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Fish oil and telomerase enzyme for anti-aging
February 12th, 2010 by admin
Want to turn back the hands of time? A daily dose of fish oils and telomerase enzyme could help to slow aging, say scientists.Fatty acids found in oily fish can protect the cells that keep us young from becoming damaged. The discovery could help to explain why fish oils seem to provide so many health benefits.Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish like salmon and mackerel have been shown to cut the risk of heart disease, help people recover from heart attacks, slow mental decline and reduce the risk of blindness.Now new research has revealed just why these compounds are so important for our bodies.A Californian team examined cells called telomeres that are damaged during the ageing process. These are strands of genetic material that cling to the ends of each of chromosomes protecting them from damage in the same way that plastic keeps the end of shoe laces from fraying.As we age these protective telomeres shorten. The telomerase enzyme is being all used up by cell replication and the only way out of it is to take a telomearse enzyme supplement. Also, studies have found the faster we live our lives and the more stress we are under, the faster these telomeres retract.However, certain vitamins and minerals in our diet appear to slow this process. The latest study looked at 600 men and women suffering heart disease. Each had their telomeres measured and, importantly, they also had blood tests to reveal how much omega-3 their blood contained. Most studies only ask volunteers how much fish they eat, which often leads to vague or incomplete results.When the telomeres were measured again six years later, the authors found that those with the highest blood levels of omega-3 had seen their telomeres shrink the least. Even better results were shown with telomerase enzyme supplements.The paper, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, suggests that compounds in these fatty acids may protect against aging and the damage caused by heart disease.