Longevity and rejuvenation are the wishes of most people. Many people sacrifice everything for longevity and even die for it. Longevity diet is something that people are concerned about. The question is, can longevity come from eating? Can adjusting diet promote longevity? The research team of Professor Cynthia Kenyon of the University of California, USA recently found that eating less carbohydrates (such as grains and sweets) means < span style="color: #ff6600">Lukasu diet can activate longevity genes.
So far, medicine’s contribution to human longevity has been limited to vaccines and a good living environment. Over the past century, 50% of people's life expectancy has increased from 50 to 88 years. The problem is, longevity does not equate to good health and a good quality of life. Due to the increase in chronic diseases, more and more people are like the Struldbruggs, a long-lived people described in Gulliver's travels. They are immortals suffering from all diseases. They gradually lose their teeth and hair, and their sense of smell and taste deteriorate. All the diseases gradually worsened, and they lost their memory and did not know who their friends and relatives were. At the funeral of the non-immortal they weep aloud because they cannot die.
The secret of longevity recently discovered by American scientists is that humans can live a healthy and energetic life. The answer is as simple as "just reduce your carbohydrate intake." Professor Cynthis Kenyon’s research team found that the carbohydrate-containing foods we consume every day, such as bananas, potatoes, bread, pasta, snacks, etc., directly affect two genes that control youth and lifespan.
This research was grounded in experiments with nematodes that are only a few millimeters long and grow in the soil. Scientists altered several key genes in the nematode worm and increased its lifespan sixfold. Importantly, not only did lifespan increase but the nematodes lived healthier.
People ask: Are nematodes related to us? The answer is, they probably have the same effect. This experiment has been repeated in many laboratories around the world, with the same results obtained in experiments on rats, mice, and monkeys, and is also relatively optimistic in human experiments.
Professor Kenyon recently gave an excellent presentation on her research at a scientific conference in London. Many peer experts believe that this research is an innovation in our understanding of aging and that the results should win a Nobel Prize. Ten years ago, our understanding of aging was limited to "the decline of biological organisms, just like the rust of machinery." Professor Kenyon’s research points out that aging is not a loss but is controlled by genes. in this wayHowever, aging can be controlled.
So, how can we see the human aging mechanism from the small nematodes? The average lifespan of nematodes is 20 days. Professor Kenyon changed a gene of the nematodes for the first time and increased the life of the small nematodes to 40 days. They showed no signs of aging within 40 days, which was a shocking finding. Just like we think the person in front of us is only 30 years old, but in fact he is 60 years old. Would we be surprised?
After more sophisticated genetic modification experiments, Professor Kenyon found that the lifespan of nematodes can be increased to 144 days, which means that human lifespan can be extended to 450 years!
Scientists have figured out how to make laboratory animals live healthier and longer lives by reducing their intake of energy-producing food to three-quarters of normal. But this method does not seem to be applicable to humans, because humans will feel hungry and cold.
Professor Kenyon discovered why cutting back on food has such an effect. She found that reducing diet could change the activity of two genes. One of the genes that controls insulin is turned off, while another gene for immortality is turned on.
The first gene was named "Grim Reaper", which means Skeleton Death, because once this gene is activated, lifespan will be shortened. The second immortality gene will bring all anti-aging functions to organisms. The gene is named "DAF16", but people soon called this gene "Sweet Sixteen" because of its Activation makes old nematodes "younger".
The DAF16 gene guides other genes in the repair and renewal of life. For example, an increase in natural antioxidants can reduce free radicals that are harmful to health. The occurrence of cancer and Alzheimer's disease are related to free radicals. DAF16 also directs the normal function of proteins in the skin and muscles, allows the immune system to more effectively fight infections, and suppresses cancer-promoting genes.
After discovering the Grim Reaper gene, Professor Kenyon immediately reduced his food intake. Because carbohydrates can increase the production of insulin, and insulin can activate the Grim Reaper gene. Once the Grim Reaper gene is activated, the DAF16 gene that promotes immortality is suppressed. Professor Kenyon said that the inhibitory effect of sugar on longevity genes is very obvious.
Scientists have found that other animals and humans express the Grim Reaper and DAF16 genes. But the interesting discovery is that a group of "cancer-free dwarves" living in northern Ecuador have Grim ReThere is a deletion in the aper gene, and the deletion site is the part of the hormone called "insulin-like growth factor." This hormone is related to height, and their short stature is related to the lack of this gene. It is precisely because of the shortage of Grim Reaper genes that they are unlikely to suffer from cancer and have very low chances of heart disease and obesity.
In fact, many facts have proven that the increase in insulin triggered by eating more carbohydrates can cause many fatal diseases. For example, it promotes the synthesis of cholesterol in the liver, causing an increase in blood viscosity, promotes the contraction of blood vessel walls, causing an increase in blood pressure, and increases the release of triglycerides, etc., which are all related to the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases.
Professor Kenyon’s discovery has attracted the attention of many pharmaceutical companies around the world, and the invention of drugs that inhibit the Grim Reaper gene or promote the activity of the DAF16 gene is ongoing. With this drug, people can eat less and not go hungry. But there are currently no satisfactory drugs. Scientists propose that one way to reduce insulin production is to increase exercise.
There is still controversy as to whether everyone can reduce insulin by reducing their intake of grains and sweets.
David Gems, deputy director of the Institute of Healthy Aging at University College London, said: There is no doubt that Professor Kenyon’s research results deserve the Nobel Prize. However, there is insufficient evidence whether reducing carbohydrate intake and lowering insulin levels are beneficial to health.
However, Professor Kenyon said: She no longer doubts that eating less grain and sweets can promote health and longevity
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