Top Foods That'll Keep You Young Forever

  

Thanks to him, I've spent my life battling the forces of weight gain and aging—both for myself, and for those out there like me who wish to live lives filled with health, youth and the freedom that comes with them.Having a flat belly, a limber body, and a strong heart—not to mention the bright smile, firm skin and full hair that come with youth—will keep you free to pursue your dreams, or to start over in a new life, no matter what your age.

Each of the foods on this list is packed with one or more crucial age-reversing nutrients; not just the vitamins and minerals you're already aware of, but lesser-known (and utterly crucial) nutrients with names you might not have heard before, including healthy fats, hard-to-find antioxidants like elegiac acid, and youth-preserving compounds like nitric oxide.

And while I can't guarantee that the foods on this list will have you keeping up with Lady Gaga at age 90, they will certainly keep you looking and feeling vibrant for decades to come.

1

Oysters

These slimy shellfish may not be proven to make you feel frisky, but science says they'll help ward off age-related muscle loss and protect your peepers. In addition to being a great source of muscle-protective protein, oysters are also a prime source of zinc. "This mineral helps convert vitamin A, a vital nutrient for eye health, into a usable form and transport it through blood, says Chip Goehring, Board President of the American Macular Degeneration Foundation (AMDF). "Recent studies also suggest that zinc can slow the progression of macular degeneration," he adds.

2

Green Tea

Okinawa, an island off mainland Japan, is home to more centenarians than anywhere else in the world. In fact, about 7 out of every 10,000 citizens live to blow out 100 birthday candles! What do they all have in common? They drink green tea every day—and it's likely one of the reasons they live so long, say experts. Researchers from the Norwich BioScience Institutes recently discovered that the polyphenols, a type of micronutrient in green tea, blocks something called VEGF, a signaling molecule in the body that triggers plaque buildup in the arteries that can lead to heart attacks, stroke and vascular disease. The life-extending brew may also ward off wrinkles by fighting inflammation and improving the skin's elasticity, keeping you young both inside and out.

If you couldn't already tell, we're big fans of the brew. In fact, we love it so much, we created the The 17-Day Green Tea Diet!

3

Grapes

And speaking of anthocyanins, grapes are filled with them, too. In addition to their arthritis-fighting properties, they also help boost collagen in the retina, which protects the eyes against age-related macular degeneration.

4

Shiitake Mushrooms

Grey hair is beautiful when it's age-appropriate, but for folks who start to salt-and-pepper before they've finished life's main course, it can make them feel old before their time. One cause of early graying: a lack of copper. A study in the journal Biological Trace Elemental Research found prematurely graying individuals had significantly lower copper levels than a control group. Your body requires copper to produce pigment for your skin and hair, and shiitake mushrooms are one of the best dietary sources. Just a half cup provides 71 percent of your recommended daily intake of copper—and for only 40 calories!

5

Cheddar Cheese

Good news, cheddar lovers: Your favorite food may help you maintain your smile into late life. As we age, our smile tends to lose its shine. Though it's a hard fate to avoid, you can lessen the appearance of yellowing by keeping your mouth's pH levels in check. One study in the journal General Dentistry of people who didn't brush their teeth for 48 hours found snacking on cheddar cheese raised their mouths' pH to freshly brushed levels. Like cavities, discoloration is increased when you have an acidic environment in your mouth. Plus, compounds in the cheese that adhere to tooth enamel, like a white strip, help to fend off acid.

6

Clams

We know you've never had a problem with occasional engine failure, but if you've heard it happened to a friend — cough — the reason may be a low level of vitamin B12. A recent report from Harvard University highlighted a study that has linked low levels of B12 to erectile dysfunction. Although an exact causal link hasn't been determined, the B vitamin is used by every system in the body, particularly in cell metabolism and the production of blood — two essential factors in getting and keeping a quality erection. The boner-boosting bivalves are also high in L-arginine, an amino acid that converts to nitric oxide (NO), the Marvin Gaye of naturally occurring gasses: It causes blood vessels to relax and facilitate blood flow, helping you get and stay hard. In fact, NO is so powerful it's used medically to treat erectile dysfunction.