Delaying signs of ageing

Latest research into maintaining youthful looks points in the direction of our DNA. According to expert opinion, exercising our DNA enables us to stay younger, longer. They maintain that the strands of DNA in our bodies are protected by telomeres, which work like plastic ends on shoelaces, slowing down their wear and tear.

Telomeres play in important role in protecting our chromosomes from critical damage.

The shortening of the telomere disrupts vital cellular function and promotes the previously seemingly inevitable onset of aging and various diseases, including cancer and Alzheimer’s.

Britain’s widely read newspaper Daily Mail quoted Dr Dave Woynarowski, Chief Medical Education Officer of T A Sciences, on the research that confirms telomeres can slow down and protect the strands of DNA, which in turn reduces the risk of age related diseases.

He describes ageing as a disease, “As yet we can’t cure it, but we can already slow it down far more dramatically than most people realise,” he told the newspaper. Factors such as fast food, stress, lack of exercise and generally a faster paced life have all been linked to accelerating the ageing process. However including certain vitamins and minerals in the diet, such as Omerga-3 is said to slow this process down. Dr Dave Woynarowski goes on to suggest that the Omega-3 found in fish oil can help protect against cellular ageing by slowing down the rate at which these telomeres shorten.

The research indicated that higher levels of Omega-3 shielded the DNA contained within the telomeres, helping protect against inflammation and other ageing processes.

- Nayomini Ratnayake Weerasooriya