We now have evidence that eating more fruits and vegetables is directly related to having longer telomeres — which helps to slow the aging process.
Telomeres are the DNA protein caps that provide stability and shield the ends of chromosomes, often compared to the plastic tips at the end of shoelaces.
When shoelace tips break down, the laces become frayed until they can no longer do their job. The same is true for telomeres — when they erode, DNA strands become damaged and our cells can’t do their job.
Telomere length is maximum at birth and decreases progressively with age, influenced by oxidative stress, inflammation, and repeated cell replication over the course of your life. Shorter telomeres are associated with higher incidence of chronic disease and all-cause mortality.
If you want to slow the aging process, you need to keep your telomeres intact.
A recent large study showed that the more servings of fruits and vegetables you consume, the longer your telomeres tend to be.
The study looked at a random sample of 5448 US adults (average age of 46.5 years old) and found that telomeres were 27.8 base pairs longer for each 100g (3.5 ounces) of fruits and vegetables consumed per day. That equates to 1.9 years less biological…
