I’m a sucker for the Biggest Loser, they drag me in with their heartfelt background stories and I always stick around for the makeovers. But my favourite part is when the contestants find out their bio-age. A bio-age or biological age is a measure of age based on how well a person’s body parts function and how healthy a lifestyle they lead. It fascinates me that an 18-year-old can turn out to have the bio-age of a 35-year-old and it absolutely thrills me when a 40-year-old works hard to gain a bio-age in the mid 30s.
The bio-age test is based on three key areas: metabolic function (things like blood pressure, cholesterol levels and BMI), physical capability (lung capacity, flexibility, core endurance etc) and healthy behaviours (eating habits, sleep, smoking, drinking, stress levels etc). The good news is that you don’t have to go on the Biggest Loser to improve your habits and the great news is there is a whole list of foods that can help to slow the ageing process and lower your bio-age (plus a few extras to fight those nasty wrinkles too).
Watermelon
Watermelon contains high levels of lypocene, a powerful antioxidant that has strong anti-ageing properties. It is also rich in vitamins A and C, which helps to keep your skin healthy and youthful. Studies have also shown that lycopene-rich foods can help to ward off heart disease and cancer.
Brazil Nuts
Brazil nuts are one of the best sources of the trace mineral selenium, which helps to improve skin elasticity. Selenium also contains antioxidant properties, which help to reduce the risk of skin cancer and prevent premature ageing. And the best thing is you only need to eat two brazil nuts a day to reap the benefits.
Red Grapes
Red grapes contain a super antioxidant called resveratrol, known for its health-promoting and anti-ageing properties. Studies have shown that resveratrol can make chemotherapy more effective, weaken viruses including influenza and HIV, and counter the effects of a high-fat diet while increasing physical endurance.
Wild Salmon
We all know that salmon is a great source of Omega-3 and essential fatty acids, which are fantastic for nourishing the skin and preventing premature ageing. But did you know that wild salmon has the added benefit of containing astaxanthin, a super antioxidant that helps combat the effects of ageing, as well as protecting against cancer, heart and neurodegenerative diseases? As if we needed another reason to get this fish in our diet and stat!
Chlorella
Chlorella is a nutrient dense green algae with high antioxidant and anti-ageing properties. It contains high sources of beta-carotene and vitamin C for healthy skin and is an excellent source of chlorophyll, which helps to detoxify the body and prevent premature ageing. Chlorella powder is an easy way to add this source of nutrients into your diet, simply by adding it to water or juice.
Tumeric
Tumeric contains a highly effective antioxidant called curcumin, which helps to protect the body from heart disease and cancer. Including tumeric in your diet will also help to preserve your memory and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, keeping your brain young and healthy.
Garlic
Garlic has many anti-ageing benefits, including lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, reducing inflammation, and protecting and maintaining cell health. Garlic is also a natural way to help boost your immune system, with anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties.
Dark chocolate
Yes! Chocolate has made the list! Cheers and whoops all round. You just have to make sure it’s made with at least 70 per cent cocoa and you only consume it in small doses. Dark chocolate is full of protein and vitamin B, which helps to burn fat and increase circulation in the skin (which can help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, win!). It also contains a high concentration of antioxidant flavanols, which help to reduce inflammation of the skin caused by UV exposure.
Blueberries
Blueberries are rich in vitamin C, which aids blood circulation and provides minerals and salt to help the body fight the ageing process. These little berries are also particularly high in potassium which helps to regulate the fluid balance in cells, combating puffiness and fluid retention.
Have you ever taken the bio-age test? Did you know that certain foods had anti-ageing benefits?
