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There is a disease that every single human has, and it starts when we’re born.
It is unavoidable, and there is no cure.
It’s called: aging!
It’s not morbid, but rather a simple fact of life that we don’t live forever. However, this is not as simple as cosmetic aging like gray hair and wrinkles.
In fact, other diseases like heart disease and especially neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease are secondary conditions to aging. There are even recent studies that indicate the rate at which individuals went through puberty could actually be a predictor of lifespan. So if you were a “late bloomer,” you might be in for a longer life!
Lifestyle Factors That Accelerate Aging
Based on current research, there are certain lifestyle factors that accelerate aging:
- Constantly being in a fed-state (grazing on food all day)
- Excess sun exposure
- Environmental conditions like air pollution and overall toxic load
- Chronic lack of sleep
- Chronically elevated cortisol levels
- Smoking
- Eating less than the RDA of protein (which is 0.8g per kilogram of body weight)
- Sedentary lifestyle, especially devoid of resistance training
- Excess alcohol intake
- Excess caloric intake
- Excess body fat
- Diets high in refined, ultra-processed foods and devoid of fruits and vegetables
These factors cause DNA damage (pro tip: protein is crucial for DNA repair), where cells lose their ability to function or begin to function abnormally over time.
DNA is the molecule that carries instructions for nearly every cell in our bodies. If that “blueprint” is damaged, we also see (over a long period of time) dysfunction of hormones, immunity, bones, muscles, joints, the reproductive system (menopause, for example), the heart and other organs, and so on.
Emerging Research on Longevity
Research is still evolving in the area of “anti-aging.” Other things being examined for human longevity include:
- The gut microbiome, since it is deeply involved in nutrient uptake and lipid metabolism
- Intermittent fasting
- Cold exposure
- …and more.
How to Enhance Your Lifespan and Quality of Life
By maintaining healthy lifestyle habits:
- Exercise regularly and include weight training
- Eat a well-balanced diet of nutrient-dense, whole foods and protein
- Get enough quality sleep
- Manage your stress
- Wear SPF
- Don’t smoke
- Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all
Cheers to a long, capable life!
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