Page 6
October 2008
The AC Phoenix
7 FOODS TO KEEP YOU YOUNG!
By Nicole Smith
Eat food and stay young! Does that sound too good to be true? Well,
that’s because it kind of is. The key to staying young lies in what foods you eat.
Add these 7 foods to your diet in order to stay young, fresh, and vibrant.
1: Olive oil
Four decades ago, researchers from the Seven Countries Study conclud
ed that the monounsaturated fats in olive oil were largely responsible tor the low
rates of heart disease and cancer on the Greek island of Crete. Now, we know
that olive oil also contains polyphenols- powerful antioxidants that may help
prevent age-related diseases.
2: Yogurt
In the 1970s, Soviet Georgia was rumored to have more centenarians per
capita than any other country. Reports at the time claimed that the secret of
their long lives was yogurt, a food ubiquitous in their diets. While the age-defy
ing powers of yogurt never have been proved directly, yogurt is rich in calcium,
which helps stave off osteoporosis and contains "good bacteria" that help main
tain good health and diminish the incidence of age-related Intestinal illness.
3: Fish
Thirty years ago, researchers began to study why the native Inuits of
Alaska were remarkably free of heart disease. The reason, scientists now think,
is the extraordinary amount of fish they consume. Fish is an abundant source
of omega-3 fats, which help prevent cholesterol buildup in arteries and protect
against abnormal heart rhythms.
4: Chocolate
The Kuna people of the San Bias islands, off the coast of Panama, have
a rate of heart disease that is nine times less than that of mainland
Panamanians. The reason? The Kuna drink plenty of a beverage made with
generous proportions of cocoa, which is unusually rich in flavanols that help
presen/e the healthy function of blood vessels. Maintaining youthful blood ves
sels lowers risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, and
dementia.
5: Nuts
Studies of Seventh-Day Adventists (a religious denomination that empha
sizes healthy living and a vegetarian diet) show that those who eat nuts gain,
on average, an extra two and a half years. Nuts are rich sources of unsaturat
ed fats, so they offer benefits similar to those associated with olive oil. They’re
also concentrated sources of vitamins, minerals, and other phytochemicais,
including antioxidants.
6: Wine
Drinking alcohol in moderation protects against heart disease, diabetes,
and age-related memory loss. Any kind of alcoholic beverage seems to provide
such benefits, but red wine has been the focus of much of the research. Red
wine contains reseveratroi, a compound that likely contributes to its benefits—
and, according to animal studies, may activate genes that slow cellular aging.
7: Blueberries
In a landmark study published in 1999, researchers at Tufts University’s
Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging fed rats blueberry
extract for a period of time that in "rat lives" is equivalent to 10 human years.
These rats outperformed rats fed regular chow on tests of balance and coordi
nation when they reached old age. Compounds In blueberries (and other
berries) mitigate inflammation and oxidative damage, which are associated with
age-related deficits in memory and motor function.
McC
fjjijs
Together We Can Change North Carotlna,
★ Return education back to the basics, and expand
vocational education and training.
End government corruption and put state government
back into the hands of the people.
* Reduce the tax burden on small businesses and
working families to help the economy.
^ Promote drilling for oil and natural gas off the coast
of North Carolina which will bring new industries and
jobs.
Paid for by Elect Pat McCrary Governor