Ok, so it’s a fact that you can’t be young forever.
But then, there are ways you can age gracefully, look younger and maybe even slow down the
signs of aging.
These ways include regular exercise, optimum sleep, and a meticulous skincare regimen.
But the single most important thing has less to do with what you put on your body than
what you put in it.
Yes, we're talking about your diet.
By choosing the right foods and giving up the wrong ones, you'll nourish not only your
body and brain but also your skin, your hair, and your overall health for years to come.
In today’s video we’ll tell you about the best anti ageing foods that you can make
a part of your diet.
From Blueberries, Greek Yoghurt, Salmon to Leafy Green vegetables and many more, stay
tuned to hear them all!
Brazil Nuts: These potent seeds hail from South America and may not be as common as
peanuts or walnuts, but there's good reason to seek them out at your local health food
store or online:
One ounce of brazil nuts, which is about six to eight nuts, has 777 percent of the daily
value for selenium, an antioxidant that plays a critical role in DNA synthesis and helps
protect your body from oxidative damage and infection.
Inadequate concentrations of selenium may be associated with age-related declines in
brain function.
Selenium concentrations in your body naturally decline with age, so load up on these amazing
nuts.
Sesame Seeds: Sesame seeds are high in calcium and rich in other minerals like iron, magnesium,
phosphorous and fiber.
Bones are made of more than calcium, so an overall mineral-rich diet, along with adequate
movement are a recipe for healthy bones for life.
Try using tahini which is made from sesame seeds as a base in vinaigrettes or sprinkling
a handful or two into pasta salads for a nice textural element.
Dark Chocolate: Sorry, we are talking about dark chocolate here and milk chocolate doesn't
count.
Dark chocolate is loaded with flavanols, which are believed to benefit appearance by increasing
blood flow to your skin.
Flavanols also absorb UV radiation, protecting your skin from the damaging effects of the
sun.
It is high in calories, though, so to avoid weight gain, be sure to eat it in moderate
amounts, a square or two as an afternoon treat is all you need.
Blueberries: Blueberries contain more antioxidants than almost any other fruit.
These tiny berries pack a mighty punch giving you protection against skin-damaging free
radicals from sun exposure, stress, and pollution.
They also have vitamin C, which helps prevent the wrinkling effects on your skin due to
sun damage.
Tuna: Tuna is loaded with Omega-3 fatty acids which can help to reduce inflammation.
So why is the ability to quell bodily inflammation so important?
Well, stress, lack of sleep, unhealthy eating, and exposures to chemicals in the foods that
you eat, breathe, and drink all lead to a chronic state of low-grade inflammation.
Essentially, you exhaust your immune system just by cleaning up the daily wear and tear
on your bodies.
This ends up accelerating the aging of your brain.
Avocado: Your body can make all the fats it needs except for two essential fatty acids,
Linoleic Acid or LA and Alpha Linolenic Acid or ALA.
These two are like the team leaders to build strong cell walls for beautiful and well-nourished
skin.
Avocados are full of essential fatty acids Omega-3 and monounsaturated fats.
They are wonderful wrinkle softeners and moisturize your skin from within.
Pineapple: This tropical favorite can help you appear seriously younger.
Pineapple is rich in manganese, which is needed to activate an enzyme called prolidase.
Prolidase provides the amino acid proline for the formation of collagen in skin, which
plays an important role in strengthening your skin and its elasticity.
Greek Yogurt: Greek Yogurt packs twice the amount of protein of regular yogurt.
This low-fat snack also contains vitamin C and D, which are essential for maintaining
strong bones as you grow older, especially after menopause.
For a healthy afternoon snack that counts as a third of your daily suggested calcium
consumption, eat an eight-ounce portion of greek yogurt.
And for a super-charged anti-aging bonus, sweeten your dish with a handful of blueberries.
Eggs: Eggs usually come under fire because of their high cholesterol content.
But studies show that healthy men and women who consume an egg a day actually don’t
experience negative health effects.
In addition, eggs contain all the essential B vitamins: B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, choline,
biotin, and folic acid.
Choline has been shown to protect your memory, while two proteins in eggs - lutein and zeaxanthin
- can protect against vision loss.
Dark Leafy Green Vegetables: When it comes to leafy salad staples, a good rule of thumb
is: the darker the green, the higher the nutrition content.
They are an excellent choice for glowing skin, and contain vital nutrients for keeping your
eyes young.
Out of all the green leafy vegetables, Kale and Spinach deserve special mention.
They are filled with potent antioxidants that have been shown to protect your eyesight and
essential minerals such as manganese, magnesium, iron and vitamin B2 which are required for
the normal functioning of your brain and nervous system.
Tofu: Tofu, soya milk and soya yogurt are all rich in isoflavones.
These super-nutrients are similar to the female hormone oestrogen, which helps the skin make
good-quality collagen and lubricating oils.
From the work that’s been done on isoflavones so far, skin experts believe they may help
to slow down the thinning in your skin, a process that encourages the formation of fine
lines and wrinkles.
Tomatoes: Tomatoes are a rich source of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that fights free radicals
and slows down the aging process.
Besides the protection from free radicals, tomatoes can also provide you similar benefits
as top moisturizers.
How do they do that?
Well, it’s because lycopene nourishes your skin and makes it smoother.
One study discovered that participants with higher concentrations of lycopene also had
smoother skin.
Another study showed that eating lycopene rich tomato paste can protect you from photodamage
which is change in your skin that occurs after prolonged exposure to solar radiation.
Oats: Oats are an excellent source of fiber which can improve your digestion.
Healthy digestion is also important for skin health because it helps your body detox and
flush out toxins.
Complex carbohydrates like oats are highly recommended for the skin due to their low-glycemic
nature which won’t cause spikes in your blood sugar.
On the other hand, high-glycemic foods are associated with wrinkles and acne.
Moreover, oats prevent damage to your skin cells and it soothes skin irritation.
Coconut Oil: As a medium-chain fatty acid, coconut oil is a rich source of good fat.
The small size of medium-chain fatty acids allows them to permeate cell membranes easily,
meaning your body does not require additional enzymes to absorb the nutrients.
The good fat in coconut oil goes straight to your liver and is immediately converted
to energy, as opposed to being stored as fat.
Healthy fats are linked to effective weight loss and anti-aging.
Applying coconut oil to the skin can even act as a natural sunscreen.
The oil also contains lauric acid, giving it natural antimicrobial properties toward
fighting infectious bacteria, parasites, and viruses.
Sweet Potatoes: Sweet Potatoes are packed with nutrients, including vitamins C and E
which are important for a radiant complexion.
They also come filled with beta-carotene, which is converted to Vitamin A.
Vitamin A can help restore your skin’s elasticity and promote skin cell turnover for a more
youthful-look.
Carrots and pumpkins are also packed with beta carotene and have similar benefits.
Bell Peppers: Bell Peppers are spectacular in your signature tofu stir-fry, even better
when thrown on the grill and charred to perfection, and best when stewed into a savory, spicy
stew.
But here's a good reason to munch on them raw.
Half a cup of raw red bell pepper provides 158 percent of the recommended daily value
of vitamin C, which plays a vital role in wound healing, immune function, and protein
metabolism.
It's also an antioxidant that may help prevent certain types of cancers and cardiovascular
disease, as well as slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration.
Green Tea: Green tea is great for keeping your body young by maintaining healthy cells,
protecting them against damage and decreasing stress: It's packed with powerful antioxidants
called flavonoids that protect against disease and block DNA damage associated with tobacco
and other toxic chemicals that cause destruction in your body, aging it.
Plus, there's nothing that ages you faster than a stressful lifestyle and green tea contains
theanine, an amino acid that helps to keep you calm and focused, and decreases stress.
Since being less stressed makes your body less likely to fall victim to illness, think
about swapping your next frappuccino for a quick brew of green tea.
Which of these foods are your favourite?
Are any of these foods a part of your daily diet?
Let us know in the comments section below!