Life expectancy is largely determined by the lifestyle choices people make in their day to day lives. Sticking to a healthy, balanced diet can protect against deadly complications, such as heart disease. It is well understood that eating certain foods can boost longevity. Certain drinks have also been associated with a longer lifespan.
Milk
Evidence suggests drinking milk may ward off the threat of developing life-threatening complications.
Research conducted by by the Universities of Reading, Cardiff and Bristol has found that drinking milk can reduce the chances of dying from illnesses such as coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke by up to 15-20 percent.
The review analysed published evidence from 324 studies of milk consumption as predictors of coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke and, diabetes. Data on milk consumption and cancer were based on the recent World Cancer Research Fund report. The outcomes were then compared with current death rates from these diseases.
Commenting on the findings, Professor Ian Givens from the University of Reading’s Food Chain and Health Research Theme, who co-authored the study, said: “While growth and bone health are of great importance to health and function, it is the effects of milk and dairy consumption on chronic disease that are of the greatest relevance to reduced morbidity and survival. Our review made it possible to assess overall whether increased milk consumption provides a survival advantage or not. We believe it does.
Free radicals may play a role in heart disease
Mayo Clinic
Orange Juice
Orange juice has been linked to a host of health benefits, including protecting against deadly complications such as such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
The health benefits are partly down to the fact that orange juice is a rich course of antioxidants. As Mayo Clinic explained: “Antioxidants are substances that may protect your cells against the effects of free radicals — molecules produced when your body breaks down food or is exposed to tobacco smoke and radiation.
“Free radicals may play a role in heart disease, cancer and other diseases.”
One eight week study found that drinking 25 ounces (750 ml) of orange juice daily increased antioxidant status significantly.
Another study echoed these findings, reporting that drinking 20 ounces (591 ml) of orange juice daily for 90 days increased total antioxidant status in 24 adults with high cholesterol and triglycerides.
According to Mayo Clinic, triglycerides are a type of fat (lipid) found in a person’s blood. Having a high level of triglycerides in a person’s blood can increase their risk of heart disease.
Coffee
Drinking coffee may also extend longevity. This is the conclusion of large-scale study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
The Multiethnic Cohort Study, which involves more 215,000 participants, found that drinking coffee was associated with a lower risk of death due to heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and respiratory and kidney disease for African-Americans, Japanese-Americans, Latinos and whites.
People who consumed a cup of coffee a day were 12 percent less likely to die compared to those who didn’t drink coffee. This association was even stronger for those who drank two to three cups a day – 18 percent reduced chance of death.
Lower mortality was present regardless of whether people drank regular or decaffeinated coffee, suggesting the association is not tied to caffeine, said Veronica W. Setiawan, lead author of the study and an associate professor of preventive medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.
Positing an explanation, Setiawan said: “Coffee contains a lot of antioxidants and phenolic compounds that play an important role in cancer prevention.”
He added: “Although this study does not show causation or point to what chemicals in coffee may have this ‘elixir effect,’ it is clear that coffee can be incorporated into a healthy diet and lifestyle.”
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