December 8, 2024

There are four times as many four-legged inhabitants of Sardinia, Italy as there are two-legged inhabitants. Not the ones that bark, but the ones who “baa”. Sheep dominate the fertile mountain areas of Sardinia shown on the map above (Sardinia is the 4th least populated region in Italy) and these sheep’s milk produce one of the finest cheeses in the world the “Sardinian Pecorino”. It is a table cheese, but it is particularly appreciated also grated or as an ingredient for different types of dishes. If you want to treat this blog as a school assignment, go to your local market and ask for some Pecorino and you can be assured it was produced in Sardinia. I am told the mild Pecorino goes well with Vermentino wine, the aged with the Cannonau. Have a toast on me!

I was especially excited about visiting Sardinia because it is one of the five locations listed in the book The Blue Zones that has the highest concentration of centenarians in the world. The others being: Okinawa, Japan; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, California. Loma Linda, California is the only North American location because of the large number of Seventh Day Adventists who live in Loma Linda and their close connection to Loma Linda Medical School. I used to practice with Mel Mayer, a graduate of Loma Linda Medical School who maintained an outstanding health regimen.

We arrived in Sardinia on Sunday, December 8th and because Sardinia is almost entirely Roman Catholic everything was closed. December 8th is also the Celebration of the Immaculate Conception in Catholicism, so everyone leaves their towns to attend organized church festivals. Knowing that transportation would be difficult we opted for an organized tour to the town of Sanluri. This was the craziest tour ever because no one and I mean no one was in the town!

The pictures of Sanluri above show you how deserted the town was but also gives you great insight into the lives of Sardinians.

Dan Buettner, the author of The Blue Zones identified the four contributing factors that support long life. They are Exercise, Diet, Genetics, and a Sense of Community. Sardinia checks all the boxes:

Exercise-You can see by the photos above that the streets are hilly. Not so much that they are too steep to climb, but an incline that requires a steady heart stress test. The cobblestone streets require a consistent sense of balance. There are no elevators, so if you are going up you are climbing stairs.

It also doesn’t hurt that sheep herders, tend to walk at least eight miles a day.

Diet-if anyone can take credit for a plant-based diet and the genesis of the Mediterranee Diet it is the residents of Sardinia. Fields of artichokes, tomatoes, every type of greens imaginable consume the countryside. And, of course, don’t forget Virgin Olive Oil.

Genetics-the seclusion of Sardinia and little marriage outside of race means that the DNA markers have remained highly consistent. It also doesn’t hurt that the M26 marker, a genetic variant linked to extreme longevity, has been passed down through generations in this secluded community.

Sense of Community-like the other Blue Zone destinations, the aged are revered in Sardinia for their wisdom and are sought out for wise counsel. They are not left behind. That was evidenced today by the fact that whichever festival town folks were attending “Nonna” and “Nonno” (Grandpa and Grandma in Italian) were not left behind!

And men pay attention! Unlike other nations, a largely plant-based diet, daily physical activity and familial closeness have given this Blue Zone the highest concentration of male centenarians in the world.

As I left Sardinia, I only wished I could have had the opportunity to meet some of these remarkable individuals. However, the gorgeous sunset that accompanied our departure let me know that everything was going to be absolutely fine on this unique island.

Thanks for travelling with us.