It’s been proven that a healthy diet will improve your health and help you live longer. However, the latest studies show that certain micronutrients can keep your skin and organs young for much longer time. Nowadays, the process of aging is quite accelerated, mostly because of all the stress, excess sugar consumption, and the amount of toxins in our food, water, and air.
Potassium, Vitamin C, and folate in sufficient amounts will delay cell deterioration due to affecting the length of telomeres.
What Telomeres Are and How They Affect Aging
Telomeres are the endings of our chromosomes, like tiny rubber bands that keep strands together. They help the strands of our DNA information stay in place, as when they move and tangle, they start genetic changes. The key characteristic of telomeres is their length, but unfortunately, they shorten with time.
The cell loss that follows may lead to Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cardiovascular medical conditions, aging, and sooner death. Luckily, it’s possible to help telomere length maintain itself for much longer time by just adjusting your diet accordingly.
Adjusting One’s Diet to Maintain Telomere Length
There are a lot of factors that impact the longevity of a person, but keeping your diet healthy and your daily routine active will definitely give you more time in this world. There is a study by South Korean scientists that was published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics that proves certain micronutrients help keep the length of telomeres.
The research had been going on for whole 10 years, following the eating and lifestyle patterns of almost 2,000 men and women aged 40-69. As a result, vitamin C, folate, and potassium were noticed to have a positive effect on the length of telomeres. However, the researchers have also noted that the positive change was most definite for people under 50 years old.
This means that it’s the best to start adjusting your lifestyle as soon as possible. The scientists say that “earlier consumption” of the mentioned micronutrients will help you delay aging. All these nutrients are mostly in fruit and vegetables that should be a considerable part of your diet if you want to switch to the healthy side.
Sources of Needed Micronutrients
Great sources of folate are:
- Dark leafy greens
- Broccoli
- Corn
- Cauliflower
- Beets
- Lentils, beans, and peas
- Nuts and seeds
- Avocado
Great sources of potassium are:
- Potatoes (especially skin)
- Bananas
- Kiwi
- Apricot
- Meat
- Fish (mostly salmon, cod, sardines)
Great sources of vitamin C are:
- Citrus fruits
- Strawberries
- Cantaloupes
- Mangos
- Blueberries
- Watermelon
Make sure you include all of these into your diet!
