Breakfast Secrets from the World’s Longest-Living People
Pierre Herubel, Contributor
When looking at the diet of centenarians, what can be found? This is the question posed researchers that have spent countless hours studying the habits of people who live to 100 years old or longer. Dan Buettner, longevity researcher and author of “The Blue Zones,” found what he believes is the world’s healthiest breakfast, and it’s in a tucked away corner of Nicoya, Costa Rica.
The Cooperativa Nicoya begins their day at 4:00 a.m. with a traditional breakfast consisting of beans and rice. Cooking the beans are essential to this meal, taking about an hour to cook, and the combination of both rice and beans creates a whole protein, necessary for human sustenance.
What makes this longevity-promoting dish so healthy? According to researchers, the corn tortillas, nixtamal corn flour, are an excellent source of whole-grain, low-glycemic complex carbohydrates. The wood ash used to create the corn flour breaks down the cell walls of the corn, allowing for the absorption of amino acids, and making niacin available.
The black beans contain antioxidants found in blueberries, and they are known to be rich in fiber, good for colon cleansing and for regulating blood pressure and insulin. Add in the fact that the coffee, made from a local “pea berry” strain, is also a source of antioxidants and caffeine.
Total cook time for this healthy breakfast is one hour, 15 minutes, with a total cost of $4.23.
Another staple in the Nicoyan diet is gallo pinto, a traditional mix of rice, beans, onions, garlic, and Worcestershire sauce, a dish that is eaten for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
And for vegetarians, a tomato-based one-pot meal with beans, vegetables, and spices can also serve as a main meal when paired with corn tortillas or rice.
Writing for the longevity researcher Dan Buettner, he recommends the inclusion of these meals into your diet, and even provides a recipe to make the longevity-promoting Nixtamal Tortillas at home.