Feel sharper & more energized

Looking to enhance your vitality and ward off cancer, dementia and heart disease? Maximizing methylation, a process that helps switch genes on or off at the right times to keep your body's cells running smoothly, is the key. When it works well, it supports steady energy and a better memory. Plus, studies show methylation blunts aging at the cellular level. Here's how to boost the process

- By Melissa Gotthardt

Snack on a handful of raisins

Or enjoy dried apricots. A study in the Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging found that eating dried fruit on a regular basis boosted methylation as measured by cellular markers. Fruits such as grapes and apricots are high in antioxidant compounds, which protect against damaging free radical molecules that impede methylation. And when fruit is dried, the compounds become even more concentrated. Other dried fruits with an antioxidant boost include prunes, dates, figs and dried cranberries.

Cook with the right oil

Results of a study in the journal