6 Delicious Anti-Aging Superfoods That’ll Keep Your Mind Sharp, Burn Belly Fat, and More
Keeping your mind and body sharp as you age is much easier than you might think. Turn back the clock with these six tasty, healing anti-aging super foods which will do the trick and have great benefits for your health too!
Red wine keeps brain power sharp.
Sipping a 6-ounce glass of red wine daily will cut your risk of agerelated memory lapses in half, plus reduce dementia risk by as much as 58 percent, say Oregon State University scientists. Credit red wine compounds (phenolics), which mop up free radicals before they can damage brain nerves, plus help keep arteries open and relaxed so oxygen-rich blood can flow easily to brain cells.
Beef boosts muscle strength.
Wouldn’t it be great to stay strong and toned without making weekly treks to the gym? Your best bet is to pump up protein intake. Australian studies suggest adding 30 grams of protein (the amount in 4 ounces of red meat) to your daily diet will cut your risk of age-related muscle loss by 67 percent, plus kick-start the growth and repair of muscle tissues in as little as 72 hours, boosting your strength and endurance by 25 percent in three months.
Berries strengthen vision.
Sweet, seasonal strawberries, blueberries, and other berries are anti-aging foods rich in nutrients (lutein and zeaxanthin) that help keep the tiny capillaries nourishing your eyes healthy, strong and plaque-free. No wonder British studies suggest that berry lovers are just half as likely to ever develop cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration. One cup daily (fresh or frozen) will give you this proven vision protection.
Tomatoes slow skin aging.
The pigment that gives tomatoes their red hue (lycopene) turns on genes that slow the aging of skin cells and supportive elastin and collagen, halting the formation of wrinkles, fine lines and sagging, suggests research in the journal Dermato-Endocrinology. For best results, enjoy one cup of fresh tomatoes or 1/2 cup of cooked tomatoes daily.
Bell peppers soothe adrenal glands.
Eating one cup of bell peppers daily will help you feel like a kid again, boosting your energy and stamina by 35 percent in one week, German researchers report. Thanks goes to the colorful pigments in bell peppers (carotenoids) that quickly heal and energize tired adrenal glands to heighten their release of energizing hormones.
Macadamias speed belly-fat burning.
Munching on 1/2 cup of macadamia nuts daily can put slimming on autopilot, speeding belly-fat breakdown by 62 percent, trimming up to 6 inches off your waistline in six months. That’s the word from University of Hawaii researchers, who say macadamias brim with nutrients (magnesium and palmitoleic acid) that energize cellular mitochondria in abdominal fat, prompting them to burn stored fatty acids for energy.
A version of this article originally appeared in our print magazine, First for Women.
