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Some years ago, I went to my 25th high school reunion; I hadn't seen most of my classmates since our graduation. A few were just as I remembered them, hardly changed at all. Others looked so aged that I could barely find points of similarity with the pictures of them I had in my head.
Why are some individuals so outwardly altered by time and others not? Or, in other words, why is there often a discrepancy between chronological age and biological age? I believe that the answer has to do with complex interactions of genetics and environment. I also believe, based on evidence I have reviewed, that we have control over some of those factors.
Your body grows and develops according to the genetic instructions acquired from your parents. But research also consistently reminds us of the profound influence of environment on genes and their expression. It is always nature and nurture, never just one or the other. Nature has dealt you a certain hand of genetic cards; it is up to you how to play them.
Wherever you are on the continuum of aging, you can live in ways that maximize health and happiness. This means eating an anti-inflammatory diet (see "
Healthy From the Inside Out
," on the importance of preventing chronic, systemic inflammation), getting regular physical activity and adequate rest, and practicing methods of stress reduction. But it also includes the incorporation of supplements into your daily routine. Dietary supplements are not substitutes for the whole foods that contain those nutrients, but they can provide insurance against gaps in your diet.
I've identified by category certain supplements to consider as part of a program for healthy aging: those that help provide important nutrients, prevent inflammation, bolster your immune system, support your liver, and increase your energy levels. To age gracefully requires learning and practicing what we have to do to keep our bodies and minds in good working order. Lending support with these key nutrients is a great way to start.
