Most of us prefer to age gracefully. We know that it is inevitable, and our bodies will change. However, are there natural options to maintain good health and look better while we age?
My first book on longevity, Longevity Secrets for Healthy Aging (https://amzn.to/3eWXmsK), discussed the two leading causes of aging and what you could do to accelerate or decelerate the aging processes. Many times, people think they are doing the right things to stay healthy and look younger.
However, they could be doing four things right and six things wrong. It is not a topic that many people research on their own. I saw this headline today about 5 Top Supplements That Fight Aging. I had to read it to see if I agreed and if I wanted to share the information.
Top Supplements
https://www.newsmax.com/health/health-news/supplements-aging-prevention/2021/05/17/id/1021653/. Before I proceed with the shortlist identified by this link, aging occurs when the production of human growth hormone decreases. Every year our bodies make less and less daily.
The other primary cause is the loss of telomere length. Every time a cell duplicates (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11413492/), the tip end of your DNA is lost – the Hayflick Limit. When the telomere length approaches zero, the cell dies. Nutrition, exercise, fasting, and more can add healthy years to your life. https://theconversation.com/lust-for-life-breaking-the-120-year-barrier-in-human-ageing-14911
Curcumin
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332220313123. Curcumin is a yellow compound found in the spice turmeric. Scientists found that this medicinal herb fights inflammation.
Curcumin alone is not very bioavailable to the body. Add black pepper extract, piperine, and the absorbability of curcumin goes wild! https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/turmeric-and-black-pepper#curcumin-absorption
EGCG
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23834676/ EGCG, epigallocatechin gallate, is a polyphenol found in green tea. Oxidative stress and gene regulation are two well-known actions of aging. EGCG controls these actions as well as removing toxins from the body. A cup of tea could contain up to 100 mg of EGCG. You can also buy it in pill form.
Coenzyme Q10
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2018.00044/full CoQ10 is used in every cell in your body to reduce oxidative stress by neutralizing free radicals. Cellular health is dependent on CoQ10 to meet the energy requirements of the cell.
You often see CoQ10 and one brand seems to be one-half or one-third the price of another. The cheaper variety is usually labeled as ubiquinone. It is difficult for the body to absorb it. Ubiquinol is the form the body uses and is more easily absorbed and used. Read the label when you are buying this product.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121001140957.htm Fish oil or omega-3 fatty acid is an essential oil the body requires but cannot make. We usually hear of omega-3 fatty acids as a heart-healthy oil. It does reduce inflammation (which seems to be a dominant theme in aging) and improves both brain and heart health.
The other essential fatty acid is an omega-6 fatty acid. Our bodies cannot make that one either. However, the Standard American Diet (SAD) has more omega-6 than omega-3. When the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 is less than 4:1, the body operates well. When the ratio is higher than 4:1, inflammation accumulates in the cells. It is not uncommon for the ratio to be above 30:1 on a SAD.
Calcium
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4337919/ We tend to think of calcium as mandatory for healthy bones and teeth. Almost all the calcium in the body is found in teeth and bones. However, a small percentage is found in your blood. When your blood pH (a measure of acidity or alkalinity) is acidic, the body will extract calcium from your bones to maintain proper pH levels.
When this happens, our bones become less dense, and osteopenia is probably. Allow it to continue for years, and osteoporosis is highly likely. How do we allow it to continue for years?
Most people do not know what is required to get calcium from food (or pill) to the bones. Calcium needs to be in an absorbable form. Calcium carbonate is complex for the body to absorb, and most of it ends up in the toilet when you do not have enough magnesium in your body.
The magnesium assists with calcium absorption and prepares it for further absorption into the bloodstream. When a person is deficient in vitamin D3, the bloodstream will not accept calcium. It ends up in the toilet. When vitamin D3 levels are healthy, calcium is absorbed into the bloodstream.
You are now faced with two outcomes. One is that the calcium goes to the bones. That happens when you have adequate amounts of vitamin K2. If not, then the calcium goes to the heart valves and arteries (plaque). To keep calcium in your bones and bloodstream, your body needs to be held at a pH level of 7.4 or above (alkaline).
Resveratrol
https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/how-resveratrol-may-fight-aging Resveratrol is associated with red wine. It activates sirtuins,
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1896112615000504, which are responsible for regulating many metabolic functions, including aging.
Resveratrol is not easily absorbed into the body. Piperine, black pepper extract, boosts bioavailability by several hundred times. https://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Article/2011/08/16/Resveratrol-bioavailability-boosted-by-piperine-Study
Conclusion
Taking supplements does not guarantee that you will look and feel great as you grow older. They help to an extent, but they are not the driving force. I take vitamin D3, vitamin K2, calcium citrate, and magnesium, along with a few others. I make unsweetened iced tea daily from six different teas that provide various levels of support for aging.
Growing old happens daily. Do you have to look your age? Of course not. It is better to get the nutrients you need to look and feel young and healthy from a purposeful lifestyle that includes attention to balanced nutrition, pH management, caloric restriction, stress management, exercise, and more.
Live Longer & Enjoy Life! – Red O’Laughlin – RedOLaughlin.com
