What are the reasons we age?
Specifically, the reasons we can actually do something about? The Bible claims that the ancient humans lived very long time, hundreds of years. Could there be any truth to that? Because the scientists and anthropologists tell us that the early humans' life spans were very short, like 20 to 30 years. I don't necessarily agree with the scientific opinion on the subject. There is an isolated valley north of Palestine, where people habitually live up to 150 years old, where degenerative disease and caner are unheard of. That seems to me a good example how long people could live quite easily, by changing only a couple of things in their diets and life style. That group of people's success, I believe, comes from their isolation. The technology had not caught up to them the same way as it did to all of us, and they live peacefully, close to nature, eating very sparingly, in a small, tightly knit community. Could it actually be that if we could eliminate most of the reasons for aging listed below, we could live hundreds of years? I don't see why not. Let's examine those reasons and the ways they can be eliminated or reduced.
Telomere length
Telomeres are little tails at the end of chromosomes that determine how many times the cell can divide.
A chromosome is a piece of coiled DNA containing genes inside the nucleus of the animal or plant cells. Chromosomes also contain DNA-bound proteins, which serve to package the DNA and control its functions. There are total of 46 chromosomes in a human cell - 23 pairs of them. Half comes from one parent, and half from the other. Different living creatures have different number of chromosomes in their cells: a tiny fruit fly cell has 4 chromosomes. DNA is like a huge chemical database that carries the complete instructions for making a person or a tree. There are hundreds or even thousands of genes in one chromosome. More information is available on this site: National Human Genome Research Institute
Telomeres are tails at the ends of chromosomes made of repeating DNA sequences protecting the chromosome ends. Every time a cell divides, telomeres get shorter. Once they are gone the cell can divide no longer and dies. So the older the people get, the shorter their telomeres, generally speaking.
Not everyone has telomeres of the same length. Some people's telomeres are longer than others. It is not necessarily determined by their genes, but also by their life styles, diet and exercise. Researchers found that you can lengthen your telomeres.
A new book came out recently called The Immortality Edge: Realize the Secrets of Your Telomeres for a Longer, Healthier Life written by Michael Fossel, Greta Blackburn and Dave Woynarowski - authors with extensive knowledge of genetics, telomeres, and longevity. The book gives a complete program that incorporates specific recommendations regarding supplements, diet, stress-reduction techniques, and exercise aimed at keeping telomeres long the natural way, including:
- A two-phase supplement plan with detailed explanations and dosage information
- Techniques that will reduce stress at the cellular level, improve your concentration, and help you sleep better
- Eating guidelines to safeguard your telomeres, including the top twenty telomere-friendly foods
- Fourteen days of meal plans
- Fitness plans tailored to your own fitness level that combine interval, endurance, and resistance training advice
In Ending Aging, Dr. de Grey and his research assistant Michael Rae explain that the aging of the human body like the aging of machines results from an accumulation of various types of damage. As with machines, this damage can periodically be repaired, leading to indefinite extension of the machine’s fully functional lifetime, just as is routinely done with classic cars. We already know what types of damage accumulate in the human body, and we are moving rapidly toward the comprehensive development of technologies to remove that damage. By demystifying aging and its postponement for the nonspecialist reader, de Grey and Rae systematically dismantle the fatalist presumption that aging will forever defeat the efforts of medical science.
- Description from Amazon.com
Telomerase
TA-65 or Telomerase Activator
T-65 is the world's first telomerase activator made from Astragalus root, it is an all natural compound said to lengthen telomeres by activating telomerase in the cells. T-65 treatment is very expensive and there have not been any long term studies of its effect, since it is a new thing. Many people are curious about where you can buy TA 65. As far as I know, the only place to get it is from a doctor that is associated with TA Sciences. You'd have to buy a six month supply minimum which will run from $1,500 to $4000 for the six month supply, depending on the results of the test you do to see how long your telomeres are at the moment. The test costs $2,890. After six months the testing is repeated to see how long they have grown, if any. At which point you pay another $1,500 - $4,000 to continue with the treatment, and so on. There is an additional fee to the doctor in the amount of $500.Astragalus extracts can be found in most health food stores, but they contain little TA-65. Apparently it takes some 3 tons of the plant yield only like 5 grams of TA-65. I don't know if that's true, but that's what TA Sciences say, of course, they want you to pay them big bucks...
Astragalus Root and its benefits
Hormones
Production of certain hormones declines with age. One of such hormones is HGH - Human Growth Hormone. As is pretty obvious from its name, it is abundant in young and growing humans. The level of natural HGH that your body produces at age 60 is 80% lower than the amount it is producing at age 20. After you hit 30, your HGH production goes down about 14% every ten years. By age 80, you are barely producing any at all. Since HGH is responsible for the regeneration of cells in the muscles, bones, and skin, it gets harder and harder to stay in shape and keep the wrinkles away.The first studies of the HGH focused only on patients over the age of 60. Over the period of a few decades, a group of patients put on HGH demonstrated slowed signs of aging by an average of ten to twenty years, compared to the control group. The scientists began studying other age groups as well, and found that HGH benefits every age groups, but only if their natural HGH production is deficient. Too much HGH causes serious side effects, so, in 1990 Congress passed a law making sale of HGH illegal, unless it is used for treatment of a disease caused by HGH deficiency. In other words, you'd have to have a blood test to check for HGH deficiency and have a doctor prescribe the HGH replacement therapy. During this treatment HGH is administered by injections.
Supplements containing real HGH in pills and capsules do not exist. Oral supplements contain amino acids and herbs that stimulate production of HGH naturally. If you see anyone saying that they have real HGH in their pills, don't believe it - it's a scam. There are also sprays, that supposedly contain real HGH, but according to the medical community they don't do anything. You have two choices: see if your doctor can prescribe you HGH treatment, or take HGH stimulating supplements. Those supplements should contain the following ingredients:
Amino acids stimulating natural HGH production:
Arginine can triple your HGH levels, even into old age. Your body doesn't naturally produce arginine; you must get it from your diet. Foods rich in arginine are: sesame seeds, lobster, elk, moose, goat and ostrich.
Ornithine is as effective as arginine, can as much as triple your HGH levels. Especially when used in combination with arginine, lysine, and glutamine.
Lysine taken in combination with arginine is much more effective than just taking arginine alone.
Glutamine: is the amino acid used most by your body during times of stress, and it's the key to metabolism and maintenance of muscle, cell division, and cell growth. It increases energy and mental alertness, boosts immunity, lowers cholesterol, lowers blood pressure, reduces instances of arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, and more.
Pyroglutamate is an amino acid present in large amounts in the human brain, cerebrospinal fluid, and blood. Pyroglutamate has been shown to be effective in alcohol-induced memory loss, and in improving memory functions in subjects affected by age-related memory decline.
Tyrosine is used by the thyroid gland for the production of Thyroxine, another vital hormone shown in clinical studies to help reduce fatigue and depression, as well as regulate growth and metabolism.
L-Valine is found in high concentration in the muscles. L-Valine can not be made by the body, and must be acquired through food or dietary supplements. It has a stimulating effect and is needed for muscle metabolism, repair and growth of tissue and maintaining the nitrogen balance in the body.
GABA, or Gamma-Aminobutryic Acid, is classified as a neurotransmitter, which means it helps nerve impulses cross the synapses (gaps) and communicate better, and has a number of positive effects on the nervous system. GABA promotes relaxation, restful sleep and a sense of well-being, as well as lowers the blood pressure.
Animal produced substances that stimulate HGH production:
Deer Velvet Antler is a natural source of glucosamine, chondroitin and collagen. Deer antler velvet has been used for 2000 years as a healing substance and is beneficial for just about everything, besides stimulating HGH production.
Colostrum is a form of milk produced by the mammary glands of mammals in late pregnancy and the few days after giving birth. Bovine Colostrum is virtually identical to human colostrum.
Herbs that stimulate HGH production:
Tribulus Terrestris Extract -
Tribulus had been used as traditional medicine to treat sexual dysfunction and male infertility in Europe and Asia for many decades. More than nine clinical studies have confirmed the herb's beneficial effect. Other studies have suggested that Tribulus also acts by increasing the level of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a naturally occurring substance in the body believed to be important for a healthy sex drive.
Astragalus Root Extract
In western herbal medicine, Astragalus is often used to enhance metabolism and digestion, strengthen the immune system and help wounds and injuries heal. It is also believed to help improve the function of the lung, adrenal glands and the gastrointestinal tract, increase metabolism, sweating, and reduce fatigue.
Panax Ginseng:
Increases resistance to the effects of stress and improves circulation and mental functioning. Health conditions contributed to be stress include increased acidity of the body chemistry, back pain, Chrohn's disease (inflammation of the intestinal tract), depression, chronic diarrhea, digestive disorders, hair loss, headaches, hypertension or high blood pressure, impotence, insomnia, TMJ syndromes (jaw pain and clicking), nervous and anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive behaviors, various skin conditions, and ulcers. Ginseng is great for people who have thirst, hot flashes, people who crave excess sweets and have excess hunger.
Doctor Orman's HGH Plus
Order at: http://www.hghplus.net Use this code: MarA913 to get 10% off discount! Doctor developed herbal formula, manufactured in FDA approved lab.
THE INGREDIENTS:
Epimedium Grandiflorum is a rare and potent herb which stimulates the pituitary gland and strengthens the kidneys and adrenals. It also stabilizes heart rhythm and greatly raises energy.
Ziziphi Spinosae is used to tonify the spleen, improve digestion. Also used for the treatment of insomnia, irritability and anxiety, prevents night sweats.
Artemesia is used to stabilize the endocrine system and has strong anti-viral qualities as well.
Motherwort is a spleen tonic which helps to strengthen the immune system.
Condurongo Bark is one of the most unique herbs. It is used to detoxify the cell, "open" the cell membrane and direct the substance to the areas where the body can maximize the effect. No other known substance has this effect.
Ginkgo Biloba has the remarkable ability to increase blood circulation and oxygen levels to the brain tissue, pituitary gland and cerebral areas. Ginkgo also increases the brain's electrical activity and prevents platelet aggregation inside arterial walls.
Niacin has been shown to elevate human growth hormone levels 4 fold. It also reduces cholesterol and triglycerides as well.
Mucopolysaccharide - This aloe vera derivative is arguably the strongest natural immune stimulator available.
Kelp is considered "food" for the thyroid and rich in minerals and trace minerals.
Oxidation
Cells oxidize just like the iron rusts. One of the things you can do right away is to make sure NOT to buy multi-vitamin supplements containing iron. Iron makes your body rust faster.Get good antioxidants and take them regularly.
All One MultiVitamin & Mineral, Fruit Antioxidant, 450 gram
Allergies, especially food allergies
Improper nutrition and obesity
Parasites (worms)
Improper and insufficient breathingAccording to some yogi wisdom we don't breath properly most of the time and need additional breathing exercises. They claim that because one nostril is often more obstructed than the other, in the long run it could result in serious illnesses speeding up aging, such as diabetes type 2.
Not drinking enough water or drinking bad quality waterWe are like 80% water, water is essential to all our bodily functions. Most modern people are dehydrated, causing illness, making allergies worse or even bringing about new allergies.
Improper sleep
Negativity and angerThere is so much injustice in the world that it is really hard to stay calm and unperturbed. Every day we go out to face the world, we get insulted, cheated, something gets stolen from us, someone bitches us out, we get a bill in the mail from the doctor's office that the insurance should have covered... I find that I have to keep my mind busy at all times, because whenever I don't, the angry thoughts about what happened recently pop up all too readily, which is especially annoying at night when I'm trying to fall asleep. According to Leonard Orr the immortals who live in Tibet monasteries do not let the visitors in and never go out, so they don't contaminate their energy with the negativity of the day-to-day living and lose a few years of their endless lives just due to a few-minute conversation. Only visitors in a right and tested frame of mind are admitted to have an audience. Not having the luxury the monks do, we should develop super thick skins and learn very specific skills to eliminate negative thinking and not to allow what other people do and say get to us. The Buddhists have a pretty idea practicing detachment. We all could definitely use more detachment.
Broken heartMany people lose the will to live after they lose a spouse, or their kids move away.
Jealousy and envyYou must have heard an expression "green with envy". Green is obviously an unhealthy color, so even folk wisdom recognizes the harm of envy. Jealousy is a powerful negative energy eating one up from the inside, making one's life hell.
Boredom, lack of enthusiasm and interestRetired people who don't have hobbies or lots of stuff to do tend to die sooner. Also, bored people do things to relieve their boredom that tend to be unhealthy, such as: overeating, watching TV non-stop, sleeping way too much, drinking and smoking, having meaningless sexual escapades.
A job you hate
Social conditioning and programmingI think that people get old because they believe they are supposed to get old. Some people actually look forward to getting old: to retirement, rest, not having to worry about jobs, not having to worry about being attractive, not having to work on relationships, to the end of worrying about birth control, periods, looking your best, competition, and all that dog-eat-dog stuff of the young. Some religions promise heaven after death, so, instead of fighting for the life they want and learning to be happy and healthy in the now, the followers of such religions tend to just wait to die and hope for a reward. In case of rich people, the younger people often wish for their elderly relatives to die, so they can inherit their money. Business people often push their elderly managers and presidents towards retirement, so they can be rid of them, be promoted, have more control, more money, and so forth. In such cases the people wanting to push someone out of the way may keep mentioning how they are getting old.
