Metabolism and Aging

While most people think of metabolism as something that is affected by aging—and that is certainly partially true—the reality is also that metabolism affects healthy aging.

Think for a moment of the way a car engine burns gasoline for fuel. This process generates kinetic energy (movement). It also has a byproduct—exhaust. As your body does its job creating and using energy, it also creates a byproduct or type of exhaust: free radicals. Free radicals are generated during metabolic processes. Free radicals have some purposes, but a build-up of free radicals can cause oxidative damage, which ages your cells. Antioxidants fight free radicals and help prevent oxidative stress, which is part of why eating fruits and veggies, especially antioxidant-rich ones, is so important!

Efficient and Healthy Metabolism

A healthy body that is functioning efficiently at the cellular level provides our organ systems with optimal amounts of energy and this process can be sustained by making healthy life choices. Indeed, our cells can act younger if we pay close attention to our metabolism and how our bodies use energy. However, the opposite is also true, if we make unhealthy or even sub-optimal lifestyle choices our cells and our body systems will experience loss of function that builds and builds over years of abuse until we experience challenges directly related to our metabolism and lifestyle choices.

Without a doubt, science has reaffirmed that the place to start is always with a nutrient-rich, balanced diet; adequate exercise; and ample deep, restorative sleep. One of the most beautiful things about health and wellness is the way that working on one area of health improves other areas at the same time. Wellness is truly interconnected. For example, the same diet that is rich in antioxidants needed to fight free radicals and prevent oxidative stress is likely to be good for your glucose metabolism and general health as well because many antioxidant-rich foods are fruits and vegetables filled with additional nutrients and fiber.