10 Foods Can Help Keep you Youthful

Deepa Desa picks food items that can add zest and vitality to your life

Proper nutrition isn’t just important for toning up or shedding those unwanted pounds. What you eat and drink can actually help ward off disease, promote mental sharpness and clarity, slash cancer risks, and keep your skin looking flawless. The key is to make sure you are filling up on foods that are rich in antioxidants, probiotics, electrolytes, and amino acids.

Whilst you can’t completely reverse ageing, today we have innumerable ways of slowing down the process considerably. Here are some perky foods that you could include in your diet that keep your systems younger from the inside, resulting in a glowing radiant younger looking you.

Here’s our pick of ten foods which can help peel back the years:

1. Green Tea Glow

The buzz on green tea has been around for decades. The beverage is loaded with antioxidants and compounds that will do all sorts of good for your body, including reducing your risk of gastric cancer. Sipping green tea can also help you slim down and help you live longer, thanks to the compounds found in green tea called catechins.  Catechins trigger the release of fat from fat cells (particularly in the belly) and then speeding up the liver’s capacity for turning that fat into energy.

2 . Coffee it is

If you’ve been trying to cut back on coffee for better health, you may want to rethink your decision.  Regular coffee consumption could help you live longer. Coffee is loaded with antioxidants so go ahead and treat yourself the next time you’re craving a cup.

3. Berries, berries and more berries…

Strawberries, blueberries and cranberries top the list and are a must for healthy eating. Berries have been shown to slow the progression of ageing, thanks to their abundance of polyphenols. 

Strawberries are beneficial in maintaining mitochondrial function, which is key to staying sharp and youthful.

Eat enough cranberries and your risk for needing dentures later in life should decline.  Cranberry extract reduces the amount of wear on the calcified tissue of the teeth, meaning they are less likely to chip or crack.

Blueberries are a superfood for good reason. Though they are difficult to source in India, they are a fantastic source of antioxidants, minerals, vitamins and fibre. The help reduce blood sugar levels, reduce the negative effects of a high fat diet, reduce the risk of heart disease, boost brain health and more.

4. Super Nuts

Pistachios aren’t just fun to eat, they’re also your eye’s best defence against age-related vision damage, too. 

A diet rich in Vitamin E and healthy fats will help you glow from the inside out, which is where almonds come into play. Almonds are loaded with biotin, copper, Vitamin E, and monounsaturated fats, all of which will keep your complexion supple, clear, and wrinkle-free.  

These nuts have a reputation for being brain food, but that’s not the only benefit they tout. Walnuts help lower LDL (or bad) cholesterol while keeping levels of healthier HDL cholesterol constant. Add some crunch to your salad, walnuts are a great way to boost heart health.

5. Olive & Extra Virgin Olive Oil

One of the fundamental building blocks of the Mediterranean diet, olive oil certainly lives up to its nutritional hype. Regularly consuming olive oil positively influenced cardiac ailments including coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, and chronic heart failure. Whether you’re dipping bread in it or using it to dress a salad, be sure to incorporate these oils into your everyday diet. 

6. Matcha 

Curious about the buzz around matcha? Matcha lattes aren’t just trendy on Instagram, they’re popular with nutritionists and health specialists for a variety of benefits. Most recently, there’s reason to believe that sipping this concentrated Japanese green tea powder will result in improved cognitive function. The next time you need to focus, consider grabbing one of these green-hued drinks.

7. Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are nutritional powerhouses because they are chock full of healthy fats, Omega 3s, and fibre.  The seeds are loaded with α-linolenic acid, a fatty acid that has been shown to reduce cancerous cell growth and slow the progression of tumours.

8. Beta Carotenes Are For Your Better

These orange veggies are rich in carotenoids, a compound that may slow the appearance of ageing. Carotenoid-rich food consumption is linked to increased collagen production. Collagen is a must for strong, healthy, nourished skin, so be sure to chomp on some carrots to keep your complexion glowing. If you want to keep youth on your side, oranges are super-rich in Vitamin C which helps skin look bright and refreshed. Additionally, the citrus fruit is filled with the same carotenoid compounds carrots have, which are instrumental in collagen production.

9. Avocado

Those struggling with osteoarthritis may want to consider adding avocado to their diet, as it is a good source of Vitamin E, a micronutrient with anti-inflammatory effects. Diets high in these compounds are linked to decreased risk of the joint damage seen in early OA.  It is also super-nutritious for the skin and promotes a youthful complexion.  Touted as a superfood, avocado comes with a super hefty price tag, but may be well worth it!

10. Turmeric

This orange-hued spice owes many of its healing properties to its active compound, curcumin. Curcumin is effective in preventing osteoarthritis thanks to its ability to reduce inflammation. It is also great for weight loss as it’s an effective fat -burner. 

That does it for our top ten foods to fight ageing. Do check with your doctor before embarking on a new diet and remember a balance of foods that suits you, works best.  After all, you’re as old as you think you are, no matter how many ‘youthful’ foods you eat!