Life is short.
It’s a phrase that is so often repeated that it’s easy to ignore. However, it is absolutely true. In the hustle and bustle of daily life, we sometimes forget to notice how quickly time is passing.
If you’re looking toward your next birthday with an impending sense of dread, it’s time for a mindset switch! However, if you’re looking to take steps toward increasing your health and longevity, we’ve put together a list of some simple diet switches to get you on the right track.
Meat Free Mondays
Many people have adopted the practice of avoiding meat and other animal products for one day a week. While there are some great environmental and ethical benefits to doing so, reducing your meat intake can take your health game to the next level.
One of the main contributors to health problems like heart disease is high levels of cholesterol. High cholesterol levels can create fatty deposits in your arteries, leading to potentially fatal heart attacks or strokes.
Plants are naturally cholesterol-free. Replacing some of your meat-based meals with vegetarian or vegan options is an easy way to lower cholesterol, without sacrificing taste.
Turmeric and Black Pepper
Turmeric has been a popular ingredient in the wellness world for some time now. However, many people don’t know that it becomes more effective when combined with black pepper.
Turmeric contains a powerful compound called curcumin. Curcumin is great for fighting inflammation. Chronic inflammation can cause serious health problems, such as permanent organ and tissue damage. While curcumin is an excellent anti-inflammatory, it is also very difficult for the body to absorb.
Black pepper, however, contains piperine which can help assist the body in curcumin absorption. Adding these ingredients into everyday foods like curries, meats, or eggs is an easy way to add a boost of health to any meal.
Eat Your Beans!
On the surface, beans might not look like the powerhouses they are. However, they’ve been a staple food in cultures throughout the world, for a reason. Not only are they affordable, but they are packed with health benefits.
Perhaps most notably, they have been shown to help stabilize blood glucose levels. This is due to the fact that they are high in fiber. This stabilizing effect can be particularly helpful for diabetics, or those with a family history of diabetes.
Be sure to combine your beans with other foods such as rice or nuts, to create a complete protein.
Pick a High-Quality Olive Oil
Low-fat meal plans have reigned supreme in diet culture, over the past few decades. But the truth is, our bodies need fats, just as they need carbs and proteins. Cutting out any one group can result in poor nutrition and low satiety levels.
The trick is to ensure that your fats are coming from quality sources. One of the easiest ways to do so is to purchase high-quality olive oil.
A staple in most kitchens, olive oil is easy to add to your daily meal plan. It is also a great food to help combat aging. Research has indicated that olive oil can help slow the shortening of telomeres, which are a part of the DNA structure. Telomeres naturally shorten with age, but olive oil may help delay the process.
Drink Green Tea
Green tea has long been celebrated for its powerful antioxidants. But, it has even more benefits than you might think.
The antioxidants make it a powerful weapon against cancer, and studies have also shown that people who drink green tea regularly have a reduced risk of heart problems, such as heart attacks or strokes.
For an extra health boost, be sure to choose loose leaf tea, or tea packaged in biodegradable materials, instead of plastic tea bags.
Do you incorporate any of these practices into your meal plans? Let us know what has worked best for you in the comments below?
