You may have ever heard that having children will only make you age or make your skin turn bad and your hair fall out. But in reality, it seems that having more children can actually slow down the aging process for women. Nature is wise and knows that if you have more children, more beings need you by their side!
A study from Simon Fraser University has concluded that having children can make you age less. Led by health sciences professor Pablo Nepomnaschy and postdoctoral researcher Cindy Barha, the study found that women who gave birth to more surviving children exhibited longer telomeres.
What are telomeres and why are they important?
Telomeres are the protective tips found at the end of each DNA strand that is indicative of cellular aging. Longer telomeres are an integral part of cell replication and are associated with longevity.
The study lasted 13 years
The study evaluated the number of children born to 75 women from two neighboring rural indigenous Guatemalan communities and the length of their telomeres. The length of the participants' telomeres was measured at two time points 13 years apart, using saliva samples and buccal swabs.
This is the first study to examine the direct association between the number of children and telomere shortening in humans over time. According to Nepomnaschy, the study's findings contradict the life history theory, which predicts that producing more offspring accelerates the rate of biological aging.
However, the slower rate of telomere shortening found in study participants who have more children can be attributed to the dramatic rise in estrogen, a hormone produced during pregnancy. Estrogen works as a powerful antioxidant that protects cells against telomere shortening.
Social support is also important
The social environment in which the study participants live may also influence the relationship between their reproductive efforts and the rate of aging. The women who were followed during the study were from naturally fertile populations where mothers who have many children receive more social support from their family and friends.
Increased support leads to an increase in the amount of metabolic energy that can be allocated to maintaining tissues, slowing down the aging process. Therefore, it is also very important to avoid premature aging that women who are mothers can count on family and friends support. In this way the burden on parenting is less and they can feel good without so much stress or anxiety. Stress is undoubtedly a trigger for premature aging and can even lead to life-threatening diseases.
How many children do you have? Are you also more likely to age at a slower rate? Eternal youth!