Secrets of Greece: The Greek Blueprint For Living Well
By Luca Mele, senior at Lancaster Country Day School
People and media often hail the Greek way as the gold standard to a healthy life, whether its the famous Mediterranean diet, the culture and community, or day-to-day lifestyle. There seems to be some sort of secret to life that they have solved, evident by fascinations with blue zones (areas of the world with highest concentration of centenarians) islands where people are credited for simply forgetting to die. Places like the small island of Ikaria have some of the lowest rates of dementia and chronic illnesses. On our recent trip to Greece, we experienced many aspects of Greek culture and life, and felt that various experiences we had with locals revealed some of the secrets of Greece.
Diet
Probably the most notable healthy aspect of Greek life is their famous Mediterranean diet. Emphasizing plant-based foods, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats, it is credited with the strong cardiovascular health of Greeks. Because Greece’s climate is very optimal for farming, a majority of their food is grown within the country’s borders. Many rural areas are nearly self-sustainable based on the produce they grow. There is a strong emphasis on eating real, organic, foods and having a sense of connection to how the food was brought onto their table. They opt for wild thyme honey over stevia, fruits and cheese over processed desserts, local olive oil over harmful seed oils. They use what nature provides them with and utilizes it to the fullest extent. They also emphasize a balance with wine and alcohol as well. They use it to bond over long meals and enjoy good times with family and friends. While in Ikaria, we visited a winery that remains one of few in the world that use ancient methods to produce purely “naked” wines with no additives, sulfates, or parabens. Learning about their process provided a reminder thatpart of the reason why the Greek diet is so successful is because it values the purity of the ingredients over the efficiency of the production.
Lifestyle
Greeks live extremely active lives, yet you probably won’t find most spending a lot of time intentionally training their bodies in gyms or with workouts. Instead, they have bridged the gap between daily life and fitness. The structure and layout of their societies dictate this. The rocky, mountainous terrain of Greece demands physical engagement. Rural areas don’t necessarily function around cars, but walkability. Low-intensity movement has become a normal aspect of their life, building the strong joints and cardiovascular health required for a long life. Furthermore, they balance this constant activity with midday rest. In the late afternoon, stores will often close, businesses shut down, and the people relax and recharge. Perhaps one of the most important factors of their long lives is the low stress. Many are not focused strongly on money or other worldly materialistic desires. They make enough to sustain their humble lifestyles, and then live happily and with content. This aspect is the least attainable for most Americans given that we live in a capitalist society where the dominant social metric for success is material wealth, where we are constantly pressured to consume and desire more. That being said, we can and should learn from these people to make decisions to preserve peace and simplicity within our lives.
Community
Paired with their incredibly slow pace of life is a strong sense of community that Greeks share with each other. Locals explained that the simple act of sharing a morning espresso can become a multiple-hour endeavor to discuss politics, life, and philosophy. We experienced the incredible hospitality from these communities in Ikaria and Crete. Dining with locals ended up lasting hours longer than we originally anticipated. Food is undeniably the love language of Greece; as long as we kept eating, they kept bringing more food and wine. Their hospitality and kindness to all was truly admirable. Applied to small, tight-knit communities, rural Greeks have very strong bonds amongst each other. It is a secret to none that human connection is some of the most powerful anti-aging medicine to exist.
Perspective on Life
Many locals we talked to shared their advice about what it means to live a happy and fruitful life. Ironically, most Ikarian people were very surprised that their small island had garnered so much attention in the media for being a blue zone. They explained that they have never tried to consciously maximize the time they spend on Earth or reach a certain age. To Ikarians, the quantity of your time on Earth is irrelevant compared to the true wealth of life: quality. Their definition of wealth means having stability in life, being healthy and able to work, having a peaceful mind, and having family and friends to enjoy good times. Ultimately, the Greek secret is a combination of factors that develop their mind, body, and soul to truly enjoy life and savor every moment. Amongst a hyper, frantic world, we can all learn from the Greeks to make an effort to slow down in life and reconnect with nature and those we love. Whether or not that makes us live longer should not necessarily be the primary intention. Instead, we should focus on making the most out of the time we are given to live as fruitfully as possible.
Bio
Luca Mele is a rising senior at Lancaster Country Day School and an active board member of YVC VOiCEup Berks, where he helps lead youth-driven community service initiatives. He is especially passionate about golf and plays on his school’s golf team, while he has also studied classical piano since age five. In addition, he enjoys foil fencing, traveling, trying new foods, and spending time with his family and his beloved French bulldog, Suki. He has aspirations to pursue a law degree.
