It’s no secret that we are what we eat, and in the social media age of dietary trends getting shared far and wide it seems the conversation around what we should and shouldn’t be eating is more animated than ever.
Amid talk of ultra-processed foods, Blue Zones, and exclusion diets, there’s one cohort that gets particular attention when it comes to living for as long as possible: the oldest people around.
Apparently, there’s a commonly eaten ‘superfood’ among this group that, as it turns out, a lot of us are already eating on the regular.
A 2022 survey in the UK found that over a third of people aged 18 to 24 already eat this particular food for breakfast.
But, before we get into the food itself, let’s take a quick look at the oldest people we’re referring to here.
Residents in Loma Linda, California, are lucky enough to live in one of the world’s Blue Zones. For those not in the know, a Blue Zone is a region where people typically live longer than the average.
Loma Linda is populated by many Seventh-Day Adventists, which is a Protestant denomination that steers clear of alcohol and smoking whilst also adhering to a meat-free diet.
Other Blue Zones include areas of Costa Rica, Greece and Japan, each of which are home to locals who generally have a good chance of reaching 100 years old. In fact, they’re 10 times more likely to reach 100 than the average American.
Along with following typically good health advice, such as not smoking or drinking alcohol, some foods stick out among these groups as being particularly interesting longevity-wise.
One supercentenarian who lived until 105 in Loma Linda was Marge Jetton, and there was one meal she ate on the daily that pricked researcher’s ears
"Marge Jetton age 105 woke up every morning at 5:30am, read her Bible, had a breakfast of slow cooked oatmeal, nuts, and dates with soymilk and a prune juice shooter,” said an extract from a Blue Zone study.
"She would then ride her stationary bike for 30 minutes and get in her Cadillac and drive to her volunteer jobs for seven different organisations."
It’s the oatmeal – or porridge made with oats – that researchers found particularly interesting. The breakfast grub carries a number of benefits, including cholesterol-lowered properties and improved heart health.
"Oatmeal is nutritionally rich,” says WebMD. “It has more protein than most grains and also contains numerous vitamins and minerals. It contains antioxidants and a soluble fiber called beta-glucan, which aids several systems of the body."
The aforementioned UK study, commissioned by alternative milk specialist Wunda, covered 2,000 people and found that oatmeal was already a dietary staple for 39% of 18 to 24 year olds.
Apparently, overnight oats were almost as common, with 33% of the same cohort prepping their oatmeal the night before.
Between that and being less boozy than their predecessors, Gen Z looks set for some long and healthy lives at this rate.
Featured Image Credit: Gregoria Gregoriou Crowe fine art and creative photography via Getty ImagesTopics: Health
Rachael Davis