12 "Fountain of Youth" Nutrients

Telomeres, first discovered in 1973, are the tiny units of DNA that are found at the very end of each chromosome. They are about 15,000 nucleotides in length at birth. Nucleotides are the building blocks of DNA. Every time a body cells divides, about 50 - 200 nucleotides are lost. The telomeres shorten over time. When the telomeres gets down to about 5,000 nucleotides, the cells can no longer replicate and we die of old age.

A growing body of research is showing that certain nutrients play a huge role in protecting, or even increasing, telomere length, thereby affecting longevity. Additional lifestyle factors, such as reduced toxin exposure, exercise, proper sleep, stress reduction and intermittent fasting, are also important for longevity.

The 12 “Fountain of Youth” Nutrients

Nutrient #1 is Vitamin D - Research has shown that those with higher levels of vitamin D are more likely to have longer telomeres. This means that people with higher levels of vitamin D may actually age more slowly than people with lower levels of vitamin D.

Nutrient #2 is Astaxanthin - Telomeres are particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress. Astaxanthin has emerged as one of the most potent and beneficial antioxidants currently known, with potent anti-inflammatory and DNA-protective capabilities. Astaxanthin is found in wild salmon.

Nutrient #3 is Krill - Research has shown that those who have an omega-3 index of less than 4% age faster than those with indexes above 8%. Therefore, your omega-3 index may also be an effective marker of your rate of aging.

Nutrient #4 is Ubiquinol - CoQ10 is an essential vitamin that recycles other antioxidants, such as vitamin C and E. CoQ10 deficiency also accelerates DNA damage and is beneficial to heart health.

Nutrient #5 Probiotics & Fermented Vegetables - Processed foods, high in sugar and other chemicals, effectively destroy your intestinal bacteria and your immune system, predisposing yourself to illness and premature aging. Fermented vegetables are an excellent alternative as they are both delicious and simple to make at home.

Nutrient #6 Polyphenols - Polyphenols are potent antioxidant compounds in plant foods, many of which have been linked to anti-aging benefits and disease reduction. Examples include resveratrol from Muscadine grapes, raw organic cacao, and green tea.

Nutrient #7 Folate - Plasma concentrations of the B vitamin folate corresponds to telomere length, and folate plays an important role in the maintenance of DNA integrity and DNA methylation, both of which influence the length of your telomeres.

Nutrirnt #8 Vitamin B12 - Vitamin B12 is fittingly known as “the energy vitamin,” and your body requires it for a number of vital functions. Among them: energy production, blood formation, DNA synthesis, and myelin formation.

Nutrient #9 Curcumin- Cucumin is the active ingredient in the Indian spice turmeric—affects over 100 different pathways once it gets into a cell; among them, a key biological pathway needed for development of melanoma and other cancers.

Nutrient #10 Vitamin A - Vitamin A plays an important role in your immune response,. If you’re deficient, you can become predisposed to infections that can promote telomere shortening.

Nutrient #11 Vitamin K2 - While most people get enough vitamin K from their diets to maintain adequate blood clotting, they’re not getting enough to offer protection against more serious health problems, such as cardiovascular health and cancer.

Nutrient #12 Magnesium - Magnesium is believed to influence telomere length by affecting DNA integrity and repair, in addition to its potential role in oxidative stress and inflammation.

For More Information:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/05/09/the-nutrients-most-likely-to-let-you-live-to-be-much-older-than-100.aspx?x_cid=20140730_ranart2_facebookdoc