You might know that there are some anti-ageing foods. But did you know that there are also foods that can speed up your ageing clock – making you prematurely older?
If you want to stay young, vital and healthy for many years to come, these are the foods you want to keep to an absolute minimum.
Foods that age you
FRIED FOODS
If you love fried or even deep-fried foods on a regular basis, you are at a high risk of premature ageing.
When foods are fried in oil at high temperatures, they release free radicals that can cause damage to the body’s tissues and accelerate the ageing process.
One of the reasons for this is that free radicals cause cross-linking. This affects your connective tissue, leading to wrinkles, stiff joints and even hardened arteries.
ADDED SUGARS
One of the biggest sources of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) is sugar – particularly processed & added sugars. A high sugar intake and the resulting elevated blood glucose levels both contribute to AGEs.
Sugar also leads to cross-linking, damaging the connective tissue throughout your body and speeding up the ageing process.
MARGARINE
We were told for decades that margarine was the healthier alternative to butter. But it turns out it’s one of the worst things you can consume when it comes to ageing!
Margarine contains partially hydrogenated oils, which are a source of trans-fatty acids. And now we know that trans fats are the most unhealthy fat out there (yes, they are far worse than saturated fats!) In fact, they can increase your risk of heart disease and even death.
Trans fats are also strongly linked to increased systemic inflammation, particularly in women. So you want to avoid them at all costs if you want to stay young and healthy for longer.
VEGETABLE OILS
Another common source of dietary fats that contribute to ageing are vegetable oils, particularly those high in omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-6s aren’t a problem when they are balanced by a good omega-3 intake. But unfortunately, most of us don’t get nearly enough omega-3s in to prevent the inflammatory effects of omega-6.
Common omega-6 rich oils include sunflower oil, ‘vegetable’ oil, canola oil, corn oil and soybean oil. I recommend switching them out for healthier fats such as olive oil, coconut oil and ghee.
ALCOHOL
Love to wind down in the evening with a glass of wine or a cider? As enjoyable as it might feel, it could be stepping on the ageing accelerator.
Now, this doesn’t mean you can never drink – research suggests that light alcohol consumption could help to slow ageing down. But if you drink multiple days per week or have more than 7 standard drinks per week, you are speeding up your ageing clock.
It also contributes to a heavy liver burden, inflammation and oxidative stress, along with increasing the risk of most chronic diseases. So it’s best to have a few alcohol-free nights per week.
REFINED CARBOHYDRATES
Love a big bowl of pasta, white bread sandwiches or munch on cereal every morning? Small amounts of refined carbohydrates can be enjoyed on occasion. But if you’re consuming them daily, it could be ageing you.
Foods that have a high glycaemic index can contribute to inflammation in the body. And as we know, inflammation and inflammaging are a big piece of the ageing puzzle! Switch these out for higher fibre, less processed alternatives such as rye bread, lentil pasta or homemade muesli instead.
THE RIGHT FOOD CHOICES ARE ONLY ONE PIECE OF THE ANTI-AGEING 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.
