15 Eating Habits That Help You Live Longer

Around the world, certain people enjoy?extraordinary long lives. Take Pacific Islanders for an example ? their average life expectancy is 81 years. When you compare that to the United States, which currently stands at just 67, you can see why this is simply remarkable.

So is there anything we can do preserve our health and longevity? Well, more and more research is showing that good eating habits can actually add years to our lives. Of course some of us are just blessed with certain genes, but there are growing suggestions that healthy food choices are also an important factor. An article over at Huffington Post goes into more detail:

1. Get 95 Percent Of Your Food From Plants

Produce, whole grains and beans dominate meals all year long in each of the Blue Zones. People eat an impressive variety of vegetables when they are in season, and then pickle or dry the surplus. The best of the best longevity foods are leafy greens. In Ikaria, more than 75 varieties grow like weeds.

Studies found that middle-aged people who consumed the equivalent of a cup of cooked greens daily were half as likely to die in the next four years as those who ate no greens.

2. Consume Meat No More Than Twice A Week

Families in most of the Blue Zones enjoy meat sparingly, as a side or a way to flavor other dishes. Aim to limit your intake to 2 ounces or less of cooked meat (an amount smaller than a deck of cards) five times a month. And favor chicken, lamb or pork from family farms.

The meat in the Blue Zones comes from animals that graze or forage freely, which likely leads to higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids.

Getting an abundance of nutrients and vitamins is obviously vital to keeping our inner body healthy. Making just a few tweaks to your diet could potentially add years to your life in the long run?and, be honest, who doesn?t want that!