Located 10 nautical miles (19 km)
southwest of Samos, the magical Greek island of Ikaria is in the Aegean Sea. It
received its name from Icarus, in Greek mythology, the son of Daedalus, who
fell into the nearby sea. Ikaria was featured on CNN, Oprah, several
best-selling books, magazines such as Men’s Health, numerous newspaper posts,
and on many sites ionline.
So, why is this Greek island so
magical? What makes Ikaria island so incredible? On this 99-square-mile island,
one in three residents live to the age of 90 years and older. The U.S. Census,
on the other hand, reveals that only one in nine baby boomers will hit 90.
Ikarians have 20% fewer cancer cases
than Americans and about half of the heart disease rate and one-ninth of the
diabetes rate. They have absolutely no dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
Here’s an impressive real life case:
a Greek immigrant from Ikaria to the United States was given just a few months
to live in Pennsylvania after being diagnosed with abdominal cancer in 1970.
As a bridge painter, he quit his work
and returned to Ikaria to die and be buried there. Yiannis Karimalism, 41 years
later, miraculously outlived all the doctors who had expected his death. Now 75
years old, he lives in Ikaria. What are the main factors that influence their
longevity?
The Environment and Lifestyle
Radioactive hot springs are thought
to ease discomfort and heal skin conditions and joint problems.
Over 150 types of will greens grow on
Ikaria that have more than ten times the level of antioxidants than red wine.
Sipping herbal teas like mountain tea and chamomile is a daily routine for
locals.
The lifestyle on Ikaria island plays
a very important part in their longevity. Ikarians stay active by walking most
of the time which lowers depression, weight and mortality. Their diet is high
in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, olive oil and fish. They eat very little
red meat.
One older gentleman Yioryos Stamoulos
is 102 years old. He is featured in the documentary video above.
Ikarians do not worry much and take
daily afternoon siestas. A thirty minute nap may not be ideal for those of us
living in North America or other parts of the world, however lowers stress
hormones and is recommended by doctors.
Instead of drinking cows milk, the
people of Ikaria drink organic goat milk most of their lives. This organic milk
is rich in antibacterial compounds as well as tryptophan. Most of the cows milk
we drink today is pasteurized and filled with many growth hormones.
Most Ikarians are religious and
frequently attend church, statistics show that people who attend church
services weekly live 3-4 years more than those who never attend.
Could this island be the fountain of
youth? Let’s all move there and find out!
By Staff Writer: Telis Lianos
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