Eat For Your Future With a 5-Part Longevity Diet
By Chris Brown
Longevity isn't just about surviving; it is about extending functionality into those surviving years. There is a massive difference between spending one's last 10 years alert and mobile and 10 years in a hospice bed. Planning now for a brighter, more mobile future is important to staying strong for the years ahead. The way one eats can determine a lot about their longevity. Foods rich in neural nutrients can keep the brain happy and sharp for decades longer and the proper portioning can keep the body trimmed and fit. By making a few small changes and diet additions, you can maintain a lifestyle of your choosing even as the years tick on past.
Eat Your Fruits and Veggies
Plant foods, like fruits and vegetables, are direct sources of vitamins and minerals important for maintaining health and bodily processes. Intaking your daily fill of nutrient-rich fruits and veggies allows your body to work optimally and have plenty of the resources available to build a strong system.
Add Nuts to Your Daily Intake
Nuts are a healthy fat and protein food that contains tons of minerals and antioxidants important for living long. According to one study, nut eaters had a 39 percent lower mortality risk than those who refrained from the crunchy treats.
Regularly Drink Green Tea and Coffee
Green tea is an antioxidant-rich beverage that is known to decrease the risk of age-related cognitive diseases. A Japanese study also found that women who drank at least five cups of green tea a day were 23 percent less likely to die over a 12-year study. Similarly, coffee has been shown to improve memory and keep the neural pathways strong in the brain to reduce cognitive decline.
Stay Away From Excessive Alcohol Consumption
It is common knowledge that alcohol consumption is bad for the liver, brain, and cardiovascular system. However, many don't understand the tremendous impacts alcohol overconsumption can have on lifespan. Drinking 14-25 drinks per week can shorten lifespan by multiple years, according to a Harvard University study.
Avoid Overeating
Regardless of the food, overeating is not good for longevity. This makes sense when one considers that processing food takes energy from other functions of the body, such as recovery and cell cleanup. Mediated calorie restriction has been shown to increase lifespan, decrease age-related bodily decline, and strengthen the immune system.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Winter Garden, Fla.