Filipinos like to poke fun at the inevitable and somewhat sneaky process of body aging. From back pain-related jokes to nostalgic posts about places and items that may not even exist anymore, Filipinos definitely use their sense of humor to acknowledge this ever-so-natural part of life.
However, some signs of aging are no laughing matter. Many people often associate the word “aging” with indicators like gray hair, facial wrinkles and spots. They are not wrong though, since these are known hallmarks of your birth age or chronological age, or the amount of time that has passed from one’s birth up to the present. Simply put, this is how “old” you currently are based on your birth date.
In some cases, your birth age might not fully indicate how “healthy” your aging body may be. This is when calculating one’s body age or biological age can come in handy. According to health experts, this particular value can provide important insights into the biological aging process that may already be taking place.
How Does Biological Aging Impact Your Body Age?
The impacts of biological aging need to be examined to know your body age. This type of aging not only considers the amount of time passed between your date of birth and the present, but also the effects of genetics, lifestyle habits, diet, stress, physical environments, and/or comorbidities and health issues. Even molecular and cellular damage that may have already occurred is considered when determining your body age.
Since many factors are at play, body age can be higher than birth age. This is not a good sign since it means that the body is aging faster than usual.
According to research, factors like chronic low-grade inflammation (also known as “inflamm-aging”), age-related diseases, and premature senescence (another term for biological aging) may lead to unhealthy aging and a higher body age than intended.
To check body age, researchers typically examine two key components: telomeres (a component found in chromosomes) and DNA methylation (the aging process that affects your DNA). However, you can also take an online body age test that can help give you a general idea of whether your body age may be older or younger than your birth age.
Vitamin D’s Role in Reducing Factors that Speed Up Aging
Unfortunately, research from as early as 2013 has highlighted that 48.7% of Filipinos are dealing either with a vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency. These health issues can be bad news for one’s health since they can raise the risk for complications like weakened bones and increased risk for chronic diseases which can accelerate aging.
The good news is that there are ways you can help lower your body age and slow down the biological aging process with the help of lifestyle changes. Researchers from the American Heart Association released a series of guidelines called the “Life’s Essential 8” that may help boost one’s health, slow down biological aging, and lower the risk for health issues. The following strategies mentioned in the guidelines include:
1. Eating a healthy diet composed of whole foods, fruits and vegetables, lean cuts of protein, nuts, and seeds, and using olive and canola oil for cooking
2. Being more physical by getting 130 minutes (2 1/2 hours) of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise weekly
3. Quitting smoking
4. Getting at least seven (7) to nine (9) hours of sleep nightly
5. Managing weight and taking note of body mass index (BMI) values
6. Controlling levels of non-HDL cholesterol, AKA “bad” cholesterol
7. Managing blood sugar levels
8. Managing blood pressure levels
Even better, studies have shown that getting enough vitamin D may help slow down the biological aging process. Authors of a 2022 study discussed that subjects who took a vitamin D supplement had lower DNAm age acceleration (DNAmAA) values. This means that their body did not age at a faster rate compared to their birth age.
Earlier findings from 2017 revealed that vitamin D may also help regulate aging-related processes like autophagy, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, DNA disorders, and oxidative stress. Even more disturbing, people with a vitamin D deficiency have a higher risk for a faster rate of aging and health issues like cognitive decline, depression, diabetes, cancer, muscle weakness, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Live Healthier and Stronger for Longer With the Help of Vitamin D!
It’s never too late to slow down the biological aging process and help lower your body age. Aside from eating healthy food and making positive lifestyle changes, consider the #1 and Most Doctor-Prescribed Vitamin D now available in 2000 IU: Colecalciferol (Vitamin D3) ( Forti-D) 2000 IU!
MDI, IQVIA SOLUTIONS PHILIPPINES, INC., reprinted with permission "A11C2 - VITAMIN D PLAIN in A - ORAL SOLID ORDINARY format among Patients 20 years old and above covering the period: MAT December 2023 (January 2023 – December 2023)" and "A11C2 - VITAMIN D PLAIN in A - ORAL SOLID ORDINARY in values, counting units, dosage units and container units covering the period MAT March 2024 (April 2023 – March 2024).
When combined with proper diet and exercise, Colecalciferol (Vitamin D3) (Forti-D) 2000 IU can help address Vitamin D deficiencies, reducing risk factors associated with accelerated aging to help slow down body aging.
Suggested use of Colecalciferol (Vitamin D3) (Forti-D) 2000 IU is one (1) capsule daily taken with water or as recommended by your doctor.
Colecalciferol (Vitamin D3) (Forti-D) 2000 IU is available in select drugstores nationwide at a suggested retail price (SRP) of Php11.00.
If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.
ASC Reference No. U0151P112624F
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563107/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8640726/
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11357-022-00581-9
https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1113/JP274887
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/5/4546
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0960076013002331
https://nutriweb.org.my/mjn/publication/24-3/i.pdf
https://www.research.colostate.edu/healthyagingcenter/2020/11/18/does-vitamin-d-affect-y our-biological-age/
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health
https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-chronological-age-2223384
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15050-vitamin-d-vitamin-d-deficiency
