In the picturesque island of Sardinia, Italy, resides a family whose lifestyle could very well be the envy of anyone looking to punch in their ticket to a century of life.
The Melis family, a band of nine siblings who were once crowned by the Guinness World Records in 2012 for having the highest combined age of 818 years, seemingly cracked the code to longevity with a surprisingly simple dietary routine.
Featured in the Netflix documentary series Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones, the Melis family's approach to eating is one that echoes through the rustic, sunbaked streets of Sardinia, known as one of the world’s five "blue zones" — regions where people allegedly live longer than anywhere else on Earth. Here, it’s not just the idyllic setting that's heart-stealing but also a meal so consistent, it’s almost ritualistic.
So, what’s on the menu for the longest-living family on Earth? A humble, yet evidently potent, lunch spread that they’ve sworn by each day. Dan Buettner, an American author and expert on blue zones, delves into their meal: sourdough bread paired with a hearty three-bean minestrone soup, brimming with garden vegetables like garbanzo, pinto, and white beans, accompanied by a modest glass of red wine — just two to three ounces.
"This wasn’t about dieting," Buettner explains. "They loved it." And why wouldn’t they? This isn’t just food; it’s tradition steeped in nutritional gold.
Backing this up is Samantha Cassetty, a New York City dietitian, who spoke to Today.com about the inherent health benefits of such a diet.
"People who live the longest, healthiest lives tend to consume half a cup to a cup of beans daily," Cassetty says. She points out the meal’s richness in diverse plant foods which can enhance gut diversity, a critical marker for overall health. It seems this simple meal could help regulate everything from blood pressure to mood and weight management.
Why does this bean-centric recipe pack such a punch? Each bean brings its own set of nutrients to the table. Pinto beans are rich in protein and fiber but carry no cholesterol. Garbanzo beans offer similar benefits, while white beans are dubbed a ‘nutritional powerhouse’ by Healthline, rich in fiber, protein, and essential micronutrients like folate, magnesium, and vitamin B6.
Though the golden years of the Melis family are waning—with the eldest sibling, Consolata Melis, passing away in 2015 at 108, and several others like Claudina, Maria, and Antonio also having lived to their centennial or close— their dietary legacy offers a tantalizing glimpse into the power of simple, plant-based meals.
For those of us pondering over lunch options, maybe it’s time to think less about dining out and more about dining like the Melis— a choice that might just add years to our lives. After all, who wouldn’t toast to a longer, healthier life with a tiny glass of red wine?
