The Effects of Inflammation, Mitochondrial Decay, and Glycation on Aging

Aging is an inevitable biological process. Although we can’t control the fact that we will all age, we can absolutely control how fast we age. There are many biochemical processes that cause pre-mature aging, such as inflammation, cellular decay, and glycation. The good news is that you can slow down the aging process by adopting some dietary and lifestyle changes.

Inflammation

The aging process is directly linked to inflammation. An increased level of inflammation in your body correlates directly to an increased state of aging and disease. Inflammation can be acute, like when you tear your Achilles tendon, or chronic, low-grade, and always existent. The latter is based on your diet and daily lifestyle. You can control chronic inflammation by adopting a healthier lifestyle.

Acute Versus Chronic Inflammation

Acute inflammation is what you get when you have an injury. It happens! It’s usually localized and short-lived. The inflammation is reduced and the pain goes away in a few days.

Chronic inflammation is more harmful and is usually self-perpetuating. It disrupts cellular homeostasis, changes the physiology of the cell, and destroys tissue.  It is unhealthy and can lead to a disease state.

A Closer Look At Chronic Inflammation

C-reactive proteins and cardiovascular disease
C-reactive proteins are proteins synthesized in the liver and found in the blood. They are markers of general inflammation in your body. CRP levels can be measured by taking a blood test.

Increased levels of C-reactive proteins measured in the blood are a good indicator for risk of cardiovascular disease.  Your risk for cardiovascular disease is high if your CRP levels are above 3mg/L. Optimum levels which correlate with the lowest risk for CV disease is less than 1mg/L

Continue reading about ways to reduce inflammation on page 2 of this article.

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