Aging is a natural process and nobody can put a halt to it. However, making a deliberate effort to eat healthy can slow down the process. Let’s take a look at some special foods that experts say can boost health and make you look and feel your best at any age:
- Honey: Rich in antioxidants, vitamins B6, C, thiamin, niacin and calcium, honey can help combat memory loss and anxiety.
- Greens: Spinach, broccoli and cabbage, and other green, leafy vegetables contain folate, calcium, Vitamin E and other nutrients. They improve bone health, guard against memory loss, and help prevent age-related eye problems. They also reduce risk of cancer.
- Whole grains: They are rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants and lower the risk of age-related illnesses. As they are digested more slowly than processed grains, they help prevent high blood sugar and diabetes.
- Water: Staying hydrated preserves skin tone and optimizes digestion. Experts recommend drinking a minimum of 1.5 liters of water every day.
- Berries: Blueberries, blackberries, and cranberries are rich in antioxidant compounds which slow the growth of certain cancers and improve brain function, muscle tone, and balance. They contain very powerful plant nutrients which have anti-aging effects.
- Plain yogurt: Low in calories, rich in protein and filled with friendly bacteria that promote digestive health, yoghurt is a good source of calcium, phosphorusm, riboflavin and vitamin B12.
- Olive oil: The anti-aging properties of olive oil are due to the presence of polyphenols and oleic acid. Studies report that olive oil lowers risk of Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis, and skin aging.
- Garlic: It contains vitamins A, B and C, selenium, iodine, potassium, iron, calcium, zinc and magnesium. Garlic reduces blood pressure and cholesterol, helps prevents cancer and acts as an antifungal and antiviral agent.
- Tomatoes: They contain lycopene, an antioxidant compound that helps maintain youthful skin texture and may reduce the risk of some types of cancer and heart disease.
- Nuts: With healthy fats, vitamins, and protein that benefit cardiovascular and brain health, nuts are high in compounds that ease inflammation.
- Fish: Oily fish such as salmon and mackerel have omega-3 fatty acids that help combat inflammation in the body. Salmon is an excellent source of high quality, easily digestible protein and is rich in anti-aging nutrients such as vitamins D and E.
- Green tea: The antioxidants in green tea lower the risk of heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease. Green tea also aids weight loss.
- Herbs and spices: While the anti-inflammatory compounds in spices such as turmeric and ginger reduce the risk of age-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, cinnamon can help lower blood sugar. The antioxidants in garlic and onions can protect against heart disease and cancer.
Eating healthy and including these items in your diet will slow down aging. However, you should also take care to avoid unhealthy foods such as sugary, fatty, refined and highly processed foods.
