Do you want to live a long and healthy life? There are places around the world where many people live to be over 100 years old. These locations are called "Blue Zones." People who live in these areas have increased their life span and a big part of that longevity comes from what they eat. Dietitians have a few tips based on the lifestyles of those Blue Zone residents that could help you live to be a century old.
Registered dietitian Amy Goodson says to add more color to your meals. That means you will be adding lots of vegetables and fruits. That will add a variety of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants into your diet. She says " Each color of produce contains a different nutrient package."
Trista Best, a registered dietician thinks a plant-based diet is "one of the best dietary choices to love a life with greater quality and quantity." There are many benefits to this kind of lifestyle like better health, weight loss, diabetes prevention and even a reduced risk of cancer. She understands if you do not want to commit to that lifestyle and recommends trying the "flexitarian" diet. It allows you to still eat animal protein but in smaller quantities. This lifestyle still has you eating mostly vegetarian but can be a better option.
Goodson says to live by the 80/20 rule. She calls it "the best plan for the body and soul." She explains that the key to living long and happy is to have a balanced diet. If you follow her 80/20 rule you will be eating nutrient-rich foods 80% of the time and splurging on desserts and pleasure foods only 20% of the time.
Stop overeating! According to Dr. Rachel Paul, overeating leads to weight gain. You can over indulge in healthy foods as well. This can lead to diseases like diabetes and heart disease which can result in a premature death.
Make sure you eat more "brain candy!" Deep red foods like tomatoes and watermelon contain the antioxidant lycopene and leafy greens like spinach and kale are high in vitamins E and K. These can help prevent memory loss and reduce your "brain age."
Visit EatThis.com for more tips and details on how to live a long healthy life.