People want to live healthier and longer lives. Wherever we are on this planet, we all share the same hope, that is to do things that ensure our longevity. However, we live in the most comfortable time in the history of mankind when eating is as easy as one, two, three. With just a click of a button, we can have the food we want to be delivered to our homes. Or we just have to open a can, and voila! It’s time to eat.

Processed foods are everywhere because they’re cheap, convenient, and handy. But these foods filled with saturated fats and hard to pronounce substances are making our lives shorter. Countless studies have shown how processed products are leading us to develop serious diseases and, ultimately, shortening our lives.

If you’re keen on adding extra years to your life, say no to unhealthy foods and say yes to stuff that helps you stay healthy and live longer. There are lots of them, so you’d never get tired of munching the same type of foods for the rest of your life. But before going further, let’s elaborate on the other factors that contribute to a healthier and longer life. Centenarians attributed their long life to the following habits:

• ♦ Regular exercise
• ♦ Minimal consumption of alcohol
• ♦ Not smoking
• ♦ Getting enough sleep and rest
• ♦ Staying positive
• ♦ Practicing mindfulness
• ♦ Socializing with family and friends
• ♦ Having a good relationship with food. Having a good relationship with food means many things. It means cooking food at home, not using too much salt, choosing fresh meat, consuming lots of fiber, minimizing sweets, drinking coffee at a minimum, eating plenty of protein and healthy carbs, and, of course, eating the right kinds of foods.

If you’ve incorporated most of the practices above into your daily habits, you’re on your way to living a longer life. Now, here are the superfoods foods that help you to get there:

Nuts

1. Walnuts

Walnuts are good for your heart health and help you fight against cancer. Eating walnuts regularly, say, at least three times a week can add two to three years to your life, according to experts.

2. Coconut

Coconut can help you defy brain aging because it can shield DNA from damage.

3. Almonds

Almonds provide lots of nutrients that help slow aging and boost longevity. It has skin enhancing omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A, D, and E, minerals, and antioxidants that help reduce skin inflammation, skin hydration and elasticity, cell regeneration, and protect against free radical damage.

Vegetables

4. Peas

Peas have been found to slow down the aging of the cells. It’s because it’s packed with powerful antioxidants and fiber.

5. Spinach

Spinach is rich in antioxidants and Vitamins A and C, which keeps the skin healthy and boosts the growth of new cells.

6. Broccoli

Broccoli is filled with nutrients that keep the eyes, liver, and skeletal muscles healthy. It’s also rich in folate and fiber that help in digestion and cancer protection.

7. Parsley

Parsley contains myricetin, a flavonoid that fights against cancer, vitamin K, which helps reduce blood clot, improve bone health and memory, and regulates blood pressure.

Fruits

8. Pomegranates

According to one study, the molecule urolithin-A in pomegranates enables muscle cells to protect themselves against major causes of aging.

9. Blueberries

Blueberries are rich in Vitamins C and A, which boosts the immune system, and anthocyanin, which fights against age-related diseases. It’s also enriched with antioxidants that protect cells from oxidative damage.

10. Avocados

Avocado is a superfood that is rich in healthy fats that help reduce inflammation and slow down brain aging.

11. Grapes

Grapes contain more than a thousand natural plant compounds, including polyphenols and antioxidants, which help maintain the health of your cells, eye, brain, bone, liver, and bladder.

12. Plums

Plums help maintain healthy cells by protecting the body against free radical damage from the environment. They’re rich in antioxidants that fight against aging and keep the skin healthy.

Root Crops

13. Carrots

Carrots are popular for their ability to improve vision and maintain healthy eyes. But they also do well in the anti-aging department. The carotenoids in carrots have been found to decrease the speed of the aging process.

14. Sweet potatoes

In terms of longevity, go for the purple variety of sweet potatoes because it contains more anthocyanin, a compound that is found to decrease the risk of cancer and increase longevity.

Seafood

15. Salmon

Salmon is famous for its omega 3 properties that help reduce inflammation and fight against serious health conditions like heart disease, dementia, and arthritis. It also contains an anti-aging oxidant called astaxanthin.

16. Sardines

Like salmon, sardine is another seafood rich in omega 3 that helps protect against heart diseases and diabetes.

17. Snails

Snails are infamous in American cuisines. But these less popular seafood is packed with iron that helps prevent anemia and increases your life-span.

Other Foods

18. Sauerkraut

Sauerkraut is a fermented food rich in good bacteria, which helps reduce inflammation, increase metabolism, and boost immune system health.

19. Wine

Drink a sufficient amount of wine, especially red wine to increase your longevity. It has resveratrol that helps slow down aging and reduces the risk of cancer.

20. Dark chocolates

Dark chocolates are packed with antioxidant-rich flavonoids, which help reduce inflammation, help the skin fight against oxidative damage, and help improve cognitive function.

21. Chia seeds

Chia seeds are nutritional powerhouse complete with nine essential amino acids, fiber, and omega 3, which all contribute to a longer life.

22. Garlic

Allicin, an antioxidant found in garlic, can powerfully fight against the aging process.

23. Hemp seeds

Hemp seeds are the best alternative to salmon. They’re rich in omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, which keep the heart healthy, promote healthy skin, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, reduce inflammation, and boost metabolism. Hemp seeds are also found to protect the brain against neurological diseases.

24. Flaxseed

Flaxseed is a nutrient-packed food that helps lower cholesterol and blood pressure, reduces the risk of cancer, and protects against asthma, stroke, and heart diseases.

25. Kefir

Kefir is a powerful probiotic that works wonders for your gut. A healthy gut is one secret to a healthier and longer life.

Though maintaining your overall health is challenging these days, the rewards will be great when you follow the right diet, eat more natural foods, and practice habits that keep you healthy.