fbpx

Did you know that everything you eat can either protect you against ageing or contribute to it? The role of food in anti-ageing is often overlooked. But by adding some anti-ageing superfoods into your diet, you can stay happier and healthier for many years to come.

The Best Anti-Ageing Superfoods You Want To Eat More Of

DARK CHOCOLATE

Yes, that’s right – chocolate has amazing anti-ageing properties!

Chocolate is packed full of antioxidants, which are critical as an anti-ageing strategy. They protect us against the effects of oxidative stress and inflammation, which can contribute to premature ageing.

Researchers have found that chocolate and/or cocoa offers benefits including:

  • Protecting against UV damage

  • Having anti-inflammatory properties

  • Encouraging the release of feel-good dopamine

  • Reducing stress levels

  • Decreasing wrinkles (yes, really!)

  • Increasing blood flow and the hydration level of your skin

However, we are talking dark chocolate here – not milk, white or even dark chocolate laced with sugary additions. You want to reach for a dark chocolate with a minimum of 70% cocoa content to reap the max benefits.

BERRIES

You’ll find berries at the top of just about every superfood list, and for good reason. Berries are some of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet – they’re packed with antioxidants and fibre, and despite their sweetness, they are also low in sugar.

There is some promising research when it comes to berries and brain health. For example, one 20-year-long study found that eating blueberries at least once a week OR strawberries at least twice a week delayed cognitive ageing by up to 2.5 years in women over 70. So you can imagine what weekly berries could do if you started eating them even earlier in life!

Berries can also help to reduce the physical signs of ageing as well. The high antioxidant content of berries helps to protect your skin and collagen against UV damage, inflammation and free radicals. So regular consumption can reduce premature ageing inside and out.

Raspberries, blueberries and strawberries are a few of the top picks. The fresher you can get them, the better – so if you can grow your own or even head to a local berry farm to pick your own straight off the plant, the greater the nutritional payoff.

GARLIC

All herbs and spices belong in an anti-ageing kitchen, but if I had to pick one, it would be garlic. Just some of the age-related mechanisms for garlic include:

  • High antioxidant content

  • Anti-inflammatory

  • Cardioprotective (protects the heart & helps to lower blood pressure)

  • Anti-microbial (protects against viruses, bacteria and fungi)

  • Anti-cancer

  • Reduces the effects of oxidation and the inflammatory response

  • Improves blood sugar regulation

  • Protects against cognitive decline

  • Anti-wrinkles!

So if you’re going to include one ingredient in as many of your weekly meals as possible, I recommend using garlic.

The trick with garlic? Crush it and let it sit for 5-10 minutes before you add it to your dish, as this allows the garlic to produce the beneficial compound allicin. It’s also best to add the garlic last, as allicin content drops when exposed to heat.

COFFEE

Clients are always terrified that I’m going to tell them not to drink coffee anymore – but it’s actually the opposite! I’m a huge fan of coffee personally, but there are also some impressive health benefits to note as well.

Ever noticed that your heart rate goes up when you drink coffee? Coffee is a stimulant, and a lot of health experts have previously suggested you should reduce your intake to protect your heart health.

But the most recent research looked at coffee’s role in heart disease and death in over 350,000 people over the period of 10 years. They found that 2-3 cups per day led to a 10-15% lower risk of coronary heart disease, heart failure, arrhythmias or dying for any reason! One cup gave the best protection against stroke and heart-related deaths.

Coffee is also one of the most common dietary sources of antioxidants, which equals more youthful skin, less inflammation and better brain function. Just make sure you’re not counteracting coffee’s benefits by adding in sugary syrups or milks that are packed full of unnecessary additives!

GUAVA

There are many tropical fruits that offer anti-ageing benefits, but my favourite would have to be guava. As it is packed full of antioxidants including carotenoids and lycopene, it can protect you inside and out from the effects of free radicals and inflammation.

But guava could also play an important role in protecting you from what is known as frailty. Frailty is the age-related decline that includes weakness, slower walking speed, low physical activity, exhaustion and unintentional weight loss. These leave you at a much higher risk of serious health conditions and death.

But a study has found that a regular intake of guava fruit is associated with a much lower risk of developing frailty in an older population. It’s estimated that consuming 1-4 serves of guava was needed for the protective benefits.

ANTI-AGEING SUPERFOODS ARE ONLY ONE PIECE OF THE PUZZLE!

It takes the right foods, the right mindset and the right protocol if you want to stay young and vibrant for many years to come.

If you’re ready to look AND feel great again, book yourself a FREE Anti-Ageing Strategy call here.

Susie Garden

I help women feeling stressed, flat and older than they’d like regain their youthful energy and glow using a proven method so their natural beauty and confidence shines through.