Don't Just Live Longer, Live Better!
Women typically outlive men, but they often face more frailty and chronic diseases as they age. It's now been shown how dietary and lifestyle choices can significantly influence the aging process. The biological foundations of aging, can be address by focusing on telomere dynamics.(1)
The review examines current research, highlighting the power of nutrition to counteract age-related changes, support healthy aging, and maintain vitality and beauty in women. By exploring telomeres—the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes—it reveals how they serve as markers of cellular aging. These markers are potential targets for interventions aimed at enhancing women’s longevity and quality of life.
Reactivate Telomerase
What maintains these telomere caps? An enzyme called telomerase. So, what a better way to counteract the “biological clock” by reactivating telomerase through diet and lifestyle interventions? (2)
Interesting highlights:
Women are born with longer telomeres than men but are more prone to elevated cortisol due to stress, which accelerates telomere shortening.
Activity levels, diet, smoking, and alcohol consumption can all impact telomeres, as well as female dominant health issues, like thyroid disease.
Nutrition can have a positive impact on protecting telomeres, with a Mediterranean-style diet high in omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and polyphenols associated with longer telomeres.
The authors specifically call out blueberries, nuts, green tea, spinach, salmon, avocado, broccoli, pomegranates, turmeric, and dark chocolate as key superfoods that reduce oxidative stress, lower inflammation, and support DNA repair—essential processes for maintaining telomere length.
We may be able to stall the biological aging process and stay stronger, longer with a mindful approach to diet and intentional stress reduction.
Nutritional Support
Take a no-cost personalized nutrition assessment called Meology to determine your best nutrition. Answering the assessment questions takes about 10 minutes, then you will get a report on how best to support your nutritional needs.
Watch Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn describe The Roles of Telomeres and Telomerase
Ref:
Boccardi V, Polom J. Searching for Beauty and Health: Aging in Women, Nutrition, and the Secret in Telomeres. Nutrients. 2024; 16(18):3111 https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16183111
Boccardi V, Paolisso G, Mecocci P. Nutrition and lifestyle in healthy aging: the telomerase challenge. Aging (Albany NY). 2016 Jan;8(1):12-5. doi: 10.18632/aging.100886. PMID: 26826704; PMCID: PMC4761710.
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