Thirsty for ways to feel and look younger? The secret to prolonging that youthful glow is as close as the kitchen. By choosing foods rich in nutrients, the boomer generation can slow down the natural aging process both inside and out of the body. All that is required is a little ingenuity in recipe and menu planning, as well as grocery shopping.
Soft Skin
Skin loses its sheen as a person ages. Collagen breakdown contributes to wrinkle formation. What helps? Vitamin C. An essential nutrient for the production of collagen, a single serving of 100 percent grapefruit juice contains more than one day's supply of vitamin C. The Florida Department of Citrus reports that grapefruit juice is important in forming collagen. Grapefruit juice is fat free. One serving has less than 100 calories per eight-ounce serving.
Disease Defenses
The risk of disease increases as a person ages. Foods loaded with lycopene, vitamin C and potassium cut the possible causes for degenerative diseases. Lycopene, a powerful antioxidant, is plentiful in red tomatoes and tomato-based products. According to the Lycopene Organization, the carotenoid may prevent prostate cancer, as well as other forms of cancer, and heart disease. Vitamin C neutralizes free radicals. The citrus vitamin combats cell and tissue damage. Potassium improves heart health and lowers blood pressure. Filling up on bell peppers, tomatoes, fresh grapefruit, and kale will fight off disease.
Energy Boosting Strategy
Aging is equated with a loss of energy. Poor diet is often the reason for a lack of energy. Boost those levels with iron-rich foods. Lean red meat, lentils, and spinach pack a powerful punch! Avoid processed foods and soft drinks. These zap the energy reserves supplied by healthy food sources. Drinking eight eight-ounce glasses of water each day also boost energy levels.
Mental Munchies
Experiencing a memory loss or a shift in balance? Dig into foods loaded with Omega-3 oil and quercetin flavonoids. Fresh fish, including salmon and tuna, offers the much-needed Omega-3 oil. Eating these foods improves blood flow to the brain. Spinach, broccoli and onions contain the flavonoid quercetin, which helps prevent the risk for a stroke while boosting brain function.
Buff Bones
Don't let posture or bone diseases hurt a healthy lifestyle. Calcium-rich foods and beverages strength and maintain bone strength. In addition to milk, sesame seeds, leafy greens, and tofu contain calcium. Even eating dried plums or peanut butter helps prevent osteoporosis. Both contain boron, a mineral that enhances calcium absorption.
By combining healthy diet choices with a regular exercisde regimin, baby boomers may be able to slow the hands of time and maintain a healthy body.
