Digging Up the Sweet Benefits of Health Food Trends

When Lessie Brown, a 114-year-old woman from Ohio, passed away in January, her family attributed her longevity to the fact that she ate a sweet potato nearly every day until she was well past 100.¹

All potatoes are packed with nutrition, but the more colorful the potato, the better.

Varieties of orange, yellow and purple sweet potatoes have fewer calories and carbs than your basic Idaho potato. A single sweet potato also provides more than 100 percent of the recommended daily allotment of vitamin A.² Scientists rated the sweet potato as the No. 1 most nutritious food in a recent study, followed by figs, ginger, pumpkins and brussels sprouts.³

We all know nutrition is a huge part of staying healthy, but also remember good health can be a major influencer in making your savings last throughout retirement. The fewer the major medical bills, the more money you’ll retain.

Although staying healthy is a wonderful plan A, we can’t predict the future, no matter what we eat or how much we exercise. That’s why it’s important also to have a Plan B, which is where insurance products are generally appropriate. We typically buy insurance to help cover events that would financially devastate us, like having to replace our car or home, but it can also be used to replace or generate income during retirement. Contact us if you’d like more information.⁴

Another “super food” that’s been around for centuries is bone broth, basically soup made out of stewed bones. Remarkable nutritional qualities have raised bone broth’s popularity in the past few years. Here’s why:⁵

·         Wellness — Bone broth features a bounty of amino acids, which help reduce inflammation, improve digestion and boost the immune system. This helps us avoid common and seasonal ailments, like colds and flu.

·         Mobility — Keep moving so you can stay fit. Bone broth has natural glucosamine and chondroitin sulfates that aid in protecting, repairing and healing joints.

·         Appearance — When we look good, we feel good. Bone broth is packed with amino acids such as proline, which helps in the production of collagen, that magical protein that maintains skin elasticity, shiny hair and strong nails.

If you’re looking to lose weight as a way to get healthier, you may consider a low- or no-carb diet. Unfortunately, if you cut out all carbs, you’ll eliminate one of the building blocks of a healthy diet. Instead, consider switching to “slow-acting” carbs, which take more time to digest and facilitate a slower rise in blood sugar. Slow-acting carbs include whole-grain bread, fruits, vegetables and beans.⁶

Interesting new research shows if you’re in the mall food court and smell the wafting scent of french fries or pizza, you should wait a bit before you place an order. According to this study, if you immerse yourself in that scent for at least two minutes, you’re more likely to make a healthier food choice. The lesson here? Don’t give in to immediate impulses — apparently your body knows how to power through initial cravings and appeal to your better senses.⁷

Content prepared by Kara Stefan Communications.

¹ John Seewer. The Associated Press. Jan. 8, 2019. “Lessie Brown, oldest person in the US, dies at 114.” https://www.apnews.com/5bc33af9912f450693fc742877cd2bfc. Accessed Jan. 24, 2019.

² Cassie Shortsleeve. Time. Jan. 10, 2019. “Are Sweet Potatoes Healthy? Here’s What Experts Say.” http://time.com/5498125/are-sweet-potatoes-healthy/?xid=tcoshare. Accessed Jan. 24, 2019.

³ BBC. Jan. 29, 2019. “The world’s most nutritious foods.” http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20180126-the-100-most-nutritious-foods. Accessed Jan. 24, 2019.

⁴ ibid.

⁵ Rita Call. SixtyandMe.com. January 2019. “Five powerful reasons to give bone broth a try.” http://sixtyandme.com/5-powerful-reasons-to-give-bone-broth-a-try/. Accessed Jan. 24, 2019.

⁶ Allison Aubrey. NPR. Jan. 21, 2019. “You Don’t Have To Go No-Carb: Instead, Think Slow Carb.” https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/01/21/686603016/you-dont-have-to-go-no-carb-instead-think-slow-carb. Accessed Jan. 24, 2019.

⁷ Jamie Ducharme. Time. Jan. 22, 2019. “The Surprising Way to Resist the Lure of Junk Food.” http://time.com/5506851/how-to-stop-eating-junk-food/. Accessed Jan. 24, 2019.

We are an independent firm helping individuals create retirement strategies using a variety of insurance products to custom suit their needs and objectives. This material is intended to provide general information to help you understand basic retirement income strategies and should not be construed as financial advice.

The information contained in this material is believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed; it is not intended to be used as the sole basis for financial decisions. If you are unable to access any of the news articles and sources through the links provided in this text, please contact us to request a copy of the desired reference.

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