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Aging: everyone does it, yet some people seem relatively unaffected by getting older. Could good nutritionnutrition be the key to a healthier, longer life?
Does Aging Equal Illness?
"Aging is often associated with the development of one or more chronic diseases, but it doesn't have to be that way," says Jeffrey Blumberg, PhD, professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University.
It's not always just a matter of time before you have a heart attackheart attack or strokestroke, get type 2 diabetesdiabetes or cancercancer, break a hip because of osteoporosisosteoporosis, or develop Alzheimer's, even though these conditions are often associated with aging, Blumberg says.
Your risk for disease and disability increases with inadequate physical activity, genetic susceptibility, and poor diet.
Aging: Defy It With Diet
So what's the best eating plan for preventing, delay, or minimizing the conditions associated with aging, including inflamed joints, flagging memory, and failing eyesight?
"The most beneficial diets rely heavily on fresh vegetables, fruits, and legumes -- foods that are naturally lower in calories and packed with nutrients," says Bradley Willcox, MD, MPH, co-author of The Okinawa Diet Plan and professor of geriatrics at the University of Hawaii.
Experts suspect the antioxidant compounds found in produce, legumes, and whole grains are largely responsible for holding back the march of time.
Antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, and other compounds, including polyphenols and anthocyanins, battle free radicals -- unstable forms of oxygen that damage cell function. Free radicals form from normal metabolism. Your body also produces them in response to strong ultraviolet rays from the sun; air pollution; smoking; and secondhand smoke.
The buildup of free radicals contributes to the aging process and to the development of a number of age-related diseases such as cancer, heart diseaseheart disease, and inflammatory conditions, including osteoarthritisosteoarthritis. What's worse, aging increases free radical production. That means your diet should be healthier than ever with the passage of time.
The question, of course, is how do we do that?