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Want that body glow? 26 superfoods to eat yourself younger

Beauty

 

Foods to keep you looking young
 Foods to keep you looking young

A is for Avocado

One of the best foods of all, avocado contains more potassium (which lowers blood pressure) than bananas.

It is also rich in glutathione, which protects the body from toxins, helps neutralise bad fat and is the most powerful antioxidant, fighting the free-radical damage to cells that accompanies ageing.

B is for broccoli

 Truly a superfood, broccoli boosts the immune system and contains more calcium than any other vegetable.

It also has properties that fight bone loss and cancer. Rich in iron and folic acid, it contains quercetin, which protects against heart disease and heart attacks.

C is for carrot

Carrots lower cholesterol and their orange pigment boosts immune function and protects against cancer and strokes. Their high levels of vitamin A are excellent for maintaining healthy skin and they're really are good for eyesight - the betacarotene in them protects eyes from diseases that occur with ageing.

D is for dark chocolate

This treat is full of antioxidants, which fight ageing and cell damage. Dark chocolate also contains vitamin B6 and tryptophan, which converts to serotonin, a chemical that helps fight depression.

E is for egg

The most complete food on the planet after breast milk, eggs contain every amino acid the body needs. They're a great source of lutein, which protects against macular eye degeneration - the most common cause of blindness in the UK. You can safely eat eggs every day.

F is for fish

Omega 3 oils  found in salmon, tuna, sardines and herrings may slow damage to your DNA and protect against inflammation and other ageing processes. Omega 3 oils also have blood-thinning properties that protect arteries and lower blood pressure.

G is for garlic

This helps to maintain blood circulation and oxygenated blood helps keen skin, hair and nails strong and healthy. Garlic also contains many antioxidants, is a natural antibiotic and decongestant and lowers cholesterol.

H is for honey

Organic coldpressed honey has a very healing effect. As a sugar, only a small amount is needed, so take no more than half a teaspoon a day. Heating honey causes it to lose essential vitamins, so don't put it in hot drinks or cook with it

I is for iceberg lettuce

Iceberg lettuce fights harmful free radicals and boosts the immune system because it contains manganese, magnesium, potassium, iron, phosphorus and calcium. It also protects your heart, lowers cholesterol and protects against viral infections.

J Is for Japanese tea

Japanese green tea is full of anti-ageing antioxidants and contains methylxanthines that boost metabolism, help burn fat more rapidly, especially around the stomach, and also lowers cholesterol.

K is for Kombucha Tea

 Fermented and packed with antioxidants, just one or two cups a day is an inexpensive way of taking all the antioxidants you need to age well. You can buy it in bags, as lose tea or grow your own at home.

L is for Legumes

Sprouted grains, millet, buckwheat, barley and lentils all contain saponin, which can slow the growth of tumours. Lentils, pulses and grains are all foods high in antioxidants, magnesium, vitamins B and E and are a good source of protein.

M is for mackerel

 Mackerel is an inexpensive oily fish high in essential oils, vitamins and minerals and rich in Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids. These "good" fats help with hormone balance and ensure that the skin stays hydrated.

N is for nuts

The skin of nuts is full of anti-ageing flavonoids. And all nuts are full of protein, fibre, essential fats and many vitamins and minerals, including magnesium, which improves recall.

O is for onions

Anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and antiviral, onions are also full of digestive enzymes that detoxify and boost the immune system. Red onions are by far the best.

P is for parsley

A great inner cleanser, parsley is full of vitamins C and A and some B, as well as iron, calcium and potassium. Parsley is a natural diuretic and some nutritionists regard it as one of the most powerful foods on earth.

Q is for quinoa

A rice-like seed, quinoa is an energy-sustaining food eaten by many top athletes. It is considered a super-food because it contains all eight essential amino acids and is rich in calcium and iron.

R is for Red fruit

Red fruit and veg like raspberries, strawberries, red peppers, red cabbage, red broccoli and red onions are preferable to green varieties as they have so many more powerful antioxidants that can fight heart disease and prostate cancer and minimise stroke risk and degeneration of the eyes.

S is for spinach

Full of antioxidants, spinach can help deter stroke, cancer, heart disease and high blood pressure. Spinach is among the top 10 super-foods because it contains lutein and zeaxanthin, which are both thought to be especially strong anti-ageing compounds.

T is for tomatoes

Tomatoes contain quercetin and the antioxidant lycopene, which is proven to be a super-efficient, free-radical scavenger and preserves mental and physical functions in elderly people. Lycopene protects against age-related cell damage and 10 servings a week can reduce the risk of prostate cancer in men by 35%.

U is for uncooked veg

Cooking your vegetables can destroy many nutrients. Steaming veg or boiling in less water preserves nutrients. Eat raw veg as often as you can and lightly cook at other times.

V is for vegetables

All veg  are wonder foods. Go for deep green, richly red or purple or bright orange and yellow to get the maximum amount of antioxidants and vitamins for your body. Veg have a high water content and when you eat water-based food as opposed to drinking water, your body keeps the water for longer.

W is for walnuts

 A great source of copper, walnuts can stop hair turning grey and help it retain its natural colour longer.

X is for xylitol

 The safest and best natural zero-calorie sweetener around, xylitol not only has none of the risk factors associated with artificial sweeteners, but it also helps to re-mineralise teeth and is a favourite of dentists.

Y is for yellow fruits and veg

Grapefruits, melons, pineapple, lemons, squash and turnips have high antioxidant content, which helps to detoxify the body. The more richly yellow, the richer the antioxidant content. Grapefruits also contain compounds that lower blood pressure, reduce plaque in the arteries and help lower cholesterol.

Z is for zucchini

Thinly slice zucchini (courgettes) to use in place of pasta as a base with sauce for meat or fish so you avoid the starchy pasta carbs that can cause inflammation and excess weight because of the high sugar content.

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