Four Anti Aging Secrets
We are all looking for the fountain of youth in our effort to stay young, vibrant and healthy whether that be bio-identical hormones, TA-65, or human growth hormone.  We need to understand what it is that makes us age, how and what we can do about it.
I will explain the 4 basic things that occur in our bodies and how they negatively impact our health and ultimately our longevity. In part II I will share with you 4 anti aging secretes to prevent these four things from occuring increasing your odds  of a a healthy, energetic and fulfilled life. Maybe not the fountain of youth, but it aint bad.
Oxidation
This results in free radicals, highly energized, unstable molecules. They have an unpaired electron and their sole mission is to steal an electron from another molecule. When this occurs there is damage to the other molecule.  These free radicals roam about our bodies in search of the electron, after stealing an electron may leave the other molecules functionless.
You begin to see that this could be an endless cycle, as free radicals steal an electron from one molecule leaving it functionless but in need of an electron and it has become a free radical. Kind of like vampires but not as trendy.
Oxygen is the most common free radical, thankfully our bodies have reduction molecules that work like a sponge on free radicals. When you have an imbalance of the these reduction molecules to free radicals you end up with oxidative stress. This imbalance increases with age and is associated with DNA damage.
Glycation
When you think of glycation think of what would happen to your car if you poured sugar in the gas tank. Everyone knows that is not going to work . Everything would get gummed up and that’s pretty much what happens to us when we consume too much sugar. Todays foods are loaded with sugar, hidden in sauces, canned goods etc.
What happens to us is similar to the car, the sugars attach themselves to proteins and fats . When that occurs there is cell membrane damage and in severe cases cell death. With this comes the formation of clumps or globs of glycated proteins leading to increase platelet adherence and subsequent vascular disease. Many different disease are associated with this vascular disease, including heart disease.
Methylation
Methylation is a normal function of our bodies used to rid it of heavy metals, other wastes and toxins. It plays a role in helping to express certain genes, silencing others and protecting telomeres. Up to half the population in the US has what is termed abnormal methylation. This has been shown to increase the incidence of heart disease, many cancers,strokes and Alzheimer’s.
We are able to measure whether or not a person has abnormal methylation with a simple blood test, homocysteine level. With abnormal protein metabolism we get the production of homocysteine. You can rid your body of homocysteine with methylation normally but with abnormal methylation you build up toxic levels of homocysteine and this is associated with the diseases mentioned above.
Inflammation
Chronic inflammation, the slow undetectable inflammation that leads to multiple diseases including heart disease, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and cancer. In the brain it can make insoluble fibrils that interfere with brain function and can even kill brain cells.
This formation of amyloid insoluble complexes is also present in Type II diabetes. This chronic inflammation is responsible for premature telomere shortening and we already have established the association with multiple diseases. Chronic inflammation is a severe health risk and it makes sense to get it under control.
Treatment
In part II I will elaborate on what is needed to decrease each of the four. I will give specifics, including diet , supplements and activities (code for exercise). It is of extreme importance, if we are going to extend our healthy years that we understand the mechanisms involved in the disease process and the ways to resolve these problems.
See related articles.
“Aging Process: A Review”
“Anti Aging Nutrition Guidelines”
“AntiAging the 4 Secrets: Part 2”
