Guest guest Posted October 24, 2001 Report Share Posted October 24, 2001 This article was provided by: Advanced Medicine of Mount Kisko* 213 Main Street Mount Kisco, NY phone: 914-241-7030 websites: www.blooddetective.com and www.drwald.com email: waldmb If you wish you could slow down the aging process you're not alone. For centuries people of all cultures have searched for a " fountain of youth " to keep them looking and feeling young longer. Let's face it, growing old may be " natural " but there's nothing unnatural about yearning to delay or prevent wrinkles, loss of mental sharpness and the host of degenerative diseases associated with aging. Well, you're in luck because as fate would have it, you're living in the time of anti-aging medicine, the revolutionary new paradigm that promises to extend longevity and quality of life. Anti-aging medicine focuses on diet, lifestyle, nutrition, hormones, herbs and exercise to increase life span while simultaneously preventing and reversing disease, memory loss and the physical signs of aging. " Aging, which has long been thought of as inevitable, part of the human condition, can now be seen as a disease for which there are causes and treatments, " says Dr. Ronald Klatz, president of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine in his book " Grow Young with HGH. " Aging 101 Why does aging occur? There are dozens of theories. The three most compelling and widely accepted are the free radical theory, neuroendocrine theory and telomere theory. If you read health magazines or watch any health news on TV, you've probably heard about the free radical theory of aging. Basically, free radicals are necessary but dangerous electrically-charged molecules produced in the body that wreak havoc on our cells. Free radicals mutate cell membranes, degrade protein in tissues and activate enzymes called proteases that destroy DNA. You can also blame free radicals' attacks on elastin and collagen in the skin for wrinkles and sagging. Lipofuscins (a.k.a. age spot pigments or brown spots) are a waste product of free radical activity that are not only unsightly, but also interfere with cell regeneration -- causing cell death and aging. The antioxidants you hear so much about are " free radical scavengers " that defend against the destructive action of these molecules. The neuroendocrine theory blames aging on the plummet in hormone production that occurs as we get older. Hormones are chemical messengers that regulate all body functions, including growth, metabolism, stress response, sexual libido, mood and reproduction. Estrogen, progesterone and testosterone decline with menopause to a fraction of pre-menopausal levels. By age 65, levels of DHEA (the most abundant hormone in the body) drop to only 10-20% of the levels present in a 20-year-old and human growth hormone (HGH) is partially or wholly deficient in half of the population. Production of thymic protein A by the thymus gland is severely curtailed by age 40, and by age 75, pregnenelone levels are 50-60% less than at age 35. A key component of many anti-aging protocols is to restore hormone levels to that of a 30-40 year old through pharmaceutical or nutritional/herbal hormone replacement therapy. The new kid on the block in aging research is the telomere or " biological clock " theory. " Aging is a biologically controlled occurrence, " writes Dr. Klatz in his book. " People are not immortal because cells do not reproduce indefinitely. " The telomere is part of the DNA structure at the end of a chromosome that gets shorter and shorter each time the cell divides until there's not enough left for the cell to reproduce anymore and it dies. As cells die, we age. An enzyme called telomerase controls whether a cell's telomeres shorten (as is the case in most cells) or can relengthen infinitely (which is the case in blood and cancer cells). Anti-aging and cancer researchers are hard at work to discover a way to turn the telomerase enzyme on and off to prohibit cancer cell reproduction and allow for eternal cell life in body tissues and organs. The Great Hormone Debate Some of the most highly touted aging therapies involve hormonal supplementation. It's nearly impossible to talk about the anti-aging revolution without addressing these remarkable findings. But some doctors, both holistic and allopathic, are cautious about the current craze. The research is in its infancy, which means we don't know much about long-term effects. And there are a string of cautions: Hormones shouldn't be used if you have a history of high blood pressure, heart disease or cancer. Supplementing without a doctor's oversight may be dangerous - doses of over-the-counter hormones are often 5-10 times higher than the levels your body produces normally. While thyroid, HGH and the sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone and testosterone) are only available through a prescription by your medical doctor, DHEA, 7-Keto DHEA, melatonin, pregnenelone and thymic protein A are all available over-the-counter. But before you rush out to the health food store, think twice cautions Dr. Henry Sobo, M.D., an anti-aging medical doctor and director of Advanced Medical of Mount Kisco in New York. " You can't rely on the same safety factor when taking hormones as you can when supplementing with nutrients like vitamin C and B-complex. The long-term effects of supplementing with hormones like DHEA in an unregulated fashion have not been studied and could be detrimental to a person's health. " Generally, if you're in your 30's or under you wouldn't use hormones at all. For men and women 40 and over, Dr. Sobo recommends getting your hormone levels tested to identify what specific hormones you might be low in and then supplement accordingly. A safer way to get the benefits of hormones without the risk (or expense) is to supplement with hormone " agonists " -- nutritional components used by the body to stimulate its own endogenous hormone production. For instance, l-glutamine, arginine, lysine, ornithine, glycine naturally enhance growth hormone secretion and can be easily supplemented in doses of 1 to 2 grams each in those amino acid protein shakes weight lifters use. Estrogen can be boosted by the phytoestrogens found in herbs like dong quai, licorice root and ginseng, and in soy products, peas and figs. Licorice root also boosts DHEA levels. The body's progesterone production can be triggered by wild yam extract and damiana. There are a host of natural estrogen and progesterone creams on the market which may or may not raise endogenous hormone levels. Vitamin A, zinc, iodine, selenium and tyrosine are needed to manufacture thyroid hormone. " With severe hormonal deficiencies, however, " says Sobo, " taking the hormones themselves will be of quicker and greater benefit. " Preventing Diseases of Aging Everyone has to die of something (at least until scientists discover a way to immortalize us - which doesn't seem likely to happen in our lifetime). But wouldn't you prefer to " go in your sleep " when your biological clock ticks its last tock, rather than suffer through years of degenerative disease and disability? At the core of anti-aging medicine is the belief that all diseases of aging are preventable. In fact, there are volumes of research on the role of nutrition, diet, lifestyle, exercise, stress reduction and hormones on not only preventing but reversing heart disease, cancer, stoke, diabetes, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's, glaucoma, cataracts and arthritis. That's huge news considering that in the U.S. heart disease is the number one killer of women and men, 1 in 3 women will develop cancer in her lifetime, 1 in 6 women will develop Alzheimer's, diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death and arthritis is the leading cause of disability. The first step in creating health is to clean up your diet and lifestyle. Aim to eat a whole foods diet full of high-fiber fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains, lean meats, cold-water fish, soy products, nuts and seeds. Keep saturated fats and processed foods to a minimum. Reduce your stress, quit smoking, limit your exposure to toxic stuff (a.k.a. pesticides, chemicals, drugs and alcohol), get good sleep and up your exercise. If you are among the 55% of Americans who are at least 20% overweight, losing weight can literally save your life since obesity is a major risk factor for heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, stroke and breast cancer. Consult a holistic physician or nutritionist and a fitness trainer to help you get started on a comprehensive program for healthy long-term weight loss. Your greatest nutritional defenses against the diseases of aging are the antioxidant nutrients. Vitamins E, C, alpha and beta-carotene, selenium, lycopene, coenzyme Q-10, bioflavonoids and glutathione top the list as the most potent free-radical scavengers. The research substantiating the benefits of these nutrients in preventing and curing disease is boundless and could literally fill every page of this magazine for one whole year! Here are some highlights: Vitamin E reduces heart disease risk by lowering LDL ( " bad " cholesterol), raising HDL ( " good " cholesterol), lowering triglycerides and inhibiting platelet aggregation. It also protects against cancer by stabilizing cell membranes to prevent free radical damage and mutation. A study in the May 1998 issue of Ophthalmology reports that the risk of developing cataracts was reduced by one-half in test subjects taking vitamin E supplements. For protective effects, supplement with 400 I.U. of vitamin E (d-alpha-tocopherol) and get extra E in your diet from wheat germ, soybeans, peanuts and eggs. Vitamin C helps prevent diabetes and glaucoma by regulating glucose and insulin for normal blood sugar control. It fuels your adrenals to boost immunity, reduce stress, fight infections, speeds wound healing and wards off cancer. As part of your daily regime, take 500-1000 mg of buffered ascorbic acid three times per day, and load up on berries, citrus fruit, spinach, broccoli and red peppers for maximum protection. Beta-carotene has been widely accepted as an anti-cancer nutrient, especially for preventing and treating lung and skin cancers. Think and eat orange - cantaloupe, apricots, carrots, squash, sweet potato and pumpkin, in addition to taking a multi-vitamin or antioxidant supplement with 25,000 I.U. of beta-carotene in it. Coenzyme Q-10 eats away plaque in arteries to protect you from heart attack, lowers blood pressure and prevents cancer. A daily dose is 30 to 100 mg. Selenium stimulates production of glutathione peroxidase, the most powerful antioxidant your body makes. According to a study published in the British Medical Journal (Feb. 1997), selenium helps prevent cancer, cardiomyopathy and rheumatoid arthritis, and is needed for normal thyroid and immune function. Brazil nuts are loaded with selenium and breads, grains, fish, poultry and meat are also good sources. Supplemental dose is 50-200 mcg/day for preventive health care. Besides the antioxidants, taking a potent multi-vitamin complex covers your bases to get the minimums you need to prevent deficiency. The essential fatty acids, especially omega 3's, are another smart supplement since they lower LDL cholesterol, raises HDL cholesterol, reduce cancer risk and protect against inflammatory disorders like arthritis and gout. Hormone replacement therapy may also play a huge role in disease prevention. Estrogen replacement reduces osteoporosis, stroke and cardiovascular disease risk. DHEA is linked with lowering breast and ovarian cancers, Alzheimer's disease and heart disease. Russian and Italian studies show that the antioxidant hormone Melatonin boosts immunity, enhances sleep quality (which is fundamental to health and longevity), and protects against cancer. HGH, touted by Dr. Ronald Klatz as " the ultimate anti-aging therapy, " restores heart, liver and kidney function to younger levels, revitalizes the immune system, lowers blood pressure and prevents osteoporosis. Thymic Protein A, discovered and patented by immunologist Dr. Terry Beardsley, Ph.D. is needed for the thymus gland to " program " T4 helper cells to do their job of regulating the body's immune system. Supplementing with thymic protein A may keep you healthier longer by safeguarding your immunity. If you've been diagnosed or are at high risk for developing heart disease, consider adding chelation therapy to your anti-aging protocol. By removing heavy metals built up in the body, chelation therapy breaks down plaques in the arteries that cause arteriosclerosis. Holistic medical doctors provide intravenous chelation therapy for a cost of about $125 per session, or offer oral chelating drugs by prescription. Another tip: next time you have Chinese food, order the brown rice instead of white. IP-6 (inositol hexaphosphate) is a new cancer-fighting supplement derived from the B-vitamin inositol found in the bran of brown rice, as well as in corn, wheat, soybeans and legumes. Studies at the University of Maryland School of Medicine found IP-6 to shrink tumors by inhibiting cancer cell proliferation. Other cutting-edge anti-aging therapies include intravenous nutrition (for direct delivery of potent vitamins and minerals into the blood) and hyperbaric oxygen therapy which super-oxygenates your cells to improve circulation and immunity. The list of disease-fighting steps you can choose from goes on and on. You Look Marvelous! A recent poll published in US News and World Report, found that the top aging concerns among baby boomers (the huge segment of the population born between 1946 and 1964) besides loss of health are predominantly cosmetic, with weight gain, hair loss, wrinkles, sagging skin and graying hair topping the list. Have you noticed that the older you get the easier it is to gain weight and the harder it is to lose? That's because age-related declines in thyroid hormone, HGH and others result in a slowing metabolism. Hormone replacement therapy is one way to keep your metabolism quick on its feet and prevent the post-menopausal pounds from settling in to stay. According to a study published in the Journal of American Geriatrics, intramuscular growth hormone injections boosted lean muscle mass an average of 8.8% and reduced fat 14.4% in six months in seniors without dieting or exercising. Thyroid hormone, progesterone, estrogen and DHEA also rev up metabolism by increasing lean body mass and lipolysis (the breakdown of fat). If you don't want to experiment with hormones, but are looking for some of the same effects, you can try supplementing with metabolism-boosting nutrients such as chromium and creatine. Hydroxy citric acid also ups energy production. The lipotropics (choline, inositol, methionine and cysteine) support the liver's metabolism, indirectly helping the body burn fat. And make sure you're getting enough protein so that you have amino acids to build muscle. Another way to kick your metabolism into gear: Exercise! Lifting weights combined with aerobic/cardiovascular fitness increases lean muscle mass and reduces body fat. The better your lean muscle mass to body fat ratio is, the faster your metabolism will be. Aside from looking great and feeling stronger, exercising builds immunity and lowers your risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and osteoporosis. When it comes to safeguarding your youthful appearance, the antioxidants take center stage since they neutralize the free radicals that cause wrinkles, sagging skin and age spots. Vitamin C is especially important for skin health because it's needed to form new collagen. Anti-aging face and skin creams that contain vitamins C, E, the carotenes, bioflavonoids and other skin-health stuff like alpha-hydroxy can be used topically as part of a preventive skin care regime. However, since the levels in these products absorbed through the skin may not be significant enough for optimum benefit, supplementing with antioxidant vitamins is still your best bet for keeping skin healthy. As for hormones, HGH rejuvenates and repairs skin and estrogen keeps skin supple and smooth. And don't forget to slather on at least a 15 SPF sunscreen to protect you from UV radiation that causes wrinkles, leathery skin, age spots, and skin cancer. There's less good news about keeping the gray out. While some possible culprits are genetics, environmental factors, toxic build-up in the body, stress, free-radicals and PABA (para-amino benzoic acid) deficiency, the truth is that no one knows whay hair follicles go gray or snowy white. Anti-aging experts suggest that managing your stress, upping sleep, counter-acting free-radicals and optimizing overall health and nutrition may delay the graying process - but there's no guarantee. Staying Smart and Sharp Another big fear people have about aging is that senility will set in and they will lose their memory and mental keenness. Unfortunately, the fear is a valid one with women having a 1 in 6 chance of developing Alzheimer's disease (a condition in which short- and long-term memory and cognitive function become mildly to severely impaired). To preserve memory and mental acuity into your later years, exercise your brain. Read books, take an adult education course and play games that require memory and analytical thinking skills - brain power is a use-it-or-lose-it proposition. Stress reduction is another biggie since stress hormones degenerate brain cells in the hippocampus -- the part of the brain involved in memory. Meditation, yoga, biofeedback, tai chi, exercise and massage are excellent stress-busters. A supplement that is gaining wide acceptance in the U.S. as an anti-aging brain booster is gingko biloba. Gingko improves memory and mental performance by increasing blood flow to the brain, enhancing brain membrane fluidity, raising levels of dopamine (a key brain neurotransmitter) and protecting brain cells from free radical damage through its antioxidant activity. Research studies show that gingko supplementation in elderly patients with senile dementia significantly improves attention and memory. A usual dose of gingko is 40 to 120 mg of an extract standardized to contain 24% flavoglycosides (it's most active ingredient) and no long-term side effects have been encountered. Phosphatidylserine (PS) is the newest anti-aging memory-booster. PS is a component of the lipid (fatty) structure needed to maintain healthy, fluid brain cell membranes that function normally. More than two dozen clinical trials have shown PS to improve memory and learning in older adults with age-related cognitive deficits or Alzheimer's disease. PS is naturally formed in the body from a combination of fatty acids and serine, an amino acid abundant in good protein sources like chicken, lean meats, eggs and tofu. You can take supplements of PS but be warned: they are way expensive (try $30 for 30 capsules!). Unless you're in serious need of reversing memory loss, a less expensive and probably as effective preventive measure is to load up on the raw materials your body needs to make the PS and other essential brain phospholipids. Get serine from protein foods, choline and inositol from a B-complex multivitamin and lecithin from soybeans. Many anti-aging medical doctors also recommend hormone replacement therapy or brain-stimulating drugs for older adults to restore memory and brain function to youthful levels. Thyroid hormone, estrogen and testosterone are widely acknowledged to support healthy brain function. Other hormone therapies, such as human growth hormone (HGH) replacement, are being researched for their effectiveness. Brain-stimulating drugs like modafinil, centrophenoxine and piracetam are used to reverse the symptoms of Alzheimer's and senile dementia. DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) has received a lot of press for its memory-sharpening role. It is 5 to 6 times more concentrated in brain tissue than anywhere else in the body. Several research studies show DHEA supplementation (10-50 mg/day) improves memory loss due to aging and Alzheimer's disease while others show it has negligible effect or benefits only in DHEA-deficient individuals. There are safety issues with supplementing since the hormone converts into testosterone and estrogen in the body, potentially hiking up the risk of these hormone-related cancers. There are two " new and improved " over-the-counter alternatives to DHEA that are claimed to be safer. 7-Keto DHEA, a derivative of DHEA is believed to have equal or greater effect on memory and does not convert into the sex hormones. The recommended dose of 7-Keto DHEA is 25 mg twice per day as a dietary supplement. Pregnenelone is another hormone that according to well-known physician of natural medicine and author, Dr. Earl Mindell, may be one of the most potent memory-enhancing substances available. Pregnenelone is a precursor for all human steroid hormones, including DHEA, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and cortico-steroids. It improves nerve impulse transmission in the brain and may inhibit the adrenal stress hormone cortisol, which damages the region of the hippocampus part of the brain. A suggested dose of pregnenolone to improve memory and mental alertness is 20-50 mg/day. Other brain nutrients worth checking out: vitamin E which protects lipid brain membranes; the amino acids tryptophan and tyrosine which form brain neurotransmitters; acetyl-l-carnitine which increases attention and memory; and ginseng which increases mental stamina. 90, 100 and beyond - Extending Longevity Want to live to a ripe old age? Eating a nutrient-dense, low-calorie diet may be just the thing to extend your life, according to Dr. Roy Walford, a world-renowned UCLA gerontologist. Extensive research in animals and in humans in the two-year Biosphere 2 experiment in Arizona, conclusively shows that dietary restriction over an extended period of time improves major biomarkers (diagnostic indicators) of aging, such as cholesterol, blood glucose, insulin, blood pressure, white blood cell counts, and cortisol levels. Mice fed a calorie-restricted diet lose up to 25% of their body weight and experience life extension of up to 80%, along with lower incidence of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, auto-immune disease and loss of intellectual skills. The life extension diet is not for everyone though - it's rigorous and involves self-sacrifice (like not having any nutrient-poor snacks or meals - that means no cookies, potato chips or pizza). Melatonin, which has also been shown to increase lifespan in mice by up to 30% also results in weight loss of similar proportion to what is experienced on the life extension diet. Ever see those pictures of ancient-looking yogis standing on their heads? Remember Richard Gere hanging upside down from his feet in American Gigolo? It's called inversion therapy and it improves circulation, enhances lymphatic drainage of waste products, is a major stress-reliever, and literally reversing the effects of gravity on the body's muscles, organs and spine. While there's no research to confirm that it extends life, inversion tables or inversion racks with " gravity boots " are relatively inexpensive and can be a healthy (not to mention wacky and fun) addition to an anti-aging program. You're Only As Young As You Think You Are Chances are you know some thirty year olds who constantly whine about aches, pains, and misery, and some seventy year olds who are energetic, physically active and passionate about life. Interviews with centurions (people who live to 100 and beyond) overwhelmingly reveal a high level of spirituality and positive outlook on life. Mind/body medicine guru Deepak Chopra, M.D. altered the aging paradigm of millions of people with his book Ageless Mind, Timeless Body with the assertion that our thoughts and beliefs about aging, health and life literally affect how slowly or quickly we age. So how do you retrain your mind to be positive, take things in stride and believe that you are growing younger and healthier every day? Stress-management, meditation, relaxation, yoga, visualization, neuro-linguistic programming and reading Dr. Chopra's book are good places to start. Thinking positively is not a bad idea when it comes to the anti-aging movement itself. While no one knows what spectacular advances in life extension may be uncovered by research in the next decades, one thing is certain: It's never too late to slow the aging process. By adopting an anti-aging program, you can enhance the quality and quantity of your life. And isn't that what it's all about, anyway. Tips For Slowing Aging · Clean up your diet! Eat your greens and other fresh veggies, fruits, beans, whole grains, nuts, soy products and cold-water fish. Limit intake of sugar, saturated fat and processed foods. · Get and stay physically fit with aerobic and muscle-building exercises you enjoy. · De-stress! Do yoga, tai chi, get massages, take bubble baths - anything that helps you relax. · Get your zzzzz's. Sufficient quantity and quality of sleep are essential for a healthy immune system and longevity. · Take a potent multivitamin/mineral complex every day to fuel you body with the nutrients it needs. · Make antioxidants your new best friend. Dose up on vitamin E, vitamin C, selenium, beta-carotene, bioflavonoids and coenzyme Q10 individually or in a combined anitoxidant formulation. · Start a brain-fitness program: Read books, do crossword puzzles, play memory games and supplement with gingko biloba to safeguard your mental sharpness. · Enjoy life with a positive and peaceful attitude. 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