Causes of aging - Nutrient research validates the effect diet and supplements have on your body.Causes of Aging Premature aging of your brain, circulation, heart, joints, skin, digestive tract and immune system can begin at any time of life. Various factors may cause your body to deteriorate faster including injuries, allergies, toxins, heavy metals, smoking, poor nutrition, stress and inactivity. Bad lifestyle and nutritional, chemical and hormonal imbalances (e.g. low hormone levels, impaired functioning of hormone receptors and auto-immune reactions) are the top reasons for physical and mental degeneration leading to chronic disease and rapid aging. Long-term lack of essential nutrients is more specifically the most common cause of age-related conditions: Causes of Aging • Chronic inflammation – putting strain on major organs and potentially causing heart attacks, strokes or senility. • Mitochondrial Energy Depletion – meaning a lack of specific chemicals needed by the mitochondria to maintain the critical functions of transporting nutrients through the cell membrane. This can result in congestive heart failure, muscle weakness, fatigue and neurological disease. • Hormone Imbalance – commonly causing depression, osteoporosis, coronary artery disease and loss of libido.Fatty Acid Imbalance – causing an irregular heartbeat, joint degeneration, low energy, hyper coagulation and dry skin. • Immune Dysfunction – resulting in a loss of your ability to attack bacteria, viruses and cancer cells and potentially leading to autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid syndrome. • Circulatory Deficit – a reduction of blood to the brain, eyes and skin, resulting in disorders such as cataracts, macular degeneration and glaucoma. • Free Radical Damage – involving the destruction of your body’s cells leading to general debility and degeneration (see below). Free radical theory Free radical theory tells us that premature aging is merely the accumulation of bodily changes caused by the presence of oxygen-based scavengers in your body. Free radicals are groups of unstable and reactive atoms. In excess they attack your body’s cells, stealing electrons from your body's delicate membranes and genetic structure, causing cell damage and malfunction. They come from your food, water, air, smoking, chemical exposure and even exercise. They cannot be avoided, so it is important to provide nutrients to combat them. You can do this by using antioxidants… An antioxidant is a substance that inhibits the above free radical damage. As free radicals continue to scavenge for electrons from your body, antioxidants intercept by offering their own electrons to the free radicals in order to stop them scavenging yours. This converts the free radicals into simple harmless molecules. By doing this antioxidants protect your cells from the oxidative damage that leads to premature aging and disease. A large amount of nutrient research validates the effect diet and supplements can have on your body in the battle against free radical damage. Lifestyle of agingchanges of course make a big difference too. |