7 BEST WAYS TO SLOW AGING
I’m sure you see many products and services touting the 7 best ways to slow aging, not to mention anti aging secrets, ways to have firmer skin, more energy, or better workouts. Let’s back it up and take a look at what makes us age. Why do we age? Science has the answer! I’m going to share that with you!
WHY DO WE AGE?
Why do we age?
This is one of those questions that seems easy to answer, like ‘why is the sky blue?’ Okay, that is an easy one too, but we need to have the science facts in order to answer the blue sky question and also ‘what makes us age.’ Right? Right!
TELOMERES ARE THE KEY
Hang on. There is a little more science we have to make sense of here!
How do telomeres affect aging? And what are telomeres, anyway?
Without telomeres, our DNA would mutate.
We would develop more cancers.
HOW DO TELOMERES AFFECT AGING?
Now that we know what telomeres are and what they do, here’s a not so fun fact.
Telomeres shorten.
HAYFLICK LIMIT
When the telomeres become too short, the cell actually goes kamikaze and triggers a self- destruct program.
This is called the Hayflick limit or Hayflick phenomenon. (# of times a cell will divide b4 cell division ceases)
This kills the cell. (apoptosis)
A FEW CAUSES OF SHORT TELOMERES
SHORT VERSUS LONG TELOMERES
Kidding aside, scientists are busy studying telomeres & the beneficial effects of potentially reversing their shortening as people age.
TELOMERASE = AN IMPORTANT ENZYME
New therapies targeting telomerase expressing cells are under development!
ANTI AGING SECRETS
While the scientists are hard at work, what can we do to keep our telomeres longer?
Here are two sure fire ways to increase telomere length.
(The hyperbaric oxygen chamber didn’t do much for Michael Jackson. Admittedly, there were other variables at play.)
A 23K hyperbaric oxygen chamber and endurance training may not be in everyone’s wheel house. Let’s dig deeper.
INFLAMMATION IS THE ACTUAL NEMESIS OF TELOMERES
Inflammation is like a cannonball! The cannonball hits the gates of the city and smashes them. The citizens need to repair the walls. To do this, they must use more raw materials.
Likewise, our cells need to repair themselves. What are their materials?
Elon Musk would certainly be cheering right now. Does this mean we should all go to Mars?
This is about as feasible as everyone sleeping in hyperbaric oxygen chambers.
What we need to do is quit wasting our cell divisions!
WHAT MAKES US AGE?
States that are associated with inflammation need to work hard to replace cells. This has a direct effect on telomere length & therefore aging.
AKA ‘pro-inflammatory states.’
So what do us regular people do to preserve our telomeres?
We try to decrease extraneous cytokines!
CYTOKINES & INFLAMMATION
Cytokines are inflammatory proteins. They have multiple– & at times– unrelated functions that depend on their target cell & presence or absence other cytokines.
How’s that for vague?!
My point is that cytokines have it going on. They are small, mighty powerhouses. We need them! However, they can overreact and think all sorts of foreign elements are invaders.
They are overprotective. If I were a protein, I’d probably be a cytokine.
THE KEY TO SLOW AGING IS TO DECREASE EXTRANEOUS CYTOKINE ACTIVITY
How can we decrease the amount of inflammation in people who don’t train for iron man competitions or have hyperbaric oxygen chambers or live in space or look like Tom Cruise to increase life span?
I’ve got the 7 best ways to slow aging below.
Most of them are doable!
7 BEST WAYS TO SLOW AGING
1. ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DIET
–The foods below decrease cytokines in our bodies
2.FISH OIL
3.LIMIT PROCESSED MEATS
4.AVOID WHITE FOODS
-These foods increase inflammation, alas.
5. MANAGE STRESS
-To read more about how to manage stress, I have an excellent post here!
6.EXERCISE REGULARLY
-So what if endurance training isn’t for you. Just do something.
7. LOSE WEIGHT
-You knew this was coming. Enough said.
7 BEST WAYS TO SLOW AGING
So, take your fish oil (Louie recommends w/ PB), don’t eat white foods too often, drink in moderation, and don’t hang around toxic waste sites!
You’ll not only look younger, your telomeres will stay long! That means you’ll stick around longer, too.
So interesting to learn more about the science behind aging! Will definitely want to incorporate more anti-inflammatory foods in my diet as I continue to age.
I’m happy that you found my post interesting! And pleased that you’ll be munching celery! Thanks so much.
It make sense that we need to take care of ourselves from the inside out. The science also makes tons of sense when you explain it. Thanks. I’m going to pick up some fish oil this week, too.
Are you going to take your fish oil with a side of PB, like Louie? That’s a great compliment. Thank you so much, I appreciate it!
I’ll take Louie’s lead. With peanut butter!
You can’t go wrong with peanut butter!
I had heard about this before, but I didn’t know they had a name, telomere. But I still don’t get what causes the shortening, have I somehow missed that due to my dyslexia? How come the ends of our chromosomes are degrading?
Telomere’s are like caps at the ends of our chromosomes. It seems strange but telomeres shorten because DNA can’t be fully replicated at the ends of our chromosomes. It’s an inherent problem because of the way our DNA replicates.
DNA is double stranded. One strand is made first in a long chain, but second strand is made in fragments and they are forked together. With each cell division, a few nucleotides are lost at the very end of the fragment strands. They can’t quite match up. It’s an imperfect peculiarity of the system.
So over time, telomeres wear down, or shorten because DNA can’t be replicated perfectly at the ends of our chromosomes.
If you want to read more about it, here’s a chapter in a book. https://www.intechopen.com/books/the-mechanisms-of-dna-replication/telomere-shortening-mechanisms
I’m not sure if I made this more clear or worse!
All of these tips are so helpful! Thank you for sharing so much information about the science behind why we age and what we can do to slow the process! 🙂
I’m glad you found the tips helpful. You’re welcome! Thank you for stopping by!
Very interesting information! Great to know more about aging and why it happens. Thank you for sharing!!
I’m happy that you found the post interesting. Thank you.
This is such great information! I am always looking for ways to slow down the aging process. Thanks so much for sharing!
I am, too, which is exactly why I decided to research! Thank you!
I found it fascinating to read about the science behind aging. You’ve mentioned so many helpful tips within this post too.
Fascinating? Fantastic! Kidding aside, I’m glad you found the tips actionable and helpful. Thank you so much.
Thanks for the post. I will incorporate more of these foods into my diet, and cut back on alcohol, although I do enjoy an good martini!
I enjoy martinis, too! Maybe just one…! Thanks.
I am all for anti aging tips. I currently workout and do a lot of skincare to help with anti aging also when I go out I try to always wear sunscreen. It was great to read about the science of aging.
It sounds as if you’re doing everything you can to keep yourself young! Hurrah. Glad you liked my post. Thanks!
I always love your posts, Sue, they are SO in depth! I do take a fish oils supplement every day and have done for years. I also try and cut out as much sugar and processed food as possible but exercise is such a chore, I hate it! 🙂
I’m with you, I absolutely cannot run. I started taking fish oil last year. In fact, I ought to write that on my shopping list! Thanks for the reminder. And thanks for stopping by. It’s always great to see you in my comments, Lisa!
All these tips are really helpful. Thank you for sharing Xo
Elle – ellegracedeveson.com
And thank you for reading them!
I absolutely love blogs like this where I get to learn something new after reading. This was well written and researched. It’s very important have a self care
Oh, I agree! Self care is something I’ve not taken seriously enough. My posts help remind me to take my fish oil, not just feed one to Louie! I’m happy you picked up a few fun facts! Thanks so much.
Wow, this was so informative – thank you so much for sharing! I’d never heard of a lot of the science behind ageing; your tips are super helpful! My parents always swear by fish pil supplements – maybe I should start taking them!
Kudos to your parents! Maybe you should steal their bottle?! I’m happy that you found my post informative! Thanks.
I love this post! At first I thought it would be more about looking older so was so happy to see its more about how our bodies age. I need to get some fish oil!
Corinne x
I should have made an arrangement with a fish oil company before I published this post! HA. I’m glad I didn’t disappoint you. Thanks!
I always feel like your blogs are the best ever, but this one truly is. You are a science writing genius.
I am gratified and honored that you like my posts and find them valuable! Thank you so much, Eva!
This is really interesting. We had no idea about the science of the aging process.
Fantastic! I love that you’ve picked up a few facts. Thanks so much.
I’ve never really thought about the aging process in this much depth before. Ita really interesting learning the science of it. I never realised it would be a kamikaze effect so that was interesting to learn. Thank you for sharing so much information and tips on how to slow the process, my gran swears by fish oil, takes a pill every morning!
It is interesting to me too, because it’s nice to know the why behind so much advice out there. Your gran is one smart lady! Thanks so much.
Such as interesting post, thank you for explaining the science and of course the advice – I love that I’ve walked away with a few facts 🙂
I love that you’ve walked away with a few facts, too! Thank you, Sarah!
I loved that you also included the podcast in here. I much prefer audio material 🙂 Also, I highly, highly appreciate the time you put into explaining everything from a scientific point of view. I find it so important to actually understand the processes that are behind what we see, from how we lose/gain weight, skin elasticity, aging… it also makes you less gullible in face of all the marketing going on today. So thank you for this post!
Interesting about your preference for audio material. I am a big fan of podcasts while I’m driving or walking. I’m all for moisturizers and taking protein, but yes, you hit on one of my objectives. If we’re armed with information, we can make better choices purchasing skin products or protein powders, collagen, and the like! Thank you so much.
Wow, this is so informative. Even as I know how aging occurs, I learned something new in this post. Very interesting post.
I’m happy that I could provide a little extra information for you. Thank you for stopping by!
Very interesting read Sue! I already eat quite healthy but sticking to it is easier when I know why I am actually doing it. Keep up the good work!
I’m happy to hear that you’re already taking care with your diet! Hurrah! Thanks so much, Jenni.
Ha! I give my dog half of a Glucosamine/Chondroitin but I’ll have to ask my vet about Fish oil. She’s showing her age lately.
I appreciate the tips, Sue. I feel younger already.
You look quite young, Amy! Let me know what your vet says about fish oil! Thanks!
Wonderful post! Here I want to add one more thing: ”We are what we eat”! I am around my 30-ties and I believe it’s the best time to start thinking about aging process and how maximaly avoid it and live healthier. But after reading your mega interesting post I can say one – I am on the right way! 🙂 I just need to start drinking fish oil!
Ha! What a good suggestion. A round of fish oil for all! Thanks, Sandra.
Wow, I never learnt about any of this in science! Whilst some of this definitely went over my head a bit, it was super interesting. And those are some great tips to slow aging too!
I’m glad you found this post interesting! Thank you, Jenny!
Ok. I suck at technology and gadgets, but bioscience I know. No other reason to leave long comments at yours. Though last one didn’t reach. Great and fun post. Also was relatable to my content so enjoyed it a lot! Telemetry was really good jnfo. Great one as always. Xx
Isa A. Blogger
https://bit.ly/39f9FN0
I’m sure that’s not true about you and technology! I’m glad you found this information valuable! Thanks so much.
It was so intersting to read! Thank you for raising such an important subject.
I’m happy that you found my post a timely topic & an interesting read! Thank you for stopping by!
Regular moderate exercise can also make a difference in the fight against aging. Such a thing as swimming is suitable even for people with sore joints or injuries. And generally, swimming is one of the most effective options, as it benefits not only physical but also mental health. And swimming in salt water also improves the skin. Moreover, salt water is not necessarily water in the sea but saltwater pools.
I’ve seen a growing trend of saltwater pools! I love that salt water is natural. No chlorine to dry out the skin, either! You can’t beat swimming for sore joints or to aid w/ injuries. Thank you for pointing this out.