Taking a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement every day could help slow down the natural ageing process. It’s common knowledge that many illnesses associated with ageing such as cancer, heart disease and osteoporosis are linked to mineral and vitamin deficiencies caused by an unhealthy diet. But now new research suggests that even the ageing process itself may be speeded up by a diet rich in vitamin poor fast food and refined, processed food.

Nutrition expert and biochemist Dr Bruce Ames recently told the American Association for Advancement of Science’s conference in Boston that studies showed shortages of vitamins and minerals are linked to a host of diseases associated with premature ageing. For instance, low levels of magnesium are linked with cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes and osteoporosis, while lack of vitamin D is associated with breast, bowel and prostate cancers. Calcium deficiency has been associated with diabetes, lack of potassium to heart disease, and low vitamin B12 intake is linked to multiple sclerosis.

 

Lack of nutrients may also accelerate ageing itself, with Dr Ames’s research, which is now published in the Journal proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showing that dietary supplements can boost both energy and memory in elderly rats. (Go to www.naturalhealthpractice.com to find a good multivitamin and mineral for your needs and age group.)

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 1st, 2008 at 3:50 am and is filed under Healthy Ageing, In the News, Nutritional Spotlights. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.