In the past decade, science broke through many previous taboos in understanding and deciphering molecular, cellular and genetic aging.
The new science of longevity was born –
Longevity is not a new topic. It has been an area of interest since man became a self-conscious being, providing great fodder throughout the years for science fiction writers.
Advancements in this exciting field include some of the greatest achievements of this century. Even recognized by the United Nations, the science of longevity is changing the status of world health and aging, referring to longevity research as one of the most significant social transformations of the 21st century.
There are many factors that affect life expectancy including the quality of health care received, diet, exercise, social factors and of course, genetics.
For the last 50 years science assumed and believed that genes-controlled biology. However, this old, outworn belief that genes controlled us and that we are structured, determined and limited solely by our genes is being blown apart as false information the same way that discovering new lands by venturing forth into the unknown destroyed the belief that the world was flat.
According to internationally recognized stem-cell biologist and author of many books including “The Biology of Belief,” Dr. Bruce Lipton, this kind of limiting concept/belief that says, “we are less than our genes” creates victim mentality and sets us up for failure. If we believe we can’t change it, we won’t try.
Furthermore, when we believe we are powerless, we become irresponsible and it becomes way too easy for us to use genetics as an excuse for our bad habits. After all, I am a victim of my heredity and can’t change the genes that I was unlucky to be born with.
But the new longevity sciences are revealing something different and we are beginning to understand that self-knowledge is self-power.
Science of Epigenetics –
Epigenetics, one of the emerging new longevity sciences, reveals that more things come into play than just our genes when it comes to our biology and how long we live.
In fact, Dr. Lipton states that it is not genetic programming that spurs action in our body, but our beliefs and perceptions that select our genes and our behavior. So, it seems our beliefs and our environment are the primary players when it comes to our health and well-being.
The individual we see in the mirror is really a community of approximately 50 trillion living cells all operating within the same system. Every cell is an individual sentient, living being with a life of its own that interacts with other cells within the community.
Harmony and health go hand in hand, meaning, when the community of cells is harmonized, health is enjoyed, but when disharmony rules, the community relationships are fractured, and dis-ease takes hold.
Dr. Lipton says our cells are chips and the nucleus of the cell works like a hard disk storing programs. The cell membrane is an information – processing computer chip while the cell’s genes are the hard drive containing all potential.
Every cell within our body contains all the genes that make us human. They also contain genes whose function it is to adapt and rewrite genes as necessary, so, what differentiates one type of cell from another?
The answer is not programmed genes but informational feedback from the environment. It seems our genes are just environmental respondents reacting to perceptions handled by the cell membrane.
This makes it plainly clear that if we want our lives to change for the better, if we want to be happier and healthier, it’s our perceptions and our lifestyles that we need to focus on, that we need to change first and these conscious changes will then be programmed into our genes.
Habits linked to healthy longevity –
Eliminate/avoid overeating –
Studies done on animals suggests that a 10-30% reduction in normal caloric intake has positive effects on their health and their lifespans.
Human populations long renowned for enjoying extended lifespans also observe close links between low calorie intake, a lower likelihood of disease and extended lifespans.
It’s obvious that our health and longevity are directly influenced by our caloric intake and simply limiting our daily intake of calories helps protect us against disease and as a result, extends our lives.
Build your diet around plant foods –
Nuts, seeds, whole grains, fruits, vegetables and beans have proven to decrease disease risk while promoting longevity.
Plants contribute nutrients and antioxidants including polyphenols, carotenoids, folate and vitamin C. All these disease fighting warriors contribute to lowered risk of premature death, reduced risk of cancer and heart disease, depression, metabolic syndrome and even brain deterioration.
Stay Active (both mentally and physically) –
Staying physically active adds years to your life and life to your years. Just 15 minutes of exercise a day is empowered to add an additional 3 years of life. Even sweeter, the risk of premature death decreases by 4% for every additional 15 minutes of activity performed. And those who exercise vigorously enjoy an additional 5% reduction in premature death risk.
Furthermore, a recent review revealed that participants who hit the recommended weekly 150-minute mark (or more) for exercise were 28% less likely to be hit by premature death. Exercise is mandatory.
And, don’t forget to exercise your mind. Our cognitive abilities stay sharper when we exercise both our minds and our body.
Avoid dangerous substances –
Smoking kills, it’s really that simple. People that smoke lose as many as 10 years of life and are 3 times more likely to be hit with a premature death than those that never smoked.
Quitting can significantly prolong life. No matter what age your age, giving up this dangerous habit will add years to your life.
Alcohol is another dangerous substance when abused. Heavy consumption is linked to heart, liver and pancreatic disease and an increased risk of early death.
Enjoy that occasional glass of wine but don’t abuse it.
Eliminate chronic stress and anxiety –
Statistics prove that women who suffer from anxiety or stress are twice as likely to die from stroke, heart disease, or lung cancer.
Men that are chronically anxious or stressed fare even worse – they are three times more likely to suffer premature death.
Stress kills so finding ways to eliminate it from your life will add years to your life. Meditation practices work wonders in this area.
Lastly, but certainly not to be forgotten is attitude. Fostering an attitude of gratitude puts us in a positive flow of energy and attracts people, places and things that align with our greater good. Training our minds to focus on the silver lining in all things removes damaging negative perceptions and multiplies our good because whatever “we see” we create.
Quantum physics has proven that that there is nothing more than energy, and that all energies are entangled and interact, including the human body. Therefore, if healthy longevity is important to us, it is vital that we pay close attention to how we spend our energy, what habits we entertain daily, what’s occurring in our lives and how it affects us not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.
The fact that our lives can be directed through conscious control of our perceptions and our habits/actions is part of the new biology. Rather than stealing our power, it empowers us, consciously directing our lives puts us in full control, makes us responsible and strips away any flimsy genetic “excuses.”
For those ready to take responsibility for their lives, the truth is, we are way more powerful than we’ve given ourselves credit for.
Take conscious control of your life, your genes and your longevity through healthy lifestyle living.
Reclaim Your Longevity can help you do just that…
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