Patriot Health Digest
There are many factors that lead to anti-aging longevity. As healthy locations like the Blue Zones have proven, all of these factors can greatly influence how we age.
But on the other side, some drinks and foods can worsen the aging process. According to doctors, about one in five deaths happen thanks to bad diet.
Below, doctors and aging experts reveal the three worst foods and drinks for longevity.
1. Alcohol
Alcohol is a toxin and it is terrible for our health-span for many different reasons. Despite the alleged benefits of things like antioxidants inside red wine, experts report that alcohol is not at all healthy.
For one, it increases your risk of cancer, the second top cause of death in the country. Research shows that these beverages can also raise your risk of colorectal and breast cancers, even at a low level of intake.
2. Processed Meats
Processed meats such as sausages, corned beef and hot dogs are categorized by the WHO as Group 1 carcinogens. That means there is sufficient evidence that chronic eating of these items can increase your risk of colorectal cancer.
You might wonder, ​is there any amount of processed meat I can eat?​ Currently, there are no specific directions from any cancer organization on the amount of salami that is considered safe. But even eating 50 grams of processed meat — about one hot dog — each day is linked to a 16 percent increased colon cancer risk.
3. Sugar-Sweetened Beverages
Soda has no good qualities when it comes to aging. The top contributor of sugars in the American diet is soda and it is among the key culprits for the increasing rates of diet-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, and heart and liver diseases.
There is also evidence that eating sugar could mess with your mind. Chronically high blood sugar levels are linked with a much greater rate of cognitive decline, according to a Jan. 2018 study published in ​Diabetologia​​.​ The scientists found that participants who had diabetes also had greater losses in memory and executive functioning over the time period of the eight-year study when compared to those who did not have diabetes.
Author: Blake Ambrose
