soul health.

It wasn’t long ago while on a walk with a good friend I brought up ways in which to thwart pain depression through social and spiritual meditation. “I can’t stress enough the importance of socialization through friendships, families and a spiritual belief system. As I’ve written in previous articles.

Social interaction and spiritualism of “any faith” wires our mind, bodies and soul as God had intended for long healthy happy lifestyle experiences. As illustrated within this island Greek Orthodox culture, regular social activity and spiritual attendance greatly reduces the likelihood of depression, being overweight and populace mortality leading to a longer healthier happier lifestyle.

I’ve also noted for myself, retirement has produced less stress and tension on my mind, body and soul. I think the similarities of my lifestyle and the Ikaria’s are very similar. I must have lived a previous life on this Greek Island, or at least I feel as if eerily my lifestyle is very similar to theirs. Except, I have a hard time just throwing away the watch “sort of speak.”

Their mindset philosophy is “work will eventually get done so why worry about it.” In other words, they don’t spend countless hours worrying about their employer timelines. This mindset philosophy in work cultures that value this work life attribute mostly reduces stress, which will likely minimize wrinkles and arthritis, risk of heart attack, etc. Overall psychosomatic (mind-body) relaxation from a stressful environment daily with 20-45 minute nap does also appear to improve disposition and productivity. Daily down time is also known as siesta, or power naps. The mid-day relaxation benefits of naps have been recognized in our culture for many years. For example, many of our large corporations sanction this powernap concept where they set aside relaxation rooms for their employees.

Other positive lifestyle healthy habits for the Ikaria’s people are daily diet. This diet resembles a Mediterranean diet rich in whole foods, grain, fruit and fish, vegetable and of course “olive oil.” The main difference between their daily diet and a Mediterranean diet is they eat more red meat than fish because of the day’s walking journey to fish. They also consume more potatoes because of the mountainous supporting terrain in farming this staple.

We also know that honey is an excellent anti-oxidant, but it is not proven that our honey is as beneficial as the Greek honey which is consumed on a regular basis. Honey is known to contain anti-cancer, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

The other two key food sources that differ from our consumption patterns: The islanders sour dough bread has high counts of complex carbohydrates when included in diets may be beneficial for those with diabetes by improving the glucose metabolism, or preventing Type-2 diabetes.

Most of the Ikaria’s over 90 state they drank goats milk all of their lives and continue to do so. Goat’s milk is rich in Tryptophan which lowers blood pressure, to include antibacterial compounds and depression. Although many of our commercial stores don’t sell goat’s milk, many of our organic stores do. You can also supplement your diet high in amino acid, L-Tryptophan a nutritional supplement. However, you won’t find it sold as a singular amino acid supplement as it once was up through 1989. Watch for a future article I’ll present “how greedy corporations and government” (found at my website) have removed this particular amino acid benefit knowledge from consumers. They knowingly are making an entire nation sick by distorting truth and outright lies to the American people.

If active lifestyle and longevity is your goal with minimal pain and aggravation for you and your family while you age; it may be wise to consider living a Mediterranean and/or Ikaria-type lifestyle in part, or fully comparable as possible. In our fast pace environment this can be a real challenge but doable; if anti-aging and healthy longevity is important to you.