When researching the best foods to reduce visible aging, a few nutrients stood out to us. Here are some of the best foods and supplements we found to add to your anti aging diet…
Let’s Start With Vitamins…
- Vitamin A plays a role in restoring and regenerating collagen. This nutrient is often found in carrots and sweet potatoes.
- Vitamin C produces collagen and prevents wrinkling. Drinking lemon and lime juices or eating oranges, bell peppers or blueberries will give you an extra boost of vitamin C!
- Salmon and Mushrooms are naturally packed with Vitamin D. Vitamin D also improves bone strength and has anti-inflammatory effects.
- Most nuts fight the effects of aging, but Almonds and Brazil Nuts are two of our best examples. Almonds provide vitamin E and act as antioxidants. Maybe you won’t have to feel so guilty about craving the occasional Almond Joy, afterall! Brazil nuts contain selenium, an antioxidant that is critical in DNA synthesis. Selenium declines with age, so get all you can! Nuts are known to naturally lower cholesterol and act as anti-inflammatories.
What Other Nutrients Fight Skin Damage?
- Lycopenes exist in cooked tomatoes (moreso than raw ones) or watermelon. Lycopene is an antioxidant that protects skin from damage. It acts as a natural sunblock and protects from UV (ultraviolet) rays.
- Dark chocolate contains flavanols. These flavanols absorb UV radiation and prevent visible aging. Who says being healthy means you have to give up dessert?!
- Calcium replenishes and rebuilds skin cells. Yogurt and sesame seeds are both sufficient sources of calcium.
- Pineapples contain an ingredient known as Manganese, which activates amino acids that form collagen and improve skin strength and elasticity.
- Omega-3 fatty acids, commonly found in tuna or other fish and walnuts, are anti-inflammatories, aiding in the age reversal process.
- Ghee, made from organic butter, provides healthful fats. Add this to your diet to keep your skin feeling and looking soft and youthful.
What Foods are a Source of Protein for Our Skin?
- Our bodies require more Protein as we get older. The natural carbs from oatmeal offer an abundance of protein. Adding this to your anti aging diet will boost seratonin in addition to making you look and feel younger.
- Beans and lentils contain phytosterols and amino acids. These provide necessary proteins, fibers, micronutrients and carbs to our bodies to keep us healthy and producing new cells.
- Soy foods (beans, legumes, tofu, peanuts, etc.) help us to maintain healthy bones and improve our cardiovascular system. Products are sometimes even enhanced with soy protein, making it even easier to find at your local grocery store.
Foods that Fight Mental & Physical Signs of Aging…
- Green Tea contains flavinoids, which protect against disease and block DNA damage. This particular tea is comprised of theanine, known to reduce stress.
- Cooked spinach contains folate, even more folate than raw spinach. This supplement prevents cognitive issues and offers lower risk of dementia or Alzheimer’s.
- The pigment in Tumeric prevents the ends of our DNA from shortening. Damaged DNA can lead to chronic disease and both physical and mental signs of aging.
- Cytokines, specifically found in manuka honey, fight off pathogens and protect from infection.
- Pomegranate seeds or pomegranate juice (unsweetened varieties) improve memory performance. They also increase the body’s ability to preserve collagen. You’ll never have to choose between beauty and brains!
- Olives, a fruit believe it or not, contain polyphenols and phytonutrients. These nutrients aid in protecting our DNA and keep us looking and feeling younger.
Don’t Forget to add Detox to your Anti Aging Diet!
- Water with salt or sugar hydrates our bodies better than water on its own. Try adding one of these to your glass the next time you hydrate.
- Cilantro detoxes and removes harmful metals from the body, such as mercury.
- Saffron (spice) proves to have anti-tumor and antioxidant effects. Add some to your dishes for an anti-oxidizing boost!
- Almonds, blueberries, bell peppers, cooked tomatoes, and watermelon are also wonderful examples of antioxidants.