Update: Anti-aging Science, How to Slow the Aging Process is so popular that we made a video series about it! Organic Radiance Skincare Founder, Candice Betty, explains the current theories on the science of aging and each one of the tips in this article. Watch the video series for a summarized version or continue on to the article for a more detailed discussion.
Anti-aging science is still relatively new, and I’ve got good news for you…
You have a lot more control over the aging process than you may think. In this article, we’ll discuss why aging happens and how it occurs in your body. You’ll learn how this affects your skin and how chronic inflammation is the source of the premature aging you’re trying to avoid.
We’ll walk through the things in your environment that you have control over, which will help you to reduce inflammation and slow your own aging process. Finally, we’ll turn this into your holistic anti-aging plan, and you’ll be able to download a copy of if before you leave.
Experiencing the process of our own aging can be an emotional journey. While we are more experienced and hopefully more at peace with ourselves, we look in the mirror and see changes. Our skin doesn’t spring back when touched, and the lines under our eyes and across our foreheads seem to grow more pronounced. The physical process of aging is the part that many of us struggle to accept.
Some people we meet look ten, fifteen years younger than their age. We may feel like they’ve found the latest supplement or anti-aging cream. Before you start scouring Amazon reviews, I’d like to share with you how the key to “anti-aging” is how your genes interact with your environment.
This starts with a basic understanding of our current theories about why we age. Put your lab coat on because we’re about to test out some theories…
The first theory about aging says that genes determine how we age and how long we live. Simply put, there are a few individual genes that control lifespan by controlling a lot of other genes that coordinate our survival systems.
When scientists “knock out,” or turn off, one of these genes, we see a significant difference in longevity. Current research indicates that our DNA is responsible for about 25% of our lifespan and the aging process.
The second theory about aging is centered around the environment. According to this theory, “wear and tear” leads to cells dying and the body’s systems malfunctioning. More specifically, chemical reactions happen in the body that cause damage.
For example, normal usage of oxygen in our bodies produces reactive oxygen species, or “free radicals,” which damage our cells. When the accumulation of small amounts of damage builds up and reaches a critical level, the systems in our bodies start to break down.
Another important factor in our environment is our diet. Foods like refined sugars, artificial sugars, alcohol, trans fats, and grains can cause faster aging. Many of these foods promote chronic inflammation, which is associated with premature aging.
Current studies show that, on the whole, it is the interaction of our genes and our environment that determine our biological age and longevity. Now let’s dive into how this interaction affects our skin.
One example of this environmental damage theory is photo-aging. This is the process of premature aging due to light, specifically ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV radiation damages your skin’s DNA.
Repeated exposure to UV radiation leads to several signs of premature aging in the skin, such as:
Telomeres are protective caps at the end of your DNA strands. Telomeres become shorter with each replication of DNA. Stressful life experiences have been linked to accelerated telomere shortening. Not surprisingly, telomere length is a marker for cellular aging.
Once telomeres shorten to a critical length, the cell and DNA within it loses its ability to divide any further. If this process occurs at an accelerated rate, this leads to premature aging.
When cells reach this stage, called “replicative senescence” they enter a process called “programmed cell death.” This helps eliminate worn-out cells, and is the reason why exfoliating your skin removes dead skin cells, revealing brighter skin at the surface.
Another cause of aging in the skin involves the skin’s proteins. Proteins can become damaged by free radicals. Removing damaged proteins is important for cells to continue to function normally. Sometimes these damage proteins make inappropriate links with other proteins, preventing them from being broken down. This is called “cross-linking.”
When there is a build-up of cross-linked proteins, this causes damage to the tissues. Cross-linking of collagen proteins in the skin is an important factor in aging of the skin, which causes wrinkles and loss of skin elasticity.
Good news! There are many things that you can control in your daily routine to slow aging. Your lifestyle, the products you use, and your diet play an important role in how young you look and feel.
Think about your body’s biological age like a bank account. The more you withdraw from this account, through poor habits, the faster your youth will diminish. The more deposits you make, through anti-aging habits, the longer you will enjoy your youthful body and appearance.
These suggestions are based on current theories in anti-aging science. Talk to your dermatologist about incorporating these anti-aging tips into your set of healthy habits.
Now you understand that it’s the interaction of our genes and our environment that determines our biological age and how well our cells are functioning.
You know that premature aging is associated with chronic inflammation. You have more control over the aging process than you might have thought, given that 70% of the aging process is determined by factors which you can control in your environment.
Your skin is a reflection of how youthful your body and cells are. It’s important to provide the nutrients your skin needs from the inside and the outside, through your diet and skincare routine.
The best way to do this is by choosing skin care products with organic essential oils and WITHOUT additives, to reduce inflammation in the skin. Support your skin with antioxidants against oxidative stress, and you will look and feel your best.
You’ve got a whole list of things to seek out to help slow your own aging, and a few to avoid. Now it’s time to put your knowledge into action and incorporate one of these eight tips for slowing down the aging process each week.
This is your holistic plan to slow down your own aging process!
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2007 Apr;1100:1-13.
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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4822264/
Bonnefoy M1, Drai J, Kostka T
Presse Medicale (Paris, France : 1983) [01 Jul 2002, 31(25):1174-1184]
Canadian Dermatology Association
http://genetics.thetech.org/original_news/news10
Halil Erhan Eroğlu, corresponding author Ahmet Aksoy, Ergin Hamzaoğlu, Ümit Budak, and Sevil Albayrak
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2677150/
https://draxe.com/how-to-naturally-slow-aging/
By: Jill U. Adams, Ph.D. (Freelance Science Writer, Albany, NY) © 2008 Nature Education
Citation: Adams, J. (2008) Genetic Control of Aging and Life Span. Nature Education 1(1):130
https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/genetic-control-of-aging-and-life-span-847
By Jeannie Allen · September 6, 2001
https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/UVB/Images/dna_mutation.gif
Last updated Wed 12 July 2017 By Kathryn Watson
Reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, PhD, MSN, RN, IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT
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View Comments
Great article! I never realized that alcohol increased aging, it's time to cut back and increase my greens!
Very informative! I downloaded the checklist and am going to try to work these things in. Thanks!
Wow, very scientific. I try to include a lot of fish and greens in my diet. I really love rooibos tea and am going to drink more of it after reading this. Also like the idea of putting spirulina powder into my smoothies for an anti-aging boost. Thanks!
Hi Cynthia, yeeesss! I love spirulina powder... so power packed with nutrients. It's like powdered gold for my smoothies!