No one wants to see their health diminish as they get older, and, it doesn’t have to! I don’t want to age any faster than necessary and I am sure you don’t want to either.
Let’s slow down and even reverse some of the aging process!
Did you know your lifestyle can have a profound affect on how quickly your body ages? Certainly looking in the mirror can tell us how we are aging externally. The real issue is how you are aging internally? How well are your cells and ultimately your organs and glands holding up against the daily assault of free radicals, toxins, stress and nutritional deficiencies?
The idea is to slow down the aging process if we can. There are things you can do to not only reduce the aging process but maybe, even reverse it in some cases.
So what does aging really mean?
Technically, aging is a combination of all metabolic life activities, effects of exposure to toxins, microbial agents, nutrient deficiencies and their total combined effect over time on the body’s cells.
We can slow and anti-age through the use and effect of antioxidants and nutrients we pour into our bodies. They counter the aging effects of the metabolic processes that are life.
As part of life, we are exposed to micro-organisms, environmental toxins, drugs, emotional toxicities, unhealthy foods, nutrient deficiencies and stress. These all have a direct impact on our cells ability to continue to replicate in a healthy state.
These influencers can cause damage to the cell and even DNA in our cells. They do this in different ways. In one case they cause free radicals to form that can damage the cells and even the DNA in the cell to the point that the cell will begin to replicate itself in an unhealthy state. In another way they lower our immune function to the point that the immune system is not healthy enough to stop the growth of bacteria, viruses, micro organisms and even mutated cells and the mutated cells can multiply to the point of disease. In another way they turn on the adverse health potential of certain genes to express themselves as disease and illness, but potentially the most damaging effect is their ability to shorten our telomeres and cause damage to our DNA through free radical damage to our cells.
What Causes Aging?
(sources below)
- Excessive consumption of all sugars and artificial sweeteners.
- Refined and processed foods (contain harmful chemicals like preservatives and Advanced Glycation End Products (AGE’s) that can cause premature aging through disease and illness)
- Chronic Stress and Inflammation
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- Free Radical Damage
- Elevated Homocystine Levels ( caused by a lack of B6, B12 and Folate)
- Telomere shortening
What are telomeres and why are they important?
Decreased telomere length leads to chromosomal abnormalities that result in mutations in the genetic code, mutations that can cause cancer and further aging in humans.
Our genes are located on twisted, double-stranded molecules of DNA called chromosomes. At the ends of the chromosomes are stretches of DNA called telomeres, Telomeres are protective DNA-protein complexes, which protect our genetic data, make it possible for cells to divide and hold some secrets to how we age and get cancer. Think of the plastic caps on the end of your shoe laces. This is sort of what the telomeres look like. They keep the strands of chromosomes from unraveling. As the effects of NHCs advance our cellular aging, the telomeres get shorter and shorter. Once the telomeres get so short, the cell can no longer replicate and over time aging accelerates.
In 2009 three American scientists who discovered telomeres were awarded The 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology of Medicine. Their work began a couple of decades earlier. What they discovered only enhances our belief that the way we live has an undeniable impact on the status of our health. Although this research certainly identifies the damage caused by the shortening of our telomeres , further research is underway to fully understand its role in life longevity and the advancement of disease and illness.
To strengthen our telomere’s we must increase the presence of the enzyme telomerase in our cells. Telomerase is an enzyme that is responsible for keeping telomeres healthy. As we age our bodies produce less and less telomerase thus we begin to age faster and faster. In addition an unhealthy lifestyle also slows down the natural cellular production of telomerase.
How do we slow down the aging Process?
By living a lifestyle of wellness we greatly enhance our potential for slowing the aging process and having a life of vibrant health. Recent studies even show that a lifestyle of wellness actually can increase the cellular production of telomerase increasing telomere health and improve overall health.
In many cases you can trump genetic tendencies. The way you live has such a powerful effect on your health that it literally can mean the difference between years of suffering with disease and illness and a life of longevity with vibrant health.
If we include nutrient dense foods (lots and veggies and fruits), pure water, relaxation, adequate sleep, health building exercise, fresh air, sunshine and emotional and spiritual balance, we can improve every facet of our health potential.
A plant based diet is the most powerful way to reduce aging and accelerate building a healthy body!
Healthy wishes
Wally Bishop I.N.H.C., C.N.C., C.I.C.P.
Integrative Nutrition Health Coach
Sources
https://embryo.asu.edu/pages/telomeres-and-telomerase-cellular-aging-senescence
https://lifelength.com/telomere-length-and-aging-5-ways-to-maintain-healthy-telomeres/
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/facts-about-aging-and-alcohol
https://eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-01/lu-shi012920.php
https://academic.oup.com/biomedgerontology/article/60/9/1190/560525
The contents of this blog is not and should not be considered medical advice. This blog is for informational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. Never quit taking prescription medications unless advised to do so by your doctor.
