The two foods they eat every day in the 'valley of supercentenarians' to live to be over 100 years old

The lifestyle in the Hunza Valley is attracting more and more researchers because of the extreme longevity of its inhabitants.

There are five territories on our planet known as the 'blue zones', whose distinctive feature is longevity: their inhabitants reach 100 years of age with relative ease, even reaching 110 years in certain areas. These enclaves of longevity are well known: Okinawa (Japan), Loma Linda (California), Icaria (Greece), Sardinia (Italy) and the Nicoya Peninsula (Costa Rica). But a sixth candidate may soon have to be included.

This would be the Hunza Valley, located in the extreme north of Pakistan and bordering southwestern Afghanistan. In this area the population also seems to defy medical probabilities of life expectancy. It is home to the Burusho and Wakhi peoples, who have survived and thrived for centuries in remote villages with minimal amenities and rudimentary facilities.

And yet, their average life expectancy is around 100 years. Today we will look at some of their lifestyle characteristics.

The Hunza Valley diet

Apricot seeds and apricot oil are two essential foods in the diet of these Pakistani communities. Apricot is thus one of their most important local crops. On a scientific level, there is evidence that apricot seeds can help fight cancer and reduce chronic inflammation, partly due to the amygdalin they contain.

Almost all traditional Hunzai dishes include apricot kernel oil. In the old days it was made by hand, but today the locals use machines to extract it from the harvested kernels. In fact, just a few decades ago this oil was the only thing used for cooking. Dried apricots are also used to improve altitude sickness, and are boiled for soup when winter arrives.

Never stop moving

As with the rest of the original blue zones, Hunza Valley villagers remain active throughout their lives, well into old age. It is very common to see people in their 80s doing outdoor chores even in winter. Longer-lived family members still graze their cows and sheep, collect firewood and run household errands.

In addition, older villagers also participate in community activities such as 'rajaki', which consists of cleaning the elevated water channels when spring arrives. It is also very common to see locals of any age using bicycles or roller skates, and playing sports such as soccer or cricket on a daily basis.

Glacier water

The Hunza area is full of glaciers, which melt during the summer. The so-called "Hunza water" is a shimmering dark gray liquid, which has already been studied by scientists. This glacial water is naturally filtered through layers of ice and rock and is rich in minerals.

Some suggest that the water contains quartz minerals (silica) in colloidal form, which would give the water antioxidant effects. It is collected from May to October every year, and is served in restaurants and homes. Locals prefer it to filtered water.

No ultra-processed food

As is also common in the remote blue zones, the locals of Hunza are no friends of ultra-processed foods. Almost all the meat consumed in this valley comes from local animals that have been recently slaughtered. In addition, there are no fast food places in the valley.

Generally, Hunza villagers' food comes from fresh ingredients, with daily preparation. In addition, almost all households grow their own vegetables, such as spinach, which is especially popular in the area. They also grow tomatoes and potatoes.

Strong community ties

Finally, it is worth noting that Hunza's neighborhoods and villages are very close-knit, and its people look out for each other, especially in the case of older members. There are no old people's homes, and the elderly are highly respected and cared for by their families.

In addition, the level of crime is practically nil, and it is common for children to wander alone even at an early age. Therefore, it is very common to see children playing outdoors and collaborating in community tasks.

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