Tea, berries and apples: a simple recipe for youthfulness

The secret to active longevity may lie in a cup of flavored tea and a handful of berries. Researchers from Australia, the UK and the US have found that foods rich in flavonoids help keep you healthy as you age. These natural compounds found in plant foods strengthen blood vessels, protect against inflammation and keep muscles and brain toned.

The large-scale study involved more than 86,000 people who were followed for 24 years. It turned out that women who regularly consumed more products with flavonoids were less likely to have problems – 15% lower risk of fragility, 12% lower risk of deterioration in physical fitness and psycho-emotional state. In men, positive effects were also seen, especially in reducing the risk of low mood and anxiety.

Flavonoids are not exotic. They are found in the most familiar products: black and green tea, apples, oranges, grapes, red wine and, of course, in berries. Their regular consumption helps to slow down the aging process and preserve the quality of life.

Professor Aydin Cassidy from Belfast emphasizes: it is not only age and genes that matter, but also everyday eating habits. Even minor changes – for example, three extra servings of flavonoid foods a day – already have a noticeable effect.

According to Prof. Eric Rimm of Harvard, this discovery offers hope that simple and affordable food can be the key to a healthy old age. While medicine fights the effects, nutrition helps prevent problems before they occur.

So by including a little more tea, apples and berries in our diet, we are making an investment not only in our well-being today, but also in a more vibrant, active future.