We often see around us that one person is suffering from diseases without any bad habits and another is healthy despite having many bad habits. Often this question comes to our mind that what is most important for a long life? Jeans or lifestyle?
We often see around us that one person is suffering from diseases without any bad habits and another is healthy despite having many bad habits. Often this question comes to our mind that what is most important for a long life? Jeans or lifestyle?
It also happens that many diseases come to us only because of genes. Then does living a long life depend only on genes? Lifestyle (genes or lifestyle for longevity) has no contribution in it? Today we will answer this question with the help of research and experts.
The battle of genes vs lifestyle (genes or lifestyle for longevity)
Dr. Nir Barzilai is the Head of the Genetics Research Department at Albert Einstein Medical College. He had narrated an incident with the New York Times newspaper. He said that he met a patient named Helen Richert when she was a hundred years old. He had a cigarette in one hand.
Doctor Neer advised him to quit smoking. Helen said that many doctors told her to quit smoking, many of whom are now dead. But I am still alive.
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Doctor Neer tells that Helen continued smoking cigarettes for a decade after that and died in 2011 at the age of about 110. It was necessary to tell this story so that one can understand how difficult the question is, genes or lifestyle, which is more helpful in increasing our lifespan.
How is age determined by genes? (how genes decide longevity)
1. Genes increase lifespan
A report from University College London According to this, it is true that there are some genes in our body which control the aging process. For example, telomerase is the enzyme that protects the telomeres of our DNA. Understand telomeres as the smallest particles of our body cells.
When the body weakens with increasing age, the first thing that happens is that the telomeres become shorter, due to which our cells start dying. If an enzyme called telomerase exists in our body through genes, then it does not allow the telomeres to shorten and the lifespan of the cells becomes longer. Because of this our age also increases.
2. Genes are also associated with the risk of diseases (Genes are causes of disease too)
Our genes also decide which diseases we will suffer from. For example, many times, due to genes, we are gifted with fatal diseases like heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes and even cancer.
A report from the National Cancer Institute According to this, it is rare that diseases like cancer are passed on from parents to children, but if one of the parents is suffering from cancer then it increases the risk of cancer in children.
3. Geographical location also contributes to longevity (Environment is factor of longevity)
There are some places in the world where people live longer. Like a place named Okinawa in Japan, Sardinia in Italy and Nicoya in Costa Rica. Such places are known as Blue Zones. A report from an organization named Houston Methodist According to this, it is genetic and this has been happening for several thousand years.
Similarly, there are some countries where despite all the disadvantages, people live relatively longer. (Japan), Sardinia (Italy) and Nicoya (Costa Rica). The genetic makeup of the people living in these areas may be a factor, but the habits people adopt here also have a significant impact on this longevity.
Effect of lifestyle on age
Report She says that it completely depends on your lifestyle as to how many years you want to live. According to this, it is not at all difficult to live till 80 or 90 years by keeping the lifestyle under control. Like – are you not addicted to smoking or alcohol? How does fast food dominate your daily routine?
What time do you sleep and wake up? Also whether your daily routine includes things like exercise, yoga or not. Because all these give you diseases and it does not matter whether you have inherited the diseases genetically or not?
Genes or lifestyle, what is more important for longevity? (genes or lifestyle for longevity)
Dr. Geeta Shroff, Director of Newbella Center for Women’s Health, New Delhi, answers this question. According to him, there is no doubt that genes decide our age. But if you ask me, I will go towards lifestyle.
If your lifestyle is ruining your body, then what will you do with good jeans? Some diseases like heart disease, high blood pressure or diabetes depend on genes but they can also be caused by your unhealthy lifestyle.
On the contrary, if you maintain a good lifestyle, such as eating a good diet, including plant-based foods, exercising regularly, and managing stress well, then it is possible that despite the dangers of genes, you will be able to Stay safe from diseases. The second and more important thing is that we have to see what is in our hands.
Doctor Geeta says that if I ask you can you control your genes? Your answer will be no. So we cannot control our genes but our lifestyle is in our hands and by keeping it controlled and disciplined we can keep our body healthy.
Dr. Geeta says, “So according to me, healthy lifestyle is the only way we can live a long life because from many genetic problems we can recover only by keeping the lifestyle under control. But there is no guarantee whether our genes will be able to protect us from diseases caused by our bad lifestyle or not.”
Also read – Aging can be reversed with these 6 changes in lifestyle, know how they work