Longevity expert Dan Buettner says locals on the island of Ikaria, known for its residents’ longevity, love to tuck into meal which contains three key ingredients packed with range of health benefits.

Dan has spent decades investigating the secrets behind the extended lifespans in certain regions.

During a visit to Ikaria, a small island off the Greek coast, where one-third of locals reportedly live past the age of 90, he discovered locals preparing a chickpea soup with lemon and herbs.

This recipe, featured in Dan’s book, The Blue Zones – Secrets for living longer, consists of five easy steps.

It combines olive oil, freshly squeezed lemons, a blend of herbs, and chickpeas to create a delightful broth.

Expressing his fondness for the Ikarian dish, Dan penned: “This simple soup is a warming alternative to chicken soup in the winter, and yet another way to creatively make beans taste good and figure into your daily diet. Chickpea soup is one of the most classic comfort foods in Ikaria and even throughout the rest of Greece – you’ll find it in almost every home and tavern.”

Not only is this popular Mediterranean dish bursting with flavour, but it also boasts numerous health benefits.

Chickpeas

In an article titled The Nutritional Value and Health Benefits of Chickpeas and Hummus by a group of US health experts, they highlighted how this tasty food, which can also be enjoyed as hummus, is an excellent source of two essential nutrients.

They wrote: “Four tablespoons of traditional, chickpea-based hummus per day provides approximately two cups of legumes per week and 25 grams of dietary fibre – a shortfall nutrient in the diets of many adults and children. This same amount also provides approximately 14g of plant protein per week, as well as many other essential vitamins and minerals.”

The double-duty nutrients of protein and fibre do more than regulate health; they’re also thought to help lower the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes by working together to slow digestion and increase satiety.

Lemons

Lemons add another layer of benefit to the iconic Ikarian dish made largely from chickpeas.

Just one lemon contains roughly 60 percent of our recommended daily vitamin C intake, noted for slashing the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Healthline also cites studies indicating that consuming more citrus fruits could even cut the risks associated with lung cancer.

Herbs

Additionally, herbs including garlic and bay leaves, integral to the Ikarian Chickpea soup recipe, are said to show various health advantages upon those who regularly indulge in this dish.

Garlic has long been praised for its health benefits, including its potential to lower cholesterol and combat seasonal ailments like the flu.

Bahee Van de Bor, a spokesperson for the British Dietitian Association and paediatric dietician, told the BBC: “Garlic contains high levels of potassium, phosphorus, zinc, sulfur and moderate amounts of magnesium, manganese and iron. It’s a bit of a wonder vegetable.

“Not only does it offer a rich array of essential nutrients but also serves as an excellent source of prebiotic fibre, which is crucial for providing nourishment for the beneficial bacteria residing in our gut.”