Few of us want to live forever, but many of us do at least want to live until we’re 100. It sounds like a good age to reach, and moreover it means that we have plenty of time to do the things we really want to do.
Reaching 100 is not easy, though. Sometimes a long life is down to genetics and the environment, but sometimes it’s down to your diet. If you include the right things in your diet, there’s absolutely no reason why you can’t extend your life and become a centenarian.
People living in the Blue Zones live longer than anyone else does on the planet and that’s because they’re smart about their diets.
The astragalus root is something we’re going to talk about in this article because it comes with a few anti-aging benefits that keep you feeling vital and energetic, as you get older.
What Is Astragalus Root
An herb that belongs to the legume family, astragalus is grown in Mongolia as well as northern China, and has been consumed as part of the Chinese diet for thousands of years. Known also as goat’s thorn, astragalus is growing in popularity in the western world largely thanks to its medicinal properties, particularly its ability to slow down the aging process. No doubt, this is the most exciting discovery regarding the astragalus: The fact that it can extend your life. So let’s take a look at a few of its anti-aging benefits.
Stops Immune Cells From Aging Too Early
The astragalus contains a compound called TAT2, which has been found to boost the proaction of an enzyme known as telomerase. This enzyme is extremely useful to the human body as it engineers the repair of the telomeres in our DNA.
When telomeres are shortened, they speed up the aging process. When their length is extended (repaired), the aging process is slowed down. Moreover, we need these segments of DNA because they protect our cells from general wear and tear that comes with aging.
Protects Your Kidneys
If your kidney is damaged, your quality of life can diminish. Worse still, you will age quicker than you’d prefer.
It’s possibly to stay on top of your kidneys by giving them a regular cleansing, and you can do this via the consumption of the astragalus root. According to a study published by ScienceDirect, this root protects us against kidney disease.
Can Reduce Your Risk Of Cancer
Cancer is a disease that many of us live in fear of. According to the National Cancer Institute, almost 40% of women and men will be diagnosed at some point in their life. This is a scary statistic that is only growing, but the reality is that there are preventative measures we can take to reduce our risk.
A study from Hong Kong found that the astragalus root has anti-cancer properties and can suppress the development of cancers including colon cancer, breast cancer and lung cancer.
Helps With The Removal Of Toxins
Our bodies are often awash with nasty toxins that love nothing better than to pollute our skin, thereby speeding up the aging process. The damage cells and basically run riot, and this means we need to get rid of them.
The liver is your body’s major detoxifying organ and puts in most of the hard work when it comes to removing pesky toxins. The problem is that it eventually becomes overloaded, especially if you eat a lot of junk. It needs help!
The astragalus root helps out by protecting the lover against fibrosis and cellular dysfunction so that it can continue about its everyday chores.