According to an INSEE study, life expectancy is 85.7 years for women. France thus occupies one of the best places in terms of life expectancy at birth. But if we tend to live longer, we notice that the figures on healthy life expectancy are mixed. Pollution, stress, poor diet… diseases, illnesses and disorders are much more present than in the past. It is therefore advisable to change your habits as early as possible in your life, to hope to live a long, but healthy life. And it starts above all with what you put on your plate!
Pomegranate, a must-have autumn fruit
To have a beautiful skin, to stay in shape or lose weight, to have energy… or to live a long life, what is essential is diet. You are aware that it must be healthy and varied. “Every decision we make on a daily basis matters and influences our biological age. Our biological age can be improved through good habits that benefit the health of our cells” recalls Beatriz Larrea, holistic nutritionist, health coach and longevity researcher, in the columns of the American version of the magazine Vogue. The expert then recommends starting with a simple good habit: eating seasonal fruits. Quite simply, because their nutrients provide our body with what it naturally needs as our environment changes over the months.
In autumn, you should therefore focus on pomegranates which generally ripen from September to December. “If I had to choose only three foods among all those that are recommended for improving biological age, I would choose this fruit first” declares the expert. (The two other recommended foods are cocoa and capers. Not always highlighted, pomegranates are nevertheless renowned for their remarkable antioxidant properties. They are very rich in flavonoids, a molecule that protects cells and reduces inflammation in the body These substances have also been shown to promote brain, gut and skin health.
A miraculous superfood
In addition to being ideal for increasing longevity, pomegranate is also rich in vitamin C, ce which can promote the formation of collagen. “When the body is exposed to vitamin C, collagen is stimulated up to eight times more” assures Beatriz Larrea. Enough to ensure pretty skin, healthy joints, but also pretty thick hair. A recent study even reveals that simply drinking antioxidant-rich pomegranate juice can help protect skin from oxidation caused by UV rays, acting almost like an “internal sunscreen.”
“Phytonutrients in pomegranate juice may reduce oxidative stress on the brain and maintain brain health, thereby contributing to memory retention” can we read in the report published by researchers from the health department of the University of California. It is also stated that pomegranate’s antioxidants protect the brain from age-related damage while its high vitamin B5 content supports the nervous system. Finally, in addition to eradicating “bad cholesterol”, grenade reduces stress levels which has a direct impact on longevity.
