Aging. It happens to everyone, yet few of us are truly comfortable with getting older. While no single food will add years to your life, eating a balanced, nutrient-dense diet filled with fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants can help you stay on top of your health and look and feel your best year after year. But could supplements also help extend your life and improve your healthspan?
Here’s what science has to say about foods and supplements that can increase longevity and keep you looking (and feeling) youthful. But before we get started, let’s first examine what longevity and healthspan mean so we can better understand how nutrition plays a role.
Healthspan and longevity definition
According to experts, longevity describes the ability to live a long life beyond the average lifespan, whereas healthspan is defined as the length of time that someone is healthy—not just alive [1]. As such, these two terms are often associated with living a long and healthy life, free from diseases, and maintaining physical and mental well-being.
Personalized longevity supplements with Elo Health
Your longevity relies on much more than just good genetics– the right nutrition also plays an important role in improving your healthspan.
At Elo Health, we offer 1:1 dietitian support with our Elo Health coaches so you can stay accountable, reach your health and fitness goals, and better understand your health. For example, if you’re looking to improve your healthspan, your health coach can create a health plan for you and will be able to work with you on topics like stress management, sleep, weight loss, energy, and more.
Elo also provides personalized Smart Gummies to match your unique nutrition needs. These 7-layer daily gummy supplements are 3D-printed and are based on your health goals, dietary preferences, and biomarkers to deliver a gummy custom-made for you. After all, your nutrition needs are unique, and your supplement plan should be, too.
Get your custom gummies today!
Learn more about the best science-backed supplements to include in your longevity health plan.
The best foods to improve your healthspan
Studies continue to show that what you put on your fork can make a significant impact on your healthspan and longevity. But in addition to longevity supplements, what else can you do to improve the odds of reaching triple digits?
To answer this question, we have turned to science to unveil the best anti-aging foods. From curcumin to magnesium, here are some of the best foods to consider adding to your diet.
Nuts
Whether you enjoy cashews, walnuts, or almonds, these nutrient-dense morsels are packed with healthy fats, protein, and fiber, which promote heart health, satiety, and laxation. Eating nuts regularly has been shown to reduce the risk of obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease - the latter of which is the leading cause of death in adults in the United States [2].
In addition, recent evidence has shown that consuming an additional 5 g of nuts/day is associated with 6% and 25% lower risks of pancreatic and colon cancers, respectively, and a 4% lower risk of overall cancer mortality [3].
And while nuts, in general, have a variety of longevity benefits, we can take a closer look at a few different nuts to see what they have to offer.
For example, almonds have been shown to improve glycemic control and insulin resistance, raise HDL (“good”) cholesterol, and support weight loss [2,4]. Walnuts provide similar benefits and contain omega-3 fatty acids, which help fight inflammation, support cognition, and promote heart health [2].
To reap these health benefits, enjoy nuts raw or roasted, blended into nut butter, or sprinkled on cereal for a crunchy, nutritious snack.
Berries
Don’t be shy about eating the rainbow. Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and cranberries are powerful nutrient gems that are low in calories and rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other bioactive compounds to fight inflammation [5,6].
Emerging evidence further suggests that the bioactive compounds in berries help protect against chronic diseases (such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, and other disorders) and improve your healthspan [6].
Other health benefits include:
Vitamin C (found in blueberries and strawberries) can regulate collagen development, helps skin remain firm, and may decrease skin wrinkling [5,6,7]. Conversely, reduced collagen production can result in saggy skin and increased wrinkles [8].
Positive impact on insulin sensitivity, oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers [6].
Decreased systolic blood pressure (found with increased strawberry consumption) [6].
Get vitamin C in your Elo Smart Gummies.
Cruciferous vegetables
Broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, kale, and cabbage are all members of the cruciferous vegetable family, a class of veggies that may help protect against various chronic diseases.
Sulforaphane is present in broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower and has been shown to have antioxidant and antitumor properties [9]. Several observational studies have demonstrated an inverse relationship between cruciferous vegetable consumption and cardiovascular disease [10]. In addition, research indicates that high intakes of cruciferous vegetables may help reduce your risk of colorectal and gastric cancers by as much as 8% and 19%, respectively [11].
So, go ahead and get cooking with cruciferous veggies to promote longevity. From soups and salads to stir-fries and smoothies, there are dozens of tasty options to include on your menu.
Whole grains
Studies have found a correlation between fiber consumption and all-cause mortality, as a high-fiber diet is associated with lower concentrations of serum inflammatory biomarkers [12]. Research also shows that soluble fiber also helps reduce total and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels, as it binds to cholesterol particles in the intestine and prevents them from entering the bloodstream [13].
For heart health benefits, aim to eat 30-40 g of fiber-rich foods per day, 5-10 g of which should come from soluble fiber [13]. Studies have found that soluble fiber (found in oats, beans, and barley) can help reduce your risk of heart disease by absorbing cholesterol in the GI tract and lowering total and LDL cholesterol levels by 5-10% [14].
Learn more about how to reduce your LDL cholesterol levels without medication here.
Avocados
Avocados are packed with fiber, monounsaturated fatty acids, vitamins K and E, potassium, and magnesium, all of which support cardiovascular health, weight management, and healthy aging [15].
Furthermore, studies have shown that eating avocados can help lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, improve glycemic control, and reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome, making them a delicious option to increase longevity and promote youthfulness [16,17,18].
Get vitamin E in your Elo Smart Gummies.
Beans and legumes
Beans and legumes (such as chickpeas, lentils, kidney beans, and black beans) are nutrient powerhouses that may help protect against colon cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, all of which can contribute to increased mortality [19]. Studies also show that beans and legumes can lower cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure (all of which benefit heart health), increase insulin sensitivity and lower HbA1c (which provide anti-diabetes effects), and positively impact gut health by increasing microbiome diversity and reducing inflammation [19].
You can enjoy these little morsels in soups, stews, salads, skillets, and even desserts.
Summary
As you age, it’s important to pay closer attention to nutrients that promote a long, healthful life. Eating a balanced, nutrient-dense diet filled with nuts, berries, cruciferous vegetables, whole grains, beans, and avocados can help you offset your risk of chronic disease, manage weight, boost skin health, and prevent nutrient deficiencies.
Disclaimer: The text, images, videos, and other media on this page are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended to treat, diagnose, or replace personalized medical care.
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Issue 13: The science of longevity
Foolproof tips and tricks for taking supplements