Aging is an inevitable process that people wish to accomplish as healthfully as possible, and centuries of observation and study have led to important advances in understanding the mechanisms involved.  Modern researchers are spending a bulk of their time trying to unravel the web of interactions associated with repair processes that might slow or break down over time, focusing much attention on the role of mitochondria in aging. Exciting discoveries that illuminate modifiable factors for maintaining mitochondrial health are uncovering dietary components that can exert some control over the aging process.