Anti-aging foods for good health and long life

Anti-aging foods are those that promote health and keep your body young and vigorous. Here are some tips for eating for vigorous and long life.

1. Eat food that is free of pesticides. The best choice is organically grown food that is free of Genetic engineering. If you can not get organic produce, be sure to wash any producewith vinegar before using.

   A May 2008 edition of NPR advised:

   Rinse all fruits and vegetables. Adding one part vinegar or lemon juice to three parts water helps. Do not use soap, detergents and special cleaners are not necessary. Be sure to rinse food even if you are going to peel it. Use a scrub brush when ever possible.

   Remove bruised or damaged areas since bacteria can thrive there and then dry your produce with a clean cloth or paper towel to wipe off even more bacteria.

2. Raw nuts and seeds are excellent choices. Use them in salads or as occasional snacks.
3. Fruits are excellent Anti-aging foods because they combat damage caused by free radicals.
4. Green leafy vegetables - raw is best but even cooked they are a good choice.
5. Brown rice - especially if it has been soaked overnight before cooking.
6. Olive oil! Buy the 'first pressed' or extra virgin olive oil. It is a bit more expensive but well worth the money. Try olive oil grown in different countries. Greek olive oil, for example, has a different taste from that grown in Italy.

   Note that Olive oil has been shown to help lower hypertension and is conducive to weight loss. Flax seed oil is also helpful although you need to be sure it is fresh. Keep flax seed oil refrigerated at all times and dispose of it if it develops a strong smell (rancid).

7. For dairy products use organic yogurt or cottage cheese. Both of these are 'alkaline' rather than acid as aremost other dairy products. If you are lactose intolerant avoid dairy products.
8. Beans are always a good choice. Use lentils. Try some Indian recipes for lentils.
9. For flesh use cold water fish - but be careful not to eat it too often. Most of our oceans are seriouslypolluted. Many cold water fish have mercury, lead or other toxic chemicals. Farmed fish are not much better.Studies have shown these to contain contaminates also.

10. Spices. You can not go wrong using Turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, oregano, basil and cayenne pepper. Sprinklespices on everything. Add some to sandwiches. Instead of a salt celler but some spices on the table. Sprinkle themon your vegetables. if you are using olive oil as a dipping sauce instead of butter, add a spice to the olive oil.
11. Cinnamon gets its own listing. Cinnamon has more anti-oxidants per ounce than any other food! Keep a shaker on the table. Add it to desserts or drinks. Put it on cereals. Recent studies show that cinnamon has properties that makeit useful for those with insulin resistance or diabetes. Cinnamon is one of your best Anti-aging foods!

You can read more at Anti-aging foods: main page

If you want a list of foods that will make you age before you time, you can read themat Food and aging: what foods to avoid

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