Dan Buettner’s Journey through Nicoya, Costa Rica: The Quest for Longevity
In a tucked-away corner of Nicoya, Costa Rica, a unique community of wellness enthusiasts may be rewriting our definitions of health and longevity. As a longevity researcher for the past 20 years, Dan Buettner has diligently studied the habits of people who live to 100 years or longer, particularly the foods they eat, and he may have found the world’s healthiest breakfast.
Breakfast in Nicoya
Under a red-tiled roof, a dozen or so locals of the Cooperativa Nicoya start each day at 4:00 a.m. They stoke wood fires in clay ovens, put cauldrons of spicy beans to boil, mix corn dough with wood ash, and proceed to create the world’s healthiest breakfast: corn tortillas, black beans, rice, coffee, and chilero.
Nutritious Ingredients
Why is this meal a staple of longevity? The corn tortillas, chewy with a nutty flavor, are an excellent source of whole-grain, low-glycemic complex carbohydrates. The wood ash breaks down the corn’s cell walls, making niacin (a B vitamin) available. The beans are an excellent source of antioxidants, folates, and plant-based protein. The coffee provides a boost of antioxidants, and the chilero offers a probiotic boost to the breakfast.
Discover Nicoya’s Secrets
The total cost of the breakfast is $4.23, offering incredible value for discovering Nicoya’s secrets to longevity. Dan Buettner enthusiastically suggests emulating the locals by making a large batch of bean soup, then enjoying it throughout the week.
Traditional Recipes
To capture the essence of Nicoya’s cuisine, you can try making some of their traditional recipes at home. You can start with Nixtamal Tortillas, which provide essential nutrients found in corn. Next, try Jose Guevara’s Gallo Pinto, a delicious mix of rice and beans. Finally, a great choice is the Tender Bean, Potato, and Onion Stew, which is rich in nutritious ingredients and is exceptionally simple and quick to prepare.
Dan Buettner’s Work
Dan Buettner is an explorer, longevity researcher, and National Geographic Fellow. He is also an author of books that provide insight into the habits of the world’s healthiest people. He is on a journey to uncover the secrets of longevity and aims to bring these valuable insights to the forefront of our understanding of wellness.
Through this quest and the discoveries made, Buettner is redefining our understanding of health and wellness on a global scale, encouraging us to adopt the practices of our oldest living citizens. Their wisdom has much to teach us, and in implementing these small but significant changes, we can extend and improve our lives. By following in the footsteps of those in Nicoya, we can bring about positive changes that have the potential to redefine and expand our expectations of a long and healthy life.

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