Did you ever see that movie Cocoon? It was a movie about seniors who have been rejuvenated by aliens. It’s a fun, enjoyable and quintessentially ‘80s movie directed by Ron Howard but it also raises some interesting points about our expectations of what life has in store for us when we’re old. If you're currently in your ‘20s you likely know how far technology has moved on since you were born but who knows what it will be like when (or if we retire). We live in uncertain times and our future has never been so unclear. 

While we may not be able to tell what technological, social, political or healthcare advancements the future will bring, we know that it’s never too early to start laying a foundation for a healthier happier older you. Sure, a big part of that lies in getting your financial planning right, setting yourself up with a Blooom 401k and setting aside enough for you to retire comfortably. An even bigger part of it is ensuring that you eat well to ensure the kind of healthy, mobile and ageless body you have today… 40 or 50 years in the future. Think it can’t be done? There’s evidence to suggest that switching to a plant-based diet may be the answer.

Giving up animal products doesn’t mean giving up the taste

There’s an unhealthy fallacy in the world that healthy foods and delicious foods are mutually exclusive, but true foodies know that to be bunk! Not only does pretty much every major conurbation offer the same fast foods that omnivores enjoy from pizza to bacon cheeseburgers alongside healthier vegan fare, embracing a vegan diet often means opening yourself up to a range of delicious vegetables and fruits that you may not otherwise have entertained. Besides the obvious ethical and environmental advantages of a plant-based diet, even upping your intake of veggies and fruits while drastically lowering your intake of animal products can have some major advantages to see you healthily into old age.

Reduced risk of heart disease and cancer

That’s two of the biggest killers in the US right there, which are mainly caused by our reliance on red and processed meats. Did you know that bacon, ham, pepperoni, and salami are type 1 carcinogens? That’s the same group as cigarettes. A plant-based diet is comprised of much healthier fat sources and even where saturated fats are present (like in nuts), at least they’re offset by increased fiber. 

Lower cholesterol

Cholesterol is likely the last thing on your mind as you tuck into a bucket of KFC, but even in white meats like chicken and turkey which are generally regarded as healthier, you will find unhealthy levels of cholesterol. Plants tend not to have much cholesterol, but what they do have is bioactive compounds to reduce inflammation that contributes to many of the ill effects we associate with aging. It also reduces the cholesterol deposits in the brain that can lead to Alzheimer’s ensuring a healthier mind and body.