The Longevity Diet?

Copyright (c) 2007 Ainsley Laing

Have you heard of the Longevity Diet or Calorie Restriction Diet? It’s been in and out of nutrition news for many years, the theory and related research starting in the 1930s. The concept is that by eating less total calories and ensuring that the calories we do eat are highly nutritious, we can extend our life span. So what’s the science behind this? No one knows exactly, but the research is growing, and so are the numbers of people trying it out.

In the 1930s, researchers studying growth patterns and food deprivation in mice noticed that adult mice that were underfed lived much longer than their well fed counterparts. Since then, there have been studies done on different animals, including primates, with basically the same results: those animals that were fed much fewer “high quality” calories lived longer and had better overall health.

Do you remember Biosphere 2? It was the project where they built a sealed, self-contained facility in Arizona and people lived there for 2 years. Well, the food production part of the experiment didn’t go so well yet the participants stayed anyway. It was observed that although they became very thin, their health profiles (particularly the biomarkers of aging: cholesterol, blood sugar and c-reactive protein/inflammation) improved considerably.

This led to the formation of the Calorie Restriction Society by one of the Biosphere 2 members, Dr. Roy Walford. The society aims to raise money for research as well as to educate people on the benefits and risks of Calorie Restriction as a lifestyle. They have renamed the concept: Calorie Restriction with Optimal Nutrition. This is an important distinction, because if one restricts their calories from between 10 to 30%, it is imperative that what is eaten is high quality in terms of nutrition. No junk food allowed!

What have researchers found are the benefits of Calorie Restriction with Optimal Nutrition? Well, in humans it’s not an easy research study to design because we live so long and there aren’t many people willing to go to such extremes. But there have been some interesting findings.

This year, a research group studied 25 members of the Calorie Restriction Society (aged 41-65) who had been following the lifestyle eating 1400 to 2000 calories per day for an average of 6 years, along with another 25 people who had been eating “normal” American diet of 2,000 to 3,000 calories per day. They measured the diastolic function of all of them. This is a biomarker of age in hearts. The calorie restrictor’s diastolic readings were of people 15 years younger.

One research group has been able to prove that calorie restriction in mice slows down death rates, particularly of cancer and kidney failure. Well fed, sedentary lab rats commonly die of these afflictions. They demonstrated that calorie restriction slows down the growth speed of breast, skin and white blood cells… which means a slower tumor growth rate.

One researcher is studying the implications of the fact that calorie restriction lowers the levels of insulin and insulin growth factor ?another cancer trigger. This also can’t be bad in the fight for diabetes prevention and control!

And yet another research group is studying the idea that slowing down the amount of energy given to the mitochondria of our cells gives us fewer free radicals (cellular respiration generates free radicals). Hmm… many of us are taking anti-oxidant vitamins to combat free radical damage ? maybe we just need to eat less.

Although the concept really hasn’t been studied enough to lend concrete answers, it deserves the attention of those of us who are looking to live longer and more productive lives. Many of the principles put forth by this lifestyle, such as to eat more nutrient dense foods (veggies, fruits, lean dairy, fish, lean meats and whole grains) and eat fewer empty calories (sugar, white flour, white rice and other processed foods), couldn’t be bad for anyone!

It’s pretty obvious that being overweight is a risk factor for a shortened lifespan, so why wouldn’t being mildly underweight lengthen lifespan? It’s an idea well worth consideration.

To find out more, check out the Calorie Restriction Society web site at www.calorierestriction.org/. />

The Power of Enzymes: For Digestion, Nutrient Absorption, and Longevity

Overeating or bolting down the wrong foods can lead to bodily reactions such as excess gas and acid, bloating, and grogginess. Do you often find yourself needing an antacid after eating certain types of food? If you know what I am referring to here, the problem is most likely due to eating a diet of highly processed or over cooked food.

This type of food is indigestible, your body simply can not eliminate it efficiently. Indigestible food is food that has had all of its naturally occurring enzymes, and other healthy nutrients removed. Lack of enzymes in food is also known as denatured food. Enzymes are what causes fruit to ripen, spoil, and rot. Ever notice how margarine does not spoil or rot? No enzymes present, indigestible, not good for you.

Enzymes are necessary catalysts for healthy chemical reactions inside the body. Enzymes are, very simply put, protein based substances that bind with other nutrients that bring about changes in the body by speeding up tasks such as digesting food, absorbing nutrients, and maintaining and repairing tissue. More than 2,000 different enzymes play an active role in digestion and many other important bodily functions.

Enzymes work together in perfect harmony with other necessary nutrients called co-factors such as vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and phytochemicals.

Nature’s perfect complex requires all of the other team players to be present or the game does not happen. That may be the biggest reason why supplementing with synthetic vitamins and not whole food vitamins, or supplementing with various other nutrients alone does not work. No single nutrient without the others will be the single magic bullet. Nature is more complex than this. So, enzymes without co-factors will have no activity.

The average modern diet consists of too much processed, nutrient deficient, and over cooked food. Heating any whole food above 118 degrees F destroys enzymes, and other important healthy nutrients. A good rule to follow in getting more enzymes is; raw before cooked, steamed veggies before boiled, poached before hard-boiled, and cook meats rare before well-done.

Some experts believe that 80 percent of our expended energy goes into digesting a typical over cooked and processed meal. Our over burdened digestive system works 24/7 trying to break down food that , for the most part, is indigestible or will only be partially digested. This could take days to eliminate a meal, or never!

Because of this continual process, only about 20 percent of body energy is left to handle other important functions like thinking, breathing, seeing, and immune system support, to name only a few. It goes like this… if you want to stay healthy, or get healthier, you must free up more of your digestive and elimination process.

No matter how many trans fats, or how much white sugar and flour, or any other indigestible substance you may ingest, your body will try to break it down by means of enzymes. Foods that are easy on your body to digest and eliminate are natural whole, raw, or lightly cooked. Your body will not have to waste energy on producing enough digestive enzyme juices to turn food into a half way usable form.

Most modern societies eat a truck load of non-foods that were never intended to produce a healthy body. We know that we did not evolve as a species over the centuries eating stuff like burgers, fries, pizza, sodas, and beer. Our digestive system simply can not break down these chemical bombshells. This stuff does not get thoroughly digested, and without enzyme activity, it will just sit in the intestines forever, putrefying.

In time, some of this leaks out of the intestines into the blood stream taxing the whole body. Body organs that were never meant to eliminate toxins try to do just that. Organs such as kidneys, lungs, and skin can become inflamed and diseased trying to eliminate toxic residue from a poor diet and an inadequate digestive process. The unfortunate consequences of over cooked whole foods, or fast food diets.

Consciously choosing to eat healthier includes eating more food in its raw form as much as possible, or lightly cooked. Try eating at least one meal a day with this thought in mind, by helping support your body in a more productive digestion and elimination process.

Ideally we should be eating 80 percent of our food this way, but unfortunately that is most likely not going to happen for most of us. What can you do to further support this important process in your body, and get rid of possibly large amounts of built up sludge in your intestinal tract?

By supplementing with a good digestive enzyme supplement product found at any local health food store, you will be making a wise decision to improve your overall health.

Each and everyone of us can benefit from this special knowledge, from the elderly to small children. We have to put back what is not in our food. This is far cheaper to do than run to your local M.D., who never studied much about enzymes in medical school, than to treat diseases by masking symptoms with drugs.

Look for a complete enzyme supplement that breaks down the four main components of a human diet:

1.fats / Lipase

2.protein / Protase

3.carbohydrates / Amylase

4.cellulose or fiber / Cellulase

Remember to look for the suffix ‘ase’ tacked on to the name that designates it as an enzyme that breaks down that specific component.

Enzyme supplements are a simple solution to a whole variety of health challenges. If you have had a doctor tell you that your diet is harming you physically, and sacrificing your longevity, should it not make sense then, that the right food and drink would be able be to restore your physical condition, if only you knew how? Do not count on most doctors to know how, as they have been trained to use drugs, surgeries, and other intrusive measures.

What solvent is nature’s perfect element to wash down and carry nutrients to absorb them, plus carry away any toxic build up inside you? Why nothing more than water of course!

Good Habits for Longevity-Supplementing and Enhancing the Body

The human body could live to be one hundred and twenty years old. What is preventing this from happening? Well it is the way we live and the care that is given to the body. The choices we make determine the length and quality of life.

To pursue longevity allow me to stress these habits and points.

Diet, find out your healthy body weight and plan your meals accordingly; get your information from a reliable source. The American Dietetic Association is a nationwide nutritional network. For more information call (800) 877-1600.

The intake of carbohydrates triggers the brain activity for longevity. Be sure to consume the proper amount of nutrients daily. The nutrient dense foods are whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and skinless meats.

Supplements may enhance your health and protect the heart, bones, eyes and more. Now how do you choose which dietary supplement to take? First choose a quality, non-synthetic product. Because of the impaired ability to absorb nutrients, vitamins and minerals in food, four supplements should be taken, especially by the older adults. A multivitamin should be taken when there are fewer calories eaten to control weight and to balance the diet.

Vitamin D, there was a time when this was not a deficient vitamin, but as we age we avoid exposure to sunlight and the amount made by the body decreases with age. There is a great percentage of adult who are deficient in vitamin D between the ages of 51-70.

Calcium should be taken with vitamin D for optimal bone health. Calcium is need for muscle function and to regulate blood pressure as well.

Fish Oil is good for people who do not eat fish each week. “The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans” recommends eating three ounces of fish twice a week.

Eat vegetables and fruits fresh, when in season and frozen when out of season. They should be eaten without sauces and sweeteners. In fact frozen vegetables make a quick and easy meal by just adding a broiled chicken breast and fruit for desert.

Form a partnership with your doctor and tell him/her any concern that presents itself. Advice from your doctor and knowledge of your body will solve many problems and prevent added stress.

Exercise is good for balance and flexibility, it also promotes good health. Exercise your brain by reading anything and everything, doing puzzles, and consciously maintaining cognitive function.

It is not easy to change old habits, so do not take the all-or-nothing proposition. Instead start by adding new habits. Decide to protect your body, do self no harm, and improve your health. Listen to your doctors and put their advice into practice.

There are many anti-aging products on the market these days. But without common sense, discipline and commitment, good health and longevity will continue to elude the average person. We are what we eat, and putting junk in will produce unhealthy aged bodies no matter how many anti-aging products are taken.

A Guide To Longevity Related Skin Care

It is quite normal to expect people to want to look attractive and this might explain why longevity skin care products are so successful; it is only natural that as people get older they want to continue looking young so will use products that help them achieve this. Skin is important so a great deal of effort goes into the preparation of beauty products especially those that increase the production of collagen, which is the primary protein in skin; with around a quarter of our skin protein being collagen, the importance of this substance has not gone unnoticed. Collagen is a member of another family of substances that aid in reducing the signs of ageing. this group is called antioxidants which are natural chemicals found in many foods and our body.

Although the benefits of vitamin C (an anti-oxidant) are well documented, it is still debated as to what our daily amount should be. Unfortunately all skin care treatments that use vitamin C have the problem of atmospheric oxidization to contend with once the product is exposed to the air.

To overcome this problem, manufacturers use alternative skin care treatments that still provide the same benefits but not the high manufacturing costs. However, these longevity skin care treatments are not as effective vitamin C based products, although vitamin E and lipoic acid are also anti-oxidants and have similar effects.

Found in human blood, vitamin E is not only an antioxidant but is designed to increase the immune system’s resistance to disease and can also help ward off cancer. Lipoic acid which is found inside every cell of the body helps generate the energy that keeps us alive and functioning. It is known to combat the signs of ageing very effectively by reversing skin damage caused by the ageing process.

Other compounds called phytochemicals have proved to be beneficial in the formulation of longevity skin care products; they are removed from various plants. A secondary but more important use of phytochemicals is the effect they have on the prevention of breast, prostate and colon cancers.

It has also been discovered that there are longevity benefits to vitamins B5, B6 and B12. This just goes to highlight just how complex and far reaching the whole field of longevity skin care products is and why so much more research is required.

In time new discoveries will be made advancing our understanding of the ageing process and products that can reduce or reverse the effects more successfully. In time it is hoped that less expensive and more reliable longevity skin care products will become available for a larger number of people to use.

At the moment though, science is still behind the field of natural longevity methods and it might take some time to replace them. Simple things that can make a difference in slowing the signs of ageing; these include physical activity, restful sleep, maintaining good dietary habits and removing stress from your life.

Buddhism and Healthy Longevity

Copyright (c) 2007 Stephen Lau

Buddhism is more than an Eastern religion: it is a healthy longevity promoter.

Buddhism focuses on the balanced interaction between the mind and the body as a prerequisite for healthy longevity; disease is a result of their imbalance and disharmony. The Buddhist approach to health and wellness is its emphasis on spiritual strength of the mind to overcome illness and disease. Concurring with Hippocrates, the father of medicine, who believed in the innate healing power in humans, Buddha also believed that you could seek cure through a drastic change in lifestyle and healthy attitudes towards the real meaning of life and existence.

Healing begins with the mind first, not the body. The reason is that disease originates from the disharmony of the mind and the spirit, leading to their imbalance with the physical body, resulting in disease. Optimal health for longevity is achieved when the mind and the body are functioning and interacting together as one entity.

One of the most damaging factors to the mind is stress. Nowadays, stress comes in many forms. Stress adversely affects your physical, mental, and spiritual health. In the Buddhist world, there is no stress, and you create your own stress through your ego-self, which is essentially your “no-self” because it simply does not exist, except in your own mind. Buddhism focuses on “emptiness” ‘ which is not self-denial, but rather the wisdom of knowing the impermanence of materials things and therefore the abandonment of the futile pursuit of these elusive and evasive goals in life. With enlightenment, you will change your perception of what you really are, and more importantly, the insignificance of your attachment to all materials things, including success and love of money. Buddha said, “Craving is the fountainhead of all human miseries.” Once your craving ceases, your stress dissipates, and you are filled with composure, which constitutes wellness in your body and mind.

Even if there are remnants of stress, they can be dispelled through Buddhist meditation. According to Buddha, everyone has a “light” within him or her. To find that “light”, you need to practice meditation. Through meditation, you are awakened to self-knowledge, which opens the door to ultimate wisdom: you see who you are, and what is important to you in life. In other words, you begin to see the realities of things around you; you begin to prioritize your life; and you begin to perceive the true meaning of your existence.

Natural healing of the mind, body, and spirit begins with a healthy love relationship in which Buddhist compassion and loving kindness naturally thrive. In Chinese, the word “compassion” means “removing suffering and giving happiness.” From Buddha’s view, true compassion has the power to root out the cause of misery in people’s lives and direct them to the true cause of happiness.

Loving kindness, closely connected with compassion, is also a prominent feature of the Buddhist way of live. Compassion and loving kindness complement each other. Extending good will, care and consideration to all beings is critical to mental and spiritual health of an individual.

If you are truly committed to altruistic compassion and loving kindness, you will be armed with inner strength to face any health adversity in your life, thereby instrumental in inspiring hope in others, and by doing so, helping relieve their own suffering. Aging and illness simply provide an opportunity for you to inspire others through your own example.

Healing is a natural blend of science and philosophy of living. Buddhism certainly plays a pivotal role in the philosophy of living for healthy longevity.