The search for formulas to stay young seems endless. Many people seem to be obsessed with wanting to win the game as the years go by, especially now, in a context in which great importance is given to health, both externally and internally. Venki Ramakrishnan, winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, has the perfect recipe for aging well. And there are no creams involved.
Through years of research and study, Ramakrishnan, who received the award in 2009 for his work on ribosomes, has identified three fundamental keys to maintaining vitality and delaying the signs of old age. This expert has spoken to the BBC about all this.
The first key is a balanced diet. Ramakrishnan emphasizes the importance of a diet that promotes cellular health. As he explains, nutrient-dense, low-calorie foods can help reduce the buildup of DNA and protein damage, which are crucial factors in the aging process. In his opinion, a balanced diet is not only a tool to maintain a healthy weight, but an essential pillar to prolong youth at the cellular level.
Second, Ramakrishnan advises focusing on regular physical activity. According to the Nobel Prize, exercise is not just a matter of aesthetics or physical fitness. It is essential to maintain cellular function and regulate vital biochemical processes. Thus, regular exercise helps maintain muscle mass, regulate mitochondrial functions and reduce the risk of age-related diseases, such as dementia and certain types of cancer.
Ramakrishnan’s third recommendation is good sleep hygiene. In modern society, sleep is often sacrificed for productivity and digital entertainment. However, Ramakrishnan emphasizes that restful sleep is essential for the body’s repair and regeneration mechanisms. In this sense, sleeping well not only improves memory and cognition, but also plays an essential role in regulating metabolic processes and maintaining a healthy immune system.
These three pillars, nutrition, exercise and sleep, form the basis of Ramakrishnan’s strategy to delay aging. According to the expert, putting them into practice is “more effective than any anti-aging medicine on the market,” and they do not have any side effects.
Therefore, Ramakrishnan makes it clear that combating the signs of aging has little to do with seemingly miraculous products and that we must focus on a healthy lifestyle: “Putting these old tips into practice helps us maintain muscle mass, regulate mitochondrial function, blood pressure, stress and reducing the risk of dementia.