Healthy Diet Can Result In Healthy Cellular Ageing In Women

Ladies, eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains can help your cellular ageing and make the process healthier according to a research published by the American Journal of Epidemiology. This diet also should be low in additional sugar, sodium and processed meats.

The Findings

“The key takeaway is that following a healthy diet can help us maintain healthy cells and avoid certain chronic diseases,” said lead author Cindy Leung, assistant professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Michigan School of Public Health while speaking with Science Daily. “Emphasis should be placed on improving the overall quality of your diet rather than emphasizing individual foods or nutrients.”

The Research

Telomeres which are located at the ends of chromosomes are responsible for stability and protection of the DNA. The more your age, the shorter the telomere would be. Now studies have shown that shorter telomere can also be associated with high chances of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers.

The study observed 5,000 healthy adults who followed a healthy diet and found that they had longer telomeres. “We were surprised that the findings were consistent regardless of the diet quality index we used,” Leung said. “All four diets emphasize eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and plant-based protein and limiting consumption of sugar, sodium and red and processed meat.

She also added that, “Overall, the findings suggest that following these guidelines is associated with longer telomere length and reduces the risk of major chronic disease.” So how is this significant for women? Leung says, “We have seen some gender differences in previous nutrition and telomere studies. In our study, as well as in previous studies, men tended to have lower diet quality scores than women. Men also had higher intakes of sugary beverages and processed meats, both of which have been associated with shorter telomeres in prior studies.”