Diet plays a huge role in health and well-being, and therefore life expectancy. An American expert claims that three simple drinks are all you need in your kitchen to reach triple digits in age.

Dan Buettner, an American longevity researcher, said:

"It's not natural for humans to drink another animal's milk any more than it's natural for a dog to suckle from a pig. It's just weird."

He advocates a diet based on Blue Zones - these are areas of the world where people typically live long and exceed 100 years of age.

Boutner said people in these areas - such as villages in Japan, Greece, Italy and Costa Rica - often drink only three things, and added that cow's milk is not one of them.  

"In most cases, when it comes to what they drink, people in blue zones drink water, teas and wine," the expert said.

Water is essential for keeping our bodies functioning properly - and it has clear benefits beyond simple hydration. In addition to regulating body temperature and aiding digestion, water maintains normal blood pressure and balances electrolytes in your body. 

If you don't keep hydrated with enough water, it can cause damage to your skin, which looks rough, itchy and wrinkled. According to the UK's National Health Service (NHS), healthy adults should aim to take in between 6 and 8 glasses of fluid a day (around two litres), or so much that the urine is a clear pale yellow colour.

Teas also boast a variety of natural health benefits - and there are dozens of varieties besides the traditional breakfast tea. Some teas are associated with lowering cholesterol levels, better heart health, boosting immunity and more. In addition to your physical health, some teas have also become very popular for their mental health boosting properties.

Wine may be shocking to some as a "healthy" drink. But before you open a bottle, keep in mind that the same rules of moderation apply in these blue zones.

The alcoholic beverage owes most of its powerful health properties to the antioxidant and polyphenol content of the botanicals. These properties promote good heart health and the proper balance of "good and bad" cholesterol levels in the body. 

The National Health Service (NHS) recommends that people drink no more than 14 units of alcohol a week, spread over 3 or more days. This is considered low risk drinking but there is no safe level of drinking. | BGNES