Eat berries and drink tea to age well

Foods that are rich in flavonoids—think berries, black tea, citrus fruits and apples—can help us stay healthy as we get older.

They can combat the usual symptoms of ageing, such as frailty, mental decline, and general physical incapacities, say researchers from Edith Cowan University in Australia.

To assess the benefits of flavonoids—antioxidants found in plants—the researchers analysed data from 62,743 women and 23,687 men over 24 years. They found that women consuming the most flavonoids had a 15 percent lower risk of frailty, a 12 percent reduced risk of impaired physical function, and were 12 percent less likely to suffer poor mental health compared to those consuming the least.

The benefits were less apparent in men, although flavonoids were protecting them against mental decline.

The researchers recommend we eat three daily servings of flavonoid-rich drinks and food, such as berries, apples, red wine, oranges, and tea.  “”Flavonoids are well known for reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, supporting blood vessel health, and even helping to maintain skeletal muscle mass, all of which are important for preventing frailty and maintaining physical function and mental health as we age,” said Aedin Cassidy, one of the researchers.

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