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In
this day and age, people are living longer and longer which is fantastic news
for us all! Human advances in medicine
and other pertinent areas have extended the average lifespan for humans to 77.2
years!
A
longer lifespan is great for us all, yet as we get older it's typical to
experience a variety of aged-related problems. While living longer is our goal,
I think we all agree we can do without the physical aging part. What can be
done to combat the aging process?
Heart
disease, memory loss, and wrinkles, to name a few, are all aging symptoms we
will all experience sooner or later due to free radicals.
Free
radicals are harmful oxygen molecules that damage our cells leading to several
age-related problems. But how can we
combat these free radicals? The answer...by eating
citrus fruits! Their abundant source of
vitamin C helps prevent wrinkles, protects our arteries, and reduces our risk
of heart disease and stroke.
Recently,
scientists have identified some key nutrients in food that can help with anti-aging. Let's take a look at the foods that can help us combat the effects of aging.
What
foods are best for anti-aging?
Spinach
and Grapefruit
Spinach
is rich with carotenoids, which help to protect the eye from macular
degeneration (a leading cause of blindness in the elderly).
Grapefruit
is full of glutathione, which helps to lower blood pressure and cholesterol.
Tomatoes
and Watermelon
Tomatoes
and watermelon both contain lycopene, a powerful antioxidant. They are so powerful that they can even help prevent
the growth of tumors!
Other
Important Nutrients
As
we age, our appetite naturally slows down and our body absorbs fewer nutrients
as it once was able to do. Couple that
with the fact that many of us simply do not eat the right amount of fruits and
vegetables, legumes, and whole grains, and we have a diet that's lacking. To make sure you eat the right amount of
nutrients everyday, include the following in your diet to insure you're
giving your body what it needs.
Beta-Carotene:
This can be found in carrots, yellow squash, sweet potatoes, and bright colored
vegetables. This antioxidant helps
prevent wrinkles, dry skin, cataracts, heart disease, and cancer. One sweet potato gives your body about 15
mg. of beta-carotene: the amount doctors
recommend we take in each day.
Vitamin
E: Found in nuts, wheat germ, and
cooking oil. Consuming the right amount
of vitamin E can help cut the risk of heart disease in half. All you need is just two teaspoons of sunflower
seeds a day to get in half of this important nutrient.
Zinc
and Calcium: These are the two most important minerals in your
diet! Calcium can be found in dairy
foods, and green leafy vegetables.
Calcium is also crucial in preventing osteoporosis. Zinc can be found in meats and shellfish, which
helps to keep the immune system strong.
B
Vitamins: The B vitamins help to maintain our energy and keep our nerves
and brain healthy. You can find B
vitamins in leafy greens, potatoes, bananas, meats, and legumes.
Our
nutritional needs change as we age so make sure your diet changes along with
what your body needs. Paying just a
little more attention will help you live a long life of health and vitality!
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Nothing on this site
is a recommendation as to how to treat any particular disease or health-related
condition. You should not use this site as a substitute for professional
medical advice. For serious ailments, or if symptoms persist, you must see
a medical professional. You should not stop taking prescribed medication
without consulting your doctor.
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