Get Cheat Codes To Aging And Longevity By Using Your Genes!

Everybody have a biological clock counting down to “the end”. What if we can slow down, or even reset that clock?

Living With Genes Newsletter | Issue #10 — Get Cheat Codes To Aging And Longevity Using Your Genes!

Do you want to look younger and live longer?

I certainly do.

When I look good, I find that my wife appreciates me more (even though she gets slightly nervous at times), and I have a stronger desire to live longer.

In fact, most people are like me — we simply want people to appreciate us, so we can live life to the fullest.

So unless you’ve had a really bad life (in which case, you probably wouldn’t be reading this article), you should be pursuing tips and strategies for anti-aging and longevity as early as possible. Because I find that the older I get, the harder I have to run after solutions to recover my lost years.

But one question looms large — is my aging and lifespan governed by my lifestyle or predetermined by my genes?

Tick Tock… Your Genetic Clock for Aging

Scientists consider telomere length akin to a biological clock for aging and lifespan.

At the heart of inevitable aging are genes — or more precisely, the terminal end of your chromosomes that protect these genes, called Telomeres.

These telomeres actually do not contain genes themselves but help to preserve the integrity of your genetic material by acting as “protective caps” to prevent them from fraying, much like the plastic caps on your shoelaces.

But with each cell division, the telomeres on their chromosomes gradually shortens. When these telomeres are depleted, bad things happen to these cells — they will either mutate, become cancerous, or die, and through this process, aging occurs [1].

Telomeres are like your cellular clock for aging. When our chromosomes get “worn out”, the telomere tips get depleted and cells die. Image from Midjourney AI and iStock. Edited by Photoshop.

As a result, scientists consider telomere length akin to a biological clock for aging and lifespan.

However, not everyone is endowed with the same biological clock.

Just as everyone is born with different length of arms, fingers, nose (and other unmentionable appendages), length of telomeres differs from person to person as well.

This is significant. Because…

Long Is Better; Longer Telomere = Longer Life

Everyone is born with different length of telomeres. If you are lucky, you’ll have longer ones than others.

That’s right. Research has shown that longer telomeres are associated with increased longevity, and slower aging [2]. These extended telomeres naturally take longer to run out, allowing for more cell divisions — ultimately translating to stronger regenerative capacity for your body.

Imagine you are X-men Wolverine, possessing the mutant power of extraordinarily long and durable telomeres that never run out!

If you have “Super Telomeres” like Wolverine, you can look fierce, but you will never look old and frail. Photo credits courtesy of Marvel Comics

While none of us can attain this amazing superpower mutation, we can certainly take steps to slow down the reduction of our telomeres and even restore them [3]!

And that brings us to…

Elongating Your Telomeres Through Epigenetics

Believe it or not, you can use proper lifestyle to control your genes and influence your telomeres.

Epigenetics refers to changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to the underlying DNA sequence — instead, it relies on lifestyle personalization to modify the structure of your DNA expression.

Imagine if your DNA sequence is a program code (which doesn’t change), your actions then determine the “settings” (eg. toggle high speed, low speed) of how your program runs — this is Epigenetics.

With epigenetics, you can control your genetic coding to preserve, regenerate, and even elongate the length of your telomeres.

Meet Chuando Tan, a 57 years old Singaporean who consciously limits his intake of processed foods and sugar to achieve amazing anti-aging results. Don’t be jealous, just do something about it. Extracted from my talk titled ‘Power of Personalization’

Indeed, if you start early with epigenetic strategies that are personalized based on your genes, you can truly achieve some incredible feats of anti-aging! And because I believe everyone should age gracefully, I am sharing 5 epigenetic personalization strategies below on how you can unlock your internal fountain of youth.

#1. Eat By Design, Don’t Eat By Default

Give your body the right “fuel-food” based on your genetic dietary needs, and it will function at peak condition. The correct nutrients not only support overall health but also contribute to the maintenance of your telomere length [4].

Eating healthy is important, but healthy nutrients are not absorbed equally by your body. Photo credits by Unsplash. Sample report from eBeauty DNA.

Furthermore, reduce processed foods and sugars, and explore an anti-inflammatory diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains. These foods have proven longevity benefits.

#2. Exercise Right, So You Can Age Right

Studies have suggested that exercise stimulates the production of telomerase, an enzyme that protects and even lengthens telomeres. [5] In fact, in a study, women who exercised were found to have telomeres that were 8 years younger than women of the same chronological age who did not exercise [6].

Exercising earlier and with the right approach can help them age more gracefully. Photo credits by Unsplash. Sample report from eBeauty DNA.

To create even more impact, exercise according to your correct fitness profile to achieve maximum gain while avoiding certain cardiovascular risks.

#3. Manage Your Stress, Know Your Threshold

Chronic stress is bad has been linked to accelerated aging through telomere shortening. But do you know that genetics also plays a part in how you can handle stress [7]?

Everyone handles stress differently. If you are aware how much stress you can take, you can take steps to manage it more effectively. Photo credits by Pexels. Sample report from eBeauty DNA.

Once you know your innate stress resistance, you are able to take preventive actions like meditation, yoga, or mindfulness to reduce, avoid, or recover from them.

#4. Sleep Deeply, Don’t Just Sleep Longer

Quality sleep is essential for cellular repair and maintenance. Getting insufficient sleep can influence telomere length, shortening telomeres even in childhood, which may lead to impaired health [8].

Good sleep helps to rejuvenate the mind and the body. However, everyone has different sleeping tendencies. Photo credits by Pexels. Sample report from eBeauty DNA.

While some people may have disruptive sleep patterns due to their genetics, there are many methods to induce better sleep like avoiding the use of light-emitting devices before bedtime, and darkening your room to create a more conducive environment for sleep.

#5. Live Well, Build Social Connections

Research suggests that individuals with strong social ties may experience slower telomere shortening [9]. In fact, social isolation can lead to psychological stress which is linked to accelerated aging and adverse health outcomes.

Whether a person is introvert or extrovert is influenced by our genes. Understanding our social affinities can help us build better relationships. Photo credits by Unsplash. Sample report from eBeauty DNA.

While not everyone is born extroverted or has strong communication skills, social connections can still be cultivated over time. So spend time and effort to cultivate strong social bonds to maintain positive relationships.

Conclusion

Anti-aging and lifespan has improved considerably since the 1600s — when the average human lifespan was only 30 years. Scientists furthermore predict that life expectancy will continue to increase.

However, as we age, I would rather grow into a nice, ripe peach rather than age into a wrinkly raisin.

The most fruity, and polite way I know to describe individuals on different ends of the aging spectrum. Image generated by Midjourney AI and edited by Photoshop.

The interaction between genes and lifestyle choices is a dynamic and ongoing process. By understanding the role of telomeres, gaining insights into your genetics, and employing the right epigenetic strategies, you can actively contribute to the narrative of your own longevity.

So as your journey through life, don’t just focus on being “young at heart”, but focus on being “young in body” as well!

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Disclaimer: The content in this article is intended solely for informational purposes and may contain outdated information after the date of publishing that doesn’t reflect the latest scientific advancements. The content is presented “as is” and is not guaranteed to be complete or up-to-date.

Sources :

• [1] 2019, Are Telomeres the Key to Aging and Cancer (link)
• [2] 2002, Telomere lengths are characteristic in each human individual (link)
• [3] 2015, Telomere extension turns back aging clock in cultured human cells, study finds (link)
• [4] 2020, Personalized nutrition and healthy aging (link)
• [5] 2019, Beneficial effect of physical exercise on telomere length and aging, and genetics of aging-associated noncommunicable diseases (link)
• [6] 2017, Sedentary lifestyle speeds up biological aging, study finds (link)
• [7] 2012, Stress, Inflammation and Aging (link)
• [8] 2017, Sleep Duration and Telomere Length in Children (link)
• [9] 2020, Psychosocial Stressors and Telomere Length (link)