Pop culture food writer Dan Beuttner has made his ‘pop foodie’ rep on the theory that folks in certain parts of the world live longer thanks to their diets. Beuttner lists Costa Rica as a longevity ‘hot spot’. And we have an insider’s take on the food…
Casado: The traditional Costa Rican lunch…
Beuttner has identified places around the globe where people just naturally live longer – to age 100 and over. He’s dubbed these almost-magical places ‘Blue Zones’. And Costa Rica is one of them…
Diet the key
In all his works, Beuttner claims diet is the key to longevity. And Costa Rica has one of the best records for long and healthy lives. While he lists the characteristics of the the country’s traditional diet, he doesn’t say how the foods Costa Ricans favour are used in daily eating routines.
Now a Costa Rican native pulls back the curtain for us…
Home grown
Cook book author and culinary instructor Maria Guzman (see photo, top of page) was born in a small Costa Rican agricultural town in the region of Cartago, called Llano Grande. Who better to expand on Beuttner’s Blue Zone premise?
She says the secret to her country’s exceptional record for health and longevity is grounded in its ‘pura vida‘ lifestyle, and 5 key foods she and her compatriots eat every day. multiple times a day.
5 Key foods
The foods themselves are as simple as the regime:
Beans
Beans are perhaps the most important stone in the foundation of Costa Rica’s traditional diet. They occupy a similar essential place in the diets of virtually all Latin American cultures.
Rice
Together with Beans, Rice is a staple – in many variations – of the Costa Rican diet. The globally recognised combo delivers a complete dietary protein and a host of other essential nutrients. Not to mention fibre.
Corn
Corn, another grain, is also ubiquitous. It’s almost always consumed as tortillas, which are eaten with every meal. Even if there’s no rice on the menu at a given repast, there’s always a complementary grain.
Fresh Fruits and Veggies
The other cornerstone (after Beans and Rice) of the Costa Rican diet. A variety of fresh produce delivers a feat of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and anti-inflamatories.
Coffee
Coffee is not only a major Costa Rican export, it’s also consumed with just about every meal. Recent research has shown Coffee is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory flavones. And it’s been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease.
Simple yet complete
The traditional Costa Rican diet, as elucidated by Maria Guzman and endorsed by Dan Beuttner, is more than just a recipe for good health and longevity. It’s a classic example of how we’ll all need to get used to eating in the coming decades, as animal proteins become increasingly unsustainable.
I’ve lived on such a diet at two different times in my life, for periods of years at a time. And I’m drifting back that way as we speak. Are you prepared to embrace plant-based proteins and a diet richer in fruits and veggies?
If you are, I recommend you start your personal exploration of Costa Rican cuisine here, with your genial and knowledgeable host, James Kaiser…
~ Maggie J.