If you're excited about the cold coming for a glass of wine and good chocolate, you have more reason to celebrate, as a substance found in these two products can help slow the signs of the years.
The breakthrough came from a study that showed that older cells that had stopped reproducing resumed the process of cell division by being exposed to resveratrol-like substances, an antioxidant found in red wine, dark chocolate, peel of dark grapes, blueberries and peanuts.
In search of the origin of aging
Over the years, more and more cells in our body become senescent, meaning they gradually lose their ability to multiply due to a change in genetic material known as messenger RNA.
These cells are alive, but they do not grow and do not perform their functions properly. Thus, the accumulation of senescent cells leads to aging and the emergence of degenerative diseases related to this process.
So if we could find a way to reverse this genetic change in the messenger RNA of cells, might it be possible to counteract the effects of the passage of time? and that is precisely what a group of researchers from the United Kingdom tried to do.
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According to the article published in the journal BMC Cell Biology, did the researchers develop a set of resveratrol-like molecules? whose ability to positively interfere with messenger RNA had previously been suggested? to investigate if they could? rejuvenate? the senescent cells.
With that in mind, scientists have put these cells in contact with resveratrol-like substances. The result was that in a matter of hours they reproduced again and showed telomere elongation, a structure that protects the chromosomes and becomes shorter over time. That is, senescent cells seem to have rejuvenated.
From this effect, the researchers hope to develop new therapies that combat the degenerative diseases associated with aging, providing more health and quality of life despite advancing age.
Can I bet on wine and chocolate to combat aging?
More or less. In carrying out the study, the researchers did not use resveratrol itself, which is actually found in red wine and dark chocolate, but rather lab-produced substances analogous to this component.
This choice came about because, although resveratrol is probably beneficial for cell division, it has other biological effects that could mask the exact action that scientists wanted to study? in this case, the influence of the splicing, a process that occurs in messenger RNA, in the functioning of cells. As a result, they have developed resveratrol-like molecules that do not have these side effects.
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Because resveratrol and the new substances are very similar, many people have deduced that the consumption of wine and chocolate could help slow the effects of the passage of time, but in fact, the researchers did not even mention them in the study.
Regardless, there may be a logic behind this idea. After all, like its analogues, does resveratrol also seem to be able to make senescent cells behave like younger cells? and thus wine and chocolate could contribute to the fight against aging.
However, alcohol, fat and sugar? components present in these products? These factors are known to favor the aging of the skin and the whole body, and it is not yet known if the effect of resveratrol could overcome this damage.
Therefore, the recommendations to slow down the signs of the passage of time remain the same: eat low in sugars and fats rich in vitamins and minerals, avoid alcohol, do not smoke, exercise, use sunscreen and control stress. But because happiness also helps us stay young, can you enjoy a glass of wine or a square of chocolate? just have moderation.
Red Wine And Dark Chocolate Can Slow Down The Aging Process (April 2024)
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