I figured recently that I must be doing something right especially when I was mistaken for a spritely thirtysomething. In actual fact, I'm a spritely fortysomething and have religiously stuck to an antiaging nutritional game plan for the past ten years. No, I haven't discovered the fountain of youth but combining good nutritional practice with regular exercise has enabled me to provide my body with the right fuel and energy that has effectively slowed the antiaging process down to a walk.

Foods Don't Cut It Nutritionally

I'm a big believer in providing nutritional value both inside and outside my body. Eating the right foods is great but come on, food's nutritional value has been diminished considerably over the past fifty years for a variety of reasons including better and smarter farming practices along with food preservation techniques. Unless you've got the time to maintain a regular fruit and vegetable patch in the backyard then obtaining optimal amounts of nutrition from elsewhere is vital.

Free radicals have become somewhat of a buzz term in the world of nutrition recently and for very good reason. Free radicals, if not neutralised on a regular basis through antioxidants, will run rampant in our bodies and cause oxidative stress and damage to our cells. Over time, this damage will continue to escalate and eventually lead to any number of degenerative disease including heart disease, cancer and osteoporosis and not to mention the escalation of the aging process. Antioxidants supplied through our foods are just not enough to combat these marauding invaders so we need to "call in the cavalry": in my case, extra antioxidant and mineral supply.

Antioxidants And Minerals

Here's a shortlist of things to look for in a vitamin and mineral supplement for long term good health. Remember, taking one source of antioxidants such as the B family and ignoring the rest isn't good enough. For optimal nutrition and protection against the war being fought within our bodies, look for a balanced structure of vitamins and minerals.

- A wide spectrum multivitamin. Not just any multivitamin formulation off the shelf. Preferably one that is produced and manufactured in-house and contains not just 10, 20 or 30 ingredients but the full antioxidant and mineral range. This is important.

- Be careful if your multivitamin doesn't come in a separate form for antioxidants and a separate form for minerals.

- It should be readily absorbed by the body.

Sometimes you may need to probe a little deeper to find the right product. Antiaging nutrition starts with you. Find a game plan and if it works, stick with it. I did!