5 Anti-Aging Foods for a Longer & Healthier Life

Stay younger and healthier for longer by eating plenty of these anti-aging foods!

As we age, our bodies go through various internal processes. Our trillions of cells are supposed to go through a certain stage and then die off naturally. Sometimes though, these cells don’t die. They can become damaged and are then breeding grounds for diseases – including cancer – and can multiply rapidly.

There are many causes of cellular damage, from environmental pollutants to stress, to smoking and drinking alcohol. However, one of the main causes is the food that we consume every day. Processed foods that include things like hydrogenated oils, artificial sweeteners and other chemicals, and high levels of refined fats and sugars are one of the worst culprits. The good news is, this means that simply changing the way that you eat can have a substantial impact on your cellular health.

One way to combat cellular damage is by eating plenty of anti-aging foods that are rich in antioxidants. But foods that have plenty of antioxidants aren’t just good for fighting back against diseases; they fight the signs and symptoms of aging, too – and can keep you feeling physically young.

You might not have realized yet how potent food really is in the fight to help you looking and feeling young. You may not be able to prevent growing older, but you can prevent the side effects of aging – like poor skin tone and decreasing muscle health. Starting today, eat plenty of these anti-aging foods to keep your body healthy and young both inside and out.

1.) Fruit

Many fruits contain powerful doses of vitamin C, which is known to fight against both disease and aging. Include plenty of fruits – especially berries like cranberries, blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries – in your diet. Cherries, dark grapes (like Concord), and citrus are also good choices.

2.) Leafy Greens

Leafy green vegetables contain a multitude of benefits against aging. They contain calcium and potassium and are rich in beta carotene and lutein, which help fight macular degeneration and other age-related eye conditions.

For strong bones, look for foods rich in vitamin K. Some examples of these foods are kale, turnip greens, and spinach. Vitamin K helps maintain heart health as well as bone health.

3.) Brightly Colored Vegetables

Brightly colored veggies such as carrots, peppers, and sweet potatoes are also high in antioxidants which protect against the symptoms of aging. Eat the rainbow every day to stay youthful for longer!

4.) Quality Protein

While you want to make sure you have plenty of calcium in your diet to keep your bones strong, you’ll also need protein as well. Protein helps you maintain muscle tone as you age, which is important to maintain mobility and functional strength.

If possible, avoid factory-farmed meats, and instead choose grass-fed poultry and small amounts of other grass-fed lean meats, wild-caught fish (wild salmon is especially high in healthy Omega-3 fatty acids), pastured eggs, and legumes. Avoid processed meats if at all possible, which some research shows can cause cellular damage, and if you must grill your meat, do this first. Limiting your overall meat consumption to no more than 4 ounces per day may be the healthiest choice for your longevity, but just make sure to get the protein you need by consuming plenty of leafy greens and legumes as well.

5.) High-Fiber & Anti-Inflammatory Foods

High-fiber foods have been found to help protect against certain cancers, but be careful of foods that cause inflammation in your body. For example, gluten can be highly inflammatory for many people, so just choosing “whole grains” doesn’t necessarily help. You’ll want to find out if you are sensitive to gluten, and if so, avoid anything containing wheat to reduce the inflammatory load on your body, which is a major cause of cellular damage. Whole grain oatmeal can be a good choice, as well as buckwheat, millet, brown rice, and other gluten-free grains.

Certain types of foods are also especially known to be anti-inflammatory and help keep you healthy as they fight against inflammation, which is linked to aging. Besides fruits and vegetables, some of these foods are cold-pressed virgin olive oils, green tea, resveratrol, and dark chocolate.