Diets for longevity
Look young and live longer is the new age mantra. We often wonder what to eat and drink and what could be done for longevity. Key is having the right diets along with taking care of your energy requirements and maintaining proper hormonal balance.
Healthy Diet
Taking diets rich in essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients that reduce extreme damage to our cells caused by sun and pollution, avoiding foods high in cholesterol levels, saturated and trans fats that are linked to heart diseases ,reducing salt intakes that can otherwise cause improper blood pressure ,having low- cal diets that don’t add on to the already piling up pounds is the need of the day. A diet rich in antioxidants make sure that our cells remain intact. Having 4 to 5 servings of fresh brightly hued fruits and vegetables rich in phytochemicals and vital nutrients can in fact give us an extra eight to ten years.
Water
Drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water per day should be developed as a habit if you wish longevity. Water Keeps the skin looking younger, energy levels high and lowers cholesterol levels which are extremely important for maintaining good health. It helps fiber puff up foods like oats, whole grains, pulses, vegetables and fruits, helps lower extra fat content in the body and most importantly digests the foods in the body quicker and absorbs essential nutrients.
Energy Requirements
Our days are usually filled with a lot of activity which require huge amounts of energy to keep us going and not feel any fatigue. Giving the body its due energy requirements is necessary for longevity .You can’t be possibly leading a tired and exhausted life. Energy requirements depend on age, gender and levels of physical activity. Right amounts of proteins, carbs , mono and poly saturated fats must be fed to the body. Develop a taste for a variety of foods that have varied nutrients. Eat high energy diets and drink sufficient amount of water.
Hormones
- Longevity hugely depends on the activity of hormones in our body .Perfect hormonal balance makes you feel energetic, feel and look great. They influence the aging process in the body.
- Estrogen hormone maintains skin elasticity and thickness, lessens menopausal complaints in women.
- Natural progesterone present prevents blood clots, helps breakdown fat and cholesterol there by reducing the risk of diabetes and heart diseases.
- Studies have shown that low testosterone levels in the body results in abdominal fats which in turn leads to cardiovascular diseases which effects longevity. Balanced testosterone levels on the other hand slow down age related loss of bones, muscle, insomnia and fatigue. It primarily helps fight against osteoporosis usually found in women post menopause.
- Increased adrenal hormones increases immune system damage, high blood pressure and heart diseases.
- High Insulin levels are not just associated with diabetes; it also impairs immunity, causes arthritis, high blood pressure, and increase in cholesterol levels.
- Balanced thyroid secretions protects youthfulness and improves skin and hair.
So it’s extremely important to maintain hormonal balance for longevity and better health. Enough nutrients, natural hormone replacement, exercise, and vitamins and mineral supplements are vital for longevity.