As you age, it’s important to increase the intake of anti-inflammatory foods such as fruit, vegetables and oily fish, and limit pro-inflammatory foods such as meat, processed foods and refined sugars, say experts. As your diet is an essential part of the anti-ageing regime, do ensure you load up on these anti-ageing foods to help keep you looking young…
Dubbed the medicinal mushroom, it’s been used in Chinese medicine for centuries. The Asian variety contains four times the amount of copper of its white counterpart. This mineral which your body cannot produce, helps prevent ageing of your skin and hair as well as age-related diseases such as osteoarthritis and cardiovascular disease.
Dairy products are acidic and an imbalance can reduce your body’s ability to repair damage and can also affect the quality of collagen and elastin. Sheep’s or goat’s yoghurt can restore this imbalance. Plus, it contains fewer lactose proteins, making it easier to digest – as you age, production of lactase, an enzyme needed to breakdown lactose, decreases.
Rockmelon contains 11 times more per 100g of vitamin C than grapes. Vitamin C can help to protect cells, maintain healthy connective tissue and boost collagen production – essential for keeping your skin plump as you age. What’s more, rockmelon boasts over 50 times the amount of vitamin A, which can help reverse UV skin damage, reduce wrinkles and encourage skin regeneration. Its high level of beta-carotene will also help protect your eyes from age-related deterioration.
Cook with coconut oil as it aids in nutrient absorption and is rich in lauric acid, helping to reduce high cholesterol and blood pressure levels, which can increase as we age. It also contains smaller, easily digested medium-chain fatty acids, which go straight to your liver, so they’re instantly converted to energy instead of being stored as fat.
Made from immature or green wheat, which is then roasted, it contains over seven times the amount of fibre of couscous, which is vital for eliminating toxins leaving your skin looking fresh and blemish-free. Freekeh also has high levels of magnesium to aid calcium absorption, which increases bone strength and density to help keep osteoporosis at bay.
Turkey has more protein than chicken and contains a staggering 11g less fat per 100g. It’s also a good source of vitamin B3 and B6. Eat the darker flesh for a youthful complexion as it contains higher levels of vitamin B2 and zinc, which are essential for protein and collagen production.
Berries are significantly lower in sugar than bananas. They are also extremely rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytonutrients which have powerful anti-ageing benefits, explain nutritionists.