Dr. Oz: Now I’m stressed about how my stress level is causing me to age

As a guest blogger for Boomer411, I wrote a post yesterday on Tuesday’s program on The Oprah Winfrey Show, “Dr. Oz on Aging: How to Turn Back Time.”

It was a great show. Information I already know such as the importance of a stress reduction, a good diet, and exercise was emphasized.

New information on aging was offered such as a description of telomeres. They’re like shoelaces at the tip of the chromosomes, Oz said. When the caps of telomeres begin to wear off, due to stress and other factors, the telomeres become frayed and cells can’t be replaced.

The telomeres in people who are old and frail have worn off, he said, adding all organs can be replaced if telomeres aren’t damaged.

While I only exercise moderately, I eat a good diet with many fruits and vegetables, which are often organic. I don’t drink or smoke. I take supplements. I have a good job, friends, and an active social life.

The program generally encouraged me, although I now worry about my stress level because Oz said stress is the No. 1 ager.

I ordered Oz’s book, “You: Staying Young: The Owner’s Manual for Extending Your Warranty (You),” written with co-author Michael F. Roizen, which offers information on how to make changes that will give you vitality as you age. I wanted to see what else I could learn to age well.

One hundred of Winfrey’s audience members were preselected to take an aging test. They filled out a quiz at home and had a physical exam, which included push-ups and sit-ups.

The results weren’t good. The 100 people were ranked as follows:

• 1 – outstanding 

• 0 – aging well

• 18 – average 

• 81 – not aging well

The woman with the outstanding score said she runs, lifts weights, swims, cooks most of what she eats, and has a happy home life. The woman with the lowest score said she smokes, drinks, eats poorly, and doesn’t exercise. Her score was 64.

Oz told the woman who scored low not to worry; she could make improvements.

The brain begins to shift and think about the world differently in 14 days, he said.

In three months, people can start to affect their life expectancy. In three years, nearly any negative past behavior can be reversed, Oz said. “Remember you can’t get rid of your bad habits. You’ve got to replace them with good ones.”

I decided to take the test. My score, 69, wasn’t good. In addition to exercising more, I’ll need to take a close look at Oz’s book to see what improvements I can make.

Then I took another test called What’s Your Real Age offered at the end of Oz’s aging test.

I did better on that one. It said I’m 9.4 years younger than my calendar age. I guess I received credit on that test for eating fruits and vegetables and not taking any prescription drugs.

I’ll keep you posted on whether I decide to undertake Oz’s 14-day plan and, if so, what habits I was able to change.