Aging: the long road to longevity

Calorie restriction (see diet and aging)

A diet characterized by a moderate caloric intake, slightly lower than the needs, is able to prolong the life of laboratory animals.
Currently it is believed that the maximum life expectancy for humans is about 120 years. According to the historical documentation available, no man has ever lived more than 124 years. But like any self-respecting record, scientists expect that this limit is soon overthrown, thanks to the contribution of the therapies undertaken in the second and third path that leads to longevity.

For the moment, calorie restriction appears to be one of the most effective strategies for living long. In animal experimentation, thanks to this dietary approach, researchers have been able to extend the average life of the guinea pigs, also recording increases of more than 50 and 100%.

In David Sinclair's experiments on yeasts, calorie restriction was shown to activate a gene called SIRT1. This gene sequence encodes the enzyme SrT1 deacetylase, which stabilizes DNA by extending the lifespan. This ability has also been attributed to polyphenols, antioxidant substances that in some experiments have increased the longevity of yeasts by 70%. A powerful polyphenol, called resveratrol, it is contained in red wine.

Calorie reduction has also been shown to be effective in extending the life of many animal species tested in the laboratory. For humans, however, experimental data are not yet available but the positive effects of caloric restriction have been empirically demonstrated by different populations. A famous saying of the inhabitants of the Japanese island of Okinawa is "" hara Hachi bu "", which means literally "belly 80% full".According to this maxim, it is recommended to eat about 80% of the food needed to feel full. It is simply a question of getting up from the table when you are still a little hungry. The average caloric intake of an adult Okinawan is 1,800 calories, compared to 2,500 for the average American. And the choice of calorie restriction seems to bear fruit, since the average life span of these people is reduced as soon as they move permanently to the United States and adopt typical Western habits.

Additional effective lifestyle choices to combat aging

The Japanese way of life takes advantage of healthy habits, at least as far as food is concerned. Although many inhabitants of the Rising Sun smoke and lead lives full of stressful events, in the last 5 years the number of Japanese who have passed the age of 100 This boom is believed to be due to the precious combination of growing health care and a traditionally sober and balanced diet.
The Japanese situation becomes even more idyllic when compared with the American one, where the lifestyle is not as healthy, especially as regards dietary habits. It is therefore no coincidence that the main cause of death in the United States is linked precisely to wrongful life behaviors. Half of the deaths that occur each year in this country are the result of incorrect behavioral choices, among which the smoking habit (18.1%) stands out, followed by poor diet associated with a sedentary lifestyle (16.6%).
Those who want to stay longer and healthier on this earth should exercise regularly for at least 30 minutes 4 times a week. In particular, the most suitable form of movement for this purpose is "aerobic activity, that is an endurance sports discipline carried out at a heart rate equal to 60-80% of the maximum frequency. This last figure is obtained simply by subtracting one's own from 220. age. If you do not have a heart rate monitor, to stay within the recommended heart rate range, it is sufficient to maintain a moderate "intensity of work, which allows you to talk to your training partner, real or imaginary, without too much trouble.
In addition to getting out of a sedentary lifestyle and improving one's eating habits, it is important to enrich the diet with specific dietary supplements to combat aging. Never as in recent years, in fact, the food that reaches our tables has been so poor in vitamins and other micronutrients essential for our well-being. Due to the industrial processing methods, which subtract nutrients from the products of nature, and to a reduced consumption of vegetables, it is increasingly difficult to meet the needs of micronutrients without drawing on the colorful set of dietary supplements. By relying on these products we can mitigate the triggering of ancestral genes programmed to get us out of games due to reduced food availability. On the other hand, similar to what happens with calorie restriction, we can keep the genes of youth alive longer.

The long stretch of the first road to be traveled independently therefore has the purpose of reprogramming the biochemistry of our body, through dietary supplementation and the adoption of a healthier lifestyle, made up of conscious and rational food choices and behaviors.