WebMD Feature from "EatingWell"By Peter JaretSecrets of long life from around the world
1: Olive oil. Four decades ago, researchers from the Seven Countries Study concludedthat the monounsaturated fats in olive oil were largely responsiblefor the low rates of heart disease and cancer on the Greek island ofCrete. Now we know that olive oil also contains polyphenols, powerfulantioxidants that may help prevent age-related diseases.
2: Yogurt. In the 1970s, Soviet Georgia was rumored to have more centenarians percapita than any other country. Reports at the time claimed that thesecret of their long lives was yogurt, a food ubiquitous in theirdiets. While the age-defying powers of yogurt never have been proveddirectly, yogurt is rich in calcium, which helps stave offosteoporosis and contains "good bacteria" that help maintain guthealth and diminish the incidence of age-related intestinal illness.
3: Fish. Thirty years ago, researchers began to study why the native Inuits ofAlaska were remarkably free of heart disease. The reason, scientistsnow think, is the extraordinary amount of fish they consume. Fish isan abundant source of omega-3 fats, which help prevent cholesterol buildup in arteries and protect against abnormal heart rhythms.
4: Chocolate. The Kuna people of the San Blas islands, off the coast of Panama, havea rate of heart disease that is nine times less than that of mainlandPanamanians. The reason? The Kuna drink plenty of a beverage made with generous proportions of cocoa, which is unusually rich in flavanolsthat help preserve the healthy function of blood vessels. Maintaining youthful blood vessels lowers risk of high blood pressure, type 2diabetes, kidney disease and dementia.
5: Nuts. Studies of Seventh-Day Adventists (a religious denomination that emphasizes healthy living and a vegetarian diet) show that those whoeat nuts gain, on average, an extra two and a half years. Nuts arerich sources of unsaturated fats, so they offer benefits similar tothose associated with olive oil. They're also concentrated sources of vitamins, minerals and other phytochemicals, including antioxidants.
6: Wine. Drinking alcohol in moderation protects against heart disease,diabetes and age-related memory loss. Any kind of alcoholic beverageseems to provide such benefits, but red wine has been the focus ofmuch of the research. Red wine contains resveratrol, a compound that likely contributes to its benefits--and, according to animal studies,may activate genes that slow cellular aging.
7: Blueberries. In a landmark study published in 1999, researchers at Tufts University's Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging fed rats blueberry extract for a period of time that in "rat lives" is equivalent to 10 human years. These rats outperformed rats fed regular chow on tests of balance and coordination when they reached old age.Compounds in blueberries (and other berries) mitigate inflammation and oxidative damage, which are associated with age-related deficits inmemory and motor function.
Originally published on November 1, 2007(c) 2007 Eating Well Media Group
