01 Jun 2015 Your Genes and The Mediterranean Style Diet
Can your diet affect your genes? More specifically, can it affect the way you age? It turns out the Mediterranean-Style Diet can do just that.
Telomeres are small protective caps at the ends of our chromosomes (genetic material) which protect our genetic information from being damaged. As we age, telomeres get shorter. This can eventually lead to a signal to the cell to stop dividing and die. Telomeres are thought to be a reliable marker of aging of our cells and short telomeres are linked with a number of diseases such as heart disease and many types of cancers.
We can’t stop ourselves from getting older but the good news is that we can slow down cellular aging through a variety of dietary and lifestyle changes many of which are mentioned in our Wellness Program.
The Science:
New research published in the prestigious British Medical Journal this month looked at the diets and telomere lengths of thousands of nurses. The findings suggest that eating a Mediterranean style diet is associated with healthier, longer telomeres. This diet is also associated with multiple health benefits including reductions in the rates of heart disease, stroke, metabolic syndrome, and death from heart disease, and reductions in deaths from cancer and overall mortality.
Our Recommendation:
The Mediterranean style diet has the following attributes:
– High in produce,
– High in healthy fats (such as those found in olive oil and nuts)
– Includes legumes and unrefined grains
– Includes fermented dairy (such as yogurt and naturally aged cheeses)
– High in fish
– Low in animal fats (such as red meat and butter)
– Low in sweets.
– Includes moderate amounts of red wine.
Add years to your life and life to your years. Start with some small and sustainable dietary changes today!
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To learn more about our Holistic Wellness Programs, please visit our website at www.thewilltochange.com
