Aging is a natural part of life, but adapting healthy habits can help slow down its effects, both inside and out. Certain lifestyle changes and strategies can promote a more youthful appearance, support longevity, and reduce the risk of age-related issues like muscle loss and chronic diseases.
Dr. Eric Berg, a prominent medical professional who has over 12.9M followers on YouTube, recently discussed several different dietary sources that can help individuals “look younger, love longer, prevent diseases,” and also prevent “muscle loss.” Read on to get all his suggestions.
Before we get started, Dr. Berg points out the importance of the mitochondria (back to high school biology class!). The mitochondria is the energy factory, and he notes that “you’re going to be as healthy or live as long as your mitochondria is functioning and in good shape.”
To age healthily, Dr. Berg notes that a molecule called NAD is crucial. NAD “is a critical substance found in every cell in your body that’s involved in hundreds of processes like cellular energy and mitochondrial health.”
He adds that NAD is involved in “extracting energy from food.” Its also involved in preventing muscle loss and protecting you against radiation. Naturally, NAD decreases with age.
Essentially, there are five dietary compounds you should be getting from your diet because they can keep “your NAD very high so you can live a longer life.”
1. Apigenin
“Parsley has the most apigenin of all plants that I could find,” he reveals.
While parsley is the best source, it can also be found in thyme, oregano, basil, and celery.
2. Anthoxanthin
To get this compound, Dr. Berg recommends eating foods such as blueberries and other blue, purple, or red foods such as elderberry, concord grapes, and purple potatoes.
He specifically says that “elderberry is really good for your immune system.”
3. Curcumin
This spice is well-known for its anti-inflammatory benefits and can also help with longevity.
“This is found in turmeric,” he adds.
4. Quercetin
The food that has the highest quercetin is onions. "Most of the quercetin is in the outer part of the onion. When you peel the onion, don’t peel it too deep,” he highlights.
This can also be found in apple skin. “Of course apples are high in sugar [but] if you just ate the skin of the apple, you would get a lot of quercetin,” Dr. Berg states.
5. Methylene blue
Although this is a synthetic dye instead of a plant, it was actually the first drug that was ever invented. "They used to use it for many different things, but it seems to be a good inhibitor of CD38, which can help boost NAD,” therefore increasing longevity. Noted!
