Nowadays, it is more important than ever to eat healthy. Certain healthy foods can help prevent heart disease or cause it. Healthy, wholesome foods can help you lose excess weight while junk foods cause you to get fat. Some foods nourish your hair and skin keeping them healthy and glowing while other foods don't, causing them to fall out sooner than they should. If you think genes are the only factor, consider this; your food choices and nutrition intake will cause some genes to activate while others lie dormant.

Making healthier food choices can help you look and feel healthier and younger while cutting the risk for disease. These changes may help cut your health care costs and lessen the chance of becoming dependent on medications as you age, which is natural anti aging.

Knowing which foods to avoid can be easy. We all know what junk food is. The more processed the food, the less nutritious it may be. But, what should we eat? Here is a partial list of food that are high in nutrition to help you feel young and stay healthy.

Bananas contain vitamin c, magnesium and potassium and are a good source of fiber. They can strengthen the stomach lining against ulcers and since they are very high in potassium, they can help regulate high blood pressure.

Barley has traditionally been known as heart medicine in the Middle East. This grain can help reduce cholesterol levels and contains antioxidants important for cancer prevention. The dried grass of barley is also an excellent source of protein, vitamins and minerals.

Beans are a great source of fiber which also helps to reduce cholesterol levels by up to 10%. In addition, these high protein sources may also help regulate blood sugar levels.

Blueberries are a great antibiotic. A handful of these sweet, tart berries can help stop harmful bacteria from attaching to the lining of the urinary tract. This can help prevent bladder infections.

Cinnamon can help stimulate insulin activity therefore it may be helpful for those with adult-onset diabetes. It has also been shown to help prevent blood clots, but be sure to use the real Ceylon cinnamon, not a cheap imitation.

Chili Peppers are known to help keep blood flowing freely which helps lower the risk of heart attack and stroke. They contain a substance called capsaicin, which fights inflammation. It is currently being studied for pain relief such as in arthritis and psoriasis. Many athletes advocate using chili pepper sauce on foods to speed up metabolism.

Dates are full of fiber and minerals including calcium, magnesium, copper, iron, potassium, phosphorous and manganese. Dates also contain a natural aspirin.

Garlic has long been used to stimulate the immune system and kill off dangerous parasites. It is antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral, and helps your body eliminate toxic buildup including zinc and lead. The National Cancer Institute is studying garlic for it's anti-tumor properties.

Ginger is a proven to relieve nausea. It also helps to relieve inflammatory pain and swelling caused from rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. In Denmark, researchers found that ginger can block the effect of substances that cause inflammation of the brain leading to migraines. Research has also discovered that it has a similar effect as aspirin does on thinning blood clots.

Parsley is a great source of antioxidants that help fight carcinogens, including those found in tobacco smoke. It has long been known to cleanse the body by absorbing toxins and helping to move them out of the body.

Tea is loaded with polyphenols. These antioxidants have been shown to protect from free radical damage as much as many fruits and vegetables! In addition, a recent study showed that just 2 cups of tea daily may lower the risk of ovarian cancer by 46%. Include it as part of your health regimen, because it is also known to help shed belly fat.

You can easily add many of these foods to your daily program. More and more research is finding how powerful whole foods are and how natural anti aging is possible. This is probably why Hippocrates said "Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food.

Forget expensive and painful procedures, check out natural anti aging , and if you are active, see why anti aging exercise is the best exercise to keep you young.