Does flying make you age faster?

If you fly a lot, I have some bad news for you. Every time you go up to those really high altitudes, it exposes you to ionizing radiation. That's the type of radiation that leads to DNA damage and aging. However, there is some good news. A new study says there's an easy way to protect yourself.

In this study, researchers followed 82 male pilots. They studied the pilots for chromosomal translocations. That's a biomarker for cumulative DNA damage. The researchers found that the pilots consuming the highest levels of fruit and veggies didn't suffer as much damage.

They looked specifically at high vitamin C and E, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, and lutein-zeaxanthin from food sources, such as citrus fruit and green leafy veggies. The pilots eating a high (but not the highest) quantity of these food had about 40% less damage to their DNA. Those consuming the highest level of these foods had way less damage — 73% less.

This is proof of the anti-aging properties of the Living Foods Diet. Food provides far more God-made nutrients than you can get in a bottle. I'm always urging you to increase your consumption of colorful plant foods. Now you know you can protect your DNA by doing so.

Continued Below...

And it's not just a matter of flying where radiation is higher. The key word here is "higher." We are constantly exposed to background radiation. It's normal. But it's also normal for us to have natural protection that Nature in its wisdom provides us. So eat all the veggies you can.

Ref: "High dietary antioxidant intakes are associated with decreased chromosome translocation frequency in airline pilots," Yong LC, Petersen MR, et al, Am J Clin Nutr, 2009 Sept 30; [Epub ahead of print].