Live younger
Stay younger for longer by adopting some healthy habits that hold back the years
We all know someone who could pass for 50 even though they’re 70 – but what’s their secret? Is it just good genes or does their lifestyle play a part in how young they look and feel? According to the experts, our genes are only part of the equation; how well we look after ourselves could make a real difference to how fast we age – and the good news is, it’s never too late to turn back the clock. The fat that gathers around your internal organs – visceral fat – is the most ageing of all types of body fat, because it contributes to health problems such as heart disease, arthritis and diabetes. But you can fight back by eating foods such as lentils, beans and chickpeas. They contain a substance called inulin, which research shows helps to flush this fat out of your body (with the added bonus of a slimmer waist). “Inulin is an essential prebiotic, good for healthy bacteria in your gut,” says nutritionist Judy Watson. “But it can also make you bloated and uncomfortable. If you have an sensitive tummy, try introducing pulses into your diet slowly a little at a time, and cook them with a squeeze of lemon juice to help with their digestion.”
Make green tea your hot drink of choice. Research from the Medical College of Georgia discovered that it contains compounds called polyphenols – especially one called EGCG – that can help eliminate the free radicals that speed up the ageing process
Sugar speeds up ageing
AGE (Advance Glycosylation End) products are highly toxic chemicals that speed up ageing in your body, says nutritionist Marilyn Glenville. “They also cause your membranes and blood vessels to thicken, your arteries to harden, and your skin to become wrinkled. The good news is that the more you can reduce the impact of AGE, the slower your ageing process will be – and the healthier you will become.”
In studies, animals given just a small amount of sugar had their lifespan reduced by 20 per cent
Cut back on sweets, cakes, biscuits, sugar-coated cereal and snack bars, and milk chocolate because these are the foods that trigger a process called glycation, which leads to this AGE damage.
Pick up the pace
Being fit doesn’t just benefit your heart and lungs – Japanese researchers found that the fitter you are the easier it is for your brain to complete memory tasks. A daily walk is a great place to start, but don’t forget to keep challenging yourself by walking faster, adding in a hill or two or walking for longer. It’s worth the effort because, according to a US researcher, when you exercise a hormone called irisin is released that not only helps your body shed fat, but it also prevents body fat from forming.