Living longer is possible for many people simply by changing your diet. Although additional factors can extend your life even longer, dietary changes alone can make a significant difference.
The standard American diet of lots of fast food that is fried and loaded with unhealthy fats, has few veggies and healthy nutrients, along with lots of sugar and salt, is cutting life short for many people and leading to many diseases. Fast food also contains as many as 5,000 untested chemical ingredients – except by the company that put them in the food.
Fast foods are also addicting and digested in less time than healthier foods. The shorter time means you do not burn as many calories, which results in a faster weight gain. Besides leading to weight gain and obesity, it can also increase the likelihood of various health problems such as cardiovascular problems, diabetes, liver or kidney disease, cancer, depression, high blood pressure, and cholesterol.
Before mentioning how a healthy diet might extend your life, you should know that no single food will extend your life. For many people, the necessary dietary changes are apt to include a much different way of eating.
Even people in their 40s can see years added to their lives if they follow a healthier diet. It consists of reducing most of the fast foods from their diet and adding significant amounts of fruit, whole grains, and nuts. People in their 70s can also see a difference in their health and may be able to add five years to their lifespan.
Foods that are linked to a shorter lifespan include processed meats, sugary drinks, red meat, eggs, and refined grains. These diets also included small amounts of vegetables, whole grains, legumes, dairy products, nuts, and fish.
Several vegetables have a natural cancer-fighting ability that can also help reduce your risk of stroke, heart attack, and diabetes. Eating more leafy green vegetables, such as spinach, kale, mustard greens, and lettuce, will help prevent these health issues, as well as help protect your eyes from being damaged by light.
Vegetables that help prevent cancer and protect your blood vessels include cruciferous vegetables: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and cabbage or kale. You can eat them raw or cooked. Adding some nuts to your salad or salad dressing will make it even healthier.
Beans are excellent in a daily meal because they have the benefit of reducing your appetite. They naturally digest slowly, which helps to control a rise in blood sugar levels. They also help in losing weight. Eating them a minimum of twice a week can decrease your risk of colon cancer by 50 percent and will also help prevent other types of cancer.
An important ingredient in vegetables and fruits that only occurs in small amounts in meats is antioxidants. There are about 64 times the amount of antioxidants in plant-based food as are in any animal-based food. They help control excess oxidation in your body, which can result in cancer, and will help prevent damage to your DNA.
These are just a few health benefits you can get from changing your diet to a more plant-based one. It does not mean eliminating meat, but strongly advises you to increase the amounts of fruit, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and nuts. The sooner you add these items to your diet, the more you will help your longevity.
