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Taking more exercise and eating the right foods may help increase levels of an enzyme vital for guarding against age-related cell damage, work suggests. Among 24 men asked to adopt healthy lifestyle changes for a US study in The Lancet Oncology, levels of telomerase increased by 29% on average. Telomerase repairs and lengthens telomeres, which cap and protect the ends of chromosomes housing DNA. As people age, telomeres shorten and cells become more susceptible to dying. It is the damage and death of cells that causes ageing and disease in people. Several factors such as smoking, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle are associated with shorter-than-average telomeres. This might be a powerful motivator for many people to beneficially change their diet and lifestyle - The study authors