Growing old is an inevitable part of life, and whilst it is not a disease, the passing years do make the body more vulnerable to illness and ailments.  Our bodies start to age around 25 years old - that is, our cell renewal rate starts to slow down.  However, you should not assume that pain and health problems are unavoidable parts of ageing, as many steps can be taken to achieve vitality and a zest for living, whatever your age.

The following information will help towards giving you a fighting chance to delay the onset of degenerative disease and stay mobile, healthy, and energetic well into later life. 

·         Proper nutrition at any stage of life is vital for optimum health and wellbeing, and it is never too early to start thinking about how your diet affects your body’s ageing process.  The secret to looking and feeling young is in the food that you eat. 

·         The six main nutrients are carbohydrates, proteins, lipids (fats), vitamins, minerals and water, and we all need them because they are the basic building blocks of a good diet.  Nature in her wisdom balances things really well, and by choosing the healthiest forms of each nutrient group and eating them in the proper balance at the right time, we can help towards our body being as healthy as possible. 

·         Oxygen is essential to life, but it can also be highly chemically reactive and unstable in your body, causing oxidation – a bit like rusting.  These rogue atoms are called ‘free radicals’ and excessive formation can destroy cells and tissue plus even attack our DNA.  Most experts agree that the damage produced leads to premature ageing, inflammation of the joints, and the immune system can become impaired eventually leading to infections and chronic diseases. 

·         Excess free radical activity is the result of exposure to industrial and household chemicals, polluted air, the sun’s rays, petrol fumes, smoking, alcohol, stimulants, exercise, emotional/physical stress and poor diet.  ‘Antioxidants’ is the collective name given to a group of vitamins, minerals, herbs and enzymes and that help to protect the body against free radicals by disarming them.

·         Your best source of antioxidants is food, and you may also need to consider quality nutritional supplements depending on your diet.  Some of the main well known antioxidant nutrients are Vitamins E, C, and A, the minerals selenium and zinc, plus herbs such as garlic and milk thistle.

·         The best sources of these nutrients tend to be found in the same foods, namely fruits, vegetables, raw nuts and seeds, legumes and most plant foods.

For more health information contact Colin McKeand of Nutri - Tox through their Website www.diet-nutrition.co.uk   Listen out for Colin Live on Talk107 Radio - The AM2PM Show.