Healthy Aging

The right foods can keep your brain young. Start with these colorful veggies. Carrots for memory. Carrots—along with bell peppers, celery, rosemary and thyme—contain luteolin, a flavonoid believed to reduce inflammation that can lead to cognitive decline. In a study published in the October 2010 issue of The Journal of Nutrition, mice that ate a diet that included luteolin had better spatial memory (e.g., how quickly they found a platform in a water maze) and less inflammation than mice who didn’t get any luteolin.

Feeling hot, hot, hot? If menopause is the cause, omega-3 fats may help, suggests a new study in the journal Menopause. Researchers gave a group of menopausal women capsules containing EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)—the omega-3 fats found in fish. A second group got capsules of sunflower oil (no omega-3s). After eight weeks, only those in the omega-3s group reported fewer hot flashes. Scientists aren’t sure how the omega-3s might reduce hot flashes (or even what causes hot flashes in the first place).

Aging is inevitable. The so-called fountain of youth? Sadly, just a beautiful fantasy. Still, you can exert some control over your decade-by-decade destiny. By following a healthy lifestyle—that is, eating a nutrient-packed diet and staying active throughout life (or starting right now)—you can help slow the aging process and perhaps even stave off age-related chronic diseases, including osteoporosis, diabetes and heart disease. While basic nutrition needs remain pretty constant throughout life, requirements for specific nutrients may increase—or decrease—slightly as you get older.