Every July 25, as we celebrate the annexation of the Nicoya District, one of the wonders of this province comes to mind: What is the secret behind longevity in Guanacaste? The five cantons on the peninsula (Nicoya, Santa Cruz, Carrillo, Hojancha, and Nandayure) make up Guanacaste’s Blue Zone of longevity. The greatest secret of this population before 1930 was not the “superfoods” consumed today. People often look for a “magic” food behind longevity, but the explanation lies in something more everyday: the way these communities ate. Johanna Quesada, a nutritionist at the Hikma Clinic, part of the Medismart medical network, explains the role of diet in longevity.