I’m an anti-ageing guru – here’s 4 ways to turn back the clock and live LONGER
DID YOU know your biological age could be different from your actual age?
An anti-aging researcher claims he managed to turn back his biological clock by a decade, by implementing four simple habits.
Your age basically represents the number of complete revolutions around the sun you have been on earth for.
But you can measure your biological age according to DNA components that reflect your body’s aging process, according to Harvard biologist and anti-aging researcher David Sinclair.
Despite being 53, David told Insider that his body is a full decade younger.
The guru – who cofounded a platform that allows people to tally up their body’s age called Tally Health – said that he overate, overdrank and was overweight in his 30s.
But he claimed cutting out most alcohol and switching to plant based diet had extended his projected lifespan.
“My calculated biological age has been going down for the past decade or more to a point where I’m predicted to live at least a decade longer than I would have if I hadn’t done anything,” David told Insider. “So it’s never too late.”
David said four lifestyle changes in particular were instrumental in turning back his body’s clock.
Exercise is key
David said he tries to do some sort of aerobic exercise at least three times a week, and he uses a standing desk to make sure he isn’t sat in a chair all day.
Aerobic exercise basically means getting some cardio in.
You can get your heart pumping by going on a brisk walk, or going running, swimming or cycling.
The NHS recommends we get at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity a week or or 75 minutes of vigorous activity.
Reducing stress and cutting out ‘jerks’
David said stress management, including setting aside “quiet times” during the day, supports healthy aging.
“I don’t stress so much about problems,” he said. “I do surround myself with people who are not jerks, increasingly.”
Studies have linked high levels of stress to deadly illnesses – in severe cases even leading to heart events such as a stroke or heart attack.
One way to beat stress goes back to David’s first tip, exercising.
The NHS also advised you bring up how you’re feeling to a friend, family member or health professional.
It further emphasised the importance of connecting with people and having a nurturing support network and also setting aside a couple nights a week for quality “me time” away from work.
Intermittent fasting
David told Insider he tries to “pack [his] main meal into a few hours a day, whenever possible”.
Whether intermittent fasting – which has grown in popularity as a weight loss regime – can harm or benefit your health is unclear and the subject of much research.
One 2021 study suggested that the practice – can involve going without food between certain hours or on specific days – suggested that it may help increase longevity due to the way it seems to affect cellular aging and reduce the risk of certain diseases.
But another piece of research said skipping meals can damage your body’s immune system cells and also trigger a stress reaction.
A healthy diet
According to David, how you nourish your body is also key to anti-aging.
He drinks one to two green-tea matchas daily, Insider reported, as he claimed the beverage contained “molecules in it that will prevent cancer” and anti-inflammatory properties, he said.
US researchers last year found that green tea could slash the odds of deadly complications related to metabolic syndromes – coronary heart disease and stroke.
According to David, prioritizing habits that promote longevity isn’t just about living longer, it’s about maximizing your healthy years.
“Nobody wants to be sick for a decade or have cancer that drags on or be frail,” he said. “What we’re really talking about is preventing those things, or squeezing them into the last bit of life.”
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