Five thousand Americans die each year from age-related diseases. Deaths are a result of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and complications from dementia, osteoporosis, diabetes, hypertension, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Uric acid is eliminated through your kidneys. Some lifestyle factors, such as, eating rich foods, being obese, having diabetes, taking certain diuretics, and drinking excess alcohol can cause the kidneys to become less efficient. Uric acid builds up in the body and you can develop serious health problems.
My research shows different normal ranges for uric acid in males (3.4-7.0 mg/dL) and females (2.4-6.0 mg/dL). However, when levels exceed 8.6 mg/dL for men and 7.1 mg/dL for women, become concerned and take action to prevent serious health issues from further developing.
Most people associate high uric acid levels with gout. However, high uric acid levels can affect more than your feet. Higher than normal levels of uric acid cause chronic low-level inflammation (the cause of 80%+ of all diseases), metabolic syndrome, Type II diabetes, kidney failure, arterial plaques, atrial fibrillation, heart muscle enlargement, and many adverse cardiovascular events (congestive heart failure, repetitive heart attacks, stroke and death).
A recent article I read (Life Extension magazine, July 2017), has an article on uric acid. Research has shown that uric acid levels can be controlled by gallic acid from the T. bellerica fruit rind. The Terminalia bellerica is a tree native to lower elevations of Southeast Asia. It’s been a traditional medicine used for centuries to treat many diseases, including diabetes. Gallic acid inhibits an enzyme that is involved in the synthesis of uric acid in your body.
Many scientific standardized tests have been conducted with T. bellerica and it has been found to be 60% as effective as the prescription drug febuxostat without side effects. Allopurinol is also used to treat gout and has some potentially life-threatening side effects.
As we age, our kidney function decreases. A diet rich in red meats and fructose increases uric acid production. In my book, Longevity Factors for Health Aging, I identify two major causes of aging (human growth hormone levels and telomere length). Lifestyle changes (balanced nutrition, caloric restriction, intermittent fasting) help us to enter old age with a lower risk of developing age-related illnesses compared to our peers.
Increasing our human growth hormone levels provides a defense against the internal aging of our kidneys and other organs. T. bellerica is another option to consider if you have issues involving uric acid build-up today. Please consult your physician before adopting any lifestyle changes, especially if you are already on any prescription medicines.
