Introduction
As we age, our bodies naturally start to show signs of wear and tear. But that doesn’t mean you have to accept the aging process as inevitable. There are proven ways to “turn back” the clock and keep your body looking and feeling younger. Eating the right foods is one of the most important steps you can take to slow down the aging process. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the best foods to eat to help you look and feel younger. We’ll also provide some tips on what to avoid so you can keep your body looking and feeling its best. So, if you’re looking for ways to turn back the clock, read on to learn more about the power of food and how it can help you stay young and healthy.
Proven Ways to “Turn Back” Aging — Eat This Not That
As we age, our bodies naturally start to show signs of wear and tear. But that doesn’t mean you have to accept the aging process as inevitable. There are plenty of ways to slow down the aging process and even “turn back” the clock. One of the most effective ways to do this is to make sure you’re eating the right foods.
Eat This
- Fruits and vegetables: Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is one of the best ways to get the vitamins and minerals your body needs to stay healthy and youthful. Fruits and vegetables are also packed with antioxidants, which can help protect your cells from damage.
- Whole grains: Whole grains are a great source of fiber, which can help keep your digestive system running smoothly. They’re also packed with vitamins and minerals that can help keep your skin looking young and healthy.
- Lean proteins: Lean proteins like fish, chicken, and beans are a great source of protein, which can help keep your muscles strong and healthy. They’re also packed with essential vitamins and minerals that can help keep your body functioning optimally.
- Healthy fats: Healthy fats like olive oil, avocados, and nuts are a great way to get the essential fatty acids your body needs. They can also help keep your skin looking young and supple.
Not That
- Processed foods: Processed foods are often high in sugar, sodium, and unhealthy fats, which can all contribute to accelerated aging. Try to avoid processed foods as much as possible.
- Sugary drinks: Sugary drinks like soda and energy drinks are packed with empty calories and can contribute to weight gain, which can accelerate the aging process. Try to stick to water or unsweetened tea instead.
- Alcohol: Alcohol can dehydrate your skin and contribute to wrinkles and other signs of aging. Try to limit your alcohol intake as much as possible.
- Smoking: Smoking can cause premature aging of the skin and can also increase your risk of developing certain diseases. If you smoke, try to quit as soon as possible.
By making sure you’re eating the right foods and avoiding the wrong ones, you can help slow down the aging process and even “turn back” the clock. So make sure you’re eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats, and avoiding processed foods, sugary drinks, alcohol, and smoking.
While the average life expectancy in the U.S. is 78 years old, there are five regions in Europe, Latin America, Asia and the U.S. with the highest concentrations of centenarians in the world. Researchers have studied people in these “Blue Zones” to find out what their secret is in turning back the clock. Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You’ve Already Had COVID.
“Centenarians eat an impressive variety of garden vegetables and leafy greens (especially spinach, kale, beet and turnip tops, chard and collards) when they are in season,” says longevity researcher Dan Buettner, author of The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who’ve Lived the Longest. “During the off-season, they pickle or dry the surplus. Beans, greens, sweet potatoes, whole grains, fruits, nuts and seeds dominate Blue Zone meals all year long. Olive oil is also a staple. Evidence shows that olive oil consumption increases good cholesterol and lowers bad cholesterol. In the Greek island Ikaria, for example, we found that for middle-aged people, about six tablespoons of olive oil daily seemed to cut the risk of premature mortality by 50%.”
People in the ‘Blue Zones’ are known for staying active throughout the day. So which is the best exercise? “The one you enjoy most,” says Valter Longo, Ph.D, Edna M. Jones Professor of Gerontology and Biological Sciences, director of the Longevity Institute at the University of Southern California. “But also the one you can easily incorporate into your daily schedule and the one you can keep doing up to your hundredth birthday and beyond. Many Okinawans practice martial arts, especially a dance-inspired version of tai chi. The type of exercise you choose isn’t important. What’s important is working all your body parts with rigor — meaning to the point of breathing rapidly or sweating — for five to ten hours a week. I’m not talking about running weekly marathons. Overworking your body is not a good idea. It’s important to exercise, but not to overexercise, because knees, hips, and joints will eventually get damaged — particularly if you continue to exercise when you feel pain. On the bright side, certain exercises and diet can cause tissue to self-repair and regenerate, so the human body has built-in advantages over a car.”
“Volunteers live longer than non-volunteers,” says Buettner. “We also know that loneliness kills. In America, it shaves 8 years off your life expectancy. An adventist in Loma Linda has such a strong face to face social network. You go to church with them, you hike with them, they’re there for you and you’re there for them. These are subtleties that are enormously powerful but vastly under celebrated because there is no profit in them. If social connectedness and volunteerism were pharmaceuticals, they would be blockbuster drugs.”
One thing people in the Blue Zones have in common is limiting the amount of alcohol they drink, if not abstaining altogether (as in Loma Linda). “They’re drinking herbal tea all day long,” says Buettner. “In Okinawa it’s often green tea, while in Ikaria it’s usually a tea made with oregano, rosemary or mint. They drink no more than two glasses of wine a day.” When it comes to wine, an Italian red variety called Cannonau is said to be the healthiest. “It’s filled with artery scrubbing antioxidants,” Buettner adds.
Multiple studies show that people who feel they have a purpose in life live longer, happier lives. “People don’t find the same level of health, happiness, healing or longevity when they don’t have a reason to get up in the morning,” says best-selling author and executive life coach Richard Leider. “There’s studies on people who have dementia. When they get up to read to a child, or to water a plant, or to feed a pet — when they have something larger than themselves, they do better. What you find [without purpose] is a certain lethargy. In my business we call it ‘inner kill.’ We all know and have experienced inner kill. We know when we’re disengaged like that, we’re more tired and we have to slog through the day. And when we’re engaged, the day flows by, and it’s like, oh my gosh, it’s six o’clock.”
Ferozan Mast