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Every year more and more Americans are joining a special group: those who’ve lived to age 100. While most of us probably won’t join t his group–on average, we can expect to live to our mid to late seventies.. Our life expectancy is much longer than it was in 1900 when the average person didn’t live to be 50.

Researchers now know that one of the most important contributors to heart disease, wrinkles, cancer, arthritis, and many of the other problems of aging is the same process that causes a variety of objects around us to deteriorate.  It’s called oxidation. The same air that gives us life is what causes iron to rust, fruit to turn brown and your body’s cells to break down and age. Through a series of chemical changes, oxygen molecules in our bodies lose electrons, making them unstable.  These unstable molecules are called free radicals.  These free radicals steal electrons from the healthy cells in our body and then more free radicals are created.  They damage more and more cells every day until our health pays the price.

To control this destructive process nature provides antioxidants which are compounds in foods that can stop free radicals from doing harm.  They come between free radicals and your body’s healthy cells offering up their own electrons and preventing yours from being damaged.

Fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants and can protect you from disease.  Supplements of vitamins C and E are a good idea, but they shouldn’t take the place of diet rich in fruits and vegetables.  The quickest way to get vitamin C is to have a glass of grapefruit juice, an orage, or half-cup of red bell pepper slices–each provides more that 100 per cent of the Daily Value.

Vitamin B 12 is essential for maintaining healthy blood and nerve function. You can get plenty of vitamin B12 in meats and other animal foods.  Clams are the top performers: One small steamed clam provides an astonishing 9 micrograms of Vitamin B12.  Chickpeas and Potatoes bring in the B6. Beans and fresh asparagus are good sources of folate.

Extra Calcium and vitamin D are essential to prevent bones from becoming brittle. Moderate amounts of dairy food and fat-free milk can provide the Daily requirements of these essentials.

EAT LESS…..LIVE LONGER

Even though we may need to eat more of certain foods in order to live longer, researchers are finding that the opposite can also be true.  People who eat less may live more years.

Experts think that calorie restriction “resets” your metabolism so it works more efficiently, and the body shifts its focus from growth and reproduction to long-term survival.  When you take in fewer calories, your body naturally produces fewer free radicals as it turns food into energy.  Thus, you have less oxidative damange.  Eating a “Prudent” diet that provides the nutrients you need without excessive calories may be the key to a longer life.

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