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According to the CDC, the average American’s life expectancy is 77 years old today. Americans live fewer years than people in Blue Zone countries, according to certain studies. Life expectancy in Japan is 85 years, as determined by The World Bank. Keeping a healthy weight may extend your life by seven years, according to one 2017 study. And that is directly influenced by the diet you eat.
“People may not be aware of how vital nutrition is! Food contains nutrients that have a significant influence on our general health, as well as all of our bodily systems and processes, such as the brain, cardiovascular system, immune system, muscles, and internal organs,” says Roxana Ehsani, registered dietitian.
Eating a healthy diet can help you stay healthy and avoid chronic illnesses, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol levels, as well as several cancers. Of course, the food you consume can also have an impact on your weight.
Eating a wide range of plant-based meals is one habit that enables people to live the longest.
Try to increase your consumption of plant-based protein sources such as beans, lentils, nuts, and seeds, according to Ehsani. “These plant-based protein alternatives not only provide vegetarian/vegan-friendly protein but are also high in dietary fiber, which can aid gut health and promote beneficial gut bacteria,” she adds.
Researchers discovered that as we grow older, our gut diversity shrinks, putting us at risk for chronic health issues including heart disease, diabetes, and irritable bowel syndrome.
However, one way to maintain a healthy diverse, and balanced gut is to eat a variety of plant-based meals on a daily basis.
“You don’t have to avoid meat, but replacing a couple of meals each week with a plant-based protein source might help you earn longevity points,” she adds. “Furthermore, processed meats and red meat such as bacon, sausage, and deli meats are very high in saturated fat, which is pro-inflammatory and can contribute to plaque buildup, which raises the risk of both heart disease and neurodegenerative diseases.”
Replace red meats with lean cuts of protein and plant proteins, such as nuts, peas, beans, lentils, and seeds. She suggests that you start by focusing on one meal every week.
