Eat to Live Longer

by: AndreaDow
Total views: 671
Word Count: 372

Tuesday, April 24th

According to a new book called The Bonus Years Diet, there are seven foods we should be consuming to increase our life expectancy. Yummy foods like nuts, fruits, vegetables, garlic, fish, dark chocolate (yes!) and a daily glass of red wine could helps us prevent heart disease, stroke and kidney problems. After a report was published in the British Medical Journal about a medical "cocktail" (hypothetical, of course) consisting of folic acid, aspirin, a statin and blood pressure lowering drugs that could help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, Dr. Oscar H Franco took note. He and his colleagues started researching how foods that could provide the same benefits as these drugs. Dr. Ralph Feder, a master chef, has taken the research from Dr. Franco to the kitchen and created this book for consumers. By following the principles of this book, the average life expectancy can increase by 6.6 years for men and up to 4.8 years for women.

Writer Christie Aschwaden summarizes examples of the proper food dosages of these seven "bonus" foods. The book is full of recipes and 30 days of menus to get your started on how to add more nutritious foods to your diet.

1. Nuts: Sprinkle 2 oz on your salad, cereal, yogurt or mix into your baked goods batter to reduce your LDL cholesterol by 14%.
2. Fruits and Veggies: Eat five 3/4 cup servings every day to cut your risk of heart disease, cancer and blood pressure.
3. Fish: Go for 3 servings per week unless you are of childbearing age or a young child. The last two populations should aim for 2 servings a week and be sure to avoid swordfish, albacore tuna and shark. Simply eating fish can cut your risk of heart disease and stroke by 14%.
4. Dark Chocolate: 2 oz of chocolate with a 60% cocoa content can cut your heart disease risk by 11%.
5. Garlic: Adding 1 little clove to pasta, salad, stir-fry or soup daily and cut your risk of heart disease and stroke by 38%.
6. Wine: Swirl, sip and savor 5 oz of wine every night to cut heart disease risk by 32%.

Rating: 3.33