Central-eastern Sardinia is one of the five Blue Zones of the world: areas where people live far longer than average. In some villages of Ogliastra the percentage of centenarians is among the highest ever recorded.
What science says
Researchers who studied the area point to a combination of factors:
- Genetics: centuries of isolation preserved a distinctive gene pool
- Diet: carasau flatbread, legumes, goat cheese, cannonau wine in moderation
- Movement: a shepherd's life means daily uphill walking
- Community: elders remain at the centre of family and social life
The curious fact
In most of the world, female centenarians outnumber men ten to one. In Sardinia the ratio is almost even: it is the only place where men reach one hundred nearly as often as women.
There is no magic pill: there is a way of living. And in Sardinia, evidently, it has worked for centuries.