Central Coast Magazines Home and Lifestyle Winter 2024

T here are no magical foods that turn back the clock, but good nutrition is important for looking and feeling your best as the years go by. Normal ageing is often not the main reason for many of the conditions that affect quality of life in older people - there is often a medical cause for 'feeling old'. Poor food choices and low fitness levels are major contributors to lifestyle related diseases such as cancer, diabetes, bone and joint ailments and heart disease. Our metabolisms create 'free radicals', unstable, highly reactive substances that can damage cells that are major players in the ageing process. Smoking and poor diet increase our exposure to hazardous free radicals and contribute to the development of chronic diseases. During our search for that magic age delaying potion, we often neglect or ignore the most obvious remedy - food! Of course, one of the secrets to a long, healthy life begins with good genes, but healthy eating habits can help too. Antioxidants such as lycopene, carotenoids, flavonoids, and polyphenols can help sweep away damaging free radicals. The best way to ensure you are getting the full range of antioxidants is to consume a variety of plant foods, such as vegetables, fruits, wholegrains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and tea. Overeating puts a strain on the body's organs, muscles, and joints, making us feel old before Holding back the years

Just as muscles get flabby from sitting and doing nothing, so does the brain. The saying "use it or lose it" holds true for staying mentally sharp. Challenge your mind with crosswords and puzzles. Consume a diet rich in Folate (leafy greens and fortified breakfast cereals), B12 (milk and eggs). Wrinkles are one of the most obvious signs of ageing. As our skin matures it produces less elastin and collagen causing it to sag and become lined and wrinkled. By looking after your skin, wearing sunscreen, avoid smoking and staying active life with a healthy diet, you can preserve some of that youthful glow.

our time. We know that being overweight or obese increases the risk of a shorter life span and feeling less than our best, both physically and mentally. The key message for staying youthful and energetic is not to overeat! If you are worried about your mental health as you age and are suffering with memory loss, eat plenty of broccoli, cabbage, Asian greens, rocket, herbs and radishes. Vegetables from the cabbage family contain a special phytochemical group that maintain levels of an important brain neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is involved in the processes of learning and memory function.

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