It's comforting to pay attention to your own body and be aware of how health is attained. It's also fun when new information is published that confirms what you believed in your core!
I have been fascinated with the list of genealogy in the book of Genesis in the Bible. It is written that Noah lived 950 years, his son Shem lived 600 years, Shem's son Arphaxad lived 438 years, A's son, Shelah lived 433 years, his son lived 239 years, his son lived 239 also, his son lived 230 years, and his son lived 148 years. There have been so many theories associated with these ages: increased radiation (maybe an actual possibility but not provable), seasons or months labeled as years (easily debunked), and now telomeres!
I have read several books recently shining a light on this fairly new discovery. The short version of the information is that telomeres are like aglets on a shoelace, except the shoelaces are your chromosomes. When the chromosomes are copied to make new cells, the messenger RNA has to grab onto something at the end. That would be the telomeres. The area that the mRNA is grabbing cannot be copied. Now the resulting copy will be shorter and the part missing is a piece of the telomere. Telomeres are only 1/1000 of the chromosome, and the string of their DNA is repeated over and over and over and over thousands of times somewhat like disposable duplicates. When you run out of duplicates, the chromosomes unravel and make a mess in the cells causing inflammation, cell death (best case), or cancer (worst case).
The Hayflick limit describes the limited number of times that a specific cell can be copied. It seems to be about 50 times for human cells. The good news is that stem cells create new, better-functioning cells that replace the dead ones.
I know you're saying, "BOOOORRRING! What does this mean for me?" Or my favorite question: "What can I do about it?"
This means that we have information about how our bodies age and that it's not only your genes that cause acceleration or deceleration of aging. Aging is basically our cells losing their telomeres, causing inflammation, etc., and not having enough healthy stem cells to make new cells.
Turns out that there is quite a bit that you can do to increase the telomere length by helping to activate telomerase (the enzyme that replaces the lost telomeres). Can you guess one? Yeah, a healthy diet and schedule of eating are at the top. Reduced stress (by removing stressors or by meditation), moderate exercise, having social support from friends or family, sleeping at least 7 hours a night, avoid smoking and over-indulgence of alcohol, and being optimistic or having a positive/up-for-the-challenge attitude. Genes, of course, play a role, so you don't have 100% control over your aging, but your choices and environment play a large role.
Are you up for learning more about telomeres and aging?
If you're interested in learning how intermittent fasting plays a role in stimulating stem cells and flushing out dead cells, check out the Intermittent Fasting course on my website.
Never stop learning!
With you on the journey,
Christy
Manage symptoms of Crohn's and begin to heal your body
This website and blog have been created to help people take control of their own health journey
and to give them tools to accomplish that goal.
I'm going to share one reason why this is a passion of mine.
The health issue that I have struggled with on and off for the better part of 30 years is Crohn's.
That is the medical diagnosis. And the target they want to throw medicines and procedures towards. It is not who I am.
Comparably, my response was mild, but I believe it didn’t get worse because I didn’t jump feet first into entire protocols that actually suppress your immune system instead of improving it. Some don’t feel like they have a choice in taking meds - they spend much time in hospitals, but they SHOULD be educated about the role of foods, vitamins, supplements, and mindset in their healing. I went to a support group right after I was diagnosed to find that education but instead freaked out hearing these people discussing medications, baby food they had to eat, and hospital stays. Nothing natural, positive, or encouraging - or even useful - in that group for me. That's why what I found to be helpful in improving my health at the beginning is being shared here. It's sorely needed.
Mindset is number one in healing from any health issue and is altogether missing from standard treatments. Many doctors talk down to their patients and spend little (if any) of their time sharing info about improving overall health. Those with centralized pain disorder, or chronic pain, are experiencing doctors and family calling them fragile, sensitive, or crazy because it’s a complicated disorder that seeps into every relationship, and is unlabeled pain. When there is chronic pain, they are misdiagnosed or ignored. Enlist support from loved ones who recognize a real health problem, and reframe pain as it is instead of the big, bad possibilities. I'll go into more details about the power of positive thought for healing in my next blog about epigenetics.
After not being able to find a doctor that would listen and not roll their eyes even when they knew I had Crohn's, I feel disheartened for those that don't have the option to find another doctor or have time or energy to research other options.
Crohn’s is an all-over chronic inflammatory disease that affects hair, nails, skin, eyes,
the entire digestive tract, dental problems, achy joints, and heart and lung issues.
It is a symptom of a systemic immune response and gut dysbiosis.
My best top-ten advice for dealing with Crohn’s symptoms:
- Learn breathing techniques to open sinuses, lessen mouth breathing, and calm your anxiety.
- Reduce inflammatory foods and drinks. Start with eliminating high-fat and fried foods, alcohol, and all dairy.
- In the beginning, eliminate acidic foods like coffee, pineapples, and tomatoes, especially if you suffer from reflux.
- Fast, starting with intermittent fasting and working up to water fasts for one to 5 days. If on medications, talk with your doctor first. Water fasts are for a once-in-a-great-while RESET of your gut, not a long-term necessity.
- Introduce or increase high nutrient foods and drinks in easier-to-process ways. Drink smoothies and juices. Cook veggies and blend them into soups. Add microgreens or microgreen powders to your foods.
- Slowly add higher-fiber foods back into your diet.
- Grow fennel, peppermint, spearmint, and use those essential oils internally and topically. Drink teas with those herbs.
- Take enzymes and eat enzyme-rich foods to reduce bloating and assist digestion.
- Take prebiotics and Probiotics to repopulate and improve the good gut flora.
- Eat Mushrooms and mushroom tinctures.
Moving forward and symptom-free! Here to help you on your journey to healing.
Christy
