The residents of Sardinia, Italy, a village with the highest percentage of centenarians in the world, believe they have discovered the secret to ”eternal youth”.
The scene of locals gathering at this Italian café may seem unremarkable until you learn their actual ages.
“At least we are all nearly 150 years old!” said Guido Lepori to Today reporter Seth Doane.
Villagrande, located on the island of Sardinia (Italy), is a popular destination for tourists looking to explore the local culture and beaches. However, it is also a land that attracts scientists and researchers, including Gianni Pes and Valter Longo, who directs the Longevity Institute at the University of Southern California and collaborates with Pes in studying the phenomenon of numerous centenarians.
“The whole world is talking about this town. For every 2,000 or 3,000 people, there are 6 who live to be a hundred, which is extremely rare anywhere in the world,” Longo stated.
The number of centenarians here is nearly 20 times higher than in the US. (Illustrative photo).
According to scientists, Sardinia has the highest recorded rate of longevity in the world. The number of centenarians here is nearly 20 times higher than in the United States.
“We are trying to find an explanation. After 20 years of hard work, we still do not have a clear answer,” Pes explained.
Villagrande is where, after 63 years of living together, Gabriele Mereu and his wife, Ermelinda, can still be found tending to their garden.
“Has he always been this active?” reporter Doane asked.
“Always, I’m always working,” the 96-year-old man replied.
His cousin Vittoria is the same. At 93, she is still employed by the Orlando hotel to demonstrate how to make traditional pistoccu bread.
“10% of those born in Villagrande live to be 90 years old. In Italy, it’s 3%. So you can imagine it’s three times higher than the national average,” Pes shared.
Longo suggests that periods of fasting, such as during wartime, followed by a richer diet including more protein and fats in later years may contribute to longevity.
The secret to longevity among residents here is also related to genetic factors. (Illustrative photo).
However, it’s not just about diet; the key to longevity among the locals here is also related to genetic factors, specifically the age of siblings.
“If you think about an athlete who wins many gold medals, you probably have to have the right genetic makeup. But then you must go through rigorous training and practice.
So, I think genetics sets you up, but they won’t get you there alone. Therefore, lifestyle, exercise routines, and especially food, are important factors.”
After a survey, reporter Seth Doane highlighted several key factors that influence the longevity of the residents here, including:
1. Local Wine
These approximately 90-year-old winemakers declare that their homemade Cannonau wine is the secret to longevity. Buettner states that tests show it has antioxidant levels three times higher than any known wine in the world.
2. Use of Sourdough
Buettner notes that just like sourdough bread in the United States, Sardinian sourdough is made from whole wheat and uses live lactobacilli (rather than yeast) to leaven the dough. This process converts sugars and gluten into lactic acid, lowering the glycemic index of the bread.
3. Gardening
90-year-old retired shepherd Gabriele Mereu gardens with his wife in Villagrande, Strisaili, Sardinia. The village is home to about 3,000 residents, and six of them are centenarians.
Ermelinda Mereu, 80, Gabriele’s wife, shared that she never worries about aging because daily work is both good exercise and provides her family with clean food while reducing work-related stress.
Daily work is a good exercise.
4. Special Soup
The residents of the remote sheep-farming village of Perdasdefogu believe that the Minestrone soup helps them live longer. It has been passed down for hundreds of years by the Melis family, consisting of 9 siblings who set a Guinness World Record with a total age of 818.
5. Regular Consumption of Fennel
The licorice flavor of fennel is found in many Sardinian recipes. It is rich in fiber and vitamins A, B, and C. It also helps maintain low blood pressure.
6. Happy Marital Life
In most places worldwide, women live longer than men. In the United States, for every 100-year-old man, there are 5 women who reach that age. However, on the island of Sardinia, the ratio is 1:1.
This couple believes that their 57-year marriage is one of the secrets to a long and healthy life.
7. Use of Bread Made from Wheat and Special Sauce
The flatbread made from hard Triticum wheat is high in protein and low in gluten, making it popular among Sardinian shepherds. It is rich in fiber and complex carbohydrates while containing only a small amount of gluten compared to white bread.
Additionally, Buettner notes that the Sardinian tomato sauce, rich in antioxidants, may be another reason they live longer and healthier. Local customs add olive oil, enhancing the absorption of nutrients and antioxidants in the body.
