Last week the Great NEWS blog shared Part 2: The Power of a Story regarding a SMART Story and today we take a transformational trip to explore the Pura Vida (Pure Life) of Costa Rica – Health & Longevity in Paradise. While traveling on my third trip to Costa Rica and really immersing myself in the culture it became even more evident there is mega magic in the country and its people. Read more easy and effective examples for tips to Costa Rica Health & Longevity in Paradise.
Learning, sharing and understanding why Costa Rica is one of the Blue Zones for health and longevity is part of the Great NEWS vision. Today you will learn the life lessons discovered over hundreds of years living in the jungles of Central America so we can apply them in our daily life.
The Costa Rican Diet & Lifestyle
People eat primarily local foods in season grown by themselves or from a local farmer. Beans, rice and vegetables are staples and often served at every meal.
They eat fresh foods harvested at peak readiness and ripeness right from the ground, land, tree or water. The volcanic soil is rich in minerals and trace elements which are lacking in most soils and foods grown in the US.
Consuming mostly whole foods usually cooked from scratch is the norm.
Eating a beautiful rainbow of colors from fruits, plants, seeds and vegetables provides a wide range of antioxidants and phyto-nutrients.
The locals in Costa Rica eat three good meals a day and normally a reasonable size portion.
Using fresh herbs and spices with food provides medicinal, nutritional and traditional benefits.
They typically use butter, coconut oil and palm oil in cooking.
They work hard five and a half days a week and enjoy Saturday afternoon and Sunday for family, friends, fun, special occasions and spiritual time.
Houses are comfortable, efficient and small with adequate fresh air ventilation and comfortable porches for enjoying conversation and relaxation. They utilize a lot of outdoor living space.
In Costa Rica there is a long history of natural foods and raw foods with pro-biotics such as cacao, pickled vegetables, raw cheese and milk and ceviche. They also get a lot of good pro-biotics for the foods they eat and the close connection to the gardens and soil. They depend on the friendly bacteria to keep their digestive and immune system strong.
Papaya and pineapple provide lots of healthy enzymes for digestion and are easy to grow there.
The beef, chicken, dairy, eggs, fish and pork is mostly free range and organic instead of from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) fed with Genetically Engineered (GE) Frankenfoods. Free range eggs and dairy are a sustainable staple.
Most children, men and women walk quite a bit each day. Whether it is walking to the bus, church, farm, Mercado, neighbors, store or work they definitely do way more walking than the average person in the developed world. Early or late, flat or hilly, rain or shine they depend on the power of their own two legs to get where they need to be.
Coconuts, coconut oil and pipa agua (young green coconut water) is plentiful and some of the best foods in the world.
Raw honey and bee pollen is consumed for health and medicinal benefits. Raw honey has also been used to help heal cuts and prevent infection.
Sun rise is around 5:30 year round so the people get an early start for school and work. The sun goes down around 5:30 and by then they are well into winding down the day and ready for dinner. People in Costa Rica are smart and there is no “daylight savings time”. How can you save daylight or time? This greatly reduces their stress level.
The water is clean and pure from amazing creeks, springs and wells. You can feel and taste the difference. Many houses use clean water directly from mountain springs with out any chlorine treatment and do not have any problems. Plastic water bottles are fairly rare and mostly used by tourists.
The people grow up with hard work on the farms and have a high work ethic. Swinging a machete for hours a day to cut branches, grass, small trees and weeds is tough work. Just walking up and down on the mountainous farms can be very exhausting if you are not conditioned for it.
Costa Rica is known for its friendly, happy and warm people that are centered on the family unit. This provides a great social and support network for all of the family members.
Spending a lot of time outdoors in the fresh air and sunshine is great for health and vitality.
They eat lots of fresh beans legumes and vegetables including black, red and white beans, rice, cauliflower, broccoli, onions, tomatoes, avocado, yucca, carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, palm heart, corn, beets, cabbage, squash, chayote, greens and green beans.
People have access to and eat lots of local fresh fruits such a bananas (many varities), plantains, mango, papaya, watermelon, cantaloupe, cashew fruit, guyabano, star fruit, limons, water apples, passion fruit, guavas, oranges, mandarins, guanabana, pineapple, palm fruit, dragon fruit, cacao fruit, berries, bread fruit, strawberries, noni and soursop.
Hey There Amigo!
In Costa Rica even their language and speech patterns are friendly and warm. They say amigo (friend), beautiful, good day, good afternoon, good evening, mucho gusto, thank you and many other positive things to each other and even strangers almost continually.
Not many people smoke and there are lots of signs reminding you no smoking please.
The kids play lots of soccer and have many other outdoor activities and games to stay mentally and physically fit.
Costa Rica is blessed with two long coastlines so they have access to the Caribbean sea and Pacific Ocean.
Most of the electricity in Costa Rica is ecologically renewable and sustainable and very clean so contamination from coal and nuclear power plants are not concerns.
There are many beautiful birds there and you can hear their singing and songs because most houses have open doors and windows. Often you wake as the rooster crows or birds sing before daylight to greet the new day.
The fragrant flowers, plants and trees fill the air with a fragrant bouquet of smells to tantalize your nose and energize your body. Many people are not yet aware that the fragrance of a flower produces a highly beneficial megahertz of energy. One of the most fragrant is the Ylang – ylang tree flower (Cananga odorata) which is used in many perfumes. Many flowers are edible as well.
Speaking of fragrant flowers the beautiful bougainvillea, corteza amarilla, ginger, hibiscus, Red and yellow heliconia, Red bromeliad, red passion and orchid flowers are incredible. They grow like weeds and do not need maintenance or pampering.
Health & Longevity in the Blue Zone
In Costa Rica you can see some of the most stunning star filled nights due to the lack of bright city light pollution. The moon and sun setting to the west towards the Pacific ocean are also super stunning.
When you tune into your body, mind and spirit you can feel the special energy all around you there. The fresh and invigorating air, birds, Caribbean sea, dolphins, flowers, foods, fruit, jungle, monkeys, mountains, Pacific ocean, rivers, smells, springs, trees, waterfalls and whales,
During the rainy season in some areas it can rain up to 18 feet of rain per year. With the abundant sunshine and warm weather some trees can grow up to 5 feet per year. They frequently cut branches from bushes and trees and stick them into the ground during the rainy season and they start growing to provide a living fence. It is truly a tropical paradise.
When you are ready for health and longevity tips from a well known Blue Zone then look to Costa Rica – Health & Longevity in Paradise. If you have not had the opportunity to travel to Costa Rica you have missed one of the most beautiful ecologically diverse countries in the world. Their culture has many suggestions, strategies and solutions to help people return to perfect health. Now that you are better educated about Costa Rica Health & Longevity in Paradise how will you apply what you have learned?
Pura Vida (Pure Life) in Paradise.
Mastery Action Plan
Identify three things from the strategies shared that you can implement this week. Consider adding some coconut or coconut oil to your routine or local raw honey and bee pollen. Do you take long walks and stop to look at and smell the flowers? When would now be a great time to add some Pura Vida to your daily routines for your health and longevity?
Next week the Great NEWS blog will share: Costa Rica Problems in Paradise (Imported from US)
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