By Renée Onque

Copyright cnbc

Avoiding stress can be difficult considering challenges we’re facing globally, Epel said. But the good news is that damage done to telomeres as a result of chronic stress can be reversed.

“We can, on a daily basis, restore. Restore our cells, give ourselves breaks, create an anti-inflammatory lifestyle, so that we are slowing our aging. Or at least not letting all of the stressors we’re exposed to, get under the skin, into our cells and accelerate aging,” she said.

Here are some ways that she says you can de-stress and positively impact telomeres:

Eat more fruits and vegetablesCreate a meditative state by taking short breaks daily, even if it’s just five minutes or through meditationAdd more more Omega-3s to your diet or trying a Mediterranean dietPrioritize deep rest with practices like being in a flow state through yoga or breathwork

“It’s these small changes that we can make, they’re not huge lifestyle changes,” Epel said.

“Those are the changes that we can maintain and keep over years and years.”

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