Health and Me

Riya Baibhawi

Blue Zone Residents Drink These 2 Beverages To Live Long, Dodge Dementia & Boost Memory

<span>Dan Buettner</span>, longevity expert and discoverer of the <span>Blue Zones</span>, spent his career studying the lifestyles of the planet's eldest inhabitants in order to guide others towards a centenarian life. He identified five 'Blue Zones' or areas where the longest-living people are concentrated. They are <span>Okinawa</span>, Japan; Loma Linda, California; Sardinia, Italy; Icaria, Greece; and Barbagia, Sardinia. 

In a recent blog, Buettner opened up about people in one particular Blue Zone whose secret to a healthier, longer life includes two drinks. "People from Ikaria, <span>Greece</span>, live about eight years longer than US citizens, on average, largely without dementia, no discernible dementia," he wrote. Meanwhile, in Ikaria, Buettner claimed they "found every person aged over 65, and there were only three very mild cases of dementia."

<h2>So What's The Secret?</h2>Buettner wrote that “Ikarians eat the strictest version of the Mediterranean diet in the world," leaning heavily on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, legumes, olive oil and moderate amounts of red wine. However, their diet varies in that they eat a lot less fish and meat and a lot more greens. They regularly eat a hundred or so foraged wild greens and garden greens like mustard, chicory, fennel and greens that we weed-whack in the States. These wild greens have 10 times the artery-scrubbing antioxidants that red wine does.

But he also noted that Ikarians are huge fans of two drinks that may help them stay sharp well into old age—herbal tea and coffee. "Ikarians are drinking herbal teas every day," he wrote. "They make these teas with plants from around their houses, from their gardens and from the wild. They are making them with herbs like oregano, dandelion, sage and rosemary."

<strong>His view point is supported by empirical evidence. </strong>

A study published in Peer Journal in 2023 indicated that drinking green or black tea was associated with a 29% reduction in risk of dementia. A meta-analysis of seven cohort studies with over 410,000 participants found that tea consumption may lower the risk of all-cause dementia, including Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, by up to 29%. The protective effect was stronger among older adults, smokers, APOE carriers, and those with lower physical activity. Interestingly, more frequent tea drinking showed a reduced protective benefit. These findings align with earlier research suggesting that tea, coffee, and caffeine may help prevent cognitive decline, offering important insights for public health strategies targeting dementia prevention.

A separate study in 2004 published in DOI showed that popular South African herbal tea rooibos seemed to lessen the effects of symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. It stated that Rooibos, rutin and quercetin, an isomer of rutin, can readily pass the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and offer neuroprotection with many mechanisms of action. 

<h2>So How Many Cups Of <span rel="noindex">Green Tea</span> Should You Drink?</h2>

Buettner emphasizes that the key to unlocking green tea’s benefits lies in consistency. While an occasional cup may offer some advantages, drinking at least three cups a day has been linked to nearly four extra years of healthy life. Ideally, consuming up to seven cups daily may yield even greater benefits. Though researchers are still investigating the precise mechanisms behind these effects, many attribute them to the high concentration of antioxidants and catechins found in green tea. 

<h2>How Many Cups Of Coffee Should You Drink?</h2>

The longevity expert suggests that consuming up to two or three cups of black coffee per day is a healthy habit, aligning with the coffee consumption patterns of centenarians in the blue zones. 

Health Conditions A-Z

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Blue zones

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dan buettner

Greece

Green Tea

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Dan Buettner, longevity expert and discoverer of the Blue Zones, spent his career studying the lifestyles of the planet's eldest inhabitants in order to guide others towards a centenarian life. He identified five 'Blue Zones' or areas where the longest-living people are concentrated. They are Okinawa, Japan; Loma Linda, California; Sardinia, Italy; Icaria, Greece; and Barbagia, Sardinia. In a recent blog, Buettner opened up about people in one particular Blue Zone whose secret to a healthier, longer life includes two drinks. "People from Ikaria, Greece, live about eight years longer than US citizens, on average, largely without dementia, no discernible dementia," he wrote. Meanwhile, in Ikaria, Buettner claimed they "found every person aged over 65, and there were only three very mild cases of dementia."So What's The Secret?Buettner wrote that “Ikarians eat the strictest version of the Mediterranean diet in the world," leaning heavily on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, legumes, olive oil and moderate amounts of red wine. However, their diet varies in that they eat a lot less fish and meat and a lot more greens. They regularly eat a hundred or so foraged wild greens and garden greens like mustard, chicory, fennel and greens that we weed-whack in the States. These wild greens have 10 times the artery-scrubbing antioxidants that red wine does.But he also noted that Ikarians are huge fans of two drinks that may help them stay sharp well into old age—herbal tea and coffee. "Ikarians are drinking herbal teas every day," he wrote. "They make these teas with plants from around their houses, from their gardens and from the wild. They are making them with herbs like oregano, dandelion, sage and rosemary."His view point is supported by empirical evidence. A study published in Peer Journal in 2023 indicated that drinking green or black tea was associated with a 29% reduction in risk of dementia. A meta-analysis of seven cohort studies with over 410,000 participants found that tea consumption may lower the risk of all-cause dementia, including Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, by up to 29%. The protective effect was stronger among older adults, smokers, APOE carriers, and those with lower physical activity. Interestingly, more frequent tea drinking showed a reduced protective benefit. These findings align with earlier research suggesting that tea, coffee, and caffeine may help prevent cognitive decline, offering important insights for public health strategies targeting dementia prevention.A separate study in 2004 published in DOI showed that popular South African herbal tea rooibos seemed to lessen the effects of symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. It stated that Rooibos, rutin and quercetin, an isomer of rutin, can readily pass the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and offer neuroprotection with many mechanisms of action. So How Many Cups Of Green Tea Should You Drink?Buettner emphasizes that the key to unlocking green tea’s benefits lies in consistency. While an occasional cup may offer some advantages, drinking at least three cups a day has been linked to nearly four extra years of healthy life. Ideally, consuming up to seven cups daily may yield even greater benefits. Though researchers are still investigating the precise mechanisms behind these effects, many attribute them to the high concentration of antioxidants and catechins found in green tea. How Many Cups Of Coffee Should You Drink?The longevity expert suggests that consuming up to two or three cups of black coffee per day is a healthy habit, aligning with the coffee consumption patterns of centenarians in the blue zones. 