Living to 100 Possible by Eating good Food

It's quite common for many of us gain a few extra pounds as we grow older, but the best ever diet (for most folks) comes from life’s natural remedy, which is simply to put less in the mouth and get more exercise.

No secrets there of course, but many say that a ‘healthy diet’ is the answer to living longer. This means it’s not just about how much we feed ourselves, but more to do with what we feed ourselves on.

If any of the following foods are on your regular shopping list then you’re doing a great job in taking care of your health and general wellbeing: Fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts (in moderation) and just about any foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids. Actually, the list is endless but you get the idea.

Whoever said you have to be rich to live a long and healthy life? Well they got that wrong. Chinese longevity is one of the longest in the world, and it's simply down to hard work, and fresh foods. No costly creams or sauces, just good fresh, and mainly organic produce (especially in the rural areas),

Health and longevity is also impressive in another Far Eastern county. Japanese people are lean, fit, and healthy, and once again, their culture is one of hard work and healthy food, in their case, a diet of seafood dishes make much of the staple diet. If you really want to improve your average life expectancy and quality of life, you will do well to study the lifestyle on the people of China and Japan. You will soon realise that those old basics of good food and movement is the key.

Many nutrition experts are now convinced now that certain foods hold the key to living longer and healthier lives, foods such as eggs from free-range chickens, pecorino cheese, cold water fish, olives, garlic, and even red wine and other alcohols in moderation. These and many other food stuffs are hyped by some octogenarians as a solution to living longer, and should definitely be on your shopping list

Watch that portion! Yes size is very important! So many of us eat until we burst which puts untold pressure on the body’s digestive system. The smaller the portions, the better, and if you’re in a position to eat a little an often so much the better.

Smokers are not generally considered part of the longevity club and rarely outlive the non-smokers among us. In fact it is probably not possible to hear about any heavy smoker living to 100 plus. okay, enough said on the dangers of tobacco as I believe most of us are educated to a level now that we know about the hazards of nicotine addiction and why smoking cannot possibley contribute towards an early grave..

Social factors are also important. Faith in a higher power, good lifelong friends and happy family life all contribute to lessening life's work, burdens and everyday stresses and therefore play a role in living longer, healthier, and happier lifestyles.

If we could talk to all the active elderly folks around today, I think the one thing they would all share is that they are not procrastinators. An active lifestyle is so important to good health and wellbeing. Unfortunately, modern life chains so many of us behind those desks of technology, and seems to avert activity as we all tap keyboards, push buttons and automate as much as we possibly can so we can do a little as is manually necessary.

In a lot of the ancient and rural communities around the world, such as those in many Asian countries including Japan for example, people are living considerably longer than modern day city dwellers. They still enjoy the physical interaction with nature and are constantly doing things like fishing, or milking the animals, fixing fences, chopping timber, trimming foliage, roping animals, and cooking from raw ingredients.

For these people this is not an adventure or activity holiday, but something they do throughout their lives. It may sound exhausting to some of us, but, with all that fresh air, close nit family, good friendships, faith, and great range of organic foods, it’s no wonder they are living longer and more contented life styles than many in the urban jungles.

Having purpose or goals in life is also useful. In some cultures, elders are considered respected spiritual leaders. Sheltered accommodation or nursing homes are unheard of. In these rural districts, folks actually look forward to their old age knowing they have a permanent and valued place among lifetime friends amid the communities they love. Wouldn’t it be just wonderful if this were the case everywhere?

We can all do a number of things to better our chances of living longer. Diet and exercise are definitely under our control. So is finding purpose in our lives using prayer and meditation. Other things might include working with others to get what we need and want, and to build community by establishing lifelong friends, to open up and share our fears and insecurities with those close to us, as well as our resources. The time to start living a long, healthy life is right here right now.

We are what we eat, as the saying goes! The time has come where our family should eat food for their health, their wellbeing and to living longer and happier lives!

SUPER FOODS FOR HUMAN HEALTH

Over the coming weeks we are going to be researching some of the so called super foods. That is foods which claim to be packed with everything that is good, and nothing that is bad. Cancer preventing antioxidants will play a big part in which foods we cover. To start this mini series, let us start with the humble cucumber:

Cucumbers – Why are cucumbers good for us?

The cool cucumber is low in calories and also carbohydrates. It is totally fat free, and salt free but that's not all. A cucumber is also cholesterol free and gluten free too. Cucumbers are an excellent source of those much needed vitamins and minerals. A cucumber a day can will yield skin, antioxidant, and ant diabetic benefits, and this short paragraph is just an introduction into this wonder food.

Nutritive Values : Per 100 gm.

Almonds Nuts (actually a seed)

So how can almonds be considered in the list of Super foods with their high fat and calorie content? Well, almonds in their natural state contain what are called 'good fats' or monosaturated fats. These fats can actually lower cholesterol levels and thus reduce the risk of heart attack. But that's not all. Almonds are jam-packed full of important minerals. What else? An ounce of almonds per day (about 22 seeds), provide around 50% of our daily intake of the Vitamin B6.

People who eat a controlled amount of almonds daily actually do better at weight loss than weight gain despite the fat content.  Almonds are also said to help prevent diseases such as type 2 diabetes and others. The list of benefits literally goes on and on.

Beautiful Brazil Nuts

Although we've included Brazil nuts here, most 'raw' nuts are good for us, although some are packed with a bit more goodness than others. Brazil nuts, along with many other types, are little bundles of nutritious energy. They are packed with essential minerals, vitamins, and fibre. Again, a small handful of nuts daily will not put weight on anyone when taken in moderation (1 oz is a suggested amount). In fact they actually reduce food cravings.

What's more, apart from giving you a boost of energy, taken as part of your daily diet, Brazil nuts, walnuts, and almonds in particular, can help to reduce the much dreaded heart disease. In addition, Brazil nuts are said to be one of the few good sources of selenium which could help the body protect against illnesses and conditions such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease and depression.

Tea - wonderful tea

The Brits swear by it and it's used for just about everything. Even if someone has just died the Brits would say something along the lines of, 'Never mind, have a nice cup of tea and you'll feel a lot better', and guess what, they usually do. But comfort aside, this super-drink is full of an antioxidant known as catechins. Catechins are said to help prevent blood clotting and heat disease. There are numerous other health benefits in tea both mentally and physically.

Bananas - Quashing the Myths

There's a bit of a myth going around that bananas are fattening. There's another myth that they are bad for you. Bananas, like most other fruits, are full of goodness, and it is only when they are not consumed in moderation that the health benefits become void. So what are the benefits of this popular fruit? Well, in brief they are full of potassium. Potassium helps lower blood pressure. Bananas are also jam-packed with the vitamin B6. B6 is good for maintaining healthy skin and healthy hair.

Yogurt

So why is yogurt categorised as a super food? Well, to begin with it's a source of calcium that's easily absorbed by the body. It also assists the health of the large intestine and gives relief against gastrointestinal upsets. Yogurt also has within it what is known as friendly bacteria and that fights any harmful bacteria in the body. These are just the best know benefits of yogurt but there are more.

Did you know that overeating actually kills more people around the world than starvation? Not only overeating, but also eating all the wrong kinds of foods. So granny was right when she saod that we are what we eat? Eating well is fundamental to general health and wellbeing.