Globally, although the average lifespan increased five years between 2000 and 2015, the health span increased by only 4.6 years. This means that, although many are living longer, they aren’t aging healthfully.

“Healthy aging” has become the health-related buzz phrase of the decade. While attempting to look young at age 75 used to involve a visit to a plastic surgeon for a face lift, lip enhancement, or a Botox injection – still popular in some circles for sure – healthy aging in 2022 really does mean healthy. Instead of worrying about outward appearance, for many it is more important to feel energetic – to age from the inside out. Let’s take a look at some of the things that go on in our bodies as we age.

Free radicals

So, what goes on in our cells as we age? Several things. First, let’s talk free radicals. You might also see free radicals referred to as reactive oxygen species (ROS) – although nitrogen can also produce free radicals (called reactive nitrogen species). Free radicals are atoms that cruise around in our bodies and cause trouble. They contain a stray (unpaired) electron in their outer shell, which makes them reactive, meaning they are searching for another electron they can pair up with. But while searching for a partner electron, free radicals cause damage to the cells they bump into.

Although some free radicals are produced naturally in the body during normal metabolism, certain things can increase their production – like heavy exertion, illness, inflammation, exposure to toxins, certain foods/food preparation methods (for example, deep-fried foods, barbecued meats, smoked/processed meats), tobacco smoke, UV radiation from the sun, and more. So, did I just trash your whole summer? What, no sun? No barbecue? All things in moderation. 

The problem is, as we age it becomes more difficult to neutralize free radicals. When the production of free radicals outweighs the body’s ability to neutralize them, that’s when oxidative stress occurs. What can neutralize free radicals? That’s where healthy foods that contain lots of antioxidants (like fruits and vegetables) and antioxidant supplements come in. Antioxidants have a molecular structure that enables them to neutralize free radicals. Nutrient antioxidants include vitamin C, vitamin E, quercetin, green tea, blueberries, and pomegranate – the list stretches for miles. So, if you’re going to eat a burger with nice grill marks on it, then it would be a good idea to have a bowl of seasonal berries along with it – blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, whatever is in season.

The wisdom of nature has also provided our bodies with a built-in antioxidant system. Glutathione is one such antioxidant. Glutathione can be made in our bodies or be taken by supplement. There are also several nutritional supplements that increase the level of glutathione in the body, like N-acetylcysteine, glutamine, glycine, alpha-lipoic acid, whey protein, and others.

Senescence

Another thing that happens to our cells as we age is called senescence. Normally, a cell continues to divide until it gets old and dies, is removed from the body, and is replaced by a new cell. An estimated 100 billion cells die and are replaced in our bodies each day – business as usual. However, as we age, some cells stop dividing but they don’t die. Even though they are useless to us, these cells, called senescent cells, are not removed from the body. Some of the same factors that cause free radicals cause senescent cells. Senescent cells can build up in the body and contribute to chronic disease because they secrete inflammatory chemicals that can damage healthy cells. 

The science behind senescence is in its infancy and we still have much to learn. But scientists are looking for agents – drugs or natural substances – that help clear senescent cells from the body. It turns out that quercetin is one such nutrient.* Quercetin is found in lots of fruits and vegetables – onion and apples are among the best sources. Quercetin can also be found in several Thorne products, including Quercetin PhytosomeQuercetin ComplexResveraCel, and PolyResveratrol

NAD+

The 30-40 trillion cells in our bodies all depend on a substance called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+). NAD+ is essential for turning our food into energy and regulating numerous cellular processes, like DNA repair, immune function, and gene expression. But as essential as NAD+ is, the level declines with age for a couple of reasons: first, as we age our bodies produce less NAD+ and second, an aging body uses up more NAD+ because of inflammation, oxidative stress, etc. A low level of NAD+ has been associated with many age-related chronic conditions. An animal study showed that increasing the level of NAD+ prevented senescence in muscle cells.

How do you increase NAD+? A healthy lifestyle, for one. Intermittent fasting, exercise, restful sleep, eating a healthy diet, and avoiding excess sun can preserve NAD+ levels. And supplementing with NAD+ precursors, like nicotinamide riboside or nicotinamide mononucleotide can increase NAD+ levels.*

Sirtuins

Sirtuins are a family of “anti-aging” proteins. The truth is, the sirtuin proteins do a lot more than interject themselves into the aging process, although they are best known for this. The sirtuin proteins were first discovered at MIT in 1991, and there is still much we don’t know about them. What we do know is the sirtuins are NAD+ dependent – they can’t function without it. 

One way sirtuins support longevity is by protecting telomeres. Telomeres are located at the end of each chromosome and form a protective cap, which keeps the chromosome from getting frayed or tangled. Each time a chromosome divides, its telomeres become shorter – a sign of aging. Sirtuins provide a protective effect by preventing DNA damage and keeping telomeres from shortening. 

What are some natural ways to boost the activity of the sirtuin proteins? Mildly intense exercise has been shown to boost sirtuin activity and prevent the loss of muscle mass (sarcopenia). Several natural substances have also been shown – mostly in animal and test tube studies – to boost sirtuin activity.* Resveratrol is the best known, but others include pterostilbene, curcumin, and melatonin.*

The Greens Solution

You might be wondering what the best ways are to hit multiple aging targets at once. Regular exercise and eating a healthy diet full of antioxidants, like vegetables and berries, is a great place to start. For an extra boost, add a greens drink like Thorne’s Daily Greens Plus. Many of the ingredients in this new formula address various aspects of the aging process.* 

Daily Greens Plus is a powerhouse of antioxidants – from greens to pomegranate, ashwagandha to zinc, and CoQ10 to glutathione – and more.* Remember, we need antioxidants to neutralize those free radicals. One of the most potent antioxidants in Daily Greens Plus is called Solarplast® – a specially prepared spinach extract that has 2.5 times the amount of antioxidant activity as regular spinach.*

What about clearing out those senescent cells? Substances that can remove senescent cells are called senolytics. Quercetin has shown senolytic effects in test tube and human studies.* In addition, resveratrol has been shown in test tube studies to prevent cell senescence from occurring in the first place.* Both quercetin (as a well-absorbed phytosome) and resveratrol are in Daily Greens Plus. Exercising also helps. A recent study found that exercise can prevent senescent cell accumulation and, to some extent, clear senescent cells from the body.

In addition to addressing cell senescence, resveratrol also activates the sirtuin proteins.* And, to be activated, sirtuins need NAD+, which is increased by its precursor nicotinamide riboside.* In addition to quercetin and resveratrol, Daily Greens Plus also contains nicotinamide riboside.

Besides providing support for healthy aging, Daily Greens Plus includes several nutrients that support immune function, including five mushrooms, vitamin D, and zinc, along with several adaptogenic botanicals that help the body stay in balance during stressful situations.* 

Try these Daily Greens Plus recipes to help you stay refreshed during the summer heat.