Are you eating these 4 health and beauty?

These days it seems that a meal is no longer something you just sit down with friends and family to enjoy.  They have become a fucking chemistry lesson, a veritable math class and an exercise in leveraging pleasure with guilt and measurements.  What’s an outrageous grrl to do?

Well, I’m going to add just four foods to the noise.  They are easy, yummy.  You can take notes (there will NOT be a quiz) or just take my word for it…these foods rock for aging gracefully…we’re talking the potential for reducing memory loss, wrinkles, diabetes and cancer.  Savvy?

BERRIES

Who doesn’t like a fresh blueberry pie?  A handful of sun-warmed raspberries?  Blackberry cobbler?  A pint of strawberries from the local organic farm?

Berries of all colors combat free radicals.

WOOPS–A SCIENCE LESSON

You might know that free radicals are like anarchists on the loose.  They are always scrounging to disturb the equilibrium of your system to satisfy their molecular needs.  (Nothing against anarchists…we all need a little anarchy here and there).

Free radicals turn a cut apple slice brown and metal to rust.  They damage DNA.  This leads to chronic inflammation.  There is strong evidence that this leads to the acceleration of the aging process and may be the root of most chronic diseases like diabetes, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, osteoporosis and cancer.

The heroes?  Anti-oxidants!  (Sound the trumpets here)

Back to berries…

You may have had an internet pop-up window trying to sell you on a product containing the amazon fruit Acai berry (say “ah-sigh-ee”) for scary fast weight loss.  They do have high levels of anthocyanins and flavonoids, antioxidants, but so do every other berry.   Anthocyanins can improve memory, motor skills and learning by strengthening the communication between nerves.

But studies on acai berries is sparse.  The same goes for Goji berries from the Himalayan region.

Berries is berries.

They have tons of Vitamin C to decrease fine lines.  They have Vitamin E for increased bone density.  A study done by the USDA Agriculture Research Service proved it.

UCLA research concluded that antioxidants found in strawberries my reduce the risks for lung cancer.  (Apparently, so does NOT SMOKING  btw.)

The Japanese have nicknamed blueberries the “vision fruit” because these blue gems help decrease the likelihood of macular degeneration.

Sounds to me like a strawberry shortcake a day will keep the doctor away.

And with 30% of the U.S. population being 65 years or older in the next 40 years, the potential for sitting in a doctor’s office due to age-related illness seem likely.

So, eat your antioxidants…I mean berries.

AVOCADO

Is it a veggie? No. It’s a fruit.  Call it a “butter pear,” “alligator pear” or “poor man’s butter” its monounsaturated fats, when eaten in moderation,can actually lower your cholesterol and increase the absorption of nutrients from other veggies.  (Think:  Dipping carrots, bell pepper, celery or broccoli in a bowl of fresh guacamole’.)

A 2005 study published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry showed there was enough lutein in an avo to stop cancer growth in lab experiments.  Lutein is also imperative for eye health.  Avos have Vitamins A, C, and E which are age fighters.  The fats in just one slice can satiate your appetite longer and can help with a weight loss diet.

Try it in place of cream cheese on your bagel or on a sammie instead of mayo.  Fifteen grams of fiber can’t be bad.

Here’s a great natural facial to try at home…Scoop out 1/2 an avocado and mash it with two tablespoons of plain yogurt, a teaspoon of olive oil and mix.  Spread it on your face and neck.  Relax for 15 or so minutes and then remove with warm water.  Fat is good for your skin.

BLACK, GREEN & WHITE TEA

While you are enjoying your avo facial, why not sip some tea?

America’s #1 source of those crazy antioxidants is the morning cuppa joe.  But the high caffeine levels are a stimulant that can increase stress and anxiety causing that inflammatory response we chatted about earlier.

Any tea will do.  Same plant, different preservation processes along the way.

White tea is just the immature bud that is steamed but not fermented like the oolong or black teas.  Green tea is rolled to open the leaf up to oxygen but is not fermented.

Any who…

A cup of tea has anti-aging benefits due to the antioxidants that swirl around in your cup ready to reduce the effects of pollution, stress and sun damage.  Hell, tea even has a bunch of fluoride to strengthen teeth and bones.  It boosts energy with less caffeine than a cup of coffee, white tea having the least amount.

Ladies!  Warm up your tea pots, grab the cozies, and have a sip of health and wellness with your equally outrageous grrlfriends.

OMEGA 3-RICH FOODS

I wanted to add fish as my fourth anti-aging food.  But I know readers may be vegitarian.  Or just gag at the thought of the fishiness of fish.

I want you to know that Omega 3-rich foods reduce chronic inflammation, improve mood and are excellent for your gorgeous heart.  A study published in the British Medical Journal linked eating these foods regularly to a whopping 35% reduction in the risk for heart disease.

The American Heart Association suggests getting two servings a week of fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, herring, lake trout, sardines or albacore tuna.

Veggie sources include walnuts & other tree nuts, flax & hemp seed, uncooked olive & canola oils and our friend the avocado.

Caveat: Pregnant women and children need to shy away from swordfish, shark, king mackerel and tile fish.  Really high mercury levels are found in these fish.

How about a nice pesto made with pine nuts, hemp seeds or walnuts?  This delicious dinner will help your skin retain moisture and help keep depression at bay.

You can add tofu to our Omega3 list.  It’s great for brain renewal. I actually adore tofu.  My brain feels all shiny and new whenever I eat Kung Pao Tofu…

OUTRAGEOUS ANTI-AGING SMOOTHIE

Blend:

1/4 C. blueberries

1/2 small banana

1/4 C. raspberries

1/4 of an avocado

1 TBSP ground flax or hemp seed

1/2 C Greek yogurt

1/2 C. ice

and a splash of milk, acai juice or cooled tea

Free radicals, fine lines and heart disease be gone….

See, I told you…no pop quiz!

We all gotta age.  We all will be victims of rust.  But, dammit (!), we don’t have to go without a fight.  And what better way to resist than with a fork and a spoon…and a chip full of guacamole’!

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