5 Foods That Might Help You Live Longer
Fish
We’ve always thought of fish as brain food—and for a good reason. Research shows that compounds in fish called carotenoids can protect against neurological diseases. (Just make sure to stay away from these 12 fish.) What’s more, the omega-3s in fatty fish like salmon keep your whole body young—a study from Ohio State University found that omega-3 supplementation significantly reduced inflammation, a condition linked to everything from allergies to cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s
Nuts
Good news nut lovers! Your favorite snack could be adding years to your life. Two studies from the Harvard School of Public Health both found that the more often people ate nuts, the lower their risk of dying young. Just make sure not to overdo it—too many nuts can actually be bad for you. The researchers suggest just a handful of nuts of any kind per day.
Whole grains
You already know white bread is pretty much devoid of nutrients, but did you know it’s cheating you out of extra years? Multiple studies have linked whole grain breads, pastas, and other baked goods with greater longevity. According to one study in JAMA Internal Medicine, each additional 1 oz serving of whole grains eaten correlated to a 5% lower overall mortality risk and a 9% lower risk of death from heart problems. So pay attention to your bread’s packaging. It should say 100% whole wheat.
Spicy foods
Break out the hot sauce: Research shows that eating spicy foods keeps you healthy longer. One study of more than 450,000 Chinese men and women showed that those who ate spicy foods 6 or 7 days a week had a 14% lower mortality risk than those who ate spicy food just once or less during a typical week. Want to boost the power of spicy food? Then give up the booze. The researchers also found that the relation between eating spicy food and living longer was stronger in those study participants who did not drink.
Seaweed
Here’s a good reason to have sushi tonight—and to order the seaweed salad: More than 1,000 studies have concluded that eating seaweed can suppress inflammation, boost your immune system, and slow the growth of cancer. A review of the studies is published in a report called The Japanese “Longevity” Dietary Constituent, which aims to explain why Japanese life expectancy is one of the highest in the world.