A recent study in California suggests that a nutritious diet, regular exercise and reducing stress is the key to a longer life.

The experiment separated a group of cancer patients in two groups. One of the groups carried on their lifestyles as before, the other group however agreed to fulfil a healthier lifestyle as listed above, guided by Doctors, Nutritionists and Psychologists.

The Express (http://www.express.co.uk/news/health/430025/Secret-of-how-to-live-longer-Exercise-healthy-diet-and-stress-relief) records in which ways the patients had to change their lifestyle:

1) Their food consumption was modified to include foods high in plant-based proteins, fruits, vegetables and grains, and low in fat and processed carbohydrates.

2) They had to exercise 6 days a week, for a time of at least 30 minutes.

3) The cancer patients also were encouraged to use de-stressing techniques such as yoga and meditation, whilst also regularly attending counselling sessions.

This study, reported in the journal The Lanset Oncology, continued for five years. The results revealed that within the cancer patients who had followed this healthy lifestyle, their telomeres ‘had lengthened significantly by an average of 10 per cent. In comparison, the telomeres of the other group had decreased by 3%.

So what are telomeres?

Telomeres are microscopic “caps” in our DNA which prevent cells from becoming damaged.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24111357

These ‘safety caps’ on either end of our cells shorten as we age and shorter telomeres have been associated with a greater risk of early death and age-related conditions such as heart disease, dementia, diabetes, cancers and vulnerability to infection.’

The study undertaken in California strongly implies that with the correct lifestyle, telomeres can be encouraged to lengthen, as they did with the cancer patients in the study. Therefore suggesting that the right lifestyle can help to prevent such illnesses appearing.

Recorded by the BBC, Prof Ornish the conductor of the experiment said: “The implications of this relatively small pilot study may go beyond men with prostate cancer. If validated by large-scale randomised controlled trials, these comprehensive lifestyle changes may significantly reduce the risk of a wide variety of diseases and premature mortality.

At New You Boot Camp we maintain that fitness, nutrition and stress-levels all have an overall effect on your health and well-being. It is for this reason that we focus tirelessly on all three during our Boot Camps.