Yes we can!!!
At the ends of our chromosomes lie telomeres - tiny caps that protect our DNA, much like the plastic tips on shoelaces. Each time a cell divides, telomeres shorten, acting like a biological fuse. When they’re gone, the cell dies.
But research shows we may have the power to slow, or even reverse, this process.
Dr. Dean Ornish and Nobel Laureate Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn discovered that a whole-food, plant-based diet -combined with other healthy lifestyle habits - can boost telomerase, an enzyme that rebuilds telomeres. In a five-year study, not only did participants who followed this lifestyle slow their cellular aging, their telomeres actually grew longer—an unprecedented finding.
The key wasn’t weight loss or extreme exercise. It was the quality of the food. While processed foods, meat (including fish), dairy, and fizzy drinks are linked to telomere shortening, fruits, vegetables, and antioxidant-rich plant foods are associated with longer telomeres.
It turns out, what’s on your plate could be rewriting your biological clock.