Anti Aging

"Nuts" to Growing Older

In recent years, a handful of new nutrients, vitamins or antioxidants have been shown to help delay the age-related break­down of skin, muscle and many other of our cells. Among them: Selenium, a trace mineral prevalent in Brazil nuts, is said to promote immune responses. An average Brazil nut has 70 micrograms of selenium, more than the recommended daily amount of the mineral. Eating just one or two of these nuts a day is an easy first step in an anti-aging plan.

Chew More, Eat Less, Live Longer

It's known that obesity cuts millions of lives short, but only in lab animals have scientists been able to confirm that extreme caloric restriction extends life span. Perhaps that is plenty of proof for some people, however, to think about how to eat less, over a lifetime, without going on a diet.

One good solution: Chew more. Much more. Most of us chew food an average of only seven times before swallowing (go ahead, count at your next meal). If we chewed each mouthful 20 or 30 times, as some dietitians recommend, our average caloric intake (in the US) could be cut from more than 3,000 calories per day to closer to 2,000 or 2,500. (And we would feel full on less food.) Less food taken in means a lot less resultant weight. And perhaps brighter prospects for longevity, as well.

Living Longer, Stronger

By exercising regularly, postmenopausal women can reduce their risk of premature death by as much as 30%, according to a recent study of more than 40,000 women in Iowa. Even women who were physically active only once a week were more likely to live longer. But those women who exercised the most, and the most intensely, had the greatest reductions in premature death, especially from respiratory or cardiovascular disease.

Pycnogenol power

Not so long ago, many nutritionists scoffed at the idea of anti-aging anti­ oxidants-those nutrients found in foods and supplements that could delay aging by slowing the normal rate at which skin, the cardiovascular tissues and organs break down. But then, scientists discovered that Pycnogenol, a product that contains vitamin-like flavonoids, is a powerful pill. It is said to combat aging, heart disease, hair loss and skin damage.

Too new to have any real long-term research behind it, Pycnogenol is gaining favor due to recent studies at the University of South Florida medical school and the University of Arizona. Researchers suggest taking 1.5 mg of Pycnogenol daily per pound of body weight. (You should also check with your doctor before you begin taking it.)