A healthy diet is important at any age, but becomes critical, as you get older. The truth is that lifestyle diseases that stem from diet and lack of physical activity are killing us.
According to the Centers For Disease Control, almost 900,000 Americans die prematurely every year from lifestyle diseases, which include heart disease, stroke, and cancer and 20% to 40% of these deaths are preventable. More often than not, it is lifestyle choices that dictate these conditions.
The World Health Organization reports that lifestyle diseases account for a staggering 70% of all deaths, and that more than ever before diet and lack of physical activity is driving these numbers in both industrial regions and developing countries.
Aging is an inevitable process; it will happen regardless of what you do. However, there are ways you can take the process in hand that offer a bit of a “slow down” of the process in order to avoid many preventable diseases that cause premature death.
The best place to start? By feeding your body with the foods, it needs to optimize performance and health.
The Single Best Way to Slow Down Aging – Consuming Antioxidants
You would have likely heard the word antioxidant but may not fully understand what it means or what it does within the body. Let’s clear that up.
See, as we age, every single day of our lives we are exposed to oxidative damage. It is simply a fact of life. Cells and DNA become worn out the longer they exist, and eventually they are unable to replicate to 100%.
This is the process of aging taking place. Stress from everyday life just compounds oxidative damage, and can accelerate the aging process, exactly what we are trying to avoid.
Anti-Aging Benefits of Anti-Oxidants
1 – Prevents UV Damage from the Sun – damage from the sun can accelerate aging of the skin and result in cell mutations.
2 – Boost Heart Health – can keep cholesterol levels within a normal range, clear blood vessels and promote normal heart rhythm.
3 – Strengthens the Immune System – you become less susceptible to illnesses that sap away health, as well as more resistant to various types of cancer.
With that in mind, where are these antioxidants found? Luckily, in a variety of veggies and fruits, so for best health, and graceful aging, consider getting more of these in your diet:
Berries
Berries are among some of the fruits with highest antioxidant content, being able to positively boost health. Think of blueberries, strawberries, and cranberries as ones you should be getting more of.
Though not ideal to be consumed in mass amounts (due to sugar content) they do provide a massive dose of antioxidants, reducing pro-inflammatory compounds and slowing down hastened aging and they are also one of the lowest sugar fruits.
Cocoa
Cocoa has many more functions that making chocolate, as it is actually a health food. Rich in polyphenols, one of which is epicatechin, cocoa has a myriad of health benefits, including potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant ability. Cocoa is actually superior in antioxidant profile when compared with green tea or even red wine.
Cruciferous Veggies
Extremely rich in anti-oxidants and phytonutrients, cruciferous vegetables can help prevent cancer, improve blood lipid values and encourage the removal of waste from the body. Coupled with the fact that they’re excellent free radical scavengers, cruciferous vegetables can and should be consumed daily.
Brightly Colored Veggies & Fruits
Think of carrots, bell peppers and citrus, all foods that contain high number of bioactive compounds. In terms of carrots, they contain high levels of Beta-carotene, a type of vitamin A that has super potent antioxidant abilities.
Coupled with the high Vitamin C levels of bell peppers and citrus, these fruits and veggies provide a massive anti-aging effect in those who consume it. Tomatoes are also rich in lycopene, a rare antioxidant that is especially helpful to men’s health.
Antioxidants are your best insurance against the rigors of aging. They help safeguard heart health, eye, and skin along with fortifying your immune system.
Consuming a mix of both fruits and vegetables ensures you get the widest spectrum of phytonutrients available to prevent lifestyle diseases and maintain a healthy weight.
