How to Tame Your Zombie Cells

April 14, 2023

Strengthen Immunity and Dampen Inflammation

This article originally appeared on TasteForLife.com.


Zombies are the stuff of legend, living dead that, depending on which movie you watch, are coming for everyone. We all have “zombie” cells in our bodies that make their presence known as we age. Zombie cells have become a popular way to describe something called cellular senescence because these cells act much like the zombies of our nightmares.


What are Zombie Cells?

Senescent cells have stopped dividing and are waiting to be removed from our body by the immune system. These cells are useful when we are young. They allow our body to put the brakes on cells that are either not working properly, are potentially cancerous, have finished a specific job (like scar formation as part of the healing process), or have reached the end of their useful life.


Senescent cells get their zombie name tag because they remain in our body in a state of suspended animation, secreting chemical messages that alert our immune system they need to be removed. When we are young, our immune system handles this job like a boss, but it falters as we age, maybe because it’s getting tired or because the increasing numbers of these cells start to overwhelm it.


Effects of Zombie Cells

Inflammation

  • As senescent cells start to build up, the chemical messages they are secreting cause negative effects on the cells around them. The chemical messages trigger inflammation, and these zombie cells may be the reason we see the increasing levels of inflammation that occur with older age.

Disease

  • Ongoing low-grade inflammation triggers processes that can lead to disease. Laboratory studies show even a few senescent cells can accelerate aging, or at least the symptoms of aging, like cancer and other diseases. Even the more aesthetic side effects of aging, including the graying of hair, worsening vision, and skin wrinkles, have been linked to cellular senescence.

Immunity

  • Laboratory research also suggests that a high senescent cell burden is the reason older individuals react so severely to COVID-19, and that treatment with fisetin, a natural senolytic, may improve immune response to COVID. This insight is now the subject of a clinical trial by the Mayo Clinic to see if the improved response can be replicated in humans.

Treatment for Zombie Cells

Once researchers realized having senescent cells in our body is not particularly good for us and that we have increasing levels of them as we age, they started looking for ways to remove them. Luckily for us, it turns out that killing zombie cells may be easier than knocking off those zombies of the horror story kind.


Scientists have found some simple strategies to limit the number of these cells in our body. These strategies include: regular exercise; a regular program of fasting—missing breakfast from time to time is good, missing breakfast and lunch occasionally is even better; maintaining a healthy weight (fat tissue seems to be a magnet for senescent cells); and taking cellular health supplements such as senolytic complex.


These actions can work together to help you keep your inner zombie at bay and may help reduce the risk associated with high levels of senescent cells in your body, especially as you age.


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Selected Sources:

“Fisetin for COVID-19 in skilled nursing facilities: Senolytic trials in the COVID era” by B.P. Verdoorn et al., Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 8/10/21

“Senescence and cancer: A review of clinical implications of senescence and senotherapies” by L. Wyld et al., Cancers, 7/31/20

“Senescence in health and disease” by S. He and N.E. Sharpless, Cell, 6/1/17

“Senolytics reduce coronavirus-related mortality in old mice” by C.D. Camell et al., Science, 7/16/21


By Michael Ventresca • October 28, 2026
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By Michael Ventresca • October 14, 2026
Have you ever eaten a meal with garlic or onions, and almost instantly had stomach upset? Does it seem like just about everything you eat causes gas, bloating or indigestion? If this sounds like you, or if you’ve been told to try a FODMAP diet, today’s article could be the missing piece to a very frustrating puzzle. I know it was for me. Most people have heard of lactose intolerance or gluten sensitivity, but far fewer are familiar with fructan sensitivity. Fructans are naturally occurring carboyhydrates found in a wide variety of foods but in especially high concentrations in everything from garlic and onions, to asparagus, wheat and even watermelon. For people who have difficulty digesting fructans, these foods can cause gas, bloating, abdominal discomfort, and sometimes diarrhea. The frustrating part is that fructans are found in so many seemingly unrelated foods that it can feel like almost everything you eat is causing a problem. That was my experience for years. Over the years, I tried a number of digestive enzymes. While many of them helped, none of them were a perfect match for the garlic, onion and pasta found in some of my favorite Italian meals. Then I stumbled across a product called FODZYME. FODZYME contains three digestive enzymes, including fructan hydrolase, an enzyme specifically designed to help break down fructans. FODZYME is a tasteless powder that you sprinkle directly on your food just before eating. The enzymes mix with the food and begin breaking down the fructans as you chew, before they cause problems further down the digestive tract. For me, the difference has been night and day. I am finally able to enjoy foods I have avoided for years. It’s important to note, there is still some trial and error involved regarding dosage. Because the amount of fructans varies from meal to meal, I find I need to adjust how much I use. Sometimes, one scoop is plenty, other times, I’ll use two. But if garlic, onions, wheat, or other high-fructan foods consistently leave you feeling miserable, FODZYME may be just what you need to start enjoying the foods you love. To learn more, or to try FODZYME, please stop in today. Mike Ventresca is the owner of Vital Choice Health Store located at 9243 Sprague Road in North Royalton’s Timber Ridge Plaza. The phone number is 440-885-9505 or visit VChoice.com . This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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