Diet is one of the biggest parts of looking good and feeling well—the old adage that states “you are what you eat” has been repeatedly proven by science. Certain foods, like sweets and charred red meat have been identified as causing premature aging, but others are known to keep aging at bay. Here’s a list of 8 foods you’ll want to incorporate into your diet to help you look and feel younger:
Olive Oil – the cornerstone of the famous Mediterranean diet, olive oil is thought to responsible for the region’s low incidence of heart disease and cancer. Olive oil contains polyphenols, powerful oxidants that help prevent aging by eliminating free radicals that are released when old cells break down.
Red wine – wine lovers can rejoice, because moderate (1-2 glasses per day) drinking can help heart health, protect you from obesity and diabetes, and slow down aging by protecting your skin from UV damage. A chemical called resveratrol is responsible for these positive results. In addition, moderate wine consumption has been linked to lower stress levels, which can also help slow down premature aging.
Yogurt – plain yogurt has a variety of health benefits, including preventing osteoporosis (because of its high calcium content), promoting healthy digestion (it has natural probiotics), and even heart health. Keep in mind that we’re referring to plain yogurt, not the ubiquitous store varieties that have added sugar and fruit flavoring (but you should obviously feel free to add real fruit to your own yogurt for flavor).
Blueberries – in addition to being delicious, blueberries contain flavonoids, which help promote brain function and your short and long-term memory.
Grapefruit – grapefruit’s high dose of vitamin C helps to rejuvenate your skin, by promoting your body’s production of collagen.
Cucumber – in addition to the famous cucumber eye treatment, this vegetable is also beneficial when eaten due to containing high amounts of silica, which promotes circulation around cartilage, ligaments, and skin cells.
Sweet Potatoes – compounds called carotenoids that are found in red and orange vegetables help to boost your immune system, but also work more directly, by giving your skin a natural sun-kissed glow.
Avocados – avocados are rich in Vitamin E, which helps reverse skin damage, as well as containing beneficial monounsaturated fats and beta-carotene. They’re rich in omega-3 fatty acids, have plenty of protein, and very low sugar levels.
Incorporating these foods into your diet is one of the easiest ways to give your body the nutrients it needs to defy aging. Think about it: by making some good choices, you can literally eat your way to a younger-looking you. What’s not to like about that?
