The food we eat is very important for optimal functioning of
our body, and we need to fuel it well to get the best we can from it. All foods
have nutritional value, although some have much more than others. If we target
the foods that provide the most benefit to our bodies, they can take us far.
Our bodies will then perform at their best, and will always be ready, lethargy
will be a thing of the past and we will move like a well-oiled machine. The
foods we eat also have the ability to affect the way we age. The nutrients in
specific foods can feed us on a cellular level – the very foundation of our
physical being- and quell the tide of aging! Sound impossible? No, this is
complete truth. We just need to do a little research on the nutrients present
in these particular foods, and then we can increase our longevity and prolong
our youthfulness.
We have all heard of antioxidants, and we know that they are
an important part of living a healthy lifestyle, but do you know how they
function within our bodies and why they are so beneficial? Antioxidants are a
class of molecule that play a significant role in our health by controlling how
fast we age by fighting free radicals. Antioxidants are capable of stopping the
oxidation of other molecules, meaning that they can give life to those that are
dying. Free radicals are molecules that are missing one or more electrons, and
these defective molecules in our bodies attack healthy molecules to make
themselves whole again. So basically, a fundamental part of our DNA is being
destroyed by these free radicals, and thereby potentially halving the
population of the healthy cells in our bodies. We want to lessen the amount of
free radicals in our bodies so that healthy cells have the chance to thrive.
Antioxidants play a significant part in our health due to
the control they have over how fast we age. Foods that contain antioxidants are
nuts, berries, leafy greens, green tea, cacao and fish. On the other side of
the coin, there are certain foods or nutrients that lead to the killing of
cells in our bodies, and these are known to age us. These foods are highly
processed and refined and include salt and sugar, although fructose which is a naturally
occurring sugar found in fruits also does this.
Recent studies into healthy aging have found that if we look
after our bodies on a cellular level, and in particular lengthen our telomeres,
we can naturally slow the aging process. Telomeres are segments of DNA at the
end of our chromosomes. These tiny, seemingly inconsequential, parts of our DNA
are what determine our age. Essentially, if they shorten, we age, but if their
length is maintained, we slow down the aging process. Recent studies have shown
that shorter than average telomere length is associated with increased
mortality risk.
Importantly, aside from what we eat to increase our general well-being, we can also take part in certain practices regularly to increase it.
Chronic stress is associated with shortened telomere length, so it is important
we control our stress levels, and this can be done through a meditation
practice, or any mindfulness practice, such as yoga. Of course, exercise is
always important, as it boosts our happiness through increased dopamine release.
Although nutrition is important, the most important aspect
of determining our age is our level of happiness. Living a happy life and being
proud of how we have lived is necessary for both our mental and physical
health, and is a true indicator of our wellbeing.
Yours in health,
Ben :-)
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