Making the hands of time go backwards is a bit everyone's dream. Well, scientists have shown that this is not only possible but within everyone's reach, leading to a two-year rejuvenation of the body and tissues in eight weeks. The secret? Diet, exercise and relaxation. But let's try to understand better by analyzing the article published a few days ago in the magazine Aging by an American team (Fitzgerald et al, Aging, 2021).
Is it possible to rejuvenate? Here is the experiment
The researchers recruited 43 people, aged between 50 and 72, all in good health. The volunteers were divided into two groups. The first group was asked to follow for eight weeks guidelines regarding nutrition, exercise and free time, which are explained in the next paragraph. The second group should not follow any recommendation but was used as a control. At the beginning and at the end of the study, saliva samples were taken from all participants. These saliva samples were used to perform measurements of DNA methylation levels. DNA methylation is the result of a biological process that made the DNA no longer usable, as if it were switched off. Therefore, DNA methylation is considered a system for measuring the age of tissues.
Two years younger in 8 weeks, the results
What emerged is that the first group, which had followed the guidelines for 8 weeks, was rejuvenated, from the point of view of the age of the tissues, by two years while the second group, the control group, showed normal aging. Here, then, is how a change in lifestyle and nutrition can literally turn back the hands of the biological clock. But now let's see the recipe to become younger. Below are the guidelines developed by the researchers.
The Fountain of Youth Diet
Regarding the diet, the recommendations were as follows. Consume 5 to 10 eggs per week, possibly organic. Add to the diet, every day, 2 cups of green leafy vegetables, including kale, spinach, chard, kale and dandelion, two cups of cruciferous, including broccoli, kale, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts, three cups of colorful vegetables, excluding potatoes and corn, then one beetroot, 4 tablespoons of pumpkin seeds, 4 tablespoons of sunflower seeds and 2 servings of low-glycemic fruit. For dressing, use linseed, olive or pumpkin seed oil. By choice then, one or more of these foods or drinks, 2 cups of green tea left to infuse for ten minutes or three cups of oolong tea, always left to infuse for ten minutes, half a cup of berries, or half a teaspoon of rosemary or half a teaspoon of turmeric. Finally, introduce about 170 grams per day of animal protein, provided that the food is organic, without hormones or antibiotics.
Even the lifestyle is important
Then, it was not recommended to eat between 7 in the evening and 7 in the morning. Other recommendations were to stay hydrated and to sleep seven hours a night, to avoid sugar, candy, milk and dairy products. It was also asked to take probiotics and to make moderate physical activity of at least 30 minutes a day for five days. Finally, relaxation and breathing exercises were recommended.
