The Relationship Between Nutrition and Aging

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Recommended: Importance of a balanced diet

1) Food plays a major role in triggering many diseases and health conditions in every individual regardless of age. In order to reach a long healthy life, one must realize that eating habits now and in the past will greatly impact long-term health status in the future; therefore it is essential to accommodate healthy eating patterns into the day to day life. One of the primary preventions for widespread conditions like hypertension, diabetes, obesity and cancer is having a balanced “age-defying” diet. In today’s “microwave” fast-paced society, a well balanced diet might pose a challenge as it is considered to be time-consuming, expensive, and impractical. However, prioritizing the health benefits we seek to obtain from our diet while maintaining equilibrium between health and a demanding live will facilitate the development of a wholesome and enjoyable nutritional regimen.

The free radical theory predicts that decreasing the amount of free radical damage and oxidative stress in the body has positive effects on immune function, cognition, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease. Free radicals are reactive oxygen and nitrogen compounds that attack proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids altering cell and tissue function in the body. Studies have established antioxidants, phytochemicals and vitamins help the metabolism fight, reduce and prevent free radical damage delaying the rate of aging and prolonging life (1). Functional foods known to provide these benefits include Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Copper, Zinc, Magnesium, phytochemicals, polyphenols, and Omega 3 fatty acids. Some food products that deliver good sources of antioxidant vitamins and minerals are green leafy vegetables, green tea, red wine, soybeans, olive oil, citr...

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