forever young naturally eating

Enjoying a treat early in the day seems to have less effect on the waistline. Alternatively, do more exercise to keep your waist in check.

In all the great religions, fasting is a tool of meditation, used as a way of reining in the excesses of body and mind. If you are in good health, you might like to have a juice and water-only day once every season. Alternatively, give up something you crave for a set period of time, and notice how after a while the cravings cease and your mind feels calmer.

Research is showing us that some foods are particularly effective at keeping at bay the body’s aging mechanisms. Many of these superfoods are fruit and vegetables famed for their antioxidant powers—the more of these you can weave into your day, the better you protect body and brain from the ravages of time.

A recent report in the British Medical Journal suggested that eating certain key foods every day could boost cardiovascular health and even increase life expectancy by up to 6½ years. The items to keep a ready supply of are vegetables, fruit, garlic, almonds, wine, fish (twice a week), and dark chocolate.

Keep black grapes handy to pick at. The red coloring contains very potent antioxidants effective in maintaining youthful arteries. They are also a source of ellagic acid, associated with cancer-prevention.

The succulent seeds and juice of this fruit contain very high levels of antioxidant polyphenols that seem to protect against many diseases of aging, including ailments of the heart and blood vessels. They also seem to inhibit the growth of prostate and breast cancer cells.

Buy young pepper plants and nurture in pots through the summer ready to harvest in the fall. Like pumpkin and other red, orange, and yellow fruit and vegetables, peppers contain the carotenoid beta-cryptoxanthin, which can help cut the risk of a precursor disease to rheumatoid arthritis by up to 40 percent. Red peppers contain three times more vitamin C than citrus fruit.

Eating dark red or purple berries boosts memory function. Blackcurrants and boysenberries are rich in the antioxidant flavonoid anthocyanins and seem to fight cell and DNA damage, which can contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s and cancer. Blackcurrants, blackberries, bilberrries, and blueberries benefit aging eyes and capillary walls, too. Eat fresh berries in season. Out of season try frozen or freeze-dried.

Walnuts are renowned in Chinese medicine as the longevity fruit. As well as snacking on fresh shelled nuts, try using the oil in cooking and salad dressings. Packed with heartprotecting antioxidants and fats, walnut oil has a nutty flavor that works well with potatoes and other root vegetables. Peanuts share their cholesterol-lowering properties and are also linked to a decreased risk of heart disease. Eat a handful of almonds each day for their healthy monounsaturated fats, which are associated with a lowered risk of coronary heart disease and stroke.

Just a fistful of seeds a day is immensely protective, since they contain protein, useful amounts of minerals and fatty acids essential for joint and prostate health. Add pumpkin, flaxseeds (linseeds), sesame and sunflower seeds to muesli, scatter over salads and keep ready-mixed packets in your desk to dip into when energy levels drop.