Posts Tagged ‘Aging’

Eating less can INCREASE your longevity

06.19.10

EATING LESS (+ 1 year)

Ever since the 1930’s, results of dietary restriction experiments are always the same – calorie restriction adds years to your life. Eating fewer calories will result in less inflammation in the body as well as allowing the brain to regenerate and repair itself. According to many popular doctors (including Dr. Oz and Dr. Perricone), inflammation is the initial pathway to body aging. During normal aging, a progressive state of inflammation builds in the body, especially in the brain and nervous system.

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Animal studies indicate that eating less often or fasting temporarily can extend your life. You could gain a year in life for every two years spent on a 1,200 to 1,5000 calorie diet. The important factor in a low-calorie diet is focusing on mineral-rich foods and working with a nutritionist who can show you how to get the most nutritional bang for your dietary buck.

Want to improve the quality of your life? Atlanta Nutrition coach Jennifer Hnat can show you how to get started on the road to longevity and your optimal weight!

Lack of sleep can DECREASE your longevity

12.19.09

LACK OF SLEEP (- 5 years)

Good-quality sleep is positively linked to successful aging and longer survival. On the flip side, fragmented sleep patterns tend to be a sign of faster aging and disease.

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Sleep studies prove that disrupted sleep raises levels of cortisol, blood fats, blood pressure, and cholesterol – all very powerful risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Additional effects of sleep deprivation include depression, irritability, decrease in immune function, memory and concentration levels and ability to handle stress.

The American Cancer Society performed a large study in 1950 and found that people who slept for just four or fewer hours a night had the highest death rates – while those who sleep excessively nine to ten hours a night had higher death rates. More recent research has confirmed that people sleeping six to seven hours a night live the longest.