We spend so
much of our time trying to avoid foods that are supposed to be bad for
us.
But it may be just as or even more beneficial to put foods in our diet
that may help us to lead healthier and potentially longer lives.
As the citizens of Crete have shown, you can eat a high-fat diet, but
still have low rates of heart disease. What can possibly account for
that?
Although I won’t name the specific studies here, there are a number
that have shown these 3 foods to be some of the best if you want to
live a longer life:
1. Cabbage
Cabbage is believed to boost immune function as well as decrease the
risk of cancer, especially colon cancer.
If you don’t like cooked cabbage, you can eat coleslaw or shred raw
cabbage on your salad. You should eat some of your cabbage raw anyway
because cooking can reduce some of the health benefits.
An old folk remedy for treating ulcers is to drink cabbage juice. But
make sure you talk to your doctor first. Especially if you take
antiseizure or thyroid drugs. Because cabbage doesn’t mix well with
those medications and can cause adverse consequences.
2. Olive Oil
In Crete, a small island near Greece, the citizens have one of the
longest life expectancies in the world. They also have some of the
lowest rates of heart disease and cancer.
But as I said earlier, this occurs even though they eat high-fat diets.
So maybe high-fat diets don’t cause heart disease after all. Or maybe
putting the right foods in our diets can offset the bad effects of high
fat. After all, the French also have high-fat diets and low rates of
heart disease.
Some researchers believe the large amount of olive oil consumed by the
Cretans is responsible for their good health. But choose extra virgin
olive oil for best results.
Olive oil is believed to raise HDL cholesterol (the good one), reduce
LDL cholesterol (the bad one), and decrease the chance of clots and
blockages. It also may lower blood pressure.
Be careful, though. Olive oil may have a slight laxative effect.
3. Yogurt
You need to eat yogurt that contains “active cultures.” Acidophilus is
considered to be one of the most healthy cultures, so check the label
to see if your yogurt contains acidophilus.
If eaten regularly, yogurt may decrease your chances of getting colon
cancer. It also may make you more resistant to dysentery, an intestinal
illness, and the flu.
Also, if you’ve been on an antibiotic for a while, yogurt can help to
rebalance the good and bad bacteria in your colon. That’s the reason it
can have a laxative effective, but still relieve diarrhea.
Yogurt may also boost your immune system, kill certain bacteria, and
decrease your cholesterol.
And if that’s not enough, yogurt may help to prevent ulcers.
It’s also an excellent source of calcium and protein.
Important Disclaimer:
This information is provided for educational purposes only. It’s not
medical advice and it’s not a substitute for any advice or treatment
from your physician. Always see your physician for the diagnosis and
treatment of any disease or medical condition.