Top 10 Keto Zone Anti-Aging Foods
1. Spring Water
Okay, water is not exactly food. But, the substance that makes up most of the Earth, and most of our bodies, can provide a lot of healing, nourishment, and beauty to them.
One surefire way to appear older is to have dry skin. Dry skin increases the appearance of wrinkles and lines in our skin.
Staying hydrated with water each day can keep your skin looking supple, vibrant, and smooth.
2. Hydrolyzed Collagen
Hydrolyzed collagen powder is a protein made from the bones, tissues, and hooves of animals. Although this does not sound very particularly beautiful, the amino acids it contains can improve the health of our own tissues and skin.
In fact, it can do wonders for dry, winter skin.
A 2014 study of 46 women, ages 35-55, showed that eight weeks of collagen powder supplementation improved skin elasticity within just 4 weeks (1).
Another study showed that collagen increases moisture in the skin to produce younger-looking, less-fragmented skin (2).
3. Omega-3 Fats
Omega-3s fats are strong dietary anti-inflammatories.
When consumed, especially in amounts that improve their ratio to omega-6s, they cause our bodies to produce less harmful inflammatory hormones and more healthful anti-inflammatory hormones.
How does this slow aging? Omega-3s keep us youthful by:
- Improving heart health by reducing triglycerides, bad cholesterol, and cardiovascular inflammation. A healthy heart is a youthful one.
- Improving blood sugars. Balanced blood sugars mean less stiff arteries and healthier (younger) organs.
- Improving brain health. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are implanted in the brain and can affect cognitive decline (vs. a youthful brain), mood, and overall brain health.
- Increasing calorie burn and decreasing fat storage. Leaner, stronger bodies appear younger. Recent studies show an increase in calorie output with approximately 2000 mg DHA/EPA per day (you’ll average 1000 mg per day by eating 12 oz. salmon per week, so consider supplementing another 1000 mg per day). Furthermore, since the fats make your cells more sensitive to insulin, they reduce fat storage.
4. Raw Cacao, Black Pepper, and Cinnamon
Raw cacao, black pepper, and cinnamon are anti-aging foods that work at the cellular level. They are extremely high in antioxidants. Their antioxidants are so potent at the cellular level they go beyond the normal reduction in oxidative stress to promote longevity and health in the body.
Raw cacao’s nutrients cross the blood-brain barrier to affect brain health and mood (3).
One study of older adults showed an increase of 10% brain blood flow with cacao. Other studies show improved blood flow and cognition in those with and without a deficit, indicating a potential use for those suffering from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Cinnamon, which has been found to have one of the highest antioxidant capacities among foods, can increase antioxidant activity by 13 percent when consumed daily!
Black pepper can keep joints feeling young: Study after study has shown reduced pain, increased healing, and decreased pathology in arthritic animals and humans (4).
5. Cucumbers and Celery
Some foods and nutrients help our bodies rid themselves of excess fluid. Cucumbers and celery are two such foods.
When we eat sugars, drink alcohol, eat foods too high in sodium, or even subject ourselves to high heat in the middle of winter, our skin can become puffy, giving us a more aged appearance.
The natural diuretic action of cucumbers and celery can reduce puffiness and improve the appearance of our skin.
6. Detox Vegetables: Kale, Cauliflower, and Broccoli
Many vegetables are loaded with vitamins and minerals, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antioxidant, and cholesterol lowering nutrients.
Specific vegetables take it one step further and promote cellular detoxification to keep our cells healthy and young.
Cauliflower, broccoli and kale support our cells’ complete detoxifying process. Our cells are bombarded with toxins each day. When they are overloaded and need to detox, they undergo a 2-step process: Phase 1 and Phase 2 detoxification. Their antioxidants, which contain sulfur and nitrogen, make compounds that support both phases of detoxification.
An easy way to get the most out of detox vegetables? Try Fermented Green Supremefood.
7. Green Tea
Green tea is a youth-inducing drink. Its antioxidants repair and protect cells.
One specific antioxidant, EGCG goes for the brain. In fact, in mice induced with Alzeimher’s and Parkinson’s Disease, it helped to protect brain cells from dying, as well as ‘rescuing’ already damaged neurons in the brain, a phenomenon called neurorescue or neurorestoration.
What’s more, EGCG has antibacterial properties that promote oral health in tea drinkers. A healthy smile is a youthful one.
It also helps keep eyes young and healthy. EGCG is absorbed by cells in the eye, and provide protective effects for up to 20 hours after consumption. This has led many experts to believe it may have a role in reducing diseases of the eye and glaucoma.
Lastly, EGCG can help our bodies oxidize and burn fat. Multiple studies have shown an increase in metabolic rates, weight loss, decreased waistline and fat loss with consistent green tea ingestion.
8. Vitamin D
When you consume vitamin D, you’re actually consuming a pre-hormone (a nutrient that acts as a precursor to hormones).
Vitamin D specifically can help keep our hormones balanced as we age.
It helps regulate other hormones, including adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine production in the brain, and serotonin. These hormones contribute to our emotional responses (5), metabolism, weight, and energy levels.
9. Youthful Hormone-Balancing Nutrients
Vitamin K2 is often deficient in adults. It improves bone health specifically in post-menopausal women. Bone health is important for a youthful body, as failing bones and joints can keep us from doing the youthful activities we want.
In fact, supplementing both K2 and D3 can promote balanced hormones that affect bones, and reduce spinal fractures, hip fractures, and osteoporosis while improving dental health (6).
Diindolylmethane (DIM), a compound produced by our bodies when we eat green vegetables, is important for balanced hormones because it alters the metabolism of estrogen. DIM blocks an enzyme that converts testosterone to estrogen and converts “bad estrogens,” into good estrogen metabolites (bad estrogens cause most pre-menstrual and menopause symptoms).
Good estrogens, on the other hand, promote lean muscle mass, beneficial collagen, strong bones, and heart health (6).
If you’re interested in consuming more of these nutrients that slow aging and balance hormones, check out this Hormone Zone supplement.
10. Ginger and Turmeric
Two of my favorite anti-inflammatory foods can help your cells, gut, joints, brain and tissues turn back the clock.
Ginger and Turmeric and amazing foods, alleviating arthritis, joint pain, and muscle pain. What’s more, they improve gut health, brain health, and whole-body health. This can keep you feeling spry and young.
Bottom Line
Just as there are foods and nutrients that expedite aging, there are the opposite: Nutrients and foods that slow aging. Keep eating anti-aging foods for whole body health and strong, youthful cells.