Quotations by Elizabeth Blackburn

Seaweed snacks, such as SeaSnax, can be found in health-food stores and are made from seaweed sheets lightly roasted in olive oil with a pinch of sea salt. They come in different flavors (like wasabi or onion) and are a great snack for people who crave salty or savory foods. Seaweed is also extremely rich in micronutrients. If you're watching your sodium, choose unsalted sheets of seaweed. [2017] - Elizabeth Blackburn

When genotoxic chemicals get into our bodies, we're more likely to get mutations and cancerous cells, and if the telomeres of those cells are long, they're more likely to divide and divide and divide into cancerous tumors. This is one reason we're so concerned about the widespread use and marketing of supplements and other products that claim to lengthen your telomeres. But when you practice naturally healthy habits such as stress management, exercise, good nutrition, and good sleep, your telomerase efficacy increases slowly, steadily, and over time. This natural process protects and maintains your telomeres. [2017] - Elizabeth Blackburn

You may want to change the way you eat and drink. Arsenic is naturally found in wells and groundwater, so you can either have your water tested or use a filter. Avoid plastic drinking bottles and cookware. Even BPA (Bisphenol A)-free plastic bottles may not be free of other harmful chemicals. BPA substitutes may be as unsafe; they just haven't been studied to the same extent. Avoid living near major roadways if possible. Greenery--trees, green space, and even house plants--can help reduce the levels of air pollutants inside your home and in a city. Try to walk in parks, plant trees, and support urban forestry. [2017] - Elizabeth Blackburn

Married people, or people living with a partner, have longer telomeres. The relationship is stronger in the older couples. Sexual intimacy in marriage may matter for telomeres, too. [2017] - Elizabeth Blackburn

Buy more house plants: two per one hundred square feet is ideal for keeping your air filtered. Good choices include philodendrons, Boston ferns, peace lilies, and English ivy. Avoid house paints that contain cadmium, lead, or benzene. [2017] - Elizabeth Blackburn

Only a few commercial companies offer telomere testing. Testing costs anywhere from around $100 to $500. A few caveats: Telomere testing is an unregulated business, so there is no government agency checking whether for-profit companies are using methods and values that are accurate, or whether what they tell you about your risks is accurate. It can be interesting to learn the results of a telomere test, but we caution everyone that telomeres don't necessarily predict the future. [2017] - Elizabeth Blackburn