Epigenetics and Why You Shouldn't Wait to Implement These Anti-Aging Strategies

For centuries, people have been searching for the famed Fountain of Youth in their attempt to seek the ultimate anti-aging method when all they had to do was look within (epigenetics). Explorer Juan Ponce de Leon was said to have been searching for it when he discovered Florida in the 16th century. It is quite ironic that Florida is a large retirement destination for many Americans today.

Scientists have been studying the relationship between epigenetics and anti-aging for some time now. Epigenetics is the study of how our genes express themselves. We can turn our genes off or on, related to our inherited individual risks, depending upon outside influences such as diet and lifestyle.

Stress Reduction

There are strategies that you can put in place right now to extend your health and your life. One of them is stress reduction. Arguably one of the most important in youth span extension since stress effects cortisol and blood pressure levels. Getting adequate sleep, exercises like yoga, humor, vacations, massage and simply downsizing your life can all be implemented to reduce stress levels.

The Role of Nutrigenomics

Another important plan to extend your life is eating right for your genome or nutrigenomics. Scientists say we are a few years away from getting precise individual eating plans from DNA tests; however, by applying sound nutritional recommendations, we can literally turn off our bad genes and activate the good ones. Tests show that in as little as three months, even cancer can be reversed in our bodies.

Tumeric, cinnamon, green tea, replacing sugar with stevia, berries, and dark chocolate are all foods we should consider eating on a regular basis.

Hara Hachi Bu for You

Caloric restriction studies have been done inadvertently on people throughout history who have undergone famines or famine-type situations. Other research done on worms, flies and mice show that diets providing adequate nutrition but limiting caloric intake increases life expectancy and decreases diseases unique to aging.

The people of Okinawa, an island in Japan, practice Hara Hachi Bu or eating till your 80% full. They live seven years longer than their American counterparts on average and are more physically active well throughout their senior years.

Amino Acid Supplements

Emerging research shows that certain kinds of amino acids, known as branched-chain amino acids have anti-aging properties. They include isoleucine, leucine, and valine. Taking these in supplement form is better for the body to process than eating protein because the body would not have to digest it first and it would enter the bloodstream immediately.

How Healthy is Red Wine?

It is unclear how healthy or unhealthy red wine is and how much one should drink. What is clear is that resveratrol extends the healthy lifespan of obese mice. Resveratrol is a compound found in red wine. What was really fascinating was the resveratrol actually reversed the negative effects of a poor diet on these mice. They did not lose weight but their liver, hearts, motor skills, and insulin sensitivity was just as good as their healthy counterpart mice that were fed a healthy diet.

Since testing has not been done on humans, we have recommendations as to how much to take, but a glass of red wine now and then is a great way to implement this compound into a healthy diet.

If you want to implement more anti-aging strategies into your life, the study of epigenetics will show you how. Please visit http://www.EpigeneticsAndNutrition.com for more information.

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