forever young naturally eating

Caffeine has given coffee a bad name, but research at Harvard Medical School suggests that drinking coffee in moderation lowers risk of type 2 diabetes. It also seems to enhance brain function, reduce risk of Parkinson’s, and may protect against colon cancer. However, more than three cups a day is associated in older women with loss of bone density. Aim to enjoy one really good cup of well-brewed fresh coffee rather than several cups of mediocre instant.

When buying coffee to go, avoid coffee shops that serve hot drinks in polystyrene cups, which might allow seepage of the toxins benzene and styrene into food.

Act elderly and demand to be served cocoa in bed. A cup of cocoa made with hot water contains twice as many protective antioxidant polyphenols as a glass of red wine; three times as many as a cup of green tea; and five times as many as black tea, suggests a study from Cornell University. There are concurrent benefits for heart health, circulation and glucose metabolizing. A Dutch study suggests older men who drink cocoa have lower blood pressure and may live longer than those who don’t. Drink in moderation, using cocoa powder and a little sugar to taste, rather than using hot chocolate mixes, which can be high in additives and trans-fatty acids implicated in risk of heart disease. The benefits of drinking cocoa made with hot milk have not been assessed.

A little alcohol, especially red wine, seems to play an important role in keeping the body and brain feeling and acting youthful. Drinking one or two small glasses a day is associated with substantially lowered risk of coronary heart disease and Alzheimer’s, as well as boosting immunity and reducing the risk of stroke.

For times of the year when you simply must overindulge, try these:

Eat before a night on the town.

Match each alcoholic drink with a glass of water.

Stick to one type of drink.

Beware of cocktails and premixed drinks: fruit flavoring and sweetness disguise alcoholic content.

Don’t allow your glass to be refilled until it’s empty.

Reserving the recommended number of units of alcohol for one weekly or monthly drinking session wipes out the benefits of a daily glass of wine. When bingeing becomes regular, it makes more likely some ailments associated with aging, from cardiovascular disease, stroke, and liver or kidney damage to breast cancer and osteoporosis.

Drinking a glass of red wine a day seems to have remarkable health effects, protecting the aging heart and even guarding against gum disease suggests a recent study, thanks to the presence of impressive amounts of antioxidant phenols, which thin the blood and keep artery walls clear. Spanish studies found people who enjoyed two or more glasses a day suffered 44 percent fewer colds than those who did not indulge.

Although white wine has health benefits, red wine seems to be more useful in the antiaging armory. If you are trying to keep your weight down, be aware that a standard glass of sweet white wine contains almost 120 calories, compared to, on average, 85 in a glass of red wine.