“I think ageing is an extraordinary process where you become the person you always should have been” - David Bowie

Before we get into how you can slow down your biological clock, I think it’s really important to say this: AGEING IN NATURAL!

Sorry for the ‘shouty’ capital letters but I honestly believe that, as a society, our attitude towards age and ageing needs a bit of a rethink. Age isn’t something we should be battling against, it’s something we should embrace and lean into with kindness and compassion.

The truth is, we’re simply not designed to live forever. We have a life cycle which, like every other creature in nature, involves birth, growth, fertile/reproductive years, decline, death.

Our natural metabolic processes naturally slow down and become less efficient as we move through life but there are things we can do to influence this process. One of the many key players in how gracefully, or not, we age is oxidative stress.

As oxidative stress in the body increases, we start to feel and look older.

What is oxidative stress and how can we reduce it?

Oxidative stress is the term used to describe the effect of a chemical reaction in your body which creates unstable atoms called free radicals, as a by-product of oxygen metabolism.

This is a natural process which is needed for some important functions and of course the body, very cleverly, has mechanisms to mitigate the impact of free radicals created during this vital metabolic action.

However, despite having the ability to reduce free radicals caused by oxidative stress, these days oxidative stress results from many other dietary and lifestyle sources too and this can be problematic.

More and more we are becoming exposed to stresses and external substances that increase free radical production and oxidative stress in the body. Studies show that oxidative stress can be linked not only to how old we look, but also many conditions which are often experienced in later years can linked to oxidative stress.

So how do we slow down oxidative stress and turn back the biological hands of time?

Enter antioxidants.

Antioxidants for healthy ageing

If you cut an apple in half and leave it uncovered for a little while it will start to go brown – this is oxidation in action.

Pop some lemon juice on half of the cut surface of the apple and watch as only the other half of the apple discolours. Here you can see the antioxidants in the lemon juice protecting the apple from oxidation.

Antioxidants are a type of phytochemical, found in plants, that have powerful protective properties and help to reduce free-radicals and oxidative stress in your body.

This means that increasing your antioxidant levels can have a positive impact on many health conditions and may also slow down the visible signs of ageing.

So, antioxidants can help you to stay healthy, feel great and look great too 💖

Your body can make some antioxidants, but it does need help from food to make sure there are enough antioxidants to go around.

Where can I get more antioxidants

Food sources of antioxidants are found almost exclusively in plants so the easiest way to boost your antioxidant intake is to eat as many different types of plants as possible.

This is also where the phrase ‘eat the rainbow’ can be your friend. Brightly coloured fruits and veggies are packed with antioxidants.

Three of my top foods for easily introducing more antioxidants, along with some simple suggestions for each, are:

1. Herbs

What you may think of as common garden herbs such as oregano, rosemary, thyme, sage, basil, mint etc are antioxidant powerhouses.

Add chopped fresh herbs to dressings and sauces (at the last second not during cooking).

Make a batch of pesto and use liberally to garnish soups and stews, or as a salad dressing.

Simply garnish meals with a sprinkle of freshly chopped herbs.

2. Spices

Just like herbs, spices have significant amounts of antioxidants so spice up your life with cloves, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger etc.

Sprinkle a little cinnamon on your overnight oats.

Enjoy a mid-morning cinnamon spiced, turmeric latte.

Embrace the East and cook up an Indian inspired curry packed full of spices.

3. Berries

Berries rate highly when it comes to antioxidant levels so incorporate goji berries, acai berries, blueberries and other brightly coloured berries into your daily meals.

Add goji berries to homemade granola or overnight oats.

Berries aren't just for breakfast! Sprinkle a few blueberries or dried goji berries on top of a salad.

Make a smoothie with blueberries and acai berry powder for a super-charged antioxidant boost.

Do you need support?

If you’re noticing the signs of ageing are interfering with your enjoyment of life and would love to understand how you can support your body in a gentle and natural way with simple food, lifestyle and mindset changes, let’s talk.

Please click here to drop me a message so we can arrange a no obligation chat.