People spend tons of money on anti-aging products like expensive skincare and medications, but sometimes the best solutions to healthy aging are found in our daily diet.
The foods and drinks we consume on a regular basis not only play a role in our overall health, but they can also contribute to how we age. For example, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, consuming omega-3s, and limiting your consumption of added sugar are common eating habits known to slow down the aging process.
What about your drinking habits, though? Drinking tea on a daily basis can provide you with many different nutrients, including those with age-related benefits. Continue reading to learn about the best teas to drink to slow aging. Then, check out 4 Drinking Habits That Speed Up Metabolism After 50.
Green tea is one of the healthiest teas you can drink, especially when it comes to slowing down the aging process.
“Green tea is packed with antioxidants which have widespread health benefits from preventing illness, reducing inflammation, and even potentially preventing cancer. These antioxidants work in the body to prevent and reduce cellular damage from toxins and free radicals, which can cause metabolism to slow down significantly. We take them in primarily through plant compounds, phytonutrients, and amino acids in the food we eat and the teas we drink, like green tea,” says Trista Best, MPH, RD, LD a registered dietitian at Balance One Supplements.
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Rooibos isn’t as popular as black or green tea, but there are many healthy aging benefits to this herbal tea.
“Rooibos tea contains superoxide dismutase (SOD), an enzyme found in all living cells. SOD has anti-aging properties and can help to slow down the development of wrinkles. Rooibos tea also contains alpha hydroxy acid, one of the main ingredients used for skin treatments (mainly to help reduce wrinkles) by dermatologists,” says Courtney D’Angelo, MS, RD, a registered dietitian and author at Go Wellness.
Oolong is light in color and flavor, but it comes packed with anti-aging benefits, especially for your skin.
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“Oolong tea is rich in antioxidants. It also helps ease the symptoms of eczema and can help reduce wrinkles and clear age spots. Oolong tea also makes your skin brighter and can promote bone and tooth strength,” says Bill Bradley, RD, a registered dietitian and CEO at Mediterranean Living.
Matcha is technically a type of green tea that is finely ground into a powder. Whereas most green tea leaves are grown and harvested in the sun, matcha grows underneath the shade.
“Packed with antioxidants that help stabilize harmful free radicals, matcha is very good for your health. It also helps give you vibrant skin and helps decrease fine lines,” says Bradley.
Hibiscus is a refreshing summer tea and is delicious hot or iced. Thankfully, this yummy tea also comes packed full of healthy aging benefits.
“Not only is hibiscus tea fragrant, but it can also help to reverse the effects of aging. It’s rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C, and anthocyanin, an antioxidant that helps fight inflammation and lower blood pressure,” says Bradley.
Black tea is great for those who still want a caffeine boost with their morning or afternoon tea.
“Black tea can also help with anti-aging for the same reasons as green tea, but the tea leaves have been left to oxidize and therefore turn black, making them slightly less ‘healthy’ than green tea, which has not oxidized yet,” says Dana Ellis Hunnes, PhD, MPH, RD, a registered dietitian and author of Recipe for Survival.
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