Slowing Down the Aging Process

By Tom Petrie, B.S., C.D.N.

As Baby Boomers grow older, they all want to feel and look their best! Now, many also want to slow down the aging process. But, the issue is not as cut and dried as some of the popular papers might make it out to be.

At the turn of the last century, conquering infectious diseases was the focus of our attention. Now the focus is on reversing or controlling heart disease, cancer and other degenerative diseases. Anti-aging medicine must be considered with these other diseases in mind.

Studies Recently Published that Relate to the Aging Question:

	*Gene study suggests Vitamin E helps to block Alzheimer's* -- Scientists have found genetic proof that Vitamin E can help protect against Alzheimer's disease, said an important study, published yesterday. (Nutr'l NeuroSc., Feb. 2005, 8;21-29)
	Low-Calorie Diet Slows Aging -- (Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sc., Sept. 11, 2001, 98;10630-10635)
	Exercise May Slow Some Effects of Aging -- (Jour. Sports Medicine & Phys. Fit., 2000, 40;1-10)
	Too Little Sleep May Accelerate Aging -- (Lancet, Oct. 23, 1999, 354;1435-1439)
	Blueberries Reverse Certain Aging Characteristics -- (Jour. NeuroSc., Sept. 1999)
	Exercise Helps Fight Aging -- (Behavioral Medicine, 1999, 24;157-168)

Anti-Aging Medicine is BIG!

Since 11,000 folks reach the age of 55 each day in America, more and more consumers are getting interested in staying healthy and aging more gracefully. There's no question that Americans are living longer than ever -- the average life expectancy for men is about 72 and for women, about 78.

However, most of the increase is because of the elimination of major killers of infants (lower infant mortality), mostly at the turn of the 19th century, from better sanitation, not modern medicine. In fact, while many Americans reach for a drug (legal or not) when they are not feeling well, such drugs are not without their costs -- they kill well over 100,000 Americans each year, in addition being responsible for several million hospitalizations. If you die early (by any means or cause), you obviously can't live a long life!

How the Body Ages

The changes that underlie aging occur on the cellular level. These are some of the changes that occur:

	Cells lose water
	Tissues get harder and less flexible
	Oxidative forces cause cells to die
	Arteries get less flexible and harder
	Cognitive faculties decline
	Organs lose efficiency
	The liver is less able to detoxify poisons and various drugs
	The kidneys slow down, filtering wastes less efficiently
	Digestive efficiency decreases and less nutrition is absorbed
	And, your metabolism slows down a little!

The major theories regarding aging include:

	Depressed growth hormone levels
	Low blood levels of DHEA
	Chronic dehydration at the cellular level
	Eating in excess of our biological needs!
	Excessive "free radicals" or depletion of beneficial anti-oxidants
	Deficiencies of oxygen in the body
	Excess acid buildup
	Excess accumulation of toxins, pesticides and other "wastes" within the body
	Eating too much junk food
	Smoking
	Drinking too much alcohol
	Stress!

The Role of the Immune System in "Graceful" Aging

One other issue that is critical in our discussion is the role of the immune system in aging. We must keep our immune systems healthy if we want to live a long life! If you die young, due, at least in part, to a weak immune system, this cannot be considered living a long life! Too many people die young from pneumonia, cancer and other diseases that could have been prevented had their immune systems been properly taken care of.

Yes, the tools that one uses to slow down the aging process are very similar to the tools that are used to enhance the immune system! Developing your own personal longevity program means eating to live a long, energetic and healthy life.

This may seem pedantic to mention, however, but if you die young from years of not taking care of yourself properly, you can't live a long life -- correct? Therefore, discussing "anti-aging" medicine with those who do not generally take care of themselves is pointless.

Your Own Personal Longevity Program

This is not for the faint of heart. If you want to continue eating junk food, large quantities of refined sugar and carbohydrates, smoking, drinking (more than very moderate quantities of alcohol), skipping exercise, etc., you can't at the same time pursue an "anti-aging" agenda.

Why are so many folks struggling with various concepts or aspects of the aging process? For one, there are many pressures to consume food of less than optimal quality. We eat too much food. We drink soda frequently and in excessive quantities. We maintain a sedentary lifestyle without much regular exercise. We consume too many food additives, artificial dyes, preservatives and artificial sweeteners whose safety is questionable. In addition, we eat too much sugar, a definitive factor in aging! Also, we are exposed to too many heavy metals like mercury, aluminum (a light metal!), cadmium, lead, arsenic and more....

Another reason so many folks are not aging as gracefully as they otherwise could is the less than adequate insurance coverage for "natural medicine".

Modern medicine focuses on treating disease whereas alternative medicine focuses on building health. They are two different animals! If you are sick, you may need to see a doctor. However, if you want to stay well and out of a doctor's office (as much as possible), you'll need to learn more about preventative medicine. Anti-aging medicine is quintessentially preventative medicine!

Treating Disease is NOT the Same as Building Health

Here are some general points to slowing down the aging process. Manage stress better. Learn how to eat right and learn how to detoxify (cleanse) your system. Cleansing can be done with herbs, fresh raw foods, fresh, raw vegetable juices and/or fasting (for a reasonable length of time). It is also important to consume plenty of filtered, fluoride-free water, to consume anti-oxidant nutrients like Vitamin C, E, CoQ10, Selenium, etc., to receive adequate rest, and to practice some kind of stress management program.

In addition, when folks reach over 40 years of age, a master hormone known as DHEA tends to go down. This hormone may slow down the aging process. Ideally, one should get a DHEA level blood test before consuming this supplement. Typical dosage is from 5 to 50 milligrams.

Also, of prime importance is excellent nutrition. Just remember, that the quality of what you eat is intimately related to how quickly you'll age! Since sugar increases insulin production and insulin production encourages fat storage and depresses growth hormone production, refined sugar should be consumed very rarely, if at all.

Fluoride: A Significant Aging Factor!

The integrity of collagen is crucial in order to allow humans to age gracefully. Unfortunately, numerous studies show that fluoride poisons collagen producing cells. These would include osteoblasts (bone), chondroblasts (cartilage), fibroblasts (skin, muscles, ligaments, tendons), odontoblasts (dentin of teeth), and amelioblasts (enamel of teeth). We know it poisons these specialized cells because we can see the increased urinary production of amino acids unique to collagen protein within the body. Such amino acids as hydroxyl-proline and hydroxylysine are seen in the urine of individuals after the consumption of just a few milligrams of fluoride. Thus, at normal intake levels, fluoride is causing the disruption of collagen. Not surprisingly, fluoride has been called The Aging Factor by one author, since it promotes aging of the bones, skin, ligaments, tendons, etc.

The cause of collagen breakdown is uncertain. However, it may be due to the known disruption of hydrogen bonds by fluoride at low levels of intake. It may also be due to an interference of essential enzymes, necessary for setting up the proper conditions for intact collagen.

During the aging process, cells lose their ability to know the difference between cells that should be mineralized and cells that should not be mineralized. Studies show fluoride to cause tissues that should be mineralized to lose minerals and cells that should not be mineralized to gain minerals. Aging ligaments, tendons, skin and even the aorta, are tissues that, with aging, become increasingly calcified. That this is "normal" doesn't make it healthy! Indeed, with proper lifestyle (including a minimum fluoride exposure and intake), such dangerous calcification of soft tissues can be kept to a minimum. Proof of these facts can be found in the worldwide literature on fluoride intoxication. It is in this literature that with fluoride intoxication or excessive intake, larger amounts of imperfect or deformed collagen fibers may be formed. In addition, the body's ability to regulate formation and mineralization is hindered. (Yiamouyiannis, Fluoride: The Aging Factor, 1986, Chp 4, "Breaking Down the Body's Glue")

Summary

Laboratory rats and mice that are fed fifty percent of their normal rations live 30 to 50 percent longer! This is the only area of research that is definitely proven to extend lifespan. So if one is to "under-eat", what they're really doing is not over-eating. This can only be achieved through the habit of eating wholesome foods, free of pesticide residues, keeping one's diet primarily alkaline ( that is, rich in fruits and vegetables) and getting a good night's sleep every day.

It's also important to drink sufficient quantities of water, take your anti-oxidant nutrients, maintain a positive attitude about life and try to be as proactive as possible in all areas of your health and your life. Two more things - look both ways before crossing the street and do not tailgate!