{"id":4031,"date":"2023-05-23T02:42:18","date_gmt":"2023-05-22T19:42:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/why-flavorful-food-is-important-for-longevity\/"},"modified":"2023-05-23T02:42:18","modified_gmt":"2023-05-22T19:42:18","slug":"why-flavorful-food-is-important-for-longevity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=4031","title":{"rendered":"Why Flavorful Food Is Important for Longevity"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"drop-cap text-big text-gray\"> <span class=\"drop-cap__first text-dropcap \">A<\/span>ccording to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluezones.com\/2023\/02\/the-most-important-ingredient-in-a-longevity-diet\/#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.bluezones.com\/2023\/02\/the-most-important-ingredient-in-a-longevity-diet\/#\">recent interview<\/a> with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/dan-buettner-food-habits\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/dan-buettner-food-habits\/\">Dan Buettner<\/a>, a <em>National Geographic<\/em> reporter, longevity expert, and founder of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluezones.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.bluezones.com\/\">Blue Zones<\/a>, there\u2019s one thing all five of the healthy-aging hotspots around the world have in common: Deliciously flavorful food that&#8217;s been crafted with care.<\/div>\n<p>While each <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/blue-zone-guide\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/blue-zone-guide\/\">Blue Zone<\/a> is highly diverse from the next (if you&#8217;re new to the term, these regions include Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece; Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan; and Loma Linda, California), through research, Buettner has found that each of these communities emphasize <em>taste<\/em>\u2014as opposed to focusing solely on nutritional value. And in addition to being delicious, Buettner&#8217;s also found that the majority of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/plant-based-protein-for-longevity\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/plant-based-protein-for-longevity\/\">diets for longevity<\/a> in the Blue Zones are heavily-reliant on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/vegan-versus-plant-based\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/vegan-versus-plant-based\/\">plant-based<\/a> ingredients.<\/p>\n<p>That said, the concept of marrying the two\u2014delicious flavors plus plants\u2014hasn\u2019t always been a Thing for many folks. (A shame, because plant-based meals are *chef&#8217;s kiss.*) To make plant-based eating as tasty as ever, we\u2019ve gathered some of the best tips and tricks for boosting flavor no matter what you\u2019re cooking.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>5 tips for preparing flavorful food for longevity\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3>1. Try incorporating new (and more) plants into your meals<\/h3>\n<p>It\u2019s easy to fall into a rhythm of making the same five meals we know and love on repeat. (Hi, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/vegan-lasagna-recipe\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/vegan-lasagna-recipe\/\">veggie lasagna<\/a>.) However, some health experts argue that introducing new ingredients into your meal prep rotation can help promote a healthier and more <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/gut-health-longevity\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/gut-health-longevity\/\">diverse microbiome\u2014a key factor for boosting longevity<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content \" style=\"\" data-module-init=\"related-content\" data-module-immediate=\"\" v-cloak=\"\">\n<div class=\"related-content__wrapper \" v-cloak=\"\" :class=\"{'is-loaded':isLoaded}\">\n<p> <span class=\"inline pr-6 text-seafoam-dark\">Related Stories<\/span> <\/p>\n<p> <related-content class=\"related-content__links\" parent-article-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/flavorful-food-for-longevity\/\" current-title=\"The Diets Most Closely Linked to Longevity Prioritize Flavor\u2014Not Nutritional Value\u2014Says a World Leader in Healthy Aging\" current-image=\"flavorful-food-for-longevity-425x285.jpg\" v-on:parsely-posts-loaded=\"onPostsLoaded\" start-date=\"2022-11-22\" tag=\"div\" inline-template=\"\" url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/flavorful-food-for-longevity\/\" secret=\"w5ztterVB03LGZJLfXS0hf3EvQBuFFIWew9hmVQxthU\" apikey=\"wellandgood.com\" limit=\"3\"> <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"related-content__card mb-[10px] sm:mb-[20px]\" :class=\"{'related-content__card--full':posts.length === 1}\" v-for=\"(post, key) in posts\"> <a v-on:click.prevent=\"trackLinkGA($event, key)\" :href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/flavorful-food-for-longevity\/post.url\" data-url-source=\"related-content\" class=\"related-content__link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content__card--image bg-tan\" :style=\"{ backgroundImage: 'url(' + post.image_url + ')' }\"> <img :src=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/flavorful-food-for-longevity\/post.image_url\" :alt=\"post.title\"\/> <\/div>\n<p> <\/a>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/related-content> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\u201cWhen you expand the types of vegetables that are on your plate, you\u2019re not just broadening your palate\u2014you\u2019re also increasing the biodiversity of nutrients that your body is exposed to. And according to gastroenterologists, the diversity of plants in your diet is the number one <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/healthy-gut-microbiome\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/healthy-gut-microbiome\/\">predictor of a healthy gut microbiome<\/a>,\u201d registered dietitian <a href=\"https:\/\/mayafellernutrition.com\/about\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/mayafellernutrition.com\/about\/\">Maya Feller<\/a>, MS, RD, CDN, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/eat-more-plants\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/eat-more-plants\/\">previously shared with Well+Good<\/a>. Some highly tasty and nutrient-dense options include <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/fiber-rich-vegetables\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/fiber-rich-vegetables\/\">fiber-rich veggies<\/a> like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/artichoke-recipes\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/artichoke-recipes\/\">artichokes<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/brussels-sprouts-taste-better\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/brussels-sprouts-taste-better\/\">Brussels sprouts<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/benefits-of-beets\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/benefits-of-beets\/\">beets<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cWhen you expand the types of vegetables that are on your plate, you\u2019re not just broadening your palate\u2014you\u2019re also increasing the biodiversity of nutrients that your body is exposed to.\u201d\u2014Maya Feller, MS, RD, CDN<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3>2. Look to spices to add depth of flavor and anti-inflammatory benefits to dishes<\/h3>\n<p>While nothing can replace salt and pepper, there are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/top-spices\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/top-spices\/\">seven spices<\/a> that can add some extra oomph and dimension to any dish: cinnamon, turmeric, chili powder, cayenne powder, oregano, Chinese five-spice powder, and ginger. And when combined together, the possibilities are endless. Combinations like cinnamon, ground ginger, and a dash of Chinese five-spice powder can turn a bland bowl of oatmeal into a dish filled with complex layers of flavor.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s worth highlighting that while all of these <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/spices-for-longevity\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/spices-for-longevity\/\">spices are staples in the Blue Zones<\/a>, turmeric, black pepper, ginger, and garlic but particularly prominent. These options are especially helpful if you\u2019re looking to lower your sodium intake, as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/sodium-study\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/sodium-study\/\">studies suggest that reducing salt consumption<\/a> can have positive outcomes on overall health.<\/p>\n<h3>3. Adds herbs into the mix, too<\/h3>\n<p>Herbs are an easy way to add a one-two punch of flavor and nutrition to any meal. This is because many herbs have anti-microbial and antioxidant properties linked to boosting heart health, immunity, and digestion.<\/p>\n<p>In the Blue Zones, folks tend to rely on a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/blue-zones-herbs\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/blue-zones-herbs\/\">few common herbs<\/a>, including fennel, oregano, rosemary, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/cilantro-recipes\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/cilantro-recipes\/\">cilantro<\/a>, and garlic. Thankfully, many of these herbs are available in most areas of the world. For ways to include some of these flavors, check out these <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/healthy-sauce-recipes-sophia-roe\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/healthy-sauce-recipes-sophia-roe\/\">five easy sauce recipes<\/a> that will definitely dial up the flavor factor of your meals.<\/p>\n<h3>4. Roast veggies to bring out even more flavor<\/h3>\n<p>It\u2019s no secret that roasted sweet potatoes tend to taste even better than, say, boiled ones. This is thanks to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/roasted-vegetables-hack\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/roasted-vegetables-hack\/\">Maillard reaction<\/a>, a chemical reaction between amino acids (like protein) and reducing sugars that results in browned color and that classic rich, caramelized taste. (Think seared steak, roasted-until-golden potatoes, and crisp chocolate chip cookies.)<\/p>\n<p>The key to nailing this technique? Ensuring you have the correct temperatures down. In the case of roasting veggies, you\u2019ll want to prep your oven so it&#8217;s nice and hot, as well as the surface of the sheet pan you intend to use. This helps achieve the perfect amount of caramelization on the outside of your food while locking in the texture and moisture on the inside.<\/p>\n<h3>5. Rely on seasonal ingredients whenever possible<\/h3>\n<p>Ever wonder why <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/restaurant-vegan-food\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/restaurant-vegan-food\/\">vegan food at a restaurant<\/a> always seems to taste just a wee bit better than what you make at home? Well, according to David Lee, the co-founder and executive chef of plant-based restaurant PLANTA, this shouldn\u2019t be the case if you focus on a few things&#8230; starting with using seasonal ingredients whenever possible. What&#8217;s more, \u201cFruits and vegetables tend to be the most nutrient-dense right after they&#8217;re harvested when they&#8217;re at that peak ripeness, which is part of why seasonal produce tastes better,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.orlandohealth.com\/facilities\/center-for-health-improvement-horizon-west\/about-us\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.orlandohealth.com\/facilities\/center-for-health-improvement-horizon-west\/about-us\">Sara Riehm, RD<\/a>, a registered dietitian at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.orlandohealth.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.orlandohealth.com\/\">Orlando Health<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/seasonal-produce-benefits\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/seasonal-produce-benefits\/\">previously shared with Well+Good<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cFruits and vegetables tend to be the most nutrient-dense right after they&#8217;re harvested when they&#8217;re at that peak ripeness, which is part of why seasonal produce tastes better.&#8221;\u2014Sara Riehm, RD<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>That\u2019s why chefs recommend visiting specialty grocers and farmer&#8217;s markets to find the most unique seasonal and local ingredients to cook with.<\/p>\n<p><em>An herbalist shares common and accessible herbs for stress and anxiety:<\/em><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Common and Accessible Herbs for Stress and Anxiety | Plant-Based | Well+Good\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/o9AEPKn4MMI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1675549\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>According to a recent interview with Dan Buettner, a National Geographic reporter, longevity expert, and founder of the Blue Zones, there\u2019s one thing all five of the healthy-aging hotspots around the world have in common: Deliciously flavorful food that&#8217;s been crafted with care. While each Blue Zone is highly diverse from the next (if you&#8217;re &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4033,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4031","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4031","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4031"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4031\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4033"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4031"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4031"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4031"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}