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As a third year genetics major, I've learned a lot about metabolism and aging in various classes. A couple days ago, though, my Advanced Eukaryotic Genetics professor intrigued us in the last few minutes of class by talking about some new hypotheses that are being tested to combat aging, dealing with diet. I thought I would share it and see what people thought.
Basically, for years scientists have been studying this enzyme called "telomerase" which is active in stem cells and cancer cells. Telomerase is important because this is the enzyme that keeps our chromosomes (genetic material) from disappearing. Every day our cells divide to replicate, and every replication causes us to lose a little bit of genetic material at the end of our chromosomes. Eventually, our cells lose enough material to cause cell death, which I guess is one of the reasons we all die.
The cells that have this telomerase though, can basically live forever because the ends of their chromosomes are protected from degradation. This is why cancer is so bad, because it just keeps growing and growing. Stem cells though, are awesome because they can become whatever tissues we need in the body. I guess scientists are hoping to figure out how to harvest the good telomerase cells to inhibit aging...or something.
Aaaanyways, it relates to the diet because many of you may have heard about Resveratrol which is found in wine, I believe. Resveratrol increases the levels of something called Sirtuin. Sirtuins are thought to protect the chromosomes from degrading (I think by increasing the telomerase I mentioned earlier). My professor told us that another way to increase Resveratrol is to limit your caloric intake to about 1,000 calories a day. Apparently, some people are doing this diet already to see if it really does prolong youth.
I find it all very ironic that to live longer, we should try eating at a level considered to be dangerously unhealthy by nutritionists. But yet, some are willing to do this. It makes me wonder if this will ever catch on and if it really will make people live longer. But I just can't think that living longer is worth not eating. There are just too many great high-calorie foods out there.
Tell me what you think.
Oh yeah, and if you're thinking you can just drink wine for youth, know that to get the adequate levels of Resveratrol, you would have to drink about 300 glasses per day! :)
Diet Calendar Entries for 04 June 2010:
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1261 kcal
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Fat: 61.48g | Prot: 60.22g | Carb: 119.60g.
Breakfast: Real Mayonnaise with Omega 3, egg. Lunch: cookie, parfait. Dinner: ranch dressing, garlic chicken pizza, pepperoni pizza. more...
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2597 kcal
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Activities & Exercise:
Dance (fast step, aerobic) - 5 minutes, Bicycling (slow) - 11/mph - 30 minutes, Sitting - 3 hours, Resting - 6 hours and 25 minutes, Sleeping - 7 hours and 50 minutes, Walking (moderate) - 3/mph - 10 minutes, Desk Work - 6 hours. more...
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