Expert links diet, toxins and stress to hidden acceleration of aging

Dr. Will Cole, a functional-medicine practitioner and co-author of the forthcoming book "Heal Your Cells," told one outlet that contemporary habits may be hastening biological aging. He notes that while human DNA has remained stable for millennia, the modern environment introduces foods that provoke inflammation, continuous exposure to chemicals like pesticides and "forever chemicals," and relentless stress or trauma.

These influences generate what he describes as "cellular noise," confusing cells and impairing their repair functions. Cole observes that many people in their twenties to forties possess cellular markers comparable to much older individuals, a trend he deems common but abnormal. He advises addressing nutrition, limiting toxin exposure, and fostering mental, emotional and spiritual well-being to reduce epigenetic noise and give the body a better chance to heal.