Anti-Aging Foods

Forget the miracle creams, balms, injections and scrubs. For the best aging remedies, simply get eating.

Cooked tomatoes are rich in Lycopene. This antioxidant is very powerful and plays a key role in protecting against coronary heart disease and cancer. It is imperative that the tomatoes are cooked, and patients suffering from prostate-, colon-, rectal-, mouth-, stomach- or lung cancer are urged to include cooked tomatoes in their diet in the forms of ketsup / ketchup, pasta sauces, stews and soups.

Vegetables in the 'cruciferous' family include the broccoli, cauliflower, turnip, cabbage, Brussel sprout, radish and watercress. These vegetables have a high Vitamin C content, as well as sulphoraphane and genistein, both of which are known to fight or prevent cancer. Interestingly, these veggies also have high levels of carotenoids, which act to improve vision and prevent macular degeneration of the eyes, which is usually one of the many ailments that old age brings with it.

Garlic and ginger are both excellent antioxidants, which also have antiseptic, antibacterial and antiviral properties. They are very effective in lowering blood pressure and bad cholesterol, increasing the diameter of blood vessels to allow for easier transport of oxygen and nutrients via the blood, and treating infections of the intestines, lungs and skin. Garlic is also thought to have cancer fighting properties, as well as the ability to prevent heart disease.

Beans, in general, are excellent for your health. However, soybeans contain isoflavones, which are key to preventing hormonal imbalances. The soy protects against breast- and prostate cancer, heart disease and osteoporosis. In fact, it has even been shown to prevent Alzheimer's disease and to maintain healthy levels of oestrogen in women, particularly during menopause.

Phytochemicals are vigorous antioxidants, and berries that are blue or black in colour (including black grapes) are rich in these valuable nutrients. Antioxidants prevent the signs and effects of ageing.

Yoghurt that is "live" (as indicated on the container) contains bacteria that are very beneficial to us and our digestive tract. These assist in the effective absorption of nutrients, improving digestion. Yoghurt also increases immunity, and thus helps to prevent against many of the illnesses that arise during old age.

Honey is an amazing resource for all sorts of health benefits and has been shown to prevent the signs of ageing - memory loss, anxiety, arthritis, asthma, Alzheimer's, and more. Just one to two teaspoons of honey every day has been shown to have astounding health benefits.

A handful of nuts and seeds every day also promises many health benefits. Nuts and seeds are rich in fatty acids (such as Omega-3), which are essential for our bodies to function effectively. In addition, they contain an abundance of vitamin E, potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper and selenium. Apart from the basic health benefits, these also keep the skin looking younger and more refreshed.

As anyone who has struggled with weight loss can testify, food can be the enemy. However, this is as a result of the unhealthy ingestion of the wrong types of food, rather than the properties of food as a whole. As research has shown, the right food not only aids in weight loss and increases the metabolism, but can also assist in keeping us looking younger, and feeling healthier.