Thursday, October 3, 2024

Telltale Telomeres: What Do Yours Say About Your Aging Process? Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading about telomeres, the protective tail end of your DNA chromosomes which tell the tale of your life.  Every time a cell divides, a tiny bit of the telomere attached to its DNA is lost.  Over time, when those ends become too short to protect the cell, your stem cells stop dividing and "die."  When that natural cell-aging process is sped up by chronic stress, smoking, poor nutrition, lack of exercise and/or exposure to toxins in the environment, you end up with prematurely shortened telomeres.  That increases your risk for premature aging, cancer, and chronic conditions, like diabetes, dementia and heart disease.  Fortunately, research shows you can do a great deal tp preserve your telomeres - and slow down cellular aging - so you achieve a RealAge that's younger than your chronological years.  The top four steps you can take are to: 

1. Add polyphenols to your diet from fiber, soy protein and healthy fats found in avocados, olives, nuts and fatty fish. 

2. Eat seeds such as chia, sesame, and fix for snacks and with veggies.

3. Indulge in foods rich in vitamins E and C such as kiwi, blackberries, broccoli, sprouts, and tomatoes.

4. Reduce stress and increase exercise with daily physical activity (at least 30 minutes a day) and meditation - we like 10 minutes in the morning and before bed.  The good news?  Soon there may be a drug that helps lengthen your telomeres - two are now in large animal trials.  For more info, check out "The Anti-Aging Advice for Every Decade" at iHerb.com/blog.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

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