When it comes to healthy eating, fruits and vegetables are some of the first things that come to mind. Among these foods, there are many beneficial ones that fight cancer cells and extend life. Do you know which fruits and vegetables these are? Here are five foods that you should eat every day to help you extend your life.
1. Fill your plates with these vegetables
Vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts should not be missing from your diet. These vegetables, which are members of the Brassica family, contain a powerful compound called glucosinolate, which breaks down when you chew, cook, or chop them. Eating these vegetables also provides your body with other beneficial compounds such as indoles, thiocyanates, nitriles, and isothiocyanates.
Another benefit of consuming Brassica vegetables is their ability to neutralize inflammation due to their high phytochemical content.
Brassica vegetables also provide magnesium and folic acid. They contain two important glucosinolates that affect detoxification, the process by which organisms rid themselves of toxic substances. These phytochemicals are necessary for a balanced, healthy, and nutritious diet.
2. Snack on these fruits every day
Studies on blueberries have shown that they contain powerful extracts that extend life. Blueberries are also known for their benefits in fighting metabolic syndrome and heart disease. They also help fight DNA damage. Studies have shown that strawberries improve memory and increase brain performance as you age.
A study found that eating figs can alter cognitive performance, prevent neurodegeneration associated with aging, and delay cognitive aging in women by up to two and a half years.
These fruits are also beneficial for our gut health. An investigation found that eating figs produced bacteria that could help protect the gastrointestinal lining. This lining may improve metabolic outcomes and relieve inflammation.
3. Eat these nuts as a snack with fruit or on their own when you are hungry
To suppress hunger during the day and lead a healthier life, you can eat a handful of nuts. Nuts are extremely rich in antioxidants. Studies have shown that eating nuts is associated with reducing the risk of diabetes and improving life expectancy.
Nuts like almonds, cashews, pistachios, and walnuts contain healthy fats, fiber, and other important nutrients that are essential for a healthy diet. Eating them regularly can improve your overall health and help you live longer.
4. Do not omit olive oil from your table
Olive oil has many benefits that can support healthy aging and longevity. Olive oil contains anti-inflammatory monounsaturated fatty acids that activate long-lasting enzymes. It has also been found that olive oil fights oxidative stress and DNA damage caused by too many free radicals and too few antioxidants in the body.
Additionally, olive oil can protect telomeres, the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that shorten with age. Olive oil also stimulates cellular “cleansing” processes.
Research has determined that consuming olive oil helps combat oxidative stress, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, and inflammation that affect the arteries. Consuming olive oil can support skin health, brain health, and even a healthy gut microbiome.
A study conducted by Harvard University showed that consuming olive oil leads to a longer life, especially when replacing butter, margarine, or mayonnaise. Other studies have found a connection between consuming olive oil and reduced cardiovascular disease risks.
5. Include green tea in your daily water consumption
Green tea contains catechins, antioxidants that can protect the brain from diseases and support healthy aging. Studies have shown that those who drink green tea tend to live longer than those who don’t.
Research involving more than 100,000 Chinese participants found that those who drink green tea at least three times a week live an average of fifteen months longer than those who don’t.
Another study found that those who drink at least five cups of green tea a day have a 76% lower risk of dying than those who don’t. To maximize the benefits of the antioxidants in green tea, one of the best ways to brew it is by using hot water that hasn’t boiled too long. Boiling water can damage the tea leaves and decrease their health benefits. Another way to enhance the effects of green tea’s antioxidants is to add lemon juice.