Eating a healthy balanced diet – including at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day – could lower the risk of an early death, according to the NHS.
You could also boost your lifespan by doing regular exercise – the “miracle cure” we’ve all been waiting for, it said.
Making some small diet or lifestyle changes could help to increase your life expectancy and avoid an early death.
Eating bananas could help you to live longer, nutritionists have revealed. They could lower the risk of cancer, as well as high blood pressure.
Everyone should aim to eat between three and four bananas every week, according to dietitian Juliette Kellow and nutritionist Dr Sarah Brewer.
They contain potassium, which helps to lower blood pressure, and could even reduce the chances of developing kidney cancer, they claimed.
Raw bananas provide the best nutrient benefits, they said in their book ‘Eat Better Live Longer – Understand What Your Body Needs To Stay Healthy’.
“Whether you like your bananas slightly green or freckly, they all come with triple levels of mood-boosting powers,” they said.
“They are good sources of carbohydrates [fuel for the brain and muscles], and of tryptophan and vitamin B6 [both of which are needed for production of feel-good chemicals].
“What’s more, bananas improve digestion and may help regulate blood pressure.
“However you like to eat your bananas is a personal preference, but their benefits do vary with ripeness. Enjoy three to four bananas a week.
“Bananas will ripen at home – if you want to speed up the process, keep them in a bunch or with other fruits.”
The fruit contains small amounts of an amino acid, known as tryptophan. This is converted into serotonin in the brain.
Low levels of serotonin have been linked to depression, while higher amounts of the chemical could protect against it.
Eating bananas could also make you feel fuller for longer, as they’re rich in a fibre called pectin, the nutritionists added.
The best way to live a healthy life is to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day, and to do plenty of exercise.
Regular exercise is a crucial aspect to improving overall health, and helping you to live longer.
People that do regular exercise are up to 50 per cent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes and some cancers, said the NHS.
It may even slash the chances of coronary heart disease and stroke by up to 35 per cent.
All UK adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity every week.
