|
How Does Nutrition Help in Anti-aging? |
|
|
|
|
Feeling and looking young are things you control yourself to a large extent. You might think that wrinkles, a higher risk of heart disease, memory loss, cancer and osteoporosis are inevitable but most of those result from lifestyle choices rather than the natural aging process. Getting exercise, using sunscreen and giving up cigarettes help to take care of your body inside and out but nutrition is also a vital part of anti-aging.
Our bodies don't process nutrients as effectively when we get older. This means we need more of them. Taking a multivitamin and mineral supplement is a good way to ensure you are getting all the necessary nutrition but so is making sure you eat healthily, at least most of the time. Once you develop good nutritional habits and find food combinations you enjoy eating, you are much more likely to continue with a healthy diet.
It has been proven that people who eat diets full of fresh fruit and vegetables have a lower incidence of diseases including heart disease, more energy and less risk of obesity. Fresh fruits and vegetables don't contain fat, sodium or cholesterol (the exceptions are olives, coconuts and olives). Fresh produce is also rich in fiber, which lowers the risk of age-related problems such as diabetes, cancer, hypertension and heart disease.
Also in fruits and vegetables you can find antioxidants. Antioxidants combat free radicals which attack cell membranes. They also protect the nervous system, help to protect the brain from age-related memory loss and boost the immune system.
To help fight against anti-aging, make sure you get most of your fats from fish rather than from red meats. Fat in fish is called omega-3 and stimulates the nervous system as well as lowering the risk of heart disease.
Dietary fat is converted to body fat easily. Fried foods, processed foods and creams contain a lot of dietary fat. Some fatty acids are required for good health. Fat also keeps us warm and insulated. Unsaturated and monounsaturated fats, found in seeds, nuts and vegetable oils are healthier for the body that the saturated fats found in butter, dairy products and beef. These often raise carbohydrate levels, which can eventually lead to heart disease.
Reducing your salt and sugar intake cuts the risk of developing diabetes and hypertension. Many foods already have salt added to them. You might think low-fat or no-fat products are always the healthiest but such things are often packed with sugar to make up for the lack of fat. If you love sugar on your food or in your tea or coffee, try using an artificial sweetener instead.
Calcium is found in milk, cheese, canned fish with edible bones, fortified breakfast cereals, some green vegetables, nuts and seeds and is very important to include as part of a nutritionally balanced diet, especially for older people. Dairy foods are rich sources of calcium and protein.
Healthy eating is one factor in anti-aging. If you get the right nutrition as well as physical activity, this lowers your risk of age-related illnesses and enhances your life.
|
