By Jennifer Brewer
They say that age is just a number (which may be easier to believe when you’re young). Obviously, aging happens to all of us. But the point isn’t just years accumulated; the goal is to live well and vibrantly—and the first step is to make smart food choices.
The superstars of aging well are antioxidants, which combat free radicals—unstable forms of oxygen that your body makes in response to stressors like pollution, sun, smoke, and even digestion. Free radicals pummel their way through your body searching for substances to bind to in order to stabilize themselves, all the while damaging healthy cells. Over time, this damage builds up and contributes to aging. Antioxidants step in to squelch free radicals and protect cells. Fortunately, Mother Nature provides plenty of antioxidant-rich foods to choose from, making healthy eating easy and delicious for the long term.
