I'm so sorry it wasn't clear. In the study mentioned, the researchers looked at 11 organs and found patterns around those who had organs that aged quickly vs. those that seemed to age slower than a person's chronological age. So when we talk about youthful aging, we talk about organ systems that aren't aging as quickly as a person's chronological age. My friend Gretchen Reynolds at the Washington Post wrote about this -- I'll add a gift link to her story about the different rates at which our organs age. But the bottom line is that lifestyle factors have an impact on this -- so eating fatty fish or NOT eating processed meat is associated with younger (or slower) organ aging. Here's Gretchen's story. https://wapo.st/3IC0yuR
"At a certain age, it’s easy to feel like the die is cast, and that whatever is going to happen to you is going to happen. I’m certainly guilty of that thinking myself. But these two studies are a powerful reminder that aging is something we can influence." <— such a great reminder.
I'm coming off a month of being sick with mono (first time infection in my 30s 😵💫) and have been reading a lot about health and healthy aging in the meantime. The more I read, the more encouraged I am that so much of health is simpler than we think. Doesn't mean it's not difficult to implement certain lifestyle changes, but most of it is not some magic secret only a select few can do. Appreciate your breaking down these studies so clearly for us!
I understand faster-aging. And the term youthful aging, I guess I can figure out that if you do vigorous exercise, eat oily fish + poultry, and have studied....then you don't age as fast. But younger aging eludes me. Definitions would REALLY help! So, if I take ibuprofen, cod liver oil, vitamin C, multivitamins and glucosamine (what is that?!), then I also won't age?! Or I will get younger?! LOL? What is difference between youthful aging and younger aging? Does it refer to what age one should start these habits or what? Very confusing....but I suppose I get the gist.
I'm so sorry it wasn't clear. In the study mentioned, the researchers looked at 11 organs and found patterns around those who had organs that aged quickly vs. those that seemed to age slower than a person's chronological age. So when we talk about youthful aging, we talk about organ systems that aren't aging as quickly as a person's chronological age. My friend Gretchen Reynolds at the Washington Post wrote about this -- I'll add a gift link to her story about the different rates at which our organs age. But the bottom line is that lifestyle factors have an impact on this -- so eating fatty fish or NOT eating processed meat is associated with younger (or slower) organ aging. Here's Gretchen's story. https://wapo.st/3IC0yuR
Fascinating post and I love your joy scrolling links as well. Thank you!
"At a certain age, it’s easy to feel like the die is cast, and that whatever is going to happen to you is going to happen. I’m certainly guilty of that thinking myself. But these two studies are a powerful reminder that aging is something we can influence." <— such a great reminder.
I'm coming off a month of being sick with mono (first time infection in my 30s 😵💫) and have been reading a lot about health and healthy aging in the meantime. The more I read, the more encouraged I am that so much of health is simpler than we think. Doesn't mean it's not difficult to implement certain lifestyle changes, but most of it is not some magic secret only a select few can do. Appreciate your breaking down these studies so clearly for us!
I understand faster-aging. And the term youthful aging, I guess I can figure out that if you do vigorous exercise, eat oily fish + poultry, and have studied....then you don't age as fast. But younger aging eludes me. Definitions would REALLY help! So, if I take ibuprofen, cod liver oil, vitamin C, multivitamins and glucosamine (what is that?!), then I also won't age?! Or I will get younger?! LOL? What is difference between youthful aging and younger aging? Does it refer to what age one should start these habits or what? Very confusing....but I suppose I get the gist.