It's most likely your favorite oatmeal topping!
It's not just about losing weight when it comes to eating well and exercising. Indeed, these are crucial components of keeping your body fit and happy so that you can live a longer life, and who wouldn't like to add a few years to their life? While a well-balanced diet and regular exercise will help you add years to your life, there are a few items you may eat to increase your chances of living a longer life. Berries are one of the most popular — and sweetest — foods you can consume. Blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries are high in antioxidants, which have been scientifically proven to extend your life by a few years.
Here's why you should include berries in your diet daily if you want to live a longer life.
Why do berries make you live longer?
Let's start with why antioxidants are so vital. According to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, antioxidants help defend your cells against free radicals, which are the source of chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease. These free radicals typically generate oxidative stress in your body, harming those vital cells and leading to ailments like Alzheimer's, asthma, hypertension, arthritis, and others. Including antioxidant-rich foods in your diet is a great strategy to keep those free radicals at bay and reduce your risk. Fruits and vegetables and other dark chocolate, mushrooms, and walnuts are all on the list.
Does this imply that any of these antioxidant-rich meals can help you live longer? They certainly assist! In a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, berries and pomegranates were chosen as one of the top sources of antioxidant intake for your body out of 25 antioxidant-rich foods. Berries are an easy way to add antioxidants to your diet, especially since they make great toppings for some of your favorite breakfast items, such as oatmeal, yogurt, and smoothies.
Is there a berry that is regarded as the best?
If you compare the antioxidant levels of other berries, you'll be surprised to learn that blueberries are the best berry to eat in terms of antioxidant levels and longevity. Blueberries were found to lower "bad" LDL cholesterol levels in obese persons by 27 percent in 8-week research published in the Journal of Nutrition! This is because blueberries contain polyphenols, which are particularly beneficial to cardiovascular health. These polyphenols have also been shown to reduce the effects of cell aging in the journal Nutrients.
Regardless of the berry variety you prefer, berries have a high fiber content compared to other fruits and are a good source of vitamin C for the day. A cup of mixed berries is an excellent method to guarantee that your body receives the vitamins and nutrients required to live a longer life.