Don’t know about you, but barely a month and a half into 2017, most of us are feeling distinctly hurried and stressed. Life is hectic! And, oh yes, you can definitely feel it on your psyche, but, worst of all; you can see it in the mirror too! The saggy cheeks, scrawny neck and huge bags under the eyes … Is anxiety and stress the new biological clock ageing us prematurely?

Sure, a certain amount of stress is good; if we had no stress we would be unmotivated to do anything! But, chronic stress, as we all know, has a number of negative effects on our physical and emotional well-being. Question is, does stress truly accelerate the ageing process?

Here’s what we know:  In 2004 scientists started to study telomeres, which are the tips of strands of DNA rather like the tips on the end of a shoelace. Telomeres stop DNA from fraying. When it does fray though, the cells stop being healthy; if it is a skin cell, it will cease to function properly and will appear aged. Studies have shown that the chief enemy of telomeres is stress, which explains why former US president Barack Obama went grey after just a few months in the White House! Turns out this outward sign of ageing was caused by damage to his telomeres.

The good news is that according to research the erosion of telomeres can not only be haltered by reducing stress, they can be stimulated to grow again, actually reversing the effects of ageing!  The human body is a remarkable thing, right?

But, does this mean we can all regain smooth skin, no grey hair? Not exactly, but a study published in The Lancet Oncology, scientifically proves that ageing at a cellular level can be reversed by a few lifestyle tweaks.

So, how do we protect our telomeres and slow down the clock?

• Nourish your DNA. Cut sugar from your diet and eat whole foods. Incorporate plenty of fruit and veg rich in antioxidants. Pistachios protect our DNA by lowering blood pressure. Omega 3s (found in oily fish) will encourage our telomeres to grow.
• In 2007, researchers found that yoga increased the number of telomeres in the bloodstream. Why? Yoga allows you to control your thoughts, not letting them spiral out of control. If you’re in control, you’re less stressed.
• Be optimistic. Studies show that pessimists have shorter telomeres than optimists.
• Laugh often.
• Live mindfully.
• Run away from ageing. Moderate intensity aerobic exercise 3 days a week for 45 minutes will help to repair frayed telomeres. Remember: overtraining will actually harm telomeres.
• Take a warm bath. Add a few drops of relaxing essential oils such as lavender or chamomile to the bath water. Light the room with a few candles and, voila!
• Sleep more: Simple but effective. Ooh, and have more sex, it’s good for the cells in the brain, apparently …

The takeaway? We have more control over our health and our looks than we think. Turns out the most powerful tool in the battle against ageing is how we live our lives.

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com, www.huffingtonpost.co.za, www.diy-stress-relief.com, www.healthy-ageing-for-women-babyboomers.com, stylecaster.com, www.dailymail.co.uk, www.menshealth.com, www.askwomennet.com, www.sharecare.com, www.shape.com