Q: Is it evitable to beat father time?
A: The process of aging starts at the age of twenty, when apoptosis of neurons in central nervous system begins.
Factors such as insomnia (form of stress, with disruption of circadian rhythm), alcohol (toxic compound to the brain), narcotics (also neurotoxic), smoking (vascular damage), inflammatory nutrition (refined carbohydrates, Trans fats) lead to the diabetes of brain, known as Alzheimer’s.
Absence of physical activity further worsens cerebral blood supply and collateral circulation in m myocardium.
Visceral fat accumulation equals to inflammation (cancer, cardiovascular disease).
Apart from proper nutrition, regular exercise, adequate sleep, stress management, supplementation is also necessary.
While the epitomy of anti-aging is the hormonal replacement therapy, since aging is based in the decline of hormones (with the exception of insulin and cortisol).
Q: Therefore, the implementation of age management is a multifactorial process, not easy to be followed.
A: Indeed, it takes skills and discipline life style.
As I have mentioned before, proper anti-aging occurs from beneath and is not based exclusively in external implementations of cosmetic plastic surgery and dermatology (Botox, fillers, lifting).
It’s based in optimal life style instead that reflects in the skin quality, muscle tone, skin firmness.
Q: Why some individuals look a decade younger in relation to others of the same age?
A: First it has to do with DNA and length of telomeres, the end of chromosomes.
Some people are blessed with good genetics, which along with optimal way of living, brings extraordinary results.
Nevertheless, this is not exclusive, meaning that good genetics might not be expressed under the presence of poor living habits, the so called epigenetics; and vice versa, a poor DNA will not be expressed under optimal living conditions.
Aging is mostly the result of the way we lived and biological age is different than chronological age.
Q: What form of diet is the most effective?
A:By far the Mediterranean low carb diet, based on white fish, white meat, eggs, legumes, whole grain wheat products, olive oil, raw nuts, low fat dairy, oats, brown rice, sweat potato, fresh fruits and a plethora of colored vegetables.
Fruit juices may contain a variety of vitamins and antioxidants, however they are full of fructose that spike insulin and can lead to fatty liver, obesity, diabetes.
It’s more beneficial to eat fruits that contain fiber which controls insulin spike and prevents glycaemia.
Avoidance of fried food that are full of Tran’s fat, responsible of thermogenesis and visceral fat accumulation.
The best process of cooking is steamed, then boiled, after grilled.
The problem arises when high temperature in cooking produces ages in food, factors of aging and cancer.
Mediterranean diet is also full in antiflammatory omega 3 (DHA/EPA) fish oil (sardines), while pure virgin olive oil is plenty in unsaturated omega 9, oleic acid, able to improve atheromatic index and lipidemic profile (HDL/LDL).
They also improve insulin sensitivity and act against diabetes.
Q: What about supplementation?
A: In anti-aging executive role have the antioxidants that block oxidative stress and free radicals.
Glutathione, N Acetyl Cysteine, silimarin and A lipoic acid are agents able to detox liver, lungs and prevent diabetes II
Vitamin A: retinol against acne
Vitamin C: ascorbic acid for collagen synthesis in arteries, tendons, ligaments, skin, hair
Vitamin E: tocopherol that improves motility of sperm cells flagellum
Selenium: Having fundamental role in optimization of thyroid
Beta carotenium: Protecting epidermis from UV sunlight
Coenzyme Q10: known as ubiquinol, responsible for optimal mitochondrial metabolism and energy production from the cells powerhouses and especially in heart muscle
Lycopene: the carotenoid that has preventive role in prostatic cancer (found in tomato sauce)
Resveratrol: Powerful polyphenol with anti-aging properties and cardiovascular protection, found in red wine and red grapes
Gingko Biloba: Improves cerebral blood supply and helps cognitive function, memory
Other supplements that aren’t antioxidant, but have shown to improve overall systemic health are:
Chromium: Improves insulin sensitivity and avoids diabetes
Vitamin D3: Pro hormone responsible for calcium assimilation and improve bone mineral density; but also having role in neuromuscular conjunction and skeletal muscles performance.
Moreover calciferol is important to restore endogenous testosterone levels in hypogonadic men.
Furthermore it’s vital for immunity response.
Substances like aztaxanthin and pycnogenol are contributing to endothelium health.
Red rice yeast is able to reverse dyslipidemia and lower cholesterol levels.
Berberine and cinnamon can reverse insulin resistance and diabetes.
In regards to stress management, herbs like ashaghanda, rhodilla and phosphatodyloserine can control cortisol rise and manage stress.
Modern man suffers from insomnia, a form of stress that kicks cortisol leading to glucose imbalances, cravings and fat storage
Lysine is a key element for collagen synthesis, along with ascorbic acid and hyaluronic acid, that all contribute to better skin, hair, joint and vascular quality.
Colostrum is a powerful compound found in maternal milk during the first ten days of lactating.
It is enriched with immuloglobulins to support immune system in infants, a great tool against infections.
Zinc is an important mineral, participating in numerous of biochemical reactions dealing with steroidogenesis, but also wound healing and immunity support.
Tumeric is very important against inflammation in joints.
Cobalamine (B12) is the vitamin of vitality, participating in erythropoiesis, fighting fatigue and improving stamina, endurance.
Folic acid helps to stabilize cell membrane of erythrocytes and along with B12 they lower hazardous bhomocystein (responsible of DVT, stroke, AMI).
Finally, the new generation of anti-aging supplements:
MNM/NAD: Assist in energy production within mitochondrium
A new theory of cancer pathogenesis is the energy disruption in mitochondria.
Along with spermidine, having the ability to elongate telomeres.
It has been found that people who managed to live over a hundred years old, were having longer telomeres.
Q: What about exercise?
A: Two different forms of physical activity:
Aerobic (endurance), for its’ health benefits in cardiorespiratory system (lowers blood pressure, lowers heart rate, improves VO2max) and anaerobic through resistance training that boosts metabolic rate, fights against sarcopenia, diabetes and osteopenia.
However the interval training is the ideal tempo, with shorts bursts and plateaus between them.
Q: Speaking of hormones?
A: There are two different directions.
In men the major role has testosterone, the main androgen.
Low testosterone equals higher mortality and aging, a disease
Alzheimer’s, depression, osteopenia, anemia, sarcopenia, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, loss of libido, cardiovascular disease, prostatic cancer, all all consequences of it’s deficiency
In addition to testosterone, we may also add DHEA, DHT, HCG, HGH, and Pregnenolone as part of a complete regimen of antiaging.
DHEA is an androgen from the adrenals, called as the “mother” of all steroid molecules, contributing to better mood, memory, cognitive function, and libido.
DHT is a product of testosterone, able to improve self-esteem, sex drive and cognitive function.
HCG is a hormone able to restore fertility, providing adequate sperm volume and scrotum’s size.
HGH is the most powerful hormone against aging.
It has the ability to keep elasticity in vessels, thanks to collagenic fibers synthesis.
Growth hormone is capable to produce Klotho protein, whose presence is related to telomeres length and life span extension.
Moreover growth hormone is able to provide the feeling of calmness, since it lowers stress hormone cortisol.
After the age of fifty, growth hormone production declines (estimated with IGF1 in serum) and fatigue, lack of energy are symptoms that accompany its deficiency.
For women the basic hormones are estrogen, progesterone that balance each other.
Estrogen provide better sexual health, bone health and cardiovascular health, while progesterone supports endometrium health.
It’s also important to note that small amounts of testosterone (1%), is capable to restore depression and lack of sexual desire.
Even though DHEA is a safer approach, since its metabolites elevate serum testosterone in females, without the unwanted verification side effects (hirsutism, voice deepening).
In conclusion, for someone to beat father time and earn eternity, isn’t evitable with the absolute meaning of the term.
Nevertheless we can prolong life span and have quality of living.
Not just living a long life, but with quality of living and dignity.