Ageing and Anti-ageing products are the bedrock of the skin-care and cosmetics industries. Every year, hundreds upon thousands of dollars is made by the cosmetics industry by convincing us to slather on the latest, greatest chemical concoction designed to ‘de-crinkle eyes’ (yes, you read that right) and ‘fight signs of ageing’. But have you realised that what you put in your mouth is just as (if not more) important that what you put on your face?
For example, some recent research has shown that eating one or two apples and pears each day may halve the risk of stoke! Clearly diet has a powerful part to play in the way we feel and look as we grow older.
Some of the major bad guys in ageing are free radicals, inflammation and what are known as AGEs (advanced glycation end-products). These may be formed in the body from normal metabolic processes, or may be formed outside the body and then ingested in foods etc. These nasties can damage tissues and interfere with normal bodily function. The theory goes that an accumulation of damage over time is what causes (some of) the ageing process.
Luckily, the foods we eat and supplements we take contain a number of vitamins and phytonutrients (plant chemicals) that can reduce inflammation and ‘mop up’ free radicals before the cause too much harm. (see Matt’s post on Resveratrol for some more information).
The best dietary choices by far are colourful organic fruits, vegetables and spices:
- Berries, such as blueberries, blackberries, acai berries, goji berries and red grapes contain anthocyanadins, which are powerful flavonoids that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity.
- Quercetin may be found in apples, pears, citrus fruits, onions, green and black tea and capers.
- Carotenoids are strong antioxidants found in orange and red foods like watermelon, tomatoes, carrots, apricots, peaches, papaya and capsicums.
- Spices like turmeric and mustard contain curcumin, which is believed to be the reason that Indians are much less likely to get Alzheimer’s Disease as they age.
These are just a few of the foods to pack into your diet for anti-ageing benefits!
An extra insurance policy for many people is to take some of these super-foods and vitamins in the form of supplements. ViveHealth is excited to have created a new Anti-Ageing page, so that you can find all of your Anti-Ageing supplements, cosmetics and foods in the one place.
What are your best anti-ageing tips? We’d love to hear them…