What Causes Aging
Just what causes aging? Ever since time began we have been searching for that ever elusive fountain of youth. With age our bodies change right from deep within our cells which of course leads to changes in our entire body systems.The change is slow, however the changes are inevitable. Each one of us is different so the decline of cellular function from person to person is not the same. Only now are scientists and researchers beginning to understand the varying changes in our environments as to what causes aging and also the genetic factors which play their part. The really obvious signs of aging are extra weight around the middle, lines on the face and greying hair. Then there are the changes that are happening that you don't see ie. loss of bone density and less resilliant blood vessels. These changes are happening to us whether we are aware of them or not and they do affect our overall wellbeing and our overall health. There is good news though, with deeper knowledge and understanding of how our body changes with age we can reduce the changes and also stop some of the conditions and diseases that are all to familiar with our advancing years. Diseases That Increase With Growing Age
Physicians and health care professionals discussed research based on what causes aging that was published in 1981 about the susceptability to disease that increase with growing age. This research has often pointed to these negative effects as being related to the continual free radical reactions which are at work continually in the body's cells and tissues.
It is this oxidation process (we basically are rusting biologically) where upon dietry manipulations can lower the rate of free radical damage which will in turn increase lifespan, arrest development of some forms of cancer and enhance cellular immune responses. This all adds up to a longer lifespan with healthier results. Current research has shown that it is not unreasonable to expect that the current life-span can be increased by five to ten more years by keeping our body weight at normal levels and by ingesting essential nutrients to minimize free radical reactions in the body. As minor as these changes are they can significantly alter the lifespan of an individual and increase his/her ability to enjoy that life and to mimimize the effects of what causes aging. As We Age What Changes Occur In The Body?
Some of the functional changes which occur in a person's body as they age begin in the cardiovascular system. The heart is forced to pump harder to get the same amount of blood through the body and the blood vessels become less elastic.
People may notice that they become shorter as the skeletal system bone size and density shrinks. As we age our digestive tract and the motions of swallowing that moves through our intestines slows down quite significantly. Maintaining that healthy weight also becomes more of a challenge as our metabolism slows down and we burn fewer calories. It seems very sad that society values youth more than age and wisdom and because of this conditioning people are seeking ways in which they can reduce these changes as they age. It cannot be ignored that other factors such as an overall healthy lifestyle, good solid nutrition, vitamin supplementation with those which fight free radicals(antioxidants), a good eight hours of sleep per night and a reduction in the amount of stress in your life. However there are some people who are looking for that quick pill or easy fix. Researchers have found that the human growth hormone has been indicated in slowing down the aging process however this has not got rid of the fact that there are risks involved with taking human grown hormone at a time of life when the body was not designed to use it. Studies of healthy adults taking human growth hormone are limited and although it can increase muscle mass and reduce body fat, researchers have found that strength training is a much cheaper and more effective way to increase muscle mass and strength. The truth of the matter is, we all age and we all will age. And, while we may want to slow the process, it is more important to enjoy the life we have by looking after the body we have been given.
Antioxidants And The Aging Process Anti Aging Foods Return To What Causes Aging Top
|
