Antioxidants and Anti Aging Food

March 20, 2009 by Monica
Filed under Healthy Family

anti aging eating tips I’ve just turned 31, and yes, I’m starting to notice my skin is no longer as it used to be 10 years ago. I love my age and think I’ll continue feeling good when I get older. However, I want to keep a healthy spirit, mind and body even when I get older. Looking good and “young” has a lot to do with healthy eating, and antioxidants are on top of the list of anti aging substances we can get from food.

But what are antioxidants and how can they help you keep looking your best?

Antioxidants are substances present in a variety of foods that slow the aging process that goes on in our bodies.

Cellular metabolism is the body process of replenishing its cells. Through cellular metabolism the body produces energy, more cells and repairs any damage. One by-product of cellular metabolism is unstable molecules called free radicals.

Free radicals are unstable molecules that damage our bodies. They are unstable because they are missing an electron. To get another one and become stable, free radicals will steal electrons from cells. No wonder, the cells are damaged by this theft in many ways.

As a result, there are evident and invisible changes to our bodies. Diseases like cancer, diabetes, arthritis and neurological deficiencies are some consequences of oxidation. Also, thinner skin wrinkles and brittle bones become a problem. The more free radicals we encounter, the greater the damage that can be done to our health and appearance.

But let’s announce the good news. Antioxidants have been found to be of great help in the free radical problem. Antioxidant substances combine with free radicals and neutralize them. Therefore, eating foods rich in antioxidants makes a huge difference in how we feel and how we look.

But where do we find antioxidants? Look no further than your local market or produce aisle in the grocery store. Vegetables in the first place and fruits in second place are the number one sources of antioxidants.

Some examples of natural antioxidants:
* Vitamin A
* Vitamin C
* Vitamin E
* Beta-carotene
* Lutein
* Lycopene

Additionally, some minerals like zinc and selenium, although not antioxidants, are also of good anti aging help to our bodies, since they boost the immune system to fight against free radical damage.

kimchi and Korean food Antioxidants are also found in legumes, nuts, cold water fish, seafood and red meat. So, eating a healthy and varied diet will increase the amount of antioxidants in your system and help reduce the incidence of disease. Make a point on eating fruits and vegetables without added sugar. Go for healthy smoothies instead of sugary juices whenever you want to eat fruits and vegetables in a different presentation. Don’t miss fermented food (I’m just getting into the fermented mood and loving it ), as it’s know as being a great traditional source of wellness and longevity. Have you seen Japanese or Korean women’s skin? Then you wanna try tsukemono or kimchi.

Remember food can become our best medicine, as it has been for centuries in traditional cultures. Natural substances in our food can cause us to live longer, look younger and stay free of disease as we age.

Recommended reading:

Nourishing Traditions, by Sally Fallon. By far my favorite cook book on traditional healthy eating. Not only a great cooking book, but very interesting and informative reading. There you’ll find a section for fermented food