7+1 foods which impede ageing

Perhaps you've heard that not only the development of skin conditions, but ageing and age-related diseases, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and the memory-decaying Alzheimer's disease, can be tied to chronic inflammatory processes. Long lasting inflammation, which functions as a natural self-healing process for the body, becomes increasingly less beneficial as we grow older. Stress, sugar and alcohol consumption, refined foodstuffs, a lack of sleep and exercise and environmental harm all help stimulate long-lasting inflammation which contributes to the acceleration of physical and mental ageing.

So what can you do about it?

Apart from adopting a healthy lifestyle, you can do a lot to protect your physical and mental well-being as well as the health and vitality of your skin by carefully choosing what ends up on your plate. Foodstuffs rich in fibre, vitamins and antioxidants offer a range of benefits for you.

The following foods have a proven anti-inflammatory and preventive nature:

• olive oil: perhaps the most well-known foodstuff of all, and not only because it can be used to replace less healthier fats. Due to its exceptionally high oleic acid content, it helps preserve the integrity and flexibility of your veins. It also enhances your beauty inside and outside, which is why we use it in a range of Manna soaps: it's the main ingredient of the Extra Virgin Olive Oil Soap and is also contained in the Active Charcoal and White Satin Facial Cleansing soaps as well as in the Dolce Vita and the Your Manna 2016 soaps.

• coffee: according to the results of a recently published study, elderly people drinking multiple cups of coffee a day are much healthier than their peers and are less prone to inflammations. This is great news if you love a good cup of coffee!

• certain spices: spices are becoming increasingly well-known, not just because of their taste, but also their medicinal properties. Turmeric, rosemary, oregano and lavender aren't just used for their pleasant aroma in the kitchen, but also as an essential oil or cosmetic ingredient in the bathroom.

• brassicales vegetables: these are perhaps the least popular items on the list: broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower brought miserable moments for many of us in our childhood, but try spending some time to find the right recipes since they're incredibly healthy and not just because of their high fibre content: their anti-inflammatory, cancer preventive traits facilitate the natural detoxification of your body.

• avocados: coming from a long distance and difficult to figure out exactly when they're fully ripe, they're still worth the effort. Storing them in the pantry or some other cold place, they can ripen in a few days so you could enjoy them in sandwiches or salads while maintaining healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

• onions: their essential oils have an antibacterial effect and since their fibres are hard to digest, they contribute to maintaining your metabolism and preserving your intestinal flora.

• citrus fruits: these are perhaps the most well-known for their antioxidant content. Don't forget about the beneficial effect of a glass of water with lemon juice in the morning, yet keep in mind that the sweeter citrus fruits are the healthiest when peeled and eaten fresh, segment by segment. Their freshness is captured in their essential oil used in our Manna products :)

• dark chocolate: it has a comforting, anti-inflammatory effect and is rich in antioxidants, apart from tasting delicious. The higher its cocoa content, the healthier it can be and the less you need to improve your mood after a long, exhausting day.

Enjoy them all and boost your health!