The Tiny Island in Greece With the Oldest Life Expectancy in the World

Ikaria, a tiny island in the Aegean sea, is known as a blue zone, a special place where life expectancy is much higher than the rest of the world. We travel there to explore just what it is that makes the island so special.



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[georgiosathanasiou]

Uncle Soullis' advice at the end wasn't translated properly. He says, "Get rid of stress and stop worrying about making lots of money. Make enough to get by, drink your wine and keep calm" . What a lovely "young" man!

[theanoapostolou]

We live now in Ikaria. And if you think the elderly gentleman likes his wine a little too much, let me share a story of my papou (grandfather). At a check up before his 90th birthday, the doctor said to him ‘you must drink water.’ And he said ‘I do, doctor. Everyday I add it to my wine.’

[aarneuuk]

Low stress
Decent food

for whom is this still a mystery?

[TipsyBartender]

In America, everyone has the bust their ass to survive. The stress of that lifestyle is killing us all.

[kourtourafi]

Their lack of stress is truly legendary. Even shops don't operate on a specific schedule. Each owner opens for business at whichever hour they see fit. Banks open at noon. Grocery stores sometimes are just left unlocked without anyboydy in them; you open the door, you get in, you take whatever you want, you leave the money on the counter and you leave. They throw major feasts and fairs in summer time, where they all dance and party and have fun and laugh and hug and kiss. So, there is no great mystery as to why they live so long and fulfilling lives.

[conormccann]

I have a feeling the old man likes wine...

[МладиГангстер]

God bless Greece and Greek people. Greetings from Serbia.

[heath]

why is that old guys smile so heartwarming

[Hi.I.amJase]

Life in most Greek rural areas (not only islands) is fantastic. The people, food and the way of life in general is enviable. Do not forget that this video is shot during summertime in the winter its much much different.

[atermwn_nous]

I've visited Ikaria once in my 21's. The (one and only i think) bakery had no service available. You select the bread and leave the cash. There was also a note next to the cash register; "if you don't pay, there will be no bread for 1 week". Imagine the stressless life of the residents there. I'll be visiting again for sure!

[WolfHunts]

Just proves that living in the nature is healthier than cities.

[eduardocastro]

How is no one talking about the wine loving old man? That guy made my day

[JD-ppml]

Nobody:
Old man: "I fucking love the wine here by the way"

[maria-irocharokopou]

The mentality in Greece...💙 People finding reasons to stay smiley no matter what. Families and friends getting together, laughing, sharing.The more I travel around, the less I take these for granted 🙏🏼

[Professor_Silva]

This is what all the world should be like. Family agriculture, community, healthy food, happy people, nature... No artificial things, no poisons, skyscrapers, endless factories, no gigantic crops and billions of animals tortured in mass productions, turning rivers of water into rivers of feces, no poverty, inequality or crimes... I wish there was a big movement for the world to go back to that kind of life.

[skinnyp]

I tell you why:
-They are not slaves to a company and dont have to work 9 to 5 or longer;
-They eat food which is healthy and fresh and not filled with chemicals that are toxic to the body
-No stress
-A lot of physical activity

There you go.

[cbrtdgh]

"To not be sad, to not get stressed, in order to make money, to make whatever. To go drink their wine, to be calm".
The Dude abides by this advice.

[DDarkness]

I'd love to live there. Greece is a beautiful country and captivating history.

[itamer]

i actually hitchhiked to this island with a person l knew for a couple of hours. we spent days just wild camping in a canyon, dancing with locals in the woods, attending their traditional festivals, swimming and meeting tons of laid back brilliant people. that island has a special vibe to it and l was never before so much "in the present"

[entvisual]

*God bless Greece!* wow beautiful nature and food gyros and equals longer lives 💜