We at Boomer411 are constantly looking for ways to bring you more better, more valuable content. Towards this goal, we are constantly adding new columnists to write on our blog. Today, it is my distinct pleasure to introduce to you our newest guest columnist, Rachel Clark. Rachel is a ‘Holistic Health Couselor’ and runs her own business called ‘RenewForANewYou‘. Some of you probably recognize her name as we had recently published our interview with her in these same pages. Also, Rachel is a very active Boomer411 Trustee, regularly providing article recommendations on our site Boomer411.com. So we are delighted to present Rachel to our blog readers. Without much ado, let me present Rachel’s first article for our readers on the evergreen topic of ‘Fountain of Youth’. Rachel brings in freshness and simplicity to this discussion.

Fountain of Youth

 By Rachel Venokur-Clark, CHC, AADP-renewforanewyou.com

We are bombarded everyday with images of what we are supposed to think is beautiful. A young, super skinny, airbrushed model is what many of us compare ourselves to on a regular basis. In a world where youth is idolized and aging is seen as something, well, less favorable, we are all searching for that magical fountain of youth. How about writing off the plastic surgeon for a while and starting from the inside out. According to the “Real Age” website, maintaining your weight and body mass index at a desirable level can make your Real Age as much as 6 years younger. What you put in your body can not only help to maintain a healthy weight, but can slow down the aging process and even reverse the damage that has already been done. Based on that, I’d say Nutrition is the real fountain of youth.

The general guidelines for looking and feeling younger include

• Keeping your calorie intake down
• Limiting the number of saturated fats you eat
• Eating whole grains, fruits, vegetables and lean protein (especially fish) and
• Lowering your salt and sugar intake

There are numerous foods, which can help keep that botox shot far away from you, and here are the top Ten to include in your daily diet.

Avocado: A good source of healthy monounsaturated fat that may help to reduce the level of bad cholesterol in the body. Avocado is a good source of Vitamin E and can help to maintain healthy skin and prevent skin aging (vitamin E may also help alleviate menopausal hot flashes). It is rich in potassium which helps prevent fluid retention and high blood pressure.

Berries: All black and blue berries such as blackberries, blueberries, blackcurrants and black grapes contain phytochemicals known as flavonoids-powerful antioxidants which help to protect the body against damage caused by free radicals and aging.

Cruciferous Vegetables: The family of Cruciferous vegetables includes cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, turnip, brussels sprouts, radish and watercress. Cruciferous vegetables assist the body in its fight against toxins and cancer. If possible, eat them raw or very lightly cooked so that the important enzymes remain intact. Include as many dark leafy green veggies as possible on a daily basis.

Garlic: Eating a clove of garlic a day (raw or cooked) helps protect the body against cancer and heart disease. The cardioprotective effects of garlic are well recorded. One 1994 study in Iowa, USA, of 41,837 women between the age of 55 and 69 suggested that women who ate a clove of garlic at least once a week were 50 percent less likely to develop colon cancer.

Ginger: This spicy root can boost the digestive and circulatory systems, which can be useful for older people. Ginger may also help alleviate rheumatic aches and pains.

Nuts: Most varieties of nuts are good sources of minerals, particularly walnuts and brazil nuts. Walnuts, although high in calories, are rich in potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper and selenium. Adding nuts to your diet (sprinkle them on salads and desserts) can enhance the functioning of your digestive and immune systems, improve your skin, help control and/or prevent cancer. Nuts may also help control cholesterol levels.

Soy: Menopausal women might find that soy helps to maintain estrogen levels. Soy may alleviate menopausal hot flashes and protect against Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, and heart disease. Look out for fermented soy products, like Tempeh, which are more easily digested, therefore more nutritional, and do not generally cause food intolerances.

Whole Grains: Complex carbohydrates provide a consistent supply of energy throughout the day and should be a part of your diet. Whole-wheat pasta, for example, is an excellent complex carbohydrate. It is high in fiber and contains twice the amount of iron as normal pasta. Brown rice is another recommended complex carbohydrate, which is high in fiber and B vitamins.

Watermelon: Both the flesh and seeds of the watermelon are nutritious. The flesh contains vitamins A, B and C; the seeds contain selenium, essential fats, zinc and vitamin E, all of which help against free radical damage and aging.

Water: Drink at least 8 glasses of water every day in order to remain healthy. Water helps us to get rid of the toxins and unwanted waste materials from your body. Don’t rely on thirst; this sensation diminishes with age. You can also get fluids from foods with a high water content like, watermelon, pickles, oranges, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers etc.

Although an anti-aging diet may not be able to promise to make you look and feel like you’re a kid again, it is certainly a great place to start. Eating smart, keeping your weight down, getting enough exercise and supplementing the diet with vitamins and minerals, when necessary, are all ways to get you to start feeling and looking younger. And if you are young, why not hold off old Father Time a little bit longer.

Stay tuned for more such articles on the topic of nutrition and health from Rachel. If you liked this article, or have different thoughts on the subject, please do remember to post your feedback in the comments section.

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