Food is America's favorite past-time. But, the saying goes, you are what you eat, so if you're eating to live and not living to eat -- you may be cutting yourself short on time.
These 10 foods are guaranteed to add possible years to your life and give you access to the "Fountain of Youth" because of their anti-aging qualities. The next time you go to your kitchen - whether for breakfast, lunch or dinner, make sure these fruits and veggies are centered on your plate.
1. Avocados
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This is one of my favorite foods. It has many benefits for hair, skin and total body and to me, it's scrumptious. You can make a meal out of it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It's also a source of several vitamins needed for optimal health, supporting healthy life and longevity. You can count on avocados to promote: a healthy heart, improve vision; provide vitamin K, needed for optimal bone health, think arthritis. It has high levels of phytochemicals and carotenoids, which have anti-cancer properties. Avocados support fetal health and have compounds that decrease depression, improve digestion, are a natural detoxifier, are antimicrobial and protect from chronic illnesses.
2. Beans
The best meals are paired with filling and delicious beans. Beans are a staple for the diets of Africans and Diasporans. They are an essential protein that has amino acids, which are the protein-building blocks the body uses to heal and to make new tissues, such as bone, muscle, hair, skin, and blood.
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3. Berries
Nature's candy, eating berries rewards you with sweetness in your mouth and benefits for the body. You can eat them for all the meals, including dessert. Making berries part of your regular diet sharpens the mind - protecting against dementia. Berries also have the power to prevent cancer and Parkinson's disease, manage or prevent diabetes, reduce inflammation, promote a healthy gut and help you lose or maintain weight.
4. Chocolate/Cocoa
Chocolate doesn't get the respect it deserves, specifically dark chocolate. In need of a rebrand, don't sleep on the hidden benefits of chocolate that include improving mood, athletic function, being a powerful source of antioxidants - boosting the immune system, improving blood flow and lowering blood pressure. It protects the skin against the sun, providing protection against heart disease amongst other benefits.
5. EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
A cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet, EVOO alone can give you everything you need for a long and satisfying life. With its benefits unmatched, it's one of the healthiest oils we can consume, that is used for dietary tastes and anti-aging intentions. There are over 16 health benefits associated with olive oil. Some of its key benefits include protection against heart disease, insulin resistance, hypertension and boosts anti-aging properties in hair, skin and nails.
6. Fatty Fish
Fatty fish are oily fish like salmon, tuna, sardines, mackerel and trout. They are full of omega-3 fatty acids -- fats that are good for you unlike with most meats. Pescatarians love this fish, and they should be a staple of everyone's heart-healthy diet. Fatty fish also promote vision health, brain health, improve sleep quality, and is a mood booster.
7. Green Tea
If you’ve been sleeping on the benefits of herbal teas, then it’s time to wake up and taste and smell the healing properties of drinking herbal tea.
Green tea, specifically, has anti-aging skin effects when applied topically or consumed orally. Those who drink green tea regularly will enjoy benefits such as brain, bone, skin and heart health.
8. Melons
These summer staples taste refreshingly good and are packed with hydration. They are also made of essential vitamins that support anti-aging such as vitamin K, potassium, and copper, and a solid source of vitamin C and vitamin B6.
Cantaloupe, honey-dew melon and watermelons are the most common of this fruit family and are enjoyed at all mealtimes.
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9. Tomatoes
Known as an anti-aging 'super food', tomatoes deserve a place in the diet of anyone seeking to keep glowing, healthy skin. This vegetable is key in preventing age-related diseases like osteoporosis, and even cancer. This fruit is also beneficial for skin health, as it offers added protection against sunburns.
10. Water
Last, and most important we need water. Everybody knows that water does a body good and in fact, is the proverbial Fountain of Youth. The human body is made mostly of water so when you hear "water is life", it biologically is. As we age, we tend to "dry up". Water improves skin by reducing wrinkles and sagging by tightening the skin, keeping the pH balance, flush toxins preventing pimples and acne.
Water is a great moisturizer and gives the skin suppleness and elasticity. It can go without saying, to age well, you need water.
