How do you get to be a “ridiculously healthy” senior citizen? Take care of your gut — research has linked gut health to healthy aging

There is no secret to being “ridiculously healthy.” It can seem that way — given how obsessed we are with miracle creams and magic pills — but the truth is, natural ways trump synthetic solutions each and every time. To further drive home this fact, one of the largest microbiota studies to date just concluded that maintaining a healthy gut profile can make you age healthier and more gracefully. Forget the stereotype that near-centenarians are weak and decrepit. Medical science is catching up to what Natural News readers have known for a long time: A healthy gut improves the immune system, supports the function of various organs, and promotes overall well-being — even if you’re 80, 90, or a 100.

Researchers from the Western University, Lawson Health Research Institute and Tianyi Health Science Institute observed more than 1,000 Chinese individuals to determine any potential links between gut microbiota and healthy aging. Participants ranged from delicate three-year olds to vibrant centenarians. Analysis of various biomarkers showed that there was a direct correlation between health and the microbes in the intestine. What fascinated the team was that a healthy gut microbiome could prompt an individual to have a physical profile of someone decades younger. So, an extremely healthy 90-year-old adult could, for example, conceivably have the gut profile of a 30-year-old person. This held true even after taking into account other extraneous variables.

“”It begs the question — if you can stay active and eat well, will you age better, or is healthy ageing predicted by the bacteria in your gut?” professor at the Western’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry and scientist at Lawson Health Research Institute Gregor Reid asked Science Daily.

The authors concluded that they do not yet know if healthy ageing was a cause or an effect of a healthy gut. Nevertheless, they say that their study proves that practicing healthy lifestyle habits — especially those that promote a healthy gut — would influence not only if you age but how you do.

“By studying healthy people, we hope to know what we are striving for when people get sick,” said Reid.

The study likewise found that people aged 19 to 24 displayed more anomalies in their gut microbiome than other age groups. The authors have no hypothesis for why this may be so and suggest further research.

“Gut” to believe in magic…or maybe just be more conscientious about what you eat

Our immune system is closely linked to our gut. Gut imbalances are known to increase the risk of developing autoimmune diseases, diabetes, chronic fatigue, skin conditions, and various mental disorders (the most common being depression). Wellness experts have repeatedly stated that people should take particular care of their gut.

The easiest way to do this is to do a complete overhaul of your diet. If this sounds incredibly simple, it’s because it is. The reason why this never became popular in mainstream media is that it takes a lot of time, effort, and diligence. Good health is not something that is immediate. It is a process.

The first thing you have to do is to remove all food items that can negatively affect your gut. This includes inflammatory foods (such as dairy, corn, soy, and sugar) and irritants (such as caffeine or drugs). Replace these items with food that promote proper digestion such as green leafy vegetables. Supplement this diet with both probiotic and prebiotic supplements to balance bacteria levels. You can opt to take in other supplements that would help the gut repair itself. Nutrients such as zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A, C, and E prove to be useful for this purpose.

The best part is that the gut can heal itself naturally, as long as you don’t overload it with synthetic garbage. Wellness experts say that following a strict, healthy diet for a month will show drastic results.

You can find other ways of ageing gracefully (and naturally) when you visit Detox.news.

Sources include:

ScienceDaily.com

MindBodyGreen.com