The Natural Path to the Fountain of Youth

   Delayed aging is now a thing of the past and no longer a Sci-Fi movie.  No, I'm not talking about plastic surgery, though I'm not against a little enhancement.  I do know that aging is a process that happens from inside out.  If that is the case, why not start there? Believe it or not it seems that Americans are staying younger longer.  Actually, the pace of aging has slowed down over the past 20 years.  If that is true, why are so many people overweight, sick and look older than they do?  The study may be over zealous, I'm not sure.  What I am sure of is how the body works, and the key to delaying aging.

 

  While genetics may play a role in how fast we age, research now shows behavioral changes also make an impact.  We can control a lot through our diet, exercise and lifestyle.  The current knowledge on how the body functions and what it needs to maintain balance is pretty much all we need.

 

  The number one key to delaying aging is your diet. YES, YOUR DIET!  First, you need to eat.  Many people believe if they eat a diet of 800 calories or less, they will lose weight.  That's true, you will. You also slow down your metabolism, cause stress to your body, lower your immune system and atrophy all your muscles to name a just few effects this drastic a calorie reduction will cause.  Your body begins to age from the inside out.  Second you need to eat all of your macronutrients which include protein, carbohydrates and fats.  

 

   Each one of these has a special job so your body may function correctly.  Protein is the building block of muscles. Carbohydrates are for energy and fats help the body absorb certain vitamins and protect the organs and brain.  These three depend on each other so your body can function correctly.  Both protein and fats should be eaten with carbohydrates to slow down the insulin spike that can happen when you eat carbohydrates alone.  When you eliminate a certain food group your body needs to change it's function that has been programed to work at its optimal best.  We think we know better than our bodies, and when we make unhealthy choices or eliminate a food group our body goes into stress mode.

 

  Let's talk telomeres, shall we?  They are the protein caps of our 23 pairs of chromosomes.  These endings impact how we age.  The longer they are the younger we are.  As we age, they get shorter, but we have it in our power to keep them long and even repair them.  Our diet is one major way to control the shortening of these telomers.  Eating foods high in Omega-3 fatty acids will reduce the damaging oxidative stress that can cause damage.  These compounds are found in salmon, mackerel, seabass, oysters, seaweed, chia seeds and hemp seeds are a few.  Lowering foods in omega-6 fatty acids will help also.  Foods like grapeseed, corn, and sesame oils will cause you inflammation throughout your body which is a big contributor to aging.  Eating dark green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale and broccoli will extend these telomers as well.  And of course, drinking water has always been the elixir of the fountain of youth.

 

  Keeping stress off the body is key.  When the body works harder than it needs to, it gets old.  What we eat and how many times we eat can help.  Eating between certain hours like 8-10 hours then fasting for 14-16 hours is called Intermittent fasting.  Research suggests that this approach may have insulin-sensitizing and antiaging benefits.  Some may go to an extreme with this.  For me eating my meals between a 8-10 hour window with my macronutrients divided between 4-5 meals has helped my autoimmune disease, joint pain, digestive issues, menopause, helped me develop clearer and tighter skin, and helped me get great sleep among other benefits. I have just as much energy as I did in my 20's and 30's.  I give my body a rest from digesting foods and it gives me back my youth.

 

  Exercise is the closest thing we have to the fountain of youth so far.  Working out reduces oxidative stress and inflammation, two factors that age cells and shorten telomeres.  Exercise rebuilds muscle and makes the body and mind operate more efficiently.  Strength and endurance training also improves your body's insulin response.  Muscle stores about 80 percent of the sugar you consume through foods.  When you train with weights, you make your muscles more effective at absorbing the sugar from your blood so your body requires less insulin.  30-45 minutes of weight training and cardio 3-4x a week is all you need.

 

  Lastly, how we deal with stress can be a game-changer when it comes to helping you keep your youth. Meditation is one way to protect yourself from stress.  Some people who meditate daily for even 15 minutes have been shown to reduce their stress levels up to 50 percent.  It sounds daunting, believe me.  At the start, I only can calm my mind for about 2 minutes with one bathroom break lol.  Now I do at least 15 min and it has relaxed my body and mind.  Meditation gives me both energy during the day and the best sleep at night.

 

  We can all find outside influences that promise us a youthful body forever, but at what price and side effects.  Utilize these simple basic ways to keep the body young from the inside out.  There are those individuals living in the Blue Zones around the world that follow these exact recommendations. Take a look at how they are among the healthiest people on the planet, and to our knowledge, there are only 5 Blue Zones on earth.  If you take care of your body, it will take care of you for years on end.  

 

  If you have any questions on this blog or any health questions, feel free to contact me at my office, 631-979-8508.

 

 

Stay Happy, Stay Healthy, and LIVLIFE.