When it comes to anti-ageing wellness, there seems to be a moisturiser for every body part and more “miracle pills” than you can shake a stick at, but still something is missing. Surely, there’s a more natural way to live for longer and look good while you’re doing it.
The answer? Nutrition.
Think about it: are you getting the minimum level of nutrition your body needs from your diet? Of course not. Not only does this make you age prematurely, but it opens up your wellbeing to a whole host of health concerns, such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and arthritis. The reason why you’re at risk to these problems is all the processed foods you eat. The commercial industry needs 16 nutrients to grow a whole lot of plants, but your body needs 26 nutrients to thrive. This means that artificial fertilizers are created using the 16 necessary for plant growth, and so you miss out on the remaining 10.
Plus, there are all those pesticides to consider. According to a study published by the National Research Council, the major source of exposure to pesticides for infants and children is through diet. Pesticides have an impact on the nutrients in food; namely, vitamin C, B vitamins and beta-carotene. Your body needs these nutrients to fight an onslaught of toxins. This means that – for your wellness as well as your children’s – you need to choose organic foods which haven’t been genetically modified. The evidence to prove the nutritional superiority of organic foods over conventionally-grown foods remains to be seen, but you can’t deny the the amount of pesticide residue each category contains.
If you want to get the wide range of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals your body needs to maintain good energy levels and wellness – and to live for longer – you need five servings of organic fruits and vegetables a day in a variety of colours:
- Blue/purple: Purple cabbage, blackcurrants, raisins, plums, purple grapes
- Green: Spinach, beans, peas, green pepper, celery, broccoli
- White/tan/brown: Banana, dates, garlic, ginger, radish, cauliflower, mushrooms, onions
- Yellow/orange: Pumpkin, lemon, papaya, peach, melon, pineapple, sweet corn, mangoes, oranges, yellow pepper
- Red: Apples, tomatoes, berries, pomegranate, red pepper, beetroot, cherries.