Inflammation
Several authors confirm that low levels of persisting inflammation is increasingly associated with many causes of disease and the ageing process. Inflammation appears to be the cause of most disease and therefore deciding to reduce inflammation generally translates into a person becoming healthier. Studies have shown that an anti-inflammatory diet that is high in non starchy vegetables, fruit, legumes, pulses and fish is the solution to lowering the levels of inflammation. Foods that significantly contribute to keeping a body in a state of inflammation are: sugar, over consumption of meat, fast foods, processed foods, refined carbohydrates such as white cakes/pastries/bread and excessive amounts of alcohol and coffee.
There are several supplements and foods that have strong anti-inflammatory properties. Supplements in conjunction with a healthy diet can positively transform an individuals health. Please feel free to ask Matt or I what those are.
Blood sugar levels
Three factors are responsible for the increase of diabetes and obesity; the increase in eating refined highly processed carbohydrates, an increase in the consumption of refined oils and fats and a decrease in the good fats for example Omega 3 fats from fish oils. The significance of this is that diabetes and obesity often equate to poor insulin sensitivity and for healthy ageing reducing inflammation will double up as the eating plan to improve insulin sensitivity which means healthier ageing. Metabolic syndrome is a term associated with poor insulin sensitivity meaning that insulin is not efficiently performing the job that it is meant to do which is transporting sugar into cells.
Abdominal obesity is often an indicator of metabolic syndrome meaning insulin resistance. This syndrome increases the risk of several other conditions such cardiovascular disease, increase the risk of developing Type II diabetes by five times, increases the risk of a fatty liver, increases the risk of dementia and increases the risk of gout.
There are serious health consequences that result from having diabetes as it contributes to high incidence of illness as well as causing long term health problems.
Recipe for Being healthier begins with a:
- Healthy diet – meaning high intake of organic fruit and vegetables and not overeating. Very minimal sugar. Protein from fish, organic turkey and legumes.
- Maintaining an ideal weight- when eating an anti-inflammatory diet and exercising regularly there will be a reduction in stored fat and improved levels of muscle weight.
- Regular exercise –exercise has been proven to improve mobility, improves bodily functions, a better sense of independence, improves cardiovascular function, reduces the risk of some cancers, great for muscle integrity, good for the brain and most of all it makes a person feel good.
- Adequate rest –adequate sleep is critical to maintain health for the cardiovascular system, general longevity, good mood, healthy immune function, learning, memory and the nervous system harmony.
- Sense of purpose & maintaining social network – Buettner, the author of the Blue Zone books, summarized the information he gathered from his interviews of centenarians and found that the interviewees believed that having a reason to get up in the morning, putting family first and being involved in a community were a priority for their healthy ageing.
Conclusion
To age with health is simple and comes down to food and life style choices.