The beverage aisle in the supermarket is loaded with bottles, cans, and containers of every kind, making it difficult to choose wisely. Here are some of the best drinks you can consume to keep yourself healthy and youthful. So grab a glass and enjoy—you just might be putting the brakes on aging in the process:

  • Tea. As we age, we become susceptible to free radicals, some created by our own bodies and some produced by environmental hazards such as cigarette smoke, pesticides, and sunlight or other radiation. Free radicals, cells that cause disease and other symptoms of aging, can be counteracted with molecules known as antioxidants. Luckily for tea drinkers, tea is loaded with antioxidants. For the best anti-aging benefits, brew your own and let it steep for at least three minutes. Partial to the ready-to-drink teas you can buy at any grocery store? You'll get a smaller dose of antioxidants.
  • Coffee. Want to live a longer life? Brew up some java. While tea makes headlines for its antioxidant properties, you may be surprised to learn that coffee is said to contain even more antioxidants than tea does. Different beans and different brewing methods influence the exact amount of antioxidants in each cup, but it's substantial. Coffee also has been shown to curb the incidence of type 2 diabetes and Parkinson's disease due to its unique compounds that other caffeinated beverages lack. Hot or iced, it's a great anti-aging choice.
  • Smoothie. Fruit is known to be chock-full of antioxidants. On a sultry day, what could be better than blending some up into a delicious, ice-cold smoothie? Blueberries, an antioxidant powerhouse, are particularly good in smoothies. Throw in a handful along with a few strawberries, some banana, a little Greek yogurt, and a small amount of sweetener such as sugar or stevia. Add ice, a little juice or milk so the mixture isn't too thick, and blend for 30 seconds or until the ice stops crunching. Pour into a tall, skinny glass and enjoy.
  • Wine. If you relish a glass of wine with dinner, don't feel guilty. There's ample research showing red wine in particular is loaded with antioxidants such as flavonoids (also found in many different kinds of produce) and a substance called resveratrol, which scientists believe keeps blood vessels healthy, prevents clotting, and stabilizes cholesterol. But be sure to stop at one glass-heavy drinking ages the body.

 

National Coffee Association, www.ncausa.org

Tea Association of the United States of America, www.teausa.org.