Costa Rica’s Centenarians

There are certain pockets around the globe where the population exhibits high longevity. The Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica is one of them. On this episode of the Americas Now Podcast correspondent Harris Withbeck shares with host Elaine Reyes the discoveries he made while covering the 100-year-old inhabitants of this area over the course of several years. His first visit was in 2016. He met with the oldest woman in the country, 109-year-old Panchita, and her son, 96-year-old Pablo. Scientists believe the secret to her long life has to do with a diet abundant in high fiber content. Harris also talks about his trip back to Nicoya to check on the centenarians during the pandemic. He says it was an experience that impacted his own way of looking at life.