| In fact oxidative stress is the leading theory behind the aging process itself. In addition to this, our bodies are under constant attack from an army of pollutants in our air, food, and water. Our stress-filled lifestyles also take a toll. If we do not counteract these processes, the result is cell deterioration and ultimately, disease. This is why the truths revealed in this book are so critical to our health.
Learning about how unhindered oxidative stress damages the body drastically changed my perspective on chronic degenerative diseases. |
| Several different clinical studies provide evidence that when people use various antioxidant supplements, this protects the aging eye. Researchers have found the higher the level of vitamin C found in the aqueous fluid around the eye, the greater the protection against cataract formation.7 Because of its synergistic effect, alpha-lipoic acid has been shown to embellish the work of all these antioxidants in protecting the lens of the eye. |
| Nowhere is evidence for this concept stronger than when it comes to the actual aging of the brain. Several scientific studies have shown oxidative damage to the mitochondria (the furnace of the cell) and to the DNA of the brain cell. This can lead to the malfunction or even the death of these very sensitive brain cells.3 As I have pointed out, brain cells do not have the ability to regenerate themselves. So as we lose more and more brain cells throughout our lifetime due to this oxidative damage, the brain simply does not function as well as it did when we were younger. |
Lester A. Mitscher and Victoria Toews
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 BECOMING "IMMUNE TO AGING"
The overall health-promoting effect of polyphenols may account for green tea's role in promoting longevity, particularly since these polyphenols help the immune system function more effectively. Infectious diseases are not a concern of the past. Although vaccines, antibiotics, and other infection-fighting medications have been developed, infections continue to plague mankind. Health agencies warn that death from infectious diseases rose 58 percent between 1980 and 1992. |
Devra Davis
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 Can aging be involved in growing cases of childhood leukemias, kidney and brain cancer? In a strange way, yes. All of these cancers come about because some part of the body begins to act as though it were much older, losing its ability to repair itself, as deformed cells take over. Normal cells of healthy children have a springlike ability to recover from shocks, stay in order, stay in line, as though following some intelligent design. Children with cancer have lost their springs. |
Steven V. Joyal
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 Carnitine and lipoic acid alleviates protein oxidation in heart mitochondria during aging process. Biogerontology 2006; 7(2): 101-9.
Shults CW et al. Effects of coenzyme Ql 0 in early Parkinson disease: Evidence of slowing of the functional decline. Arch Neurol 2002 Oct; 59(10):154l-50.
Shults CW et al. Pilot trial of high dosages of coenzyme Ql 0 in patients with Parkinson's disease. Exp Neurol2004 Aug; 188(2):491-94.
Sima AF et al. |
Dr. John Yiamouyiannis
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 The most important question is:
Does fluoride, which is purposely added to the drinking water at a level of 1 part per million, accelerate the aging process even among people consuming the average American diet?
Symptoms of Fluoride Poisoning in the Western World
To begin to answer, let's refer to the United States Pharmacopeia, a guide to drug information, which lists some of the side-effects that can result from the daily ingestion of the amount of fluoride found in 1 to 2 pints of artificially fluoridated water. |
| REPPED: Speeding Up The aging Process
They called it "Das Dorf der jungen Greise," the village where people age before their time. In 1978, the German magazine Stern reported on this village of Kizilcaoern, Turkey, describing it as a place where even the young looked and felt old. The article, as excerpted here, describes the suffering of these people.
"The children, the young girls and the only horse in the village have brown teeth. Thirty-year-old men with hunched up shoulders painfully drag themselves around, leaning on sticks. |
| Increased superoxide in the bloodstream, which gives rise to tissue damage, has also been associated with an acceleration of the aging process.
In summary, the consumption of water containing 1 part per million fluoride leads to a situation in which the ability of
Arisenuiiiig Lite; xiiiiiiuiic o^yst^iii the body to properly dispose of foreign agents in the blood is retarded by (1) slowing down the movement of white blood cells, (2) interfering with phagocytosis, and (3) inducing the release of superoxide free radicals. |
| During the aging process, the body loses its ability to discriminate between which tissues should be mineralized and which tissues should not. As will be shown, consumption of fluoride results in the same loss of the body's ability to discriminate. In other words, mineralization of tissue, such as bone, which should be mineralized, is disrupted, and tendons, ligaments, muscles, and other soft tissue which should not be mineralized start to become mineralized as a result of fluoride exposure. |
| The defective DNA repair enzyme in patients with xeroderma pigmentosum accelerates the aging process to the extent that xeroderma pigmentosum patients in their 20's have the same cancer risk as "normal" people in their 80's.
Dr. Wolfgang Klein and co-workers at the Seibersdorf Research Center in Austria reported that 1 part per million fluoride inhibits DNA repair enzyme activity by 50%. Since fluoride inhibits DNA repair enzyme activity, fluoride should also be expected to lead to an increase in genetic or chromosome damage. |
Too Profitable to CureBrent Hoadley, Ph.D.
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| The pharmaceuticals in this case blamed the results on aging and patient stupidity, while anecdotal evidence points to human insulin. After the introduction of human insulin, the iatrogenic sudden death rate went from 4% to 13% —an increase of over 300%! Only those focused on unconscionable profits could ignore this anecdotal evidence.
Fox 13 investigative reporter Glenn Selig aired a story entitled, "Insulin Crisis II" on May 30, 2001. |
| I wonder how our aging gold medal skaters feel now about their role in spreading the curse of Vioxx?
To lessen the width of my paintbrush, let me acknowledge the fine works of a couple of celebrities who have put their money and time where their mouths are. Jerry Lewis has done tremendous work promoting a cure for neurological disorders. Danny Thomas and now his daughter Mario have addressed the impact of disease on doctor, patient, and family. At St. |
Steven V. Joyal
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| Experimental studies in both animals and humans show that DHEA supplementation improves insulin sensitivity and reduces obesity, while other animal studies indicate that DHEA increases beta-cell mass and improves glucose-dependent insulin secretion in aging.
Published study data indicate that testosterone improves insulin sensitivity in men. This suggests that DHEA's conversion into testosterone may be at least partly responsible for the beneficial effects it has on insulin function. |
Lester A. Mitscher and Victoria Toews
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| Other challenges to a healthy immune system include chronic lack of sleep, overwork, and the aging process. Immunity gradually declines over the years, increasing susceptibility to infection. Fortunately, research shows that supplementing the diet with antioxidants can boost immune function back to its "younger" capacity.10
LINKING GREEN TEA AND IMMUNITY
Green tea drinkers are less likely to be stricken with diseases caused by microorganisms for two reasons. First, green tea polyphenols boost the body's intrinsic defenses against disease (the immune system). |
Mark Schapiro
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 Every year such aging or disposed-of cars create more than twenty million tons of waste across the United States and Europe.
Europe is now doing to cars what it has done to electronics: insisting on similar life-cycle production and disposal practices by the manufacturers. The philosophically titled End of Life Vehicles Directive, or ELV, requires that all cars produced or sold in the EU be built with at least 80 percent, by weight, of "recyclable components"; by 2015 that figure rises to 85 percent. |
Lester A. Mitscher and Victoria Toews
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| Free radical "hits" on cells and their essential components accumulate over time, producing the signs and symptoms of aging: premature death, heart disease, cancer, dimming cognition, cataracts, and wrinkles. If free radicals are the problem, then antioxidants are, without a doubt, the solution. According to Dr. Denham Harman, a free radical expert from the University of Nebraska, "addition of one of a number of different antioxidants in the diet can increase the average life span." Undoubtedly, green tea's polyphenols are potent antioxidants that can help hold back the hands of time. |
Ray D. Strand
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 And poorly repaired DNA chains lead to cell mutation as implicated in cancer and aging.
Simply stated, when we overwork our built-in antioxidant defense and repair systems, significant damage occurs to the body and eventually may lead to any one of a number of chronic degenerative diseases. Biochemical researchers realized years ago that based on their estimates of damaged cells from oxidative stress, we would die quickly from this damage to vital cellular parts if the antioxidant enzymes and compounds were our only means of protection. |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
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 Cousens: That's right, and that's the beauty of it, so now we have the easy reversal of aging, because what has research showed us? You can actually reverse aging. It wasn't just that you slowed it down; it actually reverses.
Mike: Take years off. I think it's also relevant for people to know that you were traditionally trained as an M.D., correct?
Cousens: Yes, Columbia Medical School. |
J. Douglas Bremner
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 The inner bone, called the trabecular bone, is less dense but forms a latticelike network that is actually more important for the strength of the bone. With aging there is a loss of trabecular bone; therefore there is less area on which calcium can be laid down. Therefore calcium is preferentially laid down on the outer, cortical bone. This may increase your BMD score, but it won't necessarily reduce your risk of fracture. And there are some particularly nasty side effects to deal with, which I will discuss below.
A Brittle Pill: Common O s t e o p a rci s s ? |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
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 Your skin is the fingerprint of what is going on inside your body, and all skin conditions, from psoriasis to acne to aging, are the manifestations of your body's internal needs, including its nutritional needs," says Dr. Georgiana Donadio, founder of the National Institute of Whole Health.
Recent research has shown that the skin reacts particularly well to certain vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that nourish the skin, making it appear youthful and healthy. |
Steven V. Joyal
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| It is essential that you work closely with a qualified, experienced doctor well versed in hormone replacement/restoration to maximize effectiveness and minimize risk.
All aging men should take the time to have their free and total testosterone, estradiol (a type of estrogen), and dihydrotestosterone (DHT; a testosterone derivative) levels checked. In fact, low levels of testosterone are associated with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. |
Dr. Steven R. Gundry
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 Here's the shocker: Creatures such as sharks and alligators that date back hundreds of millions of years have no aging mechanism and appear to have no finite age limit. Another example: Cell lines of cancer tumors have survived unchanged in petri dishes for more than sixty years, long after their human hosts have died. |
| An active businesswoman, Michelle is now 96 and still shows no signs of aging. Why would she? Her longevity genes are activated, preserving her from harm. Rather than being in survival mode, she exists in what I call "perfect efficiency," which is what I hope to attain-and the same goal I have for you. Live long and prosper, Michelle.
Is this you more like you? You weigh more than you did in high school. Perhaps a lot more. You pop one or more daily pills for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, acid reflux, depression, and/or arthritis. |
| YOUR GENETIC AUTOPILOT
Indeed, whether you realize it or not, your fate is being controlled by a hidden system that runs most of your cellular, hormonal, nervous system, and aging processes without your conscious input. It does this, so that the "thinking you" doesn't screw up the process of moving genetic material forward in time. If you've seen Stanley Kubrick's classic 2001: A Space Odyssey, in which inter-galactic astronauts travel in a spaceship autopiloted by a computer they nickname "Hal," you can envision what's going on in your body. |
| First, the usual "wear and tear" theory of aging is (pardon the expression) dead wrong. Until recently, researchers were convinced that as body parts and cells wear out and simultaneously built-in repair systems become less effective, humans and most other animals slowly but inevitably age. Cancer cells, which have been lurking like looters in the background, are now free to run amok. Like your car's brake pads, your joints wear down. Crud builds up in your arteries, and eventually the major arteries to your heart or brain shut down. A tidy theory, but it's incorrect. |
| After recently being invited to a panel discussion on biomarkers in aging, I was impressed by research data regarding the effect of fasting every other day on longevity-gene activation (a technique you'll learn about in the next chapter). I will be testing my biomarkers after this book goes to press, but to find out how I'm doing, follow my progress at www.drgundry.com.
Warning: I am a professional Diet Evolutionist on a closed course! Don't attempt this technique early in Diet Evolution, or you may find yourself flat on the floor with a very low glucose level. |
| All of this suggests that, rather than being preordained, aging and death are "ordered" to occur, and in most species ought to occur, to make it easier for plants and animals bearing new copies of genes to have a shot at continuing the lineage and to encourage a multiplicity of new genes capable of adapting to new environmental challenges.
Killer genes exist to get rid of individuals who have outlived their usefulness or, just as important, threaten the future of the system. Remember Hal, the autopilot in charge of the spaceship in 2001? |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
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 How protein deficiency accelerates aging.
Why gut problems (leaky gut syndrome, IBS, Crohn's disease and more) are often caused by poor nutrient assimilation.
The promise of probiotics: How "feeding your gut" can help you overcome disease.
How poor digestion is the root cause of all degenerative disease (and how to fix it fast!)
Why drugs-and-surgery medicine will never make you truly health.
The little-known link between your mind and your digestive health.
How to overcome chemotherapy side effects with improved protein assimilation. |
David Brownstein M.D.
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 Natural hormones can improve well-being, slow aging, and reverse many chronic conditions. After taking natural hormones, my older patients constantly proclaim that they feel like they did when they were in their 20's. I have found natural hormones to be a great benefit and often a cure for many conditions including chronic fatigue syndrome, PMS, endometriosis, infertility, headaches and migraine headaches, recurrent infections, fibromyalgia, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's, and other autoimmune disorders. |
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