5 Nutrients for a healthier, longer life
This comes as no surprise… we are what we eat right?
Our diet has a direct impact on our health and long-term quality of life. Of course supplements can help fill out the gaps in our plate, but real, colorful, yummy food, now that’s what we are all about.
So what exactly are the best nutrients to pack on for a healthier, longer life?
1- CoQ10
CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant that has a key role in energy production and helps protects against cellular damage. Our bodies naturally produce it, but as we age, its natural production declines. Supplementing CoQ10 has been shown to improve quality of life and improve performance, both physically and mentally in older adults.
CoQ10 is naturally found in: soybeans, broccoli, peanuts, fatty fish and oranges
2- Vitamin D
Here is a dilemma we have in our team! Vitamin D is an essential component of what we can call our “health capital”. According to a study published in 2007 by the London School of Medicine, vitamin supplements can increase telomere length in women. Telomeres’ job is to stop the ends of chromosomes from fraying or sticking to each other, much like the plastic tips on the ends of shoelaces. Telomeres also play an important role in making sure our DNA gets copied properly when cells divide. Let’s just say they are a pretty big deal. But as we age, telomeres get shorter, causing our cells to age and stop working properly.
Now here is the trick: sunshine is a critical source of vitamin D but if you’re like us, sunscreen and long sleeves are kind of a must. In fact, over 40% of adults in the US are deficient in Vitamin D! The solutions: first you can take vitamin D, especially with calcium which will also help fend off osteoporosis. But also, just bring sunshine to your plate…
Vitamin D is naturally found in: mushrooms, eggs, milk and fortified yogurts (vitamin D + calcium, jackpot), fatty fish, but also sweet potatoes, avocado, peppers, melon, peaches and our CEO, Valerie’s, favorite: mangoes.
3-Curcumin
Curcumin is the key active component in turmeric. Curcumin is one of those potent foods that fight inflammation all across the body (some others include avocado, cranberries and blueberries, ginger, red cabbage, broccoli and walnuts).
Turmeric itself is a spice widely used in Asia and a main ingredient in curries. It is also extensively used in traditional medicine and its health benefits have attracted more and more attention.
Curcumin is naturally found in: well curcumin and turmeric itself. Just add it in any and all dishes. Or if that’s a bit overwhelming, go for a natural supplement.
4-Probiotics
Of course! One of the many reasons why we are probiotics FANATICS!
Health starts in the gut (small intestine) where over 90% of our good bacteria live. Probiotics are proven to support our internal balance. Hasn’t our internal microbiome been called our 2nd brain? It is true a longer life starts with a healthier gut, helping good bacteria dominate over bad bacteria and controlling low-grade inflammation. Chronic inflammation is associated with many chronic diseases, which in turn impacts quality of life and longevity.
Probiotics are naturally found in: yogurt of course, but also Kefir for that cool fizzy taste, Kombucha made from fermented black tea, sauerkraut and Kimchi, dark chocolate (hurray for this!), tempeh, pickles and olives, and miso.
5-Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acids have many powerful health benefits for your body and brain. In fact, few nutrients have been studied as thoroughly as omega-3 fatty acids. Some of their key health benefits (among many) are their ability to help fight depression and anxiety, they can improve the risks factors of heart disease, help fight inflammation, help fight fat in your liver, support skin health and alleviate menstrual pain. So, go ahead and give these Omega-3 fatty acids some love for better health.
5-Omega-3 fatty acids are naturally found in: fatty fish ((e.g., salmon, tuna, and trout…, 2-3 times a week), but also fish oil supplements.
So there you have it, an excellent starter shopping list for your next trip to the grocery store!
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