As people grow older, it is believed that they naturally suffer a decrease in energy. But new data suggest the energy drain is not inevitable, and it may have more to do with what you’re eating than how long you’ve been around.

Dr. Peter Grundy, M.D., is a former cardiac surgeon who now works in restorative medicine. To increase your energy level, he says you should consider foods that are high in polyphenols — micronutrients that come from plant-based foods.

Good sources include blueberries, strawberries, and cherries.

Increasing intake of polyphenols can raise the body’s metabolism, which decreases joint pain and helps reduce body weight.

Of course, it’s hard to eat enough of these berries on a daily basis to get the necessary amount of polyphenols. Therefore, you might consider Vital Reds, a powder Dr. Grundy developed that can be mixed with water to drink once per day.

The powder contains cherries, palmetto extract, mulberry extract, blueberry extract, and other products.

In addition to polyphenols, Vital Reds has includes vitamins and other nutrients such as green tea, probiotics, and bitter melon extract — all of which are important for maintaining a high level of energy and good body function.