Defy the Aging Process with your Lifestyle

People have been struggling for ages to find out ways to defy their process of aging. Research has been done in the recent years to help people retard their genetic clocks. Scientists have done much work recently with the stem cells and how they can be manipulated to revitalize the aging cells in the body. There are trillions of cells that are in the process of regeneration from the time we are born and until the day we die. As we enter the middle age and cross over into our forties, the same process of the cells slows down and gradually ceases the divisions. Dr. Leonard Hayflick observed, in the nineteen sixties, that human fibroblasts (cells in tissue culture) would ultimately cease dividing themselves after perhaps fifty sequences. With this study done by Hayflick, the term,`biological clock’ or `genetic clock’ started being used fashionably among people. The latest theory that holds well is the telomere shortening one. The telomere is a small stretch of protein caps at the end of the cell’s DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid). The theory explains that every time a cell divides itself, a small part of the DNA is stripped off the telomere, making it shorter. This shortening affects the expression of the gene. The result is cellular aging. Is there anything that you can do about the telomeres? No! But there is something that you can do that can put the brakes on the aging process. It is the way you lead your life that determines how you will go on to live. What is an ideal lifestyle to prolong your years? It involves how you cope with stress, the kinds of exercises you do, the methods of relaxation you adopt and the amount of sleep you get. Exercising is one of the best ways to slow down your aging process. Diet is the key aspect in staying healthy. Eating habits can slow down the aging process too. You have to eat a low glycemic diet. You can make sure that your diet includes fresh vegetables and fruits as they are rich in fiber. You can take in supplements like vitamins and minerals. Nutrients that prevent the telomere shortening are folic acid, Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, zinc and magnesium. Other nutritional supplements that are beneficial for you are the Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil. The higher the levels of Vitamin D in your body, the longer are the telomere caps. Polyphenols and flavonoids prevent telomere shortening and you get them from grape seed and green tea. The fluid intake should be adequate during the day to make sure that your kidneys function properly and your skin remains radiant. Not many people know that stress can speed up the process of aging. The best ways to bust the stress is to indulge in leisure activities after a hard day’s work. Spend leisure time in such a way that it gives you pleasure. A happy frame of mind makes you look many years younger in age.