Be Stronger, Live Longer

The secret to staying fit is proteins called telomeres that protect your chromosomes from damage. Keep them durable and resilient, and  they’ll ensure you stay hardy and healthy in return.

- Mirel Ketchiff

You can control how young you look and feel simply by tapping into little-known power sources in your cells, new research reveals. Telomeres, tiny protein sheaths on the ends of your chromosomes, help keep your DNA in prime condition. Studies have linked longer telomeres with better brain power, a reduced risk of diseases and a longer life.

But factors like chronic stress, a lack of exercise and sleep, and a poor diet can cause your telomeres to deteriorate. “If they wear down too much, the genetic material in your chromosomes is no longer protected,” says Elizabeth Blackburn, coauthor of The Telomere Effect. This inhibits your cells’ ability to function properly, which speeds up the ageing process, she adds.

Happily, you can easily and quickly strengthen your telomeres. “Studies show that within just weeks of making small changes to your lifestyle, your telomeres improve,” Elizabeth says. Read on to learn about the strategic moves that will lengthen yours and make you even healthier.

Have Sex Often

People who had sex at least once in the previous week tended to have longer telomeres, according to a study Elizabeth’s co-author, Elissa Epel, helped conduct. Elissa and her team aren’t sure why, but other research has shown that couples who have sex weekly are happier overall.