Dr David Cox is a neuroscientist and health journalist who has discussed how diets can impact ageing while also naming the one ‘superfood’ he consumes every day
A neuroscientist and health journalist has shared the single ‘superfood’ he consumes daily to help slow the ageing process.
Dr David Cox, author of The Age Code, discussed this during an appearance on Tonight on ITV. The programme examined whether selecting the right diet can enhance our quality of life as we grow older, particularly given that the number of UK centenarians has doubled over the last two decades.
Addressing whether it’s ever too late to make meaningful dietary adjustments, Dr Cox explained: “Subtle tweaks to diet, whether you’re 20 or whether you’re 90, can still make a big difference and give you many more years of healthy life to come.”
While more people are reaching 100, healthy life expectancy – the period during which we remain in good health – has actually declined to 61 years for both men and women.
When questioned about the foods he prioritises in his own diet, Dr Cox highlighted one particular group.
He said: “I mean, 100% the berries. That’s now become a really key component of my diet. Blueberries for example.
“Strawberries as well. They contain these natural chemicals called salicylates which actually help disable zombie cells and make it easier for your immune system to get rid of them. Berries are real, real superfoods.”
For those unfamiliar with the term “zombie cells”, Dr Cox clarified that our cells contain batteries which convert the energy from food into the energy our bodies require to function.
However, he went on to explain: “But the problem is at the same time they also produce exhaust fumes. They are called zombie cells. Basically, as you age your body becomes more full of these damaged cells which just refuse to die off.”
He continued: “The zombies basically take over and your short term risk of disease and death goes up.”
Dr Cox’s latest book examines the relationship between diet and cellular ageing.
He suggests that insufficient fibre intake is a significant factor behind the rising cancer rates amongst those under 50, a topic he addressed during an appearance on The Pat Kenny Show in Ireland.
Speaking on the programme, the expert explained: “Things we’re not even doing or things we’re eating which are not good for us in our diet, are basically stressing our bodies, which is accelerating ageing in different ways.
“Many of us are eating too much. From the moment we wake to the moment we sleep. We’re eating in some way, whether that’s meals or snacking.
“It basically puts what I call metabolic stress on our bodies because our bodies are not getting a chance to kind of recover.”
Beyond inadequate fibre consumption, he warned that excessive processed food intake, coupled with insufficient whole foods such as fruits and vegetables, is contributing to the problem.
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