Nutriogenomics: How food can influence your genes

Using and choosing specific foods to increase antioxidant free radical capacity (ORAC) is a well tried method of holding back the years. However, a stage further has been reached in exploring the dietary effect of nutrition on one's genes.

The growing field of nutriogenomics means carefully selecting what you eat to turn on the genes responsible for anti-ageing. It is important to choose organic foods and to avoid GMO foods which have been so much altered that they have caused sterility in hamsters. There is no requirement to include GMO facts on food packaging. That makes it necessary to check food labels to find out whether foods are organic or non-GMO because only if they are so labelled can we be sure that they are safe and not genetically modified.

There is a particular concentrated product extracted from the astragalus plant called TA-65 that protects and slows down the ageing process. It does this by reducing the rate of degradation of the telomeres, which is the anti-ageing gene.

However, a more everyday substance is ginger, the oil of which can be very effective against headaches and migraines. For anti-ageing purposes it can be added to your moisturiser to keep the skin looking good and wrinkle-free. In Ayurvedic medicine, ginger is regarded as a universal medicine, while the Chinese have found it effective for male balding, and as an aphrodisiac. As a tool for anti-ageing, it can be invaluable in many forms, including fresh ginger root for stir fry dishes, and juicing with your favourite fruit, ginger capsules and ginger tea.

There are some other amazing anti-ageing agents such as green tea and ginseng, both of which act to protect the cells and slow down degeneration. Ginseng is an incredible adaptogen: taken in the morning, it increases the ability of the body to handle stress and is most energy-giving.

Gingko Biloba is famed for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and this is why it has been suggested for various conditions such as memory loss, depression and headaches in older people. Care has to be taken however as it can interact with medical drugs and prevent them from working properly.

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