Study Says Eating Certain Foods Could Cut Minutes Off Your Life
I love life! I really do! But if you tell me my favorite food could take 30 minutes off my life, I’m gonna roll the dice and take a chance. I get it…food is for nourishment. But some food s are just too darn tasty to let go of.
Researchers from the University of Michigan evaluated 5,800 popular foods to determine their impact in terms of healthy living gained or lost. For example, chicken wings take 3.3 minutes away from your life. On the other hand, salmon adds 16 minutes. The foods studied range from 74 minutes lost to 80 minutes gained per serving.
The biggest losers? Sugary drinks, hot dogs, burgers and breakfast sandwiches top the list for most minutes of healthy life lost. And for the largest gains? Fruits, non-starchy vegetables and cooked grains are among foods that add the most minutes per serving.
So if you’re a hot dog fan, that’s 36 minutes off your life whenever you eat one. WTH is Joey Chestnut going to do?! He kicks back at least hundreds every year!
On the positive side, beans and rice add 13 minutes, baked salmon adds 16 minutes, salted peanuts add 26 minutes and a PB&J can increase healthy living by 33 minutes. SWEET! PB&J is a bonus. Note to self, get some strawberry jelly on the way home.
Overall, researchers suggest switching 10% of your daily calories from beef and processed meats to a mix of fruits, legumes, nuts, certain seafood and vegetables. Makes sense. Although, I’m still gonna eat my ice cream once in a while. If takes time off my life, I’m good with that. I’m not gonna be on my death bed wishing I had eaten a mint chocolate chip cone! No regrets!
