Live Healthy for the Next Generation
London (PRWEB UK) 18 July 2013 -- The ability to live a long life with few health issues can be determined by the genetic make-up of each cell or DNA. Much research into ageing has been focused on the role of telomeres. These are the protective tips found at the end of chromosomes, sometimes likened to the tips of shoelaces. The role of telomeres is to safeguard the end of the chromosome and to prevent the loss of genetic information during cell division. 1
So each time the cell divides it shortens these telomeres until it runs out and dies, this process is what causes aging. When a genetic code begins to form after conception, some heredity health issues are pre-programmed into this code, but other aspects are formed by the mothers’ lifestyle choices during pregnancy, and then the personal choices made during a person’s lifespan.
Basic Habits for Good Health
A good diet is central to overall good health, both during formation in the womb, during the childhood and adolescent years and on through to the end. Improving the diet of women throughout the reproductive years, by ensuring an adequate dietary intake of vitamins and minerals such as folic acid and iodine, and restricting harmful substances, particularly the abuse of alcohol can minimise congenital anomalies which affect approximately 1 in 33 infants and result in approximately 3.2 million birth defect-related disabilities every year. 2 Chemist Direct takes a look at what vitamins and minerals are essential for building strong bones and muscles.
Vitamin D, helps the body to absorb calcium and phosphorus found in food and, at present, one in four children are deficient in this vitamin, which can be sourced directly from sunlight.1 Certain foods and drinks are necessary for balanced nutrition, which if not readily available can be supplemented with multi-vitamins that can help prolong the length and quality of life. Eating processed or high-calorie foods made up entirely of simple carbohydrates (sugars) or fat will leach the necessary nutrients from the body on a daily basis and could lead to weight gain or obesity. A study show that these eating habits in expecting mothers can increase the child's risk of obesity by changing the unborn baby's DNA. An estimation by the WHO states that by 2015, approximately 2.3 billion adults will be overweight and more than 700 million will be obese. 3 Having regular exercise can help achieve and maintain an ideal weight and reduce the risk of diabetes and other related health problems that may occur.
Drinking alcohol may be socially acceptable and having a pint or two of lager can help with releasing stress but drinking more than the recommended intake on a regular basis can also cause long-term damage to the body's internal organs. Habitual alcohol consumption is one of the major causes of heart and liver disease, and can cause the gradual breakdown of the internal organs. Though there are conflicting reports on the safety of expecting mothers indulging in a glass of wine on occasion, a study conducted by the Oxford and Bristol University shows a relation to the IQ levels in the children later on. 4
Smoking increases your risk of more than 50 serious health conditions. It causes about 90% of lung cancers, damages the heart and affects the blood circulation, worsens respiratory conditions and affects fertility. The authors from University College London said their paper was "the first comprehensive review to identify the specific birth defects most associated with smoking." They reviewed 172 research papers published in the past 51 years covering 174,000 cases of birth defects. They concluded that for women who smoke while pregnant "the risk was increased by 26% for having a baby with missing or deformed limbs, 28% for clubfoot, 27% for gastrointestinal defects, 33% for skull defects, 25% for eye defects and 28% for cleft lip/palate." 5
Chemist Direct Superintendant Pharmacist Omar El-Gohary states: “There is plenty of evidence available showing a link between lifestyle (from conception and beyond) and health. To give children the best possible chance of living a long and healthy life, expectant mothers should ensure they stop smoking, limit alcohol and eat a balanced healthy diet.”
Healthy living starts from conception, but the parents can minutely change the variations of the child’s DNA for better or worse by living healthy today. By caring for the body, taking vitamins, exercising and making healthy living a priority, there is a chance of improving the lives of future generations which remains the goal of Chemist Direct today.
References:
1) http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/0/22019289
2) http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs370/en/
3) http://www.worldgastroenterology.org/assets/export/userfiles/Obesity-Master%20Document%20for%20Website.pdf
4) http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0049407
5) http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/jul/12/birth-defects-linked-smoking-pregnancy
Samantha Smith, Chemist Direct, 0121 541 4952, [email protected]
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