Superfoods are the true champions of the plant kingdom, especially when it comes to antiaging. They help counter the effects of a not-so-healthy diet and are loaded with antioxidants, fiber, minerals, vitamins, healthy fats, and all the other nutrients you need to thrive. If you want to age gracefully, superfoods need to be a part of your diet!
Eat dark chocolate and berries :
These contain resveratrol, known as the red wine antioxidant, but also found in even higher quality and quantities in berries, grapes, and dark chocolate. Researchers believe that resveratrol may mimic the effects of calorie restriction.
Especially blueberries :
Pterostilbene is a brain-boosting antioxidant found in blueberries. Studies have shown that pterostilbene may be even more effective than its cousin, resveratrol, at both preventing and reversing degenerative and sugar-related conditions of the brain. In another study, blood markers of cellular stress, inflammation, and Alzheimer’s disease pathology were all positively lowered by pterostilbene. All in all, research findings indicate that pterostilbene in the diet can be a potent modulator of cognition, memory, and cellular stress. This information is especially promising for the prevention of Alzheimer’s.
Eat less meat, and more walnuts, soy, and flaxseeds :
In a clinical trial with 106 healthy, sedentary, overweight middle-aged and elderly individuals who were supplemented with 2.5 g of omega-3 fatty acids, researchers assessed whether omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation could affect telomere length, telomerase, and oxidative stress. The study concluded that telomere length increased with decreasing omega-6 to omega-3 ratios, suggesting the possibility for nutritional prevention and longevity.
Eat more whole grains :
A report published in the journal Circulation reviewed the data in fourteen studies that combined had more than 786,000 participants. That analysis made the finding that people who ate the most whole grains had a 16 percent reduction in all-cause mortality compared to those who ate the least whole grains.
Eat greens :
While greens are well known for being chock-full of health-preserving and energy-boosting nutrients, a recent study has gotten the attention of many people looking to increase their brainpower.
A study, published in Neurology, was conducted at Rush Medical College in Chicago, and quite simply looked at the difference in memory, sharpness of mind, and overall cognition in seniors based on the amount of greens they ate over a five-year observational period. The results were extremely positive, with a huge difference in the rates of cognitive decline between groups that had at least an average of 1.3 servings a day versus no greens at all. Daily ½-cup serving sizes of spinach, kale, collards, lettuce, and other greens all seemed to be protective. The rate of cognitive decline among those who consumed the most to those who consumed the least was equivalent to being eleven years younger cognitively, based on average global cognitive scores over time.
This study among others are a small sample of the continually mounting evidence that demonstrate the power of plants to extend your life and truly heal, taking you to a higher state of health and vitality. They show that your food and lifestyle choices can be a major influence, especially regarding those body systems that are commonly affected by aging.
