Theories on the Causes of Aging

There exists several theories explaining the process of aging. Each specific case has its specific factor or sometimes their combination.

1) Programmed aging (theory of circadian rhythm). Aging of cells is programmed on genetic level. The number of possible cell splittings are put by the nature once and forever. When cells begin to die faster than to restore themselves, body organs cannot perform all their essential functions anymore.

2) Genetic theory. Cells contain a substance that destroys them at chromosomal level.

3) Structural theory. With age occurs aggravation of condition of connective tissue - it loses its firmness and elasticity which leads to irreversible changes.

4) Theory of free radicals is most popular theory today. The theory suggests that chemical reactions in cells lead to formation of free radicals which cause damage and death of cells. With time the number of dead and non-functional cells increases which breaks work of the whole body.

5) Immunologic theory. With age immune system weakens. Body becomes more vulnerable to infectious diseases and disorders which finally leads to death. Weakening of immune system leads to triggering of autoimmune responses – body detects its own cells as foreign ones and destroys them.

Age-Related Changes

Starting from middle age, human body starts experiencing difficulties with daily loads, as physical and mental abilities gradually fall down. In developed countries an average lifespan is 70 years. In fact, a human can live 120 years, but failures in work of various body systems, which occur in second part of life, do prevent this.

Age-related changes lead to chronic and sometimes to fatal illnesses. Most vulnerable are cardiovascular, digestive, nervous and reproductive systems. Most common age-related diseases are Alzheimer's disease, osteoarthritis, cancer, diabetes, depression and heart diseases.

Peak of growth and maturation of human body occurs at the age of 25, then follow natural processes of maturity and aging. Some age-related changes are beard hardly, but they not always do transform a man into feeble old man. Specific nature of aging process depend on health condition, lifestyle and genetic predisposition of a man.

Aging process is followed by the next changes:

• hearing impairment (especially it becomes difficult to hear high tones)
• increase of fatty tissues in comparison with muscular ones (the correlation may be 30%). Subcutis, which previously was distributed through the whole body, now becomes thin and as a result fat is accumulated in abdomen area. Human body loses its ability to intensively diffuse fats (including cholesterol and fat-soluble substances) and they are accumulated in the body.
• water reduction in the body, which leads to aggravation of water-soluble materials absorption. Body reduces production of saliva and other moisturizing liquids
• aggravation of liver and kidneys work, as a result in the body are accumulated harmful products of metabolism
• aggravation of digestion due to lowering of gastric acid production
• musculature weakening, aggravation of motion coordination, reduction of movability, dexterity and flexibility
• reduction of sex hormones production, sexual function lowering
• changes in cardiovascular and respiratory systems lead to aggravation of delivery of oxygen and nutrient substances to organs and systems of the body
• aggravation of nervous system work. Signals from brain are transmitted not so effectively as before. Reflexes slow down, memory and ability of new information perception get reduced
• reduction of thickness of bony tissue and strength of bones
• gradual decline of hormones production especially thyroid and sex hormones
• visual deterioration
• reduction of natural production of Vitamin D

Why Occur Memory Failures?

Problems with memory may occur at any age.
Doctors name major causes:
- excess weight and high pressure. Hypodynamia leads to narrowing of blood vessels, decrease of blood circulation, and thus brain gets less blood. Physical activity will help to recover memory.
- unhealthy diet and undernutrition. Body suffers from deficiency of vitamin B12 which is found in diary products, meat and fish. Vitamin B12 is responsible for good memory.
- low activity of thyroid gland (hypotheriosis). Besides problems with memory, sufferer experiences fatigue, frequent depression, unreasonable weight gaining.

Lack of sleep, migraines, ongoing flights, intake of painkillers and other medications, pregnancy also may cause memory failure.

One Minute of Exercise a Day Could Prevent Diabetes

Medical experts claim that just one minute of exercise a day helps to prevent development of type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes develops when glucose level in blood becomes dangerously high due to depression of insulin function. Frequently the cause of this disease is sedentary lifestyle and therefore experts recommend exercises to prevent diabetes.

A recent study showed that just one minute of exercise a day would be enough to reduce significantly risks for diabetes development. Volunteers twice a day in the course of three days intensively exercised on a bike for 20 seconds, and as a result in six weeks the function of insulin was improved by 28%.

Our muscles do accumulate sugar in form of glycogen which we use when make exercises. In order to supplement lost reserves, muscles take sugar from blood. In passive people muscles are not used to that and therefore reduces sensibility to insulin and increases blood sugar level which leads to type 2 diabetes development.

Scientists from Great Britain say that there is no more rapid and effective way to make muscles use glycogen, than intensive exercises. In 20 seconds of exercises human body uses the same amount of glycogen as it uses during an hour of mid-intensive exercises.

Health Benefits of Pumpkin

Flavored pumpkin flesh is rich in vitamins such as:

• ascorbic acid, which would save you from autumn colds;
• vitamins of B group, which would save you not just from fatigue, irritancy and insomnia but also would make your hair and skin healthy;
• vitamins A and E, which help to fight wrinkles and premature aging;
• vitamin K, which is beneficial for blood coagulability and it cannot be found in other vegetables.

Pumpkin is rich in vitamin T and due to this it may be called best topping to beef, pork and other fat foods as vitamin T helps to uptake junk food and prevents from obesity. This property makes pumpkin favorite vegetable of dieticians who recommend it to people who want to lose weight. Also pumpkin is rich in iron and therefore people who love pumpkin always have good complexion and are in high spirits.

It is considered that pumpkin juice helps males to maintain their sexual tonus. Experts say that pumpkin helps not only to solve sexual problems but also it helps to fight many serious diseases. Probably, there is no more healthy vegetable for people suffering from cardiovascular diseases. Rich in potassium, pumpkin improves work of heart, strengthens vessels and relieves from edema.

Pumpkin seeds are rich in unsaturated fatty acids which reduce level of bad cholesterol in blood and protect heart and vessels. Also pumpkin seeds contain:

• vitamin D need for strong bones and uptake of calcium
• zinc need for healthy skin, hair, nails and strong immunity
• magnesium need for good working of heart and nervous system and also it helps to normalize arterial pressure

Pumpkin seeds improve appetite and accelerate wound healing. Psychologists recommend people who want to give up smoking to eat pumpkin seeds. It is considered that this process may kill desire for smoking. It would be better not to fry seeds as they lose their healthy properties.

Pomegranate Prevents from Heart Disease

Pomegranate is a real natural elixir which helps to prevent heart disease and also has many other healthy properties, say researchers from Spain. Large scale research showed that pomegranate extract, which consists of seeds and skin, improves work of brain, muscles, liver, and also it slows down aging process!

During the experiment 60 volunteers took daily a pill with pomegranate extract. Researchers examined activity of chemical agents in their bodies and compared it with results obtained from people who took placebo.

Healthy properties of pomegranate are explained with reduction of oxidative processes into the body which destroy DNA. Most interesting thing is that rich with healthy properties in pomegranate are non-edible parts of fruit which are found in juice or extract.

If we consider senescence as process of acidification and DNA destruction then pomegranate consumption may be considered one of effective anti-aging products, claim researchers.

Pomegranate is known for centuries for its healthy properties. It contains vitamins A, C, E, ferrum and antioxidants – substances which do neutralize harmful free radicals which provoke destructive processes in human body.

Sedentary Lifestyle Increases Risks for Cancer

The more time you spend in sitting position at home or at work, the more higher is risk for cancer, say Canadian scientists. To protect yourself from negative effects of sedentary lifestyle, you should get up and make some exercises from time to time.

“There exists strong proof that bowel cancer and breast cancer do rarely affect people who are physically active. However, it is not enough to follow recommendations according to which minimal activity rate necessary for the health is 150 minutes of exercises weekly. If in the rest time you make nothing but spend it in sitting position, then you surely will have problems”, report scientists from Calgary, Canada.

Regular exercises help to reduce risks for bowel cancer development by 35%. The more you make exercises, the better effects you get. Physical activity reduces risks for breast cancer development by 25%.

There exists an opinion that overweight increases risks for cancerous growths due to increase of inflammation rate in the body. Physical activity reduces the number of inflammatory markers and this explains physical activity influence on risks for cancer development which increases in presence of inflammatory processes in the body.