Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Foods which promote Longevity

Since we can’t stop the aging process, are there any foods we can consume in order to maintain our health and beauty longer? The answer is “yes.” There are numerous foods which promote healthy aging and longevity. So what are these magical foods and how exactly do they work?

One of these magical foods is olive oil. This particular product has been around forever and numerous studies have confirmed its health benefits. For instance, the people of the Greek islands of Crete have been consuming olive oil for centuries. Numerous studies have shown that those people have very low rates of heart disease. This particular product is rich in mono-saturated fats and polyphenols, both of which protect the body from heart disease and other heart related illnesses. Another age healthy food is fish. Fish also promotes heart health because it is rich in omega 3 fats. The omega 3 fats prevent cholesterol buildup, prevent abnormal heart rhythm, and numerous other heart related illnesses. A study has been completed on the Native Inuit’s of Alaska who ate mostly fish and as a result of their diet they were completely free of heart disease.

Blueberries are the third age healthy food. Blueberries are responsible for maintaining a healthy balance and concentration as we age. They also have the capability of lessening inflammation and oxidative damage. For those people who don’t know, oxidative damage is associated with age related deficits in memory and in motor function. So by consuming blueberries, we are improving our memory, our balance, our reaction time, and our coordination. All of these age healthy foods are easily attainable and delicious. So why wouldn’t we want to make our future healthier and brighter by consuming more of these age defying foods.

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