Eating For Health

Who doesn’t love chocolate — that rich, velvety treat that feels like a hug for your taste buds? But what if your favorite indulgence could also help slow the aging process? Emerging research suggests that certain compounds in chocolate, especially dark chocolate, may play a role in supporting healthier aging. Let’s look at the science behind it. 🌟 What’s in Chocolate That May Slow Aging? Dark chocolate and cocoa naturally contain a compound called theobromine , a bitter alkaloid found in cacao beans. Researchers at King’s College London published a study in Aging examining 509 women and 1,160 older adults around age 60. Their findings: People with higher levels of theobromine in their blood — typically from eating chocolate — showed signs of slower biological aging. Why? Cocoa is rich in flavanols and antioxidants, and theobromine appears to be one of the stars of the show. 🧬 What Does “Slower Aging” Actually Mean? The researchers looked at DNA methylation patterns and ...

There may be no fountain of youth but there seems to be some heart-healthy habits that may slow biological aging.    Medical News Today has an interesting article , “8 heart-healthy habits may slow biological aging by up to 6 years, researchers say”.   What study did researchers do and what did they find? Researchers looked at 6500 adults (average age of 47) to study the American Heart Association’s recommendations of Life’s Essential 8 checklist to see if following the 8 essentials would slow biological aging.   They found that adults “with high cardiovascular health were about six years younger biologically than their chronological age.”    Why would high cardiovascular health extend life? Researchers surmise that good heart health reduces one’s risk of heart disease but also other age-related diseases.   What are the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 ?   AHA notes their 8 lifestyle steps not only lead to better hear...

Last week we discussed 2 anti-aging supplements many people choose to take, calcium and collagen.   This week’s focus is on another anti-aging supplement that is popular, fish oil. Many commercials push fish oil supplements.   Consumer Reports offers some good guidance on supplements in their article   “7 Anti-Aging Supplements to Try”.      Fish Oil Why do so many people focus on fish oil supplements?   Because the omega-3 fatty acids in fish have so many health benefits: Heart Health:   Omega-3 fats can help lower total cholesterol, reduce triglyceride levels, lower blood pressure, and prevent the formation of plaques that can block arteries.   Brain Function:   NIH notes that omega-3 fatty acids “increases learning, memory, cognitive well-being, and blood flow in the brain.   Eye Health:   WebMD notes that “results from some early studies suggest that eating higher amounts of omega-3s could lower your chances of deve...

How can what you eat help you fight off disease?   What foods will help boost your immune system and keep you healthier?   Many of my students know we should be “eating healthy foods” but when asked, many have a hard time describing what those “healthy foods” are.   (My husband said to him a longevity diet would be chocolate and IPA beer.   Not sure that would be the way to a longer life.)   Can you name 5 foods that would help you fight diseases and lead to a longer life?   Yahoo has an interesting article, Add These Disease-Fighting Foods to Your Diet to Live a Longer Life .   Basically, what you are adding are foods that contain the healthy antioxidants that I have written about many times.   (See:   Antioxidants and good health .)    Focus on fruits and vegetables:   I tell my students to focus on at least 5 A Day – at least 5 fruits and vegetables a day.   Why?   Because eating fruits and vegetables lowers your...