Foods that cause ageing
Hydrogenated fats (trans-fats)
Think of these as artificial or fake
fat. They are extremely bad for
you and, in addition to promoting
inflammation, trans-fats promote
insulin resistance, high cholesterol and
obesity. These nasty fats are prevalent
in deep-fried foods, commercially
baked goods and fast foods. They
are found in most of your processed
pre-packaged foods – biscuits, cookies,
popcorn, crisps, chips, crackers,
breads and noodles. Watch food labels
carefully. Avoid margarine, vegetable
shortening and partially hydrogenated
oil. Watch labels for these ingredients
because the packaging generally won’t
advertise that a product contains
“
trans-fats”.
Processed grains and meat
Refined grains basically have their
nutritional value stripped right out
of them to make it easier for food
factories to produce and store them
on supermarket shelves. Furthermore,
processed grain products typically
have a whole spectrum of added
ingredients that make them even less
healthy, such as excess salt, sugar, and
artificial ingredients. White rice, white
flour, white bread, noodles, pasta,
biscuits and baked goods are a few
examples of processed grain foods.
Scientific research shows that
processed meat is a very strong
contributor to ageing and disease,
especially cancer of the colon and
rectum. Processed meats include those
that have been smoked, salted, cured
or preserved with chemicals, such as
lunchmeat with nitrates. Avoid eating
bacon, turkey bacon (no, it isn’t better
for you!), sausages, hot dogs/wieners/
franks, hams, lunch meats and other
cold cuts.
Cooking oils high in omega-6
Most people’s diets are dangerously
high in omega-6, and dangerously
low in omega-3, contributing greatly
to premature ageing and disease.
Polyunsaturated vegetable oils like
sunflower, corn, safflower, cottonseed,
and grapeseed oils have very high
omega-6 and very low omega-3, and
should be used sparingly. Alternative
good choices include canola oil and
olive oil.
Alcohol
If you are generally in good health,
a glass of red wine or beer daily have
both been shown to be beneficial.
But, be careful that you do not slip
into regular or excessive drinking:
high alcohol consumption provokes
inflammation, especially of the liver
and oesophagus.
Artificial ingredients
Aspartame. Saccharin. BHA and
BHT. Mono-sodium glutamate.
Potassium bromate. Sodium nitrate
and nitrate. These are some of the
worst artificial ingredient offenders.
Artificial sweeteners and other
artificial ingredients that preserve,
thicken, or flavour, are
artificial
–
meaning they are not really meant to
go into your body. Many have been
linked to various serious diseases
including cancer. If you want to look
younger, feel younger, heal and prevent
disease, and live longer, seek whole and
natural foods, and read labels carefully
to avoid these deadly agents.
The quickest and easiest way to
maintain your youth and prevent the
signs of age.ing is to eat a healthy,
balanced diet full of natural, real foods,
and leave the processed, high fat, high
sugar foods on the grocery shelf.
Denise Fair is a dietician at Central Health
Medical Practice.
December 2012
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