![Dan Buettner [pictured], a National Geographic fellow who has spent decades studying the diets of the world's longest-living people, says beans are the 'true longevity food'](https://citigist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/The-pantry-staple-that-the-longest-living-people-on-Earth-EVERY.jpg)
A leading longevity researcher says the real key to living well into your 80s, 90s, and even 100s isn’t an expensive fad or diet – it’s a food you probably already have in your pantry.
Dan Buettner, a National Geographic fellow who has spent decades studying the diets of the world’s longest-living people, says beans are the ‘true longevity food’.
In fact, he claims you should be eating them every day if you want to stay healthy and active into old age.
‘The longest-living people on Earth eat beans every single day,’ Buettner said in an Instagram video.
‘Forget the fear-mongering around lectins and the carnivore craze – those diets aren’t producing 90-year-olds still playing pickleball.’
Buettner – who has researched so-called Blue Zones, regions where people live significantly longer than average – dismissed online health trends that demonise beans, saying they’re not only safe but essential.
‘People say, “I don’t want to eat beans because I’ll fart or get bloated”,’ he said.
‘But the reality is, if you soak beans, rinse them, cook them thoroughly – no lectins, by the way – you can avoid those problems.’
![Dan Buettner [pictured], a National Geographic fellow who has spent decades studying the diets of the world's longest-living people, says beans are the 'true longevity food'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/08/04/23/100921151-14967927-image-m-35_1754347006031.jpg)
Dan Buettner [pictured], a National Geographic fellow who has spent decades studying the diets of the world’s longest-living people, says beans are the ‘true longevity food’
Buettner – who has researched so-called Blue Zones, regions where people live significantly longer than average – dismissed online health trends that demonise beans, saying they’re not only safe but essential
His tip for beginners was to take it one step at a time.
‘Start with just a teaspoon a day if it upsets your stomach. Then the second week, two teaspoons, and the third week, three teaspoons,’ he said.
‘Your microbiome will grow the bacteria necessary to metabolise them. That way, everyone can work up to a cup of beans a day without any internal tumult.’
Easy ways to incorporate more beans into your diet include adding some chickpeas to your salads for extra protein and texture.
You can also blend cannellini beans into soups or dips for creaminess, or stir black beans through scrambled omelettes.
Another simple way is to toss kidney beans into chillis, tacos, or pasta sauces.
Buettner says this gradual approach allows your gut to adapt – making beans not just tolerable, but an easy daily staple.
Calling out what he dubbed ‘this whole plant paradox nonsense’, Buettner said it had confused people and done the ‘biggest disservice’ to eating.
He also challenged the notion that high-meat, zero-carb diets could match the health and longevity benefits seen in bean-rich diets.
‘The longest-living people on Earth eat beans every single day,’ Buettner said in a recent Instagram video
‘The New York Times interviewed me, and I challenged them to find any population on the planet that eats a carnivore diet and lives a long time,’ he said.
‘People say the Maasai and Inuit are healthy and on carnivore diets – but their life expectancy is 63.’
His conclusion is simple.
‘If you want to be healthy in your 80s, 90s, and 100s and still playing pickleball, you don’t want to be eating a carnivore diet,’ he said.
Looks like the secret to a long life might just be sitting in your pantry.
