While ageing is inevitable, there’s much we can do to preserve our youth and lengthen our ‘health-span’ as well as lifespan. This is something people living in the so-called ‘Blue Zones’ have mastered, with many living free of disease into their nineties and beyond. What’s their secret? As they sip red wine and snack on fresh fruit and vegetables, they’re unknowingly consuming youth-promoting plant chemicals known as polyphenols. These activate sirtuins – also known as our ‘longevity gene’ – and antioxidants which cool inflammation and promote healthy ageing. Let’s take a closer look at how we can mimic their lifestyle.
Activate your longevity gene
Sirtuins are a family of seven special proteins that have been associated with longevity, as they help counteract five key hallmarks of ageing: brain cell deterioration, chronic inflammation, metabolic syndrome, DNA damage and cancer incidence. One way they do this is by promoting cell homeostasis. In simple terms, this means they help our cells stay strong and balanced, even when under stress. In the brain, sirtuins may also help to protect cells from damage and preserve memory. Research suggests sirtuins help to regulate our glucose and fat metabolism. For this reason, we might notice improvements in our energy levels when we take steps to activate our sirtuins.
One way to activate our ‘longevity gene’ is to eat plenty of polyphenols (found in berries, herbs and spices, chocolate, nuts and seeds, vegetables, extra virgin olive oil, coffee and tea). Calorie restriction and regular exercise also appear to have a positive effect on sirtuin activity. And cold and heat exposure (cold water swimming or sauna, for example) can give our longevity gene a boost.
But, with busy lifestyles, we don’t always have time to squeeze in a freezing cold shower, extended fast and polyphenol-packed meals. It can also be difficult to tell the quality or quantity of polyphenols in the foods we eat. This is where Youth & Earth’s Preservage supplement can help. It’s been expertly formulated with a selection of all-natural ingredients
