Stay Young with Healthy Foods

There is no elixir for staying young. No magic pills or potion that can guarantee you eternal youth. Growing old is a natural process which we all have to undergo. However, do you know that you can delay the process of aging? You can challenge your grand children by playing the same sports, with the same agility, as them. Sounds impossible, but it is true? It's your lifestyle that determines your health and how you age. However, it is not that simple. Staying young demands that you make a lifelong commitment towards eating the right kind of foods in adequate proportions.

You have probably heard your mother extolling the benefits of healthy eating ad nauseam - eat your food on time, drink plenty of milk etc. A study published in August 2000 proves that young people can also age prematurely. Researchers have found high cholesterol levels in teenagers and young adults because of unhealthy eating habits. So the first step towards staying young lies in what you eat.

Selecting the right foods

Avoid junk food: Food supplies us with vital energy required to sustain life, but have you ever wondered that what you eat today can have a great effect on your future? If you have been gorging on fish n' chips, burgers and fries and chocolates and pastries, it's time to bid them adieu. Those fat-soaked French fries that you love are fodder for clogged arteries, thus openly inviting heart diseases. No doubt junk food is tasty and filling, but it's downright unhealthy, filled with fat and hidden calories. To remain fit and healthy throughout life, it is mandatory that you curb your desire to eat junk.

Don't kill the fibre: Eat fibre rich foods such as whole grains, vegetables and fruits. A fibreless menu of stuffed kulchas or chicken sandwich promotes constipation. This leads to frequent stomach problems that continue throughout life. At the same time you miss out on the numerous benefits of fibre.

Drink milk: You avoid milk and prefer to have tea, coffee or aerated drinks. You think that milk is only for growing children. You are wrong on both counts. By not drinking milk, you are missing out on calcium, a vital nutrient for your body. And calcium comes mainly from milk. Calcium is essential for healthy bones and shining teeth. By not drinking milk, you are increasing your chances of early tooth decay and osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition affecting the bones, leading to brittle bones and painful joints.

Recap of must dos: Now think about this. Intake of dairy foods can strengthen your bones. Fibre from whole grains, vegetables and fruits can keep your digestive system fit and also protect you from various diseases. Snacking on fruits instead of French fries can help to fight the deadly cancer through the antioxidants present in the fruits. Seeing all this what would you prefer to eat? Fresh fruits and vegetables or junk food. The choice is yours to make.

Improving your diet

Changing your eating habits does not mean that you have to follow any complicated diet plans. Follow a simple dietary approach. Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet. Substitute the split grains with whole grains. By doing so you will be cutting on the fat and cholesterol content and adding fiber and other vital vitamins and minerals to your daily diet. Avoid red meat and prefer white meat instead. This also keeps a check on your total fat and cholesterol content.

Besides your diet, there are some non-dietary factors also that influence the aging process. But what you eat counts the most. So start by eating healthy early in the life and you will reap the benefits lifelong. It's never too late to start practicing healthy eating habits. So even if you are in middle age, you can changeover to a healthy diet and prevent degenerative disorders. Remember that aging is a slow and continuous process that begins early in life. To counteract that, open your gates to healthy living.