Antiageing

What is ageing?
Ageing is primarily a progressive deficiency disease. Deficiency of protein, vitamin, minerals, antioxidants. It is a natural deterioration of lean muscle mass accelerated by free radical attacks. We will see what free radicals are all about. It begins in adulthood, picks up momentum in middle age and speeds up after 50 years of age.

You, me and all of us watching this show, infact everyone living on this planet is ageing every second. Ageing is constant but the rate at which we age is not. That is what is really in our control. We can slow down the biological clock by correcting our eating and living habits.

Why do we age?
Ageing occurs when our cells are damaged by continuous attacks from free radicals. Free radicals are simply molecules with a missing electron. If an electron does not have a partner it can become very reactive and unstable. Many things increase free radical production for e.g. when you have an infection, your body generates a burst of free radicals to destroy the invaders. When you smoke you take in free radicals. Pollution, stress, exposure to sunlight, radiation, exercise makes your body produce free radicals.

Why are free radicals so dangerous?
A free radical can destroy a protein, an enzyme or even a complete cell. They can multiple through a chain reaction and release thousands more like themselves. This comprises our immune system and makes your organs age. Ageing and all age related disorders are related to free radical damage. How do we stop this dance of destruction? By consuming antioxidants. Free radicals can be neutralized by antioxidants, which are compounds that give up one of their electrons thus stabilizing the free radicals without becoming unstable themselves. Antioxidants like vitamin A, C, E, Selenium, glutathione defuse the destructive free radicals and repair their damage. You can prevent and reverse the ageing process to an amazing extent with the help of these antioxidants, which are available all around us – In your food, in your kitchen, in your garden, vitamin bottle and what’s more! They cost very little when you compare them to the cost of not taking them.
Therefore the obvious thing to do is
A)Flood your blood stream with powerful antioxidants like vitamin E, Beta Carotene, Vitamin C by consuming fruits, vegetables, nuts & seeds as well as get the other antioxidant benefits from foods such as garlic, ginger, tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower etc.
B)Reduce intake of foods that accelerates the aging process like sugar, excessive oil intake, processed foods.
C)Consume adequate proteins (50gms per day) to enable tissue repair and prevent loss of muscle mass and bone degeneration.
D)Ingest antioxidant in the form of supplements, herbs, vitamins that will zap the free radicals along with those present in foods.

My philosophy has always been ‘natural is preferable’. Nature has always been my temple of comfort.

Recipe
Tomato + carrot + beetroot juice. By feeding yourself this powerful glass of antioxidants you can give yourself a youth potion

ANJALI MUKERJEE, Nutritionist, Founder Director-Health Total, having health centers
in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Pune -manages obesity & other health related disorders.
Contact numbers: 1800 8918131/+91 86575 61727
For further information, Visit www.health-total.com