Nutrition advice to activate the 'longevity gene'

 Aging is a multifactorial process determined by a person's genetic makeup and environment.

And according to what was published by "Russia Today", among the various genetic components associated with human longevity, the FOX03 gene has proven to be the most important.

Although everyone carries it, eating certain foods may allow it to "express itself more", thus prolonging life.

One gerontologist suggests that a unique metabolite of several dietary sources could be the key to activating the "longevity gene".

Studies of humans "living over 100 years old" showed that many of these individuals share an unusual version of the gene known as Forehead box O3 (FOXO3) protein.

Dr. Bradley Wilcox, principal investigator of the Kuakini Hawaii Lifespan Study funded by the National Institute on Aging, notes that there are ways in which this gene can be activated through diet.

The longevity expert explained: "The bottom line is that even if you don't have the 'best' variant of FOX03 in terms of longevity, by expressing or 'turning on' the gene you will be able to replicate the longevity mechanism. And you can do this by eating foods particular, which is one of the functions fulfilled by the Okinawan diet."

Basically, the Okinawan diet is low in calories and fat, rich in carbohydrates, and places great emphasis on vegetables and soy products, with sweet potatoes as the main source of calories.

The main foods in the traditional Okinawan diet are:

Vegetables (50-58%): Sweet potatoes (orange and purple), seaweed, bamboo shoots, daikon radish, bitter melon, cabbage, carrots, okra, pumpkin and green papaya.

Cereals (33%): wheat, rice and pasta.

Soy foods (5 percent): tofu, natto, and edamame.

- Others (one percent): tea and spices.

Two other antioxidant-rich ingredients that are heavily consumed in this diet are jasmine tea and turmeric.

One thing many of these foods have in common, Dr. Wilcox notes, is a powerful micronutrient found mostly in marine plants, known as astaxanthin.

"It's known as a marine carotenoid, found in seaweed. It's part of the Okinawan diet," he said.

The red pigment occurs in some algae and is responsible for giving salmon its pink-red colour.

Research suggests the chemical may be of particular benefit to those with inflammatory conditions such as arthritis or rheumatoid disorders.

One way the gene might promote longevity is by counteracting the effects of toxic proteins that lead to neurodegenerative disease and shorten life span.

Research published in Nature Communications found that rodents that lack the FOX03 gene are also less able to deal with stressful situations.

What this suggests is that the gene may preserve the brain's ability to regenerate by preventing stem cells from dividing so that the environment helps the new cells survive.

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