The Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica has one of the highest life expectancies in the world. I moved here in November 2012 to manage a vacation rental in Playa Santa Teresa, and now I see why the people are so healthy. Most people are active and eat unprocessed foods. I knew my diet would change.

I expected to live entirely on fresh fish, eggs, fruits and vegetables, beans and rice. I have not become a pescetarian for ethical or ideological reasons; I only eat what is readily available, and what I like happens to be very healthy. I have always been a great lover of seafood, although my consumption depends on the geography in which I live. Fortunately, I now live in a seaside town where fresh fish is cheaper than meat.

When I first arrived, I discovered to my dismay that beef in Costa Rica is very tough and very expensive. High-end ground beef is fine, but I can only eat part of it. Chicken breast costs twice as much as in the United States, and it’s exactly the same. Pork is just pork, I never eat much anyway.

So this leaves the best fresh fish one can buy anywhere. Two different fishmongers walk the main road every afternoon selling the catch of the day. I think this is the best delivery service I have come across anywhere in the world!

I like Marcos’ service better. I can call him after lunch, he tells me what he has that day, and what time he’s coming by my house, and then he’s on time. He always has fresh dorado (mahi-mahi) and yellowfin tuna, sushi grade. Sometimes he has good fresh shrimp, calamari, and octopus. One of my favorites is sea bass, a fine, light white fish with a delicious flavor. Corvina is the most expensive at around $6/pound. My all-time favorite, whole red snapper is harder to come by, but when you do have it, the price is always around $4 a pound. Compare that to supermarket prices in the US!

I never considered myself a pescetarian until yesterday. I guess I’m a pescatarian by default. So, I researched the health benefits of this diet. So far, I have lost about twenty pounds in four months on this diet. There are countless health benefits. I found that all the iron one needs, plus copious amounts of polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids, comes from eating fish. It is also an environmentally friendly diet, since livestock production demands many natural resources. Eating fish is more efficient for the human digestive system than eating meat.

All I know is that I have a lower body fat percentage, I eat delicious meals, I share with others, I have more energy, and I don’t spend money on expensive, low-quality meats. My town, Santa Teresa, Costa Rica is full of energetic, active and healthy people. I won’t live here until the day I die, but I will live near the ocean. If I reach 100 years old it will be because I learned to exercise and eat healthy; and living on fresh fish, eggs, fruits and vegetables, and beans and rice will certainly be a reason for my longevity.