How Your Body Stays Young

Do you know that your body is 15 ½ years old? You probably have had more birthdays than that – I certainly have.

“According to recent research, that’s the average age of your body – your muscles and guts, anyway. You might think that you have been around since the day you were born, but most of your body is a lot younger,” says Gaia Vince at New Scientist magazine.

The reason the average age is 15 ½ years is because every day 432 billion cells die and are replaced with new cells. That is a lot of cells.

Last week for instance, I cut myself while chopping vegetables; that cut healed completely which means millions of cells were replaced. It doesn’t stop there though: all over my body, old cells are dying and are being replaced. It’s happening in your body too.

Your gums, your red blood, cell your skin – almost everything. This regeneration is happening right now, as you are reading this.

Fascinating Facts About the Regenerating Body:

•    Cells in our digestive system, from the stomach to the large bowel, are replaced every 5 minutes.
•    Gums are replaced every two weeks.
•    A new liver every five months.
•    New covering of skin every four weeks.
•    Our red blood cells live 120 days.
•    Our heart is replaced every six to nine months.
•    Your liver is capable of renewing and repairing from as little as 25 percent of its tissue.
•    New studies are indicating that even brain cells may regenerate.

This is the miracle of the human body: the miracle of regeneration. The body looks the same in the mirror every day, but this is only because we can’t see the tiny parts being replaced.

That process makes me highly optimistic that you could have a better functioning body next year if you want, with less pain and more energy… if you take the right steps.

Is Your Body Degenerating Or Regenerating?

We know that in a fashion we are creating a new body by slowly getting new cells every day. The question is whether our new cells will be a healthier or less healthy.

The quality of the new cells is dependent on the raw material, the food that was available when the replacement cells were being formed. If you feed the body the proper food and nutrition, the new cells being formed can actually be stronger and healthier then the old cells ever were.

This is called regeneration. If you feed the body poorly, the result will be cells of an inferior quality. This is degeneration.

There are limits to this of course. Reasearchers estimate that 30 percent of our health is determined by genetics. You can do a LOT with 70 percent though and even the expression of genetics has been shown to be moderated by the environment.

Next: The big 5 degenerators

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Amber B.

9:40AM PST on Jan 29, 2012

awesome!

send a green star

Christa D.

12:27AM PST on Jan 29, 2012

Thanks

Sarah M.

9:35PM PST on Jan 26, 2012

Cool, thanks.

Lynde T.

10:28AM PST on Jan 24, 2012

Neat! I knew our cells got replaced every so often but I didn't know a time frame for any specific organs.

Melinda K.

4:20PM PST on Jan 18, 2012

Fascinating info on the body - who knew? Excellent article, recommended.

Knut F.

2:32AM PST on Jan 17, 2012

Yes, I like that - a wealth of information - thanks!

New G.

10:52PM PST on Jan 16, 2012

Thank you.

Chad A.

3:36AM PST on Jan 16, 2012

I can afford to cut back even further on the degenerators, I am ashamed to admit...

heather g.

2:19AM PST on Jan 16, 2012

This article is very positive and encouraging. If one thinks positively, you're half way there with health goals.
However, I would never kid myself about the presence of chemicals and pollutants in the soil and water. The air is foul with pollutants from traffic in our area.
Utopia in the form of an island with warm weather to grow one's own food and with fresh water, would fit the bill 100% !

Patricia T.

8:05PM PST on Jan 15, 2012

Interesting article. I gave up sugar years ago and don't like Coke or Soda drinks. I like tea though and even though it has caffeine it also has antioxidants which is a plus:)