Anti-Aging Medicine

Introduction

Our mission is to help people who care to age gracefully, maintain physical, mental, sexual, and emotional health while restoring their bodies to a younger state than their actual age. Our Anti-Aging program is not a miracle cure or an empty promise...it is a reality! It is for anyone who feels tired all of the time, forgets things, isn't sleeping well, is at risk for osteoporosis or can't lose weight. We are passionate about helping anybody who is ready to put up a good fight against the crippling signs & symptoms of aging!

The Longevity Centre of Houston offers a prescriptive program to counter weight gain, lack of energy, memory loss, wrinkles, decreased sexual drive, shrinking muscle mass, hair loss and a host of other signs of aging. We offer an effective program of Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy based on groundbreaking new medical information which utilizes safe, low dose prescriptions in conjunction with a healthy diet, exercise, vitamin and mineral supplementation.

The physician's of the Longevity Centre of Houston are specifically trained in Anti-Aging Medicine. We have a wealth of information to share with you and take great pleasure optimizing health while preventing/delaying age related disorders & diseases.

Why Consider Multiple Hormone Replacement?

Why Take Multiple Hormones?

The answer is simple. We are not one-hormone creatures. We were given a number of hormones to carry out a multiple of functions in our body. Belgian physician Thierry Hertoghe, M.D., a fourth-generation endocrinologist and a leader in anti-aging hormone modulation, believes that the more hormones you use in a replacement program the less quantity you need of each. The reason for this is that they have a synergistic and overlapping effect in the body. By improving the system with one, you need less of another to make further improvements.

You don’t necessarily have to replace all the hormones described below. The number of hormones you need will depend on your symptoms, goals and blood levels. No matter how many hormones you decide to use, patience, staying in tune with your body’s responses, lifestyle modifications and thoroughly following Dr. Pearsall’s instructions on taking your hormones and natural supplements are the keys to your success.

Why Take Multiple Dietary Supplements?

Some people may think that eating a balanced diet provides all of the vitamins they need. This is simply not so. High potency daily multi-vitamins are the very nutrients the body needs to build its cells and tissues. Do not treat yourself without medical supervision. Natural supplements may have adverse side effects or drug-drug interactions if not taken correctly. Over-the-counter non-pharmaceutical grade supplements may cause more harm than good. For example: Excessive lead amounts were found in 21 formulations of over-the-counter Calcium Supplements. JAMA, Sept 20, 2000 Vol. 284, No. 11

Hormones may be thought of as the body's messengers and nutritional Supplements as the body's building blocks.

Hormonal Confusion

Most men and women are fearful and confused about aging and hormone replacement. In July 2002 millions of American women who took the popular synthetic hormone replacement drug Prempro were suddenly told to stop because of the risk of breast cancer, stroke and heart disease. Luckily, none of our Anti-Aging patients had to endure that shock and abruptly stop taking their hormones. Why? Simple fact: there is nothing in common between the hormones produced in your body and the hormones causing all of these side effects. Both estrogen and progestin which were subjects of the medical reports, showing such bad outcomes are patented, chemically altered synthetic hormonal imposters (such as Premarin, Prempro etc.). Premarin is a synthetic estrogen made to resemble that found in a horse. Horse estrogen is foreign to the human body and has a significant side effect profile. For years Dr. Pearsall has cautioned women about the dangers of synthetic, horse-like hormone substitutes. Instead we emphasize natural hormones that are precise replicas of your own human hormones. We use them to prolong the optimum hormonal balance that you have in your thirties and the results are magnificent.

The first humans roamed the earth approximately 2 million years ago. The average life expectancy was 25 years and remained that way until the last 2 thousand years. In 1900, life expectancy at birth was about 49 years. That means people rarely lived long enough to develop age-related diseases! By 1960, life expectancy had increased to 70 years, and in 1997, life expectancy at birth was 79 years for women and 74 years for men.

One of the crucial hormones, Human Growth Hormone, begins it steady decline around age 30. Other youth sustaining hormones (Estrogen, Progesterone, Testosterone, and Melatonin) start their decline soon thereafter. It can happen later for the fortunate few and occur earlier in others (i.e. after hysterectomy, chemotherapy, stress, chronic diseases). Very few people are genetically blessed as to sustain relatively youthful hormone levels and escape the deleterious effects of aging. The vast majority of people would benefit from Natural Hormone Replacement.

You may paint your house as many times as you like, but without a solid foundation that house will crumble from the inside out. Likewise, you may have multiple face lifts, tummy tucks…etc, but without a youthful foundation - hormones are your foundation!

General Symptoms of Hormonal Decline:

· Lack of Energy

· Decreased Sex Drive

· Mood Swings & Depression

· Lack of Restful Sleep

· Sagging ·Beer· Belly

· Wrinkled Skin

· Poor Concentration

· Joint Aches/Stiffness

· Excessive Weight Gain

· Memory Loss

· Hair Thinning/Loss

To ensure the highest quality and obtain the most consistent results, the Longevity Centre of Houston only prescribes high quality Pharmaceutical Grade Supplements (as opposed to over-the-counter Food Grade Supplements). We also prescribe chemically identical Natural Hormones. Natural hormones are bio-identical to our original hormones whereas synthetic hormones are not.

Benefits of Multiple Hormone Replacement

The Benefits of Growth Hormone Replacement:

Growth Hormone is produced by the pituitary gland. It determines the ultimate size of the adult body, strengthening it and developing the nose, chin, jaw and shoulders in particular. It also tones and firms the muscles, develops strong bones, keeps the joints healthy and protects the kidneys, heart and other organs, including the digestive system. It keeps the arteries clear and flexible and supports the immune system. Growth Hormone helps prevent obesity and in particular slims the stomach, firms up the thighs and makes the knees thinner. It reduces the severity of heart disease and the risk of osteoporosis and, at least in animal studies, certain cancers. All that, and it keeps the skin from thinning and major wrinkles from forming, too. For all these reasons, Growth Hormone is apparently the most important hormone when it comes to helping you stay looking & feeling young.

The Benefits of Estrogen Replacement:

· Control of mind and mood: "I can think clearly again."

· More stamina: "I can do more."

· Better sleep: "Finally, I don't wake up in the middle of the night anymore."

· Enhanced sense of Femininity: "I care again about my body."

· Weight gain protection

· Reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular disease, bone loss, and arthritis.

· Maintenance of healthy skin: "My skin has regained its flush."

· Preservation of sexuality: "Sex is on my mind again."

· The breasts remain young and full: "It's as if my breasts got a natural lift."

· Elimination of hot flashes and night sweats: "My thermostat works again."

The Benefits of Progesterone Replacement:

· It protects the breasts, uterus, and probably the ovaries from cancer

· It acts as a natural diuretic: "I lost five pounds of water."

· It produces a calming, anti-anxiety effect: "You don't know how good it feels to be in control of my emotions aging."

· It decreases PMS and menstrual flow: "Now I am the same woman for the whole month."

· It enhances you body's defenses

· It improves the breakdown of fat into energy.

· It cuts the craving for carbohydrates and sweets: "I don't need my M&M's fix anymore."

· It reduces breast tenderness and pain: "My breasts are mine again."

· It contributes to the formation of new bone tissue.

· It increases HDL, the body's "good cholesterol".

· It fights ovarian cysts and uterine fibroids.

The Benefits of Testosterone Replacement:

· It improves your stamina: "My endurance is much greater now."

· Healthier and stronger muscles: "I have more strength in my arms."

· Leaner body mass and less body fat: "I like my new lean cut."

· Stronger bones

· A feeling of security, positivism, and stability: "I just feel safer."

· Increased libido, orgasmic power, and enhanced emotional aspect of sexuality: "I feel like a college kid again."

· Nitric oxide, a naturally occurring substance known to help keep blood vessels dilated, level improvement: "I have sustained and firmer erections."

· Improved balance and eye-and-hand coordination: "I have more balance in my yoga class."

· It helps protect the heart and arteries from cardiovascular disease

· It helps protect against high cholesterol and angina.

· It tightens and tones the skin by preventing dryness

· It increases your ability to withstand stress and reduces levels of anxiety, depression and excessive emotional mood swings.

· It helps you take the initiative and makes you more assertive, audacious and mentally tenacious.

The Benefits of Thyroid Hormone Replacement:

· It energizes all the cells and organs by stimulating the mitochondria, the cells' powerhouse

· It boosts blood circulation, thereby increasing the supply of nutrients, oxygen, water and hormones to cells all over the body

· It helps to keep our skin soft, flexible and warm

· It helps to keep our muscles and joints supple and pain-free

· It helps to prevent dry hair, hair loss, puffy faces and swollen eyelids

· It stimulates fat-burning

· It reduces the risk and severity of heart disease

The Benefits of DHEA Replacement:

· It fights anxiety and depression

· It helps to boost energy levels

· It makes you feel better by acting as an antidepressant and mood elevator

· It reinforces your immune system

· It helps to reverse the metabolic tendency towards diabetes. This hormone is known to decrease insulin resistance

· It helps to increase Testosterone and Human Growth Hormone levels

· It is a potent agent in slowing down degenerative brain disorders such as Alzheimer's Disease

The Benefits of Cortisol Replacement:

· It helps keep you ready for anything and eager for action by freeing up your energy reserves at opportune moments

· It acts as an anti-stress hormone by helping the body deal with stressful situations

· It stimulates the brain, muscles, heart and circulatory and respiratory systems

· It fights jet lag, fatigue, confusion, hypoglycemia, sugar cravings, anxiety, irritability, low mood, burnout, and low blood pressure

· It stimulates the immune system, helping ward off the flu and other viral, bacterial or parasitic infections as well as cancer

The Benefits of Melatonin Replacement:

· It is a powerful antioxidant and captures potentially damaging free radicals. Its antioxidant properties might explain why it might reduce the risk of cancer

· It protects the heart and arteries and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease

· It relaxes muscles, relieves tension, reduces stress and anxiety and lowers blood pressure

· It increases natural killer cell activity. These cells are among the most important immune factors

· It helps to reduce blood coagulation

· It promotes zinc utilization

· It helps to maintain hair color, thereby slows down graying

The Benefits of Pregnenolone Replacement:

· It is a precursor or "Mother Hormone" of all of the adrenal and sex hormones

· It acts as a potent memory enhancer

· It improves alertness

· It makes you fee more focused yet relaxed

Article Source : www.longevityhouston.com

Prevention's Anti-Aging Guide

By Andreas von Bubnoff and Joanna Lloyd, Prevention

We used to think our fate was in the cards—or in the stars. Now, thanks to research unlocking the secrets to living longer and better, we know different. It turns out that 70% of the factors influencing life expectancy are due to good choices and good luck—not good genes.

What are the moves that will peel off the years? Prevention asked dozens of scientists studying aging, exercise, nutrition, and related fields which changes deliver the biggest payoff. Read on for their picks—powerful enough to make these researchers adopt them in their own lives.

1. Stay the weight you were at 18
"Next to not smoking, this is probably the most important thing we can do to stay healthy and live longer," says Walter Willett, MD, chair of the department of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health.

Leanness matters, because fat cells produce hormones that raise the risk of type 2 diabetes. They also make sub-stances called cytokines that cause inflammation—stiffening the arteries and the heart and other organs. Carrying excess fat also raises the risk of some cancers. Add it up, and studies show that lean people younger than age 75 halve their chances of premature death, compared with people who are obese.

The government deems a wide range of weights to be healthy (between 110 and 140 pounds for a 5-foot-4 woman), partly because body frames vary tremendously. So to maintain the weight that's right for you, Willett suggests you periodically try to slip into the dress you wore to your high school prom—assuming, of course, that you were a healthy weight at that age. If not, aim for a body mass index of about 23.5.

Willett can't use the prom-dress test himself. Nevertheless, at 6-foot-2 and a lean 184 pounds, he dutifully hews to the BMI of his youth.

2. Take the dynamic duo of supplements
They're what Bruce N. Ames, PhD, a professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of California, Berkeley, swears by: his daily 800 mg of alpha-lipoic acid and 2,000 mg of acetyl-L-carnitine. In these amounts, he says, the chemicals boost the energy output of mitochondria, which power our cells. "I think mitochondrial decay is a major factor in aging," Ames says—it's been linked to diseases such as Alzheimer's and diabetes.

In his studies, elderly rats plied with the supplements had more energy and ran mazes better. "If you're an old rat, you can be enthusiastic," Ames says. "As people, we can't be sure until clinical trials are done." (They're under way.) But the compounds look very safe—the worst side effect documented in humans is a rash, Ames says—and "the data in animals looks really convincing," says S. Mitchell Harman, MD, PhD, president of the Kronos Longevity Research Institute in Phoenix.

3. Skip a meal
This one move could have truly dramatic results. Rats fed 30% less than normal live 30% longer than usual—and in a recent study at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, the hearts of the leaner human calorie-cutters appeared 10 to 15 years younger than those of regular eaters.

In other research, calorie restrictors improved their blood insulin levels and had fewer signs of damage to their DNA. Eating less food, scientists believe, may reduce tissue wear and tear from excess blood sugar, inflammation, or rogue molecules known as free radicals.

Edward Calabrese, PhD, and Mark Mattson, PhD, have opted for "calorie restriction lite." Calabrese, a professor of toxicology and environmental health sciences at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, dumped the midday meal. Mattson, chief of the laboratory of neurosciences at the National Institute on Aging, has done without breakfast for 20 years.

Try it
Skip a meal a day. You don't need to try to cut calories; Mattson's research suggests you'll naturally consume less that day. Or try fasting one day a week. Just drink plenty of water.

4. Get a pet
Open up your home and heart to Rover or Boots. Owning a pet reduces the number of visits to the doctor, prolongs survival after a heart attack, and wards off depression, says James Serpell, PhD, director of the Center for the Interaction of Animals and Society at the University of Pennsylvania. (His family has a cat, a dog, a large green iguana, a bearded dragon, and a dozen fish.)

Pet ownership also protects against a major problem of aging: high blood pressure. In one standout study at State University of New York, Buffalo, stockbrokers with high blood pressure adopted a pet. When they were faced with mental stress, their BP increased less than half as much as in their counterparts without animal pals. But pick your pet with care. There is nothing stress-reducing about a dog that chews the baseboard to bits.

5. Get help for what hurts
Studies suggest that continuous pain may dampen the immune system—and evidence is clear that it can cause deep depression and push levels of the noxious stress hormone cortisol higher.

So enough with the stoicism: Take chronic pain to your doctor and keep complaining until you have a treatment plan that works, says Nathaniel Katz, MD, a neurologist and pain-management specialist at Tufts University School of Medicine. Your mood will improve—and your immune system may perk up, too.

6. Take a hike
To make the walls of your arteries twice as flexible as those of a couch potato, just walk briskly for 30 minutes, 5 days a week. That's what Hirofumi Tanaka, PhD, an associate professor of kinesiology and health education at the University of Texas, advises after tracking the elasticity of people's blood vessels using ultrasound.

With age, blood vessel walls tend to stiffen up like old tires—the main reason two-thirds of people older than age 60 have high blood pressure. Exercise keeps vessels pliable. Mild exercise also reduces the risk of diabetes, certain cancers, depression, aging of the skin, maybe even dementia. That excites exercise researcher Steven N. Blair, past president of the nonprofit Cooper Institute in Dallas. He's run nearly every day for almost 40 years. "Not bad for a 66-year-old fat man."

7. Fight fair
Nasty arguments between couples increase the risk of clogged arteries. In a recent University of Utah study, women's hearts suffered when they made or heard hostile comments; men's hearts reacted badly to domineering, controlling words.

"It's normal to have a fight with your spouse—it's a matter of how you fight," says Ronald Glaser, PhD, an immunologist at Ohio State University. What he and his wife, Ohio State clinical psychologist Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, PhD, put off-limits: "Getting nasty, sarcastic, or personal, or using body language like rolling your eyes. It's better to simply agree to disagree."

8. Stop and plant the roses
Gardening or being around plants bears fruit. In one study, blood pressure jumped in workers given a stressful task—but rose only a quarter as much if there were plants in the room. And patients who had a view of trees as they recovered from surgery left the hospital almost a day sooner than those with a view of a brick wall.

9. Hoist a few (weights, that is)
Everyone knows cardio exercise is key to slowing the advance of time. More surprising: Strength-training is crucial, too. That's because after their mid-40s, people lose ¼ pound of muscle mass a year, gaining fat in its place.

But, says Miriam E. Nelson, PhD, an associate professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition at Tufts University, "For a couple of decades, you don't have to lose any muscle, if you do the appropriate exercises." Even people well into their 90s can regain muscle, she's found. Just lift weights 2 or 3 days a week, for a minimum of 30 minutes.

The payoff: more endurance, stronger bones, less risk of diabetes—and better sleep and thinking. Nelson rock climbs and does plenty of other weight-bearing exercise.

10. Do a good deed
Pick up trash in the park or shop for a neighbor who needs help, says William Brown, PhD, a lecturer of psychology at Brunel University, West London. He studied people in Brooklyn and found that those who had a denser social network and gave more to their friends and family than they received—whether the gift was in the form of money, food, advice, or time—reported feeling healthier than others, even when he factored in activity levels.

Another study, at the University of Michigan, looked at 423 elderly married couples; after 5 years, the pairs who were more altruistic were only half as likely to have died. "Many people grow up thinking it's a dog-eat-dog world," Brown says. "But there's a lot of data that suggests the best way to be healthy is to be kind to others."

11. Eat a rainbow...
...made of vegetables, says Peter Greenwald, MD, director of the division of cancer prevention at the National Cancer Institute. Their cancer-preventing abilities are unparalleled. Remember: Aim for nine servings of fruits and vegetables each day.

12. Sup from the sea
Don't just slap anything with fins onto your plate: You want fatty fish, such as salmon, sardines, and lake trout. They contain the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA, which many studies show help prevent sudden death from heart attack. Omega-3s may also help ward off depression, Alzheimer's disease, and age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness—and maybe some cancers, although evidence is mixed.

To get more of the benefits of good fats, snack on an ounce (a handful) of walnuts a day. Use less corn oil, and more canola and olive oils. Greg Cole, PhD, a professor of medicine and neurology at UCLA, also avoids cookies, margarine, and snack foods such as chips, which are loaded with unhealthy trans fats. On his menu: two tuna sandwiches plus a couple of DHA-enriched eggs a week. He takes 2 g of fish oil daily.

13. Belt out a tune
Exposing yourself to music might help boost your immune system: In a study done by Robert Beck, PhD, a professor emeritus at the University of California, Irvine, levels of an infection-fighting antibody called IgA increased 240% in the saliva of choral members performing Beethoven's Missa Solemnis.

14. Drink a cuppa
Intrigued by studies (of mice, cells in lab dishes, and people) that say tea may fight prostate and breast cancer and heart disease, researcher Anna Wu, PhD, a professor of preventive medicine at the University of Southern California, downs at least 3 cups daily. Green is best, although black tea confers some benefits, too.

15. Whittle your waist
To determine if your body is staying young, the tape measure is better than the bathroom scale: Your weight can remain the same while you lose muscle and pack on fat, including visceral fat, the culprit behind a thick waist. It's linked to a heightened risk of age-related ills such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. If your waist measures more than 35 inches (for a woman) or 40 inches (for a man), you probably have too much belly fat.

The best way to shed that inner load: exercise, says Kerry Stewart, EdD, director of clinical and research exercise physiology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. In a 6-month study of 69 men and women, he found a 20% reduction in visceral fat, though participants lost only 5 pounds. Stewart's program was brisk but not too arduous: 45 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobics three times a week and 20 minutes of moderate-intensity weight training, also three times weekly.

16. Double up on D
If there's one vitamin supplement you should take, this is it, experts say. Vitamin D is made in the skin when sun hits it—but as people get older, the D factory doesn't work as well. About half of Americans fall short. Research suggests that a lack of D raises the risk of osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, and various cancers.

"No other nutrient is so widely deficient in the United States," says Meir Stampfer, MD, chair of the department of epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health. "Unless you eat a lot of fish, you have to supplement." Stampfer takes 1,800 IU daily in the winter and 800 to 1,200 IU a day the rest of the year. Make sure your supplement contains vitamin D3, the form the skin makes.

17. Dine on curry
Turmeric, the spice that makes curry yellow, is loaded with curcumin, a chemical with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In India, it's smeared on bandages to help heal wounds.

East Asians also eat it, of course—which might explain why they have lower rates than we do of various cancers and Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. (Animal research is promising.) Cole, of UCLA, makes sure he gets a good dose of Indian food with "lots of yellow stuff" three times weekly. Don't like the taste? Try a daily curcumin supplement of 500 to 1,000 mg.

18. Donate blood
The life you save may be your own. Many researchers think that we take in too much iron, mostly from eating red meat. Excess iron is thought to create free radicals in the body, speeding aging and raising risk of heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's. Until menopause, women are naturally protected from iron overload, but after that the danger of overdose climbs.

Preliminary studies suggest you can lower your risk of heart disease by regularly giving blood. Thomas Perls, MD, an associate professor of medicine at Boston University who leads the New England Centenarian Study, donates a unit every 2 months. He has a rare blood type, so he's helping others—and he may get something out of it, too. If you're scared of needles, at least go easy on red meat: no more than a daily serving the size of a pack of cards.

19. Look out for your eyes
Getting plenty of omega-3s in food or supplements may help ward off age-related macular degeneration. Plant antioxidants such as lutein and zeaxanthin (found in leafy green vegetables like kale and collards) are helpful, too.

People who have drusen—tiny deposits within the retina that can be early signs of macular degeneration—can reduce their risk of blindness in both eyes by 25% if they take a supplement, says John Paul SanGiovanni, ScD, a staff scientist at the National Eye Institute. What to take, according to his study: 500 mg of vitamin C, 400 IU of vitamin E, 80 mg of zinc, 15 mg of beta-carotene, and 2 mg of copper.

20. Take fern extract for your skin
Studies suggest that the antioxidant-rich extract of the South American fern Polypodium leucotomos may help keep your skin youthful by protecting against free radicals and reducing inflammation. Until clinical trials find proof, "it's like chicken soup—it can't hurt and it might help a bit," says dermatologist Mary Lupo, MD, a Prevention advisor and a clinical professor of dermatology at the Tulane University School of Medicine.

Lupo takes 240 mg every morning in a supplement called Heliocare, made by Ivax Dermatologicals. She also slaps on broad-spectrum sunscreen and Retin-A daily and eats a diet loaded with colorful fruits and vegetables—blueberries, raspberries, grapefruit, broccoli, spinach. It may also help to drink green tea and nibble flavonoid-rich dark chocolate, she adds. What you must do: Avoid excessive sun exposure and don't smoke.

21. Take a deep breath
Strife at work, bumper-to-bumper traffic, little Will's report card: Stress increases the concentration of the hormones cortisol and norepinephrine in our bloodstream, kicking up blood pressure and suppressing the immune system. Chronic stress delays wound healing, promotes atherosclerosis, and possibly shrinks parts of the brain involved in learning, memory, and mood.

"The key is lowering the concentration of those stress hormones," says Bruce Rabin, MD, PhD, medical director of the Healthy Lifestyle program at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He's devised a research-based program that mutes the hormone flow: It includes meditation, deep breathing, writing, chanting, and guided imagery. Check it out at the Healthy Lifestyle program Web site.

Deep breathing is the top antistress pick of Prevention advisor Andrew Weil, MD: He makes time for it at least twice a day. "It only takes 2 minutes," he says. "I do it in the morning, when I'm falling asleep in the evening, and any time I feel upset."

Technique
Exhale strongly through the mouth, making a whoosh sound. Breathe in quietly through the nose for a count of 4. Hold your breath for a count of 7; then exhale with the whoosh sound for a count of 8. Repeat the cycle three more times.

22. Hey—turn it down!
Exposure to noise damages the delicate hair cells of your inner ears. So when you're around loud noise, wear earplugs—the cheap type you can buy at the drugstore, or pricier ones that preserve sound quality. Andy Vermiglio, a research audiologist at the House Ear Institute in Los Angeles, offers free hearing tests at trade shows for audio engineers (aka sound guys). He can always tell which 40-year-old engineer was religious about ear protection and which one was careless: The latter typically has the hearing of a 70-year-old.

23. Get more shut-eye
Some sleep problems raise the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes—maybe even obesity. Everyone's sleep needs are different; to find out what yours are, sleep experts recommend you turn off the alarm clock when you're well rested, and see how long you naturally sleep. (Most people need 7 to 8 hours.)

While you're at it, ask your spouse if you snore. Snorting and honking through the night are signs that you may have sleep apnea, which causes you to stop breathing at least five times an hour; it raises your risk of stroke. An estimated 18 million Americans have the disorder, but many don't know it, reports the National Sleep Foundation. Doctors are more likely to miss sleep apnea in women, says Joseph Kaplan, MD, codirector of the Mayo Sleep Disorders Center in Jacksonville, FL—and women may not want to mention their unladylike habit. Ladylike, schmadylike. Tell your doctor.

24. Drop that hot potato
High-glycemic foods, rich in quick-digesting carbohydrates, can cause blood sugar spikes and crashes and contribute to overeating and diabetes risk—which accelerates aging.

We need to retrain our taste buds, says Willett. What to ditch: sugary drinks. And cut way back on America's favorite veggie, the potato. It has the highest glycemic index of any vegetable, sending more sugar rushing into the bloodstream faster. Willett's team at Harvard recently found that over a 20-year period, women who ate more whole grains and fewer spuds had a 20 to 30% lower risk of type 2 diabetes. His carb picks for his own dinner: brown rice and whole grain bread, and sometimes whole wheat pasta or bulgur.

25. Put on your rose-colored glasses
"Embracing some of the positive aspects of aging is helpful," says Becca Levy, PhD, an associate professor of epidemiology and psychology at Yale. She found more than a 7-year survival advantage for older men and women with a positive attitude toward aging, compared with people who have a negative one.

If you're a cranky sort, you might also want to tweak your attitude about other things. "People who have a goal in life—a passion, a purpose, a positive outlook, and humor—live longer," says Robert Butler, MD, president of the International Longevity Center in New York City.

Embrace life, and the coming of old age—it happens to all of us. If we're lucky.

Article Source : http://health.yahoo.com

Anti-aging Food Pyramid

This is the world's most advance Food Pyramid specifically designed for anti-aging. In addition to optimum nutrition for cellular fortification, it curtails sugar imbalance, control oxidative stress, aids in detoxification, and prolong lifespan. It is the best anti-aging diet available, and it has been proven clinically to work. My thanks to Dorine Tan, RD, MPH, ABAAHP , clinical dietitian for her collaboration in this work.

Here is a summary :

1. Start with 10-12 glasses of room temperature pure filtered water a day. Begin in the morning with 2 glasses of water to purify and hydrate your body from the overnight dehydration. Bring a water bottle around with you during the day, and drink water whenever you feel thirsty.

2. Your carbohydrates intake should comprise primarily of whole grain cereal, barley, and oats. These are low glycemic index food that converts into sugar once inside your body at a slow and steady pace. Reduce high glycemic carbohydrates intake such as rice, wheat, bread, pasta, and rice which converts into sugar quickly once taken in and cause a rise in blood sugar level. Sustained intake of high glycemic food leads to obesity and adult onset diabetes and is a leading cause of aging. You don't have to avoid all grains, as it is a good source of energy. The key is to take good grains and avoid bad grains.

3. 8-10 portions of vegetables should be taken. Choose above ground green leafy vegetables. Generally speaking, the more colorful the vegetable, the more anti-oxidant is inside and the better it is for you. Avoid vegetables that grow underground such as potato, yam, and carrots because they behave like high glycemic index type carbohydrates and leads to sugar imbalance.

4. Low glycemic index type fruits should be taken, such as apple or blueberry. Always take whole fruits and avoid fruit juices which are high in sugar and low in fiber.

5. Legumes , organic eggs, and nuts are excellent source of protein. One to two eggs a day can be taken in without significant rise in blood cholesterol if you are healthy.

6. At least 8 oz of cold water deep sea fish such as salmon or tuna should be taken per week. This will provide the body with the necessary omega 3 fatty acid as well as protein. Stay away from fresh water or costal water fish which can be contaminated. Free range chicken is a good source of protein also and can be taken twice a week.

7. Red meat such as beef should be restricted to once or twice a week , together with dessert such as ice cream and cakes. Try to take in beef that comes from cattle that are grass fed instead of grain fed in their diet.

8. Olive or Canola Oil should be used in preparation of food. It contains mono-unsaturated fat . Stay away from polyunsaturated fat that comes after processing, such as corn oil, safflower oil, and sunflower oil. The commercialization processes changes the structure of the fat and makes it harmful for the body. Avoid trans-fat that is found in margarine, cookies, and pastries as much as possible. It is the worse type of fat, much worse than the saturated fat you find in red meat. Article Source : www.drlam.com

ANTI-AGING AND A HEALTHY LIFE

I walked into the hospital room. She lay on her bed with tubes running from her arms and electrodes taped to her chest. Equipment at the side of the room recorded her heartbeat and blood pressure.

She looked up at me and said, “I know you.” I smiled. She studied my face for a few moments. Finally she said, “Yes, I know you. You’re my son Billy!”

That was my mother about a month before she died. She was 85 years old. She had had Alzheimer disease, the most common cause of dementia.

The chances of having dementia rise as you get older. By age 85, about 35 out of 100 people have it1. After watching my mother I hoped I could figure out how to fit into the sixty five percent who grow old with a strong, active brain.

The Brain’s Functions

The brain is your body’s control center. It controls the autonomic nervous system, those automatic activities such as respiration, digestion, and heartbeat. It controls the somatic nervous system which activates your sense organs and muscles. It also controls conscious activities such as reasoning, abstraction, decision making and thought. It defines your characteristics and personality. Your brain controls every activity in your body.

As you age, your brain begins to function at a slower pace. It also takes longer to rejuvenate. Your lifestyle, as well as other external factors, will affect your brain’s aging process. The good news is there are ways to enhance the power of your brain as time catches up with you. The following are four ways to help slow your brain’s aging process.

1. Live a Healthy Life

The second most common cause of dementia is atherosclerosis, or in simple terms, hardening of the arteries in the brain. This is known as vascular dementia, accounting for as many as 40% of cases. Vascular dementia has been linked to high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, heart disease, diabetes and related conditions. Most experts feel that treating these underlying conditions can decrease the odds of contracting vascular dementia or, if a person already has it, can slow its progress. These diseases are often accelerated by smoking, excessive drinking and both prescription and recreational drug use.

Smoking is bad for your health. It is also bad for your brain. A study conducted in the Netherlands followed 7,000 people age 55 and older for an average of seven years. During that time, 706 of the participants developed dementia. Smokers were found to be fifty percent more likely to develop dementia than people who had never smoked or had quit before participating in the study.

Alcohol abuse has been linked to15 to 25 percent of all dementia cases2. Alcohol affects the brain directly as a neurotoxin and is the cause of serious long term negative effects on the central nervous system. Alcohol abuse can lead to malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies and can also cause liver damage. Studies show that these can lead to brain shrinkage and brain damage.

Illegal drugs can also cause dementia. Cocaine affects circulation and has been shown to cause small strokes. Heroin, if taken for long periods of time or in older people, can block the neurotransmitter acetylcholine which is involved with learning and memory.

2. Eat Healthy Foods.

As a general rule, good nutrition for the body is also good for the brain. Healthy eating has been shown to reduce the risk of many chronic diseases such as diabetes, osteoporosis, cancer and heart disease. It also increases your chances of living a fuller, longer life.

To function properly your brain needs top quality fuel. A diet that includes five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, carbohydrates such as whole grain breads, pasta and cereals, as well as fats and protein can provide this for you.

Sometimes called brain food, fish is a rich source of unsaturated fat and protein. A study published in the Archives of Neurology3 found that eating fish at least once a week slowed down the development of
dementia in elderly men and women. Overall mental function declined at a rate ten percent slower in these fish eaters when compared to peers who did not eat fish as often. Mental function in elderly men and women who ate fish two or more times a week declined at a rate thirteen percent slower than those who did not eat fish.

One final portion of a healthy diet that many people overlook is drinking plenty of fluids. A dehydrated brain doesn’t think clearly. Remember, plain old water is the healthiest fluid you can drink.

3. Exercise Your Body

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, consisting of 2257 Japanese-American men between 71 and 93 years old, reported that regular exercise can protect against the development of Alzheimer’s disease. The research from a number of organizations including the Department of Veteran Affairs and the Pacific Health Research Institute, also suggests that it is better to exercise throughout your life rather than trying to make up for an unhealthy lifestyle in your later years.

Exercise helps us feel better both physically and emotionally. It can help improve our self image. It also improves our strength and endurance. It decreases body fat, improves movement to joints and muscles and increases the body’s ability to process oxygen. Regular exercise helps reduce depression while reducing the risks of cardiovascular disease.

What kind of exercise program should you engage in? It depends on your particular likes and your body’s physical condition. If you are over forty five and haven’t exercised in a while, you should check with your doctor before beginning any type of exercise program.

Your exercise program should include both cardiovascular and strength building exercises. Cardiovascular exercises are good for your heart. These include walking, swimming, and bicycling and for best results should be done for at least thirty minutes a day, every day. Strength building exercises build your muscles while helping keep your bones dense, reducing the chance of osteoporosis. This can be anything from calisthenics to weight training.

A favorite exercise of mine is Tai Chi, a combination of slow, circular movements. A study by the Harvard Medical School showed that older women who practice Tai Chi regularly experienced a better fitness boost than walking briskly for three hours per week. The study pointed out that this was due to better oxygen utilization.

Tai Chi can help people suffering from arthritis and even osteoporosis. There is some evidence that indicates that the enhanced mind and body connection resulting from the practice of Tai chi can help protect against dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Whether it’s Tai Chi or any other type of exercise the most important
thing is to just do it.

4. Reduce Stress

Stress increases your heart rate and blood pressure and can lead to stroke. There are two categories of stress. The first type, acute stress, is also known as the flight or fight reaction where the brain produces
chemicals that tell the body to speed up, making it perform more effectively. This is the type of stress you’ll experience when another car pulls out in front of you causing you to hit your brakes suddenly. This type of stress is normal and short-lived.

The second type of stress is known as chronic or long-term stress. This stress is abnormal and long lasting. There is strong evidence that this type of stress actually damages the brain. It occurs when we don't let go of stress. Chronic stress increases the release of stress hormones. Studies have shown that these stress hormones can actually kill nerve cells in animals and can probably do the same in humans.

One method of reducing chronic stress is through exercise. Stress can also be reduced through meditation. Another proven method is through hypnosis. Using the visualization process hypnosis can help a person learn to remain calm and relaxed even while experiencing an event that had been stressful to them in the past.

Whatever method of stress reduction you choose, it’s important to remember that taking steps to reduce chronic stress will improve your overall health. It will also help you sustain your mental abilities. Article Source : www.inform4free.com

A Disease Called Aging

Aging is a disease that starts at age 25 without any warning sign. This is the beginning of the sub-clinical phase of the disease and will last about 10 years. There are no outward signs or symptoms, but inside the cell, free radical damage has already begun. All regular laboratory tests are "normal". Our current diagnostic equipment and laboratory test is not sensitive enough to measure intracellular changes of age related degenerative disease.

By age 35, a good portion of our cellular protein has been damaged by oxidative stress of pollution, stress, and poor food habits. Significant mutational changes are already well entrenched that eventually may leads to cancer and other degenerative diseases. Symptoms such as glucose intolerance, hypertension, and digestive function imbalance begins to surface as the body starts to de-compensate. These symptoms reflect a body that is in the transitional phase of aging that will last 10 years from age 35 to 45 . Often the laboratory values are "borderline". In reality, the body is entering the transitional phase of the aging process that will last 10 years. Some people will have outward signs and symptoms of age related diseases, while other do not.

By age 45, most people have a variety of outward symptoms commonly accepted as the natural consequence of the aging progress, such as memory lost, decreased energy, hair loss, wrinkles. Laboratory values are now "abnormal", It is not uncommon that clinically active degenerative disease such as heart attack, diabetes, and cancer surface by this time. The body is now entering the clinical phase of aging. A proactive approach must be taken, although it may be late.

By age 55, very few can escape a body free from cancer, artherosclerosis, diabetes, or a combination of the above that account for 80 percent of age related degenerative diseases. Most people are on some form of drugs for symptomatic treatment of degenerative disease like osteoarthritis, Parkinson's Disease, and Diabetes. Many are shocked why there had been little to no "warning" signs, and a desperate attempt is now made to launch a salvage operation designed to rescue the body from a lifetime of damage.

Aging as a disease can be treated if started early, but it is never too late.

Seventy percent of longevity is related to lifestyle and therefore controllable. The remainder thirty percent is controlled by our genetics. Anti-aging medicine is about a medical approach scientifically designed to deter the aging process through a comprehensive proactive anti-aging program focusing on 5 key areas: diet, exercise, nutritional supplementation, hormonal enhancement, and stress reduction.

To deter the onset of the aging process and eradicate this disease, the anti-aging medical specialist employs a multi-discipline approach, incorporating nutrition, biochemistry, genetics, physiology, general medicine, endocrinology, toxicology, physical medicine, preventive medicine, and ortho-molecular medicine etc. as the basis of its study into the aging process.

Therapeutic modalities employed to deter the aging process includes: hormonal replacement therapy, nutritional medicine, chelation therapy, psychotherapy, and others. Drugs and medicine are used in conjunction with non-invasive alternative approach to eradicate age related degenerative disease such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, and hypertension at its root. Article Source : www.drlam.com

Anti-Aging Nutrition Enhanced Skin Cream Test Results from Glycology New Celsync

Glycology, Inc., an innovative life sciences company committed to developing and commercializing new nutrition enhanced beauty and health technology and a wholly owned subsidiary of Adoodle, Inc. today announced that it has received positive testing results of its new formulated Celsync skin cream with omega 3. Glycology’s proprietary anti-aging skin cream complex, Celsync, contains glucosamine, a powerful cellular exfoliator that targets and reduces the visible signs of aging.

Testing produced significant improvements in skin appearance and integrity:
* Boosts collagen by 145%
* Increases skin hydration by 50%
* Decreases the appearance of wrinkles & fine lines by 52%
* Enhances skin firmness by 60%
* Improves skin clarity by 49%
* Improves sun damaged skin 50%

Results seen included -
1. Skin is firmer within minutes.
2. Within a month, lines and wrinkles significantly reduced.
3. Within a few months, skin is noticeably lifted, more resilient, and healthier-looking.

“Skin beauty is a reflection of inner health and vitality. Skin’s appearance is at its best when essential nutrients aid in stimulating and protecting skin cell activity throughout the surface layers of the skin. Glycology’s breakthrough nutrition and dermatology which is based on NOBEL prize-winning technology can influence skin health and beauty,” stated Glycology Inc., President Ian Jones.

Also, and as important are the essential nutrients both in the nutrition enhanced skin cream as well as Celsync capsules.

“Glycology’s approach to advanced skin care is based on “signal technology, a system by which healthy human cells communicate in order to repair, renew and replicate themselves,” added Jones.

Ingesting Celsync capsules and using Celsync skin cream for example allows essential nutrients to work both from within the body as well as on the surface of the skin for remarkable absorption and outstanding results.

Find out how you can look better, feel better and increase your immune system for both health and beauty. To review all the Celsync products, please visit: www.glycology.com.