forever young naturally eating

Mix pomegranate juice with freshly squeezed lime juice to cool the body. Alternatively, whizz up a spicy lassi. Blend yogurt with half the amount again of water. Stir in sugar or salt to taste, plus ¼ tsp each of crushed cardamom seeds and ground cinnamon.

Juice combinations of fruits and vegetables make the most of their active ingredients:

Red grapefruit juice reduces “bad” cholesterol (avoid if on medication).

Tomato juice with a shake of celery salt, black pepper, and Worcestershire sauce is a great morning pick-me-up.

Carrot, apple, and ginger combine for a spring detox.

Celery, beets, spinach, and apple with a squeeze of lemon juice are refreshing in the afternoon.

Blackberries with fresh orange juice make a tart start to the day.

For best flavor, look for cloudy specialty apple and pear juices from family orchards that specialize in named local varieties, each with a distinct taste.

Berry smoothie: blend 1 container of berries with 2–3 tbsp natural yogurt and top off with cold milk. Garnish with toasted nuts and seeds. Banana-mango breakfast: whizz up the flesh of 1 banana and 1 mango; mix in yogurt to taste and 1 tsp each sesame seeds and flaxseeds (linseeds).

Some herbal teas are instantly uplifting and calming against the aging effects of stress and mental overload. Green tea is immune-strengthening and a fine antioxidant as well as good for the heart. Black tea and coffee, once considered a health no-no because of their caffeine content, are now regarded as tonic brews.

Researchers from Tokyo Medical University have established that drinking black tea after high-fat meals helps blood circulation. Other research suggests people who drink four or more cups a day halve their risk of heart attack and also reduce high blood pressure. Drinking double this amount has been linked to a reduction in cancer risk.

A potent antioxidant, green tea has been found in studies to boost longevity and the immune system, cut risk of heart disease and reduce inflammation. Antibacterial and antiviral, it also helps stimulate the burning of calories according to researchers at the University of Geneva. Drinking more than two cups a day keeps mind and memory sharp with age. Japanese women who drink green tea also have lower risk of breast cancer and better outcomes if they do contract the disease. Aim for three to six cups a day.

When eating Indian-style dishes, have a cup of green tea. Turmeric, a staple ingredient in India curries, and green tea seem to enhance each other’s health-giving properties.

Although it originates from the same plant as green and black tea, Camellia sinensis, white tea contains more active ingredients, and so potentially more health benefits. Of all tea varieties, white tea is the least processed, which may be the source of its health-giving properties. The young buds are simply steamed and dried after picking, preserving the mix of antioxidant polyphenols. In China it is valued as meditationenhancing, so drink before yoga.

Brew tea the Indian way, as chai, to energize and aid digestion. Serves two.

3 cups of water

¼ tsp each crushed cardamom pods, ground cinnamon, freshly ground black pepper, ground ginger

3 tsp black tea leaves semiskimmed milk, to taste
In a pan bring the water to the boil with the spices. Add the tea and a generous helping of milk, if desired, and bring to the boil again. Steep for 5 minutes, then strain into cups. Chai is traditionally drunk sweetened.