Longer-lasting food can also improve your health.
The old saying goes that you are what you eat, and there is definitely a kernel of truth to that old idiom. What you consume and put in your body directly affects your health in both positive and negative ways.
Everyone who is remotely health-conscious is always searching for that dynamite new diet, the so-called ‘silver bullet’ answer to excess fat wherein it will make it all melt away and get you back in shape tout suite. The really interesting thing about it all is that health-enhancing, long-life inducing, fat-busting solution might be sitting in your kitchen cupboards right now and you don’t even realize it.
The Health Revolution In Your Cupboard
Often referred to as ‘longevity’ foods, what it means is food that contributes to long life, health, and increased vitality. These bad boys can reduce mortality rates and risk of chronic, health-related diseases, as well as increase immunity against cholesterol, high blood sugar, oxidative stress, and other such deficiencies.
They tend to be much less processed than other foods, and more dense in essential micronutrients. The latter are rich in carbohydrates, proteins, and fats that our bodies continually need in large quantities, and which are subsequently turned into calories to give us energy. When your body doesn’t receive the required amount of micronutrients, it will actively divert biological resources away from other areas to compensate, areas such as regeneration, leading to early signs of aging.
How can ‘Longevity’ Foods Help Me?
So, as you can see, eating healthily with ‘longevity’ foods can have very real and substantial benefits. But what kind of foods can be considered ‘longevity’ foods and what are the health advantages you can gain from them? Well, fear not, gentle reader, as this article will list the 5 best longevity foods to make you healthy and enhance vitality.
1. Nuts
Nuts have long been known as beacons of a healthy diet, containing as they do ample quantities of omega-3 fats and antioxidants. In fact, in a recorded, peer-reviewed study, those who regularly ate nuts in their diet had a 39% lower chance of premature mortality than those who did not.
Additionally, nuts are high in protein but also contain calories and saturated fat so, like anything in life, moderation is recommended.
2. Cruciferous Vegetables
What the heck are cruciferous vegetables, you might ask? Well you already are familiar with them; broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, and kale, for example.
Cruciferous veggies pack the biggest punch when it comes to nutrients, they actionably activate the body’s natural immunity, bolster the detoxification capabilities, and inhibit the potential growth of cancerous cells in the body… in short, they come loaded for bear! They are also an effective defense against heart disease by protecting blood vessel walls against inflammation.
3. Salad Greens
Perhaps your mother told you at dinner time – as mine certainly did – when you were but a youngling to “eat your greens”… well mother was right! Leafy green veggies are positively packed with essential nutrients such as Vitamin B Folate, plus lutein and zeaxanthin which protect your eyes from accruing light damage. So when mother said eating your greens will make you see better, she wasn’t kidding.
4. Beans
Oh yes, beans, beans… the musical fruit, the more you eat, the more you toot. This somewhat crude line (courtesy of The Simpsons) has actual real scientific merit, as beans are long known to be an effective defense against colon cancer by changing starch into fatty acids, so people may crack jokes at beans causing flatulence, but there’s good reason why they do and its advantageous to your health!
Beans are also digested slowly, which inhibits the rise in blood glucose afterwards. You can also greatly reduce your cholesterol by eating beans as they are rich in soluble fibers. So the humble bean may not look anything particularly special, but believe us when we say it has it where it counts!
5. Onions and Garlic
Both belong to the allium family of vegetables and both are fearsome weapons in the armory of healthy eating. Onions especially are high in flavonoids and rich in antioxidants that have a high anti-inflammatory yield that could prevent cancerous growth.
Garlic may not be good for you if you happen to be a vampire, but for everyone else, it’s a great booster for your cardiovascular and immune systems. It’s recommended that you cut, chop, or slice garlic and onions as doing so releases carcinogens that greatly enhance detoxification and inhibit cancer cell growth as well as angiogenesis.
Conclusions
It’s clear that so-called ‘longevity’ foods are both good for you and enhance any meal in tasty goodness. If you consume them on a regular basis, you may just be surprised at the results.