Chill Out to Extend Your Life…
January 6, 2010
From Fox News and Your Daily Slice of Wellness
We’ve heard for years about the benefits of reducing Stress, and how we should make time for activities like meditation, Yoga, and plain old relaxation. Now scientific evidence suggests that one of those benefits may actually be a longer life. Researchers at the University of California at San Francisco have discovered an enzyme that plays a key role in normal cell function, as well as in cell Aging and most cancers. It’s called telomerase, and it produces tiny units of DNA that seal off the ends of chromosomes, which contain the body’s genes. The DNA units are called telomeres, and among other things they work to protect the quality of the gene, and how often a cell divides which determines the lifespan of the cells. What’s exciting about this discovery is the notion that telomeres can be lengthened to prolong cell life — and along the way treat age-related diseases like blindness, cardiovascular problems and neurodegenerative disorders.
