Playtimes Jan 2016 - page 34

T
he market for anti-ageing
products and treatments
is a thriving, multi-
billion dollar industry.
The choice is limitless – facials, mud
masks, microdermabrasion, and
every conceivable fruit and vegetable
scrub, to name a few – all in the
name of making us look younger.
However, many people are
unaware that when it comes to
maintaining a youthful look, what we
put inside our bodies is actually more
important than what we do to the
outside.
Ageing isn’t just skin deep:
Healthy dietary choices are critical to
delay the onset of cell degeneration,
the main contributor in ageing.
In January, many of us try to kick start the year with a
healthier lifestyle. In the quest for eternal youth however, it is
important to remember that what we put inside our bodies
can be even more important that what we do to the outside,
writes dietician
Denise Fair.
Eat
yourself
young!
In addition to those wrinkles we
worry about, the ageing process
also happens within the body
causing memory loss, decreased
brain function, vision problems and
circulatory problems. As we age there
is also an increased risk of chronic
diseases such as cancer, heart disease
and osteoporosis.
The primary causes of ageing are
inflammation and oxidative stress,
both of which cause free radicals
to build up in our bodies over time.
Free radicals are unstable molecules
that circulate throughout the body
and bind with healthy tissue. The
binding of free radicals to healthy
cells damages the cell and causes
inflammation and ageing.
Antioxidants are the best ways
to combat free radicals. Antioxidants
bind to the unstable free radicals
preventing them from binding to
healthy tissue. Fruits and vegetables
are loaded with antioxidants, the
main ones including vitamin C,
vitamin A, lycopene and beta-
carotene, vitamin E and selenium.
Consuming an antioxidant rich diet
is preferable to taking supplements as
natural sources are better absorbed
and utilised than synthetic ones.
In addition to reducing oxidative
stress, eating foods that have anti-
inflammatory properties can help
reduce the likelihood of age-related
diseases such as arthritis, Alzheimer’s
disease and diabetes. Omega 3
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