Are You Eating the Right Foods?

Eventually, we all get old. One day, we wake up, and we have these little lines across our face that we had never noticed before, our hair takes on shades of grey and white and our bodies ache in places we didn’t know we had.

But you can slow down the aging process by choosing to live a healthier lifestyle. Your diet and what you eat plays a large role in how fast you age—the high carb, high fat world that we live in can take you on the fast track to aging. Changing your diet is the first step to staying younger looking and feeling longer.

Antioxidant Power in Berries and Green Leaf Veggies
We’ve all heard that antioxidants are “Super Foods,” and it’s true. Eating foods that are rich in antioxidants can be the answer to the age old question of “where is the fountain of youth.”

Berries contain anthocyanins, which help Vitamin C and Vitamin E work better in your body. Research shows that berries reduce inflammation caused by arthritis, an aging disease, as well as prevent or aide in the treatment of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s Disease and Dementia, also aging diseases.

Some berries, such as blueberries, also help with memory retention. It is suggested that one and a half to two cups a day be consumed. Regardless of how you eat them—on cereal, in yogurt, by the handful or in a yummy smoothie—the health benefits are great.

Another great source of antioxidants is found in green leaf vegetables. Spinach, fresh salad greens and turnip or mustard greens are all great tatting and can easily be incorporated into daily meals. Eating at least one large serving of these dark green leafy vegetables gives your body the much needed magnesium, Vitamin K and Vitamin E that it needs to fight the signs of aging.

Omega-3 to the Rescue
Protein is essential to your health, but sometimes it can be hard to get the protein you need without overdosing on fat. Choosing lean meats will reduce your fat intake while giving you the much need protein your body craves, as well as the essential Omega-3 your heart needs.

Fish, such as tuna and salmon, provide you with essential Omega-3 fats. Omega-3 has been shown to fight cellular aging, keeping your heart healthy as you get older.

Don’t fret if you’re not a seafood person, there are still options for you. White meat poultry, pork tenderloin and even some extra lean cuts of beef are all okay in moderation. Making sure that you get enough protein every day is essential to maintaining your muscle mass.

While lean meats won’t give you the much needed Omega-3 you need, walnuts, soy beans and tofu, as well as cauliflower, broccoli and brussel sprouts, do. If you can’t stomach fish, then make sure that your diet includes plenty of the above as a supplement.

Your Own Fountain Of Youth
We all age, but you have the choice to age slower by choosing what you consume wisely. Replace all of your cooking oils with extra virgin olive oil, snack on Omega-3 rich foods such as walnuts, incorporate berries and green leaf vegetables into your daily diet and choose lean meats and cold water fish as your main dinner option.

Premature aging doesn’t have to happen; the old saying, “you are what you eat” really is true!