Healthy Diets To Increase Your Life Expectancy

The healthy eating plans described below are not specific diet programs, but a collection of healthy eating habits that can be followed to achieve a particular health outcome such as reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, or improving life expectancy.

Healthy Diet Plans

The Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean diet has gained popularity over the past few years as it is a healthy and tasty cuisine. Many recent studies have confirmed that the people of the Mediterranean region have a 30% lowered risk of developing heart disease and that they have a longer life expectancy that their European counterparts. This is attributed to the benefits of Mediterranean cuisine, which includes a high consumption of fruits and vegetables, wholegrains, and lentils. This healthy diet emphasises healthy sources of fat such as nuts, seeds and olive oil. Consumption of fish is moderately high, while intake of red meat and dairy products is low.

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

The Anti-Inflammatory diet was designed by Dr. Andrew Weil, a practitioner of integrative medicine. Studies have shown that chronic inflammation, also known as "silent inflammation" plays a significant role in a host of diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, diabetes, some cancers, and can activate certain potentially harmful genes that affect the ageing process as well. The anti-inflammatory diet emphasises low-glycemic-load meals, lean protein with healthy fats drinking plenty of water, and consuming high quantities of fiber from fresh fruits and vegetables.

Healthy Diet for Teenagers

It is particularly important that teenagers eat a balanced diet, not only to obtain the nutrients needed at this time of growth and development, but also to lay the foundation for a healthy body for the future that is protected from disease. Unfortunately, teenagers today have developed poor and unhealthy eating habits, relying on fast foods more and more. Statistics show that teenagers are getting fatter, and that eating disorders ranging from obesity to anorexia and bulimia, amongst others, are on the increase. Fortunately, this does not have to be the case if good eating habits are learned and practiced at this crucial age.

Healthy Heart Diet

Eating heart healthy foods can play a significant role in reducing risk of heart disease. Among the factors that contribute to cardiovascular disease, are inflammation, high triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and homocysteine. A heart healthy diet based on foods such as a variety of vegetables, legumes, fruit, seeds, nuts, oily fish and high fiber foods can prevent and even reverse heart disease.

Low Cholesterol Diet

High cholesterol levels can be reduced with a low cholesterol diet, and can help lower the risk of heart disease. If you are in the high risk group for heart disease, your doctor may suggest a cholesterol test, which measures your total cholesterol level, as well as HDL, LDL and triglycerides. Eating the right foods can help reduce bad cholestrol and increase good cholesterol.

Diabetic Weight Loss Diets

Type 2 diabetics need to focus on weight loss to improve their body's ability to utilize insulin. The key to keeping your blood glucose levels under control and losing weight is to reduce carbohydrate consumption and opt for low glycemic load carbohydrates and low fat foods.

DASH Diet Plan

The relationship between diet and hypertension is well established, and extensive research conducted by the National Institute of Health has found that simple changes made to your diet can reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes in just 14 days. The term DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension.

Vegetarian Diet Plans

In order to obtain all esssential nutrients when following a vegetarian diet, you need to ensure that you include foods from the healthy vegetarian food pyramid, and eat a wide range of healthy foods from non animal sources.

The Okinawa Diet

The people of Okinawa enjoy the longest lifespans in the world, and are free from modern Western diseases. The secret to their good health lies in their anti aging diet.

Diverticulitis Diet

If you are a diverticulitis sufferer, you can benefit by controlling your fiber intake. Although it is necessary to be on a low residue diet when the condition flares up, once your condition has improved you should go on to a high fiber diet plan.

Lactose Intolerance Diet

If you suffer from lactose intolerance, knowing what foods to eat will help you deal with the condition. People who have lactose intolerance lack sufficient quantities of the enzyme lactase needed to digest lactose, a sugar found in dairy products such as milk, yoghurt and cheese.

Diet For Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of health problems that increases your risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. You can do alot to reduce this risk if you follow a healthy eating plan that helps you lose weight and brings your blood levels of glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides into normal range.

Diet For Gout

Gout is caused by a buildup of the metabolic byproducts of uric acid in the joints, and can be very painful. Eating a diet low in purine rich foods is as important for controlling gout, as eating more foods that contain anthocyanidins and other flavonoids, such as berries.

Healthy diets therefore are important weapons in the fight against disease and ageing.

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