Everyone wants to live a long and healthy life. While genes play a significant role, lifestyle choices like diet and exercise can also impact life expectancy.

In this article, we explore a drink that adds years to your life and a portion that reduces mortality.

The Drink that Adds Years to Your Life

Green tea, a well-known beverage packed with antioxidants and nutrients, can add years to your life. Green tea originates from China and has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. Here are some ways green tea can promote longevity:.

Reduces heart disease risk: Green tea is known to reduce LDL cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, and protect against blood clots that can cause a heart attack or stroke.
Protects against cancer: Green tea has been found to inhibit the growth of cancer cells in laboratory studies. The antioxidants in green tea can also neutralize free radicals, which cause cellular damage that may lead to cancer.
Improves brain function: Green tea contains caffeine, which can improve brain function by increasing alertness, mood, reaction time, and memory.
Reduces inflammation: Chronic inflammation is linked to numerous diseases, such as arthritis, diabetes, and cancer. Green tea contains anti-inflammatory compounds that can reduce inflammation and enhance immune function.
Protects against age-related diseases: Green tea has been shown to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, two neurological disorders that are more common with age.

The Portion that Reduces Mortality

While green tea promotes longevity, a healthy diet is crucial for overall health and reducing mortality. A balanced diet should include a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats.

However, it can be challenging to determine the exact portions and servings of each food group. A recent study published in The Lancet analyzed the impact of various dietary factors on mortality and identified the ideal portions per day:.

Fruits: 3 servings, or about 375-500 grams
Vegetables: 2 servings, or about 250 grams
Whole grains: 3 servings, or about 90 grams
Legumes: 1 serving, or about 30 grams
Nuts and seeds: 1 serving, or about 15 grams
Dairy: 1 serving, or about 250 grams
Red meat: No more than 1 serving per week, or about 50 grams
Poultry and fish: 1-2 servings per week, or about 100-200 grams
Eggs: No more than 1 serving per day, or about 50 grams
Sweets and sugar: No more than 31 grams per day

Conclusion

Green tea is a powerful drink that can promote longevity by reducing the risk of heart disease, cancer, inflammation, and age-related diseases. However, a healthy diet is equally important for overall health and reducing mortality.

The ideal portions per day of various food groups include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, dairy, red meat, poultry and fish, eggs, and sweets and sugar. Incorporating these recommendations into your lifestyle can help you live a long and healthy life.