Which Foods Are Aging You the Fastest?
While it’s hard to escape our chronological age, our biological age isn’t as set in stone. Our lifestyle—including the foods we eat—determines how fast we age on a biological level, and the way we look and feel might not reflect the number of trips we’ve made around the sun. “Biological aging refers to the gradual deterioration of functional characteristics at the cellular and molecular levels, which can be influenced by lifestyle factors, including diet,” says Danielle Crumble Smith, RD, a dietitian with Top Nutrition Coaching.
“Eating a balanced diet rich in antioxidants, essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and fiber, while minimizing processed foods, sugars, unhealthy fats, and excessive sodium and alcohol is crucial for supporting longevity by slowing down the aging process and promoting overall well-being,” says Marlyne Perez, RDN, LD, a dietitian with Top Nutrition Coaching.
On the other hand, an unhealthy diet—one that lacks essential nutrients and antioxidants and is rich in processed foods, sugars, and unhealthy fats—can result in chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, compromised gut health, and metabolic issues, Perez says. “These factors collectively accelerate cellular damage, impair organ function, and increase the risk of age-related diseases, contributing to an elevated biological age,” she adds.
Excerpted from Eat This, Not That!
