Did you know you have two different ages?

Did you know you have two different ages?

   That’s correct. Everyone knows the day, month, and year they were born. That is the chronological age. But there is also the biological age that reflects your lifestyle and how you are aging internally. The chronological age is set in stone and can’t be changed.

But the biological age can be changed.

   Many people blame their poor health condition on bad genetics. And that’s true to a certain extent. Some genes can make us more vulnerable to specific afflictions than those without disease-prone genetics.
However, research has concluded that lifestyle plays a significant role in enjoying good health. Poor lifestyle choices harm your DNA, accelerating aging and destroying your quality of life.
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) has the genetic codes responsible for building and maintaining our bones, muscles, nervous system, and organs. The alteration of healthy DNA by self-destructive behavior results in disease and premature aging.

Here are a few examples of “Old-man Aging’s” calling cards…
• Weakened, shrinking muscles. The medical term for this is sarcopenia, a maddening loss of muscle size and strength that can be discouraging and keeps many people on the couch, creating a vicious cycle.
• A metabolic rate that has slowed to a snail’s pace, resulting in unwanted weight and an accumulation of hideous blubber around the midsection.
• Chronic fatigue. Sitting down to rest is often a favorite hobby of old folks.
• Brain fog. Many older people find concentrating harder, especially if they no longer work at staying sharp.
• Moodiness and depression. Without good health, it is unsurprising that many aging people resign themselves to a bleak future.
• Dry, weathered skin.
• Hair loss.
• Brittle bones that are susceptible to damage from a fall. Combined with a declining sense of balance, we have a recipe for disaster.
• A loss of teeth and receding gums.
It is challenging to ward off all of these symptoms of aging. But it can be done with the right lifestyle and mindset.

The Medical Professionals weigh in.

Medical professionals understand the aging process and when it should happen. The crucial thing to remember is that we all age at different rates. Your biological age can vacillate depending on your lifestyle choices.
Through testing, scientists can discover how you are aging internally. In a perfect world, your chronological and biological age should be the same, or, better still, your biological age should be lower.
Adiv Johnson, Ph.D., the director of research and innovation at Tally Health, a biotechnology company focusing on aging, explains, “Biological age is the idea of, how am I aging internally? If you look at two people who are both chronologically 70, one person can hike up a mountain or run a marathon, and the other person is struggling to do day-to-day tasks, you quickly realize that they are aging in different ways.”

Let’s take a look at two men, both 70 years old.

Individual one has a healthy lifestyle. His DNA health and ancestry personal genetic test results found that he had a biological age of 50. He was in good overall health; he exercised regularly, paid strict attention to his food intake, controlled stress, and kept his alcohol use moderate.
He enjoyed working on his garden, traveling, and spending quality time with friends and family. His test results speak for themselves, and he can look forward to an extended and healthy lifespan.
Individual two, also 70, had the same test, and the results concluded that he was not aging well at all. His biological age was that of an 80-year-old...NOT GOOD! He had ignored his physical and mental health for most of his adult years.
He had suffered from severe health conditions since he was 40, and he was diabetic and had heart problems. He had a sedentary job, was a “couch potato,” and gobbled down junk food and copious amounts of alcohol.
The test results were a wake-up call for individual two, and he has made lifestyle changes to improve his health. He can hopefully reverse some of the abuse done to his body through neglect.
Both individuals could live until they are 85, and individual two could outlive individual one. But here’s the key takeaway: Individual one’s quality of life will be vastly superior to Individual two’s because he cared for himself and led a healthy lifestyle.
How can you discover your biological age? Biological age measures the rate at which your body is aging. You can undergo testing to uncover your biological age by looking at heart and gut health and taking samples of skin, saliva, stools, and blood. The particulars of testing can vary depending on the service provider.
What to do to age gracefully
To enjoy an extended lifespan in quantity and quality, there are specific things to do and things to refrain from doing. Let’s take a look at the basics of good health.

• Don’t be an idiot! Stop doing the self-destructive things that are guaranteed to destroy your precious body. If you smoke, stop. Control your alcohol intake. Stay away from street drugs and strive to keep your weight under control by eating smart. Do your best to minimize your exposure to toxins
• Pay attention to your heart health. Get off the couch and get moving. Control your stress levels and prioritize a good night’s sleep.
• Consider adding a quality multivitamin supplement to your daily food intake.
• Keep your digestive system healthy and prevent constipation by exercising, eating plenty of fiber, fruits, and vegetables, and drinking lots of water. Remember, the gut is referred to as “the second brain” and needs to be treated as such.
• Keep your brain working. In addition to the steps we mentioned, crossword puzzles, brain games, learning a new language, or playing an instrument will keep your brain synapses making new connections. And don’t forget to socialize.
• Eye, ear, and dental health, like everything else mentioned, is crucial to our quality of life. Get regular eye tests, wear ear protection when appropriate, and make the dentist your best friend. Heart health is directly connected to dental health, so don’t forget to brush and floss.
• Skin care is not for women only! Women are light years ahead of men when it comes to caring for their skin, but considering that the skin is the largest organ in the human body, men need to step up to the plate and take care of their skin. Keep your skin clean, moisturized, and protected from the sun and prevent damage from UVAs.
• Products worth mentioning are hormone boosters and peptides. They are designed to treat, stimulate, repair, restore, normalize, and boost health conditions and eliminate the typical signs of aging.

References
https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/features/genes-or-lifestyle
https://www.elysiumhealth.com/blogs/aging101/what-is-your-biological-age-and-why-does-it-matter#:~:text=Chemical%20modifications%20on%20specific%20parts,your%20overall%20rate%20of%20aging.
https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2019/07/16/Lifestyle-choices-can-affect-your-DNA-and-health/1981563288365/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7846274/#:~:text=DNA%20damage%20contributes%20to%20aging,undamaged%20cells%20through%20their%20SASP.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/aging/art-20046070#:~:text=joints%20and%20muscles-,What’s%20happening,your%20coordination%2C%20stability%20and%20balance