YOU Tip: Protect Your Shoelace Tips . . . Uh, Your Telomeres
Your chromosomes, those little rascals, have small substances on the ends called telomeres -- like those plastic tips on the ends of shoelaces. Every time a cell reproduces, the telomere gets a little shorter. Over time, once the protective covering on the tip wears away, your DNA shoelace begins to fray. The cell stops dividing and can no longer replenish your body. Each time a telomere retires, you age a little.
So, get this: The telomeres of people who feel more stressed are almost 50% shorter than people who say they're less stressed. Since scientists have a rough idea of what the average telomere length is for a specific age, they can estimate how much older the higher stress group is biologically: a whopping 9 to 17 years!
You get the picture. Stress ages you. So cut your tiny telomeres some slack by cutting some for yourself. Practice daily deep breathing and meditation, make stress management techniques part of your everyday life, and when you're about to blow your lid, do this instead.
Here's a list of a few more things you can do to keep your telomeres lovely and long:
- Don't smoke.
- Keep your blood pressure under control.
- Watch your waist.
- Walk every day, and do our YOU2 Workout, this chi-gong routine, or the 20-Minute Workout.
- Take two baby aspirin every morning.
