The Secret to Longevity: A Greek Island’s Garlic-Infused Diet

Diane Kohilas, who grew up on Ikaria, a Greek island renowned for its longevity, credits a garlic-rich diet for the island’s residents’ exceptional lifespan. Ikaria is known as one of the ‘Blue Zones’ – regions with high concentrations of centenarians. Kohilas emphasizes that garlic is a crucial part of the Mediterranean diet, used daily in almost every meal. She shares that even during her cooking classes on the island, they consume so much garlic that her assistant takes home six cloves each evening to peel and soak. The islanders consider garlic not just a spice but also a folk remedy. Kohilas learned about its medicinal benefits from a local beekeeper, Yorgos Stenos, who lives a traditional, simple lifestyle. Stenos, in his 90s, attributes his health to his diet and a natural infusion of sage, mountain tea, pine honey, and garlic, which he considers the ‘penicillin’ of his generation. Kohilas emphasizes the importance of this traditional approach to health, highlighting the connection between a simple, natural lifestyle and longevity.