The body is self-regenerating. As cells grow old and die, they are replaced with new cells exactly the same as the ones they replace. Each part of the body is complexly renewed on it's own timetable. The skin, for instance, is replaced about every three weeks. Bones take the longest to be renewed, just over a year. Nerve cells, however, don't reproduce. Think about it. You become almost a totally new person, nearly every year. You could live forever if something didn't go wrong. That something is called aging.

When a cell is damaged, it will be replaced by a damaged cell just like it. Cells can become damaged through accident, disease, or abuse, but mostly by free radicals. Free radicals are unavoidable as they are produced by the body's normal activity. The production and the effects of free radicals, however, can be counteracted by healthy living practices such as good nutrition, and by avoiding harmful things like alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and overexposure to the sun. Antioxidants are extremely helpful in combating free radicals. Antioxidants absorb free radicals through a process of chemically combining with them, and thus neutralizing the free radicals inside the body

Antioxidants and other supplements, which are considered helpful in slowing the aging process, include: B complex, B6 (pyrodoxine), beta-carotene, C, calcium & magnesium, cysteine, D, E, folic acid, omega-3 fatty acids, potassium, selenium, and zinc.

Herbs and other healing foods considered helpful include: alfalfa, apple cider vinegar, beets, blueberries, broccoli, brown rice, chamomile, citrus fruits, cranberries, echinacea, evening primrose, fish, ginkgo, ginseng, garlic, green tea, horsetail, milk thistle, mushroom, nuts, oatmeal, onion, olive oil, peanuts, peppermint, pomegranate, pumpkin, purslane, rosemary, sage, thyme, tomato, turmeric, willow, wheat bran, and wheat germ.

To keep the body's processes running smoothly, and to slow the production of free radicals, avoid the following: alcohol, unhealthy fats, fried foods, grilled foods, meat, processed foods, salt, stress, sugar, sun overexposure, tobacco smoke, toxins, and white flour. Also try to limit protein.

Be sure to drink at least 8-12 cups of water daily. Moderate exercise is good for the body, but aerobic exercise can actually increase production of free radicals. Get 7-9 hours sleep daily. Maintain a healthy weight. Try to consume a high nutrition, low calorie diet. Eat lots of fruits, vegetables (especially raw), and whole grains.

Aging is a fact of life. You can't stop it. You do, however, have the ability to speed it up, or slow it down. You must make that choice daily.

Disclaimer: This article is for entertainment purposes only, and is not intended for use as diagnosis or treatment of a health problem or as a substitute for consulting a licensed medical professional.