It's been said that there are two certainties in life-death and taxes.I'll add another one onto that.AGING!Time marches on for all of us, and eventually our bodies show the effects of getting older.But the good news is you can help S L O W down the aging process and encourage better physical health as well as a more youthful appearance!Let's take a look at what aging really is, and how you can help turn back the biological clock.So what exactly is aging?In order to understand how you age, we need to peek inside your cells.Inside the center (nucleus) of your cells, your genes sit on twisted strands of DNA called chromosomes. At the ends of your chromosomes are stretches of DNA called "telomeres."Telomeres protect your genetic code and make it possible for your cells to divide. Cell division is needed so you can grow new skin, blood, bone and other cells.Telomeres are like the plastic tips on your shoelaces. They prevent the ends of your chromosomes from fraying and sticking to each other, which can, in turn, mix up your genetic information and lead to cancer, other diseases or death.But unfortunately, nothing lasts forever and that includes your telomeres.Every time one of your cells divides, the telomeres get shorter and shorter. When they eventually get too short, the cell no longer can divide and it becomes inactive or dies.As this process continues over time, you begin looking and feeling older and older.Factors that speed up the aging processAlthough telomeres shorten over time and nothing can be done to completely stop this, there are certain factors that can accelerate the aging process.Number one is a poor diet--especially eating foods with trans fats, vegetable oils, sugar and refined carbs. All of these substances trigger inflammation in your cells, which promotes disease and can make you look FAR older than your years.Stress is another major ager. Chronic stress causes the repeated release of the hormone cortisol which can harm your gut flora, weaken your immune system and damage your cells.Environmental and household toxins cause inflammation in your cells, stress your liver and kidneys, and can put you on a path of disease and aging.Decreased levels of hormones also play a big part. Hormones impact every major organ and system in your body, so when your hormone levels diminish, you can feel the effects from head to toe.Fight back...and WIN!Now that you know how aging occurs and many of the factors that can make it that much sooner that Boy Scouts will offer to help you cross the street now is the time to SLOW down that aging process!Here are six very effective strategies than can help:1) De-stressThere are many ways to help de-stress: Meditation, exercise, yoga, counseling, deep breathing, prayer, and acupuncture, to name a few. Pick what feels right to you and help get rid of that stress.Also, help your gut microbiome recover from the harmful effects of stress with a full-spectrum probiotic supplement. 2) De-toxAvoid common sources of household and environmental toxins like unfiltered tap water, bug sprays, weed killers, cigarette smoke, and medications as much as you can.Start by using a filter for your tap water and avoid lawn and pest chemicals.Buy organic produce whenever you can. Shop local farmer's markets or participate in community supported agriculture (CSA) programs.If you smoke, please stop now.Lastly, if you're on any medications, talk to your doctor about alternatives, decreasing your dose or getting off them altogether.3) Eat real foodsThe best way to avoid age-accelerating trans-fats, hydrogenated oils, refined carbs and sugar overload is to eat REAL foods.Real foods include fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, poultry and fish, whole grains, legumes, nuts, dairy, eggs and healthy fats.Also, pair the right foods together for better digestion-avoid the protein and starch combination in your meals, as it's very taxing on your system and can practically guarantee gas and heartburn. Instead pair proteins OR starches with vegetables.4) Get regular exerciseRegular exercise is an anti-aging MUST.It helps your body eliminate age-accelerating toxins, it increases your heart strength, helps improve digestion, promotes better sleep, helps lower blood pressure, helps you maintain a healthy body weight and by strengthening the muscles surrounding your joints, it can decrease the symptoms of arthritis!Pick an activity that works for you, get your doctor's OK and get moving.5) Consider bio-identical hormone replacement therapyUnlike synthetic hormone replacement, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy works to help naturally reestablish the way your body sends messages to your tissues and organs to keep them healthy...and helps keep you feeling younger!6) Supplement with Omega-3 essential fatty acidsStudies are showing that the Omega-3 essential fatty acids EPA and DHA can play a crucial role in slowing down the telomere action associated with the aging process.So if you want to jump on the bandwagon to help preserve the youth of your cells, as well as help lower cholesterol, experience fewer joint aches and improve your memory (among other things), a top-notch fish oil supplement can help ensure you get what you need.Time marches on and we are all going to age. That is a certainty.But as you can see from the information above, there's so much you can do to help slow the aging process internally and keep feeling great well into your golden years!
