I believe that we have some control over the aging process, but not complete. Unfortunately, one of the most important anti-aging influences is genetics, something we cannot influence with our present scientific knowledge. People who have parents and grandparents who live long are more likely to also live a long life. However, this does not mean we throw our hands in the air and just attribute our aging process to chance or genetics. There are many anti aging steps we can take, and i have listed some practical antiaging health suggestions for you to follow if you wish.
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Anti Aging Supplement
There is currently no proof that supplements and
hormones (such as
human growth
hormone) have anti-aging benefits since it would take several decades of
human studies to show such proof of anti aging benefit. However, it does make sense that some
people would benefit from the intelligent use of certain supplements in small or
reasonable dosages. It seems reasonably safe to take small amounts
of certain natural supplements that have shown in preliminary research to be helpful.
However, high doses of certain supplements and hormones could be
counterproductive and perhaps accelerate the aging process.
High Quality products formulated by a
medical doctor
Consider highly popular all natural products. These top quality
products include
Mind Power Rx for better
mental focus, concentration, and mood; Diet Rx which helps you eat less. It really does curb appetite; Good Night
Rx with for better sleep; Eyesight
Rx for better vision, often within days; MultiVit
Rx a daily comprehensive multivitamin for more energy and
vitality; Joint Power Rx
for healthy joints; Prostate Power Rx
for a healthy prostate gland; and Passion Rx
for sexual enhancement, better libido, and improved performance and stamina in men and women.
Antiaging supplement
Acetyl-l-carnitine
nutrient
and Lipoic Acid are
interesting supplements that may be beneficial for anti aging purposes, more research is needed before
making recommendations. If you plan to take them on a long term basis, use low
doses such as a fraction of a capsule. My thought would be less than 100 mg of
acetyl-l carnitine and less than 20 mg of R lipoic acid. High doses of these
supplements may be counterproductive.
Carnosine
appears to be able to extend the lifespan of cultured cells, and rejuvenate
senescent cells. A dose of 50 to 100 mg a few times a week seems appropriate.
Resveratrol from red
wine has potential as has been promoted in the news as a breakthrough natural
anti aging supplement. Human trials are lacking, therefore it is anybody's guess
what a reasonable dose would be.
Resveratrol supplement is a good web site to keep up with research on this
topic.
Royal Jelly has been
studied in rodents as an anti aging natural supplement.
Keep in mind that sometimes when you take too many supplements, you could get overstimulated and have insomnia which would be pro aging. Never take supplements or combinations of supplements that lead you to have difficulty sleeping and getting a deep rest. For a comprehensive daily supplement, consider MultiVit-Rx.
Anti Aging
Health Suggestions
1. Have a positive attitude and improve your coping skills to daily stresses.
Embrace the philosophy that "It's not what happens to me, it's what I make of
it."
2. Keep a healthy weight and reduce the
number of calories consumed, but not to the point of starving. Caloric restriction
diet
has anti aging potential in animals,
but less is known in humans. An antiaging diet
has mostly a high amount of vegetables and herbs, and a good balance of fruits,
fish, grains, legumes, and smaller amounts of meats and dairy.
3. Reduce consumption of foods cooked at high temperature such as baked goods.
By relying more on steaming, boiling and stewing to cook foods and using acidic
marinades on meat cooked with dry heat, people may be able to stay healthier.
These strategies will reduce the amount of advanced glycation end products (AGEs),
or glycotoxins that people consume with their food. The more AGEs healthy people
eat, the greater their levels of inflammation and oxidative stress.
4. Regular exercise and keep physically active.
Regular stretching or yoga is
helpful in keeping joints and ligaments supple.
5. Avoid smoking cigarettes.
Smokers die ten years younger on average than non-smokers
6. Have strong connections to others, whether through family and relatives, marriage,
children, pets, or connecting with nature, planet earth, and the universe. Try
to stay on good terms with people, whenever possible. A troubled marriage may
speed the decline in health that comes with age.
7. Get a deep sleep. You may
occasionally use
Good-Night-Rx for a deeper sleep.
8. Keep your mind young and active by learning.
Once in a while a mind enhancement supplement could be helpful. One such product
is
Mind-Power-Rx.
9. Try to surround yourself with nature. Green trees in the neighborhood, sunshine in
the home, are linked to longevity.
10. Limit coffee intake to one or two cups - chronic coffee consumption has a detrimental effect on aortic stiffness and wave reflections, which may increase the risk of cardiovascular or heart disease.
11. Have loving and caring friends. Research suggests that having a strong network of friends helps people live longer.
12. Take care of your teeth and mouth to prevent gum disease.
13. Work as long as you can. It is widely held that early retirement is associated with longer life expectancy and later retirement is associated with early death.
Anti-Aging skin
care products
Consider retinoic acid cream, alpha lipoic acid cream,
DMAE-Skin-cream. We have not seen any
research with this DMAE skin cream product at this time.
Q. What is in Strivectin? Can you give any recommendations for a facial
anti-aging cream made from natural ingredients?
A. I am not familiar with Strivectin. Anti-aging creams is not a
topic I have looked into in any great detail.
Antiaging,
exercise, and Caloric Restriction
While exercise helps ward off chronic ailments such as obesity, diabetes,
and heart disease that can shorten a normal lifespan, only cutting calories
appears to slow down the primary aging process. Investigators at Washington
University in St. Louis have found that eating a low-calorie, nutritionally
balanced diet lowers concentrations of a thyroid hormone known as T3, which
controls body temperature, cell metabolism, and it appears the production of
free radicals - all of which are important aspects of aging and longevity.
Calorie-restriction also decreases levels of the inflammatory protein tumor
necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha.
Antiaging
Medicine
There are a lot of doctors out there practicing antiaging medicine who
really don't know what they are doing. They prescribe high doses of hormones
which could actually shorten lifespan.
Much of anti-aging
medicine, or as it is more often called in recent years "age-management"
medicine, relies on dietary supplements, nutrition counseling and exercise
programs. But a portion of patients also get blood tests that detect supposedly
low levels of a marker for human growth hormone. Those patients often go home
with a prescription for injectable
HGH and a $2000 monthly bill for the hormone, blood tests, and other
supplements that insurance does not cover. Human growth hormone is produced
naturally by the pituitary gland and contributes to normal growth in children.
In studies, HGH has been shown to increase muscle mass and reduce fat in men and
women, with notable side effects, including elevated blood sugar. A
pharmaceutical version is approved for treating children who fail to grow for
various reasons, for AIDS patients with muscle wasting syndrome and for adults
with legitimate growth hormone deficiency caused, for example, by surgery or
radiation. Other uses are illegal, including to turn back the clock on aging.
The FDA says it is investigating violations of the law — the Food, Drug and
Cosmetic Act as amended in 1988 and 1990 — and has sent warning letters to
companies selling HGH over the Internet for other uses.
Anti-Aging
Medicine Questions
Q. What is your opinion of doctors who are certified by the American
Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine?
A. I personally don't put too much credence in the
certification process of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. I know a
few doctors who are certified by this organization, and having discussed certain
hormonal topics with them, I am left disappointed. These Anti-Aging Medicine
doctors generally seem to prescribe high doses of hormones such as DHEA,
pregnenolone, testosterone, and HGH, and don't seem to have a good understanding
of the potential side effects of these hormones, which, in many cases, when used
in high amounts, may actually shorten lifespan.
How can there be adequate certification in a field that
has so much controversy and where the research is so preliminary and open to
interpretation? In my opinion the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine is
just a way for some people to make money, but they do have conferences and some
of the lectures may be interesting. Just be careful that some lecturers, no
matter what their degree, may provide information that is too hypothetical or
too optimistic, especially the lectures on hormones.
Q. Is 50 years of age too early to
start taking Vinpocetine and Ginkgo Biloba together as an anti-aging supplement?
A. There is no evidence that taking supplements will lead to
antiaging benefit. It is possible that high doses of certain supplements could
actually be harmful. Therefore, supplements should be mostly taken for the
benefit they provide in terms of mood, energy, wellbeing, mental enhancement,
sexual enhancement or the treatment of certain medical conditions as opposed to
mostly focusing on the hope that they may have anti-aging potential.
Q. Hello Dr. Sahelian, I have been intrigued by
anti-oxidant research since my graduate schools days. recall sitting tired
in a exercise physiology seminar when the professor talked of antioxidant
research at UCSD saying "the results are inconclusive but this is what
folks on the research team are taking." I since went on to read research
by Dr. Kenneth Cooper and others. Now I have a friend who's telling me
about a Dr. Seidman and a company called Visalus (they're an MLM company,
which has me skeptical, but they are making some pretty big claims about
patented formulas that are superior). I hate the word " anti-aging " but my
research tells me antioxidants may be helpful in combating free radical
damage: especially for an endurance athlete (masters swimmer now). I
realize you must be very busy but could you provide me with insight or
places to seek the latest research on how to determine proper
antioxidant supplementation.
A. Long term human research with antioxidants and anti-aging is not
available, hence it is anyone's guess at this time whether taking
antioxidant supplements extend lifespan. There is a chance that they they
will, however we have little idea which ones to take, in what combination,
and in what dosages. If you choose to take antioxidant supplements for
antiaging purposes, take
small amounts, use a variety or alternate different ones, and keep in mind
that more is not necessarily better. These are general guidelines but the
limited research does not allow us to be more specific at this time. Do
get most of your antioxidants from foods such as fresh produce and herbs.
Q. My boyfriend is on 30mg pregnenolone a day. He is encouraging me to
try it. I have no problems. I work out, eat right, take Juice Plus
vitamins and drink plenty of water. I don't smoke or drink. I am not
overweight. I don't have any of the aging effects yet - wrinkles grey
hair. He says it will fight off aging effects. Should pregnenolone be
taken as a preventative to slow down the aging process?
A. There is no research that says taking pregnenolone has
anti-aging benefits. It is quite possible that high dose use could be
counterproductive. Science still has not determined whether small amounts,
such as 1 or 2 mg, would have anti-aging benefits.