One of the secrets of longevity, aside from having good genetics, is to eat a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables. They are full of nutrients and antioxidants that help ward off disease, and the more diverse your choices, the better; you want to eat a wide variety of them. Even so, there are a few key choices if you’re looking for maximum longevity, according to the February ’13 Prevention, foods:
Grapefruit: “A 2010 study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Massachusetts General Hospital found that naringenin [the antioxidant that gives grapefruit its bitter taste] can help the liver break down fat acids the way some diabetes drugs do.”
Cranberries: Specific nutrients in this fruit can protect you from infections, reduce the risk of heart disease—plaque buildup in arteries—and prevent some cancers.
Garlic: The allicin in garlic has been shown to lower blood pressure. Plus, garlic has been shown to help prevent certain types of cancer.
Coffee: It’s loaded with polyphenols, which have been shown to offer myriad health benefits. “A recent study looking at more than 400,000 people found that drinking coffee daily (up to five cups) was associated with less risk of dying of health problems such as diabetes, heart disease or infections.”
—Steve Holman
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