Dr. HingHau Tsang's Crusade on Nutrition
Dr. HingHau Tsang's Crusade on Nutrition
Newsletter #82
--- Natural Anti-Aging Strategy
Aging is nothing more than a disease state. Aging starts when cell death starts as early as age 25.
From ages 25 to 35: Most hormone levels start to decrease. Growth hormone level has already fallen approximately 14% by age 35. Poor diet, stress and environmental pollution cause free radical formation and cellular damage. While you may look and feel good, internal cellular damage is already happening.
By age 45, production of many hormones has fallen by more than 25%. Internal cellular damage by free radical continues. Signs and symptoms of aging such as decreased visual acuity, graying of the hair, increased pigmenting of the skin. and decreased strength and energy are making their presence felt on the outside. The nails are brittle, the breath is short and gone with the libido. The prostate gland hypertrophies and the trips to the bathroom at night increase. If not controlled or slowed, mutational changes may lead to cancer.
At age 45 and above, most hormone production continues to decline, including growth hormone, DHEA, Melatonin, and male and female sexual hormones. The rate of decline accelerates as we get older. Signs and symptoms of aging worsen. The skin is further dehydrated and thinned as collagen fibers break down to form wrinkles. Painful arthritis sets in. Fatigue and loss of energy follow. As organs begin to fail, chronic illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer's disease appear. As our cells succumb to assaults, mutation and cancer can arise.
Current theories on why we age (Aging or cellular senescence)
This theory was developed by Denham Harman MD in 1956. The term free radical describes any molecule that has a free electron, and this property makes it react with healthy molecules in a destructive way. Aging is the result of accumulated errors from excessive free radical damage, Diseases like cancer is the accumulation of structural damage to our cells from being constantly bombarded by metabolically generated free radicals. Oxygen free radicals are thought to greatly increase the severity of, if not cause, such life-shortening diseases as diabetes, strokes, and heart attacks. Since longer-lived species have lower rates of free radical generation than do shorter-lived ones, then life span may be dependent upon our ability to prevent oxidative damage from free radicals.
Telomeres are the tiny "caps" that keep our chromosomes from fusing together. When we are young, the telomeres are very long. Scientists theorize that telomeres may serve as genetic "clocks." As we grow and age, our cells divide. One parent cell divides into two daughter cells, making copies of the genetic information to pass on to these new cells. Each time a cell divides and the DNA within the cell is copied, the telomeres shorten. This process continues until the telomeres reach a critical length, at which point the cell stops dividing. Once a cell stops dividing, it may do one of three things: die, become inactive, or transform into some sort of abnormality, such as a cancerous cell. A 2003 study published in The Lancet links the lengths of telomeres with rate of survival among people over 60, the first study to make this connection. Researchers from the University of Utah recently demonstrated an association between telomere shortening and mortality rate. Their study measured telomeres in a group of subjects who donated blood in the mid-1980s. The researchers then compared the telomere lengths to survival data they had gathered on these subjects. They found that subjects with shorter telomeres were more than three times as likely to have died of heart disease, and more than eight times as likely to have died of infectious disease as their counterparts with longer telomeres.
Two researchers at MIT, Drs. David Sinclair and Leonard Guarente believe they have discovered the "Holy Grail" of aging, the senescent factor (SF), which may be the underlying cause of why our billions of cells stop dividing and thus age. SF is believed to be the genetically regulated internal biological clock that is preset to a certain number of cell divisions before the cell dies.
This neuroendocrine system is a complicated network of biochemicals that govern the release of hormones which are altered by the walnut sized gland called the hypothalamus located in the brain. The hypothalamus controls various chain-reactions to instruct other organs and glands to release their hormones etc. The hypothalamus also responds to the body hormone levels as a guide to the overall hormonal activity. But as we grow older the hypothalamus loses it precision regulatory ability and the receptors which uptake individual hormones become less sensitive to them. Accordingly, as we age the secretion of many hormones declines and their effectiveness (compared unit to unit) is also reduced due to the receptors down-grading. One theory for the hypothalamus loss of regulation is that it is damaged by the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is produced from the adrenal glands. If cortisol damages the hypothalamus, then over time it becomes a vicious cycle of continued hypothalamic damage, leading to an ever increasing degree of cortisol production and thus more hypothalamic damage. This damage could then lead to hormonal imbalance as the hypothalamus loses its ability to control the system.
Also referred to as the Glycosylation Theory of Aging. In this theory it is the binding of glucose (simple sugars) to protein, a process that occurs under the presence of oxygen. Once this binding has occurred the protein becomes impaired and is unable to perform as efficiently. Known cross-linking disorders include senile cataract and the appearance of tough, leathery and yellow skin. Diabetics have 2-3 times the numbers of cross-linked proteins than healthy individual. Cross linked proteins are responsible for cardiac enlargement and the hardening of collagen, which lead to the increased susceptibility of a cardiac arrest. Cross linked proteins have also been implicated in renal disorders. Sugars bind to DNA may cause damage that leads to malformed cells and thus cancer.
Natural Anti-Aging Strategies
1. Regular Exercise
Anti-Aging exercise can make you stronger, healthier and younger. Exercise should incorporate flexibility and stretching training for our joints, cardiovascular training for our heart (Aerobic exercises) and strength (Resistence) training for our muscles. These exercises will prevent further loss of muscular strength, lung capacity and bone density. These exercises will stimulate the body to produce growth hormone, a hormone that has been shown to reverse the aging process and rejuvenate aged cells.
2. Balanced Diet
A balanced anti-aging diet should be comprised of a 50/25/25 ratio of carbohydrate, protein, fat. The carbohydrate should be in the form of fruits and vegetables. Protein should preferably be from plant sources such as beans and tofu, with maximum one-third from animal sources like meat. Fat (mostly poly and mono-unsaturated) should come from olive oil and nuts rather than from animal products. Maintain your anti-aging weight which is 5-10% less than your ideal body weight. For men, the ideal body weight is 106 lbs for the first 5 feet of your height, plus 6 lbs for every inch after that. Ladies, your ideal body weight is 100 lbs for the first 5 feet of your height, plus 5 lbs for every inch more. Don't eat when you're not hungry. 5-6 small meals throughout the day are better than 1-3 big meals per day. If you really crave food, eat a piece of fresh fruit. Avoid refined sugar in junk foods (donuts and soft drinks). Refined sugar is the worst enemy in your fight against aging as it increases the production of cortisol, an age-inducing hormone.
3. Stress Reduction
Stress increases the levels of cortisol production in your body which accelerates the aging process.
Mental activities for stress reduction include music, reading, meditation, singing, praying etc. Physical activities include exercise and sports, Yoga, Tai kwon do, bicycling, walking, swimming etc. Functional style activities include massage, Qi Gong and hydro-therapy.
4. Hormone Replenishment
The cornerstone of an effective natural anti-aging strategy is replenishment of the following hormones starting at age 40
One of the most important anti-aging hormones is growth hormone. Growth hormone release falls off after we turn 25 years old, dropping at a rate of 10%- 15% every decade thereafter. The aging process begins along with this decline in growth hormone output. A 60-year-old man secretes only 25 percent of the hGH secreted by a 20 year old man. Replenishment of human growth hormone can lead to improved sex life, improved skin tone, increase in energy, mental clarity, increase in muscle mass, decrease in body fat and body weight, stronger immune system functions, improvement in sleep patterns, improved physical appearance, visual Improvements, improved respiratory functions and reduced blood pressure. For people With Significant environmental Sensitivities and hormonally sensitive women (significant symptoms of PMS/menopause), use IGF-1.
In women, Natural Progesterone cream reduces the symptoms of menopause, PMS and premenopause syndrome. Natural progesterone combats osteoporosis and other symptoms of estrogen dominance. (Newsletter #28--- Natural Progesterone cream - key to Estrogen Dominance in women). In men, natural progesterone cream (Men's Crème) can help to reduce the enlarged prostate in prostate hypertrophy. Symptoms of urinary urgency and frequency decreased considerably after application of men's cream. Natural progesterone cream prevents osteoporosis in men and enhance sexual drive. (Newsletter#75--- Estrogen Dominance, Natural Progesterone and Men)
DHEA production from the adrenal gland diminishes in most people after age 40. Low blood levels have been associated with many degenerative conditions. DHEA is a cortisol adjusters which helps slow down the cortisol accumulation. DHEA is a powerful defense against age-related problems including diminished muscle mass, memory loss, joint discomfort, fatigue and sleep disturbances. It also enhances immune system function.
Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland, the organ which regulates the body's wake/sleep/wake cycle. Supplementation with Melatonin augments the natural functioning of the pineal gland when melatonin production falls after age 45. Melatonin has been used with conventional anticancer therapy in more than a dozen clinical studies. a double-blind study on 30 people with advanced brain tumors suggested that melatonin might prolong life and also improve the quality of life. Melatonin appears to work by increasing levels of the body's own tumor-fighting proteins, known as cytokines.
Testosterone replacement
required physician prescription and supervision. This is out of the scope of natural therapy discussed here.5. Anti-Aging antioxidant Supplementation
Antioxidant supplementation is essential for combating free radicals. There is no single "magic bullet " supplement that can reverse aging. Dr. Flint Beal from Columbia/Cornell University is world's expert in use of various nutritional agents for neurodegenerative disorders. Dr. Beal indicates that there is substantial evidence that mitochondria are a major source of free radical production within the cell and that there are several agents available that can actually improve and modulate cellular energy metabolism by their antioxidant effects. Dr. Beal lists several nutrients that have been found in either animal or human studies to be effective in mitochondrial disorders. They are acetyl-L-carnitine, alpha lipoic acid, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), ginkgo biloba, NADH and riboflavin (Vitamin B2). It is essential to lower elevated homocysteine level. High levels of homocysteine in the blood is a cause of cardiovascular disease, stroke and Alzheimer's Disease.
Take the following anti-aging antioxidant supplements daily
Take Clinical Nutrients for Men or Clinical Nutrients For Women with safe levels of vitamins, minerals (Including Selenium) and enzyme.
Add the following vitamins Vitamin B complex 1 tablets daily to normalize elevated homocysteine level which is a known cause of heart disease, stroke and Alzheimer's diseasse.
Vitamin E complex 400 mg/day. A double-blind study published in The New England Journal a few years ago noted that 2000 mg a day of vitamin E slowed the progression of Alzheimer's.
Buffered Vitamin C 1000 mg daily
In a recent study of Japanese-American men living in Hawaii, vitamin supplements proved to be strong medicine in protecting against mental declines in old age. This study, part of the ongoing Honolulu-Asia Aging Study, included 3,385 men aged 71 to 93 years who had been under scrutiny by researchers for over 25 years. Those who took supplements of vitamins C and E had an incredible 88 percent lower risk of vascular dementia (progressive mental deterioration as a result of poor circulation to the brain) than those who did not take supplements.
6. Don't forget our Best defense against wrinkles and fine lines --- apply topical Alphaderma CE (10% Argireline) daily.
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References
1. Sandars NK. The Epic of Gilgamesh. An English Version with an Introduction. Penguin Books, London, 1960.
2. Olovnikov AM,. Principle of marginotomy in template synthesis of polynucleotides [in Russian]. Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR 201:1496-1499, 1971.
3. Watson JD. Origin of Concatameric T7 DNA Nature: New Biology 239, 197-201, 1972.
4. King LS. Transformations in American Medicine. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 1991.
5. Fossel M. Reversing Human Aging. William Morrow and Company. New York, 1996.
6. Hayflick L. How and why we age. Experimental Gerontology 33:639-653, 1998.
7. Shelton DN, Chang E, Whittier PS, Choi D, Funk WD. Microarray analysis of replicative senescence. Curr Biol 9:939-945, 1999.
8. Funk WD, Wang CK, Shelton DN, Harley CB, Pagon GD, Hoeffler WK. Telomerase expression restores dermal integrity to in vitro-aged fibroblasts in a reconstituted skin model. Exp Cell Res 258:270-278, 2000.
9. Fossel M. Cells, Aging, and Human Disease. Oxford University Press, New York, 2003.
10. Masaki KH et al. Association of vitamin E and C supplement use with cognitive function and dementia in elderly men. Neurology 2000 Mar 28;54(6):1265-72.)
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Disclaimer
Dr. Tsang wishes to share his knowledge & Opinion with the public regarding the importance of " Nutritional Supplements ". This is for your information only. Drugs have powerful effects on the body, so please don't abruptly stop taking any prescription medication. Always consult your physician or health care provider before you use any nutritional supplement or switch from drugs to natural health products.