What is Biological Age?
Biological age, as opposed to your chronological age, is a measure of your inner health – the state of your cellular health. This is influenced by your genetics and lifestyle choices. It’s a measure of your “true” age because it measures how well you are taking care of your body by measuring the damage done. For example, a well-maintained car will run for a very long time. The same car, poorly maintained, will breakdown within a few years.
There are several tests and biological markers that can give you a sense of your biological age and cellular health. Some markers include DNA methylation, telomere length, blood test markers (glucose, cholesterol, platelet count, etc.). One test is known as the ‘epigenetic clock’, a biochemical analysis of DNA methylation levels, long known to decline with age. The theory behind biological aging is that aging and disease start in the cell. As cellular functions decline, this leads to a decline in tissue and organ functioning.
When it comes to aging and longevity, it’s thought that 20% is determined by your genes and 80% by how your genes are expressed. Think of this as the piano (your genome) and the pianist (the epigenome). Gene expression, or epigenetics, can be influenced by all sorts of lifestyle factors: diet, exercise, sleep, stress, relationships, etc. This means we can influence our cellular health and maybe even slow down our rate of biological aging.
While a little bit of stress (hormesis) can be good for us, too much can take its toll on our health. Oxidative stress, or free radical damage in the body, is thought to be one of the primary causes of cellular aging as damage to our DNA, cellular dysfunction, and errors in gene expression slowly accumulate over time and our body’s ability to maintain balance declines with age.
Flor·Essence® and Cellular Health:Polyphenols
Flor·Essenceplays an important role in reducing your biological age by supporting the removal of wastes and toxins at a cellular level through various elimination pathways in your body.* This results in better digestion, which enables us to absorb more nutrients from our food. Flor-Essence also reduces free radical damage in the body, thereby supporting the immune system and maintaining optimal energy and vitality.*
Flor·Essence consists of eight herbs that support various detoxification and elimination pathways (the liver, kidneys, lungs, skin, intestines, lymphatic system).* These herbs are burdock root, sheep sorrel, slippery elm, Turkish rhubarb, red clover, blessed thistle, watercress, and kelp. Each of these eight herbs consist of hundreds of ‘constituents’ or phytonutrients itself. Flor·Essence is tested for these phytonutrients, and 43 key marker compounds have been identified that work in harmony to support the body in balancing oxidative stress and elimination of wastes and toxins.*
Some of these phytonutrients include:
Apigenin: Flor·Essence herb sources include watercress and sheep sorrel. High amounts are also found in chamomile. Sedative/anti-anxiety, pro-testosterone.*
Caffeic acid/Chlorogenic acid:Found in burdock. Antioxidant, reduces amyloid plaque proteins, increases cellular ATP production, supports healthy inflammation balance, supports healthy blood pressure.*
Quercetin:Found in red clover. Promotes sirtuin activity**, antioxidant, supports healthy inflammation balance, anti-allergy, neuroprotective, supports healthy blood pressure and blood sugar levels.*
Luteolin:Found in sheep sorrel. Promotes sirtuin activity, supports healthy blood sugar levels, antioxidant, neuroprotective.*
Emodin:Found in Turkish rhubarb. Supports healthy inflammation balance, antioxidant, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective.*
Cnicin: Found in blessed thistle. Bitter, supports healthy inflammation balance, hepatoprotective.*
Flor·Essence is a gentle, whole body cleanse that supports the organs of elimination and combats oxidative stress at the cellular level.* For best results, it should be taken daily, consistently, on an empty stomach for several weeks to months.
** A family of proteins that regulate cell health, DNA repair, cellular stress resistance, detoxification, energy metabolism, and gene expression
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Robert Dadd is a Master Herbalist (Dominion Herbal College) with a BA in Communications from Simon Fraser University. His areas of research include adaptogens, probiotics, and essential fatty acids. He is currently the Product Information Supervisor for Flora Manufacturing and Distributing.