What causes us to age? Why do some people appear to age faster than others? Most importantly, how can we slow down, stop, even reverse the signs of aging?
Karlis Ullis, M.D., author of Age Right summarized it best when he described advanced aging as the four D’s – discomfort, disability, drugs, and doctors.
In his book, he outlined the four main physiological changes that occur with aging:
- Decreased muscle mass
- Decreased bone mass
- Decreased water content
- Increased fat levels
The negative consequences of these bodily changes include: unwanted weight gain, weak teeth and bones, low energy and, you guessed it – wrinkles!
Knowing that anti-aging involves a multi-faceted approach, from a dietary perspective, look and feel younger by eating more of these foods:
Top 4 Best “anti-aging” foods:
1. Organic vegetables (preferably raw): Fresh, organic, colourful vegetables work to keep us youthful because they are packed full of antioxidants. When we consume foods rich in antioxidants, they work to absorb free radicals before they can cause damage to our cell structures. In Latin, the word vegetable means “to enliven or animate”. More and more evidence is showing how a daily diet rich in a variety of vegetables helps prevent and even reverse many diseases.
Simple Solutions: Strive to include vegetables with most of your daily meals and snacks. Eat your vegetables raw. Raw foods contain natural enzymes that help us digest our foods. The exception to this rule is for those who have under active thyroids (hypothyroidism) or low mineral status (osteoporosis/osteopenia). Cabbage, broccoli, kale and Brussels sprouts all contain goitrogenic properties that block absorption of iodine, which is necessary for healthy thyroid production. Beet tops, spinach and Swiss chard, when consumed raw, contain a substance called oxalic acid that blocks our body’s absorption of minerals. Lightly cooking (and fermenting) neutralizes these harmful substances.
2. Blueberries: According to Dr. Mercola, author of Dr. Mercola’s Total Health Cookbook and Program, blueberries are among the best of all berries. They are lower in sugar than other fruits yet contain the most powerful antioxidant properties of all fruits and vegetables. He states, “In addition to preventing heart disease, cancer, and other diseases, they’ve (blueberries) been shown to slow the aging process, especially in the brain.”
Simple Solutions: Try having a blueberry smoothie by simply blending your desired amount of blueberries with filtered water. Add to the mix, some dark leafy greens (celery tops, dandelion greens, etc) for even more antioxidant power. Stir in a serving of vanilla whey protein powder, add in nut butter or your favourite omega -3 oil and you have a perfect post-workout meal!!!
3. Sea Vegetables: Sea vegetables are highly esteemed for their nutrient dense qualities and medicinal properties. They contain valuable trace minerals and are especially supportive to the thyroid. Research from McGill University shows that alginates in brown sea vegetables like Nova Scotia dulse are capable of preventing absorption of radioactive products and can offer protection from the radiation of an X-ray or radiation therapy. 1.
Simple Solutions: Wrap your sandwich fillings with a sheet of raw nori, look for snacks made of dulse at your health food store, or add strips of Kombo to soups or bean dishes. Some ‘green drinks’ include sea vegetables in their mix. The most common include spirulina and chlorella.
4. Grass finished meat: High quality meats, raised appropriately can provide you with all the essential amino acids and micronutrients your body requires to keep you at a high level of wellness. Grass finished meat is high in CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) – the fat burning fat – which actually helps your body to lose unwanted body fat. Because this cattle is raised on it’s proper diet of grass, it is naturally leaner than grain fed beef. You would also be avoiding an artificial concoction of vaccines, hormones, pesticides, herbicides, and GMO grains – all nasty stuff!
Simple Solutions: Try making bison burgers. They are quick to make and tasty to eat. Simply add the following ingredients to 1 lb of ground bison meat: 1 whole egg, 1 tbsp prepared mustard, 2 tbsp blended strawberries or blueberries, 2 tbsp chives (chopped), 1 clove of garlic (crushed), 2 tbsp dried oregano and basil mixture, 2 tbsp wheat germ and a good size pinch of mineral salt and ground black pepper. Mix, make into patties. Place in refrigerator for ½ hr, then grill for 10 minutes per side and enjoy!
1. Graci Sam, “The Food Connection”, 2001: 219