Chile, in a previous post, we briefly talked about Spermidine and why it is essential for an #Ageless lifestyle. To recap, spermidine is a part of a group of compounds called polyamines. Polyamines can be made by the gut bacteria and consumed through food. The most important thing spermidine does when it comes to aging, is activate autophagy – our cell’s version of taking out the trash! Polyamines can be found in all types of foods in a wide range of concentrations. Spermidine and spermine are naturally present in food whereas putrescine could also have a microbial origin. The main polyamine in plant-based products is spermidine, whereas spermine content is generally higher in animal-derived foods.
Spermidine is also known to regulate various cellular processes, including:DNA Stability & Protection
- Cellular growth
- Cellular differentiation
- Apoptosis (Which is cellular death as a regular part of growth and development in organisms)
While most foods probably contain some spermidine, early research shows that the following are superb plant based sources of the polyamine:
Wheat Germ
- Soybeans/ Natto
- Miso
- Mushrooms
- Green Peas
- Lentils
- Rice and Rice Bran
- Mangos
- Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans)
- Cauliflower and Broccoli
Besides food, there are some spermidine supplements on the market now that are aiming to provide the ability to take small doses ongoing but I recommend first and foremost eating enough plants and then considering supplementation as a bonus. Do you incorporate any of these spermidine rich foods in your diet? Comment below. – XO