Italian Longevity: What Italians Do Differently to Live Longer and Better

The Greatest Secret Isn't the Mediterranean Diet

People usually assume the answer is simple: the Mediterranean diet. Certainly food plays an important role, but it tells the whole story. Italian longevity comes from a combination of habits, attitudes, relationships, and daily routines that work together over an entire lifetime. When people ask me about Italian longevity, they usually expect me to point to olive oil or pasta or red wine. Those things certainly have their place, but after more than four decades living here, I believe the greatest secret lies elsewhere. It is the combination of fresh food, moderate portions, strong family relationships, close-knit communities, natural daily movement, time for rest, accessible healthcare, and perhaps most importantly, a positive attitude toward aging itself. Italians don't spend their lives worrying about getting old. Instead, they continue living fully at every stage of life. Here's what Italians do...