A doctor who claims his body is biologically 20 years younger than his actual age has opened up about the five foods he eats every day to promote longevity.
Dr. Mark Hyman, 63, from Massachusetts, is a functional medicine expert and the bestselling author of ‘Young Forever: The Secrets to Living Your Longest, Healthiest Life.’
He has more than 286,000 followers on TikTok, where he shares his tips for living a longer and healthier life. In a recent video, he revealed the foods he recommends eating daily for optimal health.
‘These things are medicine,’ he said.
Dr. Mark Hyman, 63, a functional medicine expert, revealed the five foods he recommends eating daily for longevity in a recent TikTok video
The first food that Dr. Hyman touted was cruciferous vegetables, including broccoli, collard greens, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower
Cruciferous vegetables are typically rich in vitamins and minerals such as folate and vitamin K
Cruciferous vegetables
The first food that Dr. Hyman touted was cruciferous vegetables, including broccoli, collard greens, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower.
‘All that stuff contains compounds that activate the cellular detoxification pathways and optimize your mineral status,’ he said.
Cruciferous vegetables are typically rich in vitamins and minerals such as folate and vitamin K, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Dr. Hyman noted that folate is important for methylation, a key biochemical process.
He explained on his website that methylation helps repair the DNA on a daily basis, recycle molecules needed for detoxification, maintain mood, and keep inflammation in check.
It also helps control homocysteine, which can damage blood vessels and increase the risk of blood clots if too high.
‘So it’s important to eat at least a cup or two of this class of veggies every day,’ the longevity expert said in his video.
Dr. Hyman shared that olive is one of his favorite sources of good fat, saying it has ‘been shown to contain all sorts of anti-inflammatory compounds’
‘You need to make sure you get lots of good fats, and olive oil is a great way to do it,’ he said. ‘It should be your staple fat’
Olive oil
Dr. Hyman shared that olive is one of his favorite sources of good fat, saying it has ‘been shown to contain all sorts of anti-inflammatory compounds.’
He cited research that has shown freshly pressed, extra virgin olive oil acts as a natural anti-inflammatory in a way similar to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen.
Olive oil is also rich in healthy monounsaturated fats and contains large amounts of antioxidants. Dr. Hyman pointed out that ‘it tastes good too.’
‘Good fats are good for you,’ he said. ‘You need to make sure you get lots of good fats, and olive oil is a great way to do it.
‘It should be your staple fat.’
The longevity expert waxed poetic about nuts, saying they are ‘so important’
!['They're full of minerals, fat, protein, [and] fiber,' he said. 'They're one of nature's superfoods'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/03/16/00/68755991-11865479-image-a-3_1678928253430.jpg)
‘They’re full of minerals, fat, protein, [and] fiber,’ he said. ‘They’re one of nature’s superfoods’
Nuts
Dr. Hyman went on to wax poetic about nuts, saying they are ‘so important.’
‘They’re full of minerals, fat, protein, [and] fiber,’ he said. They’re one of nature’s superfoods.’
The expert explained that nuts have been shown to increase life expectancy and health span, as well as reduce diabetes.
Dr. Hyman recommends snacking on nuts and seeds, including almonds, walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, chia seeds, and sesame seeds.
Dr. Hyman is also a fan of berries, which are a ‘great source of antioxidants’ and ‘phytochemicals’ (compounds that are produced by plants).
The doctor loves beginning his mornings with a blueberry smoothie that is packed with antioxidants
Berries
Dr. Hyman is also a fan of berries, which are a ‘great source of antioxidants’ and ‘phytochemicals’ (compounds that are produced by plants).
‘These phytochemicals activate longevity pathways that we all need to activate our healing systems, which is the whole key to staying young forever,’ he said.
On his website, he recommends eating cranberries, blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries for these health benefits.
‘These are loaded with powerful antioxidants called anthocyanins believed to protect against heart disease by preventing blood clots,’ he wrote.
‘They may also delay the aging of cells in the body. There is some evidence they may help delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.’
Speaking to Insider last month, the doctor shared he loves beginning his mornings with a smoothie that is packed with antioxidants.
His go-to recipe includes berries, collagen, almond butter or nuts, chia seeds, hemp seeds, and zucchini.
‘This kind of smoothie will leave you feeling great all morning long,’ he said.
The fifth thing that Dr. Hyman consumes daily is green tea, although he admitted that it’s not technically a food
!['It contains all of these phytochemicals [and] catechins, which have been shown to activate longevity switches and pathways in our body that keep us young [and] keep us healthy,' he said](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/03/16/00/68756169-11865479-image-m-6_1678928278182.jpg)
‘It contains all of these phytochemicals [and] catechins, which have been shown to activate longevity switches and pathways in our body that keep us young [and] keep us healthy,’ he said
Green tea
The fifth thing that Dr. Hyman consumes daily is green tea, although he admitted that it’s not technically a food.
‘It contains all of these phytochemicals [and] catechins, which have been shown to activate longevity switches and pathways in our body that keep us young [and] keep us healthy,’ he explained.
Studies have shown that the compounds in green tea may help protect against cancer and heart disease, as well as potentially increase lifespan.
Dr. Hyman noted that in Ikaria, Greece, a blue zone region in the world where people live the longest, they drink wild sage tea.
‘Green tea helps protect against heart disease, high blood pressure, liver disease, high cholesterol, and inflammation, and it strengthens the immune system,’ he wrote on Facebook in 2018.
‘Drinking green tea is also one of the easiest ways to burn fat. That’s because it contains an abundance of catechins, which increase thermogenesis (calorie burning) and prevent the damaging effects of free radicals on your metabolism.
‘Green tea becomes even more beneficial in matcha form—powdered tea leaves that you can mix with water or add to smoothies, which is one of my favorite ways to consume it.’
