5 Foods to Help You Live Longer

Foods for Long Life

It’s no secret that people are living longer now than they were even 50 years ago. In 2018, the average life expectancy for an adult in the U.S. is around 78.7 years old. But if you’re old, frail, and in poor health, living longer isn’t exactly a cakewalk.

Is there anything you can do to live longer and stay healthy as you age? Regular exercise and healthy lifestyle habits will make a difference. So will your diet. Take a look at places around the world where people live the longest, and you'll see they all have five foods in common.

Want to know what they are? These nutrient-dense foods can help you fight aging:

1. Soybeans

Soybeans, edamame, and tofu are popular in Asian foods. They’re low in calories but high in antioxidants that can help prevent cancer. And the availability of soy-based foods is growing rapidly. We even use soy in some of our meals like Honey Garlic Sesame Chicken Breast Over Lo-Mein Noodles, Snap Pea Stir Fry and Pork Pot Stickers with Stir-Fry Vegetables and Chicken Fried Brown Rice.

2. Carrots

Raw, cooked, baked, or added to soup or a smoothie. Those are all ways you can enjoy carrots and reap the benefits of this root vegetable. Carrots contain beta carotene, which your body converts to vitamin A and uses to support your immune system, eyesight, and other systems. Carrots are also a good source of antioxidants.

You’ll find carrots in some of our Senior-Friendly meals like Swiss Style Beef Patty with Mashed Potatoes, Carrots, & Cabbage, Tilapia with Miso Ginger, Black Beans, Rice with Peas & Carrots , Whole Grain Spaghetti And Beef Meatballs, Broccoli, Zucchini & Carrots, and many others.

3. Cruciferous Vegetables

Most of your leafy-green vegetables fall into this category like broccoli, collard greens, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and kale.

So what makes cruciferous vegetables so good for you?

They’re low in calories and high in nutrients. Are you beginning to see a pattern here of the types of foods that promote health, prevent disease, and help you live longer?

Cruciferous vegetables are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that help fight the negative effects of inflammation, ward off harmful bacteria, help prevent certain types of cancer, improve brain function, support heart health, aid in weight loss and weight management, and improve digestion.

You’ll find cruciferous vegetables on our menu in meals like Apple Glazed Pork & Sweet Potato Hash over Braised Cabbage with Raisins, Diced Beef Stroganoff with Rotini Pasta, Broccoli & Mixed Vegetables, Swiss Style Beef Patty with Mashed Potatoes, Carrots &Cabbage, and many others.

4. Salmon

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends eating fish twice a week. It’s a good source of omega-3 fatty acids your body needs to keep your eyes healthy, support brain function, and protect your heart.

Our tasty and easy-to-prepare salmon dishes include Mesquite Smoked Salmon Cake over Brown Rice with Grilled Pineapple, Black Beans & Corn, Salmon Vegetable Linguini, and Salmon Caponata with Orzo & Spinach, which happens to be one of our best-selling Senior meals.

5. Citrus Fruit

There’s at least one more type of food to add to the list to improve your health and slow the aging process. Citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruit, lemons and limes. These fruits are packed with vitamin C, antioxidants, flavonoids, and other nutrients that help prevent inflammation, support the immune system, prevent certain types of cancer, and help control weight.

Have some citrus fruit as a snack or on the side with a Senior-Friendly meal.