When conversations about aging find their way to the kitchen and your dining table, consider yourself thankful. Supplements are readily available, but there are far healthier, cheaper and more natural options for you and your family: anti-oxidants in food.

Anti-oxidants are actually free radicals that protect your cells from damage, thereby delaying the aging process. Check out the following anti-oxidant-rich food and drinks you and your family can take:

• APPLES. A saying rings true with apples: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” No matter what kind of variety you are biting on, apples are very rich in anti-oxidants. You can bite on the stuff directly, bake it into a pudding, preserve it in a jar, slice it up and mix into a salad or juice it.

• BERRIES. If you want to take a healthier short cut to your anti-aging regimen, have your fill of berries. Reports show that the anti-oxidant content of a single berry serving is equivalent to that of three apples combined. Popular varieties include strawberries, cranberries, raspberries, blue berries and black berries. As with apples, you can take berries in any fashion you want: as a fruit, as a pie, as a preserve or as a juice drink.

• COFFEE. Just the right amount can give your nervous system a kick with this stimulant. Since your mind is more alert and your body more active, you can actually do more. Whether you are brewing your own supply or drinking the commercial type. Take coffee in moderation and do not overdo your sugar adding ritual. Drinking the stuff can be addictive and can make you jumpy.

• PECANS. These nuts are available all year round and can be stored for months. Crack them and eat them raw, dip them in chocolate or sprinkle some to your saucy dish creation. The high oil content of these nuts makes them ideal absorbers of flavor. When storing pecans, use an exclusive container or jar for them. Mixing pecans with other varieties of nuts will cause the latter to spoil.

• TEA. Available in tea bags, as brewed leaves or as powder, tea is one of the most popular health drinks around. The tannin in tea helps fight indigestion. Particularly, the green variety or green tea is a gold mine, especially when you are into shedding your pounds off and slimming down. Do not forget basic oral hygiene when drinking tea. It can cause your tea cup and your own teeth to become yellowish.

Despite the fast turn of events in contemporary society, fighting aging remains the talk of virtually any place. You have heard your boss and his wife comment about their wrinkles. You have seen your colleague freak out over her first grey hair. You have seen middle-aged people dress up like youngsters – all for the sake of not looking too old. Lucky for you, you do not have to spend bucks to look young. What you can do is to get your fill of anti-oxidant-rich food choices.