Great video! ❤ I’m from Costa Rica, my family is from Guanacaste close to Nicoya. We still eat our gallo pinto and other dishes, but definately with globalization the healthy eating habits have switched to more processed food and fast food which is sad… But this video showed me that I should embrace my culture and food ❤😊
Fun and educational video. I do have one thing to remark on though; The idea that the okinawan traditional diet is mostly plant based and eats a tonne of sweet potatoes is misrepresentative of the traditional okinawan diet because it's based on research done during an era of food shortage. Whilst the traditional okinawan diet does contain a large proportion of plant foods it's also true that pork and seafood were popular foods that played a much larger part of the traditional diet before the era the research is based on. Sweet potato consumption went up during the food shortage. This isn't me trying to poopoo anyone who likes sweet potatoes, a high starch diet or a WOE (way of eating) that is (nearly) free of animal products. There's a lot of valuable information we can take from blue zone related research. But it should not automatically be taken as 100% true and accurate. We should always look at things within the context of other research and consider the hierarchy of evidence as well.
I'm glad someone pointed this out! It so often gets forgotten in this research and if you have seen any of the conversations with Okinawan centurions, most are happy to add that they eat a good amount of pork and fish. Though, it is for sure a ton less than the modern diet.
@@CosmicCubensis Very true, and the traditional diet is about "nose to tail" eating as well which I would not be surprised about if the younger generation isn't interested in.
Yep many study’s done on Okinawa did there research right after the bomb hit Japan. These people had to eat sweet potato a lot for every meal so they an there Childern would not starve to death. Before the bomb hit Okinawa farmed over 100,000 pigs when when you have that many pigs your eating them more then just on holidays. Once the bomb hit they only had like 7,313. The other people probably died during the hit.
I've been eating the Blue Zone way for about 5 years now and I feel great! 64 and going strong. I workout 2 days a week with a trainer and walk 2.5 miles daily.
I was raised Seventh Day Adventist and while I have not been involved since adulthood, I still follow the health principles I was raised with - vegetarian, lots of legumes and nuts, etc. I even lived in Loma Linda for a while! Growing up I didn't know anyone with cancer or other major diseases. I'm in my 50's, in amazing health, and I'm often mistaken for someone 10 years younger. I'm so grateful for these amazing health precepts that I grew up with.
Thanks for another great video! So proud of to see my Greek heritage represented here! All my grandparents lived well into their 90s , and a huge part of that was their diet. Traditionally, Greek Orthodox Christians fast for religious reasons throughout the year (before Christmas, Easter , every Wednesday and Friday etc) . During these times, they don’t consume any dairy nor meat, so they are eating tons of fruits, vegetables, beans, lentils, pasta etc . As well as delicious desserts like loukoumades! And tons of Greek coffee 😊😊😊!
Yay! My resquest was answered! I live fairly close to a small town in Washington State that has a citywide initiative to set up the 9 pillars in thier community in hopes of becoming a Blue Zone. So cool!!
I've been eating the blue zone diet for a few years now. And I feel great! No clue if it will actively help me live longer - but my blood work is great and I feel awesome! My favorite recipe direct from Dan's book is for the fennel minestrone. It's amazing! I also love the herbal teas they talk about in the book. I like to have a cup of sage/rosemary/mint tea with a bit of honey and a homemade baked good each night :)
My great-grandma was local herb lady in her village (one of the last) and my mom inherited her recipes. It is herbs in cooking and herbal teas with honey and tinctures, for everything ❤. I used to have problems with health every winter (bad immune system), but since I started to use these teas, I wasn’t so severely ill anymore. Herbs are livesaver ❤
I'm curious about other things though. What does a work week look like for a blue zone? How many hours a week does a family work? What does life look like after they get off work. There are so many cultural barriers that contribute to western wellness habits.
Exactly. I would be willing to bet money that most people living in these areas don’t spend endless hours every day sitting in a car stuck in commuter traffic.
Love the channel and the video! Those studies on lower death rates for people who don't drink don't account for the number of people who don't drink due to being on medication , or being in recovery. Thus, the idea that any amount of alcohol increases longevity is questionable. However, the social interaction and connection that comes with time spent socializing is well researched. I think that's an important detail as alcohol in general presents so much risk for so many people.
This comment 👏 I’ve lived in Spain for 4 years now with my Spanish husband and it’s always bothered me that this narrative about red wine being “good for you” has dominated the media. I’m convinced that it’s not the red wine that increases lifespan, but what people are doing when they are having a glass. They’re on the terrace in the sun with their friends or family, talking and laughing. For hours and hours.
definitely. thats why they recently reduced the guidelines (which i agree with) and mentioned how the research presents a J shape curve of benefit/ risk
Hello from Guatemala! I love your videos. Here, we are blessed with fresh produce all year long, as well as tight-knit communities. However, the alcoholic drink of choice is beer rather than wine. Our staple meal is black beans with rice and corn tortillas, with sometimes fried plantains, and of course with all its variations.
honestly it has a lot more to do with their lifestyle than any food they eat. if you compare the actual diets they are really different, but what they all have in common is a stress-free lifestyle surrounded with community and loved ones
What the diets have in common is an overwhelming focus on whole and minimally-processed foods, with a diversity of foods and a focus on plant-derived and fermented foods. That's actually significant - it doesn't matter so much whether the fermented foods are miso, kimchi, saurkraut, or fermented pickles, because if they're naturally fermented vegetables, that's the key thing. The food isn't the sum total, but it is important. The contrast between these ways of eating and the standard American diet is stark.
Thank you for this educational video 😊 I am from Italy, I live in Milan. I would add that sunny weather is another important key point for physical and psychological well-being. People are generally more enthusiastic about going out and catch up with their friends if the sun is shining outside :) moreover, it is natural vitamin D 😊
Also, winter can be a major stressor if you don’t have a lot of support with things like snow removal, or if you can’t get outside and exercise because the ground is a sheet of ice. It’s very socially isolating, too. Combined with the limited sunlight, winter can be extraordinarily difficult.
You may have forgotten to mention that 7th day adventists often completely abstain from alcohol- and yet they are a blue zone! From what I understand(correct me if not), the J curve related to alcohol consumption fails to adjust for those with a medical condition and/or medication that make it impossible to imbibe. To me this would more broadly explain the people who abstain, outside of the Loma Linda community and other religious minorities. You did touch on an important point- that many communities socialize and bond over wine 🍷💕 It does bring people together!
So Great I'm from Costa Rica and we love Gallo Pinto we put a lot of onions, bell peppers and cilantro on, and normally we eat it with eggs, and cheese that keep us full to lunch
Studied abroad in Costa Rica and I still miss my host mom’s cooking so much. I ate so much more food that I could in the states without gaining tons of weight.
I would say, out of all the diet programs out there, this one is one of the most unique and practical since the author actually went to the people who live in those areas and met the family's and watched how they lived and cooked. He got a group of scientists wanted to study these people as much as he could and see if he could bring their techniques to the rest of us. He is also aware that most 1s world countries have different life styles. But the point of this is to improve our ways of living with lifestyle changes. Most dieticians will say similar things. But this is really it's own thing. The diet it's self isn't vegan, it's just basically reducing highly processed foods and eating more home cooked meals that are nutrient dense. You can still eat meat and processed food, just toned down, a lot. So really, a balanced diet with a balanced lifestyle. At least, that's what I got from their books. Plus, they don't push pills, or any special syrums. Maybe a meal planner, a cooking course, that's it. Dan was also a part of national geographic.
Funny coincidence! I just had black beans and rice for breakfast, with hummus to add flavour, mixed berries on the side and hot cacao with oat milk to drink!
Glad to hear beans are good for you. Realiesed that today Ive eaten loads of them! Butter beans mashed to make a spread, chickpeas roasted as a snack and lentils and tofu in a veggie curry. Do NOT get in an elevator with me!!LOL
I thought the current recommendations in Canada were that alcohol is considered unsafe in any amount. Wasn't that the latest from this past spring or summer?
Yes! I too need this recipe! Great video, Abbey. Super fun one 🎉 I’m excited to try some of these scrumptious looking dishes. 😋 Loved the edit and pacing, too! Great job production team 🤩
Loved this video and also all your amazing evidence based videos Abbey! You are an amazing resource! Based on current Canadian guidelines, they have now said there is no safe level of alcohol and recommend less than two drinks/week due to cancer risk and overall mortality even with what was previously thought to be moderate alcohol consumption. Not sure how that compares with this research.
Thank you so much for this video! You nailed the pronunciation of loukoumades 👍 Being Greek I can confirm we absolutely love beans and usually eat them at least twice per week! You should definitely try making a stew with gigantes beans (they are enormous) which is actually our national dish 😉 Sending you love from Greece ❤️
I am Spanish and Spain has the highest life expectancy for women in Europe. The only difference I see with other countries (I have lived in 4 different European countries so far) is indeed beans: even in the fast food era, we do eat beans minimum twice a week.
Definitely make that greek-turkish-whatever coffee again, but use less water and more coffee. Your pronunciation is great & the video was so fun to watch. I'm gonna try all these recipes for sure! 💜
Loved this video! So informative and joyful 😊 by the way, I was thinking... How about reviewing some traditional HCC or diets from different countries? It could be fun, I think. I'm originally from Poland, my husband is from Brazil and we live in Sweden plus we used to live in the UK, Ireland and Germany and I must say that every country had some amazing stuff to offer on the table. 😊 You have a very diverse public so they may enjoy seeing your reviews of foods from their countries. Just a thought. Have a great day and continue being awesome. ❤ Love you and I admire your team that helps to build this platform 🎉
I think also we should take into account the fact that most of these areas have socialized medicine which allows for good preventative care which can catch health issues early. The US doesn't, so we're more likely to get elderly people with health conditions that have been poorly managed or not at all, leading to worse health outcomes and lower life expectancy.
@@bellenesatan As a dual US/Canadian citizen who has experienced both healthcare systems, and who has lived in Canada without supplemental insurance while on welfare.... Canada wins every single time. Most Canadians have no idea how bad it can get.
As barista and someone who grow up with ibrik coffee(greek style in your video),i want tell you about coffee. Antioxidant are not such thinks in this way preparation. Because usually is dark roasted and dark roast destroy most antioxidant in the process. More health benefits you found in speciality coffee,because usually light roast,hand pick,more friendly einvorment. Also you can try Costarican coffee from your local roaster:) Also "blue zone" diet is from ikigai philosophy.
6 mths ago, my Tryglicerides were 124 mg, Cholestrol at 172, HDL at 45, LDL at 104, non HDL at 127. Since then, I cut back on coffee (no sugar/cream) from 9 cups a day to 2-3 cups, started adding 3 whole eggs and 1 avocado to my diet each day for healthy fats. Just checked my bloodwork last week and my Tryglicerides are 79, HDL is 51, Cholestrol at 190, LDL at 121 and non HDL at 139. Fasting glucose is 80-90 mg and after meals around 87-90 mg. My carbs a week ago was around 230 grams a day and protein 180 grams. I lift weights, 5% body fat and 137 pounds and a lot of lean muscle mass, drink about 3-3.5 liters of water each fay. have since lowered my carbs. My Tryglicerides lowered quite a bit, HDL went up, but LDL went up. Don't know if it's due to the carbs or the fats from eggs and whole avocado. Should I be concerned?
Longtime fan of your channel, subscriber, and Costarican-American ❤ Watching you make gallo pinto made my heart happy 😊. Get some salsa lizano for a more authentic taste.
The statistics on alcohol consumption are likely skewed by that fact that a large number of previous alcoholics would be in the “people who abstain from alcohol” category. I’d be interested to see how that changes how many people have stopped drinking simply because we don’t think it’s helpful for our mental or physical health. And a big percentage of gen z never actually started drinking
Hey Abby…could you do a segment on air fryers. I keep thinking I’ll get one and then I see articles about negative effects on food…some say they’re still better than reusing oil and deep frying…but I don’t know anymore what’s valid and what isn’t. Thank you!
Me, an Italian, with most of my granparents/great-grandparents/great-great-grandparents living to their late 80s/mid 90s...yeah 😂❤🎉👏 come live here guys! Especially Abby, 'cause you're lovely ❤
I do love legumes, but I've suffered from gastritis and IBS my whole life, so beans are not always my friend. I try to eat pretty "clean," natural, whole ingredients and good meats and fish. I tend to find foods that sort of "agree" with me and make me feel good and stick to them - almost OCD - most days for b'fast/lunch and try to branch out at dinner. Most ppl with IBS/gastritis are told to avoid gluten, but I find sourdough bread works just fine for me ... great, because it's my favorite!
Very positive video although I know that there're people who disagree with your findings about the food blue zone people are eating. Some people argue that blue zone people eat a lot of biological animal food (fresh fish, red meat, raw milk, cheese, raw eggs, etc.). I know for sure that blue zone people eat mindfully, enjoy social interactions, love to work even at a high age and most important; elderly are highly respected for their wisdom! There's one big point you're missing in your video: Their BMI is on the low end (20-22) instead of on the high end. This is proven to contribute to their overall health and reduced risk for typically obesity related diseases (heart attacks, diabetes II, some forms of cancers, etc.).
Love your stuff. Will you do a video on eating to manage reactive hypoglycemia? Other idea: how to balance intuitive eating with a health problem that requires food management.
Avocados. High in fiber, nutrients and healty fat. I was eating a cup a day as a spread and have never felt better. Unfortunately Avocados are much more expensive in the US.
A couple other things to keep in mind (since someone pointed out the diet info they have for Okinawa is inaccurate due to when it was taken) is we don't really know if people are living that long in some of these areas. They don't have the best record keeping. And there are other parts of the world that have just as long (or even longer) average lifespans but they are not considered blue zones. Maybe because they have fewer centenarians? But if the average is the same I would think the centenarians would be the same unless more people on average are living longer, with fewer people being outliers living over 100. Anyway, some of those areas eat different (more animal products) than the blue zones. The only constant factor as far as diet goes in long lived areas is minimally processed foods and not overeating. And as outlined in this video there are many other factors. Even more than what was mentioned in the video actually. Diet is only a smaller factor in the bigger picture of why these people live longer. I guess my point is, this is definitely a healthy way to eat but not the only healthy way to eat. Also, most of the blue zones do eat meat. Not sure why it was left out completely in this video.
I used to be able to get the Purple Okinawan sweet potato in late February/Early March in the Asian grocery stores in California where they have a large Asian (Vietnamese, Taiwanese, Chinese, Japanese) population. They are amazing but did not last very long. You needed to cook them up pretty quickly.
My husband has a condition where beans and legumes make his red blood cells explode which if bad enough can cause massive blood loss. So check if you have this deficiency before having more beans and legumes.
Loved your version of Gallo Pinto but funny thing is that its pretty difficult to get the same taste outside Costa Rica. Every tico stuffers while traveling because of that! Also, you missed the Worcestershire sauce that we always add to it
Love that when we got to the Greek blue zone κρασί (Krasi=wine) was called "vino" in Italian. And listening to you pronounce λοκουμαθες (lokoumathes) for a minute was the best entertainment of the day. So glad you got to try them, they're the best :) Also, I DON'T recomend learning greek.
Hi Abbey. Can you make a video about burping or signs of fullness? Is burping a sign of fullness? How do you know to stop eating? I’m getting better at hunger cues because of you and reading intuitive eating book. But I don’t think you or the book discuss how to know when you’re actually full? I have an issue with emotional eating, eating past fullness, needing to finish my plate. How to stop when the food is just so good?
I think what she mentioned about eating without distractions is very important. Make sure you have enough protein, which helps with overeating. Eat slowely, put down your fork and knive after every two bites and chew more than you would normally do. Your brain will send a "full" signal after 20 minutes so take your time. You stop eating when you have the idea that you have eaten, but you could eat a little more. When you want to know if you really had enough, try looking at your macro´s. What is the amount of protein you need? What is the amount of of fat and how many carbs do you need?
Regarding the wine consumption, I have hears lately about alcohol killing your gut bacteria... is this true? Is it all alcohol?? Maybe an idea for a video 💡❤
Hello, thank you for your content. French press coffee has been associated with higher cholesterol levels since a filter is not used. I wonder how this would compare with the blue zone boiling method? I would love a video comparing the health benefits and risks of various coffee preparations, including cold brew. We are loving cold brew right now. It's so convenient. We make a huge concentrated batch by soaking the grounds overnight, then mix a little with hot water each morning. Please tell me that this method also results in greater antioxidants. 😂 It is less bitter.
Keep in mind that one study was based on five cups of coffee a day. I wouldn't worry too much if you're keeping it to the couple cups a day. And if your cholesterol levels are fine. Also, other studies have shown a positive impact on several chronic diseases.
Well, if it's anything like how people make coffee in PR, they do filter the coffee. After boiling the grounds in water they strain the coffee through a cloth filther that looks like a sock on a stick lol. We call it a "colador".
Could you possibly speak about this new research that apparently debunks the previous idea that red wine is beneficial to heart health? I keep hearing now that you'd have to drink copious amounts of wine to get the amount of flavanoids/polyphenols, so much wine it would actually kill you haha. Maybe this is just another myth
European coffee culture is very different to American coffee culture. Firstly Americans drink HUGE cups of coffee 😮 we would never add syrup or artificial sweetener or flavours. Coffee is ...... coffee
@@kittster2785 I thought I would have an easy time finding a good coffee place in NYC….nope. WTF?! I cannot find locally roasted coffee and nobody seems to understand why that would be helpful. 😬
I read the Blue Zones book years ago and started eating more plant foods, until I got married and started cooking comfort foods that my husband loved. I would love to get us back to a more Blue Zone diet but it will likely be hard with my meat n potatoes man 😭
I’m confused about the wine amount. Isn’t 100g only about 3.5 ounces, which is less than a glass? I wanted to see if I was missing something since that’s very different than 6 glasses per week. 🤷🏻♀️ Overall, great vid!
Im lucky enough over in weatern Canada to be living in a big city with several asian markets near me... cant get the fresh stuff, but i can get my hands on purple sweet potatoes!
Dear Abbey, thank You for your tutorials! They are so cool! Talking about legumes I wanted to ask You what do you think about Dr. Gundry's diet? Would you be interested in doing a video about it? ;-) All the best!
Great video for vegetarians who have never been to the so called blue zones… in the blue zones people eat meat, a lot of meat… it’s easy to mislead people who don’t travel…
12:40 did you not recently report against the conclusion of this study? Since It did not take into account the reason why people do not drink any alcohol (often health reasons)
meat is the primary food in all 175 blue zones..... Okinawa is the place in Japan where they eat most meat primary pigs meat, the data about Okinawa is from the 4 years after WW2 where they had to eat sweet potatoes until Hawaii gave them a lot of pigs again in 1949.. but it was before ww2 that they were a bluezone
I loved this video more than expected 😍 (and i'm pretty sure it's not my Greek bias speaking 😅) one thing i noticed is a lot of these regions being located near the coast, do you think high fish consumption possibly plays any role in their longevity?
Sourdough and whole wheat are not mutually exclusive… most northern and eastern European bread is sourdough + whole wheat. Sourdough is just a raising agent.
I have a genuine question: Why do Americans always differentiate between whole grain and sourdough? Isn’t there like a sourdough whole grain bread? At least in Germany, where we have a huge variety of bread, sourdough isn’t a type of bread, more a way to prepare it, like you can make a pie or a cake, but there are lots of different types of pie and cake. Is that different elsewhere?
Great video (as always!). How much ground coffee to water ratio was used? How long did you boil it for? If anyone else reading this knows, please let me know! TIA
I’m kind of confused about Loma Linda being on the blue zone list. Other places like Sardinia, Okinawa, Ikaria etc have old histories and communities and developed their food culture based on locally available foods pre-globalization. Native Americans aside (they make up a tiny fraction of people there anyway), didn’t people in Loma Linda migrate there relatively recently? 😶 According to Wikipedia, there were not even 10 thousand of them in 1970, and in 2020 there were less than 25 thousand. And they’re not ethnically homogeneous, so I would expect more diversity in terms of carried-on traditions. But I don’t know. I’m baffled by their presence on the list.
Great video! ❤ I’m from Costa Rica, my family is from Guanacaste close to Nicoya. We still eat our gallo pinto and other dishes, but definately with globalization the healthy eating habits have switched to more processed food and fast food which is sad… But this video showed me that I should embrace my culture and food ❤😊
Globalization does that!! But that’s amazing so glad you still enjoy your cultural foods❤
I adore gallo pinto! They had it on the breakfast buffet at my hotel when I visited Nicaragua in 2005,memories!
We visited beautiful Costa Rica in 2019. What friendly people, beautiful country and food. I love gallo pinto….Plus the coffee is wonderful!
@@AbbeysKitchen yummy! It's pronounced like G-eye-o pinto. ❤
@@AbbeysKitchenThank you Abbey ❤
Fun and educational video. I do have one thing to remark on though; The idea that the okinawan traditional diet is mostly plant based and eats a tonne of sweet potatoes is misrepresentative of the traditional okinawan diet because it's based on research done during an era of food shortage. Whilst the traditional okinawan diet does contain a large proportion of plant foods it's also true that pork and seafood were popular foods that played a much larger part of the traditional diet before the era the research is based on. Sweet potato consumption went up during the food shortage.
This isn't me trying to poopoo anyone who likes sweet potatoes, a high starch diet or a WOE (way of eating) that is (nearly) free of animal products. There's a lot of valuable information we can take from blue zone related research. But it should not automatically be taken as 100% true and accurate. We should always look at things within the context of other research and consider the hierarchy of evidence as well.
for sure! thanks so much for pointing this out
I'm glad someone pointed this out! It so often gets forgotten in this research and if you have seen any of the conversations with Okinawan centurions, most are happy to add that they eat a good amount of pork and fish. Though, it is for sure a ton less than the modern diet.
@@CosmicCubensis Very true, and the traditional diet is about "nose to tail" eating as well which I would not be surprised about if the younger generation isn't interested in.
So true!!!
Yep many study’s done on Okinawa did there research right after the bomb hit Japan. These people had to eat sweet potato a lot for every meal so they an there Childern would not starve to death. Before the bomb hit Okinawa farmed over 100,000 pigs when when you have that many pigs your eating them more then just on holidays. Once the bomb hit they only had like 7,313. The other people probably died during the hit.
I've been eating the Blue Zone way for about 5 years now and I feel great! 64 and going strong. I workout 2 days a week with a trainer and walk 2.5 miles daily.
I was raised Seventh Day Adventist and while I have not been involved since adulthood, I still follow the health principles I was raised with - vegetarian, lots of legumes and nuts, etc. I even lived in Loma Linda for a while! Growing up I didn't know anyone with cancer or other major diseases. I'm in my 50's, in amazing health, and I'm often mistaken for someone 10 years younger. I'm so grateful for these amazing health precepts that I grew up with.
Haystacks 4 lyfe ♥️
I'm a seventh day Adventist. mostly pescatarian.... ❤️...
i would love to live in Loma Linda or visit one day ❤❤❤
Thanks for another great video! So proud of to see my Greek heritage represented here! All my grandparents lived well into their 90s , and a huge part of that was their diet. Traditionally, Greek Orthodox Christians fast for religious reasons throughout the year (before Christmas, Easter , every Wednesday and Friday etc) . During these times, they don’t consume any dairy nor meat, so they are eating tons of fruits, vegetables, beans, lentils, pasta etc . As well as delicious desserts like loukoumades! And tons of Greek coffee 😊😊😊!
Yay! My resquest was answered! I live fairly close to a small town in Washington State that has a citywide initiative to set up the 9 pillars in thier community in hopes of becoming a Blue Zone. So cool!!
I've been eating the blue zone diet for a few years now. And I feel great! No clue if it will actively help me live longer - but my blood work is great and I feel awesome! My favorite recipe direct from Dan's book is for the fennel minestrone. It's amazing!
I also love the herbal teas they talk about in the book. I like to have a cup of sage/rosemary/mint tea with a bit of honey and a homemade baked good each night :)
so cool sounds like a great recipe
My great-grandma was local herb lady in her village (one of the last) and my mom inherited her recipes. It is herbs in cooking and herbal teas with honey and tinctures, for everything ❤. I used to have problems with health every winter (bad immune system), but since I started to use these teas, I wasn’t so severely ill anymore. Herbs are livesaver ❤
I'm curious about other things though. What does a work week look like for a blue zone? How many hours a week does a family work? What does life look like after they get off work. There are so many cultural barriers that contribute to western wellness habits.
Exactly. I would be willing to bet money that most people living in these areas don’t spend endless hours every day sitting in a car stuck in commuter traffic.
Love the channel and the video! Those studies on lower death rates for people who don't drink don't account for the number of people who don't drink due to being on medication , or being in recovery. Thus, the idea that any amount of alcohol increases longevity is questionable. However, the social interaction and connection that comes with time spent socializing is well researched. I think that's an important detail as alcohol in general presents so much risk for so many people.
This comment 👏 I’ve lived in Spain for 4 years now with my Spanish husband and it’s always bothered me that this narrative about red wine being “good for you” has dominated the media. I’m convinced that it’s not the red wine that increases lifespan, but what people are doing when they are having a glass. They’re on the terrace in the sun with their friends or family, talking and laughing. For hours and hours.
definitely. thats why they recently reduced the guidelines (which i agree with) and mentioned how the research presents a J shape curve of benefit/ risk
@@jackiehammerton Hard agree! They definitely live longer DESPITE of the alcohol because of other lifestyle factors
Hello from Guatemala! I love your videos. Here, we are blessed with fresh produce all year long, as well as tight-knit communities. However, the alcoholic drink of choice is beer rather than wine. Our staple meal is black beans with rice and corn tortillas, with sometimes fried plantains, and of course with all its variations.
honestly it has a lot more to do with their lifestyle than any food they eat. if you compare the actual diets they are really different, but what they all have in common is a stress-free lifestyle surrounded with community and loved ones
What the diets have in common is an overwhelming focus on whole and minimally-processed foods, with a diversity of foods and a focus on plant-derived and fermented foods. That's actually significant - it doesn't matter so much whether the fermented foods are miso, kimchi, saurkraut, or fermented pickles, because if they're naturally fermented vegetables, that's the key thing. The food isn't the sum total, but it is important. The contrast between these ways of eating and the standard American diet is stark.
I've had the Blue zones cookbook for a few years. There are a few awesome recipes in there! The mushroom tofu 'steak' is incredible.
love a plant based meal!
Thank you for this educational video 😊 I am from Italy, I live in Milan. I would add that sunny weather is another important key point for physical and psychological well-being. People are generally more enthusiastic about going out and catch up with their friends if the sun is shining outside :) moreover, it is natural vitamin D 😊
Also, winter can be a major stressor if you don’t have a lot of support with things like snow removal, or if you can’t get outside and exercise because the ground is a sheet of ice. It’s very socially isolating, too. Combined with the limited sunlight, winter can be extraordinarily difficult.
You may have forgotten to mention that 7th day adventists often completely abstain from alcohol- and yet they are a blue zone!
From what I understand(correct me if not), the J curve related to alcohol consumption fails to adjust for those with a medical condition and/or medication that make it impossible to imbibe. To me this would more broadly explain the people who abstain, outside of the Loma Linda community and other religious minorities.
You did touch on an important point- that many communities socialize and bond over wine 🍷💕 It does bring people together!
I’m glad because I j😢just don’t like wine
@@tracyaf6084 Yeah, and I just don't like alcohol in general and have no plans of starting to drink just because of a slight chance of benefits.
Alcohol increases your chances of breast cancer
Had to stop and say - love love love the "flashdance" style outfit. Gorgeous, cozy and looks comfortable!
So Great I'm from Costa Rica and we love Gallo Pinto we put a lot of onions, bell peppers and cilantro on, and normally we eat it with eggs, and cheese that keep us full to lunch
I hate how people think it's a "eat this and live to 100" and not an overall lifestyle that promotes longevity.
Did you even watch?
she pointed that out in the video.....Purpose, spirituality, volunteering, community, joyful movement, etc.
Studied abroad in Costa Rica and I still miss my host mom’s cooking so much. I ate so much more food that I could in the states without gaining tons of weight.
I would say, out of all the diet programs out there, this one is one of the most unique and practical since the author actually went to the people who live in those areas and met the family's and watched how they lived and cooked. He got a group of scientists wanted to study these people as much as he could and see if he could bring their techniques to the rest of us. He is also aware that most 1s world countries have different life styles. But the point of this is to improve our ways of living with lifestyle changes. Most dieticians will say similar things. But this is really it's own thing. The diet it's self isn't vegan, it's just basically reducing highly processed foods and eating more home cooked meals that are nutrient dense. You can still eat meat and processed food, just toned down, a lot. So really, a balanced diet with a balanced lifestyle. At least, that's what I got from their books. Plus, they don't push pills, or any special syrums. Maybe a meal planner, a cooking course, that's it. Dan was also a part of national geographic.
Funny coincidence! I just had black beans and rice for breakfast, with hummus to add flavour, mixed berries on the side and hot cacao with oat milk to drink!
yum!!!
That sounds DELICIOUS!! 🙂
Glad to hear beans are good for you. Realiesed that today Ive eaten loads of them! Butter beans mashed to make a spread, chickpeas roasted as a snack and lentils and tofu in a veggie curry. Do NOT get in an elevator with me!!LOL
I thought the current recommendations in Canada were that alcohol is considered unsafe in any amount. Wasn't that the latest from this past spring or summer?
yep, the new guidelines are that no amount is safe but that less than 2 standard glasses a week is considered low risk.
Yes. It’s now considered a toxin
The Blue Zones are so interesting! So much to learn from them, and we imagine a lot of the benefits have to do with the social community as well!
Ok that minestrone soup that Abbey made looked amazing and I need a proper recipe for it!!! ❤
Yes! I too need this recipe! Great video, Abbey. Super fun one 🎉 I’m excited to try some of these scrumptious looking dishes. 😋
Loved the edit and pacing, too! Great job production team 🤩
Loved this video and also all your amazing evidence based videos Abbey! You are an amazing resource! Based on current Canadian guidelines, they have now said there is no safe level of alcohol and recommend less than two drinks/week due to cancer risk and overall mortality even with what was previously thought to be moderate alcohol consumption. Not sure how that compares with this research.
Thank you so much for this video!
You nailed the pronunciation of loukoumades 👍 Being Greek I can confirm we absolutely love beans and usually eat them at least twice per week! You should definitely try making a stew with gigantes beans (they are enormous) which is actually our national dish 😉
Sending you love from Greece ❤️
I am Spanish and Spain has the highest life expectancy for women in Europe. The only difference I see with other countries (I have lived in 4 different European countries so far) is indeed beans: even in the fast food era, we do eat beans minimum twice a week.
Definitely make that greek-turkish-whatever coffee again, but use less water and more coffee. Your pronunciation is great & the video was so fun to watch. I'm gonna try all these recipes for sure! 💜
I’m VERY glad you’ve made this video! I’ve been rabbit holing down into blue zone docs!
Loved this video! So informative and joyful 😊 by the way, I was thinking... How about reviewing some traditional HCC or diets from different countries? It could be fun, I think. I'm originally from Poland, my husband is from Brazil and we live in Sweden plus we used to live in the UK, Ireland and Germany and I must say that every country had some amazing stuff to offer on the table. 😊 You have a very diverse public so they may enjoy seeing your reviews of foods from their countries. Just a thought. Have a great day and continue being awesome. ❤ Love you and I admire your team that helps to build this platform 🎉
I second this!! ❤
Yes, great idea!
Love this! Would love to see more Blue Zone recipes. Now I need to find some of those Greek donuts.
First time finding your channel, holy shit you do a great job, love your humor.
As a Costa Rican here ❤ I love you make Gallo Pinto with eggs and some delicious fresh coffee for breakfast ❤
I live in a neighboring city to Loma Linda. Very interesting! Weather is amazing and beautiful hikes around here
I think also we should take into account the fact that most of these areas have socialized medicine which allows for good preventative care which can catch health issues early. The US doesn't, so we're more likely to get elderly people with health conditions that have been poorly managed or not at all, leading to worse health outcomes and lower life expectancy.
very good point (tho doesnt apply to CA?) social determinants of health / acccess are huge
@@AbbeysKitchenCanada has other ways of denying vulnerable people healthcare, besides price. 😢 Speaking from experience
@@bellenesatan As a dual US/Canadian citizen who has experienced both healthcare systems, and who has lived in Canada without supplemental insurance while on welfare.... Canada wins every single time. Most Canadians have no idea how bad it can get.
In the US, the elderly have Medicare.
@@annjames1837yea, but it doesn’t cover everything.
As barista and someone who grow up with ibrik coffee(greek style in your video),i want tell you about coffee. Antioxidant are not such thinks in this way preparation. Because usually is dark roasted and dark roast destroy most antioxidant in the process.
More health benefits you found in speciality coffee,because usually light roast,hand pick,more friendly einvorment.
Also you can try Costarican coffee from your local roaster:)
Also "blue zone" diet is from ikigai philosophy.
6 mths ago, my Tryglicerides were 124 mg, Cholestrol at 172, HDL at 45, LDL at 104, non HDL at 127. Since then, I cut back on coffee (no sugar/cream) from 9 cups a day to 2-3 cups, started adding 3 whole eggs and 1 avocado to my diet each day for healthy fats. Just checked my bloodwork last week and my Tryglicerides are 79, HDL is 51, Cholestrol at 190, LDL at 121 and non HDL at 139. Fasting glucose is 80-90 mg and after meals around 87-90 mg. My carbs a week ago was around 230 grams a day and protein 180 grams. I lift weights, 5% body fat and 137 pounds and a lot of lean muscle mass, drink about 3-3.5 liters of water each fay. have since lowered my carbs. My Tryglicerides lowered quite a bit, HDL went up, but LDL went up. Don't know if it's due to the carbs or the fats from eggs and whole avocado. Should I be concerned?
I really really enjoy when you make videos like this!!!
yayy glad to hear
I learned about the Blue Zones in 2017, we moved across the country at the end of 2018 to be closer to family… best decision ever!
Longtime fan of your channel, subscriber, and Costarican-American ❤
Watching you make gallo pinto made my heart happy 😊.
Get some salsa lizano for a more authentic taste.
The statistics on alcohol consumption are likely skewed by that fact that a large number of previous alcoholics would be in the “people who abstain from alcohol” category. I’d be interested to see how that changes how many people have stopped drinking simply because we don’t think it’s helpful for our mental or physical health. And a big percentage of gen z never actually started drinking
I am a LEGUME lover!!!
Same
I love the 80 percent rule. Very few diet books ever talk about satiety cues. This program actually does.
Hey Abby…could you do a segment on air fryers. I keep thinking I’ll get one and then I see articles about negative effects on food…some say they’re still better than reusing oil and deep frying…but I don’t know anymore what’s valid and what isn’t. Thank you!
Air fryers are practically small convection ovens, so I imagine that any research on using an oven would yield similar results.
Me, an Italian, with most of my granparents/great-grandparents/great-great-grandparents living to their late 80s/mid 90s...yeah 😂❤🎉👏 come live here guys! Especially Abby, 'cause you're lovely ❤
Awww I want to come to Italy!!
Wow. It's about inner attitude, not a country.
Not to be negative, but facts are facts and Italy will be a hot hell in 20 to 30 years
I love your videos Abbey! My great grandmother lived to 103, and she lived with my grandparents ❤️
I do love legumes, but I've suffered from gastritis and IBS my whole life, so beans are not always my friend. I try to eat pretty "clean," natural, whole ingredients and good meats and fish. I tend to find foods that sort of "agree" with me and make me feel good and stick to them - almost OCD - most days for b'fast/lunch and try to branch out at dinner.
Most ppl with IBS/gastritis are told to avoid gluten, but I find sourdough bread works just fine for me ... great, because it's my favorite!
Asian grocery stores have purple potatoes. Super easy to find in Canada (Toronto at least).
Very positive video although I know that there're people who disagree with your findings about the food blue zone people are eating. Some people argue that blue zone people eat a lot of biological animal food (fresh fish, red meat, raw milk, cheese, raw eggs, etc.).
I know for sure that blue zone people eat mindfully, enjoy social interactions, love to work even at a high age and most important; elderly are highly respected for their wisdom!
There's one big point you're missing in your video: Their BMI is on the low end (20-22) instead of on the high end. This is proven to contribute to their overall health and reduced risk for typically obesity related diseases (heart attacks, diabetes II, some forms of cancers, etc.).
Love your stuff. Will you do a video on eating to manage reactive hypoglycemia? Other idea: how to balance intuitive eating with a health problem that requires food management.
Abbey you've been killing it with your videos, ily keep it up girlie
Thanks love🥰
Avocados. High in fiber, nutrients and healty fat. I was eating a cup a day as a spread and have never felt better. Unfortunately Avocados are much more expensive in the US.
A couple other things to keep in mind (since someone pointed out the diet info they have for Okinawa is inaccurate due to when it was taken) is we don't really know if people are living that long in some of these areas. They don't have the best record keeping.
And there are other parts of the world that have just as long (or even longer) average lifespans but they are not considered blue zones. Maybe because they have fewer centenarians? But if the average is the same I would think the centenarians would be the same unless more people on average are living longer, with fewer people being outliers living over 100. Anyway, some of those areas eat different (more animal products) than the blue zones. The only constant factor as far as diet goes in long lived areas is minimally processed foods and not overeating. And as outlined in this video there are many other factors. Even more than what was mentioned in the video actually. Diet is only a smaller factor in the bigger picture of why these people live longer.
I guess my point is, this is definitely a healthy way to eat but not the only healthy way to eat.
Also, most of the blue zones do eat meat. Not sure why it was left out completely in this video.
I used to be able to get the Purple Okinawan sweet potato in late February/Early March in the Asian grocery stores in California where they have a large Asian (Vietnamese, Taiwanese, Chinese, Japanese) population. They are amazing but did not last very long. You needed to cook them up pretty quickly.
ah this video is so motivational! i need to start giving some more love to my beans and legumes again 😄 i personally love making homemade hummus
Also, lots of Blue Zones on the coast...
I was like aren’t these all beach communities with sun
My husband has a condition where beans and legumes make his red blood cells explode which if bad enough can cause massive blood loss. So check if you have this deficiency before having more beans and legumes.
Loved this interesting subject! A blue zone recipe series could be educational and fun!!
Loved your version of Gallo Pinto but funny thing is that its pretty difficult to get the same taste outside Costa Rica. Every tico stuffers while traveling because of that! Also, you missed the Worcestershire sauce that we always add to it
Love that when we got to the Greek blue zone κρασί (Krasi=wine) was called "vino" in Italian. And listening to you pronounce λοκουμαθες (lokoumathes) for a minute was the best entertainment of the day. So glad you got to try them, they're the best :) Also, I DON'T recomend learning greek.
this is also how we say wine in spanish xD
This was an awesome video! Definitely one of my favorites!
I uncork wine with the wrapper still on 99% of the time. It usually rips it right off and I refuse to submit to cork-removal norms 😤
I was literally talking to my husband about blue zones today. I couldn’t remember what they were called! Thanks!
Hi Abbey. Can you make a video about burping or signs of fullness? Is burping a sign of fullness? How do you know to stop eating? I’m getting better at hunger cues because of you and reading intuitive eating book. But I don’t think you or the book discuss how to know when you’re actually full? I have an issue with emotional eating, eating past fullness, needing to finish my plate. How to stop when the food is just so good?
I think what she mentioned about eating without distractions is very important. Make sure you have enough protein, which helps with overeating. Eat slowely, put down your fork and knive after every two bites and chew more than you would normally do. Your brain will send a "full" signal after 20 minutes so take your time. You stop eating when you have the idea that you have eaten, but you could eat a little more. When you want to know if you really had enough, try looking at your macro´s. What is the amount of protein you need? What is the amount of of fat and how many carbs do you need?
Regarding the wine consumption, I have hears lately about alcohol killing your gut bacteria... is this true? Is it all alcohol?? Maybe an idea for a video 💡❤
Hello, thank you for your content. French press coffee has been associated with higher cholesterol levels since a filter is not used. I wonder how this would compare with the blue zone boiling method? I would love a video comparing the health benefits and risks of various coffee preparations, including cold brew. We are loving cold brew right now. It's so convenient. We make a huge concentrated batch by soaking the grounds overnight, then mix a little with hot water each morning. Please tell me that this method also results in greater antioxidants. 😂 It is less bitter.
Keep in mind that one study was based on five cups of coffee a day. I wouldn't worry too much if you're keeping it to the couple cups a day. And if your cholesterol levels are fine. Also, other studies have shown a positive impact on several chronic diseases.
czcams.com/video/-AwzDqFLy7w/video.htmlsi=H_HM0J-lDGd50GrD
You can watch this video to see how we prepare Greek coffee
Well, if it's anything like how people make coffee in PR, they do filter the coffee. After boiling the grounds in water they strain the coffee through a cloth filther that looks like a sock on a stick lol. We call it a "colador".
Happy birthday to grandma sharp we love you all 🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤
Could you possibly speak about this new research that apparently debunks the previous idea that red wine is beneficial to heart health? I keep hearing now that you'd have to drink copious amounts of wine to get the amount of flavanoids/polyphenols, so much wine it would actually kill you haha. Maybe this is just another myth
What is reaserch telling us about protein for longevity? Some people are telling it should be low another that it should be high.
European coffee culture is very different to American coffee culture. Firstly Americans drink HUGE cups of coffee 😮 we would never add syrup or artificial sweetener or flavours. Coffee is ...... coffee
It's Americanized....like everything else. 😮
I’m an American. I hate sweetened, flavored coffee.
Black coffee for life
@@kittster2785 I thought I would have an easy time finding a good coffee place in NYC….nope. WTF?! I cannot find locally roasted coffee and nobody seems to understand why that would be helpful. 😬
Love this video & agree with the Blue Zone way of life. Grazie mille!
I read the Blue Zones book years ago and started eating more plant foods, until I got married and started cooking comfort foods that my husband loved. I would love to get us back to a more Blue Zone diet but it will likely be hard with my meat n potatoes man 😭
Love your videos! I’m glad I found this one because I was reading up on the blue zone Diet.
What is the wine you opened? Bottle is cute.
Living with my mom would shorten my lifespan by at least 10 years 😂
Just FYI... I live in Ontario, whole foods and Asian grocery stores carry the purple sweet potatoes
Fairly new to your channel! I really love your videos - and you! ❤
aw thank. you. glad you found me
I’m confused about the wine amount. Isn’t 100g only about 3.5 ounces, which is less than a glass? I wanted to see if I was missing something since that’s very different than 6 glasses per week. 🤷🏻♀️ Overall, great vid!
it's 100g of pure alcohol, there is about 20-21g of alcohol per standard glass of wine.
Im lucky enough over in weatern Canada to be living in a big city with several asian markets near me... cant get the fresh stuff, but i can get my hands on purple sweet potatoes!
Potatoes are from the americas. Other countries, including Okinawa, have at most been eating potatoes since the 1600s. At most.
The blue one also incorporates physical activity and mental peace
Dear Abbey, thank You for your tutorials! They are so cool! Talking about legumes I wanted to ask You what do you think about Dr. Gundry's diet? Would you be interested in doing a video about it? ;-)
All the best!
So excited for this!
Your video clips are hilarious!😂😂😂 genious whoever found ‘em.
Great video for vegetarians who have never been to the so called blue zones… in the blue zones people eat meat, a lot of meat… it’s easy to mislead people who don’t travel…
National produce in Toronto imports those purple potatoes (they supply nations amongst other stores) and they are so freaking delicious
12:40 did you not recently report against the conclusion of this study? Since It did not take into account the reason why people do not drink any alcohol (often health reasons)
meat is the primary food in all 175 blue zones..... Okinawa is the place in Japan where they eat most meat primary pigs meat, the data about Okinawa is from the 4 years after WW2 where they had to eat sweet potatoes until Hawaii gave them a lot of pigs again in 1949.. but it was before ww2 that they were a bluezone
Is that soup recipe on your blog?! It looks devine!
I loved this video more than expected 😍 (and i'm pretty sure it's not my Greek bias speaking 😅)
one thing i noticed is a lot of these regions being located near the coast, do you think high fish consumption possibly plays any role in their longevity?
Sourdough and whole wheat are not mutually exclusive… most northern and eastern European bread is sourdough + whole wheat. Sourdough is just a raising agent.
You shouldn't eat beans from the can
But actually cook them it tests better and its much healthier!!
Can you share the recipes please
I have a genuine question: Why do Americans always differentiate between whole grain and sourdough? Isn’t there like a sourdough whole grain bread?
At least in Germany, where we have a huge variety of bread, sourdough isn’t a type of bread, more a way to prepare it, like you can make a pie or a cake, but there are lots of different types of pie and cake.
Is that different elsewhere?
In Romania sourdough is a way of prepping bread
Great video (as always!). How much ground coffee to water ratio was used? How long did you boil it for?
If anyone else reading this knows, please let me know! TIA
I’m kind of confused about Loma Linda being on the blue zone list. Other places like Sardinia, Okinawa, Ikaria etc have old histories and communities and developed their food culture based on locally available foods pre-globalization. Native Americans aside (they make up a tiny fraction of people there anyway), didn’t people in Loma Linda migrate there relatively recently? 😶 According to Wikipedia, there were not even 10 thousand of them in 1970, and in 2020 there were less than 25 thousand. And they’re not ethnically homogeneous, so I would expect more diversity in terms of carried-on traditions. But I don’t know. I’m baffled by their presence on the list.
Its because their high percentage of 7th Day Adventists who easy this way.
Your pronunciation efforts are enjoyed.
I’d really like one or two of those little honey doughnuts!
I literally just watched a video about Loma Linda.
Ok but we NEED the recipe for that minestrone!!
i dont know if it's all across canada, but im in nfld and there are almost always purple sweet potatos at walmart!
If i can’t eat legumes because i have ibs and they make me violently ill, whats a girl to do 😢