Seven anti-aging miracle foods
By Emily Dorn (LHJ)
Updated: 2006-03-27 16:18 These healthy, delicious foods are super-charged
with important nutrients to help you live longer, and healthier.
Add the
following seven super foods to your shopping cart and you just might unlock the
key to longevity. Sue Moores, MS, RD, spokeswoman for the American Dietetic
Association, explains how these foods delay the onset of aging and the risk of
age-related disease.
 Yogurt
Dairy is often difficult to digest, but gentler yogurt is an
easy way to get the calcium you need -- and more. One serving a day delivers a
dose of healthy probiotics -- "good" bacteria that helps promote a balanced
intestinal environment. "As we age," Moores says, "we can lose bacteria in our
intestine, making it more difficult to prevent digestive diseases." The
probiotics found in yogurt, namely acidophilus, serve as a natural defense
against potentially harmful organisms. But all yogurt is not created equal: Read
the container's nutrition label to ensure that the brand you choose contains
active cultures.
Serving size: 1 cup
Calorie count: 138
Quick tip: Opt
for plain, lower-fat yogurt, because the flavored varieties frequently contain
added sugar.
 Salmon
As the anti-aging ambassador of marine cuisine, salmon has
omega-3 fatty acids, essential fats that reduce inflammation in the body,
warding off a laundry list of age-related ailments: arthritis, heart disease,
high blood pressure, and more. Plus, "fish is brain food," proclaims Moores. Its
oils have been shown to strengthen memory performance and decrease the slowing
of mental faculties as we get older.
Serving size: 3-4 ounces
Calorie
count: about 150
Quick tip: Toss canned salmon over salad as you would with
tuna.
 Blueberries
For a fruit that is often marginalized to muffins,
we are sorely overlooking this power berry. Blueberries are another essential
"brain food," because they consist of loads of phytonutrients, or plant
chemicals, recently touted for their role in preventing age-related neurological
disorders. Moores advises, however, to head straight to the source -- consuming
dietary supplements in place of the pure berry is not guaranteed to provide you
with as many of its benefits, not to mention the fruit's tasty
pleasures!
Serving size: 1/2 cup
Calorie count: 40
Quick tip: You can
profit from blueberries year-round: There is no significant difference in the
nutritional content of fresh, dried, or frozen berries.
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