Sardinia's secrets to longevity

With a population of 1.6 million people, the island of Sardinia has the world's highest documented percentage of people who have passed the century mark. The number of 100 year olds in Sardinia is nearly 20 times higher than in the U.S. This slide: A resident of Sardinia poses for a photo.

Buettner says much like sourdough bread in the United States, Sardinian sourdough is made from whole wheat and uses live lactobacilli (rather than yeast) to rise the dough. This process converts sugars and gluten to lactic acid, lowering the bread's glycemic index.

90-year-old retired shepherd Gabriele Mereu gardens with his wife in Villagrande, Strisaili, Sardinia. The village is home to about 3,000 people, and six centenarians.

People living in the remote sheep-herding village of Perdasdefogu credit this Minestrone soup for their longevity. It has been passed down for hundreds of years by the Melis Family-- a group of 9 siblings who set a Guinness World Record with a combined age of 818.

80-year-old Ermelinda Mereu gardens and lives off the land with her 90-year-old husband. She says she never worried about getting older, because he knows her children will be there for her, like she was for her parents.

91-year-old Adolfo Melis still runs the local bar in the village of Perdasdefogu. He and his eight brothers and sisters set the Guinness World Record for oldest siblings with a collective age of 818.

Fennel's licorice taste is found in many Sardinian recipes. It is rich in fiber and vitamins A, B and C. It also helps to keep blood pressure low.

In most parts of the world, women live longer than men. In the U.S., for every 100 year old man there are five 100 year old woman. But on the Island of Sardinia, the ratio is 1 to 1. This couple credits their 57 year marriage as one of the secrets to a long a healthy life.

100 year old Bonaira Salis credits walking to work every day barefoot, and her homemade barley bread with helping her to reach the century mark.

Buettner says antioxidant rich Sardinian tomato sauce may be another reason they live longer, healthier lives. The local custom of adding olive oil further increases the body's ability to absorb nutrients and antioxidants.

These 90-something winemakers say their homemade Cannonau wine is the secret to longevity. Buettner says tests show it has three times the level of antioxidants than any other known wine in the world.

It's not unusual for Sardinians to enjoy meat, but it is still reserved for special occasions. When many of today's centenarians were young, it was a twice per month treat.

Ancient books in the town of Alghero, Sardinia record the existence of centenarians even 400 years ago, when most humans would only reach their late 30's. National Geographic fellow and author Dan Buettner says it proves the Sardinian way of life leads to long, healthy lives.

This flat bread made of high-protein, low-gluten Triticum durum wheat is popular with Sardinian Shepherds. It is high in fiber and complex carbohydrates. It also contains only a fraction of the gluten that white bread does.

The Murino family represents three generations of sheep herders. Pictured are 81 year old Angelo Murino with this wife, son and grandson. Sardinia's shepherds are among the longest lived men on the island.

Goat's milk and sheep's milk have higher nutritional value and are more easily digested than cow's milk. Since this cheese is made from grass-fed sheep, it has high levels of omega-3 fatty acids.

On the Island of Sardinia, men live longer than any other place on Earth.