It is said and believed that health is wealth. Old age is such an inevitable occurrence that cannot be stopped from coming. It comes with its ardent symptoms like wrinkles, weak memory, cancer, risk of heart disease etc. These are all impossible to avoid coming one’s way. Still, humans have been trying hard to win over ageing. In our everyday life, the maximum impact of food has a grave role to play in inviting signs of ageing comparatively sooner to our lives. Studies have found that an old person can defeat ageing to an extent through controlling or planning out his/ her everyday diet. The extra content of protein in our food helps to bring the signs of ageing in our bodies. Research conducted by biochemistry professor, Mrinalkanti Podhar, in Kolkata indicates that the maximum amount of protein in our food gets signs of ageing very soon. Protein has a strange impact on the body of living animals. Experiments done on a bunch of mice have shown that a large quantity of protein in food boosts the immunity of the young mice whereas a similar amount of protein content reduces the immunity in the case of the old mice.
So mention this, here, extra intake of protein in food affects the immune system, brain and hormonal changes in old people adversely. In the case of mammals, excessive intake of protein results in strengthening the immune system and the content of corticosterone depletes in the body. But when the immune system is weak this hormone content increases in the body. It has been found from the study that the old mice who ate more amount of protein, had a higher content of corticosterone in their body. The also indicates that the amount of corticosterone puts an impact on the changes in functions of the brain. The hypothalamus of the brain is controlled by the leakage of corticosterone. In case of mental stress and excessive workload, the hypothalamus directs the pituitary gland in the brain to secrete a particular type of hormone which affects our adrenaline gland. After that adrenal gland starts to secrete corticosterone. So it is certain that old people can lose their immune system if take more amount of protein in their diet.
This study has also discussed changes happening in other two chemistry like Gaba and Glutamate in the brain. The quality of these chemistries changes with age and these elements help in the communication system within the brain. The number of GABA increases in the brain in the case of old or aged people who intake a balanced diet and at the same time their immune system also strengthens. Similarly, foods having less protein content decrease the efficiency of glutamate in the brains of the old-aged animals. It is clear from this study that the immune system, nerves, and quantity of protein in the food are deeply related to each other. The study states, that the arrival of old age can slow down to a great extent by taking less amount of protein in the food.
In ancient times, probably this the reason why people used to become vegetarians or frugivorous when they start to live in forests in their older ages. According to professor Podhar, the high protein content in non-vegetarian foods helps to show signs of old age and also depletes their immune system. We get proteins from both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food items. As per studies, non-vegetarian foods like fish, meat and eggs are more harmful to old people. So old people who are more attracted to non-vegetarian foods should rather prefer to eat fish than meat and eggs. Fish has the Omega-3 fatty acid which helps to reduce the risk and factors of heart disease and also strengthens the immune system to some extent. But the food items having less amount of protein like green vegetables are more appropriate for old people. According to the study done by the American Institute of ageing and longevity, when old age is attained, if one does not pay attention to food, one’s mental strength decreases. This organisation suggests that old people should eat more green vegetables and fresh fruits avoiding non-vegetarian food items. Professor Podhar also indicates that old people who feel weak in nerves ought to reduce the intake of proteins in their food and chose to have fresh, green veggies.
-OdishaAge
