It is not a question of rebelling against nature and denying a process as natural as aging (just think of what the alternative is). The elixir of eternal youth has yet to be found and probably never will. But we do have enough information and tools to assure that aging is not synonymous with ailments and just enduring life rather than living it fully. In this sense, our diet and lifestyle have a lot to do with feeling young and vibrant.

To begin with, a health diet delays the aging process. Therefore it should be balanced, and as has been repeated so many times, based on Mediterranean nutritional principles: eat a lot of fruit, vegetables, legumes, dairy products, grains and olive oil. Many of these foods are rich in vitamins C and E, two active anti-oxidants that fight free radicals, which cause aging. But for this to happen, especially in the case of fruits and vegetables, it is important to eat them fresh, manipulating them in the kitchen as little as possible. The best way to retain their qualities and vitamins is to eat them raw, steamed or grilled. To keep your skin healthy and smooth, nutritional experts say it is best to avoid saturated fats.

As a source of protein, eating fish instead of meat is a good option because blue fish contain Omega 3 acids that are good for the heart and anti-inflammatory. On the other hand, when the body processes saturated fats these generate a large amount of free radicals, whose negative effects we have already talked about. Furthermore, they cause weight-gain and it is clear that extra kilos are no help when it comes to feeling young.

Another way to stay healthy inside and out is to limit your intake of stimulants such as caffeine. Although they do in fact stimulate, this rush is temporary and they have a vessel-constricting effect that impedes proper irrigation of tissues. On the other hand it is good idea to drink lots of water, at least two liters a day, in order to eliminate toxins and avoid retention of fluids. You should also consume a lot of semi-skim dairy products, which provide the calcium needed for healthy bones.

For women, estrogens are good for the skin, keeping it moist and firm. So foods rich in vegetable estrogens such as soy and its byproducts are good for fighting wrinkles. In the same way you should eat pasta, walnuts and whole-grain rice because they are rich in selenium, a mineral that acts on enzymes, which, in turn, intervene in the aging process.

The food group that can provide most vitality are carbohydrates. They cause less weight-gain than fats and their role in the organism is to be a source of energy. So don't give up eating bread or sugar, within limits, because besides fueling muscles they are essential for keeping the brain healthy and active, with good memory capacity. Honey, sweet and full of energy, is an efficient tool for keeping skin beautiful and smooth.

But it does no good to eat well with an eye to feeling young and alive if we don't also get regular exercise, which is invigorating, and scrap habits that are stressful and harmful. Taking a few minutes each day to relax is a good way to secrete endorphins, that magical, feel-good chemical that circulates through the brain. On the other hand it will not help you look younger if you sunbathe without watching the clock (the sun ages the skin), smoke (it generates free radicals) or drink to excess.