The secret of living LONGER

There are parts of the world where people live longer and in better health - here's the low-down

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The Blue Zones are five global destinations that have been identified by writer Dan Buettner as having an unusual number of people living much longer than average - often past the age of 100. And these residents enjoy supercharged wellbeing well into older age too.

It turns out that what they eat is key - and it's based on a Mediterranean diet. 'The diet is largely plant-based,' explains GP Dr Sarah Brewer. 'It combines relatively large amounts of vegetables, fruit, olive oil, fish, garlic, wholegrains, beans, nuts, seeds, bread and potatoes, a relatively low intake of red meat and a moderate consumption of red wine. It does not include large portions of pizza or pasta!"

And the beauty of it? 'It's relatively easy to start getting the health benefits,' says Dr Brewer. 'Simply eat more fruit, vegetables, beans and potatoes, plus more nuts and seeds. Select wholegrain bread and cereals. Use olive oil rather than other cooking or dressing oils. Eat more fish, and low-to-moderate amounts of dairy products and poultry. Eat only a little red meat, eggs four times a week or less, and wine in low to moderate amounts.

BOOST

Have a daily 125ml glass of orange juice, says Carrie. While fresh fruit has more polyphenol content than juice, you can't absorb it all because of the fibre content, so you'll get more from juice.' And choose shop-bought over home-squeezed.

'The extraction process is really aggressive, so you get more of the fruit, including the pith, which has the highest polyphenol content.'

Turn up the plant power