These 5 Destinations Are Where People Live the Longest

According to Buettner’s findings, the people populating this tiny island located about eight miles off the coast of Turkey are far less likely to die in middle age and to suffer from dementia. Buettner explained to TIME, this longevity may be thanks to the community's love affair with taking mid-day naps along with its dedication to the Mediterranean diet. Buettner said the people of Icaria eat “lots of fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains, potatoes, and olive oil.” What you won’t find a lot of on their plate are meat or sweets. This lifestyle leads to 1 in 3 Ikarians healthfully living into their 90s.

The real secret to Loma Linda's longevity is its high population of Seventh-day Adventists. As Buettner noted in his findings, Seventh-day Adventists abstain from both alcohol and caffeine and lean toward a vegetarian or plant-based diet. Because of this, National Geographic pointed out, some of its residents can live ten more healthy years than the average American. Beyond their food habits, the people in Loma Linda also embrace community more than other destinations. “People [in Blue Zones] aren't waking up in the morning rudderless,” Buettner told NBC about Loma Linda and other blue zones. “They're driven by life meaning and purpose. They’re investing in family, keeping their minds engaged and there’s no existential stress of being worthless in life like so many Americans.”

Sardinia is home to some 1.6 million people. According to Buettner, all of them have a good chance of living to 100. That goes double for the men and triple for those living in the Ogliastra region. Thanks to a mostly plant-based diet paired with daily physical activity Sardinia is home to the highest concentration of male centenarians in the world, Buettner explained to TIME. But, the people living in Sardinia also have a bit of an unfair advantage. Buettner found, the genetic marker M26 marker, which is linked to extreme longevity, is found in abundance in this small community.

Like the other places on this list, Okinawa is filled with people who enjoy daily activity and healthy living. But, the people of Okinawa have one more secret up their sleeves: Tea. "They're drinking herbal tea all day long," Buettner told NBC. "In Okinawa it's often green tea." He additionally noted that other destinations have their own super elixirs like in Ikaria where they drink tea made with oregano, rosemary or mint." Other frequently consumed foods that allegedly help the people of Okinawa live longer include sweet potatoes, soybeans, mugwort, turmeric, and goya, according to National Geographic.

The Nicoya Peninsula is not only one of the most beautiful places in the world, but it also happens to be one of the healthiest. Buettner found, residents living along the lush green coast have the world's lowest rate of middle-age mortality and the second-highest concentration of male centenarians behind Sardinia. Like the other places on this list, those living in the Nicoya Peninsula also eat their fair share of healthy foods like tropical fruits, vegetables, and nuts, and have a strong sense of community.