Eating foods in moderation and with a common sense approach to food choice might prove beneficial for our health and longevity.

‘Modern food survival’ can be difficult in a culture where we are bombarded with marketing towards foods which may not be entirely good for us – and a society where ‘fast food’ is all too much the normal in a fast paced lifestyle.

There are many good guidelines to follow out there with regards to eating healthier and potentially living longer. While some of them may be fairly extreme – others seem sensible. At least an approach of moderation between the supposed ‘good’ and the ‘bad’ is better than no approach at all.

I came across this list of 10 best and 10 worst foods for health and longevity:

I’m not a vegetarian, but at least choosing a variety of foods which are fairly well known to be good for us – combined with a conscious effort not to eat just the bad – is probably a good thing to do for one’s longevity and health.

I am often asked for my list of the best foods to eat — the foods that contain the most micronutrients, phytochemicals and other health-promoting compounds. People want to know which high-nutrient foods provide the keys to optimum health and longevity.

It is difficult to squeeze all the nutrient dense, health promoting foods into a list of the ten best. The foods on my list however, are the foods that I believe everyone should include in their diet on a regular basis. They strongly protect against cancer and favor longevity. They contain the most vitamins and minerals and powerful phytochemicals including allium compounds, glucosinolates, aromatase inhibitors, flavonoids and lignans.

–DrFuhrman.com

(We have no affiliation, but the advice seems sensible)

 

 

The 10 Best Foods For Health And Longevity

Green Leafy Vegetables
(e.g. kale, collard greens, mustard greens, spinach, lettuce)

Non-Leafy Cruciferous Vegetables
(e.g. broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage)

Berries

Beans

Mushrooms

Onions

Seeds
(e.g. flax, chia, hemp, sesame, sunflower, pumpkin)

Nuts
(e.g. walnuts, pistachios, pine nuts, almonds)

Tomatoes

Pomegranates

 

 

The 10 Worst Foods For Health And Longevity

Sweetened Dairy Products
(e.g. ice cream, low-fat icecream, frozen yogurt)

Trans Fat Containing Foods
(e.g. stick margarine, shortening, fast foods, commercial baked goods)

Donuts

Sausage, Hot Dogs, and Luncheon Meats

Smoked, Barbequed, and Conventionally Raised Red Meat

Fried Foods
including Potato Chips and French Fries

Highly-salted Foods

Soda

White Sugar

White Flour
Why is it that the ‘bad’ food tastes so good?!

In any event, many of us instinctively know (perhaps from an upbringing during an earlier time) that we should eat our vegetables. We should try and eat more unrefined plant foods and the fruits and vegetables that score highest on the nutrient density scale in terms of concentration of nutrients per calorie (like berries, cherries, and pomegranates).

Many of us also instinctively know that eating lots of refined processed foods and too much red meat is not the optimum diet for health and longevity.

Again, I’m of the opinion that a conscious effort to eat more greens coupled with a moderated approach to foods (like those on the ‘bad’ list) – is a good start for health and longevity.

How about this idea – come Spring time – grow a garden and eat ‘real’ food from it!

Source:Modernsurvivalblog.com