It has been suggested that taking more exercise and eating the right kind of food, helps in increasing the levels of an enzyme, which guards against the damage to cell due to aging.

Professor Dean Ornish, from the Preventive Medicine Research Institute in California along with his team, desired to know if the improvements in the diet and living habits had any reverse effects.

 30 men, who were in the ‘low risk of prostate cancers’ category, were asked to participate in a three month trial with change in their life style.

It included diet, rich in fruit and vegetables, vitamins, fish oils, exercises, stress management, relaxation and breathing exercises. Measurements of Telomerase activity was under taken at the beginning and at the end of the trial. Blood levels of 24 men were found to increase by 29 %."Bad" LDL cholesterol and measure of stress - intrusive thoughts decreased with the increase in telomerase activity

With aging, telomeres which engulf the end of chromosomes shorten and cells become vulnerable to death. The damage and death of cells cause aging and disease in humans. Telomerase repairs and lengtjen the tlomeres. Smoking, obesity and an inactive lifestyle are linked with shorter-than-average telomeres.  

Professor Tim Spector, from King's College London, who has done research on ageing and telomeres said, “This work builds on what we already know.”

“Lifestyle can affect your telomeres. It would be interesting to find out whether it is diet, stress or both that is important.”