Foods that are making you age quicker
Food is the essence of our life we all know that, in Modern era food consumption has changed harshly due to the new modern tasteful food products available, which are misleading the consumers, as the contents are often not looked into and overall health is compromised.
Exposure to heavy metals and other toxins with inappropriate and casual eating habits, in our society, is becoming a more clinically significant medical condition every day these toxins can play havoc in your body, increasing oxidative stress, inflammation, hormonal imbalance and insulin resistance all of which hasten the process of ageing.
Underlying cause of aging is silent chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation is the result of immune system imbalance, if we can redress that we can help cut the risk for the long term health problems and help ease long term low grade ills- like skin disorder, joint pains, digestive problems, migraines, anxiety and mood swings-that many people experience as a result of inflammation most common contributors to low grade inflammation which in turn is responsible for faster ageing is wrong eating, environmental toxins, parasites, stress
There are certain foods products which are rather making you age faster than helping you get a quick fix meal!
- Eliminate all processed foods, laden with gluten, trans fats, chemicals, sugar, excess salt and other irritants like food you are allergic to, all these can trigger chronic inflammatory reactions in the body.
- Frozen precooked processed food products such as salami, sausages, Seekh kebabs, bacon and Charred meat. Many of these meals have sulphites and other preservatives which can trigger chronic inflammatory response. These have little or no nutritional value.
- Sugary drinks.
- Fast foods like Burgers, cakes, pastries, pizzas
- Canned fruit juices
- Soft drinks
- Caffeinated drinks
- Alcohol
- Canned fruits, Sugar candies
- Precooked frozen paranthas, ready to eat packed dals & vegetables.
- Artificial sweeteners, energy drinks
Sugar is responsible for one of the most damaging processes in the body-glycation- and this sugar is often hidden for example whole milk added to tea or coffee is better than low fat or skimmed milk which often contains twice the amount of sugar.
Glucose can react with protein to form Advanced Glycation End Products (AGE’s) these same reactions can take place in food products especially bread baking and the same reaction is part of biological ageing where tissue proteins are altered by glucose- sugar now sticks to the proteins in the eye causing cataract in diabetic patients or to the outer layer of nerves causing Alzheimer’s. When sugar sticks to the collagen in the skin it alters skin elasticity and causes wrinkles.
Liquid carbohydrates (primarily soda and juice) are a prime cause of AGE’s. high fructose corn syrup which became widely used in preserved food and juices is toxic to our blood vessels. Sugar raises LDL Cholesterol and triglycerides.
Mitochondria (the energy factories in all our cells) of the heart, liver, nervous and immune systems are very sensitive to the effects of heavy metals. Mitochondria are key for the production of ATP. These mitochondria consume 90% of the oxygen we breathe and when mitochondria are not working properly people suffer a myriad of symptoms- slower metabolism, weight gain, fatigue, memory loss, cardio metabolic disease, pain, chronic fatigue and more rapid aging. A recent study showed that when rats were exposed to toxins they were 20% heavier and had 36% more body fat than those not exposed.
Bottom-line: anything that comes in a package is to be suspected but baked goods and snack foods are the worst, cup cakes, cookies, dough nut and kids cereals contain refined flour and sugar, similarly fried foods like chips and crackers are often loaded with salt trans fats and chemicals.
Food products marketed as health food should be avoided as low fat versions are often loaded with extra sugar and even whole grain snacks can contain too much sugar salt and fats.
BEWARE OF MODERN WESTERN DIET:
The major cause of chronic inflammation is the result of changes which have occurred in last 50 years, Fish, lean meats, nuts, fruits and vegetables are part of a menu that’s in harmony with our genetic makeup.
Our ancestors ate primarily from only two food groups “meat &fish” and “vegetables & fruits”
Take home:
By returning to more natural, paleo style diet, we can provide the nourishment our bodies need to return to the state of health our ancient genes have programmed for us!
- Fill up with fresh real food: Eat fresh; local or organic produce is one of the easiest and healthiest things you can do to curb chronic inflammation and in turn prevent ageing. More variety the better as this will feed the good bacteria right to keep your gut healthy and prevent you from starting a series of inflammatory damages.
- Avoid unnecessary medicines; consult your doctor to reduce medicines if possible instead of continuing to take without follow up.
- Do regular detoxification
- Work on reducing stress through meditation, yoga etc
- Improve upon quality sleep time.
- Maximize your anti-inflammatory powers with supplements:
Inflammation fighters such as Vitamin D3, Omega 3 Fish oil, Curcumin, Quercetin Under supervision can be extremely useful.
- Eat food which reduce inflammation:
Such as green smoothies, low sugar fruits, fish, extra virgin olive oil, Avocado, Nuts, Eggs,
Dr Kalpana Gupta Shekhawat
MBBS, DNB,DFM, MD Clinical Nutrition, CNCB, TEXAS,USA
Functional & Regenerative Medicine Specialist
BHRT Consultant (American Anti-ageing Medicine)