Aging, senescence and longevity are correlated phenomena. They deal with processes which have been considered impossible to scientifically analyze for a long time.
Nowadays such processes are submitted to a genetic control.
Since twenty years about some genes which are responsible of longevity have been isolated, especially in several species of invertebrates and genes which are responsible of several hereditary illnesses (among them the Alzheimer's disease) have been isolated in the human species. Till then both have been considered connected to the aging process.
The correlation between the death ages in monozygotic twins has suggested the presence of a 20-40% of heredity for the overall length of the human life.
We can state that, in the human species the aging process is consequently linked for one third about with genetic factors and for two thirds with external factors, with our way of living.
Genetics are an important instruments applied to the aging process analysis of different living species. We hope that the advances towards this direction will be able to obtain, in the near future, therapies which will be able to modify "defects", which are responsible for one third about of quick aging in the human being.
Just now our attention is turned to the so-called external factors which are responsible of the process, because they are the cause of the phenomenon for quite two thirds and because they are factors on which the Anti Aging medicine can already work, regaining the lost balances.
For the time being, the most credited theory as aging cause from external factors is that of oxidative stress from Free Radicals.
The free radicals are substances which can develop inside our organism and which are able to damage the cells, oxidizing their walls, till to the destruction of their nucleus which contains the DNA and so killing them.
The death of these cells is the starting-point toward the degeneration of organs and apparatus and towards the loss of the balances governing our life.
Our organism presents some substances which are able to oppose the negative action of Free Radicals, but not always it is possible, both for their too high number and for the too scanty number of anti-radicals (antioxidants) substances.
It's then simple to realize that the preventive Anti Aging action addresses from one side to the reduction of Free Radicals in our organism and from the other it tries to increase the quantity of those substances which are able to oppose them.
About it, it's interesting to know that there are some foods which neutralize the Free Radicals. In fact, the American Department of Agriculture, after having demonstrated this ability, has written out a kind of "classification" where several common foods are inserted, on the basis of their different anti-oxidant power.
O. R. A. C.
Oxigen Radical Absorbance Capacity
Food bringing till to 500 ORAC units per portion:
Food bringing from 500 to 1000 units:
Food bringing from 1000 to 2000 units:
Food bringing over 2000 units:
It is good to remember once more that the right nourishment is one of the "secrets" to remain young and healthy.
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