“Good morning Dr Ben,” she said. “Good morning young lady,” I replied and asked, “Where is your mother?” looking over her shoulder to see if anyone was coming behind her. She burst out into a hilarious laughter.
When she regained her composure, she asked, “Do you need an eye examination? Too many people look at me as a young woman and I least expect you would be one of them. Anyway, thanks for the compliments. I will turn 70 next Saturday?” “70!” I exclaimed. “You certainly don’t look it! You must be using ‘Ajidewe,’ I told her.
“What’s Ajidewe? Lola asked. “Ajidewe is a Yoruba legendary medicine with the uncanny power of regeneration of body cells making the user to look perpetually young with sharpened intellect and retentive memory,” I said gleefully.
“I have never heard about it so I couldn’t have used any such medicine. It must be genetic. My mum, now 95, is hale and hearty and often referred to by those who don’t know us closely as my sister. She told me several stories of encounters in UK when even though well over 30 years of age, she was disallowed from purchasing alcoholic beverages in shops and super markets except she produced her driver’s licence because they thought she was underage.
Many orthodox medical practitioners like Dr Ben. who, in the past, had dismissed the claims of the existence of Ajidewe, now faced with the overwhelming evidence of its existence are now having a second thought. Scientists have actually unravelled the secret of Ajidewe.
Dr Richard Cawthon of the University of Utah Genetic Science Learning has identified the secret in the Telomere which are stretches of DNA found at the ends of our chromosomes. They protect our genetic data, make it possible for cells to divide and hold some secrets to how we age and get cancer. Telomere is the basis for the ‘fountain of youth.’ It determines a cell’s lifespan and holds back the ravages of ageing.
Telomeres have been compared with the plastic tips on shoe-laces, because they keep chromosome ends from becoming ragged and sticking to each other. This would destroy or scramble our genetic information. Without telomeres, the main part of the chromosome – the part with genes essential for life – would get shorter each time a cell divide. Telomeres allow cells to divide without losing genes.
Cell division is necessary for growth of new skin, blood, bone and other cells in the body. Without telomeres, chromosome ends could fuse together and corrupt the cell’s genetic blueprint, causing malfunction, cancer, or cell death. Because broken DNA is dangerous, a cell has the ability to sense and repair chromosome damage.
Without telomeres, the ends of chromosomes would look like broken DNA, and the cell would try to fix something that wasn’t broken. That also would make them stop dividing and eventually die. An enzyme named telomerase counteracts telomere shortening by adding bases to the ends of telomeres.
In young cells, telomerase keeps telomeres from wearing down too much. But as cells divide repeatedly, there is not enough telomerase, so the telomeres grow shorter and the cells age.
Shorter telomeres have been found to be associated with shorter lives and telomere shortening has been linked to the aging process. A major cause of ageing is “oxidative stress.” It is the damage to DNA, proteins, and lipids (fats) caused by oxidants, which are highly reactive substances containing oxygen. These oxidants are produced normally when we breathe, and also result from inflammation, infection, and consumption of alcohol and cigarettes. Another factor in aging is “glycation.”
It happens when glucose, the main sugar we use as energy, binds to some of our DNA, proteins, and lipids, leaving them unable to do their jobs. The problem becomes worse as we get older, causing body tissues to malfunction, resulting in disease and death.
Animal studies indicate that restricting calorie intake extends lifespan. Most likely oxidative stress related to glycation, telomere shortening, chronological age and nutritional antioxidant deficiencies, along with various genes, all work together to cause ageing.
Many of our local, dark green leafy vegetables and fruits are rich in antioxidants. And it has been proven that you can delay the onset of cataract if you eat well. Do you want to stay young and active? The entire secret of Ajidewe will be revealed to you next week. Until then, keep fit.
and then