Yahoo Shinenotes that eating the wrong foods — or not eating the right foods — can result in symptoms that most people tend to assume are due to aging. Here are four tips they’ve assembled to steer you in the right direction:

Mistake #1: You avoid all animal protein

Vitamin B12, which is essential for energy, is found only in foods that are derived from animals. This nutrient helps regulate your metabolism, and it is an important part of maintaining a healthy brain and nervous system. Fatigue is a classic sign of B12 deficiency

 

Mistake #2: You’re not getting enough manganese and copper

Manganese and copper prevent joint pain, and are both essential for maintaining joint cartilage and flexibility. In many cases, getting enough of these nutrients reverses joint deterioration and eliminates joint pain.

 

Mistake #3: You avoid healthy fats

Omega-3 fats are part of your brain’s building blocks. If you’re not getting enough in your diet, the architecture of your brain becomes weak, and brain function, including memory, deteriorates.

 

Mistake #4: You favor packaged foods over whole

Most processed foods do not have enough potassium, which can result in high blood pressure. Eating better can correct the problem.

So the moral of this article?  You really are what you eat!