Eat This Sweet, Chewy Treat to Live Longer

You just might live longer if you satisfy your sweet tooth with this chewy, gooey treat: figs.

Why? Because figs are loaded with potassium. And in a recent study of people over age 55, those who reported a potassium-rich diet had a lower risk of dying over the next 5 years.

Potassium Protection
Potassium is an essential mineral your body needs to regulate your blood pressure. And studies suggest that getting ample amounts of it can help keep blood pressure under control as well as fend off stroke and heart disease. That's probably why the potassium lovers in the recent study, which analyzed the diets of over 5,000 people, had a reduced risk of dying from any cause during the 5-year follow-up period. (Find out how potassium-rich foods can help you get buff, too.)

Nice Things About Figs
One potassium caveat: Getting too much of a good thing is certainly possible when it comes to this mineral. The RealAge recommendation is about 3,000 milligrams each day, and we may even revise this figure upward when we finish our latest review of the scientific literature. But too much potassium can be toxic, so get what you need from food, not supplements. Six large, fresh figs supply a whopping 891 milligrams of the stuff. Plus, calcium to boot. (Find out what other foods contain potassium.)

Eat fresh or dried figs as an easy snack. Or enjoy figs in fun new ways with one of these EatingWell recipes:

• For a sweet and savory meal starter: Figs Stuffed with Gorgonzola
• For a fruitful twist to your main course: Pork Medallions with Fig & Port Wine Sauce
• For a creamy, saucy dessert: Marsala-Poached Figs over Ricotta

Did you know? Figs are so nutritious that they may cancel out some of the bad stuff in your diet. Here's how figs help undo oxidative damage from unhealthy foods.