A diet that can shorten life

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Many factors have been linked to longevity, including fad diets and regular exercise. However, a simple change in diet may be enough to extend life and improve its quality. You need to eat less processed foods.

The easiest way to determine the quality of a product is to look at its composition. If more than two ingredients are listed, it is most likely a processed food. For example, this would include deli meats that contain preservatives and flavorings.

Also, among the common processed foods are soda (diet and regular), bottled coffee drinks, energy drinks, and flavored milk. The more ingredients listed on the package, the more likely the product is processed.

Most likely, this category of food will contain components that can negatively affect health. These are sugar, chemical ingredients, preservatives, flavor enhancers, food dyes and additives. In a small amount, they will not harm, but when there are a lot of such products, it begins to affect the quality of life. Moreover, many valuable substances are often lost during processing.

Processed foods are often devoid of nutrients. Instead, they contain a long list of additives, including oils, fats, sugars, starches, protein isolates, flavors, colors, emulsifiers. They are also often cheap to produce, convenient for consumers and can be stored on the shelf for years.

At the European and International Conference on Obesity, a study was presented based on the results of the analysis of the diet of 886 people and the length of telomeres – the end sections of chromosomes that protect them from degradation. It turned out that ultra-processed foods accelerate the aging of cells. The results of the study were published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

It is best to choose products as close as possible to their original state. For example, fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and meat. Eating more foods in their natural state leads to a higher intake of essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber and a lower intake of questionable ingredients. Yes, a plate of cereal for breakfast can be replaced with oatmeal, and pasta for dinner with pumpkin.