The Six Step Anti-Aging Diet

The Aging Process

An old adage says that we grow wiser with age. However, our bodies do slow down! After a particular age has passed, we do not need as much energy as before when our bodies were growing and developing.

An example of what lies behind this reduced energy need is the reduced ability of our body to deposit calcium into our bones at about 35 years of age. Thousands of cellular processes necessitate energy in the first half of our life, yet not so many as we get older.

In addition, the aging process involves the generation of unstable molecules called free radicals at a cellular level in our body. They are responsible for many health conditions as a result of their ability to intervene in normal cell processing. This commonly results in free radical activity such as skin wrinkling, cancer, and degenerative eye diseases.

The Anti-Aging Diet

It makes sense then that we need to stop the impact of free radicals should we wish to stop the ravages of the aging process.

Luckily, scientific research has discovered the powerful effects of antioxidants and they are found in several foods.

Vitamin A, C and E, as well as a mineral known as selenium, are known to break down free radical activity. Lycopene, beta-carotene and lutein are highly effective antioxidants. Foods high in antioxidants include:

• Carrots
• Oranges
• Pomegranates
• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Almonds
• Apricots
• Avocados
• Broccoli
• Pink grapefruit
• Soya
• Sweet potatoes
• Tomatoes
• Wheat germ
• Spinach

Even though selenium is not an antioxidant compound, it is a mineral, it is still beneficial for an anti-aging diet.

Calorie Needs

The body needs fewer calories when we are older because its metabolic functioning slows down. So, should we want a healthy body weight we need need to eat fewer calories should we not want fat to be stored on our thighs, hips and bellies.

Calorie reduction cannot be overemphasised as a healthy weight is crucial for the prevention of numerous age-related diseases such as cardiovascular diease, diabetes, arthritis and specific cancers.