How Eating a Healthy Diet Can Extend Your Life

Too many people are battling diseases of one form or another. Whether that’s inflammation, chronic pain, heart disease, gut issues, or more, sickness can be a real challenge. What many don’t realize is that a healthy diet can alleviate these symptoms dramatically, as well as extending your lifespan!

Food is some of the best medicine we can find, and it’s never too late to get your dose. Eating a healthy diet is always a good idea regardless of age, health history, or background. Here’s how to eat healthy, thrive, and live a longer life.

Healthy Eating Can Change Your Life: Here’s How

Let’s be real. A majority of Americans don’t have enough access to healthy, whole, and nutritious ingredients. Some of our supermarkets are wrought with processed foods high in sodium, sugar, and artificial additives. 

Processed foods pose a number of health risks and can severely harm our bodies when consumed long-term. The solution to this nationwide issue? Whole, farm-to-table, and nutrient-rich foods.

Healthy Foods are Life-Giving

The proof is in the science, such as with this study completed by the New England Journal of Medicine. 

Research shows that those with a healthy diet, free from processed foods, are 14% less likely to die from illnesses. Not only this, but those who started eating healthy foods during the study steadily decreased their chance of illness by 7-15%. 

What does this reveal? It shows us that it’s never too late to start eating a balanced diet, and that healthy food is healing.

Start Slowly

Healthy eating doesn’t have to be difficult, either. Many people operate under the misconception that implementing healthy food takes a drastic change. While it usually takes a shift in habit, healthy eating can happen gradually. 

Simply replacing mid-day snacks with nuts, fruit, or yogurt is a great place to start. Over time, you can begin replacing meals with whole-foods ingredients. This way, healthy eating slowly becomes a lifestyle.

Want to Start Eating Healthy? Try These Foods

While the benefits of eating healthy are no secret, many people don’t know where to begin. Cutting out processed foods with harmful additives will significantly improve the quality and span of your life. 

Try these delicious alternatives the next time you want to reach for overly-processed snacks and ingredients.

Natural Sweeteners Instead of Additives

Artificial sweeteners and added sugar are not the best ingredients for our health. 

Too much sugar over time can lead to inflammation, a weakened immune system, skin issues, and heart issues. This is why it’s important to replace additives with natural sweeteners. 

Using honey, agave, or maple syrup as healthy alternatives can make a huge difference.

Healthy Oils Instead of Processed

Processed oils can severely harm our hearts and bodies. This is why it’s essential to use high-grade, healthy oils when cooking. 

Olive oil, grapeseed oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, and others will prove better for your long-term health. When searching for healthy snacks, make sure they’re processed and cooked in these high-grade oils.

Roasted Veggies Instead of Potato Chips

Need a way to implement more veggies into your diet? Roasting them may be the way to go. Roasted veggies are easy, simple to prepare, and they’re also delicious. Using as many roasted veggies as you desire, place them on a sheet pan in healthy oil and seasoning. You can even top them with a sprinkle of parmesan for extra flavor! 

This is an easy way to add more necessary vitamins and minerals into your diet. Plus, they can even be used as a tasty snack when you’re craving something salty.

Whole Grains Instead of Processed Bread

Whole grains are rich in dietary fiber and vitamins. They’re much easier to digest than processed grains and bread, and they’re incredibly filling, too. 

Opt for whole grain bread or whole grains when cooking. Farro, barley, millet, amaranth, and buckwheat are some great options.

Eat Healthy With Z.E.N.

Z.E.N. Foods is here to support everyone in their health journeys. We deliver healthy, farm-to-table, and whole-food meals straight to your door. We want to make healthy eating accessible with zero effort involved. Start today by speaking to a Z.E.N. consultant at (310) 205-9368.