Live Longer, Live Better: Lessons for Longevity from the World’s Healthiest Zones

by Melissa Petitto

Discover how the five cultures with the longest-living people eat and live, then enjoy 50 healthy recipes inspired by those locations—and perhaps live longer yourself.

When researchers identified a region in Sardinia as having the highest concentration of male centenarians, they later zeroed in on villages around the world with the highest  Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, California, among the Seventh-Day Adventists.

In Live Longer, Live Better , nutritionist and chef Melissa Petitto, RD, looks at the food and lifestyle choices of the people in these regions and presents it in an easily digestible format. The first part of the book describes these areas of the world , what they have in common , and how their residents excel at living a healthy lifestyle that can lead to exceptional longevity . Similar characteristics of these communities
 
The second part of the book provides 50 original, healthy recipes that reflect each of the locations, focusing on plant-based meals, as well as a typical day-in-the-life of a resident . Guidelines for this type of eating include reducing consumption of meat and dairy (but not altogether), cutting back on eggs and fish, slashing sugar, and increasing consumption of nuts, water, beans, and whole foods. The recipes offer ideas for rounding out meals so you can eat this way wherever you are . Some recipes
 
Because there’s no counting calories or nutrient grams , eating this way doesn’t have to be complicated. So what are you waiting for? There’s no time like now to start living better longer!
Discover today’s top trending health and wellness topics with the  Everyday Wellbeing series  from Chartwell Books. From smart eating habits to personal growth advice, these engaging lifestyle guides give you the expert tips and life hacks you need to help you make good choices while practicing mindfulness and self-love. Whether you want to explore cooking with new ingredients like adaptogens and CBD, or make it a priority to incorporate self-care into your daily routine, these brightly colored take-along handbooks have the tools you need to succeed.

Other books in the series Macro Cooking Made Simple,  CBD Handbook , Celery Juice Book , Complete Guide to Self Care , Plant-Based Cookbook , Quick and Easy Air Fryer Cookbook , Air Fryer Instant Pot Cookbook , Fabulous Food Boards! , Complete Guide to Anti-Inflammatory Foods , Complete Guide to Sleep Care , and Adaptogens .

160 pages, Hardcover

Published July 11, 2023

Reviews

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the idea of a full Mediterranean diet. I do well with what i eat but theres always a sneaky sweet or a juice we prob shouldnt have added into the mix. This book was great in giving a small example of each of the country mentioned and how they go about their days. Loved the illustrations.
The info within regarding each country's prefered foods was great. From sea food to smoothies this covers a good amount. All the added recipies were fabulous! I cant wait to try some for myself. Easy to follow, no hassles.

After reading this i also officially want to pack up and move to Sardinia😍 this siesta business sounds so healthy for the body too. Good food, good people and good healthy life. What's not to like.

Many thanks to the Author, Edelweiss+ and Chartwell Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review

[Mai H.]

Non-fiction November TBR

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Chartwell Books

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Melissa Petitto posits that eating like the long-lived will not only help one live longer but avoid the debilitating ailments associated with old age: diabetes, arthritis, rheumatism, cancer, high blood pressure. The cookbook is divided into the cuisines of five cities plumb-full of centenarians: Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Loma Linda, Calif.; Ikaria, Greece; and Nicoya, Costa Rica.

You’ll get variations of the Mediterranean diet: lots of legumes, whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, meat as flavoring more than as the main ingredient. If you’re looking for healthier eating, Live Longer, Live Better: Lessons for Longevity from the World’s Healthiest Zones has greater variety than most.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Chartwell Books in exchange for an honest review.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not just a cookbook but a good presentation of results of a study revealing the five areas of the world with the most longevity, and the general lifestyles and primary diets of the residents. The ‘superfoods’ enjoyed most in each area are then disclosed, and used in great recipes, including some great looking soups. Highly readable with simple and likely to be used recipes!

[Poppy Marlowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Synopsis (from Netgalley, the provider of the book for me to review.)
*********************************************************
Discover how the five cultures with the longest-living people eat and live, then enjoy 50 healthy recipes inspired by those locations—and perhaps live longer yourself.
When researchers identified a region in Sardinia as having the highest concentration of male centenarians, they later zeroed in on villages around the world with the highest longevity: Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, California, among the Seventh-Day Adventists.
In Live Longer, Live Better, nutritionist and chef Melissa Petitto, RD, looks at the food and lifestyle choices of the people in these regions and presents it in an easily digestible format. The first part of the book describes these areas of the world, what they have in common, and how their residents excel at living a healthy lifestyle that can lead to exceptional longevity. Similar characteristics of these communities include:
* Happiness and emotional wellness
* Family and community connections
* Natural-movement physical activity
* Disease prevention
The second part of the book provides 50 original, healthy recipes that reflect each of the locations, focusing on plant-based meals, as well as a typical day in the life of a resident. Guidelines for this type of eating include reducing the consumption of meat and dairy (but not altogether), cutting back on eggs and fish, slashing sugar, and increasing the consumption of nuts, water, beans, and whole foods. The recipes offer ideas for rounding out meals so you can eat this way wherever you are. Some recipes include:
* Okinawa: Bitter Melon and Tofu Stir Fry; Okinawan Milk Tea; and Kokuto, Banana, and Dark Chocolate Muffins
* Sardinia: Sardinian Herb, Fennel, and Bean Soup; Fregola with Wild Mushrooms; and Sardinian Artichokes with Lemon and Pecorino
* Loma Linda: California Veggie Bowl with Tahini Dressing; Quinoa and Spinach Stuffed Peppers with Cashew Cream; and No Bake Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
* Ikaria: Warm Figs with Honey and Pistachio Drizzle; Ikarian Ratatouille; and Cornmeal Pie with Dried Fruit and Olive Oil
* Nicoya: Tomato Rice with Grilled Avocado and Lime; Potato, Sweet Pepper, Corn, and Tomato Hash; and Chan Seed Pineapple Aqua Fresca
Because there’s no counting calories or nutrient grams, eating this way doesn’t have to be complicated. So what are you waiting for? There’s no time like now to start living better longer!

Did you know that they are called BLUE ZONES as that is the colour of highlighter that the researchers had on hand when they coloured them in on a map? #strangebuttrue! There is a lot of information in this book but the real star of the show is the recipes as they are absolutely scrumptious and will have you making a new and improved grocery list ASAP. They are also very adaptable for families with picky eaters as you can easily add in animal proteins and dairy products if they will make them more palatable or affordable. (I work in a very food-insecure area of the city so this book may or may not do well in our area: we have a lot of vegetarians and vegans as it is cheaper as long as there are not too many "weirdly unaffordable vegan ingredients"...that is a saying I picked up at work! You cannot beat a blue zones diet when it comes to health, so this one was a great way to learn bout and potentially cook my way through: highly recommended.
#shortbutsweetreviews

[Lindsay Nixon · Rating 2 out of 5]

The layout of this book is horrendous. There is so much white space; not only is this "ugly" (and blinding on a digital reader) it begs the question why the font is so insanely small when there is clearly more room to fill the page.

I also loathed that recipe titles are not with the recipes, rather they are above the picture. In a print version, this may work if the photo is the opposite page but it does not work in the ebook. It is confusing as hell. I was always trying to figure out what recipe I was looking at.

The food photos are nice with a clean, minimalist look.

Overal, there wasn't much new for me here. I am already familiar with the blue zones (several books and cookbooks have been published on blue zones already) and the recipes were more or less the same recipes I see in most vegan or "mediterranean" cookbooks. I also have to wonder why, in 2023, cookbooks are still being published with recipes for chia pudding, green smoothie, greek yogurt with berries and honey, parfaits, and tomato soup. I think we all know how to make those by now?? I would have liked to see some new recipe ideas. To be fair, I did find some new-to-me things in the Japan and Sardinia section, though only because those recipes used an ingredient (e.g. bitter melons) that I've never seen sold at any store I shop at.

Here are the recipes:
greek yogurt with honey, fruit, almonds
lentil soup
ratatouille
greens, tomatoes, lentils, grilled artichoke hearts
lemon chickpea soup
lemon potato salad
cornmeal cake (aka cornbread) with dried fruit
chia pudding
green smoothie
parfait with yogurt, berries, granola
veggie bowl (vegetables with avocado and tahini dressing)
bean and vegetable soup
stuffed peppers
taco salad
green bean potato salad
mexican stuffed potatoes
no-bake oatmeal peanut butter cookies
acai smoothie bowl
potato/corn hash
black bean soup
butternut soup
stuffed chayote (this is basically a zucchini boat)
red rice
homemade tortillas
pineapple smoothie
pinto bean salad
rice shake with cinnamon (this is horchata)
wild greens pie (basically spanokipia, I'm spelling that wrong)
purple sweet potato smoothie
purple potato, tofu, spinach hash
tofu+veg stir-fry
tender seasoned kombu
dashi broth
miso soup
milk tea
kokuto (whatever this is), banana, dark chocolate muffins
italian bean soup
fregola (I googled, it's sort of like pearl couscous) with wild mushrooms
pasta with bottarga (google couldn't help me figure this one out)
flatbread
fregola tomatoes and chickpeas
stuffed eggplant
orange cookies

Most of these resemble meals I've made before. They tend to use more oil than I'm comfortable with (e.g. 1/2 cup in many recipes) but the ingredient lists are short and the directions are a couple of numbered paragraphs. It is simple. The best part of the book is probably the front parts, talking about "lifestyle" in these blue zones.

To end on a positive, weight measurements are also included (e.g. "3 cups (383g) orange peel"). Lastly, most of the recipes are vegan or could be made vegan with a substitution such as using honee or vegan yogurt.

Thanks netgalley for my ARC

[(a)lyss(a) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is an interesting look at longevity around the world. I was hoping for more recipes and while there are some, I think the other information is more interesting. Petitto talks about different longevity zones - places where people life the longest - and the lifestyles and habits of people there. There isn't much talk about the role healthcare has on these life expectancies, but there's a dive into the way people in these places eat. Overall the recipes are fairly standard and somewhat as expected if you're familiar with standard American dietary changes.

[Joana Flauzino · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not just a cookbook. It tell us about cultures and lifestyles, and goes even deeper into the foods most used in the region, explaining their benefits.
And then delight us with fantastic recipes. From breakfast to dinner, still passing by snacks, drinks, salads and cakes.
They are varied meals that we can cook and adapt in our daily lives.
I already made the lentil soup and chickpea soup, and they were divine.

Now all that remains is to cook the rest and for the best part, to eat it.

A huge thank you to
the author Melissa Petitto
the publisher Chartwell Books
and to Netgalley
For the ARC of the book.
Thank you so much.

[McKenzie Westrom · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a unique take on a cookbook and I enjoyed reading about the culture and foods of different places in the world. While there weren’t a ton of recipes I’d take away (hello picky eaters in my family with small little ones) I did enjoy reading it and look forward to trying out a few new recipes and give this homemade granola a try. It’s similar to what we make already with more nut options.

Biggest takeaway, eating Whole Foods, prioritizing family, make being active a priority and eliminating stress are all themes of the places the cookbook focuses on. And I think those reminders are great to have when flipping through a cookbook to remind you food is fuel and can also be yummy!

[Bzz Kolla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Chartwell Books for this eCopy of Live Longer, Live Better to review.

I am very interested in learning how to live longer so was very excited to read this book. I found it very straightforward to understand the reasoning behind the science of why people live longer in these regions. I particularly enjoyed the day in a life pages for each long living community as it really brought the information from the first section alive.

The recipes are easy to follow and most importantly for me they all have a photograph of the finished dish.

[Rachelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Live Longer, Live Better... a nice introduction on commonly consumed foods from Loma Linda, California; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Sardinia, Italy; Ikaria, Greece; and Okinawa, Japan. I enjoyed the historical element of each mini chapter and appreciated reading the breakdown of each ingredient to learn why it benefits that culture and cuisine. The recipes aren't authentic to each country, but instead, focus on elements or specific ingredients, and combine them into recipes familiar to Americans.

[Macy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is much more than a cookbook. The author takes us on a journey around the world where people have the longest lifespans. We learn about their lifestyles, the foods they live on and other aspects of their lives. Beautiful photographs accompany lovely recipes.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exvchange for a fair and honest review.

[daniella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy to review. I loved this cookbook. Describing the areas the recipes are from, explaining the importance of the foods used, and the recipe formats make this a lovely book to read and cook from. I also enjoyed the aspects of each culture that are important for living a good life (vs just listing superfoods to consume).

[Megan Bey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful pictures and details of the city are paired with healthy recipes from that location. I really enjoyed the 10 tenets of longevity.

Thank you, Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Chartwell Books, for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[JadersCorner · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC NETGALLEY REVIEW

Such a great collection of recipes. The author paid attention to every detail, the photography is clear and detailed. Not just recipes but great information wrapped up in just a beautiful book.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great compilation of tips and suggestions different cultures from around the world use to maintain a healthier lifestyle for longevity. The book includes recipes based on staples from these cultures. It was interesting, insightful and eye-opening.

[Tiffany E-P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delicious recipes and the 5 blue zones locations are broken down into easy to read sections with accompanying recipes

[Joni Owens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful. While I knew some of the information in this book, I found it very informative and useful.