Secret to a long life
You want to live a long time, right?
So, what is the secret to a long life?
The now famous quote ‘death begins in the colon’ originated with the Nobel Prize winning Russian biologist, Elie Metchnikoff (1845-1916), who postulated that the toxic by-products of the bowel bacteria are responsible for many diseases.
So, if the secret to a long life for you is a healthy digestive system, what can you do about it?
The typical western diet does not contain enough fibre each day. An adult should be eating about 30 grams of fibre per day, on average most adults only eat about 18 grams per day.
Your children should be eating:
- 2- to 5-year-olds: need about 15g of fibre a day
- 5- to 11-year-olds: need about 20g
- 11- to 16-year-olds: need about 25g
According to Healthline:
Dietary fibre has various health benefits.
It feeds your gut bacteria, and fermentable fibre (like pectin in applesauce) also forms short-chain fatty acids, which nourish your colon wall.
Additionally, viscous, soluble fibre may reduce your appetite, lower your cholesterol levels, and decrease the rise in blood sugar after high carb meals.
If you’re aiming for a healthy lifestyle, try to get a variety of fibre types from whole fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains.
We’re aren’t saying that applesauce is the secret to a long life, however apples, and applesauce are a great source of soluble and insoluble fibre.
Why don’t you try this amazingly easy recipe for your breakfast a few times per week?
But wait! Fibre is not the only benefit you get with this recipe!
Not only does it contain about ½ the daily fibre intake for an adult, it is also packed with protein.
Protein is the building blocks of your body.
It helps your body to grow and repair, you are literally made of the stuff.
The very origin of the word — from the Greek protos, meaning “first” — shows the importance of protein to your daily nutrition.
Most adults need around 0.75g of protein per kilo of body weight per day (for the average woman, this is 45g, or 55g for men).
According to the British Heart Foundation, on average we eat almost double the protein we need.
This isn’t a problem in itself, but it depends where your protein is coming from. Meat-heavy diets have been linked to increased risks of heart disease, diabetes, some cancers and may also shorten your life.
Not exactly the secret to a long life!
Plant based proteins are used by the body in nearly the same way but don’t contain the harmful elements. Not suggesting you give up meat as it can be a part of a healthy diet.
To determine your recommended daily protein intake, you can do the maths yourself, or use this handy online protein calculator.
The secret to a long life starts with breakfast!
For a quick, easy and healthy breakfast you should try whole wheat toast with your choice of peanut butter (we suggest a brand with nothing added)
We use a fresh ground peanut butter from Nothing but Footprints and cover with your favourite guilt free New England Apple Sauce Company 100% organic unsweetened applesauce.
This recipe is packed with fibre, protein and mono and polyunsaturated fats. (Those are the good fats)
This will provide you with 25 grams of plant-based protein and 14 grams of fibre.
Secret to a long life recipe!
- 2 slices of your favourite whole wheat bread
- 100gm (6 ½ tablespoons) of your choice of organic or natural peanut butter
- 100 gm (6 ½ tablespoons) New England Apple Sauce 100% Organic unsweetened applesauce of your choice
Toast your bread to your desired toastiness (We’ll leave that up to you how you do that)
Spread 50gm (3 ¼ tablespoons) of your peanut butter on while the toast is hot.
Smother it with your choice of guilt free New England Apple Sauce Company 100% organic unsweetened applesauce. If you have the time and inclination you can heat up your applesauce.
You can even top that with some other fruits if you like.
What’s the use of knowing the secret to a long life if you aren’t going to enjoy it?
Also known as the Vandeman Breakfast!
While I’m pretty good at whipping up the tastiest organic apple sauce, nutrition isn’t really my area of expertise.
If you have any questions about staying healthy, I suggest contacting a professional like a nutritional therapist or health expert.
Elaine at Gut Feelings is excellent and can give you some really helpful tips and advice.
No animals were harmed in the making of this recipe!
