Tiny picturesque island where inhabitants 'live forever'- how they do it

A secluded Greek island boasts crystal-clear azure waters, natural thermal spas – and what is widely believed to be one of the longest-living populations on the planet.

The 99-square mile island of Ikaria lays claim to having more nonagenarians than anywhere else on earth.

Studies suggest that one in three residents of this picturesque island live to reach the age of 90.

It comes as little surprise, then, that scientists have been attempting to unravel the secret behind the elderly islanders’ remarkable longevity – uncovering clues in their Mediterranean diets, afternoon naps and active sex lives well into their twilight years.

Anthropologists have long championed fresh, wholesome Mediterranean diets, rich in fish and olive oil, as a recipe for a long and healthy life.

The so-called “blue zone” refers to regions scattered across the globe where populations are thought to enjoy the longest lifespans.

Alongside Ikaria, situated in the Aegean Sea, anthropologists have identified the world’s blue zones as including – the Japanese island of Okinawa, said to be home to the world’s longest-lived women, Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, where middle-aged mortality rates were notably lower than average, and the Italian tourist haven of Sardinia.

Supported by National Geographic, bestselling author and longevity expert Dan Buettner and his team of demographic researchers have in recent years explored blue zones, including Ikaria, in a bid to unlock the secrets of their extraordinary lifespans.

Writing in the New York Times in 2012 about his visit to the island – acknowledging how previous claims of long-living populations had frequently been debunked – Buettner noted that Ikaria’s reputation remained unwavering.

Researchers discovered record-keeping in certain villages renowned for locals’ longevity meant numerous residents didn’t actually know their own ages.

Furthermore, some destinations found that reputations for longevity attracted tourism.

However, researchers in Greece uncovered solid documentation to substantiate Ikaria’s claims of a long-living population.

They established that locals reached the age of 90 at two-and-a-half times the rate Americans do.

Numerous successive studies found the island’s villagers were in comparatively better health, living longer before being afflicted with cancer, cardiovascular disease, dementia and depression.

A University of Athens School of Medicine study examined the diet of hundreds of Ikarians, revealing they consumed substantial quantities of beans and fish – and ate meat only about five times a month.

The Ikaria Study additionally found that elderly islanders maintained a diet low in refined sugar but high in olive oil.

Researchers noted the islanders consumed two to three cups of coffee and two to four glasses of wine a day.

Interviews carried out by Mr Buettner’s research team revealed islanders enjoyed diets low in heart disease-inducing saturated fats found in meat and dairy, and high in antioxidant-rich and pesticide-free greens cultivated in their own gardens.

The inhabitants’ consumption of unheated olive oil was believed to increase good cholesterol, while their diet included goat’s milk used in feta, which contained tryptophan — a compound that stimulates the so-called ‘happy chemical’ serotonin.

The Ikaria Study revealed that one of the greatest secrets to a long and fulfilling life may be remarkably straightforward: the islanders also appeared to lead largely stress-free lives.

Researchers discovered that the majority of the oldest residents reported regular physical activity, wholesome eating habits, no smoking, vibrant social lives, afternoon naps — and remarkably low levels of depression.

However, Mr Buettner’s research team’s visit to the island also unearthed another telling clue to their enduring, contented lives.

During interviews carried out with Ikarians aged over 90 — most claimed to still be sexually active.