6 Anti-Aging Foods

With 40-something celebrities popping up all over looking more youthful than some of the 20-something girls out there, and the ever growing obsession with Cougars worldwide, it makes a woman want to say, “I’ll have what she’s having!” Truth is, in addition to exercise and vitamins; women are paying closer attention to their diets now than ever before. According to many health experts, the fountain of youth we all so desperately search for could be as close as our local super market. Try adding some of these foods to your daily menu and see just how quickly you can get your glow on!

Avocado…  While going through a bag of chips accompanied by a bowl guacamole may not lead to anti-aging magic, adding a slice or two of fresh avocado to your next salad or sandwich just may. Avocados contain healthy monosaturated fats that when eaten in moderation, can help reduce bad cholesterol, improve skin elasticity, and reduce fluid retention. Not to mention they contain that little extra zing that can take your meal from blah to yummy!
Berries… Take your pick; black, blue or red– they are all jam packed with nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants that destroy free radicals in the body, strengthen the immune system, and fight the aging process. Try adding a few to a smoothie or just grab a small bowl as a snack. Your ever fading smile lines will thank you for it.
Fish… Salmon in particular is full of omega fatty acids. These healthy fats not only assist in keeping you feeling fuller longer, but they improve the look and feel of skin, reduce fluid retention all over the body, deliver essential oils to the hair, and have even been known to help prevent nails from breaking. Replace your usual main dish with salmon just three days a week and you’ll notice a more beautiful you in as little as 14 days!
Olive oil… Olive oil has been known for its anti aging properties for centuries! Unlike canola oil or butter, olive oil contains healthy fats that improve the skin and assist in removing bad cholesterol. Olive oil also contains polyphenol, an antioxidant that has been known to affect cell-to-cell signaling, and can actually slow down the aging process. Just a couple of tablespoons a day used in cooking or as a salad dressing can lead to drastic improvements in your skin over time.
Red wine… While guzzling a whole box of red wine on a random evening will likely cause more harm than good, a glass or two a few times a week could help replace your $50 skin cream. Much like olive oil, red wine contains a natural antioxidant known as resveratol. This antioxidant helps to stabilize blood sugar, reduce inflammation in the body, reduce the death of good cells, controls abnormal cell growth, and increases the body’s ability to turn over new cells. In short, red wine encourages the body’s cells to repair themselves, creating new youthful ones. So be sure to add a glass to your next meal, as long as you limited it to two, your body will be happy that you did.
Dark chocolate… If you’re like me, you probably skipped right to this paragraph while salivating in denial. But it’s true! In addition to dark chocolate’s ability to raise serotonin levels and make you a much happier camper, it also contains flavonoids which help to fights bacteria, viruses, allergies, and help to reduce inflammation. In addition, just one small piece of dark chocolate a day contains enough antioxidants to fight off free radicals that cause aging in the body and reduce cognitive declines caused by the aging process. Be sure to limit yourself to one piece a day, savor it, and remember, the darker the chocolate the more wrinkle fighting power it contains.