An emphasis on diet or exercise will not produce the longest healthiest life. Both are required. Diet is especially important for weight control. But even diet and exercise together don’t produce the best results.
Age is the greatest risk factor for chronic disease. Increased oxidative particle formation is an inevitable part of the aging process no matter how much you diet and exercise. Antioxidant defenses decline with aging. Oxidative particles damage mitochondria causing increased oxidant production in a vicious cycle—more oxidants, more mitochondrial damage, more oxidants, faster aging and chronic illness development. Diet and exercise cannot overcome that. Lisinopril, losartan, statins, metformin, spironolactone, and eplerenone are all powerful antioxidants that have been proven to prolong life by 8 years in combination in high-risk people compared with usual care. Diet and exercise could not be more important, but they are not enough. Certain medications directly lower oxidant production to slow aging and delay chronic illness.
I’m relieved to know that! I’m losing weight and exercising every day, along with taking Losartan.
This is very helpful, especially knowing that the Losartan I’m taking is an antioxidant. Thank you again for providing a strong case for diet and exercise together.