The Italian secret to longevity: sex and rosemary?

Certain places on earth are pockets of health and longevity… like the tiny Italian village of Acciaroli.

In Acciaroli, more than one in ten residents lives past the age of 100, and people are seemingly immune to dementia, heart disease and every other chronic, age-related disease we face here in the West.

So what’s their secret?

Well, the 81 centenarians that currently live in this small Italian port town will tell you it’s not because they’re health fanatics who don’t enjoy life. Quite the opposite. Most of them are smokers. And the beaches of Acciaroli are filled with 90 and 100 year olds with overly tanned skin and potbellies from their love of a good meal.

That being said, they do have a few tricks up their sleeves when it comes to staying healthy past the 100-year mark… tricks that you can try for yourself if you want to live a longer healthier life.

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Habit that might get you to 100

For starters, the people of Acciaroli are the living embodiment of the Mediterranean diet in action. Their diet is filled with olive oil, fish and fresh produce.

But in Acciaroli, there’s a strong sentiment that it’s not just about what you eat, but where you get it:  The villagers in this tiny Italian town eat their own fresh and locally-produced food.

“We eat a lot of fish, fresh produce from the countryside that we grow ourselves. We have our own rabbits, our chickens. Only local products. And olive oil: we consume what we produce,” said Amina Fedolo, a sprightly 93-year old woman who lives in Acciaroli with her 100-year-old husband.

And to almost every meal eaten in Acciaroli, there’s one special ingredient added. It’s grown locally, of course, and the folks in Acciaroli eat it every single day. And so should you…

It’s the fragrant and health-boosting herb rosemary.

Rosemary has been found to improve memory, enhance mood, fight inflammation, alleviate pain, boost the immune system, get rid of bacterial infections and promote healthy circulation. Could this be part of the reason that Acciarolians have capillary blood vessels on par with people a quarter of their age?

It may take more research to know for sure, but if the people of Acciaroli are any measure, rosemary may be a key ingredient for reaching 100.

Of course, exercise figures into the equation too…

And in Acciaroli, they get a lot of it. But not because they’re heading to the gym every day. The streets in Acciaroli are steep, which means people are walking up hills multiple times a day. They do a lot of walking in their small town. They also fish and garden. So exercise is built into their lifestyle — especially one that’s very surprising for people of advanced age…

In the words of Alan S. Maisel, a researcher and cardiologist studying the lifestyle habits of the villagers in Acciaroli, “Sexual activity among the elderly appears to be rampant.” But whether it’s a contributing factor to their longevity, or a result of their unusual overall health — well, that’s hard to say.

But one thing’s for sure. The people of Acciaroli are doing something right. And if you want to as well, just follow their lead:

  • Eat fresh, locally-produced vegetables, fruit and fish
  • Grow your own food if possible
  • Start an indoor herb garden — and make sure it includes rosemary!
  • Build physical activity into your day-to-day routine, so there are no excuses about getting to the gym.
  • Have more sex — because a healthy sex life is an important part of a healthy life.

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Sources:
  1. “Italy’s 100 club village reveals its secret.” MedicalXpress. http://medicalxpress.com. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  2. “Come to Acciaroli, the Italian village in which people live (almost) forever.” TreeHugger. http://www.treehugger.com. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  3. “Health Benefits of Rosemary.” Organic Facts. https://www.organicfacts.net. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
Jenny Smiechowski

By Jenny Smiechowski

Jenny Smiechowski is a Chicago-based freelance writer who specializes in health, nutrition and the environment. Her work has appeared in online and print publications like Chicagoland Gardening magazine, Organic Lifestyle Magazine, BetterLife Magazine, TheFix.com, Hybridcars.com and Seedstock.com.

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