Bestseller author and healthy living expert Dan Buetner has revealed the locations of amazing places on Earth.
Buetner, whose trademark slogan is “Living Better, Longer” is the brain behind the Blue Zone, identifying the healthiest and longest living individuals and regions around the world. “Through studying these extraordinary cultures of longevity, we have distilled their lessons for a long and vibrant life into nine simple practices,” his website declares.
Now Dan took him to Tiktok and delved deeper into one of such blue zones. The small Greek Ikarian island in the Aegean Sea has been settled since around 7,000 BC, but still boasts a population of less than 9,000.
“Ikalia is probably the most extraordinary blue zone off the coast of Churkiye,” Dan said in the video. “Amazingly, people suffer from about a fifth of the percentage of dementia we do in the US. They live long and remain sharp until the very end.”
Dan also spoke about an article he wrote about Stamatis Moriatis for the New York Times.
“It's a symbol of the type of thing you saw here,” he continued, navigating on foot the island's quiet streets. So, what is the secret behind the longevity of the islanders?
“I don't know why people here live long, but I think herbal tea has something to do with it,” Dan suggested. “They drink something like rosemary, oregano and daily mint tea – often in place of coffee.”
He added that unlike other Greek villages, the inhabitants also live “very independently.” “People live in their gardens,” he observed. “They have a fierce sense of independence, which may explain some of their longevity.”
In response to the video, several Tiktok users on the island confirmed Dan's findings. “I'm from Ikaria,” one commented. “It may have something to do with diet and our more walking-based lifestyle. Even my great grandparents walk everywhere, despite being over 90.”
Similarly, another person shared it.
People who observe from afar also said, “It's beautiful there, the food is much better than in America. I ate honey and yogurt when I was there every morning. I never eat it at home. They have no passion or hobby either.
Second rave review: “Ikalia is a small paradise on the planet, a healthy lifestyle, a vibrant population, a relaxed atmosphere, fresh food and untouched views, what a place!”
And another thing is, “I read something about being near the ocean and eating healthy foods grown locally and surrounded by nature.