Ponce de Leon clocked a lotta hours searching for that elusive fountain of youth. The problem was, he was looking in the wrong place. The fountain of youth isn’t in Florida…it’s in your garden! Here are five ways plants can help you look and feel more youthful:
1. Plants Have Your Back
…and nearly every other part of your body. Name a body part, and chances are there’s a plant that helps keep it strong and healthy. Blueberries promote brain health and cognition; tomatoes support breast and prostate health; flax is a friend of the heart, dark leafy greens support joint comfort; and carrots promote healthy vision.*,
2. Plants Lift You Up
Plants do your spirit good, too. While you might think a slice of chocolate cake would send your mood soaring, the truth is that fruits and vegetables are the real mood boosters. A 2013 study of young adults in New Zealand found a link between how many fruits and vegetables they ate on a given day and their mood that day and the following.*
Another study, published in Nutritional Neuroscience in 2017,
suggests this effect becomes even more pronounced as we get older. Folks over
the age of 30 got even more of a lift from eating fruit than younger
participants in the same study did. The researchers speculated this has to with
an increase in free radicals accumulating in the body. Which means that once
you’re past 30, you need antioxidant-rich foods like fruits and vegetables more
than ever.
3. Plants Get Under Your Skin
Know what your hair, skin, and nails have in common? They’re all made of collagen. Vitamin C helps your body make collagen, so foods rich in vitamin C like citrus fruits, strawberries, and bell peppers contribute to healthy hair, nails, and skin.*
Know what else your body needs to make collagen? The mineral silica!* Just keep in mind: not all silica is the same. Unlike many silica supplements, which are made from quartz, rock, or sand, Florasil™ is derived from the spring horsetail plant, which has over 30 naturally occurring trace minerals and flavonoids that aid absorption. Extracted gently without chemicals, Florasil maintains your skin’s elasticity and helps you grow strong nails and lustrous hair.*
4. Plants Keep You Well
As you age, your immunity tends to weaken, which means you catch what’s going around more often than you used to. Luckily, plants can help your immune system behave more youthfully!
Plants are full of vitamins, minerals, and other compounds that help keep you in the pink.* Carrots contain vitamin A (as beta carotene), kiwis and berries are packed with vitamin C, and pumpkin seeds provide zinc—three key immune-supporting nutrients. The isothiocyanates in cruciferous veggies like cabbage, broccoli, and kale also promote immune function, as does the allicin in garlic and the beta glucans in mushrooms.
And don’t forget elderberry! This wonder berry has been shown to boost immunity in several human clinical studies.*
5. Plants Turn Down the Heat
Inflammation is the body’s
response to a threat. Short-term, that’s a good thing, but chronic inflammation
can age you prematurely. What you eat matters. Refined carbs (think white bread
and pasta), fried foods, and soda are all inflammatory nightmares. Plant foods
like tomatoes, citrus, berries, nuts, olive oil, and leafy greens fight
inflammation, keeping you young.
If you’ve got varicose veins, inflammation is partly to blame. CircuVein to the rescue! Made from citrus bioflavonoids, CircuVein supports vein health by helping reduce inflammation.* In fact, it’s been clinically demonstrated to reduce the appearance of varicose veins, promote healthy circulation, and reduce occasional swelling in the legs and ankles.*
It's almost like rolling up your
pants and soaking your legs in that fabled fountain of youth.
Krikorian R, et al. J Agric Food Chem 2010 Apr 14; 58(7):3996-4000.
