5 foods rich in flavonoids that may help you age better

It is time to stop investing in the most popular wrinkle creams and ice rollers, and pick up these 5 foods that experts suggest can help you age better. Yes, according to a new study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition certain food items, including fruits, vegetables and beverages, are rich in a powerful plant chemical that can help your body age better and lower the risk of dementia. “These findings underscore the potential for simple dietary modifications to impact overall quality of life and contribute to the optimisation of healthy aging,” said Dr. Eric Rimm, a professor at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and an author of the study.

Flavonoids are natural substances found in fruits, vegetables and plants and are known for a wide range of health benefits such as reducing inflammation in the brain, promoting blood vessel health and maintaining skeletal muscle mass. Recently, researchers conducted a study on their effectiveness, where they tracked 62,743 women and 23,687 men over a period of 24 years. The results showcased that women with high flavonoid intake had a 15% lower risk of frailty, 12% less risk of impaired physical function and 12% less risk of poor mental health. These are 5 foods that are rich in flavonoids and will help you age better and healthier.

In a st​udy published in the National Library of Medicine, black tea is stated to have improved alertness and focus, thus reducing stress and lowering the risk of depression. This beverage, rich in flavonoids, helps boost cognitive performance, improve memory, speed and attention.

Researchers from the Edith Cowan University, Queen's University Belfast and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health conducted the study to find out that flavonoids are rich in antioxidants and they help neutralise free radicals and reduce oxidative stress to help prevent chronic diseases. These antioxidants can be found in fruits such as apples, grapes, cherries and citrus fruits.

A study published in the National Library of Medicine states that the consumption of 40g of dark chocolate daily for a period of two weeks resulted in an effective reduction of stress in females. This healthy snack is also rich in flavonoids and can help slow age-related decline.

It's not just fruits, vegetables such as onions, kale, celery, carrots, broccoli and soybeans are also packed with flavonoids. They also help in keeping the heart healthy, lowering the risk of stroke by lowering blood pressure and cutting "bad" cholesterol levels.