Regular physical activity and a healthy diet help slow down the development of age-related diseases. svetikd/Getty Images
A US study published on November 6 shows that aging can be slowed down by up to 6 years if you take care of your heart and follow some simple and effective healthy lifestyle rules.
Eat a balanced diet, sleep well, do enough sports. These reflexes may seem simple, even trivial. However, they are essential to our health and even help to slow down aging and the development of age-related diseases. This observation was made by a group of American scientists from Columbia University. Their preliminary work, published Nov. 6 and presented at the American Heart Association Congress on Nov. 11, shows that by respecting specific health measures, we strengthen our heart health, which may ultimately delay the biological aging process by several years. to slow down. , up to exactly 6 years.
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A fit heart pushes back biological age
To reach this result, scientists analyzed data from the American Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a sample of more than 6,500 adults with an average age of 47, conducted between 2015 and 2018. More specifically, they compared their chronological age (their date of birth) to their biological age (their body age), which is calculated based on an individual’s metabolism, organ function and inflammation levels. “This is a strong indicator of future risk of disease and death,” Noor Makarem, an epidemiologist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York, said in a press release.
At the end of this analysis, it was noted that better cardiovascular health is associated with slower biological aging. Clearly, study participants with good cardiovascular health were physiologically younger than expected, while the “poor students” aged more at this level. For example, a 41-year-old with excellent cardiovascular fitness reached an average biological age of 36, while a 53-year-old with lower cardiovascular fitness reached an average biological age of 57.
Eight parameters of life to follow
In fact, according to the researchers, the cardiovascular health champions in this sample, who managed to lower their biological age by 6 years, were the ones who most respected the eight important rules of health and lifestyle.“Essential 8 of Life” English) issued by the American Heart Association, an American non-profit organization dedicated to the fight against cardiovascular disease and stroke. These habits are: restful sleep (7 to 9 hours a night), no smoking, regular physical activity (150 minutes of physical activity per week), a healthy diet (rich in vegetables and protein, low in alcohol, salt and sugar), maintaining adequate body fat. weight (BMI between 18.5 and 25) and monitor your blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure.
“Greater fidelity to all settings The essence of life 8 and improving your cardiovascular health can slow down your body’s aging process and have many long-term benefits,” assures epidemiologist Noor Makarem in a press release. Before you remember. “Reducing biological aging is not only associated with a lower risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, it is also associated with longer life and a lower risk of death.”
Source: Le Figaro
