How to Live Longer

How thoughts can make muscles grow Why music strengthens the heart Which foods activate the body’s self-healing powers

The secret codes of regeneration

Tim’s heart is racing at more than 170 beats per minute. Every cell is running at full tilt. The level of inflammation in his blood has risen significantly, his joints have swollen, and every muscle is cramping up. The reason: Throughout the past four-and-a-half hours the 26-year- old’s body has lost more than 3 quarts of water— the majority of its energy reserves and nearly 5% of its weight. It seems as if Tim’s body has suddenly grown deathly ill—almost as though it is in the final stage of life—in the space of a single afternoon. But what has taken place? Tim ran a marathon— and has therefore depleted his last reserves. In fact, his body actually needs to collapse now. However, no sooner does the young man sink to the ground on a patch of grass just beyond the finish line than one of life’s most fascinating processes begins: regeneration. After just a few seconds his circulation is stabilized. His body’s own first-aid kit releases

Stress, wear and tear, exhaustion— every second of every day our bodies are battling against anything that threatens to disrupt their essential balance. But what can we do to maximize the body’s capacity to heal itself? And how many years of life do we stand to gain by taking these measures? Here experts explain the latest developments in regeneration research.