There are many habits or things that you can do that will shorten your life. Of course, most people do not want a shorter life. Instead, you want to ensure that you will live longer.

One way to help increase your longevity is to eat certain foods. Because of their natural health benefits, these foods can help you live longer.

About Genetics

For a long time, people thought that your longevity was based almost entirely on your genetics. This is no longer what experts believe. Other factors, such as your lifestyle and diet, are now believed to be the key factors.

The following seven foods will help you live longer because of their health benefits.

7 Foods to Help You Live Longer

1. Nuts

One of the healthiest substances you can eat that will help ensure you stay healthy is nuts. They contain protein, antioxidants, fiber, and healthy fats. Nuts will also give you several vitamins that your body needs, including selenium, manganese, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, and vitamin E.

They may also help with weight loss and provide better control of cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

2. Fruits and Vegetables

Eating more fruits and vegetables than is typically found in the American diet has long been known to provide greater health – and longer life. Several cultures that are known to live longer eat a lot of fruits and vegetables.

3. Oily Fish

The longest-living people in the world live in Japan. Their diet consists of a lot of fish and not as much red meat. Oily fish include salmon, sardines, mackerel, and trout. These fish contain healthy amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, which help to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Another ingredient, DHA, helps to reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s. Eating this food twice a week is usually sufficient.

4. Eat More Plant-based Foods

Plants contain everything that is needed for good health. They contain many ingredients that will help your body to stay healthy, including antioxidants, polyphenols, vitamins, carotenoids, and more.

Eating more plant-based foods has been shown to reduce the premature death rate by more than 12%. It can also help reduce the likelihood of dying from cancer or heart-related disease by more than 30%.

5. Drink Coffee or Tea

Drinking coffee or tea regularly has been found to provide several benefits, including reducing your risk of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Coffee has also been shown to reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Both drinks may help to lower your risk of early death by 20 to 30%.

In order to get these benefits, you probably want to limit your intake to four cups per day – and drink it earlier in the day to avoid insomnia.

Be aware that it will also raise your blood pressure, so you may want to choose decaf.

6. Eat Cranberries

Cranberries contain many benefits for prolonged health. They include antioxidants, immune-system boosting ingredients, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and lots of phytonutrients.

These ingredients will help to prevent cancer, and urinary tract infections, help to decrease blood pressure, and improve your immune system.

7. Avoid Alcohol

Drinking excessive levels of alcohol produces many different health problems. It can erase other health benefits because of its powerful effects on the body.

The longer you drink excessively, the more likely you will see some of these long-term effects: a weakening immune system, heart disease, high blood pressure, liver disease, various types of cancer, depression, and more.