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Seven Anti-aging Foods

One of the more celebrated properties of antioxidants is that they appear to slow down and prevent physical aging. Exactly how strong the effect may be is still largely unknown, since the research in the area is relatively recent. Laboratory studies and limited clinical studies strongly suggest that keeping the free radicals at bay will significantly reduce the symptoms of aging.

If you are alive today, you may not have the time to wait for science to come up with a definitive answer. These are some foods that are belived to have the strongest effect against aging and the ailments that aging often carries with it, such as heart disease and cancer. The order of the foods is random.

Tomatoes

The mediterranean diet has become famous because of the interesting health properties it seems to bestow on the mediterranean populations. Key ingredients are olive oil, which seems to act like a cancer-killer, fish and tomatoes. Tomatoes, in particular, contain great amounts of lycopene, an antioxidant which fights a number of cancers, including prostate cancer. Lycopene it the substance that gives tomatoes their rich, red color. In raw tomatoes, the lycopene is in a form that is hard for the body to make use of, so the best bet for getting lycopene from tomatoes is to eat tomato products such as spaghetti sauce, tomato purée, or even ketchup.

White tea

Green tea has been known for some time to contain great concentartions of antioxidants. Indeed, whole populations live healthier and better becauxse of it, as shown by the Asian paradox. Because white tea is harvested while the leaves are still very young and the antioxidants are still very fresh, its content of antioxidants is that much more potent. The antioxidants are the same, mostly catechins, which are believed to have a strong effect against free radicals and aging. The cancer-fighting effects are probably its most important property. White tea is somewhat more expensive than green tea, but most find the mild taste of white tea more agreeable the the slightly grassy aftertaste of green tea. And we should keep in mind that one cup of white tea provides as much antioxidants as three cups of green tea. The antibacterial and antiviral proparties of white tea have been well documented, and keeping harmful bacteria and microorganisms at bay is a good way of boosting the immune system and slowing down the aging process.

Garlic

In the same vein, garlic is a potent antibiotic. Before the discovery of the much stronger (and more harmful to the body) penicillin, garlic was ofteh used to curb infections. Because Russian soldiers in World War I were given garkic to fight all kinds of infections, garlic was sometimes known as «Russian penicillin». Interestingly, while the potency of fungal antibiotics (such as penicillin) drops rapidly with time, the body never develops resistance to garlic. Keeping chronic infections at bay are important as we age, not least because such conditions contribute to cardiovascular diseases. This is where garlic shines, so to speak. But garlic also contains a number of antioxidants in considerable amounts. Vitamin C, quercetin and selenium are the most important ones. In addition, garlic contains manganese, an important building block of the antioxidant enzyme called superoxide dismutase. If you don't like the taste or the smell of garlic, garlic concentrate is available as capsules. They are completely taste-free and leave no odor.

Walnuts

Walnuts are an excellent source of the essential and disease-combatting omega-3 fatty acids. A quarter cup of walnuts, about a handful, contains 90 percent of the daily requirement of omega-3 fatty acids. The health benefits of eating walnuts include cradiovascular protection, anti-inflammattory effects, and promotion of cognitive function. In addition, walnuts contain many polyphenol antioxidants, which support the immune system and fights aging and cancer. Because walnuts contain a lot of fat, albeit healthy fat, eating more than about a handful each day would provide no additional benefit and would simply add to your caloric intake, in itself something that should be limited.

Berries

Berries are very high in antioxidant content, not least the blueberry. The antioxidants in question are called flavonoids. The deep indigo-black color of blueberries can to some degree be attributed to the flavonoids. A rule of thumb is that the darker the color, the more antioxidants do the berries contain. Blueberries neutralize free radical damage to the collagen matrix of cells and tissues that can lead to cataracts, glaucoma, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, peptic ulcers, heart disease and cancer. Blueberries generally have a higher concentration of antioxidants than red wine does.

Cruciferous vegetables

Vegetables like broccoli, beet greens, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cale and watercress are particularly good containers of antioxidants. Not only do they have rich contents of dietary fiber, all sorts of vitamins and minerals, they are also low in calories. The antioxidants that are especially concentrated in cruciferous vegetables are phytochemicals called isothiocyanates. Clinical studies have shown that they stimulate the body to produce enzymes that detoxify carcinogens. Broccoli, for instance, is host to the antioxidant sulphoraphane, which breaks down substances that may otherwise lead to cancer. Watercress contains other powerful antioxidants, like phenethyl isothiocyanate, which acts in the same way. All cruciferous vegetables are rich in antioxidants that are belived to have a general anti-aging effect.

Water

Keeping the body hydrated is an important part of slowing the aging process. Water is an important solvent to a number of antioxidants. Water-rich blood thins out the free radicals instead of concentrating them, and keeping a steady stream of fluids through the system is a good way of flushing out waste substances before they have a chance to concentrate and do any damage. Because the sense of thirst weakens as we get older, older people are less conscious of the body's need for water, and many spend large parts of their life in a state of chronic dehydration. This may accelerate the rate of decay in the cells. Keep the body well hydrated by drinking about eight glasses of clean water throughout the day.

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