The stunning island of Sardinia (Image: GETTY)
Just a short boat ride from the Italian coast lies the enchanting island of . While it’s a hit with tourists for its sun-drenched beauty spots, the island is also becoming known for its centenarians.
Longevity researcher Dan Buettner ventured to the quaint mountainous villages of Barbagia on the island for his documentary Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones to uncover the secrets behind the locals’ impressive lifespans. He was astonished to discover that might play a significant role in their .
“What really shocked me was the pasta and the bread,” he admitted. “Coming from America I was like ‘carbs are the enemy, right? ‘ There’s no getting around that these are simple carbs. But the point here is how these simple carbs are prepared.”
Dan delved into how the islanders craft sourdough bread, which is reputed to lower cholesterol.
The town of Barbagia in Sardinia (Image: Getty)
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He elaborated: “Let’s take sourdough bread for example. When you’re making sourdough bread, the process is very different than your average white bread because sourdough bread is actually leaven with a bacteria called lactobacillus, which lowers the glycaemic load of an entire meal.
“That means this sourdough bread actually lowers sugar absorption, and that might explain why people have lower rates of diabetes, and therefore, higher longevity.”
Regarding pasta, Dan discovered that the islanders incorporate it into minestrone, often mixing it with wholesome beans and a variety of vegetables.
Dan Buettner has travelled across the world to see why in some locations people live longer (Image: NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
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The expert highlighted the health benefits of a fibre-rich diet, stating: “All the ingredients have a wide variety of fibres which keeps your inflammation in check and your immune system strong.”
Dr Gianni Pes, a senior researcher at the University of Sassari, discovered that the small villages in the mountainous region of Barbagia in Sardinia has an unusually high number of centenarians.
He found that the area had almost ten times more residents aged over 100 than would be expected in a similar-sized population in the US. Dan also praised the significant health advantages of consuming sourdough, and his claims are supported by the British Heart Foundation.
They’ve indicated that due to its “lower glycaemic index”, sourdough can reduce blood sugar levels, potentially making it a better option for diabetics.