10 Best Anti-Aging Superfoods for 2012

Before we get to the Top 10 superfoods of 2012, 2011 singled out 3 extremely popular powerhouse anti-aging superfoods, not just for their ability to really boost your overall health but also for their taste.

2011′s Top 3 Anti-Aging Superfoods

Amaranth

Extremely rich in iron, calcium and magnesium – the 3 essential minerals for maintaining strong bones – if you want to stand a chance of avoiding osteoporosis, then as a longevity diet goes, this whole grain will provide the perfect strength.

Either dry toasted or on a skillet, it can be eaten with or without any side dish.

Red Lentils

Legumes as they are often known are wonderfully rich in protein where only one cup a day will deliver 3/4 of your required daily amount.

Stacked with fiber also, they are perfect for dieting as they burn slower causing you to feel fuller longer. You can either replace them with meat, or eat on their own by boiling them with some lemon or eat them fresh.

King Trumpet Mushrooms

If you want your body to really stay in tune with its ability to pick up on harmful bacteria then pretty much all mushrooms provide this protection and King Trumpet Mushrooms are no exception.

Constantly in danger of those everyday free radicals and toxins, these highly dense antioxidant mushrooms will help fight off many of our common day ailments and what’s great is that you’ll only need to consume just a handful each week.

2012′s Top 10 Anti-Aging Superfoods

 1. Wild Salmon

Oh yes! Depending on where you are in the world salmon can be extremely expensive or relatively cheap.

Either way if you love it then it’s definitely worth you treating yourself to a little luxury of nature.

Its Anti Aging Quality?

Astaxanthin: This is what makes the salmon pink and which protects your DNA from harmful toxins. By eating plenty of Astaxanthin your cell membranes will age slower.

2. Tomato

Luv’em or hate’m, tomatoes really can and do provide an initial healthy feeling which boosts your mind and body but also delivers a long-term health benefit.

Their Anti Aging Quality?

Lycopene: This helps protect you from heart disease, regulates your cholesterol levels and helps prevent cancer.

It also creates a pigment in the skin which protects you from the UV rays which causes age spots and wrinkles.

Great for healthy cocktails too!

3. Dark Chocolate

Believe it or not, how much you age and how fast can be attributed to how much dark chocolate you eat – or more precisely – how much “natural cocoa” you consume.

Its Anti Aging Quality?

Cocoa: Flavanoid rich, the risks of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease and more can all be reduced by consuming cocoa as it helps your circulatory health. 75% or more of natural cocoa will ensure that reap these benefits.

4. Avocado

Some people can’t get enough of avocado’s – the author included! Especially in an avocado bacon salad – a little high in cholesterol admittedly  – but still, with natural balsamic vinegar and grilled bacon it’s hardly a BigMac and undeniably more delicious.

Their Anti Aging Quality?

Made up of healthy fatty acids and vitamins A, B, D, E and Folate – The vitamins, especially Vitamin E will help minimize wrinkles and deliver a rejuvenated glow.

Folate on the other hand is vital for regenerating skin cells. As a result you will look so replenished after eating some fresh avocado as the oils in the avocado hydrate and cleanse the pores from dirt thereby tightening the skin pigment – all resulting in an almost immediate glow.

5. Green Leafy Vegetables

We’re all pretty aware that green veg really is good for you. I mean it just feels like you’re getting the health benefits just from eating it, but what is it that really is doing us some good?

Lutein: Spinach, kale and collard are contain dense amounts of lutein which like cocoa, help fend off type 2 diabetes, cancer and provide for stronger healthier bone tissue.

6. Garlic

If these top 10 2012 longevity foods were listed in order of greatness then garlic, like most anti aging experts seem to agree can be the most beneficial to your health.

Its Anti Aging Quality?

Allicin: For centuries garlic, whether chewed or cooked has been administered to treat symptoms from the common cold to therapeutic qualities.

However it’s the allicin which gives it its pungent smell that can prevent cell degeneration thin the blood.

It also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent that will detox heavy metals from the body, rejuvenating the skin with a warm glow.

7. Soy

Low in saturated fats, heart disease, osteoporosis, hypertension and Alzheimer’s can all be kept at bay by consuming this protein in your diet.

Known to regulate estrogen levels in menopausal women, soy or tofu can also help calm the heart rate and level your mood.

8. Berries

Berries, berries, berries. What ever the berry, packed with essential minerals and salts, be it the blue or blackberry or more famously the Amazonian Acai berry, they are all tremendous toxin busters due to their incredibly high antioxidant levels.

What’s in the Berry?

Well as mentioned, a whole host of minerals and antioxidants but also Vitamin C and potassium which will prevent fluid retention and facilitate circulatory health to provide a smoother flawless complexion.

9. Ginger

Ginger contains over a whopping 50 powerful antioxidants that can have a dramatic effect on how you age.

Gingerols and shogaols for example help reverse aging while also promoting circulatory health. For many generations in the East and West it has been used as an effective remedy for bacterial and viral infections and joint pains.

10. Cruciferous Vegetables

Cabbage, cauliflower and turnips are some of just a few cruciferous vegetables that are stacked with anti cancer agents.

Vitamins, sulphur, antioxidants and minerals all contribute to their excellent anti-aging properties.

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Author Rob Carmichael