Fountain of Youth? What You Eat Can Make a Difference

Best Foods for Long Life

Remember the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León? He went in search of the Fountain of Youth? People believed there was a magical fountain of water that could make you live forever. But check your history books, and you'll remember how that turned out. There isn't one.

But that hasn't stopped people from looking for one. In fact, researchers believe they have uncovered a link to diet and living longer.

In a lab-controlled study at the University of Colorado - Boulder, researchers wanted to find out if gut health and what you eat has an impact on your health as you age. What they found might surprise you.

Eating foods that cause inflammation (namely unhealthy foods like fast food, sugary drinks, white bread, and unhealthy snacks), damage gut health. And when that happens, your gut begins producing metabolites that slowly damage veins and blood vessels throughout the body. Researchers believe it's one contributing factor to heart disease being the leading cause of death in the United States.

In other words, the typical American diet isn't exactly healthy. So what should you be eating to keep your gut happy as you age? Foods that promote gut health like yogurt, kimchi and kefir. And foods made with certain types of olive oils, vinegars, and red wine.

And there's plenty of evidence more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, and some lean meats can promote health. Drinking plenty of water, instead of sugary drinks provides protective health benefits, too. If you make healthy eating habits a lifetime pursuit, you're more likely to feel youthful and live longer as you age.

Looking for some easy to eat healthy meals, to get more fruits and vegetables into your diet, and protect your health? Check out our complete selection of MagicKitchen.com meals all made from fresh ingredients, and ready to eat in minutes.