Currently viewing the category: "aging"

Aging Through Metabolism

By On · Add Comment · In aging, energy expenditure, fight or flight response, health, higher energy states, resting metabolic rate (RMR), stress

Check it out: Higher energy states may lead to quicker aging.  No, no, no…not vibrancy–higher energy as in cost, energy expenditure.

A recent study showed that energy expenditure, measured in a metabolic chamber over 24 hours and during rest, predicted natural mortality.  Researchers looked at 652 non-diabetic, healthy Pima Indian volunteers.  Total energy expenditure was tracked between 1985 and 2006 with a mean follow-up time of 11.1 years, while resting metabolic rate (RMR) was evaluated between 1982 and 2006 with a mean follow-up time of 15.4 years.  During the study period, 27 study participants died of natural causes.

The results were that as energy expenditure increased, so did the risk for natural mortality.  Hmmm…

According to Reiner Jumpertz, M.D., lead author of the study, “We found that a higher endogenous metabolic rate, that is, how much energy the body uses for normal body functions, is a risk factor for earlier mortality.  This increased metabolic rate may lead to earlier organ damage (in effect accelerated aging) possibly by accumulation of toxic substances produced with the increase in energy turnover.”

Before you get all worked up, the data did not apply to exercise-related energy expenditure.  Said Jumpertz, “This activity (exercise) clearly has beneficial effects on human health.”

Here’s the best way to look at this: Energy expenditure increases during fight or flight responses–or during times of stress.  Further, the body will also increase metabolism when it has lots of food to breakdown (another form of stress).  When the energy needs of the body go up during these times of stress–so does natural aging.

The ideal situation is to get your body to the lowest energy state possible.  This means eating smaller meals, getting physically fit, and reducing musculoskeletal stress by bringing your body back into proper function (through things like chiropractic care, massage, and functional rehabilitation).  Fail to do these things and you will increase the rate at which you age.  These results may be preliminary, but I think they’re telling.  May as well start now, before time passes you by.

Panacea It’s Not

By On · Add Comment · In aging, health, healthy behaviors, social class differences, universal health care
Read what Carolyn Aldwin, Ph.D., Chair of the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences at Oregon State University has to say about health and aging and pay very close attention:

“It is also interesting that social class differences in morbidity and mortality* exist in every country in the world, even those, like Britain, that have universal health care. Although this relationship is partially mediated through factors such as health behavior habits, perhaps social class differences in neonatal health may have life-long effects (emphasis mine).”

Maybe, good doctor…but more likely, as you’ve said, through lifestyle choices. So I again reiterate: Healthy behaviors are the primary factors involved in reducing risk to the development of ill health, disease and premature death. Period.

And a little more information for all you universal health care groupies, Dr. Aldwin says:

“Baby Boomers will also demand more services and better quality ones. I am eagerly awaiting the first sit-down strike or takeover of the administration in a nursing home! (emphasis mine)”

Yeah, just what we’ll get with universal health care “more and better services.” You probably won’t have to wait long for that strike, sister.

*Morbidity and mortality = Illness and death

The Only Real Anti-Aging

By On · Add Comment · In aging, breast cancer, Dr. Dean Ornish, enzyme, exercise, healthy lifestyle habits, Preventive Medicine Research Institute, prostate cancer, Six Keys to Optimal Health, telomerase, telomeres

Listen up, peeps. If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times: Adopting healthy lifestyle habits is the only true way to slow down the effects of aging. Creams don’t work. Make-up doesn’t work. Lipo doesn’t work. None of these will make you look and feel younger–not with any lasting effect that is. But practicing healthy habits–like the The Six Keys To Optimal Health–most certainly will. And we’ve got the research to prove it.

A new study conducted by Dr. Dean Ornish, head of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute, showed that certain activities and lifestyle habits raised the amount of an enzyme present in the body that is responsible for controlling the aging process. The enzyme telomerase was 29% higher in men who adopted healthy habits for a period of three months.

The study looked at thirty men who had low level prostate cancer. The healthy habits they adopted were increased intake of fruits and vegetables (diet–optimal health key #1), moderate daily exercise (regular physical fitness–optimal health key #2), and an hour of daily stress management, like meditation (mental health–The Six Keys To Optimal Health). Blood levels of telomerase were measured both before and after the study period, showing significant increase in men practicing the healthy habits. Nice. Now just imagine how the results might change if they throw in some regular bodywork (optimal health key #3), implement and test a rest and recuperation schedule (optimal health key #4), and control for at least one toxic substance (tobacco, statins, pollution–optimal health key #6). That would make for a great follow-up study down the road.

Telomerase fixes and lengthens parts of chromosomes known as telomeres that control longevity and are also important for maintenance of immune-system cells. Interestingly, a number of premature aging syndromes are associated with short telomeres (Werner syndrome, Ataxia telangiectasia, Bloom syndrome, Fanconi anemia, and Nijmegen breakage syndrome). The shortening of telomeres is also thought to be an indicator of disease risk and premature death in some types of cancer including breast, prostate, colon and lung cancer.

The men who adopted healthy habits not only increased their blood levels of telomerase but they also lost weight, lowered their blood pressure, and saw other health improvements as well. Additionally, they also had changes in activity in about 500 genes. The activity of disease-preventing genes went up, while the activity of disease-promoting genes went down, especially those involved in the development of breast and prostate cancer.

All I can say is wow! We all know how important adopting healthy lifestyle habits are, but now we know the genetic and molecular basis. I’ve always felt that knowing why is as important as knowing what. So understanding these processes should make it even more tangible as to why we need to be doing (or not doing) certain things. Without knowing why, health-enhancing practices become exercises in faith, with the occasional physiological confirmation in the average person (who may just stop, precisely because faith and a promise don’t go very far for most people). But now that we have evidence that changes occur on a biomolecular level, there should be no doubt as to what you should do to increase your longevity. If you care about that kind of thing, anyway.

Aging Doesn’t Mean Hanging ‘Em Up

By On · Add Comment · In active lifestyles, aging, baby boomers, Pilates, yoga
Over the hill. Old. Ready for retirement. What the heck is in these terms? Nothing, as far as I’m concerned. Aging is a state of mind. No doubt time moves forward, but does that mean life slows down? For some, maybe; but plenty of people are taking their lives to the next level–the next experience–as they age. Rock on! That’s the way I’m gonna do it, for sure.Baby boomers are taking these sentiments to heart: This generation is the first to take an active lifestyle into older age. I commend them. Keep truckin’ baby boomers. Just make sure you learn to partake in your activities in the right way. Learn how to train properly. Take a yoga or Pilates class and master the form. You’ll keep truckin’ for years to come that way.

And younger generations take heed. You’d be wise to look to the boomers for inspiration. Looking to generations earlier than boomers might just land you in the rocking chair. Start exercising and taking care of your health now, today. Eat well, get plenty of rest, and never, ever stop training your mind–it’s imperative to keeping your wits and staying youthful. And don’t ever fall into the, “I’m too old for that” trap. Believe you can and you will–guaranteed. Don’t think so? Look at these young middle-agers and their extraordinary accomplishments:

  • Olympic Swimmer Dara Torres–at 41, Torres is heading for her fifth Olympics, despite taking several years off, giving birth just two years ago and undergoing two surgeries within the past eight months.
  • Barry Bonds–at 44, broke the major league home run record held by Hank Aaron for 33 years (which Aaron, himself, broke at age 40). Bonds also won a batting title at 38 (considered old for baseball!).
  • George Foreman–in 1994, at age 45, Foreman captures the IBF and WBA championships to become the oldest champion in any weight class.
  • Jack Nicklaus–in 1986, Nicklaus wins the Masters at age 46.
  • Leonid Hurwicz–in 1997, became the oldest person at 90 to win the Nobel Prize for his work in economics.
  • George Burns and Jessica Tandy–oldest competitive Oscar winners for their work in The Sunshine Boys (1975) and Driving Miss Daisy (1989) respectively.
  • Min Bahadur Sherchan–at 76, the oldest person to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

Understand? If you can see it and believe it, you can achieve it, no matter what your age. Nuff said.

Red Wine for a Better Life

By On · Add Comment · In aging, antioxidant, caloric restriction, red wine, resveratrol, sommeliers
Well, it’s official: Red wine makes life better. You heard it here first. Drinking red wine officially improves life, but not in quantity. So says a new study from the US National Institute of Aging.

According to the study, resveratrol, an antioxidant found in red wine, slowed the aging of the heart, bones, and eyes in mice that were fed an otherwise healthy diet. Scientists hope that we might be able to extrapolate these findings to humans, but maybe we better not jump the gun just yet; so let’s simply proclaim that red wine makes life better for mice…for now. Now I wonder: would that be all mice or just our French furry friends? Oui, oui Monsieur souris, jouir d’une bonne santé.

If the findings can be extrapolated to man, then, this is great news for sommeliers–red wine is a blessing for better health. The study did not show any benefits to longevity, though, despite the hinting of such from an earlier study. In a 2006 study, researchers found that resveratrol, a compound found naturally in foods like grapes and nuts, improved the health and increased the life expectancy of overweight, older mice; however, not this time.

Well, either way, it’s good news. Scientists point out that the effects of resveratrol mimic the effects of calorie reduction, the most effective way found to date to minimize the effects of aging on mammals. If you’ve read The Six Keys To Optimal Health, you know what I’ve said about caloric restriction without malnutrition.

So if you want to slow down the aging process, reduce the quantity of food you regularly eat, and enjoy a glass of red wine with dinner. If that doesn’t keep you looking and feeling youthful then at least it should make cheese more enjoyable.

Education and Mental Preservation

By On · Add Comment · In aging, Alzheimer's, anti-aging, brain, cardiovascular health, cognitive, educated, elderly, memory, mental sharpness, stroke
Losing one’s memory is a natural consequence of aging, right? Not necessarily; in fact, it has been shown in several studies that the more one stimulates one’s mind–in the form of learning–the greater one’s chances of retaining mental sharpness well into old age. Yet another studyhas been released confirming these conclusions.Researchers at the University of Michigan have found that the more educated a person is, the better he or she performed on cognitive tests. Nothing new there, as we reported the same in this blog back in October. What is new, though, is that the study found that significant memory loss has declined in the elderly (people 70+) over the last decade, which may be due to that generation’s longer education and schooling when compared to previous ones. According to lead author Dr. Ken Langa, “the research reinforces other studies that suggest people who do mentally challenging tasks early on build up a reserve of brain power that helps them withstand later injuries to the brain, such as a mini-stroke.” He was also sure to point out the link between good cardiovascular health and brain health, another way to reduce mental decline, strokes and possibly Alzheimer’s.

You want to know why I keep plugging these studies? Because everyone seems to be into anti-aging these days. Great–here’s how to do it. My top seven tips to keeping the brain young:

  • Drink lots of water (1-2L per day)
  • Do 30-60 minutes of cardio (that makes you sweat) every week.
  • Learn something new at all times. Once you master it, move on tho the next thing. My favorites:
    • Languages (Chinese anyone?)
    • Musical instruments
    • Mathematics (always a great brain developer)
    • An art (photography, web design, sculpting, knitting)
    • Anything new (economics, poetry, cosmology, quantum physics, philosophy, psychology, etc.)
  • Take essential fatty acids (EFAs) daily
  • Meditate (sit in silence) every day
  • Practice daily gratitude (for your life exactly as it is now)

Do these things and rest assured that you will keep trucking through life sharp as a whip. Don’t just take my word for it, or the bevy of studies coming out each year; instead, prove it to yourself. And check back in with me when you hit your seventies–something tells me you’ll remember my words.

Real Antiaging

By On · Add Comment · In aging, aging process, anti-aging, exercise, natural substances

Everybody must certainly know that anti-aging is the health-marketing buzzword of the New Millennium. Like weight loss, attach the word anti-aging to any health book or product and watch sales soar. Quite a few millionaires have made their fortunes in the field of anti-aging.

So, is anti-aging possible?

I dunno, what is it?

Anti means opposite, opposing, or against. Anti-aging, then, means the opposite of getting older. So, getting younger I guess.

OK, we know this is not possible, right? It’s simple physics, right? Did I miss class that day? I mean, we can’t oppose aging, now, can we? Time moves forward – even if just in our perceptions, right? I mean, we do experience time in that way, don’t we?

But wait. We can slow the aging process down – this much is true. It’s precisely this concept that’s being sold to us by doctors, vitamin and cosmetics companies, and others. But can a pill or a procedure do all that it promises with regard to slowing down the aging process? Well, it depends.

We know of many natural substances and activities that slow down the aging process significantly. One is exercise. The ways in which regular exercise decelerates – and even reverses – aging is well known; I discuss many of them in my upcoming book, The Six Keys To Optimal Health, but we keep learning of new ways that the body does this amazing feat. Take, for instance, a new study showing that regular, moderate exercise relaxes blood vessels and makes them more “youthful”. Amazing! Exercise makes blood vessels more pliable, significantly lowering the risk of heart disease and stroke, the top killers of our day.

Especially exciting is that older, sedentary people can now take up exercise and reverse any damage that might have been done by just sitting around on their keesters for the last couple of decades. That’s right! It’s not too late. Get up now and get moving – get walking, get dancing, and get bocce ballin’. Get shuffle boarding. Whatever. Start now and enjoy the fountain of youth. It’s there for the taking – you’ve just got to drink.

Anorexia Is Not Just For Kids Anymore

By On · Add Comment · In aging, anorexia, body image, diet, eating disorders, health, mature, Park Nicollet Health Services' Eating Disorders Institute, patients, skinny, ultra-thin, under weight, weight
Experts say that the number of women in their 30s, 40s and 50s being treated for anorexia is rising fast. One eating disorders treatment center in Minnesota says that its number of mature patients has increased from 9% in 2003 to 35% through only the first half of this year.

According to Carol Tappen, director of operations for the Park Nicollet Health Services’ Eating Disorders Institute in St. Louis Park, Minn., women over 30 are dealing with body image issues and more, such as work, divorce, stepchildren and aging parents. They also are dealing with an aging process, or childbirth, that changes the way they look. Tappen says, “One day, (a woman) wakes up and the kids are gone and she has a sense that nobody really needs her. She looks in the mirror and she says, ‘My body is shot.’ This woman says, ‘You know, that’s it. I’m going on a diet.'”

This really is a complex issue with no easy answers. At the risk of stating the obvious, this is a serious self image issue with deep rooted beliefs on what makes a person worthwhile or desirable. Being healthy is one thing, and yes, your body can give you an accurate picture of your current level of health, but skinny does not equal healthy. Far too many people (both men and women) use their weight as a guide to their health – that’s their reference point.

If you wake up one morning, look at your body and say, “I gotta make some changes.” Great, make changes. Start exercising, eat healthy foods, see a chiropractor and get that neck ache squared away, but don’t starve yourself. First off, it’s counterproductive: You’ll actually end up looking worse – it’s not attractive. And secondly, it is so damaging to your health. What difference does it make at the end of the day if you’re skinny but you drop dead because of the stresses you’ve put on your body?

I can’t speak for every man (or woman – this is not a heterosexual thing) but I’m pretty certain that most men find self confidence and self comfortability more attractive than skinniness. Unfortunately, I think that society is inundated with images of ultra-thin fashion models and celebrities and begins to think it’s normal. It’s not! Maybe a few of those images reflect the normal body shapes of some particular celebs, but many of these women are anorexic too.

Some women will say, “I don’t need to lose weight for anybody but myself – I feel better when I’m thinner.” Really? Somehow, I just don’t buy it. A fine line sits between being over and under weight, but as I’ve said before, weight is simply a poor way to evaluate one’s health. Do the right things, practice The Six Keys To Optimal Health, and if you don’t look and feel great, you just haven’t given it enough time. Remember one thing: nobody is rejecting you because of your weight – it might be a lot of things, but it ain’t that. And if for any odd reason it is, then that person isn’t worth a pound of….

Don’t You Just Hate When Mom is Wrong?

By On · Add Comment · In aging, antioxidant, cancer, chicken soup, collagen, common cold, conventional wisdom, degenerative diseases, free radicals, health, healthy blood vessels, healthy skin, natural, nutrient, vitamin C

Just another blow to conventional wisdom: A review of 30 published studies confirms it even further – vitamin C does nothing to fight the common cold. I know, I know, that’s not what Mom said. Take plenty of vitamin C along with chicken soup and you’ll beat that cold in no time. Also, don’t go out with your hair wet or without a jacket, you might catch cold. Didn’t mom tell you that one, too?

Well, I hate to be the one to discredit Mom, but researchers at the University of Helsinki, Finland looked at people who took high-doses of vitamin C and found it did very little to reduce their risk of catching a cold (so small as to be clinically useless). Furthermore, it did nothing to reduce the duration of a cold or its symptoms.

That doesn’t mean vitamin C is useless, though. As I point out in my upcoming book – The Six Keys To Optimal Health – this nutrient is absolutely essential to achieving and maintaining great health. Vitamin C is a natural antioxidant, so it fights oxidizing free radicals, which can lead to aging and the development of many degenerative diseases, like cancer. It’s also an important player in the formation of collagen, so…that means healthy skin and healthy blood vessels and healthy joints and healthy ligaments and on and on and on. I think that vitamin C is so important that I believe, to have truly optimal health, you need to supplement with 1,000 mg per day.
But don’t feel badly for mom. She’s right about the chicken soup thing. I guess one out of two ain’t bad, now, is it?
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