One Food the World’s Healthiest People All Eat
My life was very different 7 years ago.
I lived in a cozy little studio apartment in the East Village, and took the 6 train to work in the Flatiron District 5 days a week, hustling to grab a coffee at Mud and get to my desk by 9am.
I wore high heels, dresses, and pencil skirts, and spent 8+ hours a day doing work I loved, looking out over the cityscape.
Co-producing conferences at Jazz at Lincoln Center was part of my role as a member of the Education Department at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.
Once or twice a year we threw big, lively weekend events with speakers like Deepak Chopra, Andrew Weil, and Gabby Bernstein.
At one conference, we had Dan Buettner, the author of Blue Zones, come to speak.
The Blue Zones are the five areas of the world where people are the healthiest and live the longest:
- Okinawa, Japan
- Sardinia, Italy
- Nicoya, Costa Rica
- Ikaria, Greece
- Loma Linda, California
Watching him speak from the wings, I learned that all five groups have one food in common, and my mind was kind of blown.
I wasn’t totally surprised, but I was fascinated.
The world’s healthiest people all eat beans…
… and these are not just bouncy 20-somethings talking about wellness on Instagram – many Blue Zones residents are 80-something, and thriving.
“Beans are the cornerstone of every Blue Zones diet in the world: black beans in Nicoya; lentils, garbanzo, and white beans in the Mediterranean; and soybeans in Okinawa. The long-lived populations in these Blue Zones eat at least four times as many beans as we do, on average.” – Dan Buettner
Why beans?
Packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber, beans balance blood sugar, providing slow and steady energy while keeping you full.
Beans also support the body’s natural detox processes by binding with toxins in the liver, and flushing them out through elimination.
If you don’t eat a lot of beans right now, and you want to start incorporating them…
- Find a couple types of beans you love, and preparation styles that are practical for you. Make them tasty + easy – dressing up canned beans is a fine place to start. No need to get fussy.
- Slowly integrate them into your diet. If they’re new to you, your body needs time to adjust. You may experience gas or bloating at first, but ultimately they provide the ultimate digestive support. Including ¼ – ½ cup per day is a great place to start.
I’d love to hear from you in the comments below:
Were you expecting the answer to be beans, and do you include them on the regular?
As an intuitive eater who doesn’t follow any rules, beans are one of the only foods I always find myself gravitating toward. They’re incredibly satisfying and supportive.
I hope this info serves you!
XO,
Lula
