Nutrition and Aging
Good nutrition and aging slowly go hand in hand. This conclusion becomes self evident once we realize that aging is merely the cumulative effects of wear and tear that our cells receive as we go through life. Eating well to provide the body's tissues with optimal resources for maintenance and repair can only be helpful. Medical research in recent years has not only revealed many ways that nutrition influences disease processes, but also many ways that it affects healthy maintenance and function of tissues and organs.
Nutritionists today will give the same general advice to those seeking diets to slow aging as they will to individuals looking for a diet that is simply healthy. It's advice we're all used to hearing, but often bad at following: enjoy foods that are low in fat, particularly saturated and trans fats, and high in fiber. Include a variety of fruits and vegetables and stick to proteins of plant origin as much as possible. For those with a particular interest in nutrition and aging, foods that are high in antioxidants may be stressed. These include brightly colored fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, herbs and teas.
Antioxidants aren't only for diets to slow aging! They are important for all of us, as they help to ward of many diseases and keep our cells healthy and regenerating even when we're young. Of course, no matter how young we are, all of us are getting older and it's never too soon to think about nutrition and aging. A little effort early on can pay big dividends in healthy productive years later.
To put together a good personal plan for nutrition and aging, consult a professional dietitian. He or she will be able to help you assess your current diet and identify places where you need to change your eating habits. A regular exercise program may also be recommended as regular activity is vitally important in maintaining good health and great mobility later in life. Exercise programs and diets to slow aging can also help address weight problems – being overweight is a major factor in many diseases and aging processes. It’s good advice too, to see your physician regularly and have any routine screening tests (like cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure) appropriate for your sex and age group.
It's possible that your dietitian or doctor will also recommend a multivitamin and mineral supplement as a wise part of all diets to slow aging - just to make sure that any gaps in your nutritional needs are covered. There are now dietary supplements available on the market to specifically address nutrition and aging needs. At a minimum, choose a product that includes a good range of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, with detailed information about the amounts of each and the percent of the recommended daily value (DV or RDA) provided.
Remember, however, that while supplements can be valuable additions to diets to slow aging, they cannot make up for a diet that is inherently unhealthy. If you're not committed to a healthy lifestyle, you will enjoy minimal anti aging benefits.
R. Drysdale is a freelance writer with more than 25 years experience as a health care professional. You can learn more about nutrition and aging on the AntiAging Information site.
