Folks have long searched for the indefinable fountain of youth. Many have longed for the wonder therapy that would stop the progress of all of the inherent deterioration of aging. It may be astounding to some but the fact is that we have had it all along.

To bring to an end the average declines related with aging, one may have to look no further than the local supermarket, health food store or farmers market. Research now indicates that as much as 85% of all age-related illnesses can be avoided through outstanding nutrition and a nourishing diet. A very wholesome diet can avoid the likely decay that is connected with aging.

Many of the top superfoods that can slow the decay of aging are foods that people have been eating for millennia. Some of these foods have been staple items in parts of the world and one of these foods has such a colorful saga that at one time it was nearly fully avoided because it was believed to be toxic.

Berries top the list of one of the healthiest foods continually. Most berries are rich in a plant-based flavonoid called anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are essentially the deep purple pigment that gives berries their vibrant colors. Blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and grapes fit into this group. The tiny acai berry actually has the record antioxidant facility of any singular food ever found in nature and it has long been a staple food for the population of the Brazilian rainforest providing up to 45% or their food intake.

Tomatoes are plentiful in a powerful antioxidant called lycopene. This robust substance helps to thwart heart disease by protecting the blood vessels against oxidative damage. It has also been shown to offer shield against many different types of cancer, including lung and prostate. The tomato is one of the few foods that is really healthier in a processed state rather than a raw state. The intensity of lycopene is uppermost when tomatoes are heated such as in spaghetti sauce and since it is fat soluble, the nutritional advantage is better if you add in a wholesome fat, such as olive oil.

Back in the 1500’s most Europeans supposed that the tomato was poisonous. Most of the flatware of the time was made from pewter. Pewter at that time had a high-lead content and since tomatoes are high-acid, consuming tomatoes with this flatware caused the lead to leech out into the food. This resulted in lead poisoning and death. The poorer persons of the time still consumed tomatoes because their flatware was made of wood and they did not have the quandary of lead poisoning.

The most colorful foods from nature are the highest in anti-aging nutrients. Greens, like spinach, kale, romaine, dandelion greens, and Swiss chard are all superbly healthy. Orange foods are also remarkably nourishing, such as pumpkin, carrots, sweet potatoes and more. Beans and legumes, nuts and seeds, red wine, tea and dark chocolate are all very nutritious.

The obscure fountain of youth has been with us all along. We just need to incorporate more of the inherent, nourishing and whole foods that nature has provided us with and reduce the processed and fake foods that are so rampant in our diets.

This entry was posted on Friday, June 19th, 2009 at 1:03 am and is filed under fat loss. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.