Living With Less Stress Makes You Younger
We’ve recently discussed how your biological age can be objectively measured by looking at the length of the telomeres of your DNA.
DNA is bound together in a double-helix, similar to the two strands of a zipper. Telomeres can be thought of, in simple terms, as the extended ends of this zipper which are designed to absorb wear and tear instead of the more useful parts. As you age, these ends slowly unravel at a predictable rate.
The results of previous research at the University of California, San Francisco, provided new insight on the link between biological age and lifestyle.
Now a new study, the first to apply this approach to understand aging, has clearly shown the impact of lifestyle on how quickly our biological clocks are ticking.
Using older women as subjects, telomere measurements were taken over the course of one year and compared to exercise, nutrition, sleep and stress habits.
Results clearly showed a link between all of these factors and the rate of biological aging.
While more research is needed, it provides a confirmation of the idea that ongoing stress, even during just one year, has long-term consequences for health.
The good news, though, is that improving your lifestyle will truly make you biologically younger.
HSG provides the support your team needs to stress less and achieve positive exercise, nutrition and work/life balance changes. Our Annual Wellbeing Programs are unique to your organisation, targeting your stated wellbeing objectives according to your style of learning. Contact us today to see what we can build for you.
