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Page 28| Abby's Magazine - www.AbbysMag.com Telomeres are short pieces of DNA that protect chromosomes, much like plastic tips that keep shoelaces from unraveling. Telomeres bind the ends of chromosomes together and protect them from degradation during cell division. Every time a cell divides, the length of its telomeres shortens slightly. Aer a set number of cell division cycles, telomeres are 'chipped away' until they reach a critical length known as the Hayflick Limit. is "end replication problem" limits the number of times a cell can correctly duplicate itself, and marks the cessation of normal cell division. Animal studies suggest that this mechanism is responsible for accelerated cellular aging – every time a cell divides, errors in duplication accumulate, resulting in cellular dysfunction. Eventually the cells lose their ability to divide as the telomeres are progressively shortened. In this manner, telomeres act as a cellular clock that sets an upper limit to human lifespan. A key element in the maintenance of telomeres is an enzyme, telomerase, that plays a vital role in maintaining the length of telomeres and stabilizing chromosomes during cell division. In the presence of telomerase, dividing cells can replace lost bits of DNA and even repair the cells to allow the process of healthy cell division to continue. CHROMOSOMES AND TELOMERES immune activity to protect mice exposed to ionizing radiation by reducing oxidative injury and modulating the secretion of cytokines IL-4, IL-5 and IL-17. One of the most important adaptogenic properties of Cordyceps is its ability to aid in reversing insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a condition that severely impairs the body's ability to absorb glucose, resulting in dangerously high glucose and insulin blood levels, and contributing to obesity and diabetes. In 2006, researchers demonstrated that animals treated with Cordyceps for as little as 10 days had significant improvements in whole-body glucose disposal, accompanied by a reduction in insulin secretion aer eating meals high in carbohydrates. at same year researchers at the Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences in Macau found that Cordyceps extracts significantly reduced blood glucose levels in diabetic mice. Serum insulin levels were also normalized, indicating that Cordyceps was stimulating pancreatic release of insulin while reducing insulin resistance. In another study, scientists revealed that Cordyceps can exert anti-hyperglycemic activities while causing significant reductions in blood glucose concentrations in diabetic rats, further supporting its potential role as a functional food for metabolic disorders and for people at risk of becoming obese and developing diabetes. e most recent study on Cordyceps, published in March 2012, measured the antidiabetic effects of Cordyceps and taurine as compared to glibenclamide, an antidiabetic drug in a class of medications known as sulfonylureas. Oral administration of Cordyceps was shown to decrease serum glucose, fructosamine, total cholesterol, triglyceride levels, insulin resistance index and pancreatic malondialdehyde content. Cordyceps also significantly increased serum insulin, HDL-cholesterol, total antioxidant capacity, β cell function, and pancreatic reduced glutathione (GSH) content. In their conclusion, the researchers reported that while Cordyceps demonstrates less potent hypoglycemic effects than glibenclamide, it is superior at reducing insulin resistance and exhibits stronger antioxidant properties.