When you really get down to it, one of the main objectives of life is to stay alive for as long as we can. On average, we occupy a place on this planet for about 75 years. Some of us hang around for a little longer, while others take an earlier ferry. Still, barring any unfortunate accident or contraction of a terminal illness at a younger age, 75 seems to be the norm.

Keeping your stay on this wonderful world of ours from being cut short sometimes requires a good amount of work (regular exercise, adequate amounts of sleep, stressing less, etc.). However, there are also some easy ways to prevent early departure, many of which involve nothing more than a revised grocery shopping list. For the next eight days, we'll offer one death-defying food choice each day to help keep you healthy and happy for many more years to come.

Death-Defying Food #3: Green Tea

Combat heart disease -- the number one killer in the U.S. -- with a spot of the green stuff. A Greek study found that regularly drinking green tea can rapidly improve the function of the cells lining the circulatory system, greatly reducing the risk of atherosclerosis. Add a touch of lemon for even greater health benefits, as research shows that doing so can increase the body's ability to absorb catechins -- the disease-fighting antioxidants found in green tea.