Anti-Aging Foods to Keep You Young

These six food groups hold the "power" to help you lose weight and turn back the clock.

1. Fruits and Veggies Piling your plate with fruits and vegetables is a no-brainer when it comes to weight loss — they're low in calories, high in nutrients, and filling — but the latest studies show that certain ones can provide surprising anti-aging benefits.

2. Protein The muscle mass begins to decline by up to 1 percent a year in your forties That drop slows metabolism, which makes the pounds pile on more easily. To hang on to your metabolism-boosting muscle — and keep you feeling full after meals ,experts recommend eating plenty of skinless chicken and turkey breast, lean beef and pork, eggs, beans, and seafood. And don't forget protein-rich dairy: Minerals in fat-free milk and yogurt as well as low-fat cheeses help to keep blood pressure

3. Omega-3-Rich Fish Fatty acids in seafood help quench the flames of chronic inflammationThe omega-3s in fatty fish like salmon and tuna have the most potent anti-inflammatory effects. But it's smart to consume omega-3s from plant sources, like walnuts and flaxseed, too.

4. Whole Grains A 2008 review of these diet-friendly foods — which include whole wheat, oats, and brown rice, and the bread, cereal, and other edibles made from them — concluded that a meal plan loaded with whole grains helps you stay slim, thanks, in part, to fiber's role in appetite control.

5. Exercise It's an anti-aging bonanza: Being active maintains muscle mass, boosts metabolism, and keeps your heart and lungs primed, among other benefits. Now, a recent study has found that running, in particular, promotes a long, independent life. What should also be on your fitness agenda: strength training twice a week to maintain muscle and keep your metabolism humming.

6. Red Wine and Other Drinks The ruby beverage's resveratrol is a potent antioxidant, inflammation damper, and artery protector. Plus, animal research suggests that high amounts of resveratrol may counteract cell death in the heart and brain, which could mean this compound has even greater potential to prolong your life. Limit yourself to one five-ounce glass a day; more could be harmful.