3. Broccoli
Broccoli is one of the most concentrated sources of Vitamin C and flavonoids and it’s known to promote collagen production, which cushions joints and improves arthritis. As Vitamin C offers collagen benefits, foods rich in this vitamin also help to keep skin looking young and feeling firm. Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable, so it also contains sulforaphane, a chemical which boosts levels of antioxidants, stems free radical damage, and stimulates immune cells.
When we age, our immune system’s capacity to fight disease and guard against the development of cancerous cells slows down, due to the impact of free radicals, which also cause skin damage and the signs of ageing to appear. But research has found that eating broccoli regularly re-activates multiple antioxidant enzymes in your immune cells, helping to stave off cancer, prevent the development of age-related conditions, and halt the effects of ageing on the skin.
One study of breast cancer survivors showed that women who consumed cruciferous vegetables like broccoli regularly had a 62% reduction in mortality from the disease. Broccoli is also rich in nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), which gets manufactured naturally within our bodies but depletes as we get older. Decreased NMN levels lead to mitochondrial decay, inflammation and cognitive impairment – supplementing or eating a broccoli rich can help to reverse this process.
Scientists found that when elderly mice were given water enriched with a high dose of NMN, they displayed improved immune system function, as well as increased liver and eye function. NMN is good for diabetes and obesity too, as the mice had lower body fat than the control group, plus a decreased insulin sensitivity. While NMN supplements are expensive, broccoli is highly affordable – so to prolong your longevity and look great, why not add this tasty vegetable to your shopping basket instead?
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