Telomeres on Plants

My dad was a biochemist and geneticist and often spoke in genetics. I recall a moment that made me a cry a couple of years before his passing. He said, “I am not going to make it much longer my telomeres are non-existent now. He was right. We lost him in July 2015.

He managed to make me very telomere-curious and the more I read about it the more I learn about the benefits of a whole food plant-based diet when it comes to protecting the length of your telomeres so they don’t prematurely get worn down to the nub, why hasten inevitability. Don’t let Atropos snip away at your telomere threads with abandon!

Here’s what an NIH report has to say:
”Telomere length (TL) is considered a biomarker of aging: shorter telomeres are associated with a decreased life expectancy and increased rates of age-related chronic diseases. Telomere attrition has been shown to be accelerated by oxidative stress and inflammation. Since edible plants contain plenty of compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it is plausible that their sustained consumption might help counteract telomere attrition.”

As you’ll see in the graphic below, losing telomere length is like painting yourself into a corner with no place to go.

Scientists believe that telomere length is a biomarker for aging. Oxidation can increase the rate of telomere shortening and consuming carotenoids and other antioxidants can lengthen them. A study found that a high intake of carotenoid-rich foods may play a role in maintaining telomere length. There is a lot of research online and I have linked to a couple of them. I recommend you educate yourself on this, the deep dive is worth it!