3 Things That Age You Quickly

Here at Jinfiniti, we often talk about the things we can do to optimize our health and increase our longevity. But there are also 3 things that can age you quickly unless you actively avoid them.

Let’s dive into the first one. 

1. POOR SLEEP 

The National Council on Aging discovered that even just one night of lost sleep activates genes related to aging in older adults. They also found that regularly sleeping less than six hours per night may be linked to dementia and stroke-related brain changes as early as middle age.

Lack of sleep may contribute to early onset of many chronic conditions, including dementia, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and diabetes. 

As we age, our body tissues naturally experience some damage and our immune system has a way to remove these damaged cells. Sleep is pivotal to this system because it regulates the immune system and its inflammatory response, helping to remove the damaged cells. So if you’re not getting at least seven hours of sleep per night, your body will show accumulation of inflammation and tissue damage. 

So what’s the solution? Better and longer sleep, of course. But how do we achieve that? 

Here are a few tips: 

1. Avoid screens for an hour before bedtime. 
2. Keep your bedroom temperature cool (65°F (18°C) is ideal). 
3. Avoid caffeine (especially coffee) in the afternoon and minimize alcohol in the evening. 
4. Keep your bedroom as dark as possible to keep light from interfering with your melatonin production. 

2. CHRONIC STRESS

Long-term stress is a three-stage killer.

It begins with the release of the hormones cortisol and adrenaline (which cause inflammation and damage to both DNA and cells if they flood your body for a prolonged period of time). It continues with oxidative stress, which is something we talk about quite a bit here at Jinfiniti.

Like stress hormones, oxidative stress also damages cells and DNA, but  it also damages proteins—all of which lead to premature aging. 

Finally, chronic stress affects telomeres, which are the protective caps on the end of your chromosomes that are thought to be a marker of biological aging. Chronic stress is associated with shorter telomeres, which is a serious stage in the problem of premature aging.

So that’s the bad news about stress.

The good news is that if chronic levels of stress are removed, the human body is able to recover and its once-damaged processes can return to healthy levels of functioning.

The body has mechanisms that can repair damaged cells and tissues, and these mechanisms become more high-functioning as the stress is constantly reduced. 

Here are a few of our ideas to reduce chronic stress:

1. Take a brisk walk. Even a 10-minute walk when you’re feeling stressed can help “burn off” stress hormones and release your body’s feel-good chemicals, which promote relaxation and counter all the physical symptoms associated with stress. 
2. Try mindfulness. Many people think of mindfulness as a meditation practice, and maybe that’s what you love to do. If not, a simple act of listening to a relaxing song while taking your morning shower or holding a warm beverage while sitting on your front porch, listening to the birds sing, can be acts of mindfulness as well. 
3. Laugh more. Dr. William Fry refers to laughter as ‘internal jogging’ because it reduces stress hormones and becomes an aperture of joy and hope through which you can look at your life. Whether it’s your children or grandchildren that make you laugh or your favorite TV show, incorporate more opportunities for joy and laughter in your life. 

3. POOR DIET CHOICES

Aging is a culinary tale, and in this tale, inflammatory foods are the villain.

The havoc that ensues from inflammatory foods accelerates the aging process, leaving a trail of oxidative stress and cellular damage. 

Mitochondria (the energy powerhouses of our cells) has to burn the food we eat to produce ATP (energy), but if we’re eating rice, fried foods or any sugars, (and especially if our mitochondria is already not functioning properly) we’re going to produce free radicals—and free radicals are a big cause of disease and aging. 

Glycation—or, the modification of proteins—is another physiological process that comes out of our diet choices, and it’s a major cause of aging. Not to be confused with glucose (which measures how much sugar is in your blood) glycation measures how much sugar is turning into proteins. 

If you eat a chocolate bar, you’ll experience high levels of glycation (GSP). But it’s not only about how much sugar you eat—it’s also the interaction of your specific genes in combination with the sugar you’re intaking.

Since the foods we consume can either be allies in the battle against time or unwitting accomplices in hastening the aging process, let’s look at the foods that are best left on the shelf: 

1. Sugar. The Big Bad Guy of inflammatory foods, excessive sugar intake causes glycation, one of the cornerstone causes of premature aging (as explained above). 
2. Trans Fats. Found in many processed and fried foods, trans fats are notorious for wreaking havoc on our cells. They increase inflammation and contribute to oxidative stress. Check ingredient labels diligently and steer clear of foods that list “partially hydrogenated oils.” 
3. Processed Meats. Laden with preservatives and additives, processed meats can be detrimental to our attempts to defy aging. Instead, choose lean protein sources like poultry, fish, legumes and nuts instead.
4. Refined Grains. Often found in white bread, white rice and various processed foods, refined grains cause rapid spikes in blood sugar levels. This triggers a cascade of events leading to inflammation and increased free radicals—in other words, premature aging. Opt instead for unrefined grains or nut and seed options.
5. Alcohol. NAD levels plummet within the first hour of drinking alcohol, so be mindful of if, when and how you consume alcohol.

Feeling overwhelmed?

Don’t be.

We all eat our favorite (not-so-healthy) treats from time-to-time. Sometimes we get stressed. Other times we don’t get the sleep we need. And that’s okay. 

The most important thing we can do is monitor our biomarker levels in case any of our important physiological processes are malfunctioning in a dangerous way. 

Here at Jinfiniti we recommend testing with one of our biomarker panels because they are the most complete biomarker tests in the world. There are many biomarker tests on the market, but there are none as complete or accurate as Jinfiniti’s. 

Fifty percent of the biomarkers we test for aren’t testable anywhere else in the world! A thorough, comprehensive panel (we have two, priced for your needs) can reveal to you where your body is doing well and where it needs help. 

And if you need to re-stock or purchase our evidence-backed NAD optimization supplement, Accuri® Vitality ↑® NAD+ Booster (backed by our 30-day Money Back Guarantee) you can do so here.

No matter where you’re at on your journey to defy aging and optimize your health, we are here to support you in reaching your goals.

After all, we’re on the same journey as you. 

Lastly, if you’re interested in going deeper on health-related content, here are a few of our recent posts that you may want to read:

1. Andrew Huberman is Wrong About NAD, NAD+ precursor & Longevity
2. 9 Powerful Benefits of Optimizing Your NAD
3. Why Optimized, Precision Medicine is the Future
4. What Does Peak Performance Look Like?