Aging is a process of gradual maturation. Biologically speaking, senescence is the process by which the capacity for cell division and the capacity for growth and function are lost over time, ultimately leading to death. Aging is thought to have the positive component of development (for example, increased wisdom, experience, and expertise) and the negative component of decline. People fear decline and go to any extend to prevent or reverse aging!
The changes that occur with aging can be categorized as those that result from aging itself and those that result from diseases, lifestyle, and exposures. Normal aging is sometimes used to refer to changes attributed to aging itself. Usual aging (sometimes also but confusingly referred to as normal aging) refers to the common complex of diseases and impairments that occur in many elderly people.
Successful or healthy aging refers to a process by which deleterious effects are minimized, preserving function until senescence makes continued life impossible. People who age successfully avoid experiencing many of the undesirable features of aging and, whether they have a disease or not, remain functional both physically and mentally.
There are many factors that affect longevity and aging process. Heredity affects longevity mainly by influencing whether a person will contract a disease. Family history of hypercholesterolemia is likely to result in a short life, whereas inheriting genes that protect against coronary artery disease and cancer helps ensure a long life. Medical treatment contributes to increased survival after diseases are contracted, especially when diseases (eg, infectious diseases, some cancers) are curable. Another important influence on longevity is lifestyle that complements healthy living. Not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight and diet, and exercising appropriately help people avoid disease.
Diet and Nutrition are the two very important components of lifestyle that can have profound effect on the aging process and its effects on an individual’s health.
Variety of Nutrition for fighting the battle:
People of all ages need more than 40 nutrients to stay healthy.With age, it becomes more important that diets comprise of health foods and contain enough calcium, fiber, iron, protein, and the vitamins A, C, D and Folacin. Reduce calories, select nutrient-dense foods, and enjoy smaller portions of foods high in fat, sugar and sodium. Because no one health food or pill provides all of the nutrients, eat a variety of foods to get the full spectrum of nutrients.
Nutrition Arsenal – a Lifestlyle:rnOur dietary choices are as necessary as using sunscreen, getting exercise and other preventive anti-aging strategies. Dietary choices fall into the category of lifestyle elements and hence their impact is powerful and continual in maintaining good health and nutrition. Nutrition Scientists at the world’s premier research organizations now talk of using diet as an armory against most of the diseases, which essentially means that it needs to be best if you intend to defeat the enemy (that is aging and the associated diseases)!
The Nutritional Arsenal, as it is called should have the following::
* Limit the intakes of fats and sugar. Reduce any food choices that are higher than 30 percent fat content. Items such as lard, animal shortening, oil, butterfat, whole-milk solids, shortenings and margarine are fats and should be avoided or consumed judiciously.
* The best anti-aging foods are minimally processed fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and non-fat skim milk.
* Focus on eating complex carbohydrates, rather than fast-digesting carbohydrate foods like rice, wheat, bread and pasts that increase the blood sugar level and also lead to weight gain.
* Avoid underground vegetables like potato, yam and carrot as they have been reported to cause sugar imbalance. Instead, go for above ground veggies, as they have antioxidant properties.
* Drink plenty of water, at least 10 – 12 glasses per day.
* Consume fresh fruit instead of canned fruits and fruit juices, which are high on their sugar
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good health and nutrition plan should be the priority and not the last thing as many people think it to be. Diet should be given the status of the body armor when preparing to fight against diseases and prepare for healthy aging.
While investing in expensive treatments like creams and botox has become the order ofthe day, it is wise to give a serious thought to nutrition and health foods as the anti-aging strategy.rnSay No to cosmetic repairs!rnAlthough medical science has made tremendous progress, good health, strength and longevity depend primarily on healthy living and good nutrition and not drugs.
The healthy lifestyle
There is no doubt that nutrition is the key to strong body, looking good and living a long life. Super Nutrition, is the one that comprises of balanced diet, which offers complete essential nutrients in proper proportions and quantities, especially vitamins and minerals. The final step in the battle against aging is to keep the body moving, flexible and energized. Avoid living a sedentary lifestyle and move your body frequently, but be careful not to overdo it to yourself to the point that it causes injury. Avoid alcohol and smoking. Youthful and healthy living is chosen lifestyle, it’s something you decide you want, and it’s something you decide you want to do. Only you can make the choice to live healthy and eat healthy and help your body to be, as you want it to be.