Did you know that 6 to 8 months from now, depending on your activity level, your body will have regenerated almost all of its tissue at the cellular level? It uses the nutrients from your food to do this so when they say you are what you eat, they aren’t exaggerating!

Here are 8 nutrient-dense foods for you to put on your grocery list (source: Vega ):

1. Dark Green Veggies. Mom knew where it was at. Canada’s Food Guide suggests one dark green veggie a day! Try broccoli, spinach, swiss chard, kale, collards and romaine lettuce.
2. Whole Grains. Unprocessed grains still have their fiber, which slows down digestion and allows nutrients to slowly enter the system. Rapid digestion causes a spike in insulin which stresses the body. Try these grains for your pleasure: amaranth, quinoa, millet, wild rice, brown rice and buckwheat.
3. Berries. Not just any fruit but a super fruit! Berries are huge in the antioxidant realm and fight free radicals (damaging molecules from internal and external sources of pollution). Include other fruits and veggies with vibrant colours into your diet for variety and antioxidant power. Raw fruits and veggies provide the highest concentration and best absorption of antioxidants. Check this post out for a great raw vs. cooked blog post.
4. Flax. Boost your immunity, normalize your hormones and cholesterol, reduce inflammation, improve digestion, reduce body fat, protect against cancer and give yourself healthy skin – all with flax. It contains the most Omega 3 essential fatty acids than any other plant and is rich in fiber, protein and lignans .
5. Sprouts. Ever hear about the healing wonders of stem cells ? When you eat sprouts, you get the healing benefits of the transitional stage between seed and plant. When seeds begin to sprouting, it increases the nutrient value. They are packed full with vitamins, minerals, chlorophyll (the most powerful blood cleanser and detoxifier known) and enzymes.
6. Hemp. The best plant on Earth! It grows fast without using pesticides, requires less water and produces more protein per acre than any other land plant. The hemp plant contains high levels of chlorophyll, antioxidants and fiber. A true super food, hemp seed has a healthy balance of Omega 3 and 6, a full amino acid spectrum (i.e. a complete protein) and massive amounts of trace mineral content.
7. Legumes. A class of veggies, legumes include beans, peas and lentils. Versatile and nutritious, they are high in protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals. They have been identified as a major contributor in treatment and prevention for several illnesses, such as heart diseases, diabetes, obesity and osteoporosis.
8. Maca . A hardy root vegetable, Maca is grown in Peru and in conditions where no other plant can survive. It’s also known as “Peruvian Ginseng” and has been used by Native Peruvians for thousands of years to increase energy and stamina, lower stress and treat sexual dysfunctions. (I haven’t tried this one yet…anyone got any reviews?)

So, what makes a bod younger? Regular exercise flushes the body of waste and breaks down body tissue. Feed yourself premium fuel (nutrient-rich food) to rebuild that tissue and you’ll actually be reversing the hands of time, gaining energy, vitality and health!