Some recent dietary and eating pattern trends have been shown to have positive benefits on health for many individuals.
The specific trends I am referring to include: low carb diets, intermittent fasting and compressed windows of feeding (such as 8/16 hours: eating during a period of 8 hours and fasting for 16 hours.)
The following article from Natural News highlights some of the recent studies and health benefits of intermittent fasting.
I am sure many of you may have tried intermittent fasting yourselves and have recommended it to your patients: I certainly count myself in with this group, and I have seen some significant health benefits in some patients.
In the article, it highlights a specific study done at Harvard which was published in the journal Cell Metabolism.
Here is one of the key takeaways from the study:
“Manipulating mitochondrial networks inside cells — either by dietary restriction or by genetic manipulation that mimics it — may increase lifespan and promote health, according to new research from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.”
A key focus in my clinical practice when I am working with clients to help them to optimize their health and resolve health issues is putting together for them a program to help them to be able to reverse their Biological Age.
Chronological vs. Biological Age
Chronological age is your age in years.
Biological age, also called physiological or internal age, is a measure of how well or poorly your body is functioning relative to your actual calendar age.
This concept would make sense to most individuals: we have all interacted with individuals who seem to be much younger – or older than their age in years.
We are able to assess Chronological Age via several methods: I use a technology device when I am working in person with clients which provides a comparison between Biological Age and Chronological Age.
In addition to this technology device, there are a couple of lab
tests which provide information related to Biological Age vs. Chronological
Age: a test to assess telomere length and health as well as a test to assess
methylation function.
Telomeres
Telomeres can be described as end caps on chromosomes – a similar concept to
the plastic tips on shoe laces.
As we age and our cells divide multiple times telomeres shorten and the shorter
they get the more prone we are to chronic, degenerative disease.
Our lifestyle choices and situation can also impact on telomere length, for
example eating poor quality food, not sleeping enough, dealing with severe
stress and other factors can all have an impact of shortening telomeres.
Methylation
Methylation is a biochemical process which happens continuously in our
bodies. As we age, our methylation function deteriorates.
A simple explanation of methylation is as follows:
“What is methylation? Without getting too technical, methylation is the
addition of a single carbon and three hydrogen atoms (called a methyl group) to
another molecule. The removal of a methyl group is called demethylation. Think
of billions of little on/off switches inside your body that control everything
from your stress response and how your body makes energy from food, to your
brain chemistry and detoxification. That’s methylation and demethylation”.
Reversing Biological Age has the potential to extend Healthspan:
Healthspan vs. Lifespan
Lifespan is the number of years we live: Healthspan is the duration of
time we live during which we stay healthy – the maintenance of full function as
nearly as possible to the end of life.
Recent medical advances has continuously extended lifespan, however many
individuals spend differing lengths of time towards the ends of their lives
dealing with poor quality of life (such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, physical
challenges that significantly impact on mobility etc.)
Reversing Your Biological Age
If you are interested in finding out how you can reverse your Biological Age
and potentially impact on your Healthspan, reach out to me:
Carnitines are compounds which have a range of benefits which are known and are used by Health Care Practitioners, however there are additional benefits which may not be as well known.
Here are some known benefits of these two compounds:
Atherosclerosis – people with atherosclerosis often have difficulty walking due to lack of blood flow to the legs: although Carnitine does not increase blood flow, it appears to improve the muscle’s ability to function under difficult circumstances
Congestive Heart Failure
Heart Attack – Carnitine may help reduce death rate after a heart attack
