London - Women who eat healthily, sleep well and exercise while going through a divorce, bereavement or other stressful periods, are more likely to avoid premature ageing, says a study.
The key, say scientists, lies in tiny structures called telomeres. These are biological caps found at the ends of chromosomes that protect the DNA in them from damage.
As we get older, our telomeres get shorter and shorter, leading to DNA becoming damaged and raising the chances of age-related illnesses. In the University of California study, 250 women aged 50 to 65 gave blood samples for telomere measurement over a year and answered questions on their lifestyles.
“The participants who exercised, slept well and ate well had less telomere shortening than the ones who didn’t maintain healthy lifestyles, even when they had similar levels of stress,” researcher Eli Puterman told the journal Molecular Psychiatry. “It is very important we promote healthy living.” - Daily Mail