People Who Live In This 'Blue Zone' Swear This Type of Soup Is the Key to Living to 100
Woman making soup on the stove
Many of us think of minestrone soup as a comforting first course at an Italian restaurant or an easy weeknight meal that our kids may or may not eat. But what if we told you that eating minestrone soup regularly could help you live to 100?
In the "Blue Zone" (or region of the world with a high amount of centenarians) of Sardinia, a family of nine siblings whose collective age was 851 (the oldest was 109) told educator and Blue Zones author Dan Buettner that they ate the same meal every day. What was that meal, you ask? Minestrone soup, a slice of sourdough bread and a glass of red wine.
Related: The Best Exercise for Living to 100, According to Physical Therapists
Yes, you read that right: Regularly eating this delicious combination of foods for lunch or dinner is associated with longevity. But why is minestrone soup so good for you? What about the sourdough and red wine factor? Here's what to know.
Why Minestrone Soup Could Help You Live to 100
To put it simply, minestrone soup—which is made up of a wide variety of vegetables, beans and some kind of pasta—is just really good for you.
"Minestrone is packed with plants and offers a wide variety of health-promoting nutrients including fiber, protein, potassium, vitamin A, iron and phytochemicals," says Edwina Clark, MS, RD and founder of Edwina Clark Nutrition. "Eating a wide variety of plants is associated with a myriad of health benefits such as reduced risk of cardiovascular, some forms of cancer, type II diabetes, all-cause mortality and age-related cognitive impairment."
In other words, a diet that regularly includes minestrone soup is great for fighting and preventing disease.
Related: The 3 Main Habits of People Who Never Gain Weight
But Wait—What About Sourdough Bread and Red Wine?
Minestrone soup may be the star of the show, but the sourdough bread and red wine shouldn't be ignored. "Sourdough has a lower glycemic index than other forms of bread because of the acid in the starter culture," Clark explains. "This means that it typically doesn't spike blood sugar as much as more refined bread options. Sourdough also tends to be lower in gluten because some of the gluten is digested by the starter culture during the fermentation process."
Related: The Top Sign You'll Live to Be 100, According to Longevity Experts
As for red wine, the jury is still out on whether any amount of alcohol is good for you, and the World Health Organization's official stance on it is that no amount of alcohol is safe for your health. That being said, there is some research to suggest that of all the alcohol types you can consume, red wine is probably the best.
"Research suggests that moderate red wine consumption (one glass per day for women and two glasses per day for men) is linked with improved heart health, reduced inflammation and better blood glucose control," Clark explains. "These benefits have largely been attributed to the abundance of polyphenolic and anti-oxidant compounds found in red wine."
These benefits may be canceled out by the risks associated with alcohol consumption, however. A large 2022 study of more than 36,000 adults concluded that light and moderate drinking could reduce brain volume. Yikes.
While we're not 100% sold on red wine as a predictor of longevity, we're all for regular minestrone soup and sourdough bread consumption. As a nice bonus, you probably already have all or most of the ingredients in your kitchen, because who doesn't have a few cans of beans, a handful of veggies and a little bit of pasta?
Bon Appétit!
Next up: Adding This Food to Your Diet Could Lower Your Blood Pressure by 36%
Sources
Edwina Clark, MS, RD and founder of Edwina Clark Nutrition
No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health, World Health Organization
Association between alcohol consumption and gray and white matter volumes in the UK Biobank, Nature.
