Due to advances in medical care, we are living longer. BUT ARE WE LIVING HEALTHIER? This is the crux of HEALTHSPAN, which can be defined as the amount of time lived free of disease.
Senescent cells (Sncs) accumulate in tissues as we age thus accelerating the ageing process and age-related diseases such as cancer, arthritis and bone loss, muscle loss (sarcopenia) and frailty, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, diabetes, neurological disorders or decline, and accelerated skin ageing.
These senescent cells are sometimes referred to as zombie cells, because they are damaged and refuse to die.
A younger person's immune system is mostly healthy and is able to clear damaged cells very effectively, however, as we age, our immune system becomes less effective at clearing these troublesome zombie cells and they accumulate causing potential health problems.
Cells become damaged for many reasons, and our body activates a process of irreversible removal from the cell cycle and starts releasing inflammatory cytokines that stimulate the immune response to clear the damaged cells.
These Sncs play different roles in our body and are essential for embryonic development. They can also suppress tumour growth, and assist with tissue repair but unfortunately, they also drive pathology, including cancer.
During acute (short term) senescence, such as injury or illness, the damaged tissue returns to normal after the regeneration and repair process has taken place. When there is chronic (long term; ongoing) senescence the damaged cells lead to inflammatory diseases.
Sncs secrete a specific set of pro-inflammatory mediators, called SASP ( senescence-associated secretory phenotype) which may result in this pro-inflammatory cascade and resultant DNA and tissue damage.
Senolytics are drugs that have been developed to target Sncs and neutralize SASP.
Research into SENOLYTICS is at the forefront of cutting-edge Geroscience and, may help us live healthier lives. For many people, senolytics such as Dasatinib, Navitoclax, Rapamycin, and Metformin are not readily available.
There is however, growing evidence that plant-derived flavonoids can help slow down some of these age-related conditions by targeting cellular pathways crucial for regulating cellular senescence and SASP.
'PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE'- This old saying is never truer than now.
By including as many plant-derived flavonoids in your diet, you may be ADDING LIFE TO YOUR YEARS and ageing well. Some of these nutrients are available in supplement form and are useful when trying to achieve particular dosages that would not be possible using foods.
ARM YOURSELF WITH A LIST OF FLAVONOIDS packed with anti-inflammatory properties needed for fighting zombie cells -
Apigenin is found in camomile, parsley, celery, onions, thyme, oregano, basil, oranges.
Fisetin levels are highest in strawberries, and its also found in apple, persimmon, grape, onion, cucumber.
Quercetin is found in apple, onions, green tea, buckwheat, buckwheat tea, red wine, capers, berries, cherries, kale, peanuts.
Kaempferol is found in apple, grapes, tomato, green tea, black tea, potato, onions, broccoli, spinach, kale, cucumber, lettuce, green beans, dill, chives, tarragon, blackberries, raspberries
* DAIDZEIN & GENISTEIN
Daidzein and Genistein are found predominantly in soy beans, edamame beans, nuts, peas, lentils, flaxseeds, chickpeas, peanuts.
Naringenin is found in grapefruit, bergamot, sour cherries, cocoa, tomato, beans, Greek oregano.
Reading through the foods listed above, you may notice that some are quite common and simple to include in your daily diet.
Unfortunately, the low cost and easy access to highly processed supermarket snacks and fast foods has played havoc with human health, human taste, and human behaviour. Many people, due to social circumstances, belief systems, or simple logistics, do not eat these nutrients on a daily basis.
No surprises that the healthcare systems are under pressure and we are living longer, but not healthier lives.