Fountain of youth

If you want to continue looking and feeling young and to age gracefully, the best way is to really start a healthy regimen at an early age. Eat smart, eat healthy and avoid ways that could possibly cause you to age faster than usual. Healthy lifestyle choices you could make would include not smoking, getting enough rest and sleep, cutting down on the consumption of alcoholic beverages, exercising regularly and eating foods that are rich in antioxidants. You may have heard of antioxidants, of course. These are substances that help neutralize free radicals which can actually speed up aging. The more you are aware of the right foods to eat, the lesser you would have to worry about premature aging.

The following are excellent food choices. These are called superfoods because not only do they help promote good health, they also help you look young too:

·         Crunchy Veggies

A person’s dental and oral hygiene says a lot about the condition of his overall health. Surprisingly, some dentists could even diagnose a number of diseases simply by just looking at your teeth. A pretty smile usually goes a long way, and it can seriously impact social and romantic relationships. Keep in mind that healthy relationships with people can also help keep you happy, and laughter helps keep you young.

For healthy gums and teeth, go for vegetables that are firm – those that give you the crunch as soon as you bite in them. Excellent examples are broccoli and celery. These help you scrub your teeth clean and keep your gums healthy too.

·         Yogurt

The unsweetened kind of yogurt is actually good for you. It contains lactic acid which helps kill the bacteria that is associated with periodontal diseases. Once again, a healthy mouth and a healthy set of teeth allows you to smile to strangers, talk to people easily without the fear of having breath and form meaningful relationships with people who matter. When choosing which yogurt to buy, remember to read the label. Skip those that contain high amounts of sugar because instead of warding off bacteria, it can actually promote bacterial growth inside your mouth because of it being too sweet.

·         Green Tea

Green tea is refreshing, we all know that. But did you know that it also provides you with a variety of health benefits? Green tea has been known to improve one’s physical stamina, promote weight loss, and it can also protect you from developing dementia, heart disease and cancer. What’s more is that all these claims are backed up by years of clinical research studies from various laboratories.

Green tea is power-packed with polyphenols called catechins. These are chemicals which has antioxidant properties. It is especially good for the skin because it exerts a protective effect against sun damage. Drinking about 2 cups of green tea per day can help you maximize its health benefits.

·         Pomegranate

The New York Times, medical periodicals and industry journals have dubbed pomegranate as the most powerful anti-aging food there is. Pomegranates are packed with antioxidant-containing compounds known as phytochemicals. These help maintain the integrity of our cells and protect them from the negative effects of free radicals. Free radicals are by-products of the oxidative processes inside our body, and these are blamed as the culprits for various diseases such as diabetes, heart ailments and cancer.

Pomegranates contain tannins, an active polyphenol that is said to be 3 times stronger than those found in green tea and red wine. If you wish to avail of the health benefits of pomegranates, you may simply utilize its juice.

·         Avocado

The avocado has been known as an anti-aging superfruit. Aside from its healthy oleic acid, avocadoes are also chock full of potent carotenoid antioxidants called vitamin E, zeaxanthin and lutein. These antioxidants help lessen oxidative stress and promote an environment that is healthy for cells. Avocadoes also contain folate and potassium necessary for the proper functioning of the heart. These elements help remove waste from the body which, when left to accumulate in the tissues and the blood stream, can be a source of different illnesses.

When looking to buy an avocado and you want it already ripe, try to feel its consistency. Do not merely rely on the color. Good, ripe avocadoes have a slight give to them when touched.

·         Grapefruit

Grapefruits help keep you young in three ways:

First, it slows down cell aging. The healthier your cells are, the healthier you will be. The spermidine in grapefruit helps our cells grown and mature, and it has also been found to slow down aging by inducing the regenerative processes in our cells.

Second, grapefruits contain lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that fights cell aging that is triggered by the effects of free radicals. Aside from its anti-aging effects, lycopene also helps lower ones risk of developing lung, colon and prostate cancer.

Third, grapefruit is packed with soluble fiber which helps remove cholesterol during the digestive process. When cholesterol is prevented from entering the bloodstream, high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases are prevented from forming as well.

·         Berries

Berries are excellent sources of antioxidants which help prevent free radicals from exerting its negative effects on our skin. This must be the reason why berries are considered as the best anti-wrinkle fruits. Also, these fruits contain fiber which is necessary in the elimination of toxic wastes in such a way that it promotes proper digestion.

Now that you know the right foods to eat to help keep you look young, there is no excuse for you not to eat them.