We spoke a bit last week about the differences between our chronological and biological age. If you used the calculator I provided (or another one you like better) you should now have an idea how the two age numbers differ for you. I, for example, have a chronological age of 72 and a biological age of 63. That is definitely better than having it the other way around, but it left me feeling that I can do better.
Biological age, also called physiological age, is a measure of how well or poorly your body is functioning relative to your actual calendar age. If yours is lower than your chronological age, congratulations. You are doing something right. But what if the reverse is true, or there is not much difference between the two for you. Is there anything you can do of lower your biological age - or at least slow biological aging down?
The sort answer is yes. But it is not to be found among the many amazing, incredible anti-aging supplements crowding the TV commercials and drugstore shelves.
Genetics matters. Just as specific diseases run in families, longevity does also. An Adventist Health study shows that with optimal lifestyle habits, such as no tobacco or alcohol use, regular exercise, vegetarianism, and effective management of stress, people generally have an average life expectancy of about 86 years. Anything above that suggests a genetic component. If you have family members who have lived longer than 86 years, chances are you'll live a long life too.
But there is not a lot that you can do about your genes. (Although the emerging science of epigentics may eventually change that.) That leaves - yes, you guessed it - your lifestyle.Healthy habits can have a significant impact on your longevity and biological age. These include:
- Exercise habits
- Eating habits
- Stress levels
- Alcohol consumption
- Level of education
- Amount of sleep
- Sexual and romantic relationships
- Tobacco use and exposure to other environmental toxins
Since the impact of lifestyle - for good or for bad - compounds with time, the sooner you adopt healthy habits the greater the impact will be. But that definitely does not mean that it is ever too late to get started. Here is a 6-step plan to begin lowering your biological age. What do you have to lose?
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