Natural nutrients and diet lower risk of disease and extend healthy lifespan

Wednesday, May 04, 2011 by: John Phillip
Tags: nutrients, lifespan, health news

(NewsTarget) Would you adopt a nutrient-rich calorie restricted diet if it meant you could experience a three-fold reduction in mortality from age-related diseases and possibly add 5 to 10 healthy years onto your life? Calorie Restriction is the most powerful lifestyle adaptation known to improve all key biomarkers of degenerative aging and to extend lifespan. A reduction in daily calories of 20 to 30% is necessary to achieve the benefits that have been shown to reverse aging, yet many people are unable to lower calories. Fortunately you can make small changes to your diet and unleash the power of natural nutrients that mimic the effects of calorie restriction.

Calorie Restriction Slows the Aging Process
Genes are in control of all of the critical biological processes that we use to process food into energy. Eating significantly more food than we need to fuel our metabolism sends a signal to our genes that initiates many of the diseases of aging we fear most. Research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that reducing calories by around a quarter causes our survival genes to activate. Metabolic processes that promote heart disease, cancer, diabetes and dementia are slowed or reversed in an effort to ensure we are able to reproduce.

Adopt a Natural Diet to Improve Biomarkers
The first and most important step on your journey toward optimal health is to cut all the processed junk food from your diet. Even if you find it difficult to lower your caloric intake you can have a significant impact on health and longevity by improving your nutrition. Incorporate at least 10 servings of fresh organic vegetables and greens into your daily menu and be sure to substitute them for unhealthy staples.

Sugar and fast-releasing carbohydrates have been shown to drive biological aging as they form advanced glycation end products that bind proteins and fats into useless forms that damage health. A diet full of vegetables will provide the host of essential antioxidants and enzymes we need to help reverse the deadly effects of poor diet. To maximize nutrients you should aim for 80% of your diet to be from natural raw foods. Overcooking can negate many of the important health benefits and can introduce chemical byproducts that promote cancer and heart disease.

Powerful Nutrients Compliment Healthy Diet
In addition to a well balanced raw diet, anti-aging experts recommend a natural cocktail of nutrients that have proven effective in mimicking the effects of a calorie restricted diet. These super nutrients work by controlling the effects of inflammation and oxidation; they prevent cancer and stabilize blood glucose.

Resveratrol: Resveratrol activates special proteins that regulate many factors related to our survival. This nutrient stabilizes inflammatory signaling chemicals that are associated with cancer initiation and the development of heart disease. Resveratrol demonstrates many of the same physiological benefits seen with calorie restriction.

Quercetin: In addition to lowering levels of systemic inflammation, quercetin is able to activate special `executioner` proteins that help eradicate cancer cells by causing natural cell death. Quercetin is also a powerful modulator of blood sugar levels as it stimulates the proliferation of pancreatic beta cells that produce insulin.

Black Tea Extract: The healing power of tea has been known for 5000 years. Research concludes that catechins from the tea family can protect cells from inflammatory damage by regulating genetic control mechanisms.

Excess calories from a poor diet are the cause of most of the lethal diseases we encounter today. Nutrient packed raw vegetables and specially targeted natural supplements are the key to a long and healthy life.

Article References:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19768257
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC...
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19590001

About the author

John Phillip is a Health Researcher and Author who writes regularly on the cutting edge use of diet, lifestyle modifications and targeted supplementation to enhance and improve the quality and length of life. John is the author of 'Your Healthy Weight Loss Plan', a comprehensive EBook explaining how to use Diet, Exercise, Mind and Targeted Supplementation to achieve your weight loss goal. Visit My Optimal Health Resource to continue reading the latest health news updates, and to download your Free 48 page copy of 'Your Healthy Weight Loss Plan'.