What Foods do the Healthy, Long-lived Elderly People in the World Like to Eat?

Research has found that living a long and healthy life is related to daily diet and living habits. Olive oil, garlic, ginger, avocado, seaweed and fennel are all longevity foods preferred by healthy seniors. Continuous exercise and a life of love are also the only ways to live longer.

TAIPEI, TAIWAN (Merxwire) – Do you want to become a “super centenarian”? Some people may be a little hesitant about this question because they are not sure whether their physical condition can maintain health after old age so that they can face the last 10 years of life with vigor. Research has found that supercentenarians who can live healthily to over 110 years old have some common lifestyles, which are also related to their daily eating habits.

According to statistics, the oldest people in the world mainly live in the following regions, including Ikaria in Greece, Okinawad in Japan, Ogliastra Region in Sardinia, Italy, Loma Linda in California, and Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica. These five longevity areas are called The Blue Zones by American health best-selling author Dan Buettner.

Putting aside the idea that genes determine lifespan, experts believe that the food and lifestyle we choose have a huge impact on health and allow these centenarians to maintain a longer healthy age. These healthy long-lived elderly people have almost no chronic or major diseases related to aging, such as diabetes, dementia or autoimmune diseases. There are many elderly people who still maintain good mobility and clear thinking, and have indeed achieved the ideal goal of healthy aging.

Take a look at what residents in blue zones eat to stay healthy. Greek favorite macrobiotic foods are garlic and olives. Garlic has strong healing and antibacterial power, can regulate blood pressure and cholesterol levels in the body, and prevent blood clots and cancer. The high content of sulfur compounds in it gives it a unique smell and increases its medicinal value. Garlic is considered an excellent natural antibiotic because of its allicin content, which can inhibit the growth of microorganisms.

Olives are one of the staple foods of Mediterranean residents. The oleic acid and phenols in olives can regulate cholesterol. Olive oil contains more squalene, which has natural protective power and can soothe inflammation, reduce the damage caused by chemotherapy, and reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Therefore, residents of Greece and the Mediterranean generation generally have lower rates of cancer and cardiovascular disease and longer life expectancy.

The longevity foods commonly eaten in Okinawa are seaweed and ginger. Seaweed contains many active ingredients and polysaccharides that are only found in marine plants. Research has proven that it can help prevent cancer and some chronic diseases, such as breast cancer caused by estrogen problems in premenopausal women. Seaweed also contains unsaturated fatty acids such as DHA and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, both of which have cardiovascular protective functions.

Ginger is often used as a natural flavoring in cooking and as a tea. It is a warming ingredient commonly used in dietary supplements by Orientals, which can add flavor and improve nutritional value. Its medicinal properties are mainly used to soothe inflammation, reduce the risk of cancer, and regulate blood pressure and cholesterol. Among them, gingerol, shogaol and parazingerone can promote health, resist aging and cancer, and maintain normal body functions.

The longevity foods favored by the residents of Sardinia, Italy include fennel, dandelion and sardines. Fennel, which represents immortality and longevity in Greek mythology, is an anti-inflammatory ingredient and a natural healing herb used to support the digestive system. It can slow down the body’s oxidation rate, regulate the ratio of good and bad cholesterol, maintain cardiovascular health and reduce the risk of disease.

Dandelion is rich in nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, and polyphenols. Its high antioxidant power is the holy herb of anti-aging and anti-cancer. It is also often used to nourish the liver, detoxify, and remove toxins from the body. Sardines contain nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, vitamin B12, and selenium, which can fight inflammation, increase the ratio of good cholesterol, and prevent cardiovascular disease.

Avocados and spirulina are the favorite longevity foods of residents in Loma Linda ​​California. Avocados contain vitamin B complex, C, K, E, lutein, potassium, magnesium, choline, phytosterols, and high-quality fats. Therefore, it can resist oxidation, reduce DNA damage, fight body and skin aging, and maintain cholesterol levels and healthy weight. Spirulina contains phycocyanin, iodine, magnesium, folic acid, and beta-carotenoids, which help fight oxidation in the body, prevent cancer, and regulate immune function.

Famous longevity foods in Costa Rica are coconut and cocoa. The edible parts of coconut include coconut meat, coconut water, and coconut oil, which contain a variety of nutrients and health benefits. Coconut meat is rich in saturated fat medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), which can be refined into coconut oil. After being absorbed by the body, it can be converted into ketones that are beneficial to the brain. The polyphenols and flavonoids in it have antioxidant, anti-cancer, and lowering bad cholesterol levels. Coconut water contains vitamin B, vitamin C, enzymes, and amino acids, which can replenish vitality, promote metabolism, aid digestion, and enhance immunity.

There are about 380 active ingredients in cocoa, including rich minerals such as calcium, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc, and higher levels of polyphenols than green tea and red wine. Considered a natural antioxidant, it can reduce the risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. It can also increase the content of good cholesterol, reduce bad cholesterol in the body, and maintain normal blood pressure and blood sugar.

In addition to consuming these anti-inflammatory foods rich in antioxidant nutrients, these healthy centenarians share some common lifestyle habits, such as living a life they love and have a purpose in mind, and never truly retiring. Continue regular exercise and work, such as cycling, jogging, and working on the farm and garden. With an attitude of love and gratitude, and knowing how to share and release stress, it will reduce inflammation in the body and maintain health. As long as you eat the right food and maintain good living habits, you have a chance to become a happy and healthy supercentenarian.