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The number of overweight people in the western world is increasing every year. Most sufferers ask themselves: how does it work to lose weight and stay slim? People in the so-called Blue Zones, whose residents grow particularly old, are not familiar with such problems.
These regions include the Greek island of Ikaria, the Japanese archipelago of Okinawa and the Nicoya Peninsula (Costa Rica). Scientists have found that residents of these areas not only have in common that they live to a great age, but that they are also consistently slim.
What is behind this has now been well researched. You have a quiet everyday life and a specific eating style. “In those regions where a particularly large number of 100-year-olds live, people eat in the way that science has shown is ideal for our evolutionary character,” says German physician and nutrition expert Matthias Riedl. In his book “The Ultimate Slimming Code” he presents, among other things, the principles of this diet:
The basis of the diet of Blue Zone residents is vegetables – often home-grown.
There are foods with healthy fatty acids on the table every day. For example olive oil, nuts or algae.
Meat and fish are only available once a week on average. However, many residents of the Blue Zones also eat vegetarian or vegan.
There are hardly any highly processed products or foods high in sugar.
Overeating is considered illegal in the Blue Zones. Most people only eat small portions.
Vegetable proteins, such as from tofu or legumes, are also on the menu every day.
Alcohol is rarely drunk – and when it is, then in the form of red wine.
“In one respect, however, everyday culinary life in the Blue Zones differs significantly from what I advise my patients to do,” says Riedl. People would eat a lot of carbohydrates in the form of corn, potatoes, rice and bread. However, these would not harm them as they would burn off the sugar compounds with a lot of everyday exercise. (gul)
Other long-established strategies for success for a slim figure Matthias Riedl presents in the book “The Ultimate Slimming Code”. GU-Verlag, 24.95 euros
Source: Nachrichten
