We are sure you are aware of how beneficial healthy eating is for your mental and physical health. However, have you ever truly thought about what are the top foods to help you live a healthier lifestyle and perhaps a longer life in general? If so, this blog is going to discuss 5 foods which can improve your overall health.
Table of Contents
Apples
To start our list we are going straight in with the everso common apples and more specifically, the green apple variant. Green apples boast less sugar and carbs, but more fiber, protein, potassium, iron, and vitamin K as opposed to its red coloured counterpart. Apples are fantastic at fighting fatigue, stress and depressive states. Its flavonoids prevent cholesterol from being deposited in the arteries which consequently leads to the prevention of heart attacks. Green apples that are raw with their skin helps to fight constipation whilst peeled and grated green apples are incredibly effective against situations related to diarrhea. What’s also interesting about apples is that when they are chopped with utensils such as a chef’s knife, they release polyphenol oxidase, which lurks in the cells of the apples and enhances their taste.
Furthermore, apples in general are fantastic at providing you with a morning energy boost when you don’t feel like drinking coffee. This is because they contain ‘fructose’ which is slowly transformed and released as energy. Similarly, green apples contain quercetin which is an antioxidant plant chemical that keeps your mental juices flowing by protecting your brain cells which, as a result, leaves you feeling more awake, positive and productive.
Salmon
Next on our list of foods which can help you live longer we have salmon. Being rich in vitamin B12, salmon helps the proper functioning of our central nervous system and fights fatigue making it ideal in times of tiredness. In addition, salmon is rich in omega 3 fatty acids that increase the production of serotonin which is the hormone for happy feelings and improved well-being. This greatly benefits and helps improve your mood and prevents stress and cognitive declines. It’s also said that salmon offers health benefits such as lower risk of heart disease and an 80-90% lower risk of sudden cardiac death. Not to mention, salmon is a fantastic source of protein which helps repair muscles after injury and protects bone health. All of which are greatly beneficial when you wish to live longer.
Lentils
Lentils are a type of superfood that can greatly aid in your body’s overall health. This is because lentils contain a lot of iron. Iron is responsible for your body needs for growth and development. Your body uses iron to make hemoglobin – a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body, and myoglobin – a protein that provides oxygen to muscles. Lentils are also very satiating which helps to reduce the need to constantly eat thus, reducing your weight. Finally, they contain folic acid, a vitamin that lowers homocysteine ??levels, which is linked to cardiovascular health factors.
Oats
Oats make this list of foods that help you improve your overall health as they are plentiful in phytosterols such as avenasterol or beta-sitosterol. Both of these are directly linked to lowering cholesterol and protecting the heart. In addition to this, they have been well documented to prevent breast, colon or prostate cancer. What’s also interesting is a previous study discovered evidence that a bowl of oatmeal and eating more whole-grain foods could lower an individual’s risk of death by as much as 15%. Consuming oats on a regular basis significantly reduces the numerous health concerns connected to decreased life expectancy such as high cholesterol, weight gain, and even auto-immune disease and heart disease, making it the perfect breakfast food for longer life.
Not to mention, have a maginitured of different synergistic combinations with fruit such as blueberries, strawberries, bananas and more. The possibilities are endless with oats and for this reason, you should try to incorporate this type of food more in your diet to help you live longer.
Mushrooms
Consuming mushrooms regularly is associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer which
Is in fact, the most common cause of cancer for women. Mushrooms contain ‘aromatase inhibitors’ which are used to help treat breast cancer. In particular, white and portobello mushrooms are especially protective against breast cancer due to their high supply of aromatase inhibitors in their genetic makeup. The additional benefits of mushrooms are that they are low calorie and a high source of fiber and protein so for those who are looking to lose weight or or generally improve their bodys functionality, mushrooms are the go-to choice.
Not to mention, mushrooms contain a super-high concentration of two antioxidants, ergothioneine and glutathione which, when these antioxidants are paired together, work extra-hard to protect the body from the physiological stress.
Final Point
While we have discussed 5 foods that can improve your health and potentially make you live longer, there are certain environmental characteristics you could change and adapt to help improve your overall health. In a climate where protective PPE is forever prevalent, making sure you are free from harmful bacteria is a necessary step you should consider. Equally, making sure you are still exercising the suggested 30 mins of moderate activity every day is recommended.