Anti-aging foods for eternal youth: an A-Z

If you really fantasize about eternal beauty and youthfulness, you better take the trouble to drill the English alphabets once again. While studying in nursery level you memorised A-Z to please your teacher. This time your little effort might please the Mother Nature.

Wise food choices can lead to a healthier body, as well as boosting vitality and improving mental agility. There are some wonder-foods say nutritionists, which pack in vitamins, super nutrition and antioxidants that are essential to anti-ageing.

Go through this alphabet of anti-ageing foods to stay young and lovely -

A- Avocado

It contains more potassium (helps lowers blood pressure) than bananas. It is rich in glutathione, which protects the body from toxins, helps neutralise bad fat and is an antioxidant that fights free-radical damage to cells that accompanies ageing.

B- Broccoli

It boosts the immune system and contains more calcium than any other vegetable. It also has properties that fight bone loss and cancer.

C- Carrot

Carrots lower cholesterol and their orange pigment boosts immune function. And they’re really are good for eyesight — the betacarotene in them protects eyes from diseases that occur with ageing.

D- Dark chocolate

This treat is full of antioxidants, which fight cell damage. It’s rich in vitamin B6 and tryptophan, which converts to serotonin, a chemical that helps fight depression.

E- Eggs

The complete food (after breast milk), eggs contain every amino acid the body needs. They’re a rich source of lutein, which protects against macular eye degeneration.

F- Fish

Omega 3 oils found in salmon, tuna, sardines and herrings have blood-thinning properties that protect arteries, lower BP, and may slow damage to your DNA.

G- Garlic

It maintains blood circulation and oxygenated blood helps keen skin, hair and nails strong and healthy.

H- Honey

Organic coldpressed honey (no more than ½ tsp a day) has a healing effect. Heating it robs it of essential vitamins, so don’t put it in hot drinks or cook with it.

I for Iceberg Lettuce: Iceberg lettuce fights harmful free radicals and boosts the immune system because it contains manganese, magnesium, potassium, iron, phosphorus and calcium.

J- Japanese Green Tea

Japanese green tea is full of antiageing antioxidants and contains methylxanthines that boost metabolism, help burn fat, and lowers cholesterol.

K- Kombucha Tea

Fermented and packed with antioxidants, just one cup a day is an inexpensive way of taking all the antioxidants you need to age well.

L- Legume

Sprouted grains, millet, buckwheat, barley and lentils all contain saponin, which can slow the growth of tumours. They are also a good source of protein.

M- Mackerel

Mackerel (bangda) is an inexpensive oily fish high in essential oils, vitamins, minerals and rich in Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids.

N- Nuts

The skin of nuts is full of antiageing flavonoids. And all nuts are full of protein, fibre, essential fats, vitamins and minerals, including magnesium, which improves recall.

O- Onion

Anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and antiviral, onions are full of digestive enzymes that detoxify and boost the immune system. Red onions are by far the best.

P- Parsley

A great inner cleanser, parsley or we call it dhone pata is full of vitamins C, A and some B, as well as iron, calcium and potassium. It’s also a natural diuretic.

Q- Quinoa

This energy-sustaining food contains all eight essential amino acids and rich in calcium and iron.

R- Red Fruits

Red fruit and vegetables like raspberries, strawberries, red peppers, red cabbage and red onions are preferable to green varieties as they have powerful antioxidants that can fight heart disease and prostate cancer, minimise stroke risk and degeneration of the eyes.

S- Spinach

Full of antioxidants spinach can help deter stroke, heart disease and high blood pressure. It is among the top 10 super-foods because it contains lutein and zeaxanthin, strong anti-ageing compounds.

T- Tomato

This contains quercetin and the antioxidant lycopene, which is proven to be a super-efficient, freeradical scavenger and preserves mental and physical functions in elderly people.
U- Uncooked Vegetables

Cooking your vegetables can destroy many nutrients. Steaming or boiling in less water preserves nutrients. Eat raw vegetables as often as you can, and lightly cook at other times.

V- Veggies

Go for deep green, richly red or bright orange and yellow to get the maximum antioxidants and vitamins. They are all high in water content. When you eat water-based food as opposed to drinking water, your body keeps it for longer

W- Walnuts

A great source of copper, walnuts stop hair turning grey and help it retain its natural colour longer.

X- Xylitol

The natural zero-calorie sweetener around, xylitol doesn’t have the risk factors like artificial sweeteners, and helps to re-mineralise teeth.

Y- Yellow Fruits and Vegetables

Grapefruits, melons, pineapple and lemons have high antioxidant content, helping detoxify the body.

Z- Zucchini

Use zucchini in pasta as a base so you avoid the starchy pasta carbs that cause inflammation and excess weight because of the high sugar content.

NB: The list is not meant to replace your diet, but to help ensure you always include them in your meals.