Antiaging products & diets

The simple anti-aging recipe: exercise, active imagination, no smoking, less calories, more grains, fiber, vegetables and fruits, no animal protein and fats

The ancient Mayas had oil of avocado. The Romans olive oil.
The search for a long life elixir has been eternal, but we now have enough knowledge to make it happen.
The exciting thing is that now ageing becomes tractable. Piece by piece, the jigsaw comes together; and we begin to understand some of the mechanisms. Which means that, by doing this, we may be able to alleviate some of the disorders.
Only ignorance and self-indulgence stand between modern man and a radical advance in his lifespan.
Gabriel Simonoff, a scientist of Bordeaux University in France investigating the ageing process, has found evidence that the human body is genetically programmed to live for 120 years.

If people were more rigorous about their diets, claims Simonoff, there is no biological or medical reason why 120-year-olds should not be as common as 100-year-old pensioners are today.
"Man's big problem is that he eats too much" says Simonoff. But are at the beginning of a revolutionary era, and we now understand the body's nutritional needs much better than ever before.
"I believe" he continues, "that nutrition will become the fundamental science of the 21st century because it will allow us to know our deficiencies exactly, and what we will have to eat to be safe".
Simonoff research has focused on the anti-aging properties of selenium, one of the rarest elements.

Antiaging diets have become increasingly popular.
The sensible idea behind them is that we should follow different nutritional guidelines according to our age, and the proportions of foods which may be good for us at 20 are not necessarily good for us at 50.
Calories and protein intakes should both be higher when we are young and our bodies need help in their growth process. Calories should be cut down in later life, at around 45: cutting back calories can delay the hallmarks of aging.
We already know from experiments that low-calorie diets cause longer lives. One possible explanation is that fewer calories result in a slower metabolic "burning" of food energy by the body. This could mean fewer free radicals and other damaging chemicals that accelerate ageing.

A healthy diet is the most effective weapon in fighting aging: no animal fat, plenty of fruit, vegetables and fibre. Anti-aging specialist Dr Vincent Giampapa, MD, medical director of the Longevity Institute International in Montclair, N.J., featured below, says he is "almost vegan", not eating animal products at all, not even eggs and dairy products.

On the Japanese island of Okinawa, 457 islanders are at least 100 years old. This is 34.7 centenarians for every 100,000 Okinawans, the highest ratio in the world. In America the corresponding figure is 10 centenarians per 100,000.
Their fountain of youth is not in their genes but in their healthy food and lifestyle. The traditional Okinawan diet has plenty of grains and vegetables but is light in meat, eggs or dairy products.

The Italian island of Sardinia, in the Mediterranean, also has some record census statistics: not only a high proportion of centenarians, more than 13 per 100,000 inhabitants, but the oldest living man on Earth, Antonio Todde. He says his daily diet is made of pasta, soup and a glass-and-a-half of red wine.

Regular exercise is also important to combat the effects of ageing in general and prevent osteoporosis, falls and hip fractures in particular.
Here we have another epidemiological study, a population comparison.
People living in Third World countries, like the Gambia, have low rates of osteoporosis, even though their calcium intake is much lower than that of industrialised countries. Many specialists believe that such populations are protected because they walk further, work physically harder and do more manual labour.
Bones, like muscles, increase their strength and density when they are worked.
Recent tests have shown that even people in their seventies, eighties and nineties can put on beneficial muscle mass, improve dexterity and reduce the risk of falling and breaking bones by taking up moderate exercise.

Research at University College in London suggests that giving up smoking does extend substantially the lifespan of a 45-year-old man.
At the same time, this research shows that treatmnent for high cholesterol or even blood pressure make disappointingly very little difference.
"Someone who was an inactive, unhealthy person before may remain an unhealthy person who is just taking a tablet" says Dr Simon Coppack, a senior lecturer in medicine at the college, who heartily recommends a good diet and regular exercise, especially walking.

An active mind and imagination are also vital. Maintaining an interest in life is probably more effective than a face-lift in keeping the ravages of age at bay.
Research has shown that individuals with a higher IQ and people who can still engage in intellectually-rewarding activities in their late years are more protected against the diseases of senility, like dementia and Parkinson's disease which are, after all, degenerative forms of illness.
An active imagination leads to a longer life. A study of elderly nuns has found that those who had more ideas in their youth lived significantly longer and were less likely to suffer senile dementia. Dr. David Snowdon, an epidemiologist at the University of Kentucky in Lexington who led the nun study, said it should come as no surprise to find that the brain might be involved in controlling lifespan.

As in heart disease and cancer, there is also a genetic component in longevity, but it can be easily compensated by the right lifestyle choices.
The genes we inherit and the way they work together, in combination with the environment in which they have to survive, will tell us how and when we could expect to die.
So, the environment plays a crucial role here, and the environment is what we can determine or alter with our choices of lifestyle and nutrition.
For example, heart-disease experts, cardiologists, have been pointing out for years that even people at risk from cardiovascular diseases can stay healthy and well by sensible diet and exercise.

Basically, the reason why we age more and have more cancer and heart disease is because our lives have improved enormously. There is a lot of motive for optimism.
Scientists have available studies to show that, in general, we are living longer because we control disease, eat better, smoke less and exercise more.

Products that help memory and blood circulation

Among the products that help keeping the brain sharp and active are Ginkgo Biloba and Vinpocetine.
Ginkgo, whose alternative name is Maidenhair tree, has kernels and seeds which are edible, and they are eaten roasted at weddings and feasts in Japan and China.
Ginkgo (both leaves and seeds) has been recorded in Chinese herbals from almost 5,000 years ago.

As with all herbal remedies and supplements, it's always important to check compatibility with any drugs one may already be taking.

An internet company selling these products which also provides much health information on their use is Goldshield Healthcare Direct, one of Britain's leading direct suppliers of natural health products online.

Goldshield has a comprehensive range of vitamins, minerals and dietary supplements.
It says it guarantees high quality: high strength and super combination products, often unique formulations; low prices, special offers and discounts, with multibuy savings and extra value packs; fast delivery within a few days.
As an ethical UK Pharmaceutical Company Goldshield complies with the GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) that other companies outside the UK are not bound by.
And it can give you expert advice, through a team of qualified nutritionists on hand to answer customers' questions and give advice.
Check its HealthNotes for information compiled by professional dieticians on all health subjects.

Here's the link:
Goldshield

Ginkgo Biloba is the world´s oldest surviving tree species. Traditional Chinese medicine has used its leaves for almost 5,000 years.

Ginkgo Biloba is sometimes called living fossil because it goes back to a geological era when it was all over the world.

Ginkgo Biloba, whose alternative name is Maidenhair tree, has kernels and seeds which are edible, and they are eaten roasted at weddings and feasts in Japan and China.
Ginkgo (both leaves and seeds) has been recorded in Chinese herbals from almost 5,000 years ago.
The extract obtained from the leaves is found beneficial for both the central nervous system and blood circulation. Boosting oxygen feed to the brains, it improves memory and concentration. Through regulating blood vessel elasticity and adjusting blood viscosity, it enhances blood flow. In addition, it helps reduce patelet packings, lowers the risk of blood clot occurrence, thus lowering the risk of heart and cerebral failure. It helps maintain capillary blood circulation to the brain (supporting memory and concentration), heart and all extremities.

The authoritative The Oxford Book of Health Foods says:
"Ginkgo Biloba... Over the past 30 years a large number of clinical and scientific trials have been carried out, and they are continuing... Some experiments support the claim that leaf extracts increase the blood flow to the brain (and the limbs) and scavenge free radicals that could affect brain cells. A great deal of attention has been paid to the action of the leaf extract, which has been demostrated to be a potent antagonist to the platelet activating factor. This action could also inhibit brain cell deterioration and, in addition, be useful in the treatment of asthma nad inflammation. "There is much confidence as regards the value of ginkgo in the treatment of some aspects of geriatric illness; indeed, an enormous number of prescriptions for the drug are given by physicians in Germany."

A report from experts working for Which?, the journal of the Consumers Association in the UK, has found that there has enough scientific evidence to support the use of Ginkgo Biloba for memory and circulatory problems, and that studies have shown its usefulness in treating dementia.

You'll find these products in the UK from Higher Nature, a well established UK natural health company.

Here's the link:
Higher Nature

Anti-ageing products & nutritional supplements

Whereas hormones are still controversial for their use in anti-aging treatments (see below), anti-oxidants such as selenium and vitamins A, C and E are more universally accepted and considered to be helpful in mopping up the cell-damaging free radicals released into the body by stress, smoking and general wear and tear, all of which accelerate the aging process.

The beneficial elements and natural antioxidants contained in olive oil also help slow down the ageing process and the deterioration of cells.

Anti-oxidants have been shown particularly useful in delaying ageing. USA residents can find a wide range of antioxidants, as well as vitamins and other nutritional supplements, on Vitamins-etc

Vitamins-etc also contains a lot of information on health topics.
Many products, bought online from Vitamins-etc, have at least 20 % discount off retail price. These products include top name vitamins and supplements, weight loss products including BioSculpt, Xenadrine, TrimSpa and others, Coral Calcium Supreme for a very low price, Zantrex-3, Twinlab products.

Antioxidant tea can be found on Kalyx .

Sea weeds, also called sea vegetables or sea greens, are extremely rich in iodine: in fact they contain more iodine than any other natural food, and are one of the few sources of this precious mineral.
Iodine is needed by the thyroid gland to produce the hormone thyroxine, which has the function to stimulate the nervous system and to slow down oxidation in the cells.

Nutrition, therefore, appears to help to prevent senility through the implementation of antiaging diets.

Anti ageing products, potions and nutritional supplements have become widely available and popular.
Among the most popular are DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) and melatonin, which are marketed as safe, healthy alternatives to drugs. But they are powerful and sometimes unpredictable hormones with potentially serious side effects.

Anti-aging specialist Dr Vincent Giampapa, MD, medical director of the Longevity Institute International in Montclair, N.J., certified by the Medical Board, says: "The normal life span in Western society is 76 to 78 years. But we are looking at a 20% improvement - another 14 to 15 years of good-quality life".
Most of this will resul from what many of us still call "vitamin" pills, though these new supposedly life-enhancing potions - available only on prescription in Britain - are composed mainly of hormones (which, in excess, may cause liver damage).
The anti-ageing specialists believe that the secret of eternal youth lies in our hormones - and in the "precursor nutrients" that help our bodies to produce more of them. The elusive fountain of youth is already coursing through our veins - if only we could tap it.

One of the most controversial anti-aging treatments is the human growth hormone (HGH). This hormone, which is today synthesised but remains the most expensive of the anti-aging hormones, is said to increase bone density, maintain mental alertness and promote the development of lean youthful tissue rather than flabby old fat.

Another aging expert is Dr Alan Mintz, who runs the Cenegenics Centres in the USA. Mintz provides each patient with a personally tailored "rejuvenation" programme. This will include a cocktail of hormones and food supplements to be taken daily. He promotes the virtues of DHEA, known as the "mother hormone" by anti-ageing experts, which helps the body to produce testosterone and is good for the libido. It also, he claims, allows the body to cope with stress. Mintz also recommends pregnenolone, another hormone, for memory and concentration; oestrogen, which women need for energy, skin and hair condition and for protection against osteoporosis; and melatonin, an anti-oxidant readily available in the United States but not in the UK, which is said to improve the sleep cycle and, consequently, mental alertness.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) of this type is still controversial among British doctors.

Nevertheless, dr. Michael Perring, who runs the Optimal Health Centre in Harley Street, London, United Kingdom, prescribes melatonin, growth and sex hormones as well as "non-hormonal performance-enhancing drugs" such as the seligiline hydrochloride, used to treat Parkinson's disease, and centrophenoxine, used to increase the brain's circulation.