Eating a healthy, balanced diet – including at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day – could lower your risk of an early death, according to the NHS. You could also boost your lifespan by doing regular exercise. It’s the “miracle cure” we’ve all been waiting for, it said. Making some small diet or lifestyle changes could help to increase your life expectancy and avoid an early death. One of the best ways to protect against heart attacks is to regularly eat olive oil, it’s been claimed.
Olive oil has many bonuses relating to cholesterol, blood pressure, age-related diseases, and cognitive function
Juliette Kellow and Sarah Brewer
Olive oil is a “wonderfood” that has many heart-health benefits, according to dietitian Juliette Kellow and nutritionist Dr Sarah Brewer.
Around 85 per cent of the fats in olive oil are regarded as ‘heart-friendly’ fats, which also help to reduce cholesterol.
Everyone should aim to eat a tablespoon of olive oil every day. But, it’s high in calories, so avoiding eating much more, they said.
“Olive oil is a well-known ingredient of the Mediterranean diet and has many bonuses relating to cholesterol, blood pressure, age-related diseases, and cognitive function,” they said in their book ‘Eat Better Live Longer – Understand What Your Body Needs To Stay Healthy’.
“The benefits don’t stop there, though – it may also help to prevent certain types of cancer.
“All olive oils are rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and contain the same good amount of vitamin E.
“Extra virgin is the purest and best enjoyed raw, while virgin and pure olive oils are less expensive and have a lower smoke point, so are good for cooking with.
“There’s good evidence that olive oil, particularly with one of the main monounsaturated fats in it – oleic acid – helps to reduce high blood pressure, which, in turn, can help to protect against stroke.”
You could also lower your risk of heart attacks and an early death by regularly eating fruit and vegetables, they added.
All fruit and vegetables contain a healthy combination of fibre and potassium, they said.
Potassium could lower your blood pressure, and subsequently your risk of heart attacks, by balancing out the negative impacts of sodium in your body.
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Eating five portions of fruit and vegetables every week is the best way to make sure you lead a long and healthy life.
Regular exercise is a crucial aspect to improving overall health, and helping you to live longer.
People that do regular exercise are up to 50 per cent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes and some cancers, said the NHS.
It may even slash the chances of coronary heart disease and stroke by up to 35 per cent.
All UK adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity every week.
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