The Anti-Aging Diet

How they keep you young: Almonds are packed with hard-to-get vitamin E (just one small handful delivers half your daily dose), a nutrient that keeps you agile and graceful. When researchers from several leading medical schools looked at the impact of different vitamins and minerals on speed, coordination, and balance in people over age 65, the only one that made a difference was vitamin E. Volunteers with the weakest physical performance had the lowest levels of E, whereas more agile participants had adequate amounts of the vitamin in their system. Researchers surmise this power vitamin keeps you coordinated by neutralizing those troublesome free radicals in both your muscles and nervous system.

Use them in: Almond-Shrimp Stir-Fry

Toast 1/4 cup slivered almonds for 2 minutes in the oven at 400 degrees F. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon canola oil. Add 1 pound large, shelled and deveined shrimp and saute. When shrimp are nearly opaque, add 1 cup sliced snow peas and 1 tablespoon each minced garlic and ginger. Remove from heat when shrimp are white. Toss with almonds and 1 sliced green onion. Serves 4. 215 calories; 10g fat (1g sat.).

More almond ideas:

* Spread almond butter on a whole wheat English muffin. Top with sliced banana and a drizzle of honey.

* Sprinkle slivered almonds onto yogurt.

* Make your own trail mix with equal parts almonds and dried, chopped fruit.