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Aging is beautiful. It's so important to nourish your body and support healthy aging from the inside out. This way, you can feel your absolute best and continue doing the things you love!
The holistic approach to healthy aging encompasses all areas of health: mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual. This means taking care of your body from the inside out.
When it comes to nutrition, we actually have a great deal of power over our health and how well we will age. Putting genetics and other factors that are out of our control to the side for a moment, let's have a look at some incredible superfoods that can help support every crucial system needed for healthy aging. Here's a list of some common and some not-so-common superfoods worth incorporating into your healthy lifestyle.
Bilberry
Bilberries are a small blueberry native to Europe. They resemble the American blueberry and belong to the same genus of plant. It has been used in ancient medicine for a variety of health concerns due to its high vitamin C content.
One of the more important vitamins for aging concerns is vitamin C because it has many biological functions that are relevant to skin health such as wound healing, antioxidant protection, and the formation of collagen. It may even help protect the skin from UV rays.
Like blueberries, bilberries are a good source of antioxidants. Antioxidants can help support a healthy inflammatory response. They also help combat free radicals in the bloodstream.
What are free radicals?
Free radicals are highly reactive naturally produced chemicals that can damage healthy tissue. They can create a disruption in the balance of antioxidants in the body which may lead to a variety of health concerns. This is why antioxidant rich foods are so important.
Bilberry also contains phytochemical compounds that help to advance blood flow to the extremities and to the heart. Bilberry may help with improving circulation, eye health, and a long list of other wellness benefits!
Garlic
This pungent superfood is renowned for its antiviral benefits, but it also has a long list of other potential healthy aging benefits, including heart, immune, and joint health.
Garlic contains a compound called allicin that is produced when the clove of a garlic bulb is smashed, chopped, or chewed. Allicin promotes healthy blood cells and has blood pressure lowering effects.
The truth is, garlic is remarkably nutritious. It contains many key vitamins and minerals as well as a decent amount of fiber, calcium, and potassium. It is known that adding garlic to your diet during the cold season, can help keep cold symptoms at bay!
Gotu Kola
Gotu Kola, or "the herb of longevity," is an herb found in traditional Ayurvedic medicine. It has been known to boost brain function and help improve memory. As we age our cognition can weaken, so it's important to eat foods that have properties that support healthy aging and cognition.
Gotu Kola may also help enhance overall health, boost skin health, and enhance mood. In fact, Gotu Kola Kola has been used to help promote feelings of calmness and improve sleep.
It may not be the most common superfood on the market, but it is packed with health benefits.
Olive Oil
Keep your skin hydrated with this unexpected panty item turned skincare product. Olive oil is rich in healthy monounsaturated fats, which are known to have many beneficial health effects. It is a great choice for cooking but also can be used topically on the skin in small amounts.
To start, olive oil is loaded with our beloved antioxidants, as well as, vitamin E and K. These are all essential to the promotion of healthy skin cells. Read more about vitamins that help with fine lines, wrinkles, and collagen production here.
Antioxidants promote a healthy heart which can also lead to faster inflammatory response and increased mobility. Not to mention, they will help clear up skin issues!
Ginkgo
Ginkgo Biloba comes from the leaves of a tree native to China. It is most known for its powerful antioxidant properties. Like other superfoods we've mentioned, antioxidant-packed foods help get rid of unwanted free radicals in the body. Free radicals may contribute to accelerated aging.
Ginkgo extract supplements may help promote healthy blood flow to the brain and support healthy cognition and brain health, among many other benefits.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Omega 3 fatty acids are found most commonly in fatty fishes such as salmon. There are a variety of reported health benefits connected to this fishy superfood including healthier heart, brain, skin, hair, and overall wellness.
You may have heard of a fish oil supplement which is a common daily supplement high in omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin D. If you're not a fan of seafood, this could be a good alternative. Healthy fats are essential to a well balanced diet.
They can also promote a healthy gut which we know leads to better overall health. Your gut is tied closely to the other functioning organs in your body, so keeping a healthy gut, means healthy skin, heart, brain, and overall wellness.
Turmeric
Turmeric is typically used in cuisine from the Middle East and Southeast Asia. In these regions, people have historically used turmeric for the host of health benefits that it offers.
Adding turmeric to your diet or using a turmeric supplement can be an easy way to boost your general wellness. Turmeric contains a compound called curcumin which is thought to be a powerful antioxidant.
Besides the amazing whole body-support effects of curcumin on healthy aging, you can also apply turmeric as a natural DIY mask! Turmeric may help reduce the excess oil on the skin as it has the potential to regulate sebum production.
Since it's also a wonderful exfoliating agent, a paste prepared by mixing turmeric and flour with water, or simple turmeric mixed with aloe vera gel, is a great way to help give your skin an extra glow!
If you do want to take this powerful root in supplement form, at Primal Harvest we have a Turmeric Complex . Our Turmeric Complex is formulated with Peperine which may help the body absorb the many benefits of turmeric by 2,000%.
Dark Chocolate
Believe it or not, there is a sweet treat on this list. Dark chocolate is your go-to healthy option for dessert. It contains loads of antioxidants, and it can be a good source of fiber.
Dark chocolate also contains a small amount of caffeine (not nearly enough to keep you awake at night). It should be eaten in moderation, as any dessert should, but if you look for dark chocolate of 70-100% cocoa it can be considered a healthy food.
Because of the high amounts of antioxidants and certain minerals, dark chocolate is also known to be a heart-healthy food. Some studies have shown that cocoa can help blood flow, though the effects are mild.
Summary: Anti Aging Is Out, Healthy Is In
All of these superfoods contain a few things in common. For example, they all contain antioxidants for healthy inflammatory responses and for fighting off reactive free radicals. Antioxidants are essentially a compound that is produced naturally in the body but is also found in foods. Antioxidants are your friend!
Signs of aging can include a decline in brain function, less collagen production, weaker immunity, and a decline in mobility. Your health is important because it keeps you doing what you love to do, and aging is inevitable. So, we like to put the emphasis on your health, not the term "anti-aging."
If you start compiling a list of the best foods for your health concerns, you can naturally start tackling your health goals.
Obviously, we need a good amount of fruits and vegetables in our diets, but there are many superfoods out there that help promote overall wellness, and many ways to take include them in your diet. Just be sure to consult your doctor or registered dietitian when you add new foods and supplements to your daily routine.
The aging process is a beautiful one. There is no need to try and prevent it. What you can do is know what attributes to faster aging (sun damage, eating processed foods, alcohol, etc.) and try to avoid these lifestyle behaviors.
Instead, try to build a lifestyle that incorporates the superfoods we've discussed, plenty of sleep, and daily exercise. You will be on your way to healthy aging!
