Longevity and Fruits and Vegetables

Articles
September 06, 2012

SupermarketGuru wants to share some longevity tips from the world’s oldest siblings

SupermarketGuru came across this interesting article which suggests that the Mediterranean diet, combined with a healthy lifestyle and good genetics is a winning combination: Italian newspapers reported that the Melis family had been recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as officially being the world’s oldest siblings. Residing on the island of Sardinia the nine brothers and sisters total 818 years between them, Consolata, the oldest, just turned 105, followed by Claudia 99, Maria 97, Antonio 93, Concetta 91, Adolfo 89, Vitalio 86, Vitalia 81, and Mafalda 78. Consolata has nine children, 24 grand children and 25 great grand children.

Opinion at the University of Sassari in Sardinia is that the family’s longevity is due to genetics and strong family traditions, but also because of bounty of seasonal fruits and vegetables, particularly including pears and prunes (or plums).

Pears are high in flavonoids when eaten with the skin, which also contains about half of the fruit’s dietary fiber, and are also high in phytonutrients as well carotenoids – providing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory protection, and because of their high fiber content are thought to be beneficial in preventing type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some forms of cancer.

Plums and prunes are also high in phytonutrients, provide antioxidant support from phenols and improve iron consumption due to their high vitamin C content, (another antioxidant boost). The high antioxidant content, combined with carotenoids in plums and prunes has been found to ward off macular degeneration, as well as being another good source of fiber.

The ORAC value of pears is 2201, plums 6,100 and prunes 8,059, compared to blueberries whose ORAC value is 4,669.

As always, SupermarketGuru wants to remind you to eat plenty of seasonal vegetables as they provide many important vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients that will give your health a daily boost!