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"I learned a super interesting thing today, have you ever heard that 'smelly' is also a health indicator?"
Uncle Zheng happily said to his family at dinner. The retired architect had just returned from a health lecture at a community hospital today, and he was so excited about the content of the lecture that he decided to share the discovery with his family.
The topic of the lecture was about the peculiar indicators of the health of the elderly, and one of the doctors in the lecture made a point in particular: as we age, the human body emits certain scents, and these smells are actually related to longevity.
Uncle Zheng felt that this idea was not only novel, but also sounded quite scientific.
During the lecture, the doctor explained in detail two specific types of "longevity odor".
The first is the oxidized odor of a natural oil secreted by the skin, which is scientifically known as "2-acetate-6-methylpyrrolidone", or "EM MP" for short.
Studies have shown that the content of EM MP is strongly linked to a person's cardiovascular health, and the concentration of this odor is often higher in long-lived seniors.
The second is an indicator of gut health, called "hydrogen sulfide".
Although this odor is often associated with unpleasant body odor, at certain concentrations, hydrogen sulfide plays an important role in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in the body, which can effectively delay the process of cellular aging.
Doctors further explained the mechanism by which these two body odors are formed. In the case of EM MP, it is mainly the result of the interaction of fatty acids in the skin with microorganisms on the surface of the skin, a process that enhances with age.
Hydrogen sulfide, on the other hand, mainly comes from the decomposition of sulfur-containing foods in the gut, and a healthy gut microbial community can promote the production of hydrogen sulfide.
Uncle Zheng was deeply interested in this, and he himself had been troubled by some peculiar smell in his body. It turned out that these could be the body telling him that he was much healthier than he thought.
Specific research data were also mentioned in the lecture. In a follow-up study, scientists found that older adults with higher levels of EM MP and hydrogen sulfide had a 30% lower incidence of cardiovascular disease than average and generally lived longer.
This data strongly supports the doctor's point of view and makes the whole lecture more convincing.
After returning home, Uncle Zheng began to study how to increase the production of these two substances through diet and lifestyle.
He learned that foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish and flaxseed, can increase skin health and promote EM MP production; Sulfur-rich foods such as garlic and onions help increase hydrogen sulfide production in the gut.
In addition, doctors also recommend that older adults should have regular body odor checks as part of their health assessment.
Uncle Zheng even began to imagine how interesting it would be if the hospital could carry out the "body odor health assessment" service in the future!
After Mr. Zheng's story spread in the community, many neighbors began to reassess their perception of body odor, and they began to realize that these small details that had been overlooked could be important clues to their health.
We have to ask: if these two specific body odors are indeed associated with longevity, how can we more precisely measure and use this information to guide the daily life and health management of older adults?
Researchers have proposed a possible solution to this problem: develop a portable device that can periodically detect specific gases emitted by the body, similar to existing breath analyzers, but more focused on analyzing chemicals that are associated with health and longevity.
Through this device, the elderly can self-monitor changes in body odor at home, keep abreast of their health status, and adjust their diet and lifestyle habits based on the data provided by the device.
Not only does this increase the sense of control over the elderly's health, but it also helps doctors better understand the health needs of the elderly and provide them with more personalized health advice.
What are your thoughts on this? Welcome to discuss in the comment area!