Supporting Nutrition and Lifestyle for Ageing Gracefully
As we live longer and the population ages, it’s increasingly important to focus on staying healthy in later life. With nearly 20% of the UK population over 65, it’s clear that earlier interventions are necessary to ensure we can maintain our wellbeing as we age. Fortunately, there are many lifestyle factors we can modify to help us stay healthy into our later years, including diet, exercise, and avoiding harmful substances.
As we age our inflammation increases
Two of the main factors that can contribute to age-related disease are chronic low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress. When left unchecked, these can lead to cellular damage and contribute to both disease states and accelerated ageing. Fortunately, we can help reduce inflammation through dietary interventions, which can in turn reduce our risk of developing age-related illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and dementia.
Health of our gut plays a crucial role
The health of our gut also plays a crucial role in our overall health, particularly as we age. The gut microbiome helps to shape our physiology and metabolism, and supporting a healthy intestinal microbiome through diet and targeted probiotic therapy can help reduce the incidence of age-related disease and promote healthy ageing.
You can support the growth of Akkermansia muciniphila, a bacterium linked to healthy aging, by increasing your intake of foods that are rich in catechins such as cherries, apples, dark chocolate, and tea. Additionally, ellagic acid-containing foods like blackberries, walnuts, and pomegranates can also be consumed to aid in this effort.
Age related diseases: Inflammation and cardiovascular
Unfortunately, micronutrient deficiencies become increasingly common as we age, which can increase our risk of a decline in functioning, frailty, and disease development. This is due to lower dietary intake of certain nutrients and absorption issues, which are exacerbated by modern farming methods, processed foods, declining gut health, and sedentary lifestyles.
Native Nutrients makes a good multivitamin to add additional micronutrients to your daily support. As a result, it’s important to monitor and supplement with key nutrients like magnesium to help maintain our quality of life and reduce the risk of certain illnesses. Our magnesium is food sourced and is an important mineral which supports hundreds of enzyme reactions, including cellular and metabolic processes in the body. It also reduces the risk of certain age-related disease. Like Cardiovascular, Diabetes type 2 and osteoarthritis.
For example, consuming fibre and polyphenol compounds can help reduce inflammation by modulating the gut microbiome. Additionally, nutrients such as CoQ10 and omega-3 fatty acids, found in oily fish, can support heart function, protect against oxidative stress, and reduce the risk of arrhythmias and arterial disease. At Native Nutrients we Have a great CoQ10 antioxidant and high strength fish oil you can use in support of oxidative stress and inflammation.
Age related diseases: Osteoarthritis – reducing risk through anti-inflammatory practices
Adopting an anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle can reduce the risk of osteoarthritis and slow its progression. This includes avoiding alcohol and smoking, getting enough sleep and exercise, and consuming a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and protein. Native Nutrients created a joint and bone support to improve joint mobility and help with the reduction of pain.
Age related diseases: Type 2 diabetes and understanding the role of chromium
Type 2 diabetes affects millions of individuals in the UK, and its risk factors include obesity, ethnicity, diet, and lifestyle patterns. Age-related changes in insulin sensitivity and physical activity also play a role in the development of the condition. However, type 2 diabetes is considered a “lifestyle disease,” and interventions that address dietary and lifestyle patterns can help reverse the condition in some cases. Chromium, a nutrient that regulates glucose levels and enhances insulin signaling, can be found in whole grains, mushrooms, broccoli, and brewer’s yeast, or taken in supplemental form. Low levels of chromium are associated with poor insulin sensitivity, and supplementation can help improve glucose metabolism. We produce a great food sourced chromium plus to help you control your blood sugar cravings.
By making small but significant changes to our lifestyles and diets, we can help ensure that we age as healthily as possible, enjoying a high quality of life and maintaining our independence for as long as possible.