Anti Aging/better Healthy Aging
Anti Aging or better Healthy Aging
The best method to extend your life is: Do not artificially shorten it!
Studies from Marzini in 1994 showed that the aging process starts at 20 years old with plus/minus 10 years. The follow up study conducted in 2005 came to the result that the aging process starts now at 16 years old with plus/minus 10 years. So we lost 4 years in our life span in 11 years!
At the moment we have a stagnation in becoming older (Women approx 81 and Men approx 76) due to an artificial environment we live in. We are doing everything that is possible at the moment to reduce our life expectancy: artificial environment, lack of movement and poor nutrition.
Jeanne Louise Calment
(February 21, 1875 - August 4, 1997)
The world's oldest person.
Asked from a journalist what she thinks about becoming old and getting wrinkles she replied "what do you mean: I've only got one wrinkle, and I'm sitting on it!"
Asked about her secret of living so long she quoted: "Laughing a lot, a glass of red wine a day and cooking
and eating lots of extra virgin olive oil".
It is imperative that people think of their health not only in the present, but also in the future. It can definitely mean the difference between a life suffering with constant acute and chronic ailments, or a generally healthy body. Today, more people are becoming aware of the importance nutrition and exercise play and are incorporating it into their daily lifestyle. As Australia moves toward an escalating elderly population, this must be targeted to this age group. General guidelines to improve the general health and wellbeing amongst this target market include limiting the use of table salt, attaining sufficient vitamin D from the sun for healthy bones, remaining active to maintain lean muscle mass, eating foods high in fibre, restricting foods that are low in nutrients and are wasted calories which include soft drinks and lollies and eating nutritious food.
Medications are prevalent amongst the older population and often some prescribed pills counteract the side effects of other pills and it goes around in a vicious cycle. This is where early maintenance of the body may help for the future of these individuals.
As discussed in ‘The importance of Vitamin B12' this vitamin deficiency is very common amongst those aged 60 and over. A healthy lifestyle will hinder the onset of this deficiency which is often misdiagnosed as fatigue and cognitive impairment.
Omega 3 fatty acids also play a role in maintenance against memory loss and cognitive impairment. A daily supplement such as a multivitamin is useful and will benefit the individual.
Disorders of the neural kind such as dementia are most common with this elderly age bracket, yet it is actually possible to decrease the chance of developing such disorders. The guidelines mentioned above will certainly assist the body in staving off unwanted illnesses.
Water is also essential for correct functioning of the body. Many elderly people enjoy a cuppa with their partners or friends but neglect the importance of water itself. A cup of tea is actually a diuretic and will dehydrate the person rather than nourish them.
Regular exercise plays an important role in keeping the brain young. Scientists have shown via a study of rats that are reasonably active that this physical activity results in more hearty brain cells and improved DNA. The exercise the rats performed would translate to roughly a 30 minute daily walk in human terms. It illustrated that the cellular aging of the brain can be decreased with lifelong exercise, as well as reducing by-products of oxidative stress in the brain. This oxidative stress is a contributing factor to become inflicted with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.
Studies have found that the physical and mental decline of the body are partly due to genetic inheritance, but mainly of lifestyle including poor nutrition and lack of activity or exercise which will lead to sickness and ill health. Research conducted at the Human Nutrition Research Centre at Tuffs University by Irwin H. Rosenbury and William Evans has recognised ten biomarkers of aging. These biomarkers are related with continuance of energy and youth and can be utilised to keep track of aging, whether it be a relapse or increase.
The twelve Biomarkers of Aging are:
- 1. Muscle strength
- 2. Body fat percentage
- 3. Lean muscle mass
- 4. Aerobic capacity
- 5. Bone mineral density
- 6. Basal metabolic rate
- 7. Cholesterol/HDL ratio
- 8. Blood pressure
- 9. Blood sugar tolerance
- 10. The body's ability to regulate its internal temperature.
- 11. Resting Pulse
- 12. Body fat distribution
