Healthy Aging Healthy Aging Nutrition and Fitness

Slowing Down the Clock with the Right Foods

Summary & Participants

The right diet may help you put the brakes on the aging process.

Medically Reviewed On: August 12, 2008

Webcast Transcript

ERIC BRAVERMAN, MD, ANTI-AGING EXPERT: We know that sugar, white flour, you know, from French fries to junk food, they're all basically causing oxidation, inflammation in the body. Aging is you burn up, you dry up, you swell up and you turn to stone.

ANNOUNCER: If the wrong foods can speed up the aging process, can the right foods slow it down?

ERIC BRAVERMAN, MD, ANTI-AGING EXPERT: We think the rainbow diet's the anti-aging diet. The rainbow is a symbol of color, different color fruits, vegetables, spices, teas, proteins.

ANNOUNCER: Brightly colored fruits and vegetables are often high in antioxidants. Studies indicate that these foods may help protect the body from many age-related diseases.

ERIC BRAVERMAN, MD, ANTI-AGING EXPERT: There’s lycopene in tomatoes, and lutein in green things for your macular degeneration and then the yellow foods have this group of chemicals You really want to get different colored apples, different fruits, tangerine, orange, get the cherries, red cherries, white cherries. You've got to mix it up.

ANNOUNCER: Herbal teas and spices do more than add flavor.

ERIC BRAVERMAN, MD, ANTI-AGING EXPERT: Herbal teas are loaded, loaded with great anti-inflammatories. Spices block inflammation in the body, similar to aspirin-like drugs. Oregano has some antifungal properties. Cumin blocks the accumulation of iron in the brain.

ANNOUNCER: And while nutritional supplements may help, they don’t take the place of a good diet.

ERIC BRAVERMAN, MD, ANTI-AGING EXPERT: That doesn't mean you shouldn't take them and particularly if they're targeted well. But there are really hundreds of thousands of nutrients in foods, way beyond the capacity to throw pills into your throat.

ANNOUNCER: Don’t forget to stick to lean protein and whole grains.

ERIC BRAVERMAN, MD, ANTI-AGING EXPERT: The replacement of white flour with whole grains has become an American movement. A healthy diet has 30, 40 grams of fiber a day - it's a high fiber diet. And, if you're eating white flour, you can't fit in the fiber.

ANNOUNCER: And with diet, the way to stay young is to start young.

ERIC BRAVERMAN, MD, ANTI-AGING EXPERT: Children need to learn how to eat their vegetables we have to, you know, get low-fat, lean things, you know, lean and get them at their breakfast table. You start by winning breakfast. You win breakfast for your kids.

ANNOUNCER: Thanks for joining us on today’s Once Daily.