HealthNews Dozen: Foods for a Longer, Healthier Life

It is sometimes difficult to determine which foods are healthiest, with study after study showing something different each time. Just when a particular food is acclaimed for providing some healthy asset to a diet, it is subsequently found to be detrimental in another way. Consumers find it difficult to know the difference and balance all of the information.

But thanks to a University of Leeds professor, there is one list of “lifespan essential” foods that he asserts will help prolong life and make it a generally healthier one. Professor Gary Williamson is the Professor of Functional Foods at Leeds in the UK and holds numerous other positions, such as Visiting Professor of Food Safety at University of Surrey. And in a recent lecture that included the topic of immortality, he discussed foods that maximize a person’s chances of living a longer life, as well as increasing the quality of life by reducing the possibilities of incurring certain diseases.

All twenty foods that Williamson listed have been combined in this week’s HealthNews Dozen list, as some are similar. Five different kinds of berries were grouped together, as were the two kinds of teas—black and green. Many consumers will be happy to see that coffee and dark chocolate have made the list, as items are the guilty pleasures of many.

It should be noted, however, that all of the items on the list should be ingested with some moderation and common sense. Drinking an entire pot of coffee in one sitting, for example, is likely not what nutrition professionals would advise for lengthening one’s life. Similarly, it is doubtful that an entire box of dark chocolate candy would be prescribed by anyone in the health or medical field. However, in moderation, all of the foods named by the professor have the potential to add to one’s chances of a longer, healthier life.

The reason for the inclusion of the foods listed is that they are all rich in something called polyphenols, which are naturally-occurring chemicals in plants. Recent studies have concluded that polyphenols have antioxidant characteristics that may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and various types of cancer. Professor Williamson bases his assertion about the twenty foods on the basis of a wide body of research, including his own, of which more than 100 papers focus specifically on polyphenols.

“These foods have been chosen because they are highest in polyphenols, which reduce the risk of heart disease and help to slow down ageing processes,” Williamson noted. “Epidemiology studies support the protective effects of polyphenol-rich foods. Lack of these components in the diet, because of low intake of fruit and vegetables, increases the risk of chronic disease.”

While some of these foods may not be the most exciting to add to the next grocery list, some can add greatly to any diet. Berries can be mixed into a tasty fruit salad, broccoli can be made into some interesting casseroles, and dark chocolate can be added to just about any meal as a special--and health--dessert.