Americans spent $44 billion on anti-aging products and services last year.
But could the secret be as easy as opening your refrigerator door?
Clinical Dietitian Melissa Scheff says, “Age defying foods are usually foods that have a lot of antioxidants in them.”
Topping the list are blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, kidney, pinto or black beans, red delicious, gala, granny apples, and pecans.
It turns out their antioxidants attack what are called free radicals. "Free radicals are a byproduct of metabolism so when we use calories our body automatically produces free radicals and they can be bad because they can cause tissue to degenerate or speed up the aging process,” says Scheff.
Jaime Mahany knows food runs skin deep, so she trades the drive thru line for the cafeteria line. “I try to eat a lot of organics and I try to eat a lot of foods rich in antioxidants like cranberry juice, pomegranates – antioxidants are great for the body and great for aging."
Lots of antioxidents are also found in sweet cherries, russet potatoes, cranberries, artichokes, and black or dried plums. Scheff says it’s not about what you don’t eat, it’s about what you do eat. You should eat two cups of fruits and two and a half cups of veggies every day. And include as many anti-aging foods in those groups as possible.
