A healthy diet is a healthy diet at any age — and you want one that’s full of good fats, high-quality protein, whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables, and low on processed anything, whether you’re 25 or 65 years old. For people 40-plus, however — and facing issues including a sluggish metabolism, plummeting hormones, and the potential for things like osteoporosis or heart disease — it’s a good time to enlist a few superfoods to help the cause.
Wild salmon
Nuts
Walnuts are especially healthy, but other nuts are pretty great, too. One study found that people who ate nuts more than four times a week had a 37% lower risk of heart disease than people who rarely or never ate nuts.
Berries
Raspberries, blueberries, strawberries — take your pick. Berries are full of antioxidants and fiber, which is also vital for a healthy diet.
Sauerkraut
Fermented, probiotic foods are good for your gut — and what’s good for your gut is good for your overall health. Sauerkraut is one tasty choice, but you could also go with kimchi, kombucha, or kefir.
Dark chocolate
A heart-healthy diet is not without its treats — one of which is dark chocolate, which has more antioxidants than green tea or red wine. One study found that people who ate dark chocolate daily had a lower risk of both heart disease and stroke.
Greek yogurt
Calcium is a key dietary concern for anyone with risk factors for osteoporosis. A serving of nice, thick Greek yogurt provides about 20% of the calcium you need in a day, plus double the protein of regular yogurt and half the sugar.
Extra virgin olive oil
Good ol’ EVOO is a great source of heart-healthy fats, and is, in fact, considered one of the healthiest fats on Earth.
