Applying the Pareto’s Law to Anti Aging Solutions
What to peas and land have to do with anti aging solutions?
In 1906 Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto observed that 80% of the land in Italy was owned by 20% of the population and that 20% of the pea pods in his garden contained 80% of the peas. This relationship that a majority of the result comes from a vital few is common place in business and elsewhere, and is known as the 80/20 Principle or Pareto’s Law.
Richard Koch wrote an entire book, The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less showing how Pareto’s Law applies to nearly every aspect of life. It’s a principle worth knowing and taking advantage of to improve your health and life.
That’s great Dr. Joe, but what does that have to do with aging? Well, if you could only pick a few things to change or habits to develop to yield the best health results what would you pick? Here’s my choice for 3 anti aging solutions.
- Reduce Oxidation
- Reduce Inflammation
- Reduce Glycation
That’s it. If you can successfully accomplish the above you will improve significantly your health and greatly increase your odds of living a quality extended life.
Oxidation, inflammation, and glycation are 3 critical aging factors. In the end all 3 induce damage to our cells and tissues increasing the risk of chronic diseases, shortening lifespan, and stealing quality from life. And all 3 can be reduced by proper nutrition and nutritional supplements.
Oxidation
Oxidation is caused by free radicals, which are unstable molecules with an unpaired electron. Free radicals seek to steal an electron from another molecule setting off a cascade of events that damage our DNA and cells. Anti-oxidants are molecules that neutralize free radicals and are naturally found in fruits and vegetables..
Inflammation
Chronic or silent inflammation plays a huge role in the development of many chronic diseases including heart disease, cancer, obesity, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and others. Because the inflammation is silent, one barely notices anything is wrong until it’s too late.
But, the years of silent inflammation leads to plaque build-up in our arteries leading to a variety of cardiovascular diseases. Inflammation also induces and amyloid production in the brain and pancreas leading to Alzheimer’s and diabetes.
Glycation
Sugar causes glycation. Sugars are sticky. Glycation occurs when sugar attaches or sticks to protein or lipids (fats). Proteins make up enzymes and our hormones. Hemoglobin is an important protein that carries oxygen.
Lipids make up a large part of our cell walls allowing molecules in and out of the cells. When we have excess sugar in blood it sticks to proteins interfering with enzyme and hormone function while damaging cell walls preventing needed nutrients from entering cells and cellular waste products from leaving the cells
Glycation can lead to clumping of blood platelets leading to blood clots and contributing to cardiovascular disease. Like inflammation it facilitates amyloid production in the brain, and contributes to arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and kidney disease.
Nutrition
Significant reductions in oxidation, inflammation, and glycation are possible through better nutrition and smart use of supplements.
First, don’t overeat. Overeating places a tremendous metabolic load on the body and increases free radical production. Fruits and vegetables are high in antioxidants and they are anti-inflammatory. Berries are especially high in antioxidants. Eating all the colors of the rainbow daily will ensure that you are obtaining a wide range of antioxidants and phytochemicals in your diet.
Know where sugar hides and avoid those foods as much as possible. Learn all the other names that sugars go by: dextrose, fructose, glucose, high fructose corn syrup, ethanol, and honey.
Nuts are high in vitamin E, one of the more potent antioxidants. Consuming fish or taking fish oil may be the best single thing you can do for your health. Omega-3 in fish oils are anti-inflammatory and prevents blood platelets from clumping together reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Supplements to Consider
Fish oil is the number one supplement to take if you do not eat fish 3 or 4 times a week. In addition to being anti-inflammatory fish oil has a number of other health benefits. The body’s main antioxidant is glutathione, but very little of it makes its way into the cell if taking as a supplement. The best way to boost glutathione levels is to take N-acetylcysteine (600 mg twice a day) which gets metabolized into a glutathione precursor.
Coenzyme Q10 and alpha lipoic acids are antioxidants and facilitate energy production by the mitochondria of the cells. Vitamin C and E and beta-carotene are well known antioxidants that can be obtained individually or through a multivitamin.
Reduce oxidation, inflammation, and glycation – the three anti aging solutions and witness Pareto’s Law in action.
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