One of the most promising and powerful tools in the fight against the aging process is the nutrient Carnosine. The combination of this and other nutrients and supplements creates the most potent modern equivalent to the Elixir of Youth.

(more…)

Staying fit is a great goal that will help you lead a longer, healthier life but if your brain is not challenged and made to to do some brain exercises, no amount of fitness training will keep you alert and quick minded.

The brain is a muscle too and it follows the same “use it or lose it” policy as your other muscles. So how can you keep your brain fit? Brain exercises are the answer.

Two of the most important factors in keeping your brain healthy are traditional exercise and nutrition. Keep your body healthy and your brain will follow suit. But after that there are other ways to exercise your mind.

You’ve probably heard people describe one of their older relatives like this, “my Auntie Polly is so razor shape, she does black belt Sudoku everyday.” Well, Auntie Polly has the right idea but it is not the best way to go about exercising your brain.

You see the best way to stimulate your brain is to break free of everyday activities and challenge yourself in new and unexpected ways. By doing Sudoku everyday, she has created a familiar routine that becomes less and less challenging with time. Auntie Polly, it’s time to add Word Searches and Crossword puzzles for some variety.

Activities to exercise your mind:

• If you’re right handed, trying brushing your teeth with your left hand
• If you are a ‘words’ person, challenge your brain with number games.
• Try a different route on your daily commute
• Reconstruct your day by writing down what you did. For example, if you take a trip to the zoo, when you get home try to write down all the animals that you saw in the order that your saw them.

Your mother may have told you that playing too many video games will turn your brain to mush, but she was wrong. The Nintendo DS Lite has a few games that are designed to exercise your brain and they are quite good.

Nintendo DS Lite Cobalt / Black

They’re varied enough to avoid becoming routine and continue to challenge even after repeated playing. But the best part is that they’re fun to spend some time with.

I recently played my cousin’s copy of Big Brain Academyon her Nintendo DS. The game consists of a bunch of fun puzzles that you try to finish in a set amount of time. Just as you get the hang of the puzzle, it’s over and there’s a new one to try. When I finished, the game informed me that my score was that of a hair stylist.

If you’?re trying to fight off the effects of old age, exercising your body is great but don?’t forget to do your brain exercises too.

Watch this funny video on Brain Exercises:

Related articles for Brain Exercises:

• Gaming skills linked to brain size (geeksaresexy.net)
• Why Puzzles Could Be Good For Slimmers (news.sky.com)

One of the greatest health concerns America has today is cancer.

The increasing rate of cancer is alarming according to the National Cancer Institute studies, with a total of 1,372,910 new cases of cancer and 570, 280 deaths predicted for the year 2005. Approximately one in every four deaths is due to cancer and the figures are getting closer to one in three fast.

Research indicates that the lifetime probability of developing cancer is higher for men at 46% while for women it is 36%.

The National Cancer Institute has put in place a challenge to eliminate suffering and death due to cancer by 2015. To meet this, the nation is tackling the problem on a war footing. And, to this end the creation of awareness has become a priority. To conquer cancer you must know what the risks are, how lifestyle changes can help, about intervention and preventive care, and where help is available.

Rate of Cancer : The Top Ten (Men)

The most common cancers are:

1. Prostrate. This accounts for approximately- 33%.
2. Lung and bronchus. Accounts for – 13%
3. Colon and Rectal. Accounts for – 10%
4. Urinary and Bladder – 7%.
5. Melanoma of skin – 5%.
6. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma – 4%.
7. Kidney and Renal Pelvis – 3%.
8. Leukemia – 3%.
9. Oral Cavity and Pharynx- 3%.
10. Pancreas – 3%.

Rate of Cancer : The Top Ten (Women)

The most common cancers are:

1. Breast – 32%.
2. Lung and Bronchus – 12%.
3. Colon and rectum – 11%.
4. Uterine Corpus – 6%.
5. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma – 4%.
6. Melanoma of the skin – 4%
7. Ovary- 3%.
8. Thyroid – 3%.
9. Urinary Bladder – 2%.
10. Pancreas – 2%.

An organization called the CDC is taking giant strides in the field of cancer prevention and control. They advocate adoption of a healthy life style, eating nutritious and well balanced food, regular health checks, and screening for cancer. Screenings are quite often lifesaving as problems can be nipped in the bud. Many cancers are curable if detected in the early stages.

It is important to know that a cancer is a disease where healthy cells in the body divide uncontrolled to form tumors. This could happen anywhere in the body and some tumors are benign while others are malignant.

Most cancers have different symptoms but to give you an idea, symptoms can include

• an unexplained lump in any part of the body may feel like a small marble;
• perceptible growth of a wart or mole;
• wounds and sores that do not heal;
• a persistent cough;
• changes in bowel or bladder habits;
• indigestion; weight loss or gain;
• unusual bleeding or discharge.

These are symptoms that are caused by not just cancer but many other diseases. And, early cancer does not manifest itself in any outward signs so the only way to know is to undergo health checks. So, you need the help of a doctor or a specialist to make an accurate diagnosis.

Screening will include routine physical examinations, lab tests, x-rays, and specialized tests like mammograms, CT scans, MRIs, sonography or laparoscopy. The physician will, after giving you a general check and noting down the results, recommend any special tests if he finds anything that requires further investigation.

In depth information on rate of cancer, prevention, cures, treatment, counseling and more can be found at:

http://www.thecancer.net

http://www.cancer.org

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics .

Related articles for rate of cancer – the top ten

• Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers in the Millions and Rising (nlm.nih.gov)
• Early balding ‘cuts cancer risk’ (news.bbc.co.uk)
• Prostate Cancer (slideshare.net)
• Researchers Say Skin Cancer has Nearly Doubled Since 1994 (shoppingblog.com)
• World’s Deadliest Cancer Most Common in Texas: Texans Can Reduce Risk Through Key Lifestyle Changes (prweb.com)

How To Get Rid Of Age Spots

Getting older doesn’t necessarily cause age spots. Too much exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun is more likely to cause these unattractive blotches, than maturity. This is why age spots are also called sun spots.

Other factors that make you more susceptible to age spots (no matter what your age is) are smoking, a diet high in refined sugars and fats, a lack of vitamins, and over consumption of poor quality saturated oils.

Age spots occur when our skin produces too much lipofuscin. Lipofuscin is is a dark substance that colors our skin pigment. Unsightly age spots can begin appearing as early as the late twenties but are most common after the age 55 (thus the name.)

Age spots are also known as liver spots. Other nicknames for age spots are brown spots, lentigo and sun spots. The name sun spot nickname of course comes from the fact that the skin darkens as the result of too much frolicking outside in the summer.

ActiFade Liver Spots Skin Care Anti-aging System (2oz)

As is the case with most skin conditions age spots are much simpler to prevent than to cure. Your diet has a lot to do with how to get rid of age spots and reducing your chances of developing this unsightly condition. Eating a diet rich in orange vegetables (carrot and yams) and green leafy vegetables (collard greens and watercress) may help reduce your chances of developing these spots as you age. These foods are rich in antioxidants that help fight off damaging free radicals that are created as the result of too much exposure to the sun. They are also foods that are rich in Vitamin A and carotene, which also helps keep your skin in tiptop condition and more resistant to ultraviolet rays.

If you already have already developed age spots the good news is that there are some ways to diminish the way they look. There are several products on the market today on how to get rid of age spots, or at least fade them so they are less noticeable. The active ingredient in these over the counter products that is a chemical called hydroquinone.

Hydroquinone is a mild bleaching agent that helps lighten the appearance of all kinds of dark skin discolorations including age spots, scars and freckles. Some prescription versions of this scream also contain topical vitamin A, which can also help fade the look of obnoxious age spots.

Murad Age Spot & Pigment Lightening Gel (1 oz)

If your age spots are particularly unattractive or forming in an undesirable place where they are too obvious (such as on the face) there are some slightly more invasive ways to cosmetically treat the problem. One of the most popular cosmetic treatments on how to get rid of age spots is a chemical peel. These peels contain anywhere from 70% to 80 % glycolic acid and remove layers of skin to reduce the appearance of the spots.

Yet another option is laser resurfacing. In this procedure the age spots are literally burned away using a sophisticated, targeted laser. However this treatment on how to get rid of age spots only works well on very white skin with very dark age spots. This is because laser treatments need a contrast of colors (black on white) to do their job well. Darker age spots on dark skin do not respond well at all to these treatments. If the age spot is lighter, purple or an odd color laser resurfacing may also not succeed in removing it. Black or dark brown age spots on fair skin respond the best to this treatment.

Although most age spots are harmless blotches, the early stages of skin cancer can masquerade as innocent looking dark spots. Your physician or a dermatologist should check any spot that enlarges, thickens, changes color, itches or bleeds. Irregularly shaped dark spots that change in color or increase in size could be the early warning sign of serious skin cancers. Consult your doctor on how to get rid of age spots that look suspicious immediately.

One cost effective and natural way to prevent age spots is to simply keep out of the sun and wear long sleeved shirts. You should always take precautions to protect all of your exposed skin if you know you are going to be in a place where there is likely to be a lot of ultraviolet light. Make sure that you always wear sunscreen when you are out during a sunny day.

OLAY Professional Pro-X Age Repair Lotion SPF 30 – 2.5 oz.

Limiting your intake of alcohol can also discourage a propensity towards developing the unattractive skin discolorations.

Related articles on how to get rid of age spots:

• Aging Skin — Are Those Spots Normal? (eon.businesswire.com)

Detox, Weight Loss and Anti Aging

Last post we looked at natural ways to detox and how that could make you healthier and have more energy. It could also help you to lose weight and have many anti aging health benefits.

In fact, detox, weight loss and anti aging are all inter-connected.

The majority of people that try various diets and exercise to lose weight fail. Why? Because they are missing out on the most important reason that they can’t lose the weight or how to prevent the diet yoyo. The standard line you get is that you need to diet and exercise to get results, and for some people, especially the younger generation, this works. But for a huge number of the population this is just not going to work, try as they may.

The missing factor in a successful weight loss program is the cleansing of your colon. If you are not familiar with colon cleansing then this may sound like an odd statement to make. But, consider this; a backed up colon will not only prevent weight loss, but will also cause a whole host of other symptoms such as:

-Always tired and sluggish
-Interrupted sleep
-Weight gain
-Aches and pains
-Premature wrinkling of the skin
-Unexplained skin rashes
-Constipation or diarrhea
-Bloating and gas
-Menstrual cramping
-Headaches

These are only some of the symptoms of a clogged toxic colon. What does this have to do with weight loss?

Acai Berry Extreme All-In-One Colon Cleanse, Weight Loss, Antioxidant, Appetite Suppressant, Metabolism Booster

In a normally functioning colon, the food we ingest gets broken down, nutrients are absorbed in the small and large intestine, the friendly flora produce b-vitamins and nutrients are sent to the rest of the body where all the cells are fed. This normal function produces the hormones we need and keeps the metabolism high and allows for weight management. The problem with today?s environment is that it is toxic from all the chemicals, pesticides and pollutants we are bombarded with on a constant basis.

Another huge factor is mans craving to change things all the time and that includes food. In the name of profit, the food industry is reinventing food and changing them from their natural wholesome form and adding preservatives, dyes and coloring which dramatically alter the foods we eat. It creates great profit, and the shareholders are happy, but this is at the expense of our health.

All you need to do is look around you at Americans and the answer is there for all to see. We are an obese, tired nation. Foods such as white flour, rice, pastas, dairy products, hormone filled meats and sliced meats full of sodium nitrates and processed food wreak havoc with our digestive system.

Applied Nutrition Dual Action Cleanse with Green Tea Fat Burner Bonus

The food we eat should be digested and eliminated in 2 to 3 days, but with processed food it can take 5 to 6 days.

Undigested food starts clogging in your large intestine making it difficult for it to absorb the nutrients you need. As you get further backed up this material becomes toxic and hard making it very difficult to eliminate. You could literally have 4 to 20 pounds of old fecal matter and a narrowing of the passage so that future eliminations become difficult and constipation sets in.

When you eat the typical American diet you may feel full but may be starving for real nutrients. If the diet remains poor, the intestines remain clogged and the body becomes desperate to eliminate toxic buildup. It put tremendous stress on the liver and kidneys and can even manifest itself by trying to get rid of toxins through the skin and odd unexplained rashes appear. Premature wrinkling can occur and metabolism slows making it difficult to lose weight.

If you want to lose weight, get healthy, look and feel better, then do a good colon cleanse first. Take care of the toxic build up and you may feel like a million bucks. You?ll then lose weight, and if you eat the right foods, drink a lot of water and exercise; you should be able to reach your goal. (It would not hurt to follow with a liver and kidney cleanse)!

Click here for a FREE INTERNATIONAL TRIAL of PROCLEANSE COLON CLEANSER

It’s March and the traditional month for spring cleaning, and I have been looking at natural ways to detox to spring clean the body.

There are so many products and methods on the market it’s hard to know what is right. In the end, one of the natural ways to detox that seem to make the most sense is a fasting and detox diet.

Now I must say that fasting conjures up images of sitting miserably at home with a glass of water and thinking of food but in fact, water only is not recommended for a fasting detox as it will release toxins too quickly.

And if natural ways to detox are done sensibly, you could gain a lot of anti-aging health benefits from it, such as lose weight, get more energy and look much better. What a fast does is to give your body a chance to get rid of all the waste and toxins without adding more to the system. Your immune system can therefore zero in on getting rid of the bad stuff and not get distracted with all the new toxins coming in.

A fast could be one or ten days. The longer you do it (up to ten days), the better your body will heal itself and keep diseases at bay. A three to five day fast is quite common as it cleanse the blood, gets rid of toxins and rebuild the immune system.

With that out of the way – here is the game plan for natural ways to detox:

Two days before, eat only fresh fruits and vegetables to prepare body for detox fasting. Avoid all caffeine, sugar, salt, processed foods and alcohol. Drink lots of water, especially first thing in the morning.

Drink herbal tea that will cleanse the digestive system. Teas such as peppermint, rose hip and burdock are good.

Get ready to be irritable, bad tempered and suffering from migraines and headaches as your body gets rid of toxins. Also prepare to experience bad breathe, body odor, skin eruptions and diarrhea. It won’t last long but probably best to do this detox fast on a quiet weekend or when there are a few days holidays.

The Juice Fasting detox

On day or days of fasting, drink only fresh fruit and vegetable juices mixed in with pure distilled water (about half juice, half water). Do not mix fruit and vegetable together except for apple. Fruits such as apple, watermelon and lemon; and vegetable such as carrot, cabbage and celery are great for detoxing.

Add raw garlic and/or spirulina powder to your drinks to get rid of intestinal bacteria and to give yourself some added green nutrients. Drink herbal teas.

Don’t chew gum or take fiber supplements.

Phone up friends and moan about how terrible it all is but feel secretly pleased with yourself for going through it.

After the fasting period, don’t rush out and eat the biggest steak/burger/cow you can find. Introduce back the fresh fruits and vegetables (like the two days prior to fasting) for a day or preferably two. Continue with the water and herb tea.

Slowly integrate cooked foods after that in small potions spread out more frequently during the day.

—————————

Once you see the great benefits of detox fasting and you have gone through the motion of doing it the first time, you will want to integrate a fasting detox schedule to your life. A small fast (1-3 days) once a month is a good start with a longer period (7-10 days) once or twice a year will give lots of health benefits – the most important of which is to cleanse your system and keep diseases away.

If you need a little extra help for colon cleansing and detoxing, try :
Health Plus Colon Cleanse Regular
Health Plus Colon Cleanse Tea
Cellular Research Formulas – Dual-Action Cleanse – 60 Tabs Total Body Purifier + 90 Tabs Colon Clear

Related articles for Natural Ways to Detox:

• WATCH: Detoxing From Today’s Modern Diet (huffingtonpost.com)

Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids is another crucial supplement in the fight against aging.

Contrary to belief our body needs fat – it just needs to be the right kind; the kind that is derived from essential fatty acids (EFA), namely Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids.

Omega 3 essential fatty acids including alpha-linolenic and eicosapentaenoic acid can be found in fish, flaxseed and walnut oils.

Omega 6 essential fatty acids including linoleic and gamma-linolenic acids can be found in primrose, grape seed, borage and sesame oil.

Our body cannot make EFA, it needs to come from our diet. Unfortunately modern day diet consists of little or non existent Omega 3 and Omega 6; we consume perhaps one sixth of Omega 3 than our ancestors did a century ago and an estimated three quarters of the population are deficient in EFAs.

So why is Omega 3 essential fatty acids so important? And what do Omega 3 and Omega 6 EFAs do for our anti aging health?

6 benefits of EFAs:

1. Helps in building cell membranes which means better and younger looking skin, and more luscious and healthy hair. It has also been known to help more serious skin conditions such eczema and psoriasis.
2. Helps maintains healthy brain tissues and is essential for proper brain function. A deficiency has shown an impaired ability to learn and to remember and a greater likelihood of getting degenerative brain diseases.
3. Ensures good cardiovascular health. Your heart will thank you for taking EFAs as it prevents plaques from forming in the arteries which could lead to sorts of heart problems.
4. Lowers blood pressure which means your heart will not have to work as hard to pump blood to your body tissues.
5. Lowers cholesterol and triglyceride levels which means less deposits and plaque build up in the arteries that would impede blood flow to areas such as the brain, kidneys and heart.
6. Improves sexual health and balances hormones in women especially during menopause and for those suffering from PMS. Primrose oil is especially recommended.

You can buy EFA in oil form such as Udo’s Choice Oil Blend 32-Ounces, but remember that it should never be heated. Heating EFA oils could be dangerous to your health as it can transform into dangerous free radicals, which is also why many food processing companies remove these oils from their foods and use trans fat and other unhealthy oils instead. Alternatively you can choose a supplement such as Complete Omega 3.6.9 (Lemon) by Nordic Naturals – 180 Softgels for your daily dose of Omega 6 and Omega 3 essential fatty acids.

Natural sources of Omega 3 and Omega 6 EFAs include :

• Deep sea fishes such as salmon, mackerel (considered a superfish for Omega 3), trout, tuna (light tuna has significantly less Omega 3).
• Plant based oils such as flaxseed, primrose, borage, walnut, sesame, soybean, canola and grape seed oil.
• Emu oil has a great amount of Omega 6.

Add these oils regularly to salads, soups or make dips from them and enjoy better health!

Related articles for Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids:

• Fish oil slows burn of genetic fuse in ageing, say scientists (guardian.co.uk)

Resveratrol Juice Extreem TM
(Pure, highly potent Resveratrol- not diluted like most brands)

From Life Smart Labs, Inc. 60 Tablets of Resveratrol Juice Extreem TM per bottle. 100 mg of pure Trans Reservatrol per serving! Trans Resveratrol is the part of Resveratrol that provides is superior health benefits (Cardiovasular, lower blood sugar, imune system support, etc.) and is superior to other brands that dilute the Resveratrol with other ingredients or are simply less potent! (more…)

What is Coenzyme Q10 and what role does Coenzyme Q10 play in the battle against aging?

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), also known as ubiquinone (from quinone, a type of coenzyme, and the word ubiquitous, as it is ‘found everywhere’ in the body) is a fat soluble antioxidant that plays a crucial role in producing cellular energy in the body, and in helping those with heart diseases.

CoQ10’s main role is in getting oxygen to the cells, making sure the body is optimizing its production of cellular energy, and limiting the damage done by free radicals.

It also helps to metabolize carbohydrates and fats within the mitochondria – the cell’s energy centers. These small little engines within the mitochondria is responsible for 95% of our body’s energy output and it cannot happen without the essential help from CoQ10.

Where is CoQ10 found in the body and what happens when we do not have enough?

CoQ10 is a naturally occurring substance and the largest concentration is found in the heart, followed by the liver, kidney, and pancreas. From the age of around 40, our ability to produce and metabolize CoQ10 declines. When Coenzyme Q10 deficiency levels drop below 25% of normal, we are much more susceptible to diseases and illnesses, especially heart diseases.

In Japan, Coenzyme Q10 in supplement form has been accepted as treatment of choice for heart diseases such as angina and heart damage. Many studies have shown improvement in heart function and energy levels after taking CoQ10. When you think that the heart beats some two and a half billion times in an average lifetime, it pays to keep the energy level  up.

Other age related degenerative diseases from a diminished supply of CoQ10 includes cancer, muscular dystrophy, diabetes, periodontal diseases, hypertension and neuro degenerative diseases.

There has also been some evidence (though inconclusive) that it helps those who suffer early stages of Parkinson’s disease.

Source Naturals Coenzyme Q10, 100 mg, Softgels, 90 softgels

So how much should one take?

Recommended dosage for Coenzyme Q10 in supplement is 30 mg – 300 mg a day. It is recommended to take it with the antioxidant dietary supplement – alpha lipoic acid and vitamin B complex.

Can it be harmful?

Yes it can. CoQ10 is not for everyone although in general, it is quite safe. The best thing is to check with your doctor before taking CoQ10 especially if you are pregnant, are already ill (for example : with a kidney disease), taking medication such as wafarin or other medications.

Related articles for Coenzyme Q10 in battle against aging:

• KANEKA QH™ Ubiquinol Gains in Popularity (prweb.com)
• Can an over-the-counter vitamin-like substance slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease? (scienceblog.com)

Antioxidant Dietary Supplement – Alpha Lipoic Acid

For decades in Europe, diabetics have been given the antioxidant dietary supplement  alpha lipoic acid to combat peripheral nerve damage, prevent cataract formation and to control blood sugars.

So effective is alpha lipoic acid in combating free radicals, it is one of the top anti aging free radical fighters.

So what is this super antioxidant dietary supplement?

Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) works hand in hand with vitamin E and C to neutralize free radicals by recycling these vitamins;  it helps the body to absorb Coenzyme Q10 and helps in the production of Glutathione. It aids in liver function and helps to lower cholesterol.

Most importantly, it helps in the treatment of severe degenerative diseases such as heart diseases and diabetes according to Dr. Lester Packer Ph.d, Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology at UC Berkeley.

ALA is a metabolic antioxidant and is fat and water soluble so it can reach every part of our cells. Without it, our cells will not be able to produce energy. Without it, our cells will not be able to fight free radical damage.

Although ALA can be found in some foods such as broccoli, brewer’s yeast and organ meats, it is best to take a daily supplement. Start with 2-300mg a day and see how you feel, as there have been reports of people developing skin rashes, tingling in hands and feet and headaches.

This is the one that I take and have taken for years:

Alpha Lipoic Acid – Timed Release (300mg)

This is the Alpha Lipoic Acid and Acetyl L-Carnitine combination  Dr. Bruce Yaffe talks about in his video:

Source Naturals Acetyl L-Carnitine & Alpha-Lipoic Acid, 650 mg, Tablets, 120 tablets

As with all antioxidant dietary supplements – check with your doctor first.

Watch this video about Alpha Lipoic Acid :

Two Anti-Aging Pills Worth Asking Your Doctor About

Related articles for antioxidant dietary supplement :

• Antioxidants-Diabetes Connection (scientificamerican.com)

Anti Aging Nutrition – What is it?

This is the first part on anti aging nutrition. I have no idea how many parts there will be, I only know that I will cover as much as possible about anti aging nutrition and its effect on anti aging health. Please feel free to post your comments below.

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – -

I use to work on the eighth floor of a twenty five story building. Each floor seemed to have their ’specialization’.

A few floors would be dedicated to offices like the one I was working at, and other floors would cater to lawyers, accountants and doctors.

I found out later on that in fact one whole floor was dedicated to geriatrics. The number of elderly people who used to come into the lifts in wheelchairs, or hooked up to oxygen tanks or some tube or another was quite a sight.

It used to well, scare me a bit. It was such a horrifying portrait of old age : the inertia, the decaying smell, the blank stares into the impending finality of life; and as an impressionable twenty something then, I vowed I would rather die young than be reduced to a state like that.

Well, years have passed now and the clock is ticking. Let’s be honest, our time will come no matter what we do. But what I have realized meanwhile is that I want to live long, as long as I possibly can – but I also want to live in a state where I can enjoy my ‘old age’ and not be incapacitated with all sorts of diseases and illnesses. Diseases and illnesses I can avoid by being a little smart about my lifestyle.

Anti aging nutrition I decided, was the place to start.

The Chinese view food as medicine and medicine as food, with a healthy sprinkling of herbs to treat all sorts of ailments. Nutritious eating for them is synonymous with disease prevention and good health, with the understanding that in this balancing act, prevention is always better than cure.

They are so right – and the trick is not to eat more, but to eat smart.

A lot of people consume many calories a day, yet still lack the essential anti aging nutrients to keep them healthy and fit. It is not uncommon to see individuals consume 3-4,000 calories a day and still suffer ‘malnutrition’.

How important is anti aging nutrition? There certainly is increasing evidence that a healthy diet, exercise and  proper nutrition will determine quite dramatically how we age.

“Provided you are not in the grip of degenerative disease already, you are likely to get at least a decade of vigorous years, and perhaps a lot more, no matter what age you are now [through optimal nutrition]“.

– Dr. Michael Colgan, Colgan Institute -

There is also evidence that consuming less calories, about 10-25% less, will extend your lifespan. Eating less but eating right – fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and not processed foods, unsaturated fats and empty calories such as crisps and sugary pastries. In Okinawa Japan, where there are more centenarians than anywhere else in the world, the Okinawans eat 17-40% less calories than other Japanese. Their diets also contains plenty of fish, soya products such as tofu and dark green vegetables including seaweed.

When you think that one in three Americans will get some form of cancer in their lifetime (with the number closing in on one in two), and that approximately 60% of people over age 65 gets high blood pressure; or that there is a 45% chance of being on some form of medication when you become a senior citizen – looking at what you eat and how you nourish your body is vital.

As we age, our bodies’ ability to absorb and assimilate nutrients becomes less efficient.  Our cells’ re-generation process slows down, or stops altogether.

Free radicals are produced every time our bodies convert glucose into energy. Our immune system deals with most of these oxidants but about 1% of our cells’ DNA are left damaged where our immune system has missed or cannot reach. Over time, the damage accumulates. On top of that, our bodies’ ability to repair the damage diminishes with age, which means that without proper care and attention, we age faster.

Next post we will look at one of four tips to prolong life and improve aging  health : 

Preventing free radical damage.

Related articles for anti aging nutrition :

• How To Slow Down the Aging Process (howcast.com)
• Dr. John Salerno: Why I Recommend Organic Foods To My Weight Loss Patients (huffingtonpost.com)

Nothing ages a person more than when they smoke, not to mention all the smoking health risks involved.

A smoker not only looks older, has more lines and worse looking skin but smoking health risks can have disastrous and catastrophic results on the body.

It is not even ‘cool’ to do it anymore (Sorry Bogart).

For men, the main problem with smoking is that it increases your chance of becoming impotent. Smoking damages the blood vessels that supplies blood to the penis – but that is not all, it also increases your chance of being sterile. Smoker’s sperm are less active and weak which makes fertilizing an egg more difficult.

For women, it ages you much earlier by bringing menopause sooner and by also increasing the chances of osteoporosis after menopause. Small blood vessel damage means an older looking face with more wrinkles and more sallow skin (Think of all that squinting and pursing of the lips). For women during child bearing age, smoking will increase the chances of miscarriages, premature babies and still birth.

So let’s look at some facts and statistics:

• There are around 4,000 chemicals inhaled each time you smoke, including the deadly toxin nicotine.

• At least 43 of these chemicals are known to cause cancer in humans.

• Approx. 17% of deaths in the US are cigarette related.

• Smoking causes roughly 33% of all cancer deaths.

• Approx. 25% of smokers die from fatal heart attacks.

• Smoking is responsible for at least 85% of death from lung cancer.

• In the UK, 14 people die an hour from smoking related diseases.

• Other health problems include angina, cataracts, high blood pressure, impotence, emphysema and many more.

• Smokers on average lose 16 years of life.

• More than 50% of smokers say they smoke because they are addicted, not because they want to.

Smoking damages your bodies’ ability to absorb certain vitamins and minerals. Anti oxidant vitamins such as vitamin C is severely depleted whilst the DNA of a smoker’s body gets further damage from oxidization. This will result in the acceleration of the aging process (assuming you will reach an ‘old age’!).

Smoking is a hard habit to kick as nicotine is very addictive. Whatever action you choose to take, take it now and stick with it. Anti-aging is not about magic pills or secret potions, it is about being in tip top health and leading a healthy lifestyle. Smoking leads the pack in premature aging and in shortening your life span.

Take action to stop today.

Information on Smoking and some of the health risks

Related articles for Smoking Health Risks :

• Warning Over Rise In Serious Lung Disease (news.sky.com)
• 25 Years in Lung Cancer: An Arduous Fight (abcnews.go.com)