5 Top Anti-Aging Foods To Eat
Check out these top 5 anti-aging foods that can make you look and feel more vibrant today as FoodTrients discusses why you should incorporate them into your diet.
PINK GRAPEFRUIT – A Superfood and Anti-Aging Hero
Grapefruit is a go-to fruit for me, and I love to put pink grapefruit in my Spinach and Grapefruit Salad (featured in The Age GRACEfully Cookbook). All citrus contains antioxidants, fiber and anti-aging compounds like vitamin C but pink grapefruit has some special benefits to offer. Antioxidant (Ao) spermidine has shown positive results in some animal studies for longevity and in support of healthy cells. A more familiar antioxidant in pink grapefruit is lycopene, which is associated with anti-cancer benefits; another key to healthy aging. You will also find vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, vitamin A and copper in high levels in pink grapefruit. Lots of fiber combined with other nutrients helps support cardiovascular health, too.
AVOCADO – Heart Healthy and Age-Defying Superfood
You have probably heard that avocados are full of healthy fats and that is correct! The monounsaturated fat in avocados has been shown to support cardiovascular health, and help the body absorb certain nutrients much more efficiently. This powerhouse food has it all in one package. Rich in antioxidants (Ao), particularly the dark green part closest to the inside of the skin, eating avocado aids in healthy aging. In my new cookbook, The AGE BEAUTIFULLY Cookbook, I have include a delicious recipe with avocados – Guacamole with Pomegranate Seeds.
BERRIES – They Help Reduce Stress and Improve Memory
The dark red, blue and purple hues of berries tell us that they have something great to offer. My Strawberry-Banana Sorbet, which is in my new cookbook – The AGE BEAUTIFULLY Cookbook – is loaded with berry power. Packed with antioxidants (Ao), vitamins, minerals and fiber, berries have long been associated with health. As research keeps pouring out about the many benefits of berries, there is particular interest in how they can provide motor and cognitive support as we age. They may also help decrease stress signals and increase signals involved in learning and memory.
SEA VEGETABLES – Discover a Treasure of Benefits
Under the sea lies a world of age-fighting foods that we need to incorporate into our diets. Call them sea veggies, seaweed or kelp, plants that grow underwater have some serious anti-aging benefits in the form of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Nutrients that are rare elsewhere, such as iodine and vanadium, abound uniquely in sea vegetables and can help support normal thyroid function and regulate metabolism including blood sugar. An antioxidant (Ao) special to sea vegetable called fucoidans has shown potential for anti-inflammatory (Ai), anti-cancer, and anti-viral capacity. Full of vitamin C, iron, B vitamins and carotenoids, learning to include sea vegetables into your diet is something you should start today. My Seaweed Salad (featured in The AGE BEAUTIFULLY Cookbook) is a good beginning!
BEANS AND LEGUMES – A Life Full of Beans . . . Oh, boy!
Beans are an anti-aging powerhouse full of fiber, protein and antioxidants (Ao). The vibrant color in black and kidney beans signals the fact that they are full of healthy compounds such as anthocyanin flavonoids (DP), kaemferol and quercetin (Ai). Beans offer tons of molybdenum and folate for optimal cellular health. Consuming beans has been linked to a reduction in diseases like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. Soybeans offer a special anti-aging benefit because they are rich in isoflavones which have proven beneficial for bone strength (S), heart health, and improving memory (M) and learning skills (M). Most people enjoy eating beans but they state that they forget about them. Dig up some of your favorite bean recipes today and aim to include them in your diet throughout the week for optimal health. And check out my Black Bean Salad recipe in my new cookbook, The AGE BEAUTIFULLY Cookbook.
