Anti Aging Foods
Feel the best you can at any age with these anti aging diets
Anti aging foods are really just foods that are good for you – they improve your overall health, vitality, well being, and appearance.
To eat healthy you have to make conscious decisions. You can do this by shopping smarter, researching healthy recipes that also taste fabulous, and not giving in to impulse eating (you know those nights when you’re sitting in front of the TV and eating a whole bag of cookies without even realizing it). These anti aging foods have been reported to have all kinds of preventative and healing capabilities that promote health and well being. Much of the aging and nutrition information available today is common sense. While there are many conflicting reports on any particular food’s value, it’s clear that those who eat so-called anti aging diets consisting of natural unprocessed foods rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains will feel better than those who live primarily on sugary processed fast foods. You can drive yourself crazy if you try to find the perfect nutritional diet that works for everyone. It doesn’t exist because everyone is different. The important thing is to take responsibility for how you feel and that includes the foods that work best for YOU. Your body will tell you how you feel; the trick is to listen to it.
Top 20 Anti Aging Foods (in no particular order)- Avocados: Reduces the bad type of cholesterol, keeps your skin from aging, eases hot flashes, prevents fluid retention, and high blood pressure.
- Blueberries: Helps fight free radicals and aging, cancer, heart disease, age-related blindness, and wrinkles. As a bonus it helps keep your memory sharp and is high in fiber and low in calories.
- Sweet potatoes: These low glycemic index spuds are full of fiber, beta carotene and Vitamin E. They provide energy and have been reported to lower the risk of some cancers.
- Cruciferous vegetables: These include cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, turnips, brussels sprouts, radishes, and watercress. They help the body fight against toxins and cancer. It's best to eat them raw or lightly cooked so that the important enzymes remain intact.
- Dark, leafy vegetables: This includes spinach, kale, mustard greens, romaine lettuce, swiss chard, arugula, and collard greens. These anti-aging foods help with reducing weight, bone loss and fractures.
- Garlic: Eating a clove of garlic a day can help to protect the body against cancer and heart disease. Garlic can promote a healthy immune system and help maintain healthy blood circulation. It is one of those anti-aging foods that get attributed to curing everything from the common cold to cancer.
- Nuts: Adding nuts to your diet can help your digestive and immune systems work better, improve your skin, and help prevent cancer. Nuts may also help control cholesterol levels. Just one ounce of walnuts is a great source of omega-3s which can reduce the risk of heart disease. As an added bonus, although nuts are high in fat and calories, they don’t promote weight gain.
- Soy: Menopausal women might find that soy helps to maintain estrogen levels and may alleviate hot flashes. It helps protect against Alzheimer's disease, osteoporosis and heart disease as well.
- Whole grains: Complex carbohydrates provide energy throughout the day; helps you stay slim due to the high fiber content; and has been reported to protect against many diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, colon cancer, and high blood pressure.
- Watermelon: The nutrients in watermelon help fight against free radical damage and aging. Eating this fruit can help fight heart disease and improve your immune system.
- Water: Well, water isn’t technically a food, but it’s extremely important when discussing nutrition and health. Drink at least 8 glasses of water every day to help get rid of the toxins and unwanted waste from your body. It also prevents dehydration, hydrates your skin, and promotes weight loss.
- Foods rich in Vitamin C: Foods such as strawberries, oranges, cantaloupes and red bell peppers are anti-aging foods that may help with the appearance of wrinkles. According to Self Magazine, women who ate the most Vitamin C were 11% less likely to have wrinkles.
- Tomatoes: Eating a tomato a day can help prevent excess belly fat and mood swings. The fiber in a tomato can also help decrease your overall calorie consumption. Tomatoes have also been reported to help protect against cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Make sure to add this important veggie to your anti aging foods list.
- Figs: Figs contain polyphenols which has been linked to longevity. They also contain iron which helps reduce or eliminate fatigue and anemia.
- Dark chocolate: The antioxidant benefits include lower cholesterol and lower blood pressure.
- Green, Black or White tea: Some studies have indicated that drinking white tea can get rid of free radicals which can speed up aging. Drinking 3 or more cups of green or black tea may protect against strokes.
- Yogurt: This is a great choice because it is rich in important minerals like potassium, calcium, protein and B vitamins. A daily dose of yogurt can help keep bones strong, help reduce the likelihood of cancer, and aid in weight loss.
- Black Beans: They have often been called one of the most perfect anti aging foods because of the balance between complex carbs and protein. It helps lower cholesterol and helps our body convert carbohydrates to meet our energy needs.
- Omega-3 rich fish: The omega-3s in fatty fish like salmon, sardines, and tuna have the most potent anti-inflammatory effects and have been reported to improve mood and attitude. A diet rich in omega-3s can help prevent heart disease, help with arthritis and memory loss.
- Alkaline diet foods: Eat mostly alkaline foods that do not produce acids. Eating primarily from an alkaline foods list containing mostly fruits, vegetables, nuts, and alkaline water can dramatically help turn back the clock.
Experiment with incorporating these anti aging foods into your daily diet until you find the perfect balance for your body.
The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition.~ Thomas Edison
|