Essay Sample on Unlock Longevity: Calorie Restriction Diet & Improved Golden Years

Introduction

Aging is a biological process that we all go through. The cells in our body die at a faster rate than they regenerate. The functionality of the body organs decreases and is more prone to failure leading to death. The following information discuss improvements that individuals can make in their later years to prolong their lives further and to improve the quality off their golden years.

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In the article titled "Calorie restricted diet. The secret to Longevity?" A study was conducted on non-primate, and some primate test subjects to determine the effect of dietary restrictions had an impact on the aging process of the test subjects. The researchers reported that there was a significant decrease in the incidence of cancer and heart diseases (Sister Namibia, 2019). Studies conducted on the mice subjected to calorie restriction showed a significant increase in life spans.

The effect of dietary restriction on subjects was remarkable, and the findings had to be declared universal, though tests had not been done on human subjects. The challenges incurred with conducted human studies were on the consistency and long term compliance and cost of conducting a long term study. In 2011 though, research on human subjects was done for about one year, and the outcome was similar to what was discovered in the animals (Sister Namibia, 2019). There were reduced fat masses, reduced damage to DNA and RNA, reduced inflammation markers. The study on calorie restriction is still relevant to our time, and the struggle exists with most Americans, even those who are on a diet today. They struggle to eat fewer calories, and the addiction to fast food that is high in calories has become more rampant.

In the article titled. "The Nun Study." Older Nuns were consulted to take part in a study that evaluated their mental capabilities. This was a longitudinal analysis of the mental capabilities of the nuns in their later years since the survey was conducted on 675 participants aged 75 to 102 years (Sister Namibia, 2019). The cohort was ideal since the nuns lived similar lives, and the convent provided a controlled environment, there was also detailed medical data of the sisters.

The outcome of the study showed a significant decline in the mental capabilities though the rate of decline differed depending on the work line of the nuns, level of education, and the circumference of the head. From the findings of the study, it is clear that a stimulating environment and social engagement play a part in maintaining a good mental status in the later years. The study on the nuns was conducted in 1985 and would not be much relevant in our day today. The cohort for the study was small and does not ideally represent society at large today. Social engagements also differ from person to person, and it would be difficult to make comparisons. Getting a controlled environment would also prove a challenge, and it would be difficult to get a group of adults to comply with living to certain lifestyles for long periods (Sister Namibia, 2019).

It would be practical to conduct a study on individuals in their natural environment and their field of work. It would be more relevant to focus on the diverse fields of work and different settings of living and social standards. The article Benefits of staying active in old age, Sister Namibia describes the importance of exercising in old age and its benefits on the body of an aging person.

The article explains the importance of staying active and fit in later years. As much as old age comes with a slow metabolism, muscle weakness, and bone loss, inactivity is responsible for muscle stiffness, loss of strength, imbalance, and loss of flexibility.

Sister Namibia explains in the article that exercise is suitable for people of all ages and physical conditions. Including people who are physically disabled or people suffering from joint problems like arthritis. Though it is essential to exercise, one has to make sure that they do not hurt themselves or anyone around. Exercise can be used to slow down the process of aging and to keep the body fit even in old age.

Aging is a natural process, there is no way of stopping the process, but there are improvements that one can make to make life in old age better and improve our mental capabilities. Controlled diet, increased social interactions, and exercise have been proven to help slow down the normal deterioration that comes progressively with old age. Individual and social circumstances may be different today, but the principles in the studies carried out in the past may still be applied to current situations. Studies in modern times can also be conducted using the same parameters to get finer results that will fit the society today.

Conclusion

From the discussion above, it is evident that aging is a biological process that all human beings have to pass through towards cognition in the journey of life to the end of life. The cells in our body die at a faster rate than they regenerate. The functionality of the body organs decreases and is more prone to failure leading to death. There are improvements that individuals can make in their later years to prolong their lives further and to improve the quality off their golden years. These improvements include; controlled diet, increased social interactions, and exercise have been proven to help slow down the normal deterioration that comes progressively with old age.

References

Sinclair, D. A., & Guarente, L. (2006). Unlocking the Secrets of Longevity Genes. Scientific American, 294(3), 48-57. Retrieved from: https://www.jstor.org/stable/26061377?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

Sister Namibia, (2019). The Benefits of Staying Active in Old Age. Sister Namibia. Retrieved from: www.Sister Namibia.org