Health and Longevity in Ikaria: A Greek Blue Zone

Ikaria Island: Where people live longer lives

I’ve had the pleasure of spending last week on the Greek island of Ikaria, located in the eastern Aegean Sea,  near Samos. Ikaria is of interest not only due to its natural beauty and the mythical figure Icarus. The island is also remarkable because of the noted longevity of its inhabitants.  In fact, one in three Ikarians live to be at least ninety years old!

The obvious question follows:  What unique factors give rise to Ikaria’s fountain of youth? Is there something special in the wine, or a particular quality of its famous thermal springs? Or is the answer something more complex, having to do with social and lifestyle factors? Whatever the underlying reasons, they have resulted in the island’s recent status as one of the world’s Blue Zones.

According to bestselling author Dan Buettner in his book Blue Zones, Ikaria is a location where people live long and healthy lives because they engage in natural movement, have the right outlook on life, eat properly, and have a solid sense of community and belonging.

A balanced and traditional lifestyle

Place of natural beauty

It’s certainly true that Ikarians are proud of the balance in their lives: nature, freedom, time and development are all put into perspective. Despite the allure of profits associated with mass tourism, the people of Ikaria have long resisted development. Fiercely maintaining local traditions, their way of life is fulfilling and apparently rewards them with outstanding health benefits.

Buettner says that there are nine keys to longevity and health:

• natural movement
• having a purpose in life
• not working too hard, slowing down
• not eating too much
• eating lots of vegetables, but not too much meat
• having the occasional glass of good red wine
• belonging to a community or having a good social network
• sharing personal beliefs or spirituality
• making family a priority

It’s not difficult to see these keys put into practice in Ikaria. Traditional villagers are still farmers or fishers: people who use the terraced mountainsides to grow olives, grapes, and to plant gardens, and who use small boats go fishing. While it’s true that the work is not easy, it all involves natural movement and there is a sense of fulfillment from living off the land.

Since most of Ikaria’s villages are in the mountain regions, active lifestyles are promoted, helping to reduce heat disease and obesity. Certain villages like Christos Raches are entirely pedestrian…no cars are allowed.

Terraced land, once used for farming

Fishing boats in the port of Evdilos

Ikarians know how to balance life too. They take time for pleasure, to connect with friends and family. There is little sense of urgency (which can be an annoyance factor for outsiders who aren’t used to the culture), as things get done in their own time. In the late afternoon, the small mountain villages like Christos and Agios Dimitrios become ghost towns, as the locals close down the shops to partake in the afternoon siesta. The villages come alive once more after dark, as the evenings and nights are a time for relaxation and socializing.

Quiet villages come alive after dark

Locals who follow the traditional diet of Ikaria eat well, and don’t overeat. Meals are a social event, and participants share meals, eating slowly and stopping when they are about 80% full. Compare that to many North Americans, who typically stuff themselves until they are 100% full.  The Ikarian diet includes an abundance of local vegetables, eaten in season. Wild greens are a staple, and these greens contain a ton of antioxidants and other cancer-fighting nutrients. Fruits and nuts are in abundance, as are olives and olive oil. Whole grains and potatoes are eaten in moderation, and red meat is eaten only occasionally.  Goat milk yogurt is traditional, and many older Ikarians will drink goat’s milk as well.

Local vegetables, cooked in olive oil

Local wine provides another source of antioxidants, and the wine is produced in small quantities (not for export) from grapes that are not sprayed with chemicals.

Anti-oxidant rich Ikarian wine

Finally, Ikarians not only embrace family and community, they celebrate it with local traditions. Throughout the summer months, there are many village paniyiris, or festivals, where the traditional Ikariotiko is danced. While many places in Greece have turned their festivals into large commercial events, Ikaria has kept its festivals small and community-based.

Enjoying life

Paniyiri in Monokambi

While it’s tempting to romanticize about Ikaria’s lifestyle, on a personal note I couldn’t help notice that it’s changing. The Ikarians that Buettner speaks about in his book, people that are living well beyond their nineties, are not found in the local coffee houses or tavernas. You don’t see them much, as they tend to stay close to home. The newer generations are the ones most visible, and many don’t look so healthy. The traditions of terracing the mountainsides for farming has been abandoned. Cigarette smoking, frappes (iced coffee, usually with sugar and milk) and hard liquours have combined with an influx of Greek fast food (gyros, souvlaki pitas, pizza) to replace much of the traditional diet. While Ikaria has been successful in keeping out many outside influences, it is absorbing an overall Greek culture…and that unfortunately comes at a price.

Sign of the times

Greece has the highest smoking rate in Europe, and Greece also lays claim to being the “fattest” country in the EU, according to a recent United Nations report. Caloric intakes have risen by 30% in the last 40 years as consumers switch from vegetables and fruits to foods that are overly sweet, salty and fat. Unfortunately, this has resulted in situations where kids will have a longevity less that that of their parents.

Hopefully, Ikarians will see the light, and resist modern dietary and lifestyle changes as hard as they have resisted outside development.

Teaching in Evdilos. Will these kids live as long as their parents?

Check out Dan Buettner’s short interview on ABC News “Good Morning America” as he discusses Ikaria and the Blue Zones concept.

Tags: Blue zone, Ikaria, Longevity