Aging is a natural part of life, and you can see it in the lines on your face and gray hairs on your head. However, while you may focus on the external signs of aging, the truth is that humans age from the inside out, starting in our cells.
As your cells age, you age. While you can’t stop it from happening, you can slow it down. The key is to limit or mitigate the attacks on your cells that cause them to age.
Cells are remarkable powerhouses that endure 500 trillion attacks every minute. From environmental toxins to the food you eat, there are several sources of cell damage.
“Although you may not immediately see or feel this damage, as it accumulates, it sets off this potentially harmful chain reaction,” said Erin Barrett, Ph.D., Nutritional Biochemistry, Senior Director of Product Innovation and Scientific Affairs at Shaklee, “with damaged cells releasing more free radicals, causing more oxidative stress and more cellular damage.”
You can unfurrow your brows because there is good news. Several factors are in your control to reduce these attacks and the damage they can cause.
Lifestyle
It’s common knowledge that diet, exercise and avoiding toxic habits are crucial to healthy living. However, they can also have a huge impact on how you age. Why? Good lifestyle habits that increase oxygen delivery to your cells help them function at their best to neutralize free radicals and prevent oxidative stress. So what can you do?
Avoid smoking and drinking as both result in oxidative stress, a main culprit of cellular damage and aging. When the free radicals (unstable atoms that damage cells) and antioxidants in your body are imbalanced, it causes oxidative stress. The key to preventing oxidative stress, and ultimately slowing aging, is to make lifestyle choices that neutralize free radicals.
Of course, offsetting free radicals is easier said than done. Free radicals form through essential functions of daily life, like breathing and digesting food. That said, you can make lifestyle changes that can counterbalance or even reduce the production of free radicals.
In addition to toxic habits like smoking and drinking, a poor diet can also create free radicals. Take stock of what you eat and drink, and see where you can incorporate healthier eating habits. Also, consider adding antioxidant foods and supplements to your diet to neutralize free radicals.
Sleep is another powerful way to defend against oxidative stress. In fact, according to a study from Columbia University, sleep may have antioxidant effects! So, make it a goal to fall asleep and get up at the same time most days. You’ll feel better and fight against oxidative stress.
Environment
Environmental factors — such as climate and water, air and soil quality — greatly impact how you age, too. Environmental toxins are especially worrisome. Throughout your life, you’ve unknowingly been exposed to pollutants, pesticides and other toxins that cause oxidative stress, forming free radicals.
While you can’t control your environment, you can protect yourself from oxidative stress and free radicals. As mentioned above, daily antioxidants are powerful tools to neutralize free radicals and reduce oxidative stress.
When choosing an antioxidant, make sure to choose a high-quality supplement that is scientifically proven to slow cellular aging and has key ingredients shown to neutralize free radicals*, protect against oxidative stress*, and protect your cells from damage.
Inflammation
Alongside oxidative stress, inflammation also plays a significant role in the process of cellular aging. Inflammation is a natural reaction in our bodies, but here’s the catch: it has the potential to fuel oxidative stress, which in turn can damage our cells and accelerate the aging process. Shaklee’s Vivix effectively addresses this cause of cellular damage.†
Vivix has a whopping 27 global patents across its product family, and is scientifically shown to protect DNA damage. Cells treated with Vivix ingredients have a remarkable 2/3 less DNA damage than cells that didn’t get Vivix1.
One of the key components of Vivix’s efficacy is its polyphenols. Polyphenols are important plant-based nutrients that help your body manage inflammation and oxidative stress. Common sources of polyphenols include coffee, red wine, black and green tea, blueberries, raspberries, almonds and walnuts.
What sets Vivix apart? The complex mixture of polyphenols it contains is 13 times more powerful than resveratrol alone, according to a study published in The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal. The blend brings together the powerful antioxidant properties of several polyphenols, including red wine extract, purple carrot extract, black currant extract, pomegranate extract and chebulic myrobalan. To learn more, visit US.Shaklee.com.
Your youth and longevity are in your hands. By controlling or mitigating these three aging factors, you can keep your cells happy and healthy, so you are, too.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
† Shown in a clinical study to blunt the inflammatory response in healthy people to a high-fat, high-carbohydrate meal.
1. Fisher, L., T. Ianiro, F. Lau, H. Wang and B. Daggy: Synergistic effects of phenolic mixtures in human cell models of aging. Experimental Biology 2015, Boston, Massachusetts, March 28-April 1, 2015. FASEB Journal 29:608.36, 2015.