Prevention would create doc surplus
NATURAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS: Optimal activity, nutrition delay the aging process
Posted By DR. STUART KINSINGER
Posted 2 months ago
Very few of us really want to grow old. Some go to great lengths to delay the aging process and it's not always pretty. (Think of aging television stars who have visited their plastic surgeons too frequently.)
New research suggests that an active lifestyle and optimal nutrition delay the aging process.
Last year a study was published on the value of exercise in maintaining youthful muscles, ligaments and tendons even as we grow into middle and senior years. Our DNA can actually be changed for the better according to this study.
A previous study in the early 1990s answered the question as to whether exercise could prevent osteoporosis. It does and there have been many more since then.
What caught my attention was that the researchers had women in their 80s volunteer to go into the gym and lift weights. If you can't quite get that picture in your head, then visit one of our local fitness centres and observe that those working out come in all sizes and ages.
The results of that study proved that bone density increased with exercise. We now know that with proper nutrition exercise builds bone and a sedentary lifestyle does not automatically have to occur with reaching the age of 60, 70 or 80. But seniors who intentionally choose to give up activities and live a sedentary life age very quickly.
The message is not to pursue a self fulfilling prophecy. If 80 year old ladies can do it, then anybody can.
It's commonly believed that if you have a cancer gene, you will automatically get cancer, because it's in your DNA. We now know that even this is not automatic as we can make choices that greatly reduce that chance.
Our DNA can be damaged by environmental toxins, pesticides, radiation, viruses, inflammation, and even stressful thoughts, attitudes and emotions. If we damage the genes that control cell division, cancer can be unleashed. Scientists now tell us that we all have this cancer control protective mechanism built into our DNA.
What is key is that we become healthier by our lifestyle choices which in turn positively affect our DNA.
It's no mystery why cancer rates and other chronic illnesses are increasing. Much of our food is altered by chemical toxins, additives and preservatives that are cancer causing. Most puzzling is why our governments allow this. If we assault our body with these stressors then we impair our body's ability to regulate cell function.
Previous research from McMaster University showed that our genes can be altered by exercise.
Seniors who underwent twice weekly sessions of resistance training in the gym had muscle DNA that was identical to that from adults aged 26 with the subjects only going into the gym twice per week.
Particularly encouraging is that the subjects that volunteered for the research had never gone into the gym before, so it's not like these people were already regulars at the gym.
But here's the take home message.
Our bodies will accommodate to the demands that we place on it. Start an exercise program, however simple, and the body responds positively. We never get too old for the body's wisdom to express itself.
Secondly, our choices directly affect our genetic makeup. We may not be able to change our eye colour or height, but our physiology and function are up for grabs to a great extent.
Reflect for a moment about what our health care system and society at large would look like if even half of us adopted a preventive approach to health, wellness and disease.
Think about it. Among other good things we would have a doctor surplus.
Next week we look at the value of daily work in keeping us young and consider the very real benefits of delaying retirement.
Dr. Stuart Kinsinger writes an evidence based column on natural health and wellness issues. He is associated with Spinewerx, 245 Kent Street West, Lindsay 705-324-8211. Questions or comments are welcomed at kinsinger@sympatico.ca
