Who wants to look old? Of course, no one does. With aging comes not only wrinkles and gray hair but also a decreased brain function, memory loss, and increased risks for chronic diseases, including cancer, heart disease, and osteoporosis. But, this type of aging does not have to happen if a healthy diet is included in an individual’s lifestyle. In fact, anti-aging regimen has been an increasing trend in the world today.
The healthy lifestyle, which helps fight against aging, involves having regular physical exercise, getting enough rest and sleep, and taking in nutritious foods and drinks. To slow down aging, it is recommended that individuals start at the cellular level by taking in foods that have anti-inflammatory properties such as cold-water fish, fruits, and vegetables. Foods rich in antioxidants should also be included in the diet. Some foods and beverages have phytonutrients, substances that belong to the antioxidant family. These substances act upon free radicals that can contribute to Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, heart diseases, and osteoporosis. Antioxidants basically help the cells remove free radicals, thereby minimizing the effect of aging.
On the other hand, foods containing huge amounts of saturated or trans-fats, starches, and sugars tend to speed up the aging process. Another substance called nicotine can stimulate the early onset of aging can. By maintaining a tobacco-free lifestyle, aging can be delayed, as well as other age-related diseases. Aside from fatty foods and nicotine, other factors including hormones, stress, ultraviolet light, and a compromised immune system accelerate aging.
To begin with, adding anti-aging foods and beverages into an individual’s nutritional plan can lower the signs of aging. For instance, fish containing omega-3 fatty acids exhibit a number of health benefits. Fruits and vegetables never fail to provide an abundant supply of antioxidants. Whole grains have soluble fiber that helps reduce blood cholesterol levels. These grains also contain phytonutrients. Yogurt, equipped with probiotics, enhances the intestinal flora by adding good bacteria in the gut. B vitamins that power up the brain and the heart are found in huge amounts in nuts. Even the fat content of these nuts help maintain the resiliency of the skin. Water, as essential as it already is, hydrates not only the skin but also the muscles and all other organs in the body. It also helps improve blood circulation. Furthermore, it is important to have foods exhibiting anti-inflammatory properties, which include barley, buckwheat, chives, garlic, leeks, onions, leeks, kefir, beans and lentils, hot peppers, sprouts, and wheatgrass.
While a healthy lifestyle can make individuals feel and look young, preventing skin aging as evident in the formation of wrinkles is not that possible unless an individual would spend most of his or her time indoors or use sunscreen when engaging in outdoor activities. Avoiding tobacco can also delay skin aging.
Anti-aging also encompasses detoxification and rejuvenation. Detoxification cleanses and repairs the colon, blood, kidneys, liver, lungs, and the skin by removing toxic substances and preventing toxic waste accumulation in the body. Rejuvenation, on the other hand, enhances the flow of bile, gastric acids, and pancreatic enzymes from the liver to prevent bloating, flatulence, and indigestion.
With this kind of anti-aging regimen, individuals would only look and feel younger every day.
