MAN’S DESIRE TO defy age is as ancient as human history, and scientists and corporates have invested time and trillions of pounds looking into how our bodies age. Even with the massive surge in ‘bio-hacking and related technology, we can still not scientifically prove that any anti-ageing treatments truly work.
There is no anti-ageing pill or the ability to switch off a gene that triggers the body’s decline. None of us can rewind the clock, but we can make minor lifestyle adjustments to slam the brakes on the ageing process.
As I age, I am experiencing the inevitable signs of ageing; below are the most notable.
GUT
Starts ageing at 55
Your gut should have a good balance between friendly and harmful bacteria. After 55 friendly bacteria, levels in the gut drop significantly, particularly in the large intestine. I have in recent years experienced E-coli, and it has been a harrowing journey to overcome it. With both medical intervention and dietary changes, it has become manageable.
- For a healthy gut, try to eat 30 different types of plant-based foods each week, as they all contain specific types of fibres and chemicals that feed the different bacteria in your gut.
MUSCLES
Start ageing at 30
During exercise, our muscles constantly break down; then, the body builds them back up. From about the age of 40, we start to lose between 0.5 and 2 per cent of our muscle mass each year. My water-based Kun-Aqua training enables me to maintain my muscle strength and mass.
- The key is to incorporate protein into your meals, strength train regularly and get enough sleep.
SKIN
Starts ageing mid-20s
It’s a sad reality that our skin starts to age naturally in our mid-20s. As we get older, the collagen production (the protein which acts as scaffolding to the skin) slows, causing the elastin – the substance that enables the skin to snap back into place, has less spring.
- Avoid a sedentary lifestyle, get plenty of vitamin D, avoid sugary or fast foods. Using Vaseline on your skin seals in moisture, helping keep skin hydrated and soft.
BONES
Start ageing at 35
A process called bone turnover happens throughout our life. As children, bone growth is rapid – the skeleton takes just two years to renew itself completely – in adults, this can take ten years. Bone loss can start as part of the natural ageing process at around the age of 35. It is more rapid in post-menopausal women and people deficient in calcium or vitamin D. By the time we’re 80, we can lose up to two inches in height.
- Rebounding (JUMPGA) three times a week helps prevent ‘brittle bone disease’ as it stimulates bone growth cells, resulting in a net gain of around 2 per cent bone mineral density a year. That could be enough to ward off osteoporosis for life.
Holding back time and getting old without getting older; is my way of controlling the ageing process. My training methodology has slowed the ageing process and preserved the health and fitness of my clients to live healthier longer lives. I have concluded (not scientifically) that my lifestyle and not my genes play a significant part in how I look and incorporating exercise, diet, and rest, as intrinsic behavioural expectations are the key.
