Food Combos to Slow Down Aging
Experts agree that it’s never too late to eat to ward off the diseases associated with aging. A whopping $80 billion spent in the U.S. for anti-aging products. The way we eat is the foundation for better health, and a longer lifespan. Eating our way to slow down aging has never been easier than knowing what combinations have the most benefits. Here is 8 food combos to slow down aging:
1. Yogurt and blueberries
While the age-defying powers of yogurt never have been proven directly, yogurt is rich in calcium, which helps stave off osteoporosis and contains “good bacteria” that works to maintain gut health and diminish the incidence of age-related intestinal illness. Yogurt also contains probiotics that help improve the microbial balance inside the intestines.
Rich in antioxidants, blueberries are also an anti-aging treat, believed to prevent memory loss as well as fight chronic degenerative diseases including heart disease and high blood pressure.
2. Tomatoes and avocado
Tomatoes help protect your skin from the sun and thus the exposure that leads to skin aging. Tomatoes also contain vitamins C and A. Avocados also contain vitamin E, as well as the omega-3 fatty acids and a whole host of other nutrients designed to help your body make repairs and live longer.
3. Garlic and fish
There are many reasons to add garlic to your diet, one of which is that it helps lower your cholesterol. An anti-oxidant, garlic is also said to help lower blood pressure and prevent against blood clots. Containing good-for-you omega-3 fatty acids, fish has been shown to reduce one’s risk of stroke.
4. Oatmeal and orange juice
Oatmeal is rich in soluble fiber that gets rid of “bad” cholesterol. Oats also are packed with the antioxidants that do battle against cell damage. Drink a glass of orange juice with your oatmeal in order to acquire anti-aging elements such as vitamin C and beta carotene. If that’s not enough, orange juice also gives you energy so it’s a perfect drink for first thing in the morning.
Patients in their 60s have reversed age-related disease by adopting healthier eating habits, said Dr. Tieraona Low Dog, education director for the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson.
“Diet is the foundation for better health, a longer lifespan,” she said. “Food has the power to heal and change lives at any time in our lives.”
Low Dog also recommends an 80-20 balance, with the bulk being healthful and the remaining “anything you want to eat.”
“Few of us can eat right all the time,” she said, “but if you eat right most of the time, you will have an edge, protecting your heart, brain, eyes and joints against the diseases associated with aging.”
5. Kiwi and green leafy vegetables
Try green leafy vegetables to hydrate your skin and help diminish wrinkles. And kiwi is good because it neutralizes free radicals associated with cancer and heart disease. It also boasts more potassium than a banana and more vitamin C than an orange, meaning kiwi is also good for your skin.
6. Red wine and steak
Experts say that a glass of red wine a day can be good for your heart because of all the antioxidants and nutrients it contains. And, earlier this year, Harvard researchers announced that the compound resveratrol found in red wine does indeed offer anti-aging benefits. When it comes to beef, so long as it comes from organically raised cattle, steak can provide an anti-aging boost as it contains the amino acid L-carnitine, which helps with strength and endurance, and also with breaking down fat for energy.
7. Carrots and broccoli
Just a half-cup of broccoli a day can make you feel energized while also boosting your immune system. Why? Because broccoli contains more than 2/3 of the daily recommended dose of vitamin C. For their part, carrots may protect against skin cancer while also packing a lot of beta-carotene, which not only helps with skin-cell renewal, but acts as a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants are great for getting rid of free radicals that can make your skin age faster.
8. Green Tea and Black Pepper
After your next meal sip a cup of green tea with a little black pepper thrown in. The combination boosts the absorption of EGCG, a key antioxidant in tea tied to calorie burning, by 130 percent. Experts say the compounds in green tea can affect the hormones that regulate hunger and fullness.
Superfoods are nutrient powerhouses that pack large doses of antioxidants, polyphenols, vitamins, and minerals. Eating them may reduce the risk of chronic disease, and help to prolong life.