Anti-Aging Beauty

Launching Your Anti-Aging Program

noreply@blogger.com (Anti-Aging Beauty) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 22:35:00 +0000

Launching Your Anti-Aging Program

How can you start an anti aging program?

It’s simple. There are hundreds of doctors around the USA (and the world) trained in anti aging medicine. These physicians are licensed to practice in their states (if listed on this site) and/or countries. They have completed training in traditional medicine, and even gone on to sub-specialize in other fields of medicine. Whatever their training, many have discovered the field of anti aging medicine based on a desire to do more for their patients than accept the ancient status quo.

During the course of their careers, many anti aging doctors realized that they had essentially become salesmen for drug companies, prescribing the “drug of the month” for different conditions, without spending adequate time with patients – without listening and performing thorough evaluations.

Today, anti aging doctors are committed to spending time with patients by listening, and using science and technology to reverse the negative impacts of aging. Most important, they are dedicated to treating you as an individual, based on how you feel, not just on your laboratory values.

What are the tools of the anti aging physician?

The simplest one is listening. By taking time to listen to your complaints, the doctor will acquire a detailed history about your aging concerns. Just from listening to your complaints, the anti aging doctor will start assembling his evaluation plan to include physical examinations, lab work, radiological testing and hormone testing, along with other specialized tests to evaluate deficiencies and hormonal imbalances. Then, based on your complaints, the doctor can help pinpoint the discrepancies you describe, and confirm them with diagnostic testing. Don’t be surprised if your doctor discovers other issues unrelated to your complaints during the anti aging evaluation. Remember, anti aging is about the “total” you, not just an isolated body part.

Once you have consulted with your anti aging physician, you are ready to defy Mother Nature, but (obviously) not in a rude manner.

Your doctor may have to wait several days to receive the results of your studies. Once they are completed, however, your doctor can schedule a return appointment to discuss abnormalities, along with an anti aging treatment plan. The great thing about conducting the initial lab testing is that it allows your doctor to objectively follow your anti aging progress.

By the way, don’t be surprised if your anti aging doctor contradicts your regular physician. Although this is not part of the mission, he/she is obligated to give you the facts. Unfortunately, so many patients are conditioned to accept their “regular doctor’s” recommendations that this may be an occasional cause of conflict with the anti aging physician’s recommendations.

Please note: your anti aging doctor is not trying to undermine your doctor. He or she would prefer to work with your doctor to obtain the best results in optimizing your function. Therefore, even where there is disagreement, it’s still best for all concerned to stay “in the loop” regarding the anti aging treatment.

By the way, all doctors practice some form of anti aging. Prescribing cholesterol-lowering medications is an anti aging tactic, as is prescribing antihypertensive medications. Your “regular doctor” may actually conduct an extensive anti aging practice, but he/she probably thinks of it as “condition specific,” and refer to it as part of “traditional medicine.”

In an anti aging medical practice, the physician’s approach is both specific and global. In other words, these doctors are highly specialized and interested in your complete well-being. Naturally, they will treat specific conditions, but they will also recommend comprehensive anti aging programs.

The Anti aging Toolbox

The tools utilized by your anti aging doctor usually involve a combination of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, herbal remedies, hormones (including estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, Human Growth Hormone (HGH) and thyroid hormone), diet, exercise and various other supplements to optimize your body’s function and well-being.

Other tools at your doctor’s disposal include prescription medications and nutritional supplements, which are products with the ability to replenish deficiencies, help prevent cancer and heart disease, and maintain brain function. He or she may also prescribe products to facilitate better sleep, improve your libido and sexual function, and much more.

And, as we’ve already noted, your doctor may also include herbal and homeopathic remedies in your anti aging program. When it comes to such treatment, there is a plethora of products that will enable the anti aging physician to deliver scientifically effective and proven treatments.

Please understand that anti aging is a commitment to well being. It is a way of life. Therefore, once you commit to a program, your doctor will expect you to be proactive. The physician will want you to take responsibility on your part by actively engaging in exercise and taking your prescription medications as indicated, along with all vitamins and supplements. Remember, a doctor can lead a horse to the water but cannot make it drink.

3 Phases to Anti aging Programs

Anti aging can be divided into three phases:

Prevention
Intervention
Maintenance

One of the purposes of an anti aging program is to prevent the diseases of aging. You cannot launch an effective anti aging program without encompassing all three phases. During the prevention phase, there may not (yet) be any cause for alarm. No abnormal test results will be received, so you can help prevent the onset of disease just by taking supplements, and pursuing regular exercise and a healthy diet.

In the Intervention phase, obvious laboratory abnormalities are evident, as well as physical, emotional or functional symptoms. This is a critical phase, since Mother Nature is already exerting her impact on your genetics, creating symptoms that are confirmed by laboratory testing. Once you’ve entered this phase, your doctor will combine nutritional supplementation, diet, hormone replacement treatment and exercise. In addition, prescription medications may also be used to reverse laboratory discrepancies and help restore normal function.

Once your doctor has fine-tuned your anti aging program, you have entered the final phase – Maintenance. Here, the doctor may check labs several times a year (or twice a year) to verify that you’re on track, and will also use this data to further adjust your program. Maintenance is like “cruise control for total well being.”

Please note that launching an anti aging program does not exempt you from regular checkups and important yearly exams or tests. And, obviously, it won’t prevent you from sustaining an injury in an accident. There are always unforeseen events, so we make no claims about preventing such incidents from occurring.

Your anti aging doctor will inform you about any specific or individual risks/ benefits of your program, and we cannot possibly advise you on such matters on this website. The sole purpose of this site is to provide information and education, helping you make intelligent choices about your health and the general benefits of anti aging programs.

source: The World Wide Web!

Mesotherapy Mesolift for Skin Rejuvenation

noreply@blogger.com (Anti-Aging Beauty) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:56:00 +0000

Mesotherapy Mesolift for Skin Rejuvenation

Mesotherapy is a safe, natural alternative to invasive cosmetic procedures. The Mesolift process delivers vitamins, minerals and amino acids directly into the skin to nourish and rejuvenate, promote production of collagen and elastin, and stimulate your metabolism. As your skin ages, circulation decreases, and the resulting reduction of oxygen and nutrients hinders your body's ability to flush out toxins. This is what drives premature aging and causes the skin to develop an ashen appearance.

After treatment, patients commonly describe their skin as looking rested, radiant, glowing and firmer. Mesotherapy can be used a supplement, or an alternative, to many anti-aging regimens, including botox, laser resurfacing, peels, antioxidants, topical creams and facelifts.

Mesotherapy is also a highly effective rejuvenating treatment. The procedure can be used to tone and tighten sagging skin on the neck, legs, abdomen, arms and hands. In Europe, women often start treatments in their thirties, but Mesotherapy can prove valuable during any stage of a woman's life.

Validation of anti-aging drugs by treating age-related diseases

noreply@blogger.com (Anti-Aging Beauty) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 19:34:00 +0000

Validation of anti-aging drugs by treating age-related diseases

Aging (Albany NY). 2009 March; 1(3): 281–288

Cancer Center, Ordway Research Institute, Albany, NY 12208, USA

Humans die from age-related diseases, which are deadly manifestations of the aging process. In order to extend life span, an anti-aging drug must delay age-related diseases. All together age-related diseases are the best biomarker of aging. Once a drug is used for treatment of any one chronic disease, its effect against other diseases (atherosclerosis, cancer, prostate enlargement, osteoporosis, insulin resistance, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, age-related macular degeneration) may be evaluated in the same group of patients. If the group is large, then the anti-aging effect could be validated in a couple of years. Startlingly, retrospective analysis of clinical and preclinical data reveals four potential anti-aging modalities.

Problem And Solution

The discovery of anti-aging drugs is no longer a fantasy. Numerous genes for aging and longevity have been identified in diverse organisms, revealing potential targets for potential anti-aging drugs. But how could potential anti-aging drug be introduced to humans? There are two problems. First, the effect of anti-aging agents on human aging may require almost a lifetime to determine. Second, it is seemingly desirable to test anti-aging drugs in healthy individuals. However, all drugs have side effects. And, in healthy individuals, side effects would preclude clinical trials. How might these problems be solved? How could we validate anti-aging drugs in humans without life-long trials in healthy individuals?

The solution includes two steps. First, we must find an indication for a drug to treat at least one chronic disease. Then this drug could be tested in humans, not as an anti-aging drug, but as therapy for a particular disease. In fact this approach has been suggested for introduction of activators of sirtuins to the clinic. Second, we must find a biomarker of aging that absolutely predicts longevity. Then using this biomarker, the anti-aging effect could be evaluated in the same patients.

Disease-specific drugs versus anti-aging agents

Slowing aging would delay all age-related diseases. If a drug is effective against one particular disease only, such a drug is not anti-aging. And current drugs are not anti-aging. For example, insulin compensates diabetes. Yet, insulin does not treat cancer. And vice versa chemotherapy may treat cancer but does not treat diabetes. So neither chemotherapy nor insulin is an anti-aging modality. Furthermore, both insulin and chemotherapy may accelerate aging.

From metformin and calorie restriction to rapamycin

The underlying cause of age-related type II diabetes is insulin resistance. Insulin treatment does not ‘treat' the cause, it just compensates for resistance. Unlike insulin, metformin, an oral anti-diabetic drug, restores insulin sensitivity in type diabetes type II. Remarkably, metformin decreases the incidence of breast cancer. Also, metformin is considered for cancer treatment and inhibits atherosclerosis in diabetic mice. Metformin is used to induce ovulation in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Six months of 1700 mg/d metformin treatment improved fertility in anovulatory PCOS women. Given such effects on infertility, type II diabetes, cancer and atherosclerosis, it is plausible that metformin slows aging. In fact, it extends life span in rodents.

Calorie restriction (CR) extends life span from yeast and worms to rodents and perhaps humans. If we did not already know that CR slows aging, how might we figure that out based solely on clinical data? Unrestricted food consumption leads to obesity associated with diabetes, atherosclerosis, thrombosis, hypertension, cancer (especially breast, prostate and colon cancer), coronary heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis and Alzheimer's disease. In other words, unrestricted eating in humans (ad libitum in rodents) accelerates most, if not all, diseases of aging. So we can conclude that CR delays all diseases of aging. This suggests that CR is an anti-aging modality. And it is known that CR extends life span in almost all organisms from yeast to mammals.

Numerous factors including insulin, glucose and amino acids activate the nutrient-sensing TOR (target of rapamycin) pathway. When the TOR pathway is activated, it acts via S6K to deplete the insulin-receptor-substrate (IRS1/2), causing insulin resistance. Metformin indirectly (by activating AMPK) inhibits TOR and thereby restores insulin sensitivity.

CR decreases levels of nutrients and insulin and thus de-activates TOR. It is possible that the anti-aging effects of CR and metformin are due to inhibition of the TOR pathway. Like CR, rapamycin decreases size of fat cells and animal weight. When rats (15 weeks old) were either treated 1 mg/kg rapamycin 3 times per week for 12 weeks, rapamycin decreased their weight. Mean adipocyte diameter was decreased from 36 μm to 25 μm. At the end of the study, mean body weight in the rapamycin-treated rats was 356 g instead of 507 g, in spite of comparable food intake. So rapamycin imitated CR. CR may also extend life span by activating sirtuins. Probably, sirtuins, AMPK and mTOR are linked in the common network.

Genetic inhibition of the TOR pathway slows down aging in diverse organisms, including yeast, worms, flies and mice. If genetic inhibition of the TOR pathway slows aging, then rapamycin, a drug that inhibits TOR, must slow aging too. Once used for any indication, even unrelated to age-related diseases (such as renal transplantation, for instance), an anti-aging drug should slow down age-related diseases such as cancer, osteoporosis and atherosclerosis. Rapamycin is already used in renal transplant patients.

If a drug is indicated to treat most age-related diseases, then this drug could be defined as an anti-aging drug. The probability that a non-anti-aging drug would have independent activities against all diseases is exceedingly low.

Rapamycin analogs are approved to treat certain cancers. Based on preclinical data, rapamycin has been considered in such pathologies as obesity, atherosclerosis, cardiac hypertrophy, aortic aneurysm, osteoporosis, organ fibrosis (liver, renal, cardiac fibrosis), neurodegeneration, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, psoriasis, skin scars and keloids, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, and renal hypertrophy in diabetes.

In principle, life-extending effect of anti-aging drug might be limited by side effects. Although chronic administration of rapamycin is associated with some undesirable effects in transplant patients, they might be avoided by administrating rapamycin in pulses (for example, once a week). For example, chronic administration of rapamycin impairs wound healing. In theory, a pulse treatment might rejuvenate wound-healing cells. A single dose of rapamycin reverses insulin resistance, whereas chronic administration of rapamycin may precipitate diabetes in certain conditions. Clinical trials will be needed to determine benefits of pulse treatment with rapamycin. Alternatively, rapamycin can be combined with ‘complementary' drugs. Thus, hyperlipidemia caused by rapamycin may deteriorate insulin-resistance. Yet, hyperlipidemia caused by rapamycin can be controlled by lipid-lowering drugs. A combination of rapamycin with resveratrol may be especially intriguing.

Conclusion

It was previously assumed that anti-aging drugs should be tested in healthy individuals. Ironically, the best biomarker of aging is the occurrence of age-related diseases. And this is how anti-aging drugs can be validated in the clinic (by showing that a putative anti-aging drug can prevent or delay the onset of all age-related diseases). Then such drugs could be approved for prevention of any particular age-related disease in healthy individuals. Thus, potential anti-aging drugs should be introduced to the clinical trials for therapy of a particular disease but be ultimately approved for prevention of all age-related diseases in healthy individuals. And this is synonymous to the approval of a drug as anti-aging.

Some Noteworthy Anti-Aging Books

noreply@blogger.com (Anti-Aging Beauty) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 00:40:00 +0000

Some Noteworthy Anti-Aging Books

Eat Drink and Be Healthy, by Walter Willett, MD is a comprehensive look at the best in diet research by Chairman of the Nutrition Department at the Harvard School of Public Health.

Beyond the 120 Year Diet - How to Double Your Vital Years by Roy Walford, MD is a font of anti-aging science from the UCLA researcher.

The Anti-Aging Plan, includes the delicious recipes of Dr. Walford's daughter and collaborator Lisa Walford.

Real Age Michael Roizen, MD gives a thorough explanation of biomarkers and a comprehensive test for your biological age.

The Wisdom of Menopause by Christiane Northrup, MD is an understanding exploration of the issues women face in mid-life

The Okinawa Program by Bradley Willcox, MD, et al. is a marvelous introduction to the world's longest lived people.

Top Anti Wrinkle Creams

noreply@blogger.com (Anti-Aging Beauty) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:47:00 +0000

Top Anti Wrinkle Creams

No matter how old you are, it’s never too soon or too late to be worried about aging skin care. Your skin, being the outermost layer of your body, is the part of you that people see, and reflects your overall state of health and age. If you are concerned at all about how you appear, it’s therefore a good idea to take good care of your skin.

As we grow older our skin loses much of the moisture and elasticity in the skin. When this happens, wrinkles and sagging of the skin start to occur. This will in turn make you look even older than your actual age. To prevent this from happening, it is best to find a wrinkle cure that will truly work. The beauty market is saturated with anti-wrinkle creams that promise us the best results, but it can become overwhelming in deciding which is the best one for us. Many wrinkle creams on the market promise to diminish wrinkles, smooth the fine lines and improve skin tone.

If you are experiencing very dry skin or have blemished areas there are many ways to combat these problems and starting with you skin care regiment is the right place to start.

Here is a list of top best wrinkle obliterators, from silky liquids to rich balm like creams that have been reviewed and tested all across the board.

Lifecell

Lifecell used to be the best anti aging skin care solution I’ve ever seen. This cream doesn’t work as fast as surgery, but as an alternative, this is one of the most efficient ways to remove your wrinkles and make your skin look younger.

I’ve seen dozens of people use it and almost every one showed a visible reduction in the appearance of wrinkles. They look noticeably younger and their skin feels much healthier, looks younger, tighter, and brighter after using this cream. It lifts fine lines around the eyes, eye lids, and even the brow bone really well.

I’ve also seen it get rid of dark circles around the eyes really well. It also treats the causes of aging, not just the signs. The ingredients help make the skin healthier so that wrinkles stay away longer and have a harder time coming back. It doesn’t have avocado or coconut/soy oil in it like a lot of other creams do. These oils can clog skin pores really easily (who cares if you don’t have wrinkles but your skin is unhealthy because you have clogged pores).

Negatives:

The price was the only negative I can find. It’s one of the more expensive product I’ve found. It was also by far the best.

Positives:

Numerous customer testimonials, including six video testimonials
Before and after photographs
Clinical studies and science cited to back up claims and statements
LifeCell website offers detailed explanation of how skin breaks down and what is required to renew it.
This anti aging skin care product contains all natural ingredients that are proven to be effective in reversing the ravages of age on your skin.
All in one anti aging skin care product solution for wrinkles and fine lines, sagging skin, dark under eye circles and puffiness, crow’s feet, plumping up lips, and skin toning
Unbeatable 120 day, 100% Guarantee! Free trial for 30 days (your credit card won’t be charged for 30 days.)
8 free reports loaded with tips on how to improve the way you look
You can order by internet or telephone, or if you prefer, you can mail them a check
Free shipping - package sent by Priority Mail 3-day delivery

Prototype #37-C

Prototype 37-C is unquestionably the Most Powerful Anti-Wrinkle Serum ever created to eliminate wrinkles safe and effectively. In several independent studies, Prototype 37-C's powerful formula has proven to eliminate wrinkles better than Botox. With those impressive results, it's no wonder dermatologists around the world have been astounded by Prototype 37-C even recommending it as the best wrinkle fighting serum available. But what makes it so powerful?

Prototype 37-C is the only wrinkle treatment featuring a formula created with 99% peptide concentration. Peptides, protein molecules clinically proven to reduce wrinkles, are recognized as the most powerful and priciest wrinkle-removing agents available anywhere. Because of the high price, most brand name wrinkle creams contain a maximum of 2-5% concentrations of peptides. With a 99% concentration of 6 powerful peptides clinically proven to reduce wrinkles and fine lines, no other wrinkle cream compares. Prototype 37-C is guaranteed to outperform other creams by 257% making it the most powerful wrinkle serum sold on the market today, if it wasn't for the price (quite expensive), it would of easily been our #1 product.

Hydroxatone

Hydroxatone is one of the hottest wrinkle reducing creams on the market. Having been used all over, it has been most notably used in the realms of Hollywood and has been featured on several media outlets, including: Health & Wellness Magazine, USA Today, and the Los Angeles Times. Hydroxatone uses not only some of the most advanced ingredients, scientifically proven to reduce lines and wrinkles, but it uses 4 ingredients, compared to the average of 2 that most creams will use. The combination of these ingredients is the key that has been shown to reduce lines and wrinkles more effectively.

What ingredients are included in Hydroxatone? Matrixyl 3000 - This is the key ingredient to the majority of successful anti-wrinkle creams and reducers. It has achieved remarkable results in scientific studies, including a 33% decrease in wrinkle density; 23% decrease in volume; and a 20% decrease in depth. Argireline - This is an ingredient that is made up of a key group of amino acids that help to relax your skin. You might be asking, "What does 'relax' my skin mean?" This means that this ingredient helps to moisturize the skin, as well as add collagen to the skin, in effect lessening the wrinkles. This in effect, works to relax the skin. Hyaluronic Acid - This is another ingredient that is found in several of the top brand wrinkle reducing creams on the market today. This acid works to hydrate and plump the skin - as it increases the ability to retain water. Ultimately, this will work to increase the smoothness & softness of the skin. SPF 15 - Probably the least understood of the ingredients, SPF 15 works as a key ingredient, not to repair wrinkles, but to reduce them in the future by providing the correct level of sun block. The majority of wrinkles stem from a combination of aging and the sun. The job of effective wrinkle creams isn't only to repair wrinkles, but to prevent them in the future.

The 60 Day Commitment The effects of Hydroxatone have been shown to really take place effectively within 60 days. Not only, this, but Hydroxatone guarantees results or your money back! Luckily, in clinical tests 9 out of 10 subjects saw visible results.

Collagen - The Ultimate Challenge The ultimate goal of any effective anti-wrinkle treatment is to repair the effects that aging and the sun has upon the body's collagen. Collagen is what Hydroxatone takes a focus upon that other wrinkle creams don't. As the body ages, it gradually starts to decrease the production of collagen, which ultimately leads to the breakdown of collagen - leading the skin's structure to collapse over time. Generally, most people don't notice this effect until it's too late. This used to be a lost cause; however, with Hydroxatone, it has become possible to reverse the effects of aging when it comes to fine lines & wrinkles. By creating a formula that effectively targets lessening wrinkles and stimulating collagen production, Hydroxatone effectively works to make your skin more beautiful. But Hydroxatone takes this one step further by including ingredients that help to prevent future occurrences of aging.

Freeze 24/7

Freeze 24/7 provides you with a new innovation in wrinkle fighting technology. Stating to use Age Reversing Technology, Freeze 24/7 claims to provide you with instant gratification and all the results you want. And of course they provide the ageless and substantiated technology as well as GABA among other things to give you the results that are safe and without side effects.

Freeze 24/7 ingredients include Aqua (Water, Eau), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Methy Perfluorobutyl Ether, Methyl Perfluoroisobutyl Ether, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sorbitol, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Coco-Glucoside, Cyclomethicone, Kaolin, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan), Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Acrylates/Aminoacrylates/C10-30 Alkyl PEG-20 Itaconate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Sodium PCA, Isononyl Isononanoate, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Yeast Polysaccharides, Sodium Cocamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Polyquaternium-7, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Panthenol, Parfum (Fragrance), Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Magnesium Chloride, Magnesium Nitrate, Mica, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 42090 (Blue 1), CI 19140 (Yellow 5).

If you look at these ingredients, it will soothe and fortify your skin. Your skin will heal at an accelerated rate, and you will see the right moisturization. You will truly see quick results that will also provide you with the lasting results you want and need. All of these ingredients will give you varying benefits that your skin will love.

We would definitely recommend this skin healthy product. It replenishes and renews the skin so that you see greater benefits than you would have before. You don’t have to worry about side effects or other problems, and you don’t have to worry about a product that essentially speaking won’t work. You can just see the amazing results you want.

Athena 7 Minute Lift

The Athena 7 Minute Lift wrinkle cream is a natural solution to wrinkle removal, as it is made up of organic botanical oils that help to nourish and revitalize the skin. It's confirmed as being hypoallergenic and a non-irritant, making it perfect for all skin types.

What Are The Wrinkle Remover Effects? Natural ingredients and botanical oils are used to nourish & moisturize in order to return your skin to it's former youthful glow.

Is It Proven Effective In Clinical Studies? Yes! As a matter of fact, clinical trials are showing an 83.72% average reduction in both lines and facial wrinkles

Are There Satisfied Customer Testimonials? Yes!

How Fast Are The Results? A Mere 7 Minutes Until You See Wrinkles Vanish!

Do They Have Before and After Photos? Yes, at least a Dozen!

Is There a Free Trial or Money Back Guarantee? They have both a risk free trial and a 60 day money back guarantee!

Life Extension by Inhibiting Growth

noreply@blogger.com (Anti-Aging Beauty) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:46:00 +0000

Life Extension by Inhibiting Growth

When cells become senescent, they no longer proliferate, but that doesn’t mean they don’t grow. In fact, a very interesting recent review1 explains how cellular senescence involves both blocked cell cycling (discontinuation of replication) as well as excessive growth-promoting pathways.

The review’s author explains, “[w]hen the cell cycle is arrested, a continuation of cellular-mass growth results in senescent morphology.” In fact, in another paper by the same author (and his co-author)2 it is noted that older cells are indeed larger. “An increase in cell size is a hallmark of senescent fibroblasts. Their cell volume is several fold greater compared with proliferating cells. Cell size is progressively increased in cell culture as cells progress toward senescence.” “In other words, when the cell cycle is blocked in the presence of growth-promoting signaling, then cells increase in size.”

A major growth-promoting pathway includes TOR (target of rapamycin) along with its upstream regulators and downstream effectors. The TOR gene is structurally and functionally conserved from yeast to humans (including worms, flies, plants, and mice), acting as a cell growth regulator. “... [E]xcessive growth is a driving force for aging.” Indeed, it has been reported that inhibition of TOR signaling increases lifespan in worms, flies, and possibly mammals. In mice, decreased signaling through the insulin/insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) pathway in adipose tissue results in less mTOR (mammalian TOR) signaling and increases lifespan. Reduced caloric intake (as in dietary restriction) also reduces signaling through mTOR and is a well-known method of increasing lifespan in many species, possibly including monkeys.

TOR (target of rapamycin) is inhibited by rapamycin, a natural secondary metabolite produced by soil bacteria to inhibit growth of fungal competitors. Interestingly, rapamycin is a prescription drug in clinical practice; it is administered to renal (kidney) transplant patients everyday for several years to prevent organ rejection. Results in these patients have included the unexpected prevention of cancer and even cures of some pre-existing cancers. Moreover, two years after renal transplantation, the body-mass index of patients treated with rapamycin was significantly lower than the patients treated with cyclosporine, another immunosuppressant. A study was described2 in which 11 healthy men were treated with 6 mg of rapamycin, with the prevention of insulin resistance that accompanies the large increase of nutrients (that ordinarily induces mTOR signaling) during feeding. At present, rapamycin is being investigated in clinical trials as a treatment for cancer.

Another paper describes the activity of pharmaceutical companies seeking to develop rapamycin derivatives to inhibit mTOR. The drug companies are interested in mTOR inhibitors for possible treatment, in addition to cancer, of autoimmune disorders, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and obesity. For example, in relation to type 2 diabetes, chronic hyperglycemia can lead to chronic activation of mTOR in pancreatic beta cells. Rapamycin (which reduces the activity of mTOR) has been shown to induce autophagy, a process of programmed self-digestion which, for example, helps to clear aggregated proteins in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.

The mTOR Pathway is Sensitive to Redox State

A further paper explains how a complex containing mTOR and the protein raptor “is a key component of a nutrient-sensitive signaling pathway that regulates cell size by controlling the accumulation of cellular mass.” In this very interesting study, the authors found that HEK293T cells treated with potent oxidants activated the raptor-mTOR pathway even under nutrient-deprived conditions, when this pathway is ordinarily suppressed. The authors suggest that “[i]f the oxidizing compounds are mimicking an endogenous oxidant that normally activates the raptor-mTOR pathway, the reducing reagent should inhibit pathway activation caused by nutrients.” Indeed the authors found this to be the case; incubating cells with a reducing agent called BAL (2,3-dimercapto-1-propanol) significantly reduced the phosphorylation of S6K1 (an effector of the raptor-mTOR pathway) “and was associated with an increase in the amount of raptor recovered with mTOR as is seen in cells in nutrient-deprived conditions.”

This is an exciting finding as it suggests that it might be possible to suppress mTOR activation even under conditions of full feeding by using appropriate (safe and effective) doses of certain powerful reducing agents. We haven’t seen any further work on this (though it may be that such research is being done but is being kept proprietary).

Natural Products That Inhibit mTOR

There are two natural products that have been reported to be possible inhibitors of mTOR: curcumin and resveratrol. A recent paper describes how curcumin disrupts the mTOR-raptor complex (mTORC1) that results from the activation of the mTOR pathway, thus leading the authors to propose that “curcumin may represent a new class of mTOR inhibitor.” Curcumin, along with possibly active (in inhibiting mTOR) molecularly related curcuminoids, can be gotten by supplementing with turmeric root powder.

A very interesting paper reports that resveratrol inhibits the mitogenic signaling (growth promoting) by mTOR that causes smooth muscle cells to proliferate in response to oxidized LDL.5a This could be a very important protective effect of resveratrol since the proliferation of smooth muscle cells is a major part of atherosclerotic development. Rapamycin dose dependently inhibited the DNA synthesis (marker of cellular proliferation) and cell proliferation of smooth muscle cells in culture, with complete inhibition taking place at 10-100 nM, indicating that the smooth muscle cell proliferation was under the control of mTOR. This effect was not due to cytotoxicity of rapamycin because in cells treated with oxidized LDL (50µg apoB/ml), rapamycin was not toxic up to 100 nM. Since resveratrol has been reported to have inhibitory effects on smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation, the authors tested it for its effects on mTOR and SMC proliferation. They report: “Dose-response experiments showed that DNA synthesis and cell proliferation were significantly inhibited by 25 µM resveratrol without any significant apoptotic effects [indicative of toxicity] at this concentration. It may be noted that 50 µM resveratrol exhibited a slight toxic effect in the presence of oxLDL [oxidized LDL].” They conclude that “[t]his strongly suggests that resveratrol acts on an upstream target in the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.”

Resveratrol Dose Limited by Toxicity

Another paper reports that resveratrol can inhibit mTOR and thus suppress cellular senescence but that the concentration required is close to the high dose at which resveratrol is toxic to cells. At lower doses, 8-25 µM, resveratrol was reported to “slightly but detectably” prevent the loss of proliferative activity (e.g., senescence) of the cells in which it was tested. Still, 6.25 - 12.5 µM resverarol was shown to block the cell cycle and 25 µM caused apoptosis in vascular smooth cells in another study.

Another recent paper reports that a “low dose” of dietary resveratrol (4.9 mg/kg) partially mimics caloric restriction and retards aging parameters in mice on a non-calorically restricted diet (though effects on mTOR were not reported in this study).

A further recent paper reported that standard diet fed rats receiving 6 mg of resveratrol/liter of drinking water had a reduced ratio of GSH/GSSG (reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione) and enhanced GSSG, indicative of increased oxidative stress, in liver cells; in the same study, rats on a high fat diet receiving the same amount of resveratrol in their drinking water had reduced GSSG with GSH/GSSG not significantly different from controls on a standard diet, indicative of less oxidative stress. Though this dose of resveratrol (6 mg/liter of water) is, the authors say, below the maximal tolerated dose, the study suggests that the dose ingested by the standard diet fed rats (an average of a total of 48.2 mg/kg of body weight of resveratrol over 45 days or about 1 mg of resveratrol/kg body weight/day) had toxic effects, particularly (as noted above) increased oxidative stress in the liver. Meanwhile, the total amount of resveratrol, 14.8 mg/kg, ingested over 15 days (about 1 mg/kg body weight per day) by the high fat diet fed rats had protective effects.

Further research is needed to understand the varying effects of different doses of resveratrol in rats (and, indeed, in humans) fed different diets to determine optimal doses. It has already been found that dietary composition may affect the degree of life extension resulting from caloric restriction in fruit flies.8a

The amount of resveratrol in red wine is reportedly about 90 µg of resveratrol/fluid ounce of red wine).

The authors of paper speculate that “even transient inhibition of mTOR is already sufficient to slightly suppress senescence.” They also suggest that “a combination of non-toxic doses of resveratrol with rapamycin would also extend life span in animals on a standard diet.” Resveratrol has already been shown to extend the lifespan of mice on a high-fat diet. We, of course, would like to see a test of non-toxic doses of resveratrol along with curcumin for its effects on mTOR and on life extension in animals on a standard diet. We would also be interested in the effects on mTOR of the curcumin-related curcuminoids found in turmeric root powder.

We ourselves take our turmeric root powder (2 capsules four times a day) rather than taking only curcumin due to the possible additional benefits of the curcuminoids. We do not know what the optimal amount of resveratrol is for the purpose of decreasing cellular senescence and inhibiting mTOR, though we do drink moderate amounts of red wine and also take resveratrol supplements.

The Durk Pearson & Sandy Shaw®

Life Extension News, Volume 13 No. 1 • February 2010

Bio-Energy Testing: An innovative health and anti-aging tool

noreply@blogger.com (Anti-Aging Beauty) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:34:00 +0000

Bio-Energy Testing: An innovative health and anti-aging tool

The "Bio-Energy Testing" available at www.burstingwithenergy.net is the most innovative health and anti-aging tool ever developed. Every cell in your body contains thousands of tiny bubble-like structures called mitochondria. It is in these mitochondria that oxygen is converted to energy by burning fat and sugar. Bio-Energy Testing measures how well your mitochondria are functioning. Absolutely nothing is more critical to your health than mitochondrial function. Poor mitochondrial function is the root cause of every disease, obesity, and even the very process of aging itself. If your mitochondrial functioning is optimal, congratulations! If not, the information from Bio-Energy Testing can be used to determine what you need to do to correct the problem.

What Is Bio-Energy Testing®?

• Bio-Energy Testing® involves the use of a device connected to a computer that is able to measure how much oxygen the body uses and how much carbon dioxide the body is producing at a given time.

• A series of measurements are taken at rest and during a progressively more difficult exercise program.

• The Bio-Energy Testing® computer program then calculates:

.....1. Your resting mitochondrial efficiency.

.....2. Your resting fat metabolism.

.....3. Your maximal mitochondrial efficiency.

.....4. Your maximal fat metabolism.

• Bio-Energy Testing® can also determine:

.....1. Your optimum carbohydrate intake.

.....2. Your optimum caloric intake.

.....3. Your lung function.

.....4. Your heart function.

.....5. Your overall strength.

.....6. Your optimum exercise levels.

.....7. Your Biological Age.

How Does Bio-Energy Testing® Work?

• The Bio-Energy Testing analyzer measures oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production.

• Oxygen consumption directly determines mitochondrial efficiency.

• Carbon dioxide production determines fat metabolism.

• Optimum carbohydrate intake is determined by the ratio of oxygen consumption to carbon dioxide production.

• Overall strength is determined by the amount of work you are capable of per unit of energy produced.

• The Bio-Energy Testing analyzer sorts and analyses an enormous amount of data and calculates your energy production dynamics under both basal and exercise conditions.

• Bio-Energy Testing algorithms present the results of these calculations in a way that can have immediate clinical relevance.

How Bio-Energy Testing® Helps You.

• Bio-Energy Testing® measurements are used to create an individualized health and anti-aging program.

• A customized program designed to increase your energy levels, aiding in the prevention of disease, and keeping you functioning optimally for the rest of your life.

The Medicine Of The Future.

• Bio-Energy Testing® offers a new paradigm for the medicine of the future.

• One Disease – Decreased Energy Production – Determined by Bio-Energy Testing®.

• One Treatment - Increasing Energy Production - Monitored by Bio-Energy Testing®.

Who Should Be Tested?

• People who believe that it is more important to live well than to live long, and that ideally we can have both.

• People who want to finish out their lives in “great shape,” free in large part from the incapacity, limitations, and diseases that are so frequently affect the elderly.

• The key to achieving this is to optimize your energy production to youthful levels.

The Bio-Energy Testing® Analyzer.

• Energy production measurement is the most global parameter possible.

• It is influenced by every singly biochemical and physiological event.

• The Bio-Energy Testing® analyzer is FDA approved.

• Bio-Energy Testing® readings are scientifically and objectively determined.

• They are consistent and reliable, with no significant daily variation.

• According to a recent Wake Forest University study: The Bio-Energy Testing® analyzer has a “high degree of accuracy when compared to the gold standard.”

Finding A Bio-Energy Testing® Center

• Bio-Energy Testing® was first introduced to the health care profession in 2004, and since then new Centers have been continuously opening up in both the United States and around the world.

• Click here to find the closest Bio-Energy Testing® Center.

• Click here if you are a health care professional and you are interested in learning more about offering Bio-Energy Testing® to your patients.

• Click here if you would like us to provide your health care professional with information about offering Bio-Energy Testing® to his/her patients.

source: www.burstingwithenergy.net

Stem Cells and Anti-aging – New Possibilities Exposed

noreply@blogger.com (Anti-Aging Beauty) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 02:52:00 +0000

Stem Cells and Anti-aging – New Possibilities Exposed

Eternal-youth seekers have great reason to cheer with the revelations of science about stems cells and anti-aging. Evidence is increasingly coming to the forefront that regenerative properties of stem cells can cure many age-related complications and delay aging.

Stem cells found in our body are non-specific cells without having any tissue-specific structure. They can easily replicate themselves to form specific cells like heart muscle cells, blood cells, sperm cells, nerve cells etc. and perform specific functions. This regeneration property makes stem cells ideal for anti-aging therapy.

With aging, the cells of the body begin to decay. They lose their ability to regenerate and repair tissue. Changes begin to show on the skin; the internal organs such as the heart, the sex glands, the immune system etc. begin to lose their functional efficiency. At this point, you begin to look and feel aged.

Aging also sets in a number of diseases like arthritis, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, heart complications, and even cancer. Most of them can be traced to deficiencies in the cellular level. For example, the beta cells in the pancreas become less effective and secrete less insulin, a condition that triggers diabetes. Again, the nerve cells become weak and harbor Parkinson’s disease.

Research is now showing that stem cells can stall the progress of some of these diseases by replicating into specific cells and replacing the damaged cells in the body and restoring the vitality and functionality of the organs. In fact, stem cells can also be developed outside the body under laboratory conditions and later transplanted in the defective area of the organ to give back the organ its functional efficiency. Because of this stem cells anti-aging property, cosmetic formulations based on stem cell regenerative therapy are increasingly coming to the market to halt the mark of aging on the skin and restore its youthful glow.

source: The World Wide Web

Anti-Aging Skin Care Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Anti-Aging Beauty) — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 18:25:00 +0000

Anti-Aging Skin Care Tips

Although there are different kinds of treatments, procedures and surgery that can assist in improving the look of your skin, it is important that you look after your skin to start with. If you are unhappy with how gravity, the sun and everything else seems to be changing your skin's appearance, here are some tips and facts that will assist you:

EXERCISE: Although exercise is vital to your health and great skin, it won't change the structure of your skin as it gets older. The look of your skin is determined mostly by genetics and sun exposure.
COSMETICS: As you age you need to use both lighter colored cosmetics and lighter hair colors. These are more flattering to your skin tone and can keep you looking and feeling younger.
MENOPAUSE: As you go through menopause, it's very common to find that the skincare products you once relied on are no longer as effective. For example, the hormonal changes associated with menopause often leave skin feeling drier than before. Try a richer moisturizer to see if it makes a difference.
SUNBEDS: Contrary to popular belief, sunbeds are not a safer way to tan. Sunbeds emit UVA rays and causing tanning and aging of the skin .They may also be important in the development of melanoma. If you're using a sunbed, you're accelerating the aging of your skin and increasing your risk of skin cancer.
LIPSTICK: Did you know that your lipstick helps your lips look younger and protects them? It's true. Using lipstick, helps protect your lips from harmful rays. It's one of the reasons men are more apt to get lip cancer - so men slap on the lip protection!
YOUR EYES: Don't forget your eyes! Long-term sun exposure can lead to cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. So as you head out the door, be sure to grab your sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat, or both!
WATER: Drinking water is not enough! While many people believe that drinking a lot of water will help keep their skin smooth and supple, in truth, water consumption has only a small effect. A better approach to keeping your skin at its best is to drink plenty of water and use a moisturizer daily.
SLEEP: Get your beauty rest! It's actually true - a good night's sleep is one of the best ways to keep your skin looking its best. For a healthy and glowing complexion, get plenty of sleep, maintain a well-balanced diet and exercise regularly.
CELLULITTE: Hate your cellulite? You are not alone. Drinking water and exercising unfortunately doesn't make it go away although having a less body fat does help. There are creams and procedures available that can help reduce the appearance of cellulite. Talk to your dermatologist if it really bugs you.ce

source: The World Wide Web

An Overview: Antioxidant and Anti-Aging Supplements and Vitamins

noreply@blogger.com (Anti-Aging Beauty) — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 16:26:00 +0000

An Overview: Antioxidant and Anti-Aging Supplements and Vitamins

The term “Antioxidant” refers to a group of organic substances, including vitamins C and E, vitamin A, selenium (a mineral), and a group know as carotenoids - beta-carotene being the most popular and well know carotenoid. Carotenoids are the pigment compounds that give many fruits and vegetables their vibrant colors. Antioxidants are believed to be effective in helping to prevent cancer, heart disease, stroke and a variety of other ailments associated with natural aging. Specifically antioxidants prevent ailments by destroying free harmful radicals inside the human body.

Left unmanaged, free radicals can damage cell walls, genetic material within cells and other cell structures. Over time such damage may lead to disease. Again, antioxidants are believed to assist in preventing disease by destroying free radicals before they get the chance to do harm to your body.

A few studies have shown that smokers with diets high in carotenoids have a lower risk of developing lung cancer relative to smokers whose diets are low in carotenoids. However, another study indicated that some beta-carotene takers, primarily smokers, actually had a higher death rate. Additional research has suggested that diets high in carotenoids may help lower the risk of breast cancer. Vitamin C has been shown to prevent the formation of N-nitroso compounds (cancer-causing substances from nitrates found in some foods).

Many healthcare specialists claim that the elderly, especially those with a reduced food intake, heavy drinkers, frequent aspirin users, smokers and individuals with immune problems may benefit greatly by taking daily antioxidant supplements. It is also possible that higher level of antioxidants may aid in preventing certain life threatening diseases.

The human body produces a number antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase, and catalase, that destroy many types of harmful free radicals. Supplements of these enzymes are available for oral administration. However, absorption of these enzymes is most likely minimal at best. Supplementing with the components the body requires to make these enzymes may be more effective. These include the minerals managanese, zinc and copper for SOD and selenium for glutathione peroxidase.

In addition to SOD, glutathione peroxidase and catalase, many vitamins and minerals are effective antioxidants in their own right, such as vitamin E, vitamin C, lutein, lycopene, vitamin B2, coenzyme Q10, and cysteine (an amino acid). Herbs, such as grape seed, bilberry, turmeric (curcumin), ginkgo, milk thistle and green tea also contain powerful antioxidant compounds.

Many experts believe that the best way to provide the body with the most complete protection against free radicals is to consume a large variety of antioxidants.

source: The World Wide Web

Can what you eat help you age gracefully?

noreply@blogger.com (Anti-Aging Beauty) — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 02:04:00 +0000

Can what you eat help you age gracefully

It seems we're all trying to find the "magic bullet" that delays the natural aging process. Put an antiaging label on most any product, and it flies off the shelves.

Yet if you're trying to look your best without going under the knife, a secret ingredient might be right under your nose. Some experts say one answer to aging gracefully can be found in the grocery store -- in fruits, vegetables, green tea, and a host of other healthful foods that are rich in antioxidants and other potentially age-deterring compounds.

What Is Aging?

Of course, the signs of aging include not only wrinkles, but also memory loss, decreased brain function, and an increasing risk for chronic diseases such as heart disease, osteoporosis, and cancer. Healthy aging is also defined as living a longer, healthier life. And many studies have documented the link between a healthy diet and prevention of age-related or chronic diseases.

Adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes regular physical activity, adequate rest, avoiding tobacco, and a diet full of healthy foods and beverages can be the best defense against aging.

"Dietary choices are critical to delay the onset of aging and age-related diseases, and the sooner you start, the greater the benefit," says Susan Moores, RD, a spokesman for the American Dietetic Association.

Antioxidants and Inflammation

Some foods and beverages contain powerful substances called phytonutrients that some believe are capable of unlocking the key to longevity. Phytonutrients, which are members of the antioxidant family, gobble up "free radicals" -- oxygen molecules that play a role in the onset of illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's disease.

As we age, we become more susceptible to the long-term effects of oxidative stress (a condition where the body basically has too many free radicals) and inflammation on the cellular level. The theory is that antioxidants and other age-defying compounds help cells ward off damage from free radicals and minimize the impact of aging.

Beyond antioxidants, some other compounds in foods can affect aging. They can be classified according to their impact on inflammation at the cellular level, experts say.

"All foods fit into three categories: pro-inflammatory, neutral, or anti-inflammatory," says dermatologist and best-selling author, Nicholas Perricone, MD.

Perricone says you can help to slow aging at the cellular level by choosing foods that are anti-inflammatory and rich in antioxidants.

"Age-related changes may be reversed by consuming foods and beverages that are rich in a variety of compounds, including antioxidants, and are anti-inflammatory, such as cold-water fish and richly colored fruits and vegetables," he says.

On the other hand, foods classified as pro-inflammatory can accelerate aging, Perricone says.

If "we eat large amounts of saturated or trans fatty acids, sugars, and starches, insulin levels surge and trigger an anti-inflammatory response and accelerate the aging process," says Perricone.

While the benefits to eating healthy are many, Perricone notes that diet is certainly not the only factor that affects the aging process.

"Stress, hormones, ultraviolet light, and a weakened immune system also contribute to aging," he says.

Still, making smart lifestyle choices are within your control, and are among the best things you can do to help prevent disease and retard aging.

Food for Healthy Aging

For maximum benefits, experts say, you should load up on a variety of healthy foods.

"We know about antioxidants and anti-inflammatory activities of foods, but we suspect there could be so much more going on beyond attacking free radicals that promote health and ward off disease," says Moores.

Moores suggests adding these foods and beverages into your eating plan for good health and to reduce the signs of aging:

Fish. Follow the guidelines of the American Heart Association and eat twice weekly, especially the fatty kind that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. This is a powerful anti-inflammatory food that offers a multitude of health benefits.

Fruits and vegetables are powerhouses of antioxidants. Aim for a variety of colorful produce. Enjoy at least 5 servings per day for the maximum benefits.

Whole grains provide soluble fiber to help lower blood cholesterol levels, and also have phytonutrient content equal to any fruit or vegetable. Strive for at least 3 daily servings.

Legumes are unsung heroes, packed with nutrients similar to fruits and vegetables and with very few calories. Add them to your diet 3 to 4 times a week.

Yogurt has all the benefits of dairy foods, plus probiotics that help add healthy bacteria to the intestines. Moores recommends eating a yogurt with active cultures as one of your 3 dairy servings each day.

Nuts are a great source of B vitamins that are good for your heart and your brain. The healthy fats in nuts benefit the elastin and collagen in skin, helping to maintaining skin's structure and keep it resilient. Small portions are advised, as nuts are high in calories.

Water is essential for hydration of the skin, muscles, circulation, and all organs in the body. Enjoy 3-4 glasses of pure water in addition to other liquids and watery foods.

In addition, Perricone suggests these 10 "super-foods," chosen because of their anti- inflammatory activity:

1. Acai fruit (found in health stores)

2. Allium vegetables: garlic, onions, leeks, scallions, chives, and shallots

3. Barley

4. Green foods, such as wheatgrass

5. Buckwheat, both seeds and grains

6. Beans and lentils

7. Hot peppers

8. Nuts and seeds

9. Sprouts

10. Yogurt and kefir

What Else Can You Do?

Micronutrients from food and beverages offer a wealth of health benefits. But when it comes to preserving the skin, some work better as topical applications such as creams.

"Drinking 6-10 small cups of green tea daily adds health-promoting catechins â€¦ but no matter how much green tea you drink, your blood level will never be high enough to retard or reverse skin changes," says researcher Stephen Hsu, PhD. His research found antiaging benefits when green tea polyphenols were applied directly to skin, and "protected the skin by absorbing ultraviolet light and eliminating free radicals."

A healthy diet and lifestyle may improve your health and keep you feeling young but don't expect wrinkles to disappear. The impact of diet on reversing signs of skin aging is overrated, says Atlanta-based dermatologist, Kenneth Ellner, MD.

"Skin aging is related primarily to genetics and exposure to the sun," he says. "If you want to age gracefully, stay out of the sun, use sunscreen, don't smoke, eat a healthy diet, and drink plenty of water."

To do your best to ward off aging, experts agree that a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, wearing sunscreen, avoiding tobacco, regular sleep, and a nutritious diet is the answer.

"If you are already engaging in healthy habits, take it a step further and try to fine-tune your diet to achieve added health benefits by adding new foods to your diet," advises Elisa Zied, RD, author of So What Can I Eat.

By Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD

WebMD Weight Loss Clinic-Feature Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Find out your real age by taking the RealAge test

noreply@blogger.com (Anti-Aging Beauty) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 22:36:00 +0000

Your RealAge is the biological age of your body, based on how well you've maintained it. How old are you really? Take RealAge Test and see how you can live better, healthier, and younger!

If you smoke, drink, have a stressful job, juggle a career and family, eat on the run, and never exercise, you will probably fail the RealAge Test. The RealAge Test is the creation of Dr. Michael Roizen, an anti-aging expert. After his visit on the "Oprah" show, where he explained RealAge assessment, interests heightened. Now, the test is available online for free for those who dare to learn their biological age.

Identification

The RealAge Test is a patented assessment that determines your biological age based on your answers to a series of questions. Your biological age is your physiologic age based on your daily habits, diet and family history (genetics). It may be higher or lower than your chronological, or birth, age.

Features

The test is available at the RealAge.com web site. Before taking the test, know your blood pressure, your resting heart rate and your cholesterol levels, both good and bad. Make a list of all the medicines you take and note your family medical history. The test has questions about your health, your family and lifestyle questions such as what kind of car you drive and what you eat.

Time Frame

The test takes about 15 minutes to complete, if you have all the information available for the questions. It's important to be accurate with your answers, but don't dwell on your responses. Once you have completed the test, it takes about an hour to get the results by e-mail.

Significance

Getting the results is only the beginning of the RealAge test's purpose. The e-mail will direct you back to the web site, where you will review your results. The web site will provide personal recommendations, which are beneficial, if you wish to take the test again or want to live a healthier life. Follow their suggestions and you can lower your biological age.

Prevention/Solution

According to the RealAge web site, the test is accepted in the medical and science fields. Experts reviewed more than 25,000 medical studies while developing the test. The suggestions you receive are substantial. For further study, consider Dr. Michael Roizen's book "RealAge: Are You as Young as You Can Be?" Another book is "The RealAge Diet: Make Yourself Younger With What You Eat."

By Pauline Gill

Causes of Aging Skin

noreply@blogger.com (Anti-Aging Beauty) — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:03:00 +0000

Research shows that there are, in fact, two distinct types of aging. Aging caused by the genes we inherit is called intrinsic (internal) aging. The other type of aging is known as extrinsic (external) aging and is caused by environmental factors, such as exposure to the sun’s rays.

Intrinsic Aging
Intrinsic aging, also known as the natural aging process, is a continuous process that normally begins in our mid-20s. Within the skin, collagen production slows, and elastin, the substance that enables skin to snap back into place, has a bit less spring. Dead skin cells do not shed as quickly and turnover of new skin cells may decrease slightly. While these changes usually begin in our 20s, the signs of intrinsic aging are typically not visible for decades. The signs of intrinsic aging are:

Fine wrinkles
Thin and transparent skin
Loss of underlying fat, leading to hollowed cheeks and eye sockets as well as noticeable loss of firmness on the hands and neck
Bones shrink away from the skin due to bone loss, which causes sagging skin
Dry skin that may itch
Inability to sweat sufficiently to cool the skin
Graying hair that eventually turns white
Hair loss
Unwanted hair
Nail plate thins, the half moons disappear, and ridges develops

Genes control how quickly the normal aging process unfolds. Some notice those first gray hairs in their 20s; others do not see graying until their 40s. People with Werner’s syndrome, a rare inherited condition that rapidly accelerates the normal aging process, usually appear elderly in their 30s. Their hair can gray and thin considerably in their teens. Cataracts may appear in their 20s. The average life expectancy for people with Werner’s syndrome is 46 years of age.

Extrinsic Aging
A number of extrinsic, or external, factors often act together with the normal aging process to prematurely age our skin. Most premature aging is caused by sun exposure. Other external factors that prematurely age our skin are repetitive facial expressions, gravity, sleeping positions, and smoking.

The Sun. Without protection from the sun’s rays, just a few minutes of exposure each day over the years can cause noticeable changes to the skin. Freckles, age spots, spider veins on the face, rough and leathery skin, fine wrinkles that disappear when stretched, loose skin, a blotchy complexion, actinic keratoses (thick wart-like, rough, reddish patches of skin), and skin cancer can all be traced to sun exposure.

“Photoaging” is the term dermatologists use to describe this type of aging caused by exposure to the sun’s rays. The amount of photoaging that develops depends on: 1) a person’s skin color and 2) their history of long-term or intense sun exposure. People with fair skin who have a history of sun exposure develop more signs of photoaging than those with dark skin. In the darkest skin, the signs of photoaging are usually limited to fine wrinkles and a mottled complexion.

Photoaging occurs over a period of years. With repeated exposure to the sun, the skin loses the ability to repair itself, and the damage accumulates. Scientific studies have shown that repeated ultraviolet (UV) exposure breaks down collagen and impairs the synthesis of new collagen. The sun also attacks our elastin. Sun-weakened skin ceases to spring back much earlier than skin protected from UV rays. Skin also becomes loose, wrinkled, and leathery much earlier with unprotected exposure to sunlight.

People who live in sun-intense areas, such as Florida or Arizona, can show signs of photoaging in their 20s. In fact, some people who live in sun-intense areas develop actinic keratoses (AKs) and skin cancer in their 20s.

While it may seem that the signs of photoaging appear overnight, they actually lie invisible beneath the surface of the skin for years. UV photography enables us to see the damage accumulating beneath the surface of the skin years before the signs of photoaging appear. Most people are surprised by the amount of photoaging that the UV camera shows.

Facial Expressions. If you perform facial exercises to maintain a youthful-looking appearance, it is time to stop. Repetitive facial movements actually lead to fine lines and wrinkles. Each time we use a facial muscle, a groove forms beneath the surface of the skin, which is why we see lines form with each facial expression. As skin ages and loses its elasticity, the skin stops springing back to its line-free state, and these grooves become permanently etched on the face as fine lines and wrinkles.

Gravity. Gravity constantly pulls on our bodies. Changes related to gravity become more pronounced as we age. In our 50s, when the skin’s elasticity declines dramatically, the effects of gravity become evident. Gravity causes the tip of the nose to droop, the ears to elongate, the eyelids to fall, jowls to form, and the upper lip to disappear while the lower lip becomes more pronounced.

Sleeping Positions. Resting your face on the pillow in the same way every night for years on end also leads to wrinkles. Called sleep lines, these wrinkles eventually become etched on the surface of the skin and no longer disappear when the head is not resting on the pillow. Women, who tend to sleep on their sides, are most likely to see these lines appear on their chin and cheeks. Men tend to notice these lines on the forehead since they usually sleep with the face pressed face down on the pillow. People who sleep on their backs do not develop these wrinkles since their skin does not lie crumpled against the pillow.

Smoking. Cigarette smoking causes biochemical changes in our bodies that accelerate aging. Research shows that a person who smokes 10 or more cigarettes a day for a minimum of 10 years is statistically more likely to develop deeply wrinkled, leathery skin than a nonsmoker. It also has been shown that people who smoke for a number of years tend to develop an unhealthy yellowish hue to their complexion. Additionally, a study conducted in 2002 showed that facial wrinkling, while not yet visible, can be seen under a microscope in smokers as young as 20.

These signs can be greatly diminished, and in some cases avoided, by stopping smoking. Even people who have smoked for many years, or smoked heavily at a younger age, show less facial wrinkling and improved skin tone when they quit smoking.

Guide To Finding the Best Anti-Aging Cream

noreply@blogger.com (Anti-Aging Beauty) — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 23:54:00 +0000

Today, people are eating better, staying fitter and living longer, and although aging is a fact of life, most women and many men don't like what the years are doing to their skin. Many people want to look youthful for as long as possible and decide to buy an anti-aging cream for help. Thousands of anti-aging creams claim to be the best but the fact is, there is no "best" when it comes to anti-aging products.

We researched hundreds of anti-aging creams and, in general, it seems that one person's fountain of youth is another's nightmare. Still, there are some consistently good anti-aging creams. Of course, your results will vary. Your age, skin type, skin condition and genetics all factor into how well a product will work for you. This guide can be a starting point for those confused by the many types of anti-aging products out there.

Before you venture out to buy an anti-aging cream, there are a number of questions you have to ask yourself.

WHAT TYPE OF WRINKLE CREAM AM I LOOKING FOR?

Anti-aging creams come in several categories.

Wrinkle relaxants work to slightly relax the muscles under expression lines, somewhat simulating the Botox effect on a small scale. These products don't actually get rid of wrinkles or ward off new ones. They just relax creases a bit and give you a slightly more youthful look. When you stop using them, your skin will go back to the way it was before you started so you don't get cumulative effects. These creams are good add-on products to use with other anti-aging products.
Antioxidant creams are filled with vitamins and minerals healthy for your skin. Vitamins A, C, D and E are popular antioxidants but there are many different ingredients that fall into this category, including minerals like copper. The theory is that detoxing the skin will give it a youthful glow, rid the epidermis of poisons and impurities and give the skin an overall more youthful appearance.
Repairing creams use ingredients like Retinol (a much less harsh version of the prescription skin cream Retin-A), Alpha Hydroxy acids, collagen and elastin to reverse sun damage and encourage cell turnover to reveal new, fresh, youthful skin. These creams also claim to replenish the skin, giving it back elasticity and firmness that is lost with age.
Deep hydrating creams rely on the plumping effect of moisturizers to smooth the skin, plump wrinkles and creases and keep the skin moist and dewy. They may also contain small amounts of antioxidants and other ingredients but their main goal is to deeply hydrate the skin. Studies show that dry skin creases more, is more fragile and tends to wrinkle faster. Creams in this category work by eliminating dehydrated skin, thus warding off new lines and plumping existing ones.
All-natural creams are becoming popular as skin care companies are discovering certain roots, herbs, extracts and oils have a positive effect on the skin. Many people prefer to use natural ingredients on their skin and believe them to be safer than their chemical counterparts. Most natural creams aren't potent enough to reverse aging skin but can delay new lines by imparting moisture and natural ingredients that nourish the skin.
Firming creams work less on wrinkles and more on sagging skin. They lift the skin and give your skin a more youthful appearance. Firming creams and serums often are used in conjunction with hydrating creams to lift and moisturize the skin.

Naturally, there are products that combine ingredients to make up their own unique formula. However, most can still be categorized by the main ingredients and the claims made by the skin care company.

HOW MUCH MONEY AM I WILLING TO SPEND ON MY ANTI-AGING SKIN CARE?

This is quite an important consideration. Skin care can be amazingly expensive depending on the brand and type you choose. You have to take into account your budget and how much you are willing and able to spend on a face cream that you will be using every night and day. Expect to have to buy refills every two to four months depending on the size of the tube or jar. Some creams only come in monthly doses. Have a price range in mind when you start your search. This will quickly eliminate several choices and narrow the field down to creams that you can afford. Good skin care is vital but shouldn't cause worry and stress lines because of its high price tag!

WHAT IS MY SKIN TYPE?

If you have oily skin, you will want to avoid very heavy moisturizers. If you have very dry or sensitive skin, you will have to be cautious about harsher chemicals in many of the newer anti-aging creams. Those prone to breakouts will want to look for creams that don't clog pores and are a bit lighter in weight. Fragrance-free creams are a good bet for everyone. If you buy a cream that isn't right for your skin type, you won't get the desired results and may end up with breakouts, rashes or skin that still feels tight and needs moisture. A side note about skin types: Oily skin may be a pain to deal with but studies show that those with oily skin wrinkle later and get less wrinkles than those with dry and even normal skin types. So embrace your oily skin. It is its own anti-aging secret!

WHAT IS MY LIFESTYLE?

Are you a busy traveler who barely has time to shower, let alone wait for skin cream to absorb? Are you a stay-at-home person who enjoys pampering your skin? Do you want a product that you can use day and night or do you like lighter creams for day and heavier for night? Are you a smoker, avid tanner or a heavy drinker? Are you under constant pressure and filled with stress? These factors all can negatively affect your skin and you will need some serious help to reverse the damage. If you've recently lost a lot of weight, your skin will likely be somewhat looser. You will want to address that with a firming cream as well as any other type you feel you need. If you're outdoors a lot, you will probably want a cream with sunscreen in it. If you're working in an office all day, you don't need the sunscreen nearly as much.

Your lifestyle shows on your face. Good skin care can only do so much. A healthy lifestyle will certainly go a long ways toward helping the cream of your choice do its job more effectively.

DO I WANT A MULTI-PART SYSTEM?

Many skincare companies make systems -- several components designed to work together. Often you will get a cleanser, toner, moisturizer, eye cream and possibly a mask and other add-ons designed to give your skin uniform results. Systems are great but can be expensive. In addition, that means you need to cut ties with your favorite facial cleanser and other long time favorites. Decide if you want to go with a multi-part system or just the cream on its own. Trust me, if you use the cream with your own cleanser and toner, it will be basically as effective as using it with products from the same line. It's like shampoo, conditioner and styling aids. Companies want you to use all the products in the line "for best results" but you can mix and match brands and still have great hair. The same goes for skin care. However, you may decide that a system works best for you. I won't be discussing all the components of a skin care system but will mention if the creams are part of a system that is recommended for best results.

AM I TRYING TO PREVENT FUTURE WRINKLES OR REDUCE EXISTING ONES?

Women in their twenties are realizing that preventative measures are the way to go when it comes to warding off aging. If you are line-free or just have a few lines but want to protect your skin from further aging, you will want lighter creams and ones that have antioxidants in them. If you're trying to repair or reduce the number of lines you have, you'll be looking more toward the restorative creams that try to reverse damage and plump or relax lines.

source: The World Wide Web!

What May Comprise A Typical Anti-Aging Program

noreply@blogger.com (Anti-Aging Beauty) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 22:07:00 +0000

What May Comprise A Typical Anti-Aging Program

What Is An Anti-Aging Program?

There are several ways to address the aging process, which is unique to everyone because of age, symptoms, medical history and personal preferences. Whatever program appeals to you, first seek advice from a qualified health-care professional knowledgeable about anti-aging practices. He or she will conduct a complete examination and may order hormone analyses and blood chemistry panels, and tests to identify nutrient and antioxidant status, cardiac risk factors and tumour markers. An ideal anti-aging program will address the individual’s specific needs as identified during testing.

What Comprises A Typical Anti-Aging Program?

Since each person unique, no one recipe for anti-aging is appropriate or adequate for all. It does appear, however, that proper nutrition, regular exercise, natural hormone therapies and emotional health all contribute to longevity.

1. Proper nutrition. The old adage, "You are what you eat" could be rewritten to say, "You age how you eat." The number of calories you consume affects your level of free radical production. The types of food you eat determine the range and amounts of antioxidants available to neutralize free radicals. The types of fats you eat can change the balance between inflammatory and anti-inflammatory compounds. The timing of meals and the amount of carbohydrates affect insulin and hormone production.

There is no question that eating less lengthens life and reduces disease. The average male consumes about 3,300 calories daily from the typical western diet. It’s been strongly suggested that lifespan could be increased by 30 to 40 percent on a balanced, healthy diet providing 1,600 to 1,900 calories daily. Evidence obtained from the people of the Japanese islands of Okinawa supports this point. Okinawans eat an average 1,300 to 1,500 calories a day from high-quality vegetables, cereals and fish. They have the world’s longest life expectancy, with more centarians (people over 100) per capita than anywhere else on the planet.

Many studies show that antioxidants limit free radical damage. Whole, unprocessed grains and organic produce provide vitamins A, C, E and nutrients such as zinc, selenium, coenzyme Q₁₀ and lipoic acid. Quality oils from fish, flax and olive are also important.

Water is often overlooked as an anti-aging compound. Dehydration is common, as water is often dismissed in favour of coffee, tea, sodas and alcohol–all pro-aging substances. Skin integrity, brain mass, joint and detoxification function are all water-dependent. Drinking eight to 10 glasses of clean, unadulterated water daily makes good sense.

2. Regular exercise. The expression "Use it or lose it" pretty much sums up the message that you can maintain memory, flexibility, strength and mental/cognitive function when you perform regular exercise.

Take a walk after each meal to help digestion and burn calories.
Take the stairs when possible. This raises your heart rate, improves cardiovascular fitness and provides a spurt of growth hormone.
Get off the bus or taxi one or two stops/blocks before your destination. This gives you a little sunshine and stress reduction.
Exercise 30 to 40 minutes minimally, three to four times a week using a combination of aerobic, strengthening and flexibility activities.
Exercise your brain. Do puzzles, play chess, read, dance and participate in hobbies. The most important muscle in the body is the one between the ears.

3. Hormone therapies. Hormones are chemical messengers that tell our cells and organs what to do. Different glands and organs produce different hormones (e.g., the testes make testosterone and the ovaries secrete estrogen and progesterone). Most anti-aging practitioners measure these hormones and replace those that have decreased. By using plant-derived hormones, synthetic hormones can be reduced or eliminated.

4. Anti-aging medicine is a model of health care based on the early detection, prevention and reversal (if possible) of aging. It is truly multidisciplinary, represented by advances in the fields of biochemistry, physiology, genetics, nutrition, exercise therapeutics, mind/body medicine and emerging medical technologies.

5. Emotional health. The mind-body connection is a powerful force. Reducing stress, playing more, re-invigorating the child within, meditating, praying, deep breathing, taking a midday nap, engaging in regular sexual activity and thinking young are some means to being young.

6. Massage and relaxation techniques to provide inner-calm for the soul.

7. Other Lifestyle: With the reduction of stress, good clean living practices that we all understand such as not smoking, drinking alcohol in moderation, avoiding narcotics, eating fresh foods in a balanced diet, drinking clean pure water and avoiding radiation, heavy metals and pollution etc.

8. Immune System: Enhancement and support to ensure that infections do not become a major problem and the occasional use (as required) of natural anti-biotics to free yourself from more persistent bacteria and viruses etc. These are very important tasks to ensure that serious aging disorders and diseases do not appear.

Understanding Brain Aging

noreply@blogger.com (Anti-Aging Beauty) — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 01:19:00 +0000

Understanding Brain Aging

In recent years, scientists have mapped the human genome, explored the surface of Mars and developed crops that produce their own pesticides. By contrast, much about the human brain still remains a mystery. That is particularly true when it comes to understanding how the brain ages. Part of the mystery is due to the fact that, until recently, people did not have the same lifespan as they do today-now an average 75 years, up from 47 years in 1900. This means there has been precious little time to study brain aging, says David Walsh, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology. He says, "Theoretically, this is a whole new world."

But research on how this three pound organ ages is speeding ahead-pushed by the fact that 10,000 U.S. baby boomers hit age 50 every day. This huge group, which will soon swell the ranks of senior citizens to previously unheard of proportions, wants to know what can be done to preserve brain function as long as possible. After all, the brain is considered our most vital organ, responsible for everything from involuntary life support functions like heartbeats and breathing to the essence of personality and memory. It contains more than 100 billion cells including neurons-the specialized cells of the nervous system responsible for the transmission of electrical impulses to and from the central nervous system. Neurons can send signals to thousands of other cells at a rate of about 200 miles per hour. Just how these neurons work-a complicated system involving various chemicals (neurotransmitters) and electrical impulses-is only slowly coming to light.

Until recently, brain aging-and everything that entails, from the annoying inconveniences of age-related memory loss to more serious conditions like Alzheimer's and dementia-was equated with neuron failure. "I think historically the subject was thought to be very simple: that brain neurons were lost from birth onwards," explains Caleb Finch, Ph.D., the ARCO/William F. Kieschnick Chair in the Neurobiology of Aging and a professor of gerontology and biological sciences. "Now it is really clear that if you don't have a specific disease that causes loss of nerve cells, then most, if not all, of the neurons remain healthy until you die. That's a big change, and it has only come about in the last 10 years."

One reason for the change: improved technology like higher resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) scans. These help scientists pinpoint the parts of the brain that function or fail as individuals age. The technology has also generated a wealth of information about the physical changes in the aging brain, including: Brain weight and volume decrease. On average, the brain loses 5-10 percent of its weight between the ages of 20 and 90. The grooves on the surface of the brain widen, while the swellings on the surface become smaller. So-called "neurofibriallary tangles," decayed portions of the branch-like dentricles that extend from the neurons, increase. "Senile plaques," or abnormally hard clusters of damaged or dying neurons, form.

Along with realizing these physical changes in the brain, one of the big surprises in recent years is data that suggests cognitive decline like age-related memory loss is not due to neuron loss, as previously thought. Instead, scientists now believe changes in function as we age have more to do with complex chemical interactions in the brain that occur over time.

For example, recent studies suggest plaques and tangles-long considered a cause of Alzheimer's-may not turn out to be the culprits after all. A study in the Journal of Neurophysiology examined the brains of elderly people who were fully functioning up to their death and found them to have a large number of plaques and tangles that looked exactly like Alzheimer's. But none of the subjects had displayed Alzheimer's symptoms. Instead, new research suggests Alzheimer's may be connected to inflammatory processes associated with aging. Finch recently released findings of a new type of amyloid aggregates. Amyloid is a hard deposit that results from tissue degeneration, which forms in the presence of inflammatory proteins in the brain. The inflammatory proteins occur to a certain extent in all maturing adults, he notes. The soluble amyloid aggregates appear to form in the parts of the brain particularly affected by Alzheimer's (including the hippocampus, the area responsible for forming new memory). Once there, they appear to interfere with the brain's basic mechanism of long-term memory well before they reach a level high enough to kill brain cells, Finch says.

More evidence that brain aging is related to chemical changes in the brain comes from studies that suggest an age-related loss of dopamine, the brain chemical associated with pleasure and reward, slows metabolism in the regions of the brain related to cognition. Other research has explored conflicting data about the potential benefit of taking estrogen to reduce the risk of getting Alzheimer's disease for post-menopausal women.

Further complicating the picture is that these changes do not happen to everyone at the same pace, notes Helena Chui, M.D., the Raymond and Betty McCarron Chair in Neurology. Chui is also co-director of the McCarron Clinical Research and Education Center, headquartered at the USC-affiliated Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center in Downey, Calif. "Certain brain injuries occur suddenly, like a stroke or head injury. Neurodegenerative processes such as Alzheimer's disease, on the other hand, occur gradually," says Chui. "Furthermore, different people develop plaques and tangles at different rates. At some threshold, symptoms become noticeable. At this point, we don't know all of the factors that determine these rates.

Genetics, however, play an important role." The genetic influence on the rate of brain aging is the focus of new research. Jeff Victoroff, M.D., associate professor of clinical neurology at the Keck School and director of neurobehavior at Rancho Los Amigos, suggests, "Genetic evolution may have even favored those who, once they hit the old age of 35, retained the capacity to teach and provide emotional support rather than those whose brains' limited resources were devoted to new learning." In evolution 100,000 years ago, he says, "It was probably rare for people to live past age 40 or 50, which means there was very little evolutionary selective pressure to make the brain work when we're 60 or 70 or 80. That's probably why all brains decline with aging."

What is most intriguing about the new findings in brain aging is that they indicate that the rate of change may be hastened or slowed by lifestyle factors. For instance, maintaining a lower weight might affect brain aging. As far back as the 1970s, Finch's experiments with mice found that those on restricted diets had lower rates of brain aging disease like Alzheimer's. Now, "We're trying to understand how cutting back the food intake in rodents slows the inflammatory process," Finch says. "I think one possibility is that it lowers blood glucose levels. Blood glucose is very reactive as a chemical and can cause damage to proteins." The opposite condition is diabetes-a condition with elevated blood sugar-and, Finch says, those with diabetes typically show more signs of brain aging than non-diabetic individuals.

Other lifestyle factors that may affect brain aging:

1. Education: Those who 'use it, don't lose it' as quickly, according to studies that compare brain function in adults who attended college and those who did not. "We hesitate to say the brain is like a muscle. But using patterns of connectivity over and over and having those patterns prove useful to us in our life probably makes the synapses broader and the connections between neurons in these valuable and well-used systems stronger, "says Victoroff. One recent study showed that cognitive challenge actually created new neurons in the adult rodent brain, "which means that the old idea that mammals have all the neurons in the brain when born is probably wrong," says Victoroff. "We expect to discover which environmental stimuli such as physical and mental exercise, are most likely to turn on new neurons in the adult brain."

2. Exercise: Those who walk rapidly for as little as 45 minutes three times a week significantly improve age-related declines in cognitive abilities, studies find.

3. Rest: There is new evidence that suggests a regular pattern of eight hours of sleep per night helps protect against age-related chronic illnesses including memory loss.

4. Hypertension: Studies suggest hypertension speeds up normal brain shrinkage and loss of mental abilities. Even those on antihypertensive medication have accelerated aging and shrinking of the brain.

5. Stress: When under stress, the human body produces a hormone called cortisol. In small amounts, it can improve memory-which is what helps emotional events stay vividly in our minds. In larger amounts, however, it wears away at the neurons in the hippocampus.

6. Head trauma: It has long been known that boxers get punch drunk and their brains exhibit changes that mimic Alzheimer's disease, only much earlier, notes Finch. A new series of studies show that former soccer players have declines in cognitive function in proportion to their use of their heads in propelling the ball. "Here is a sport that is becoming increasingly popular. Are kids setting themselves up for early mental deterioration every time there's a sharp blow to the head? That's something that needs to be investigated," Finch says.

Does this mean taking these specific steps will keep your brain in top condition? Although they acknowledge that genes play a large role in predetermining your brain's aging, researchers are beginning to agree that taking care of your health might help your long term brain function. This topic is explored in Victoroff's book "Saving Your Brain". In the book, he suggests steps like strict control of blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol, diet, the use of certain vitamins, physical exercise and mental exercise to help keep the brain functioning at its peak. "These are probably things 15 year olds should be doing, because the effect on the brain is cumulative," he says. "It certainly helps if someone in their 40s, 50s or even 70s starts to take the right steps, but the younger you are, the larger an impact it will have on delaying brain aging."

Finch, Chui, Victoroff and others are optimistic that the future will bring better understanding-and treatment-of brain aging and its associated symptoms. Drugs now in preclinical or Phase I human trials to treat Alzheimer's, says Chui, may decrease the levels of amyloids in the brain. Other experiments now underway suggest that deterioration in critical brain networks may be restored by gene therapy-transplanting brain cells genetically programmed to release a protein called nerve growth factor. The research focuses on a particular set of brain cells deep in the brain known as cholinergic neurons, which are shown to deteriorate rapidly in those with Alzheimer's disease.

"Studies show that the human brain is built to go for an amazing length of time," says Finch. Ten years from now, "we'll have a greater understanding of the long-term risk factors that have adverse effects on the brain. We'll know which people are more at risk earlier in their lives because of their genes. Knowing more about genes and the environment is not likely to yield a magic bullet, but each decade will nibble away at the adverse aspects of brain aging." Adds Victoroff, "Although we need to know a great deal more, we are long overdue in recognizing a simple fact: Cognitive loss is largely preventable. This is a watershed point in our understanding of dementia. Once the news gets out, it will percolate into the public's consciousness and begin to influence behavior."

source: USC health magazine author: Monika Guttman

Searching for Fountain of Youth in a Pill

noreply@blogger.com (Anti-Aging Beauty) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 01:14:00 +0000

Searching for Fountain of Youth in a Pill

By Brandon Keim

First stop, diabetes. Next stop: the very process of aging.

In a study scheduled to be published tomorrow in Nature, Sirtris Pharmaceuticals researchers successfully treated diabetic mice with a compound that activates an enzyme linked to the body’s most fundamental metabolic processes. Though preliminary, the results add momentum to a body of research that sees seemingly-disparate diseases, from diabetes to cancer, as manifestations of a single fundamental problem: age-related cellular breakdown. Slow that breakdown, and perhaps you can slow aging itself. It won’t ever stop, but it might not be attended by physical and mental failure.

"This is a watershed moment," said Sirtris CEO Christoph Westphal. "It looks like you can control the proteins controlling the aging process with orally available drugs."

The enzyme targeted in the Nature paper, called SIRT1, is believed to be stimulated by calorie-restricted diets, which are linked to longevity increases in primates and humans. Another SIRT1 activator, the grape leaf compound resveratrol, has increased lab animal lifespans and been used to treat diabetes and obesity in mice.

Thousands of people already practice caloric restriction, which requires incredible discipline and may cause unwanted metabolic changes. Thousands more take resveratrol, though the effects have yet to be rigorously studied. They’re willing to turn themselves into human guinea pigs or near-emaciated waifs because the benefits are so tantalizing. In the last few decades, some scientists and doctors have suggested that a range of lethal conditions have the same root: cellular deterioration that progresses with age.

More specifically, many scientists point to deterioration of mitochondria, the organelle power plants present in every cell of the human body. As mitochondria generate chemical energy — and help cells communicate, differentiate and grow – they spew out DNA-damaging free radicals. Over time, the mitochondria wear down; tissues malfunction and fail. The picture’s still hazy, the cause-and-effect not clear, but scientists have found evidence of mitochondrial degeneration in cancer, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, heart disease and a plethora of other conditions.

As described in the Nature paper, diabetic mice given Sirtris’ compound had improved insulin sensitivity and and lower blood glucose levels — and their mitochondria worked better, too. Rejuvenated mitochondria have also been observed in earlier studies of resveratrol’s therapeutic and longevity-enhancing effects.

It’s too soon to apply the results to people with diabetes, much less to people hoping to evade the ravages of dementia and debilitation — but the possibility is there. "Mechanistically, it’s fair to think that this will work in the biggest killers of western society. It’s one of the few approaches that could help with multiple diseases," said Westphal.

He’s careful to point out that barely a tenth of all drugs survive from testing to approval, and the compound described in Nature isn’t even in Phase I trials. He’s also quick to distance Sirtris from off-label claims; this compound, as well as a resveratrol derivative currently in Phase I trials, are both aimed squarely at diabetes, and won’t be marketed as anything more.

But if people are willing to push ahead of science by taking resveratrol or practicing caloric restriction, they’ll certainly push to use a SIRT1-activating diabetes drug for other conditions. Neither is Sirtris the only player: every major pharmaceutical company, said Westphal, is pursuing research on the seven sirtuin enzymes. SIRT1 is but one of these, and all are linked to cellular regulation. "We’re trying to emphasize how many years and how much risk is involved," he said. "But we’re at a different stage than we were five or ten years ago. There are people trying to develop drugs that target the aging process."

Why You Need Ubiquinol Supplementation

noreply@blogger.com (Anti-Aging Beauty) — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 18:57:00 +0000

Why You Need Ubiquinol Supplementation

What if someone told you that you could fortify every cell in your body with potent antioxidants and infuse them with energy, even as you get older? It almost sounds too good to be true. The good news is that there is an important enzyme called Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) that is found in every cell in the body. It is responsible for creating cellular energy and ensuring proper cellular function. In order for the body to fully benefit from this omnipotent enzyme, there must be a steady supply of it, not to mention, the right kind of CoQ10.

Patients with diseases such as hypertension, heart conditions, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, and diabetes have been found to have very low levels of CoQ10 in their system. It is possible to get a little CoQ10 in your regular diet, but it’s not nearly enough to make a difference to your health, and because there is a conversion decline of Ubiquinone to Ubiquinol with age, the process of getting all the CoQ10 you need from food becomes extremely inefficient.

Illnesses, degenerative ailments, poor eating habits and taking statins (cholesterol lowering drugs) all can contribute to lowered CoQ10 levels and which may lead to damage of cells. It has been recognized that CoQ10 levels are lacking in people with diseases such as hypertension, heart conditions, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, and diabetes to name a few. Younger people (typically under age 40) are better equipped to process the regular CoQ10 they are consuming and turn it into the necessary Ubiquinol. But as we get older, the capability to turn Ubiquinone into usable Ubiquinol diminishes, leaving many of us with very little CoQ10 to draw on.

Supplementing with the powerful Ubiquinol can make a pronounced difference in your energy levels and gives you peace of mind that you’re doing the right thing for your health and overall vitality. Endless energy, enhanced health and the fountain of youth all in one supplement? Sometimes dreams do come true.

source: The World Wide Web!

7 Anti Aging Secrets

noreply@blogger.com (Anti-Aging Beauty) — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 01:24:00 +0000

7 Anti Aging Secrets

1. DNA Life Changer

Healthy habits can actually repair your DNA, say researchers Dean Ornish, MD, and Elizabeth Blackburn, MD. Their study subjects ate vegetarian whole foods with 10 percent of calories from fat, walked 30 minutes six days a week, used stress-reducing techniques, and went to a weekly support group. The results? Besides a decrease in LDL cholesterol and stress levels, they showed a 29 percent rise in telomerase. This enzyme repairs and lengthens telomeres, tiny protein complexes on the ends of chromosomes that are vital for immunity and longevity. Short telomeres and low levels of telomerase signal an increased risk of heart disease and cancer, plus a poor prognosis if you do get ill.

Editor's Note -- October 5, 2009: Elizabeth H. Blackburn (mentioned below), Carol W. Greider and Jack W. Szostak have just won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their breakthrough work on telomerase, which was discussed in a Reader's Digest article (see below) published earlier this year

2. Exercise Matters

A walk with your spouse gives you a chance to talk over the day, and playing tennis together can be a bonding experience. But that's not why you should bother. Here's why: Getting active can mean a longer life for both of you.

3. Two Important Steps to Remain Young From Dr. Oz

Walk. When you can't walk a quarter mile in five minutes, your chance of dying within three years goes up dramatically.

Second most important is building a community -- avoiding isolation. Because if your heart doesn't have a reason to keep beating, it won't.

4. Dial Back on Meat and Pork

A ten-year study of 545,000 Americans found that people who eat about four ounces of beef or pork a day (the amount in an average-sized burger) are at least 30 percent more likely to die early, compared with those who consume an ounce or less daily. Though previous research has linked a diet heavy in red meat to a greater risk of heart disease and colon cancer, this is the first big study to look at how it affects your life expectancy.

5. Two Keys to a Longer Life

Two recent studies suggest surprising but heartwarming keys to a longer life. You're more likely to rack up the years if you:

Expect the best. Of 100,000 women in the Women's Health Initiative study, those rated optimistic by special questionnaires were 14 percent less likely than pessimists to die during the study's first eight years

Care for a loved one. Despite the stress involved, men and women who put in the most time taking care of a spouse cut their own risk of dying by 36 percent over a seven-year period, researchers at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor found.

6. Get a Goal: Having a Purpose Gives You an Edge

Whether you believe you have some purpose to fulfill on earth or just have trips you plan to take and books you want to read, you have a survival edge over people with fewer goals. So say researchers at the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago who interviewed more than 1,200 older adults. Elders with sure intentions and goals were about half as likely as aimless seniors to die over the five-year follow-up.

7. Get Enough Vitamin D

Low vitamin D levels have been associated with osteoporosis, diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. And it gets worse: According to new research, adults who don't get enough of the "sunshine vitamin" are 26 percent more likely to die early. A 12-year study of 13,000 men and women didn't finger any one cause of death, "because vitamin D's impact on health is so widespread," says researcher Michal Melamed, MD, an assistant professor of medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx. Besides drinking fortified milk, she suggests that you: Get just 10 to 15 minutes of midday sunshine (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) several days a week may do the trick (apply sunscreen after those few minutes). Take supplements.

Source: The World Wide Web!

Anti-Aging Facial Massage Videos

noreply@blogger.com (Anti-Aging Beauty) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 17:46:00 +0000

Anti-Aging Facial Massage Videos

Photorejuvenation anti-aging treatment for skin

noreply@blogger.com (Anti-Aging Beauty) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 16:54:00 +0000

Photorejuvenation anti-aging treatment for skin

What is photorejuvenation?

Photorejuvenation is a term which means using light wave treatment to improve the ageing effects which occur on the skin due to cumulative exposure to the sun. These changes include coarse wrinkles, sallow color, leathery texture and irregularities in pigmentation or blemishes. The changes occur most commonly on the face, v-of-the neck and backs of the hands and forearms. Numerous treatments exist from topical retinoid creams, chemical peels (which range from superficial to deep, the latter having more dramatic improvement but longer recovery time) microdermabrasion, dermabrasion, and different types of laser treatments. A combination of a course of mild peels alternating with IPL treatments will give good long-term results. Talk to your practitioner about treatment packages.

How does the treatment work?

The short wavelength intense pulsed light system (IPL) produces a broadband light that eliminates superficial signs of ageing, including freckles, broken capillaries, rosacea and age spots. The light is absorbed by pigmented areas where it is converted into heat, causing break-up of the pigment. In broken capillaries and spider veins, the light is absorbed by the pigment in the blood generating heat that collapses the unwanted vein. The light also stimulates collagen production which in turn causes tightening and lifting of the skin and smoothes out fine lines and wrinkles.

Can all areas of the body be treated and does skin color make a difference?

All areas of the body can be treated, but it should be emphasized that fine wrinkles are more likely to have noticeable results than deep wrinkles. Areas recommended for treatment include face, neck, décolleté and hands. All skin types can be treated and skin color makes little difference to the benefits of the treatment.

Are there any side-effects?

In rare cases, redness and irritation of the treated area may occur (like sunburn). There is also a small risk of pigment change following treatment. A small minority of patients develop bruising or blistering. This settles within a few days.

How many treatments are needed?

A series of 3 to 6 treatments is recommended at monthly intervals. Methods to reduce further collagen breakdown include smoking cessation and the application of a moisturizer with SPF30 sun block - these will enhance the longevity of the treatment. It must be remembered that the skin is constantly ageing, so it is envisaged that further treatments in the future may well be desirable to maintain results.

What other methods of wrinkle reduction are available?

For upper face wrinkles caused by muscle movement, wrinkle relaxing injection treatment is a very safe and effective way or reducing lines such as crow's feet, frown and forehead lines. Dermal fillers made from synthetic hyaluronic acid (restylane and hydrafill) can volumize and plump out lower facial lines such as nose to mouth and vertical lip lines.Combination treatment packages of IPL with glycolic peels are available also

Is IPL treatment safe?

There is no evidence whatsoever to suggest that IPL treatment can lead to skin disorders or an increased risk of skin cancer. Our laser centre is registered with the Healthcare Commission, ensuring the highest level of safety for our patients.

Source: The World Wide Web!

Will a Cream Prevent Wrinkles?

noreply@blogger.com (Anti-Aging Beauty) — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 18:22:00 +0000

Will a Cream Prevent Wrinkles?

Q: Is it a good idea to use a deep-wrinkle cream as a preventive measure even if I have no wrinkles yet?

A: Well, hello, little girl, and welcome to Ask Val. Come here and have a seat on my old, wrinkled knee. How refreshing to know there's an unlined reader out there. You have a chance many of us have lost—to keep your skin in excellent shape.

But you don't need a deep-wrinkle cream for that. "Follow the rule that if it isn't broken, don't fix it," says David Leffell, MD, professor of dermatology and surgery at Yale School of Medicine. He points out that ultraviolet radiation from the sun causes 80 percent of wrinkles.

So what you do want to use is aggressive sun protection—a sunscreen every day that shields against UVA and UVB rays. You should also wear a wide-brimmed hat when you know you're going to get a lot of exposure, and avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Don't smoke—it increases wrinkles. If you're in your 20s, you may not see any wrinkling yet, but there may be changes in the dermis, or second layer, of your skin that will eventually show up as fine or deep lines. Products that contain retinol—like Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Intensive Face Lotion SPF 20 and SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5—may help reverse some of those changes, says Leffell.

Bottom line: Spend your money on a broad-spectrum sunscreen. Then you may never need a wrinkle cream.

By Valerie Monroe

Conquering Aging with Cloning

noreply@blogger.com (Anti-Aging Beauty) — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 15:12:00 +0000

Conquering Aging with Cloning

Life Extension Interviews Michael West on new breakthroughs in anti-aging cloning research

Cloning: The word sounds like science fiction. But cloning is now science fact for many species, and it could hold the answer for the majority of problems of aging humans. Recent advances in cloning have come with remarkable speed, but doubts about their applicability to aging have remained. Now, in a major new paper published in the April 28, 2000 issue of the journal Science, a group led by Dr. Michael West has reported what may be the most revolutionary advance in cloning research so far. They have found that cloning can totally reverse cellular aging. To give you the inside story of this breakthrough, and on how it fits in with prospects for using cloning to intervene in aging, Gregory Fahy, Ph.D. and Saul Kent, President and founder of the Life Extension Foundation, interviewed Dr. West by telephone on March 18th, 2000. Dr. West is the founder of Geron. He is currently President and CEO of Advanced Cell Technology in Worcester, Massachusetts, where the research reported in Science was conducted.

Life Extension (LEF): Let's start at the beginning. Given that you left Geron to pursue cloning opportunities with Advanced Cell Technology (ACT), cloning obviously must be pretty important. But what is cloning?
Mike West: Cloning, as it is used in popular language, means the process we call nuclear transfer, which is an asexual way of reproducing an animal. Rather than using a sperm and an egg cell and getting a genetic mix between two animals, making a unique offspring, cloning uses an egg cell which is stripped of its DNA and a cell from the body of an existing animal. That body (somatic) cell is then placed into the egg cell.

LEF: The whole cell is placed in the egg cell?
West: Yes. This is the step we call nuclear transfer.

LEF: Even though it's more than the nucleus.
West: Yes. What we typically do is take the whole somatic cell and transfer it into an egg cell whose DNA has been removed. The result is a cell that has all of the DNA from an existing animal, so the resulting embryo and then, eventually, the animal is genetically identical to the original animal from which the cell was taken, unlike normal sexual reproduction, which leads to a unique new animal. In a sense it is being born again. It's a rebirth of a genetically identical copy of the original animal.

LEF: Are there different ways of doing cloning? Does it matter what the source of the cells is for example?
West: The technology has really only been used in a somewhat widespread manner over the last five years or so. So there hasn't been, to my knowledge, a complete survey of all of the different kinds of cells in the body from which we could clone an animal. But we do know that it is possible to clone an animal from cells that are usually easily accessible, such as skin cells or mucosal epithelial cells from the inside of the cheek.

LEF: How could cloning impact the field of anti-aging medicine?
West: Well, in the course of human aging, we have damage to the tissues and the cells in our body, not completely unlike the damage you see to your automobile over time. So, just like your carburetor needs to be replaced at some point, or your spark plugs need to be replaced, just through wear and tear you have organs that need to be replaced. I guess a striking example would be something like the loss of a tooth because of falling off a bicycle in a cross country race. Or a skin burn or other trauma. Also, of course, you can have an infectious disease, like a kidney infection which can damage the kidneys. Since the kidneys will not regenerate, they need to be replaced. So over the course of aging, we may need to have cells and/or tissues and organs replaced.

LEF: What is therapeutic human cloning?
West: Therapeutic human cloning is cloning for the possibility of recreating young cells and tissues (potentially of any kind) genetically identical to the person who needs them in order to replace worn out cells and tissues.

LEF: I think we need to clarify that when you are talking about therapeutic human cloning, we are now changing the definition of cloning that you gave us earlier. We are not talking about growing say a 12-year-old child and then taking the organs out of that child in order to replace old tissues in an adult, right?
West: Right. What we are proposing as an ethical and moral use of cloning technology in the arena of human medicine is the creation of microscopic balls of cells, called blastocysts. These are aggregates of about 100 cells that exist up to about 14 days of development. At 14 days, small aggregations of cells begin to individualize. By that, we mean the cells begin to become the various cells and tissues of the body, or that they've committed themselves to become an individual human being. Prior to day 14, the small ball of cells can still become two individual human beings. They can become identical twins, and indeed that is how identical twins form: the small ball of cells divides into two. So prior to day 14, this small ball of cells has not individualized, it has not decided to become one individual or two individuals.

LEF: Or even any particular part of any individual.
West: Yes. There is no skin, there is no blood, there is no bone, there is no tissue of any kind. So, because they have not individualized, they have not committed to becoming a person. And because there is no person there, and there are no differentiated cells of any kind, the blastocyst is often called a pre-embryo to distinguish it from an embryo which is committed to becoming a given individual. And because of that primitive state of the cells, the majority of ethicists have agreed that the creation of such an aggregate of cells to benefit people who are sick and in need of therapy would be a good and moral use of technology.
So what we envision is that the cloning step, the nuclear transfer step, is a bit like a time machine. We believe we can take a cell from a patient, even from a very old patient, and put it back into an egg cell, and that egg cell would be like a time machine, taking what was once a skin cell back in time, making it young again and erasing its memory of what it was, taking it back to the state of complete power, or as we say, "totipotency," such that the cell can then become any cell in the body. So once we've taken the cell back in time, and we have this small little ball of cells that can form anything, we can go in two directions. First, we could implant this small ball of cells into a uterus, and it could become a human being, or two human beings, forming identical twins. That would be reproductive cloning of a human being. The second path, which is the path that we are advocating, would be to use the cells to create specific cell types that a particular patient needs. So if the patient has Parkinson's Disease, rather than creating a human being, we would create just the dopaminergic neurons that they have lost, the loss of which is causing their Parkinsonian symptoms.

LEF: But the pre-embryo, in and of itself, doesn't spontaneously form wanted tissues. You would have to coax the pre-embryo cells to turn into the types of cells you want to form. Could you do that in tissue culture?
West: Yes. We believe that all of this could be done in tissue culture, growing individual cells, without creating a cloned human being.

LEF: What are embryonic stem cells?
West: Technically, an embryonic stem cell is a cultured inner cell mass. So the blastocyst is a little ball of cells, and inside it is a cluster of cells called the inner cell mass, and surrounding them is a shell of cells called the trophectoderm. The trophectoderm will become the placenta, and the inner cell mass will become the entire animal or, in the case of humans, the entire human being. The inner cell mass cells are totipotent. They have complete power. And because they have not yet committed to either becoming the germ line or the body (soma), they have not yet committed to the mortality of the soma, so they still have the immortality of the germ line. As you know, germ line cells have the ability of proliferating indefinitely, and that is why the species is immortal. We keep making babies generation after generation, so these cells are in this immortal germ line in a state of total power. When they are grown in the dish, they are called embryonic stem cells.

LEF: Has anyone taken these embryonic stem cells and turned them into specialized cells in tissue culture?
West: Yes.

LEF: Has this been published?
West: The first demonstration that human embryonic stem cells could be grown was published in the collaboration that I set up while I was at Geron with James Thomson at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and then also in a collaboration with John Gearhart at Johns Hopkins University Medical School. That was in the Fall of 1998.

LEF: And what was done in this study, exactly?
West: It was the first time human embryonic stem cells were ever grown in vitro ("in the dish"). Also in this publication was evidence that they could be shown to differentiate into skin, neurons, heart muscle cells, blood cells, and all of the many different kinds of cells in the body.

LEF: But in that case, was the differentiation random, or was it directed in some way?
West: The initial work, of course, was random. The cells were either just allowed to haphazardly differentiate in the dish, or they were injected into mice which had an impaired immune system. Since the mice could not reject the human tissue inside them, the human cells grew into what is called a teratoma, which is a conglomeration of different kinds of cells and tissues.

LEF: We recently met a scientist who said he was able to transform skin cells into neurons. Our impression was that they weren't embryonic skin cells.
West: They were probably adult stem cells such as mesenchymal stem cells.

LEF: So to summarize what you've said, basically you can take a totipotent cell and instead of letting it commit itself to form of an individual, you can take that cell and, at least in principle, direct it to become any type of cell. As you said, you can make brain cells to treat Parkinson's disease or perhaps skin cells to treat facial aging, that sort of thing.
West: I think that is an accurate statement. A good example was reported just in the last couple of weeks or so. There was a paper where mouse embryonic stem cells were differentiated into beta islet cells. That is one of the more difficult examples. In normal embryological development, you are pretty far along before you get the gut, and then the gut evaginates into a pancreas, and then out of that pancreatic tissue a beta cell finally forms.

LEF: Yes, that is impressive.
West: It would be much easier to get, you know, a cardiac myocyte, which differentiates very early in embryogenesis, or neurons, or skin cells, but nevertheless they were able to develop embryonic stem cells into beta cells, isolate the beta cells in relatively pure form, and put them into a mouse and cure diabetes.

LEF: That's fabulous!
West: Yes, and I think the demonstration that you could go and do such a difficult project is good evidence that there are going to be many, many applications of this technology.

LEF: Are you doing any work in the area of directing the differentiation of cells in your company?
West: Yes, though the majority of the work at Advanced Cell Technology has been focused on taking the cells back in time. It is relatively easy to take a cell at the beginning of life, one of these totipotent stem cells, and steer its development through the differentiated lineages, like the branches of the tree, because that's the normal path of development. What's almost miraculous is that you can take a differentiated cell and take it back to a totipotent state, because that's taking differentiation in reverse. It's a bit like if I were to tell you that I had taken a baseball bat and hit a ceramic vase and broken it into a million pieces on the floor, and then that I could, through a magic wand, have that go in reverse and have all of the pieces of the vase fly together and fuse back into a vase and then go back up on the table top, like reversing a video tape. That would be near miraculous. And to have development go in reverse, which it never does in nature, through cloning is pretty amazing, and that's why the scientific community was so amazed that you could actually clone an animal from a body cell. But what I think is the second level of amazement is the fact that not only does the development go in reverse, but the animal is actually made young again in the process, and I think that's what impressed us even more.

Age Reversal with Alkaline Water

noreply@blogger.com (Anti-Aging Beauty) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 02:22:00 +0000

Age Reversal with Alkaline Water

We live in a century of highly accelerated advancements in science and technology. At the turn of the century, man began to fly. Today, we can even fly to the moon. Isn’t it reasonable to expect that science today should discover the technology of reverse aging? Well, it has! This series of articles is to explain scientifically the simple truth about the process of aging, how to combat the aging process and going further, how to attempt to reverse aging.

Here is the simple process of aging. Every living cell within our body creates waste products. The nutrients from our food are delivered to each cell and they burn with oxygen to provide energy for us to live. The burned nutrients are the waste products. Whether you eat gourmet or junk food, all food generates waste products. The food that is either good or bad for you is determined by the amount and quality of the wastes produced: toxic, acid, alkaline, etc. Most of our cells go through metabolism and old dead cells become waste products.

These waste products must be discharged from our body. In fact, our body tries its best to dispose of them through urine and perspiration. Virtually all waste products are acidic; that is why urine is acidic and skin surface is also acidic. The problem is that, due to several reasons, our body cannot get rid of 100% of the waste products it produces.

The main reason for this is our life style. We stay up late and get up early. We do not take time to rest; some of us work more than one job. We, therefore, spend more time producing waste products than processing and discharging them.

The second reason is food. Most of the food we like is mainly acidic. Acidic food does not necessarily mean that it tastes acidic, but that the wastes it produces are acidic. Grains and meats are mainly acidic; fruits and vegetables are alkaline. Citric fruits may taste acidic but they are considered to be alkaline because they contain alkaline minerals.

The third reason is our environment. More healthy cells are killed by air, water and soil pollution than the natural death of cells caused by normal metabolism. Thus, more waste products are created.

The question is: “What happens to those non-disposed acidic waste products?” The answer is simple. These waste products become solid wastes, such as, cholesterol, fatty acid, uric acid, kidney stones, urates, phosphates, sulfates, etc., and, unknown to us, they accumulate and build-up somewhere within our body. This accumulation of non-disposed acidic wastes within our body is the aging process .

Alkaline neutralizes acid. Drinking alkaline water helps our body dissolve acid wastes and make it easier for the body to dispose of them safely. Since the accumulation of acid wastes is aging, the reduction of acid wastes is reverse aging. Alkaline water is not a medicine to cure any disease. However, if consumed regularly, alkaline water gradually reduces the accumulated acid wastes. As a result of acid reduction, there are many reports of natural health improvement in Japan.

We use alkaline soap to wash acidic dirt accumulated on our skin; we must wash the acidic dirt accumulated within our body by using alkaline water. Alkaline water has been available in Asia for over 30 years (2) ; water ionizers to produce alkaline water have been approved by Japanese government agencies as medical devices.

source: by Sang Whang