Anti Aging Super Foods

It seems as some have found the fountain of youth. The U.S. Census Bureau cites that Centenarians are one of the country’s fastest growing demographics groups.  What’s their secret? “Good Nutrition can extend your life by not just years, but decades”, according to Richard Flanigan, M.D., of The University of Colorado Health Sciences and author of Longevity Made Simple.

On his list of anti-aging foods:

·         Watermelon: Packs more disease fighting lypocene than a tomato

·         Asparagus: Contains vitamins A and C, which destroys free radicals that increase effects of aging.

·         Sweet Potatoes: Contain more beta-carotene and vitamin C than carrots

·         Mushrooms: High in antioxidants that stimulate the immune system to help ward off infection.

·         Brown Rice: Loaded with magnesium, which may help reduce stress, and has cholesterol-lowering fiber.

·         Red Wine: Contains resveratrol, a compound that has been shown to protect skin from aging, and may prevent skin cancer. However, only imbibe in one drink a day, any more than that can increase the risk for breast cancer.

·         Seafood: Omega-3 fatty acids in salmon, tuna, herring and mackerel have been found to fight heart disease and may slash your odds of developing dementia.

Other tips include:

1.    Add a variety of fruits and vegetables to your daily diet to ensure that you are getting adequate vitamins and other nutrients.

2.    Cook at home so that you can better control your intake of added fats, sodium and sugars.

3.    Stop the yo-yo dieting. Frequently gaining and losing weight can raise your blood pressure, and increase your risk of kidney cancer.

Just another reason to eat whole, natural foods! Turns out the fountain wasn’t so elusive after all!