Add Years to Your Life With These Anti-Aging Foods

When we talk about anti-aging foods, just how can foods actually help us to age slower? Certainly any food that will prevent diseases that are related to old age, such as diabetes, heart disease and osteoporosis, to name just a few, will help with slowing down aging. And through research, both recent and in the distant past we have found how certain foods can help us along these lines. Here are seven that we can put into the super-foods anti-aging category.

1. Blueberries. The compounds in blueberries prevent oxidative damage that is related to loss in memory and motor skills. These are issues most common with people as they age. Other berries have these properties as well, but blueberries have been found to have the most benefits in tests. This brings us to another berry high in antioxidants, grapes, which produce wine.

2. Wine. Especially red wine, and when consumed in moderation may activate genes that slow cellular aging, according to animal studies. The compound in red wine that might actually do this is called resveratrol, and has been the subject of many studies over the last few years. Drinking any alcohol in moderation seems to protect aging people against diabetes, heart disease and memory loss.

3. Chocolate. Cocoa, which chocolate is derived from, is especially rich in flavanols that help keep blood vessels functioning well. Strong blood vessels maintain a good flow of blood to the cells, which will decrease the risk of dementia, kidney and type 2 diabetes, as well as keep blood pressure in check. Once again, moderation and the ingredients that are added in to that healthy chocolate have to be monitored.

4. Nuts. They provide similar benefits as olive oil as a source of unsaturated fats. I happen to love nuts as my favorite snack food, and I also find they help increase my intake of water, which is never bad. They are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, and will be especially beneficial for those on vegetarian diets.

5. Olive oil. The important anti-aging agents in olive oil are polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants. This is an important part of the Mediterranean diet, which many dieticians believe is responsible for the longevity and low rates of heart disease and cancer in places like the Greek Island of Crete.

6. Fish. Another staple in the Mediterranean diet is fish, and depending on the fish you eat may be very high in omega-3 fats. One of the problems people have as they age is the buildup of cholesterol in the arteries, and omega-3s is a known preventative of this issue. Researchers have noticed that the Inuit, natives of Alaska and people who have a diet very high in fish are remarkably free of diseases of the heart.

7. Yogurt. We don't really know if or why yogurt causes people to live longer, but it has long been thought that there is a connection. It is rich in calcium, which deters osteoporosis. But perhaps most importantly is probiotics, or good bacteria that helps keep digestion health in order.

We can see that all of these anti-aging foods are also foods that are good to eat, and can easily be worked into any diet. With a little creativity these foods can be brought to the table in many delicious ways.