There is a new term circulating the longevity community and it is known as accelerated aging. This has to do with your way of life, your lifestyle choices, your state of mind; general well being and what values you live by.
It is clear that when you reach the mandatory age of retirement at sixty five years old, you will not be physically revisiting the age of forty five ever again. Though it is important to understand that the possibility exists to open the chute on the accelerated aging freefall and start looking more youthful as well as turning back the body’s natural countdown.
The lifestyle of many western cultures actually encourages accelerated aging and the United States leads the pack. One can see the results of accelerated aging mirrored in its society. Everywhere you look in America, there are folks who are extremely obese – this though is a trend not restricted to the US population. Actually, if you observe any western countries population you will see grossly overweight people; however, distinct from other societies, in the United States being obese has become a problem of epidemic proportions. Based on the expert data, seventeen percent of United States inhabitants are overweight and eighty percent of the youth who are overweight will mature into obese adults. Shockingly, in America, childhood obesity numbers have increased threefold in the last forty years!
When it comes to accelerated aging, obesity has become public enemy number one. When people gain weight they are adding not only pounds of fat but placing additional stress on every organ in their body which contributes in a huge way to age related diseases and chronic ill health.
The SAD, or Standard American Diet, consists of mainly high fat, high protein and reduced carbohydrates. Americans love their cheese; it is a large part of the diet and also contributes largely to their ingestion of saturated fat. As far as heart health is concerned, saturated fats are a major threat and highly dangerous.
Once Americans see the light and decide they need to reduce their weight, they far too often turn to fad, quick fix dieting in order to alleviate their health concerns. For instance, The Atkins diet is a favorite of many and also a fad diet. It is all about consuming meat and reducing carbohydrates in an attempt to regulate their weight gain. In the end, jumping from one diet trend to another simply hampers a person’s metabolism with the result being the dreaded yo-yo weight fluctuation; causing untold damage and accelerated aging while doing so.
The standard US diet contributes to early aging due to the dearth of fiber which thwarts high cholesterol and also antioxidants which greatly impede the process of aging. Antioxidants are hunters of free radicals, the byproduct of the process of oxidation in the body via breathing and digestive functions. Additionally, the extreme quantities of animal protein found in the average American meal plan is responsible for inflammation and consequently to blame for your soreness and stiff, aching body parts. The saturated fats when oxidized support the development of free radicals intent on annihilating the cells that make up your body. Besides this, reduced carbohydrate diets are commonly lacking in calcium and magnesium which will accelerate bone deterioration eventually causing osteoporosis.
The culture of America’s youth these days hypes smoking as something that is cool. The nicotine in tobacco literally assaults the membranes of your cells and also assails one’s DNA, this results in early cell mortality. When smoking damages your skin formation – and it will over time – this damage will be lasting. Kicking the dreaded tobacco weed needs to be the primary focus when deciding to put the brakes to advancing age.
Much of the US population enjoys imbibing in alcohol. Moderate drinking is fine but too much will result in free radical attacks that will damage vital organs, in particular your liver. Overdoing it with alcohol wreaks havoc on your liver choking it to the point of being useless and unable to do its job of cleaning out or eliminating toxicity from the body. When these contaminants collect within you, the free radicals have their own binge causing ill health that age you far ahead of time.
Sleep is vital to your good health and when you consume too much alcohol, it may make you fall asleep easier but it will also stir you awake as it leaves your system. Within hours you will be tossing and turning, unable to sleep and eventually this could result in prescription sleeping aids. Being sleep deficient will accelerate the advancement of age.
Many in the US enjoy roasting themselves under the sun. Tanning salons across America are doing a booming business despite the warnings from experts about the damage caused by UV rays. Everyone seems to desire the look of celebrity that a tan provides but what happens to the skin is hazardous. Too much sun will result in skin cancers, creased skin and those brown liver spots associated with aging. The damaging sun rays let loose a firestorm of free radical activity that will affect each layer of your skin and cause lines and drooping.
When you are under stress you compromise your immune system and this means you could become vulnerable to numerous illnesses and diseases like cancer, since continuous stress has an adverse influence on the creation of your white blood cells. American culture seems to place an emphasis on fortune and material possessions, the result being many folks require more than one job to keep up with their bills. When stress is allowed to run rampant it can and likely will age you quickly and decrease your life span dramatically.
Admittedly, it is far from easy to live in any civilization and not be affected by its customs and way of life. However, if your desire is to slow the advance of age, look more youthful and have a better quality of health, make the necessary sacrifices and adjustment to your lifestyle. You can begin with these simple tips for increased longevity:
• Take An Early Afternoon Nap
Many people from societies known for their longevity make it a habit to take a “siesta” for a healthy heart. These original afternoon delights are common in Spain and throughout much of the European continent. Incidentally, men is Spain have lower rates of heart disease than their American Brethren. It has been proven in studies that having a short nap in the afternoon will make a noteworthy difference in your blood pressure and reduce the odds of heart disease.
• Include Beans In Your Weight Loss Plan
The perfect diet aid is organic and plant based. When you consume daily servings of legumes you are enhancing our protein intake along with soluble fiber. These are essential elements to losing weight since you will fill the hunger gap for extended periods. Additionally, legumes assist in burning fat while regulating blood sugar levels. Stock up o black beans and kidney beans and make them an indispensable portion of your diet and weight loss program.
• Consume Some Yogurt Each Day
In the mountainous region around Turkey, the Abkhazian populace is famous for their extended life expectancy. They have a secret weapon though – they indulge in quite a bit of fermented kefir on a daily basis; a staple that is comparable to yogurt. Kefir includes a bacterium known as L. acidophilus that is also found in live yogurt culture. L. acidophilus flourishes in the digestive tract and assists in the digestion of our food quite ably while combating unhealthy germs. When significant numbers of L. acidophilus bacterium take up in the digestive system, they aid in maintaining healthy bowel cells making them better able to remove additional nutrients from our ingested food. As we increase in age, this process becomes extremely important.
So, some simple ideas that take no time at all, are low cost or no cost while increasing the odds of your longevity. At the heart of the issue, no one wants to undergo an accelerated aging process. Make a point of focusing on an improved diet, reducing stress in your life and enjoy everything – but in moderation.
Mon, Jun 21, 2010
Anti Aging Theories, Health And Aging, Lifestyle, Longevity