London, United Kingdom, October 20:A British scientist has found the secret to a long and healthy life: just add tea, coffee and chocolate to your diet. Gary Williamson, professor of 'functional foods' at Leeds University, has suggested that in order to lead a long and healthy life one should regularly consume "lifespan essential" foodstuffs.
Prof. Williamson has produced a list of 20 "lifespan essential" foodstuffs that he says are rich in polyphenols, the naturally occurring chemicals which have been linked to a variety of health benefits, including protection against heart disease.
He said that foodstuffs on the list, which mainly comprised of fruits and vegetables, can help to delay the ageing process by protecting cells from the natural damage that occurs over time.
The list of foodstuffs also includes some everyday pleasures, such as Coffee, black tea, green tea and dark chocolate, which, if consumed regularly, can slow down the aging process as well as help people stay healthy and live longer.
"Epidemiology studies support the protective effects of polyphenol-rich foods. Lack of these components in the diet, because of low intake of fruit and vegetables, increases the risk of chronic disease. This means that they are essential to fulfil the maximum individual lifespan, and so I propose that they are ‘lifespan essential’," Prof. Williamson said.
The 20 types of food and drink that have been identified by Prof. Gary Williamson include apples, blackberries, black tea, blueberries, broccoli, cereal bran, cherries, cherry tomatoes, coffee, cranberries, dark chocolates, green tea, oranges, peaches, plums, raspberries, red grapes, red onions, spinach and strawberries.
“These foods have been chosen because they are highest in polyphenols, which reduce the risk of heart disease and help to slow down ageing processes,” he said.
“A low intake of fruit and vegetables increases the risk of chronic disease, whereas the foods on this list maximise one's chances of reaching your potential lifespan, which is why I call them "lifespan-essential".”
In earlier researches it has been already proved that a diet rich in polyphenols, which include naturally-occurring chemicals such as tannins, lignins and flavonoids, can help to increase a person’s chance of reaching his lifespan, which is in part genetically determined.
In an earlier research it has been found that Flavanol, the phytochemicals found in chocolates, fruits and vegetables, can boost the function of vital endothelial cells that line up inside the blood vessels, thus decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
According to another study, flavonoid-rich foods are known to boost the levels of nitric oxide in the blood of smokers and reverse some of their smoking-related impairment in blood vessel function.
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