Getting old is inevitable, and our only wish is to be able to age gracefully. The problem, however, lies in the fact that the world that we live in nowadays are filled with pollutants, chemicals and what-nots that they seem to speed up the process of aging. True, the fountain of youth may not have been found just yet, but there are things which we can easily do to stop premature aging. Aside from your everyday habits, the foods that you put inside your mouth can play a part in determining how healthy you are – and this is also true when it comes to the aging process.

Nature has provided us with a lot of things which can make us healthy. It is just a matter of knowing what is right, choosing it, incorporating it into daily habits and sticking to it no matter what. For example, a lot of fruits and vegetables have been known to have a positive effect on aging. Foods loaded with vitamin C tops the list of anti-aging foods so it would do you best to get your daily dose of vitamin C. Aside from that, there are other fruits which help your body combat the ill-effects of premature aging. Here is a list to guide you when you go fruit shopping:

• Orange

  One of the signs of aging is wrinkled, dry skin. This is because the skin has lost moisture and is less elastic than normal. So to address this problem, eat oranges. Because of its high nutrient and vitamin content, the different parts of the orange fruit are considered to be beneficial to the skin. For example, its peel, rind, leaves, stems, seeds and oils each have an effect to the skin and this makes the fruit versatile. It has exfoliating properties, it smoothen fine lines, helps stimulate the growth of new cells, acts as a moisturizer and promotes the thickening of the epidermis. The fruit also has alpha-hydroxy acids which acts by stimulating the synthesis of elastic and collagen thereby minimizing damages brought about by too much sun exposure.

• Banana

  Bananas are chock full of nutrients such as iodine, zinc, iron, potassium and magnesium, and it is also packed with vitamin A, vitamin B and vitamin E. All these nutritional content makes it an ideal aging-fighting agent. Lots of people have been using banana face masks to achieve beautiful, glowing, and younger looking skin. Bananas do this by helping restore moisture and firming the skin of the face. Aside from it, it also acts as an exfoliant.

  To make the mask, mash a banana and then add in a teaspoon of honey. Before applying, make sure that you have washed and cleansed your face thoroughly. Apply the mask to your face, avoiding the eye area. You would want to leave it on for 15 minutes before you rinse it off using warm water.

• Strawberry

  One of the causes of premature aging is the build up of free radicals inside the body. Foods rich in antioxidants as well as those rich in vitamin C may help by blocking the damage brought about by free radicals. Furthermore, strawberries, which are rich in ellagic acid, help by inhibiting skin pigmentation. This is according to the results of a study made on ellagic acid which was conducted in Japan and published in the Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology. The ellagic acid also helps protect the skin from damage caused by the ultraviolet rays of the sun.

• Blueberries

  Numerous studies have been conducted on the effects of blueberries and the aging process. A study conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture revealed that a blueberry-rich diet can improve coordination, memory and prevent the loss of balance. The results of the study were published in the Journal of Neuroscience. The National Institute of Aging has also conducted similar studies and the results of which support the finding of the USDA study.

  Blueberries can be easily incorporated in your everyday diet as it can be made into a smoothie, placed in your oatmeal, or eaten fresh along with other fruits. The key, therefore, is consistency. If you want to reap the health benefits brought about by blueberries, you have to make the conscious effort to eat it daily.

• Apple

  Apples have been found to contain quercetin which is an essential plant pigment that is considered as a flavonoid, serving as an important building block for the flavonoid family. Quercetin helps fight aging by combating free radicals which causes a variety of diseases as well premature aging.

  It is easy to take advantage of the health benefits of apples because these fruits are readily available all year round. If you are looking for the right apples to buy, it is best to buy organic ones as these have very low, or zero, pesticide content. Look for apples with clear, firm skins.

• Apricot

  Research studies have shown that apricots contain the widest variety and the highest levels of carotenoids – antioxidants which help prevent conditions associated with body aging. Conditions such as cancer, hypercholesterolemia or high levels of bad cholesterol in the blood, and heart disease are but few conditions encountered by the aging population This explains why it is always better to have a head start on prevention. Apricots have also been found to help in quenching thirst, detoxification and restoring body fluids.

• Cantaloupe

  Cantaloupes contain folic acid which helps regenerate dead cells which is essential for a healthy skin. It also helps maintain the elastic properties of the skin, keep wrinkles at bay, and helps in the synthesis of collagen. Additionally, it has high vitamin C content which wages a battle against free radicals, boosting the immune system and giving us good health.

• Peach

  Most anti-aging creams that are being sold in the market today contain peaches. This is because the peach fruit has the ability to nourish and moisturize the skin, restoring its soft and smooth state from our younger days. It also helps prevent fine lines and wrinkles.

Sources
beauty-secrets4u.com
dvineuncorked.wordpress.com
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health.yahoo.net
blueberryextract.com
anti-aging-articles.com
healthmango.com