The village with the 'longest life in the world' thanks to abstaining from a familiar spice

Their secret to longevity comes not only from a Mediterranean diet and a healthy lifestyle, but also from limiting a seemingly harmless spice.

Nestled on the beautiful Mediterranean coast, Pioppi, a small village in southern Italy, is known as the " world's longest-living village." It's famous for its incredibly high rate of centenarians. What accounts for this miracle?

Besides genetics, the Mediterranean diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, olive oil, whole grains, and fresh seafood, plays a crucial role. An active lifestyle, fresh air, and a positive attitude also contribute significantly to the health and longevity of the Pioppi people. However, few people know that the Pioppi people have another special secret: limiting their sugar intake.

While sugar is a common and popular condiment worldwide, the people of Pioppi are very conscious about controlling their sugar intake. They only eat one sweet treat per week and often use honey or fresh fruit as a substitute for refined sugar.

The people of Pioppi are very good at limiting their sugar consumption. (Photo: Shutter Stock)

Dr. Aseem Malhotra, a renowned British cardiologist, visited Pioppi to study the secrets of its people's longevity. He discovered that limiting sugar consumption was one of the key factors contributing to the Pioppi people's long and healthy lives.

Scientific studies have shown that consuming too much sugar can cause many serious health problems:

- Obesity: Sugar contains many empty calories, provides no nutrients, and only contributes to weight gain, leading to obesity and related health problems.

- Diabetes: Sugar increases blood sugar levels, causes insulin resistance, and increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

- Cardiovascular disease: High sugar consumption increases triglycerides, lowers good cholesterol, and raises blood pressure, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

- Fatty liver disease: The liver has to work overtime to metabolize excess sugar, leading to fatty liver disease and impaired liver function.

- Cancer: Some studies suggest that consuming too much sugar may increase the risk of certain types of cancer, such as esophageal, bowel, and stomach cancer.

- Premature aging: Sugar promotes glycation, damaging collagen and elastin, causing skin aging and wrinkles.

The people of Pioppi have proven that limiting sugar is a smart choice for protecting health and extending lifespan. Here are some ways to reduce your sugar intake:

- Limit sweets: Cut back on cakes, candies, soft drinks, ice cream, chocolate, etc. Instead, choose fresh fruit, nuts, or unsweetened yogurt.

- Read food labels carefully: Many processed foods contain high levels of hidden sugar. Read the labels carefully to check the sugar content before buying.

- Increase your intake of fruits and vegetables: Fruits and vegetables are rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, which help reduce cravings for sweets.

- Replace sugar with natural sweeteners: You can use honey, maple syrup, palm sugar, etc., in moderation to replace refined sugar.

Reporter Thu Phuong (VOV.VN)

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/ngoi-lang-song-tho-nhat-the-gioi-nho-kieng-1-loai-gia-vi-quen-thuoc-ar908203.html