I had an artistic vision, a long time back, shortly after I had my initial realization with regard to engineered longevity, of the path to radical life extension as a sort of vertical ascension. I recall describing the vision of flight through darkness years ago, to my partner at the time - the rest of that conversation lost, along with much else, to failing memory. A room is packed with thousands of people, waiting. The walls and ceiling then unfold to reveal a void beyond, and the assembled masses begin to ascend towards some distant goal - arms spread and looking up in anticipation, as they fly upward, empowered by their own sheer force of will. The energies of their passage glow blue in the darkness, a thousand, thousand trails of light. But with each moment, some falter, and fall away into the abyss, their light-trails vanishing into the surrounding darkness - and the crowd thins and thins the further they ascend.

I am not an artist, needless to say, and so that vision will never make it much beyond the confines of my head. But it is an ugly reality of the human condition that only a fraction of us will have the opportunity to live through into the age of rejuvenation biotechnology - even under the most optimistic timelines, billions will die. The alternatives are far worse, of course, but this is far from the best of worlds. Intellectually we can grasp this scale of death and destruction, but the ape within filters it out. He only cares about the people we associate with - and there aren't all that many of them, even allowing for the artificial and strange relationships of celebrity or much-loved fiction. The rest of the world? Just numbers.

That memory of people in flight through darkness is with me again because I learned today that my former partner died a few weeks ago, unexpectedly. As though the expectedness or the delay in learning of it should change anything of the meaning, but the ape within feels - strongly - that the details of tragedy are important. If we felt even a minuscule fraction of what we do under such circumstances for the vast crowds who fall from the flight each and every day, aged to death ... well, we'd be better than human, and aging would be much further along the path to a solution.

More than a hundred people have died since I started to write this post, most of them from aging or the complications of aging. All just as much individuals as my former partner, just as much people with attachments, potential, things to do, desires and regrets. So very many regrets. But I feel only intellectual loss for that hundred, and not much of it at that - this is what it is to be built on top of a foundation of ape prehistory, to be able to put the terrible fates of countless others easily from our minds, but to be deeply troubled by the loss of one.

To make the best of being human, we have to do the important work, even though it will not reward us, even though the ape inside doesn't really give a damn. Being human is about not letting the ape drive, even though it's always far easier just to let him take the wheel. So no obituary and no talking to the dead to say things that perhaps should have been said one day - and now can't be. Hard as it may be. The only person who would be listening here is the ape inside, and talking to him is a pointless exercise.

The world, meanwhile, is lived in by the living - who are falling from the flight in great numbers, day after day, while too little is being done about it. When whatever happens to me eventually happens to me, I would hope that someone takes a few minutes to write exactly the same thing, and mean it.

I recently wrote an article that introduces the Open Cures initiative and explains the backdrop of medical research and regulation that makes Open Cures - or something very much like it - absolutely necessary. The piece is presently published at h+ Magazine:

You may recognize me as the author-slash-editor of Fight Aging!, a long-running news and advocacy site focused on progress towards reversal of aging and engineering longer human lives. There is more to progress in the general sense than just the underlying science, however, and with that in mind I recently announced the launch of Open Cures, a volunteer initiative with the aim of greatly speeding up the development of clinical applications of longevity science. Participation is open to anyone who can help with the goals listed in the Open Cures roadmap: for example, we're presently looking for life science writers and people familiar with the medical tourism industry, amongst others.

But why, in this age of biotechnology and accelerating progress, it is even necessary to build an organization to help speed matters along? What is the roadblock that stands in the way of the clinical development of longevity-enhancing biotechnology?

I encourage you to read it all: it's a fairly concise outline as to why developing the scientific tools of rejuvenation is not enough in and of itself to win the game. We also have to ensure that clear paths exist for commercial development of legitimate treatments for aging - which is far from the case today:

Aging is not a disease, per the FDA - and therefore, no one is legally permitted to treat aging in humans with biotechnology in the US.

A fair number of well funded groups have been burning money and time in well-thought, well-connected efforts to change the FDA: to make it less hostile to progress, to enable therapies to come to market more rapidly (or in some cases at all). This has been going on for years - see FasterCures, for example - but has come to nothing. Changing the FDA is not the way forward: instead we need to work around it - and that is the Open Cures methodology:

Open Cures is a young volunteer initiative, formed in mid-2011 to work upon a grand long term vision: to orchestrate the clinical development of therapies already demonstrated to either extend life or reverse narrow aspects of aging in mice, and which may be capable of doing the same for humans. A dozen or more such biotechnologies presently languish with little effort devoted to their clinical development, because regulatory bodies such as the FDA forbid treatments for aging.

The following roadmap outlines a series of overlapping phases of development by which Open Cures volunteers can change this present environment and its hostility to the development of effective therapies to treat degenerative aging. The Open Cures vision is of a bridge built between the undeveloped biotechnologies of rejuvenation produced in US and European laboratories and the overseas developers who could usher these technologies into the clinic for human trials.

A new study from Purdue University reports that cayenne pepper helps curb the appetite and promotes the burning of calories as well.

If you have a special fondness for hot and spicy foods and you are looking for foods to curb your appetite in your goal to lose the extra weight, then consuming cayenne pepper would be the best choice. Cayenne pepper is a member of the Capsicum family of vegetables commonly known as chili peppers. The cayenne pepper powder come from red hot chili peppers that are dried and grounded, pulped then baked to cakes and sifted.

Since time immemorial, cayenne pepper has been known to be of many uses to the body’s health, but before that, it is first known for its culinary uses. It is commonly used as a cooking spice, to add flavor to the foods served at the table. It can be added to sea foods such as sardines, scallops, oysters, smoked salmon, fried mussels, lobster, crab and crayfish. It can also be eaten or added to eggs in many ways, and is also good for roasted and grilled meat.  If you want some spiciness in your dishes, you can add it to sauces and stews and as well as sprinkle it on fish, chicken and vegetables to add some spice.

Health Benefits of the Amazing Cayenne Pepper

Many studies from around the world have reported on the wonders that cayenne pepper has given to the human body because of the nutrients that it contain such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C, manganese, Vitamin B6, dietary fiber and Vitamin K.

• It contains high concentrations of capsaicin which has been studied for its ability to reduce pain, ulcer and promote cardiovascular benefits as well as in opening drained nasal passages. The spicier the chili pepper, the more capsaicin it contains.
• Capsaicin is also shown to provide pain relief in many conditions as it is said to be a useful treatment for osteoarthritis pain and head aches.
• Furthermore, 200 patients with psoriasis underwent a double-blind placebo controlled trial where they were given topical preparations with capsaicin or placebo. Capsaicin-fed patients showed improvement on traced symptoms of psoriasis.
• In addition, it is also a great source of Vitamin A which is beneficial for the health of epithelial tissues. Vitamin A’s antioxidant activity makes cayenne prevent free radical damage which can lead to colon cancer, atherosclerosis and other heart diseases.
• It is also being studied to fight inflammation and treat conditions with pain such as arthritis, and diabetic neuropathy. A study where a mouse was injected with a substance that causes inflammatory arthritis and then fed with diet consisted of capsaicin showed delayed onset of arthritis and reduced inflammation in the paws.
• Cayenne pepper and other chili peppers are also known to show cardiovascular benefits. It reduces triglyceride levels and blood cholesterol while dissolving the substance fibrin that causes blood clot.
• The capsaicin in cayenne pepper can also clear congestion for its peppery heat rouses secretions that help in removing mucus in the nose and congested lungs.
• Its bright red color signifies high amounts of beta-carotene or Vitamin A, which provides anti-infective activities and boosts the body’s immunity from many kinds of conditions. Cayenne is also popularly known to prevent ulcers. Not just that, they also kill the bacteria ingested and stimulates the cells to secrete protective juices to prevent ulcer.
• The heat felt after consuming hot peppers takes energy and calories from the body, therefore showing the possibility to lose weight.

The Study

Purdue University’s new study suggests that hot cayenne pepper contributes to burning calories and curbing the appetite.

This study, published in Physiology and Behavior, observed the effects of small amounts (half a teaspoon) of cayenne pepper in foods. Results showed that tasting it could increase its effectiveness as an appetite suppressor and boost the outflow of energy.

The study consisted of 25 non-overweight people, where 13 of them liked spicy food and 12 did not.  The participants were observed for six weeks and the researchers examined the effect of the consumption of cayenne pepper in their appetite. Increased body temperature and burning of more calories were evident in all participants after their consumption of spice. Those who did not take spicy food frequently said that after spice consumption, they were less hungry and felt less cravings for fatty, sweet and salty foods.

Richard Mattes, a foods and nutrition distinguished professor as well as the lead author of the study, said that their results showed that red pepper consumption helps in appetite management and burning of more calories after every meal.

The Importance of Losing Weight

A lot of medical conditions have been associated with obesity.  Health problems such as diabetes, arthritis, as well as heart and vascular diseases could lead to a decline in a person’s quality of life.  Diabetes may cause complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy and poor wound healing which could lead to the loss of vision, loss of kidney function and the loss of limb, respectively. Arthritis may develop because the excess weight places added pressure to the joints and this may force a person to become immobile because of too much pain, leading to the loss of independence. Heart and vascular diseases may cause life-threatening conditions such as myocardial infarction, stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and heart failure, among many others.

The importance of healthy living, therefore, had been emphasized over and over again, and for good reason. It is not simply enough that we exercise – it should be done regularly and consistently and after careful planning in order to meet the body’s needs. It is not simply enough that we eat – we should make sure that the foods we consume are beneficial to the body.  It is not simply enough that we do not smoke – we must take necessary precautions when it comes to second hand smoke as well because it poses health dangers too.

The first step to achieving the good health that you desire is to make the decision to live a healthy life. Of course, this may require lifestyle modification and maybe a little tweak here and there but the end-result of your choices will not only be of benefit to you, but the persons around you most especially to the people that you love.

Sources
nutraingredients.com
theepicentre.com
cayennepepper.info
whfoods.com

A study made by researchers from the South of France revealed that grape polyphenol extract can significantly aid in the fight against diabetes.

Researchers coming from the South of France’s University of Montpellier reported that rats that were given a high-sugar and high-fat diet managed to display reduced fat accumulation in their muscle tissue provided that their diet was supplemented with grape polyphenols. The researchers believe that the antioxidant compounds that are found in red grapes are responsible for preventing fat build up.  Furthermore, the antioxidants positively affect the body’s insulin response.  Insulin is a hormone that is responsible for fat and sugar metabolism.

Diets that contain high amounts of saturated fat are said to further worsen a person’s resistance to insulin.  What happens is that the cells no longer adequately respond to the normal insulin levels produced inside the body.  As the researchers explained in the British Journal of Nutrition, this is a typical marker of diabetes onset.

Diabetes Facts

According to the 2005-2007 figures provided by the American Diabetes Association, diabetes affects 8 percent of the American population, or approximately 24 million people. The financial impact associated with diabetes is staggering – estimated to be $175 billion, from which $116 billion is spent on medications. Aside from the financial aspect of diabetes, the emotional and social impact could not be overlooked. A diabetic person would normally suffer anxiety and depression regarding his health. His activities would also be affected especially when complications such as retinopathy, cataracts and poor sensation have occurred. This would lead us to conclude that indeed, prevention is better than cure.

Details of the Study

The study, conducted at the University of Montpellier, made use of rats as its subjects. The lab rats were randomly assigned into three different groups.  One group was given a standard diet for a lab rat and the remaining two groups were given a high-fat, high-sugar diet, with one group given an additional grape polyphenol extract. The results revealed that the lab rats who were given the grape polyphenol extract exhibited lower levels of triglycerides in their muscular cell membranes as compared to those who were not given the grape extract. Furthermore, the group that was fed with grape extract had an increase in the levels of Omega-3 fatty acids in their cell membranes.

Complications of Diabetes

If the condition remains uncontrolled, diabetes can actually precipitate the development of other serious health conditions. Below are some of the complications brought about by diabetes:

Retinopathy. Also known as diabetic retinopathy, this condition is mainly because of the very high levels of sugar in the blood which damages the small blood vessels in the eyes, specifically in the area of the retina a tissue that is sensitive to light and is essential for good vision. The blood vessels can either swell, causing fluid to leak out, while some people experience an abnormal growth of blood vessels in the retina’s surface.  Retinopathy is the most common cause of blindness among Americans.

Nephropathy. Diabetic nephropathy affects the functional units of the kidney known as the nephrons.  Once extensive damage to the nephrons occurs, kidney damage may follow suit. High levels of sugar in the bloodstream, or hyperglycemia, can once again cause damage to the blood vessels of the kidney. The kidneys are mainly responsible for removing wastes from our body, and if kidney disease develops, the wastes, which are toxic to the human body, will start to accumulate. Nephropathy is one of the most common causes of mortality and morbidity in persons diagnosed with diabetes. It is so dangerous because it can lead to kidney failure which may precipitate the need for a kidney transplant or dialysis.

Neuropathies. Commonly known as nerve damage, diabetic neuropathy presents dangers to the person. High levels of blood sugar leading to damaged blood vessels may cause inflammation which, in turn, could trigger the development of neuropathies.  Problems on the nerves may occur in almost any organ in the body – legs, feet, arms, hands, and sex organs.  Symptoms such as a tingling sensation, pain or numbness may occur. Diabetics are often cautioned not to go barefooted around the house because the condition tends to cause the loss of sensation, especially in the areas of the foot. A small wound could be the source of a big problem, especially because diabetics typically exhibit delayed wound healing since their blood is viscous and has difficulty reaching distal parts of the body.

How to Deal with Diabetes

The cost of diabetic medications could significantly affect a person’s finances.  However, there are a lot of natural means to help you prevent, and deal, with the condition.  Below are excellent recommendations:

• Maintain a Healthy Weight

If you haven’t been living a healthy lifestyle, then it’s time to act now before it’s too late.  This would mean eating the right kinds of food and regularly exercising. Obese individuals are more prone to develop diabetes. Foods, herbs and spices such as lupin seeds, flax seeds, avocadoes, sweet potatoes, lemons, blueberries, cherries, almonds, onions, cinnamon, ginkgo biloba, bilberry, bitter melon, garlic and barley are excellent for diabetes management.  Drinking green tea has also been found to help in the prevention, management and control of diabetes due to its antioxidant content.

• Take in Supplements.

Manganese supplements aid in the repair of pancreas, the organ responsible for the production of insulin. 5-10 milligrams of manganese per day could very well do the trick.

Coenzyme Q10 helps enhance circulation and it also acts as a blood sugar stabilizer. Take 100mg of CoQ10 each day for healthy blood sugar levels.

Zinc supplements should be taken because diabetics have been found to have zinc deficiency. 50-80 milligrams is the recommended dosage.

• Know what to Avoid

When going grocery shopping, learn to read the labels. Just because the box says it’s sugar-free doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll give in right away.  Be wary of foods and beverages that contain a lot of sugar – as sweet as it may seem, it won’t do you any good. Aside from sugar, avoid foods that contain saturated fats. If you already are a diagnosed diabetic, continuous intake of saturated fats will most likely double your risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Sources
nutraingredients.com
nei.nih.gov
nlm.nih.gov
diabetes.niddk.nih.gov

A new study conducted by the NIS Labs shows that acai juice intake is now being linked to reduced joint pain and improvements in the antioxidant levels in the blood.

The human body is composed of bones, specifically 206 for the adult body. These bones allow us to stand up straight since it serves as the frame work of the whole body. While these structures are important, the ability to move is just as essential. Every time we sit down, eat, exercise, play, and work, our body moves in different angles, ways and directions. A part of our body twists and folds and this is made possible by the joints located in the many parts of our body. Through our joints we can swivel, stretch and pivot because it allows movement in a certain spot.

The Pain of Joint Pains

Joint pain, or also called arthralgia, is a common health condition that can occur in not only one but also in other joints of the body, sometimes simultaneously. Most people point out that the reason for this kind of pain is because of old age. Though it may be directly related to aging, it can also be caused by serious conditions such as osteoarthritis (OA), where there is a degeneration of the cartilage in the joint and is very common in people older than 45 years old, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack the cartilage in the joints and could lead to stiffness and pain. Other common causes of joint pains include wear and tear, injury, fracture, sprain, and cartilage damage. Inflammation of the joint, metabolic disorders like gout and pseudo-gout, bone diseases, tumors and cancers near a joint can also produce joint pains.

Joint pains vary according to cause. Some will experience swelling and stiffness due to OA or RA. Joints that are affected may become swollen, red and very painful when touched and mobility of the joints becomes restricted because of the accompanying pain.

To keep the joints healthy and pain-free, living a healthy lifestyle and taking the right food is the best course to take especially those that are rich in calcium and Vitamin D. Exercise and meditation should be done regularly as well as precautions during vigorous activities. Wearing comfortable footwear will also keep your ankle joints healthy. Sitting at one place for 30 minutes should also be avoided and it is recommended that one take regular breaks as often as possible to stretch and to prevent stiffening of the joints.

Wonder of Acai

The Acai Palm is very common throughout northern South America, most especially along seasonal flood plains and in the river edges of Brazil. There, it is mostly widely distributed because of the numerous properties of the Acai fruit or the Acai berry. The Acai Palm produces a highly nutritious and edible berry 1-2 cm in diameter which comes from green to dark rich purple in color.

The Acai berry is considered as an herbal medicine by the Brazilians. Its oil is used to treat diarrhea and wash skin ulcers. The seeds are prepared for fevers. From the Acai berry also comes the Acai juice. It comes in a dark purple color extracted from the small round fruit. It is often served fresh and ice cold. It is a nourishing drink that is also used to produce mousses, liquor, ice cream and sweets.

It is no wonder that Acai berry and Acai juice are considered to be a treasure by those who drink it.  It is one of the most nutritious foods of the Amazon because it is rich with phytonutrients, as well as Vitamin B, minerals, protein and omega 3 fatty acids. The most abundant mineral found in Acai is potassium and that a small intake of it provides the body with more than what it needs. Acai berry is also rich in anthocyanins that are known to possess antioxidant activity. In a research known as French Paradox, it says that anthocyanins are the antioxidants that protect the French from heart disease. By the neutralization of free radicals, the Acai berry may actually help maintain healthy functioning of systems and organs.

However, there are a lot of circulating reports saying that this wonder berry is being used by scammers for easy money. A great deal of scammers nowadays are creating products with purple coloring and which tastes exactly the same as this wonder fruit, but does nothing to the body. If you are one of the people who are still interested in the health benefits provided by Acai berry, you need to be very cautious. Exercise caution and research a lot about the product, and only pick the ones that offer real Acai berry which can give you the full benefits that you deserve.

Acai Juice for Joints

A recent study has shown that a glass of Acai juice a day have been associated with reduced joint pains, alongside advanced antioxidant levels in the blood.

Consumption of 120 ml of Acai juice for twelve weeks were related to an increase in the antioxidant levels of 14 study participants and an improvement in physical well being according to results published in the Journal of Medicinal Foods.

14 old adults with varying degrees of joint pains were sought for the test by Dr. Jensen. Each of the 14 participants received 120 ml of Acai juice daily for a period of three months.

Dr. Gitte Jensen from NIS Labs in Oregon stated that the findings show a relationship between pain and antioxidant.

Specifically, results showed relief from pain and enhancement on the motion range in the spine and other extremities. Only two weeks from the starting period, antioxidant levels showed improvement and continued to rise throughout the 12 weeks of the study according to the researchers. However, no significant changes were reported to the inflammation marker, C-reactive protein.

Researchers from NIS Labs, Oregon-based Cascade Chiropractic and Rehabilitation and AIBMR Life Sciences performed the study which was funded by MonaVie LLC.

How to Promote Healthy Joints

Aside from Acai berry, here are other means to ensure that you keep your bones healthy:

• Keep moving. Because joints are meant for movement, keeping these structures fixed for long periods of time can cause weakness of the muscles that surround them.
• Lose the extra weight. Remember that those extra pounds can cause unnecessary stress to the joints and could lead to early wear and tear.
• Observe proper posture. Something as simple as picking up an object from the floor can lead to joint pain if done in a wrong manner as this can strain ligaments or impinge nerves which would eventually lead to immobility and joint stiffening.
• Take Supplements. Examples of supplements that promote joint health are Chondroitin and Glucosamine

Sources
familyhealthguide.co.uk
library.thinkquest.org
health-report.co.uk
nutraingredients.com
articlesbase.com

A new study paves the way to the possible health benefits of a tangerine flavonoid, nobiletin, in preventing obesity and atherosclerosis.

What are Flavonoids?

Flavonoids, or bioflavonoids as it is called when used in supplements, are a class of plant based compounds. They are polyphenols and a diverse group of phytochemicals that are mostly found in vegetables, fruits and herbs and are responsible for their different colors. They can be found in high amounts in foods such as grains, legumes, nuts, teas, onions, honey and many more. The teas, specifically black, green or white tea, are high sources of a flavonoid known particularly as quercetin. Furthermore, onions contain myricertin and kaempferol; honey has myricertin and quercetin. Other good sources of flavonoid include buckwheat, tangerines, strawberries, blueberries, beans and spinach. However, the composition and concentration of flavonoid in each plant may vary depending on certain factors such as maturity, growing condition, plant part and variety.

There are different types of flavonoids, which may vary depending on the plant source. One of the most important is the flavonoid quercetin as it acts as building blocks for other flavonoids and can be found in foods like apples and onions. There are also flavonoids that can be found in citrus fruits, and among these citrus flavonoids are the compounds hesperidin and rutin which are present in fruits like tangerines, grapefruits and oranges. There are other well known flavonoids that include compounds like PCO (proanthocyanins), polyphenols and genistein which can be found in a variety of food sources and has been known to give great health benefits. The polyphenols, primary source of a class of flavonoid called EGCG (epigallocatechin-gallate) is known to be an effective natural compound to fight cancer.

Health benefits of Flavonoids

Studies have been performed to prove that flavonoids are necessary for human health and may also show some healing potential. This is because flavonoids are known to perform antioxidant activities. Flavonoids are even considered to be more powerful than Vitamin C and Vitamin E in eradicating the body’s free radicals and in preventing cellular damage to the body. They also have anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, vasodilatory and antiallergenic effects.

The flavonoid quercetin is the most known compound to provide many health benefits. It suggests delay of the onset of diseases like cancer that is triggered by free radicals. Clinical studies show low rates of pancreatic, lung and breast cancer brought about by the intake of foods with high amounts of quercetin. It can also slow down low density lipoprotein oxidation, thus preventing heart diseases. A recent study conducted in Finland and the Netherlands suggested that people who consume large amounts of flavonoids, especially quercetin, showed a reduced risk of heart disease and stroke. Quercetin also provides anti-inflammatory action, therefore reducing allergic reactions like sinusitis and chronic asthma. The anti-inflammatory properties of quercetin may also be ideal for the treatment of minor problems like eczema and bug bites, as well as disorders affecting joints, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic gout and the like.

Aside from flavonoids being acquired from the diet, it can also be beneficial as supplements as they strengthen blood vessels. The flavonoids PCO and citrus flavonoids help in repairing problems like chronic hemorrhoids and varicose veins.

Doses of flavonoid supplements will vary depending on the type consumed and the specific condition. However, if long term health is considered, a mixture of quercetin, rutin, and hesperidin will do the job. Instructions on the label must be always followed. To improve the flavonoid’s protective action and taste, it is usually combined with Vitamin C. But still, nothing beats natural sources like grape seeds and green tea where flavonoids are greatly found.

The Study

A new research reports that tangerine flavonoid does not only prevent obesity but also gives protection from type-2 diabetes and atherosclerosis. It suggests that nobiletin, high concentrations of which are found in tangerine’s white pith, helps maintain healthy levels of glucose, insulin and cholesterol, as well as preventing fat build up.

Dr. Murray Huff, from the Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, and USA vascular biology research group director said that mice treated with nobiletin were originally protected against obesity, but as the study progresses, it shows that it also protected the mice from build up of plaque in arteries which can cause atherosclerosis that can lead to heart attack and stroke.

Nobiletin was observed to prevent fat build up in human cells by the stimulation of gene expression involved in the burning of excess fat, as well as in slowing down the genes responsible for fat manufacture. The authors said that sensitivity to insulin and glucose tolerance in the peripheral tissues and liver were restored by nobiletin and the improvement in these parameters may lead to prevent atherosclerosis.

A second group where the western diet was administered with nobiletin, however, showed no rise or difference in cholesterol levels, glucose and insulin and a normal amount of weight was maintained. It was also monitored that mice fed with nobiletin were found to have less fatty livers and were more insulin sensitive.

According to the researchers, their studies give evidence, both in the physiological and molecular level, that nobiletin has the ability to regulate the metabolism of hepatic lipid and prevent insulin resistance abnormalities. It also corrects dyslipidemia, hepatic steatosis and glucose homeostasis and it protects the body from further development of atherosclerosis through a variety of mechanisms.

Dr. Huff cited that the study gives way for future studies in testing the many potential of nobiletin to reduce metabolic syndrome risks and related conditions. However, Huff suspects that tangerines lack enough nobiletin to transfer the same effects that it did to mice to the humans, adding that supplements are most likely required.

They also suggested that inflammation and foam cell formation reduction may as well help in reducing the risk of atherosclerosis, though it was not evaluated in their study.

The research of Dr. Huff was mostly focused on observing the properties of bioactive molecules that are naturally occurring. A research of his two years ago where he discovered a flavonoid called naringenin in grape fruit offered the same protection against obesity and other metabolic syndromes and drew attention internationally. This time, he said that what was interesting was that nobiletin is ten times more potent in its protective effects than naringenin, and this time they have proven that it can also prevent atherosclerosis.

Sources
herbs2000.com
dietaryfiberfood.com
nutraingredients.com

Over at Depressed Metabolism, you'll find a review of The Future of Aging, a book that covers the high points of longevity research and development pretty much from end to end. That includes viewpoints on transhumanist ideals of an ageless society, present work on rejuvenation biotechnology, the cryonics industry, as well as mainstream work on understanding calorie restriction and slowing aging through metabolic manipulation.

Editor-in-chief, cryobiologist, and aging researcher Gregory M. Fahy and his associate editors Michael D. West, L. Stephen Cole and Steven B. Harris have compiled what might be the most impressive collection of articles on interventive gerontology to date in their 866 page collection The Future of Aging: Pathways to Human Life Extension. The book is divided into 2 parts. The first part includes general, scientific, social and philosophical perspectives on life extension. The second part is a collection of proposed interventions, which are organized in chronological order, starting with the (projected) earliest interventions first. Of course, such an organization of the materials necessitates a subjective estimation of when such technologies will be available and is bound to be controversial. The collection closes with a number of appendices about contemporary anti-aging funding and projects (SENS, Manhattan Beach Project).

I wanted to draw your attention to this line of thinking:

One thing that remains a mystery to me is how such an accelerating pace of anti-aging technologies could be validated considering the relatively long life expectancy of humans. Presumably we are expected to adopt a lot of these technologies based on their theoretical merits, success in animal studies, or short-term effects in humans. ... Reading all these inspiring examples, however, I found myself faced with the same kind of despair as when reading about all the neuroprotective interventions in stroke and cardiac arrest. There is great uncertainty how such interventions would fare in humans (or other animals) and, more specific to the objective of human life extension, how we ourselves can ascertain that there are no long-term adverse consequences. ... As reiterated throughout this review, the gold standard and most rigorous determination of the efficacy of anti-aging therapies and interventions is to empirically determine whether they increase maximum human lifespan.

Everyone alive today who ultimately has the chance to benefit from future rejuvenation medicine or methods to significantly slow aging will be using what is at first essentially unproven technology. It will be developed with the best knowledge and insight of the time, but proof is a very high bar when reaching the gold standard involves waiting for decades after the introduction of new therapies. We have a very good grasp of what should extend life and reverse the damage of aging in humans, and it is simply not an option to hold off to see if the first generation of therapies based on this knowledge do in fact extend life in humans. Just as is the case for the practice of calorie restriction today, we will adopt - and are best served by adopting - the use of those technologies that early on in their development can demonstrate (a) extended life in mice, (b) impressive short term changes in the biochemistry of humans, and (c) an acceptable level of observed side-effects and safety.

This all very reasonable given the circumstances: we lack the luxury of time. Facing the choice between calculated risk and the certain suffering that leads to death, sane people will choose risk. Unfortunately, fighting for the right to be able to take that risk - both in medical development and in the use of the resulting biotechnologies - is very necessary, given the present regulatory environment:

Looking back from the perspective of 2035, I guess we should all be surprised that it took so long. The Vegas Group came together formally sometime in 2016, though the first kick-off meeting was the year prior at one of the bi-annual conventions for longevity research held in California. By that time, more than a dozen gene manipulations and other biotechnologies had been shown to significantly extend life in mice, but no progress was being made to develop these technologies for human use. The Vegas Group was a natural outgrowth of a decade of advocacy and anticipation for human enhancement technologies, coupled with the frustrating realization that no such technologies would be meaningfully developed, never mind made available to the public, under the regulatory regimes then in place in the US and Europe.

There were initial fractures in the Vegas Group around the course of political change versus direct action - which led to the formation of another influential movement discussed elsewhere - but by 2017 the direct action contingent of the Vegas Group consisted of about a hundred people all told. Their declared objective was a distributed collaborative effort to (a) develop human versions of the most successful longevity and metabolic enhancements demonstrated in mice, and (b) cultivate hospitable medical groups in the Asia-Pacific countries. When these technologies were developed, the founding members would cast lots and carefully test upon themselves, in rotation, and through the agency of medical centers in Asia. In doing this the hope was to spur change in the public view and greater progress in the commercialization of these technologies - and of course to gain access to manipulations that were greatly extending life in mice.

One of the predictions of the reliability theory of aging and longevity is that we are all born damaged. Reliability theory evolved from the theories used to predict failure in mechanical systems; as such, it is a less an attempt to explain the roots of aging and more an attempt to frame an understanding of the way in which accumulating damage at the most fundamental levels of our biochemistry produces the observed patterns of aging.

The models of reliability theory only match up with reality if we assume that life starts with a certain level of preexisting biological damage, and that damage goes some way to determining later health and life expectancy. What happens in early life matters a great deal, it seems. This is why we are interested in such topics as the potential effects of solar radiation on the unborn, and the degree to which historical increases in longevity can be explained by a lower childhood burden of chronic disease.

I noticed another interesting data point today in an open access paper: a possible marker for the biological cost of being born to an older mother - something that we know bears an increased risk of health issues.

Parental ages and levels of DNA methylation in the newborn are correlated:

Changes in DNA methylation patterns with age frequently have been observed and implicated in the normal aging process and its associated increasing risk of disease, particularly cancer. Additionally, the offspring of older parents are at significantly increased risk of cancer, diabetes, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Only a proportion of these increased risks among the children of older parents can be attributed to nondisjunction and chromosomal rearrangements.

We found that methylation levels [associated with] 142 genes were significantly correlated with maternal age. A weaker correlation was observed with paternal age. ... Genes associated with [cancer] are significantly over-represented among the genes correlated with maternal age, and this suggests a link to known increased risks of cancer among the children of older parents. Similarly, gene functions related to neurodevelopment and neuroregulation are over-represented among the strongly correlated genes, and this may have relevance to the increasing risk of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders in offspring as parental ages increase.

Biotechnology will be a great leveler of opportunity, a grand remover of adversity, offering the chance to repair deleterious consequences of ancestry, birth, and other biological circumstances beyond our control. Systematic altereration of DNA methylation will likely be a commonplace medical technology of the late 2020s, for example. This and many other potentially beneficial manipulations of DNA are almost within reach of the most advanced research groups today - and the biotechnologies of ten or fifteen years from today will far cheaper and more capable than the best machinery now available.

An attendee at the Humanity+ UK 2010 conference offers thoughts on transhumanist goals: "The convergence of current technologies such as nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technology and cognitive science (NBIC) and future technologies such as artificial intelligence, mind uploading, cryonics, and simulated reality, is truly inspirational. ... I think we all have a vested interest in Aubrey de Grey's idea that aging is simply a disease, and a curable one at that. His plan is to identify all the components that cause human tissue to age, and design remedies for each of them through his approach called SENS (Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence). Once we can extend human life spans by thirty years, we're well on our way to immortality. Aubrey de Grey claims that the first human being to live a thousand years has probably already been born. From the way he talks, the biggest challenge in the race against mortality is funding! So I highly encourage those of you with means and an interest to donate to the SENS Foundation. ... Another fascinating speaker was David Pearce, advocating the abolition of suffering throughout the living world. ... He argues that as we develop these technologies, it is both our moral and hedonistic imperative to rid all sentient beings of pain."

View the Article Under Discussion: http://beforeitsnews.com/news/38084/Transhumanism_and_the_Future_of_the_Human_Race.html

Read More Longevity Meme Commentary: http://www.longevitymeme.org/news/

A number of past studies have shown improvement in Parkinson's disease with stem cell transplants. Here is another: "Endometrial stem cells injected into the brains of mice with a laboratory-induced form of Parkinson's disease appeared to take over the functioning of brain cells eradicated by the disease. The finding raises the possibility that women with Parkinson's disease could serve as their own stem cell donors. Similarly, because endometrial stem cells are readily available and easy to collect, banks of endometrial stem cells could be stored for men and women with Parkinson's disease. ... In the current study, the researchers generated stem cells using endometrial tissue obtained from nine women who did not have Parkinson's disease and verified that, in laboratory cultures, the unspecialized endometrial stem cells could be transformed into dopamine-producing nerve cells like those in the brain. The researchers also demonstrated that, when injected directly into the brains of mice with a Parkinson's-like condition, endometrial stem cells would develop into dopamine-producing cells. ... stem cells derived from endometrial tissue appear to be less likely to be rejected than are stem cells from other sources."

View the Article Under Discussion: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100506141608.htm

Read More Longevity Meme Commentary: http://www.longevitymeme.org/news/

A study showed that obesity can increase the risk of developing arthritis.

Obesity is a global problem and is thought to be second to smoking as one of the contributory cause of cancer. It is a medical condition associated with the excessive storage of body fat which can lead to serious health conditions and reduced life expectancy. A body mass index above 30 kilograms per square meter is considered obese. The list of common health conditions that are induced and intensified by obesity include some types of cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.

There are several factors that cause obesity. In a nutshell, the consumption of a greater number of calories than what the body burns results to the disproportionate storage of fat. An unhealthy diet and an inactive lifestyle are two of the primary causes of obesity and obviously, the best recommended cure is the modification of one’s diet and increased physical activity. Among the chronic conditions caused by obesity is arthritis.

The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published on October 8 stated that arthritis limits the physical activity of over 21 million people. Obesity is now being linked to arthritis and the study showed that an excess in weight serves as a hindrance to having healthy joints basically because it affects joint movement. And according to the report, unless Americans learn to control their weight, the prevalence of arthritis will remain on the rise. Just like obesity, arthritis is a major public health problem that can be effectively prevented through weight management which includes increased physical activities, diet modification, and proper education.

The Link between Obesity and Arthritis

The National Health Interview Survey for the year 2007 to 2009 indicated that more than 22 percent of adults aged 18 and above are diagnosed with arthritis. This is an equivalent of almost 50 million people. More than 21 million people in this group had reported limited body movements and decreased physical activities. In the population suffering from obesity, on the other hand, more than 33 percent of women and over 25 percent of men have arthritis. This is more than twice of the arthritis prevalence in people with normal or below normal weight, with almost 14 percent in men and about 19 percent in women.

Though the prevalence of arthritis is commonly linked to a person’s age, issues such as lifestyle, physical activity, weight, and even educational attainment are also some of the factors that can increase the risk. The report also showed that the limitations in physical activities that cause arthritis are caused by the ageing population and rising rates of obesity.

The ageing population and increasing prevalence of obesity are expected to increase the rates of developing arthritis in the next 20 years according to the report. The expected number of adults with arthritis can go up as much as 67 million by 2010. The other findings of the study showed that more than 24 percent of women and 18 percent of men were surveyed with doctor-diagnosed arthritis. Almost 22 percent of the survey participants whose educational attainment was less than a high school diploma had arthritis, comparatively higher than the 20 percent of people who spent a few years in college. In addition to this, almost 24 percent of people with sedentary lifestyle have arthritis, a lot lesser than the 19 percent who engaged in increased physical activities.

The survey participants were asked if they were diagnosed with any form of arthritis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, gout or fibromyalgia by a medical expert. According to the report, arthritis results to an annual cost of $128 billion on a national scale and the condition is one of the common causes of disability. The risk of getting knee osteoarthritis is more than 60 percent in obese individuals. The report also suggested that even an 11-pound reduction in weight can reduce the risk of knee osteoarthritis by 50 percent and mortality rate also by half.

Tips to Prevent Obesity

Obesity and arthritis can come hand in hand. This suggests that one of the best ways to prevent the development of obesity is by properly managing weight. It’s like hitting two birds with one stone: you are avoiding obesity and at the same time reducing the risk of developing arthritis.

It needs to be understood that obesity is caused by the over-consumption of calories while getting less than recommended physical activities. The best approach is by being aware of your calorie intake while increasing physical activity at the same time in order to burn any stored fat. Identifying any early indications of obesity is also key to preventing the condition from becoming a serious problem.

Remember to:

• Maintain an active lifestyle. Though going to the gym or jogging around the park may be more recommendable, having an active lifestyle can be achieved in the comforts of your own home like doing open backyard activities.
• Monitor weight regularly. It’s difficult to always count the calories. Though you may always need to think about the food you eat, counting calories down to the last piece of candy may become too obsessive and stressful. The better way of doing it is by monitoring your weight on a regular basis. This will tell you if you have been eating well and if you are getting enough physical activities to burn the extra pounds.
• Eat right. There’s no better way of managing your weight but by eating the right kind of foods. Fresh fruits, vegetables and foods rich in fiber, like whole grains, are best in flushing out saturated fats from the other foods you eat. Eating regularly and slowly will also help in the better digestion of food.

Tips to Prevent Arthritis

Food rich in bad cholesterol, saturated fats, sodium, and uric acid leads and worsens arthritis. The recommended diet to prevent and alleviate arthritic conditions consists of consuming healthy foods such as:

• Parsley
• Watercress
• Celery
• Carrots
• wheat grass products
• barley
• pecans
• avocados
• soy products
• whole grain products like oats, millet, barley, wheat
• cold water fishes like sardines, salmon and herring.

Foods rich in antioxidants like omega-3 fatty acids, selenium, bioflavonoids, carotenes and vitamin C has also been found to reduce the inflammation of the joints caused by free radicals.

Meanwhile, foods containing high amounts of calcium inhibitors have been found to increase the risk of arthritis. So try to avoid the following:

• red meat
• chicken
• eggs
• dairy products
• coffee
• alcohol

Foods with high contents of oxalic acid like plums, cranberries, rhubarb, spinach and chard can also cause and worsen arthritis.

Sources
arthritis.webmd.com
healthtree.com
today.msnbc.msn.com

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THE NEW FIELD OF HORMONE REPLACEMENT AND LONGEVITY MEDICINE

I learned more from this conference about prolonging people life spans than Ive learned from any other conference

Bruce H Shelton MD MD (H) DiHOM

Speaking after the ACAM Longevity Conference Oct 29, 1997

Dear Patients,

Interested in a longer healthier life? Wouldnt it be nice if we could all die young-late in life?

The above question is attributed to Dr. Ivan Popov MD, the founder and director of the Renaissance Center in the Bahamas. I heard that remark after attending the first ever Longevity Conference sponsored by ACAM in 1997 to learn the safest therapeutic methods of treating problems related to aging and how to have a longer healthier life. Since that time newer information has become available and in fact our office has a videotape collection of interviews with experts in the field from all over the world.

Firstly and most interestingly is aging, although something that happens to each and every one of us is considered to be a disease that causes our demise. It has been said that its not smart to fool with mother nature, but the same creator that gave us our life force also gave us the intelligence to hold onto that life force as long as possible in a good as condition as possible and there are no logical reasons to not live as long as is possible in as healthy a state that we can safely achieve through the intelligent use of modern medicine science. -philosophy of Dr. Shelton

We learned how to:

-Have a Higher Energy Level

-Enhance Sexual Performance

-Have Improved Cardiac Output

-Increase Muscle Mass

-Have Superior Immune Function

-Have Improved Cholesterol Profiles

-Have Younger Thicker Skin

-Lose Weight

-Have Sharper Vision

-Increase Memory Retention

-Improve Sleep

What are the secrets you learned would be the next logical question? The interesting answer is that there really arent any secrets; its all just a common sense approach to many of the things we already know and talk about in our practice PLUS JUST A FEW MORE NEW THINGS THAT WE LEARNED. Please continue reading.

Homeopathyaugmented by Comprehensive Homeopathyremains the ultimate cure to all problems. The correct homeopathic constitutional remedy and correct series of comprehensive homeopathic detoxification as determined by classical methods and monitored by our Electrodermal Testing Computers is in our opinion the ultimate answer to longer and healthier life.

However, there are OBSTACLES TO CURE as presented by a poisoned environment, poor nutrition of foods and minerals, and unhealthy stressful lifestyles present blocks to Homeopathics that must be corrected or removed so that the Homeopathics can do their job properly and efficiently. In many cases parts of our bodies that produce and regulate hormones are severely damaged and must be supplemented for long periods of time in order for rejuvenation to occur properly.

We learn the latest scientific testing approaches to monitor the effects of Hormone Replacement and nutritional replacement so that over correction does not occur, the body heals, and slows the aging process ( in certain cases even reversing that process) as safely and as gently as possible.

Procedures To Follow

We continue to need to do basic lab and case taking as before. This includes blood counts, urinalysis, thyroid function, c-reactive protein, homocysteine, lipid panels, allergy tests (where indicated) and stool musculoskeletal disorders, history and physical exam, homeopathic reprioritization and baseline electro checks with regular follow-ups just as we have always done (including the all important comprehensive homeopathic products, supplements, IVs and pleomorphic products as indicated).

We also need to get baseline provocation calcium EDTA IV challenge and urine collection for minerals (including dental metals), which are perhaps the biggest villains in the group of poisons that rob us of our youth, health and longevity.

Many of my patients know I had my mercury fillings removed in 1990 and have long advocated heavy metal detoxification in many forms. I have consistently advised patients to visit dentists to replace amalgam fillings and then detox afterward.

There are many ways to safely chelate patients should we discover heavy metal toxicity and these will be discussed later on in this newsletter.

We then collect a saliva sample to measure all of the adrenal hormones and draw a blood test known as Somatomedin-C in order to properly diagnose the missing hormones and then find the correct method to resolve the problem.

The Endocrine System makes all of our Hormones.

The glands that comprise the Endocrine system are:

-Pineal

-Hypothalamus

-Pituitary

-Thyroid

-Thymus

-Adrenal

-Pancreatic Islets of Langerhans

-Gonads- Ovaries & Testicles

( All of these glands work together and interact with and affect each other.)

The Pineal Gland

The pineal glandsaid to be our third eye remnant, connected by nerve fibers to our eyes and produces its main hormone melatonin only when it is dark. When we artificially suppress it by keeping lights on after sundown we deprive ourselves of normal levels of melatonin which it turns out is one of the strongest antioxidants known and has the ability to cross into every cell of our body 24 hours a day when and if we have any in our bodies. It is an anti-aging procedure to take from a half to a whole milligram each of melatoninand every night at bedtime and keep lights off after we take it. Some people have taken as much as 1 3mg of melatonin at bedtime for sleep and have reacted poorly to it. It needs to be taken routinely at the lower dose of mg. and not to use it as a sleep aid. It plays a strong role in keeping us young.

The Hypothalamus

The hypothalmus gland makes releasing factors that control the pituitary gland, which is said to be the master gland. Located at the very bottom of the brain just above the pituitary and behind the nose, it is the place where the mind connects to the body and can only be affected by good thought, meditation, and prayer.

The Pituitary

The pituitary is the main gland in the body and has two groups of hormones. The first group isthe stimulating hormones that react as a thermostat to turn all of the other glands on and off under feedback control of those other glands themselves and the higher control of the hypothalamus. An example is the thyroid gland and TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone). If the thyroid output of thyroxin is low, the pituitary gland senses that deficiency and starts producing TSH, which drives the thyroid to make more thyroxin. When enough thyroxin is made, TSH is turned off and thyroxin output decreases. This process is repeated for each and every gland in the body making the pituitary the master control switch and the thermostatof the endocrine system

However there is a second hormone produced in the Pituitary that has a primary reaction without a feedback mechanism all of its own. That Hormone is called Growth Hormone, which will be described below.

Thyroid Gland

The Thyroid actually produces thyroid hormone (thyroxin), which in its primary form is a protein molecule, attached to four iodine molecules. This is called T4. However, in order for it to be effective, one of the iodine molecules needs to be stripped off the molecule turning it into T3. If the wrong iodine is stripped away we end up with a molecule called REVERSE T3 and we then have a problem, REVERSE T3 DOESNT WORK, but blood tests for thyroid function still measures T3 as present whether or not it is correct T3 or reverse T3. We can end up being clinically hypothyroid (under active thyroid function) and the blood tests we use wont show it.

Under normal circumstances the pituitary gland will sense low thyroid and turn on TSH production to stimulate the thyroid to make more T4, but in the presence of reverse T3, even this mechanism is somehow fooled and we become clinically hypothyroid in the presence of a normal blood test. This is when we are chronically fatigued, nothing shows up in our lab and regular doctors start prescribing tranquilizers and anti-depressants.

The only sure way to properly diagnose an under active thyroid state is by physical findings on the behalf of the physician. That includes monitoring temperature (hypothyroid patients usually run temperatures consistently a half to a whole degree below normal) plus a whole host of physical exam findings especially a decreased ankle jerk reflex.

A clinically hypothyroid patient needs to be detoxed and given replacement T3 pills, which in its most inexpensive form is called a Westhroid thyroid. Of course before doing this, further workup of thyroid functions such as a blood test for autoimmune disease called thyroid auto antibodies should be performed. Possibly even an imaging study of the thyroid should be done. In our opinion, MERCURY TOXICITY is the most likely cause of this problem, and a proper mercury detox will help treat it along with the ultimate cure after detox, which is homeopathy.

Thymus Gland

The Thymus Gland is located just behind the breastbone and reaches its largest size when we are very young. By the time that we are adults it shrinks down to a very small size. Along with the spleen it is responsible for priming our immune system. It programs our T lymphocytes to do their very important job in regulating and controlling immunity.

The AIDS virus for instance attacks T-Helper Lymphocytes and destroys our immunity showing how important it is to have a good thymus.

Taking thymus extract is one of the ways that we support this system. There are many products on the market that contain thymus extract from bovine source. Sweetbreads by the way, are the thymus gland of cattle.

The Islets of Langerhands in the Pancreas

These are the glands that make insulin, which determines sugar uptake by the cells. The disease is of course called Diabetesand there are two types. The first is Type I, which is simply, a non functioning gland and little or no insulin output. It usually occurs during childhood and may be caused by infection or metal poisoning. If not detected early enough the gland simply dies and nothing further can be done leaving the patient with a lifelong dependence on insulin. However proper detox of whatever is the poison can leave just a partially damaged pancreas and then the patient can be treated with a live cell transplantof animal pancreas and some success in restoring pancreatic function can be obtained. This is a procedure that cannot be available in our office or in the UNITED STATES as its simply not approved in this country, but is available in certain specialty clinics in Europe.

The second or more common form of Diabetes is Type II, (Adult Onset Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus; or NIDDM). This is where there is more than enough insulin circulation in the bloodstream but the receptors on the cell walls dont accept it and the result is that sugar doesnt get into the cells just as if there were no insulin. There is a lot that can be done to naturally help this problem. The first step is to simply reduce the carbohydrate load of the diet.

The second is to make sure the correct nutrients (specifically Vanadyl and Chromium) plus others are in the diet. Third is to go through all of the detoxification protocols that are key to our practice up to and including proper homeopathic treatment, which isavailable through the Comprehensive Homeopathy procedures used in our office.

The Gonads- Ovaries & Testicles

These glands make our sex hormones. The female hormones are the three estrogens (Estradiol, Estrone and Estriol) and Progesterone. The Male Hormone is Testosterone. Both men and women also make these hormones in the adrenal gland. This acts as a backup for the production of these hormones, and both men and women make all five. The women simply make more of the female hormones and the men make more Testosterone but both sexes make and need all five hormones for one reason or another. For instance, sexual desire or libido is determined by testosterone for both men and women even though it is considered to be the male hormone. When women need hormone replacement therapy, testosterone must be added to the formula if the womans sexual desire is to be improved along with functional correction of the female organ systems.

Lets first discuss the ovaries as their function comes to an abrupt halt when the last of the eggs have been ovulated out of the ovary. Each woman has a fixed amount of eggs determined genetically at birth, and when they are used up, the ovary shuts down both egg and hormone production and thats simply it. Nothing can be done to change this. However thats not the end of the female hormones for woman as the adrenal glands can take over and do the job.

Suffice it to say however that the environment is estrogenic, in that chemicals such as pesticides and petroleum byproducts (bus fumes!) can stimulate both the adrenals and ovaries to produce estrogens out of balance with the other hormones and cause hormonal side effects like PMS, emotional upsets, skin disorders. There is a way to deal with these problems and those answers lie in our detoxing IVs plus homeopathic hormone balancing techniques.

The testicles on the other hand do not run out of sperm nor do they lose the ability to make testosterone. Of course the adrenals also can make testosterone, but the whole system simply winds down as aging occurs and the decrease in testosterone cause the added problems of decreased libido, sexual potency and make the prostate swell with the subsequent urination difficulties that ensue.

There is no question that dental problems directly cause gonad problems and that toxicity of metals lead to an earlier onset of failure of the gonads.

The answers lie in removal of fillings, root canals and cavitations in the affected teeth and then the system can be brought back into balance through the use of homotoxicology procedures as determined by our MSA testing.

The Adrenal Glands

Are located just above both kidneys on the right and left sides of the body, they have multiple functions related to many organ systems and make close to thirty separate hormones that are all important. The adrenal gland is the gland of stress. It usually burns itself out from the demands of stress and the production of cortisone, which is often overproduced at the expense of the production of all the other hormones.

No wonder women have horrible menopausal symptoms, when all they have left for the production of female hormones is an adrenal gland that shuts down sex hormone production in favor of cortisone production in response to marital, financial, and emotional upset. Even the allergies that we get from environmental pollution causes adrenal cortisone overload at the expense of progesterone needed to stop a hot flash.

Added to the fact that heavy metals, improper nutrition, and pollution shut down half of the enzyme systems in the adrenal gland, the propensity of the adrenal to make cortisone at the expense of all other hormones leaves no doubt as to why we age prematurely and unhappily.

There canbe no further question why both men and women lose ability and desire for sexual relations when stress shuts sown testosterone production to keep up cortisone production, which always takes priority, for without cortisone we will die. In any case we die prematurely but withered and unsatisfied.

The first line for adrenal health is obviously to learn to reduce and handle stress.

The second line is nutrition and detox as we have been discussing.

Third is proper hormone replacement.

After Appropriate Measurement of What Needs Replacing

The hormones to replace are estrogens in women in proper proportion (90% Estriol. 10% Estradiol), progesterone in sufficient low dose so that menstruation is not restarted, and testosterone, which needs to be given after first making sure that extra aromatase wont convert it into the damaging form of estrogen (estrone) whose metabolites can be carcinogenic.

Contact our offices todayto learn more or call 602-300-1539 to schedule an appointment.

Continue reading here:
Longevity Medicine Treatment | Hormone Replacement Clinic

A study conducted by a team of researchers from Illinois found that poor sleep can increase the risk of disability due to rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

The immune system is responsible for protecting the body from viruses and other pathogenic organisms. But a disorder in the immune system can cause it to confuse healthy tissues and cells as foreign materials. This results to an autoimmune disease which leads to the development of autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. RA, or rheumatoid arthritis, is a condition that causes the inflammation of joints and the tissues surrounding it. It can also affect other organs in the body.

Rheumatoid arthritis can happen at any age.  However, women are more often affected compared to men. RA usually affects the joints of the ankles, feet, knees, fingers and wrists. The severity and course of the disease can vary on a case-to-case basis. The primary contributors of the disease are hormones, certain genetic markers and infection. Various studies also show that certain habits like the lack of sleep can contribute to the development of rheumatoid arthritis.

Poor Sleep Can Increase the Likelihood of Disability from Rheumatoid Arthritis

A study published in the February issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine revealed that poor sleep is linked with higher risk of depressive symptoms, higher levels of pain and fatigue, and more functional disability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The researchers suggest treating sleeping problems through the help of behavioral and other forms of intervention to better overcome the painful symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

The study aims to investigate the relationship between functional disability in more than 16 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and their quality of sleep. The study participants had an average age of around 58 years and over 70 percent of them were women. All of the study participants were clinically diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis for no less than 2 years, and they all had been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis for 14 years on an average.

The researchers asked the study participants to complete the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Medical Outcomes Study Short Form, the Health Assessment Questionnaire, and the Beck Depression Inventory. The results provided much needed information regarding the study participants’ quality of sleep, pain severity, functional disability, fatigue, and their depression levels. The participants were also asked to give their medical history and socio-demographic information.

The results of the study showed that a person’s quality of sleep has an indirect effect on functional disability after removing other factors like age, number of co-morbidities and gender. The results of the PSQI showed that more than 61 percent of the patients had poor sleep and 33 percent reported sleeping disturbances caused by joint pain in most days of the week.

Lead researcher from the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Nursing, Faith Luyster, said that the primary result of their study suggests that poor sleep was linked to worse cases of rheumatoid arthritis. She added that it is important to properly address the sleeping problems of rheumatoid arthritis patients through pharmacological and behavioral intervention.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease that affects more than 1.3 million American adults and which causes stiffness, swelling, pain and loss of function in the joint area. People with rheumatoid arthritis normally complain about sleep disruptions and poor quality of sleep. Luyster added that not being able to sleep well at night can contribute to the severity of fatigue and pain which, in turn, bi-directionally affects their quality of sleep.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Risk Factors

It has been found that women are more at risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis than men. Adults aged 40 to 60 years are more likely to be infected with the condition. Genetic inclination and family history also plays a major role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis. Though medical experts say that the disease can’t be directly inherited, predispositions to rheumatoid arthritis can be passed on. Lastly, one of the adverse effects of smoking is a higher risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.

Natural Ways to Fight Rheumatoid Arthritis Risk

Though the real cause of rheumatoid arthritis remains unknown, medical experts say that the key to preventing the disease is protecting the joints from damage. The joints are built to perform the stress of basic tasks but joints with arthritis cannot take the stress of twisting, pulling and pushing.

A tip to protecting the joints from too much strain is by moving the joint to its full range of motion. This can help maintain the active motion of your joints. But remember not to overdo the exercise and keep the movement to where it is pain-free and in the range of your flexibility. Keep the movements gentle and slow. Forcing the joints to make movements beyond its range of motion can only result to damage and injury.

Doing basic tasks will, more often than not, require the movement of the joints. Another tip to prevent the risk of rheumatoid arthritis is knowing which tasks cause joint pain and by finding a way to avoid it. Lifting heavy objects can cause sudden jolts of pain. And if this happens, try to find a better way of doing it without experiencing the same pain, especially with tasks that you do every day. Remember to observe proper body mechanics when doing things.  This will not only make the task easier to complete, but it helps you avoid injuries as well.

Rheumatoid arthritis pain is common in the hand area. The hands are full of joints and pain in this area can result to functional disability. Try to use your hands more carefully. Avoid tasks that will need prolonged pinching and gripping. The motion of the fingers needs to be in the direction of the thumb and not the little finger. Opening jars for example will direct the force to the palm instead of just in the fingers. Try to use jar openers rather than doing it barehanded. Using tools with ergonomically designed handles will help prevent the onset of pain.

Different joints can endure different levels of tasks. The joints in the fingers can only do so much but other joints can do so much more. When doing certain heavy tasks for example, try to use your strongest joints. Avoid keeping the joints in the same position for an extended period of time. When writing, try to give your hands some rest for 10 to 15 minutes. When driving long distances, try to stop for a few minutes. Move out and stretch your joints.

Sources
eurekalert.org
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
medicinenet.com
mayoclinic.com
mayoclinic.com
mayoclinic.com

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Sequencing our own DNA and cross-referencing the results against the best of present scientific knowledge will soon be cheap and routine. This is an example of the sort of incremental progress in medical technology that is increasing human life expectancy year after year: a little more prevention here, a little better insight into how to cure there. From ScienceDaily: "For the first time, researchers have used a healthy person's complete genome sequence to predict his risk for dozens of diseases and how he will respond to several common medications. The risk analysis [also] incorporates more-traditional information such as a patient's age and gender and other clinical measurements. The resulting, easy-to-use, cumulative risk report will likely catapult the use of such data out of the lab and into the waiting room of average physicians within the next decade, say the scientists. ... The $1,000 genome is coming fast. The challenge lies in knowing what to do with all that information. We've focused on establishing priorities that will be most helpful when a patient and a physician are sitting together looking at the computer screen. ... Information like this will enable doctors to deliver personalized health care like never before. Patients at risk for certain diseases will be able to receive closer monitoring and more frequent testing, while those who are at lower risk will be spared unnecessary tests. This will have important economic benefits as well, because it improves the efficiency of medicine."

View the Article Under Discussion: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100429204658.htm

Read More Longevity Meme Commentary: http://www.longevitymeme.org/news/

January 26, 2014 by admin 0 comments

Acne, for a lot of people, is a lot harder to treat than other conditions that affect the body. While many people first experience acne breakouts at a young age, some continue dealing with acne well into adulthood.

When this happens, many of these adults grow desperate searching for an acne treatment thats, well, effective. The thing about acne treatments is that most people do have to keep searching until they find one that fits their skin type. Thats practically unavoidable for most people.

The good news is that no matter your skin type, there are many acne treatments out there that might be effective on your skin.

A good example of an effective acne treatment is the topical gel, Duac, which contains the antibiotic clindamycin. You can read more about its effectiveness at this handy blog post. As for other medications, were going to talk about them here in this short article.

Treat your acne with these effective treatments

In most cases, people with moderate to severe acne problems will be prescribed prescription acne medications to treat their outbreaks. This usually happens when they have exhausted their over-the-counter options, especially if those medications dont work well on their skin.

Topical medications, usually topical antimicrobials, are the most common prescription strength acne medications out there. These medications contain active ingredients that help inhibit the acne populations that appear on the body. Most people with mild to severe cane are prescribed these medications.

The aforementioned Duac gel is one of many topical antimicrobial medications, mainly due to its active ingredient in clindamycin. Azelaic acid is another antimicrobial that treats mild to severe acne, which helps reduce acne inflammation on the skin. It also serves as an effective treatment when removing dark spots from the skin, particularly those associated with acne scarring on darker skin tones.

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Longevity Medicines

has many goals, some of them, like extending the maximum lifespan, of about 120 years, are not yet within our reach. But many are realistic and worth striving for.

How do we move towards these goals? Here are some of the essential steps:

1. Prevent Premature Aging

The first and most important step in Longevity Medicine consists of good old prevention. How do you answer the following questions?

2. Take Antioxidants

According to Denham Harman, the father of the free radical theory of aging, oxidation, and the production of so-called free radicals, constantly goes on in our bodies. These unpaired electrons damage cell structures, like DNA, RNA, and proteins. Antioxidants contained in food (mostly vegetables and fruit) or as nutritional supplements counter this effect.

3. Replace declining Hormones

As we age our hormones steadily decline. From decade to decade the levels of DHEA, Growth Hormone, Melatonin and Sex Hormones fall off. Aggravating this hormonal decline is the fact that aging cells are incresingly resistant to hormones. That leads - according to the neuroendocrine theory of aging - to a hormonal starvation of our cells. The bodys ability to repair and regulate is impaired and resiliency and vitality decline. The first step in hormone replacement therapy is to get your current hormone levels tested and find out if you are deficient.

4. Choose a program that is right for you

Like always in medicine, a Longevity Program has to be individualized, and the potential risks and benefits have to be taken into account.

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Longevity Medicine | Hans Gruenn MD

For centuries, people have had an enduring dream to slow the aging process and to find the Fountain of Youth. Today, science has identified many of the processes that cause physical aging and age-related diseases. Longevity medicine, which is sometimes referred to as anti-aging medicine involves the prevention, early detection, treatment and the reversal of age-related decline.

While aging can have advantages liked increased wisdom and a greater appreciation for life, many people are concerned about remaining mentally sharp, physically healthy and fit enough to enjoy their favorite activities for as long as possible. NaturoMedica physicians are committed to using the latest scientific discoveries to promote healthy aging. This can include replacing missing hormones, improving detoxification pathways, customized nutrient therapy and specialized diet and exercise programs. NaturoMedica physicians help men and women restore optimal health at any age.

Longevity medicine can improve energy levels, sexual performance, hormone balance, immune function and overall general health including mood and mental clarity. NaturoMedica physicians also provide guidance regarding prevention of the degenerative diseases of aging.

At NaturoMedica, doctors combine the best of conventional medicine with natural medicine to promote optimal health and longevity. Physicians specialize in measuring and treating the aging process with a wide range of approaches including: regular health screenings, advance diagnostic tests, emotional health assessment and review of lifestyle factors including exercise regimen, nutritional habits and chronic stressors. The doctors at NaturoMedica are trained in the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) including bio-identical hormones. Hormone therapy can include estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol and thyroid hormones. While hormone therapy is not beneficial or appropriate for everyone, many patients benefit from restoring hormones to optimal levels. Other options are available for patients that want to avoid the use of hormones. NaturoMedica physicians provide highly individualized programs to promote healthy aging.

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Longevity Medicine | NaturoMedica

Look well, feel well and live well by delaying, preventing and even reversing the signs and symptoms of aging.

Beautiful, healthy skin takes more than just the latest lotions and potions. Beauty comes from within. At Longevity Medical Institute we take an inside-out approach to help patients look, feel and live healthier and longer lives.

"Health is not just survival or freedom from disease; the definition of heath is becoming defined more by an individual's ability to perform daily activities, enhanced by themes of happiness, social and emotional well-being, and quality of life. Anti-aging medicine is an extension of preventive healthcare. It is the next great model of health care." - American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine

Wellness is being in balance with your mind, body and spirit. At the Longevity Medical Institute we believe beauty comes from the inside out. Our carefully balanced combination of aesthetic and clinical care responds to your own individual skincare and body replenishment needs.

We now know with certainty that aging does not have to mean disease, decline, dementia and a host of other chronic diseases. Today, we can grow older with energy, strength and vitality with the latest preventative healthcare model: anti-aging medicine.

Offering the latest technology and therapies, the Longevity Medical Institute has assembled a team of professionals in the integrated disciplines of aesthetics and wellness to help patients look well, feel well and live healthier and longer lives.

A physician-based medical center, we focus on three age-management areas for both men and women: cosmetic dermatology, weight management and bio-identical hormonal, supplementation, optimization and treatment.

We successfully blend the latest advances in conventional medicine with a wide range of clinically proven alternative therapies. Our goalis to help you achieve optimal health with a well-rounded approach to balance and synergy while fusing modern medicine with the latest innovations in body wellness.

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LONGEVITY MEDICAL INSTITUTE :: Home

Researchers here analyze the proteome of the hypothalamus and argue for an important role in coordinating bodily responses to ongoing changes caused by aging: "The aging process affects every tissue in the body and represents one of the most complicated and highly integrated inevitable physiological entities. The maintenance of good health during the aging process likely relies upon the coherent regulation of hormonal and neuronal communication between the central nervous system and the periphery. Evidence has demonstrated that the optimal regulation of energy usage in both these systems facilitates healthy aging. However, the proteomic effects of aging in regions of the brain vital for integrating energy balance and neuronal activity are not well understood. The hypothalamus is one of the main structures in the body responsible for sustaining an efficient interaction between energy balance and neurological activity. Therefore, a greater understanding of the effects of aging in the hypothalamus may reveal important aspects of overall organismal aging and may potentially reveal the most crucial protein factors supporting this vital signaling integration. In this study, we examined alterations in protein expression in the hypothalami of young, middle-aged, and old rats. ... Based upon our rigorous analyses, we show that endogenous physiological responses to aging may be strongly orchestrated by the expression level of the GIT2 protein. The relevance of the hypothalamic expression level of this protein to the aging process in both neuronal and energy-controlling tissues reinforces the importance of this organ in the potential future development of targeted pharmacotherapeutics designed to interdict a multitude of age-related disorders."

Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0036975

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A BBC News article: "It might seem unbelievable, but researchers can grow organs in the laboratory. There are patients walking around with body parts which have been designed and built by doctors out of a patient's own cells. ... There is a pressing need. A shortage of available organs means many die on waiting lists and those that get an organ must spend a lifetime on immunosuppressant drugs to avoid rejection. The idea is that using a patient's own stem cells to grow new body parts avoids the whole issue of rejection as well as waiting for a donor. ... Dr Anthony Atala [has] made breakthroughs in building bladders and urethras. He breaks tissue-building into four levels of complexity. 1) Flat structures, such as the skin, are the simplest to engineer as they are generally made up of just the one type of cell. 2) Tubes, such as blood vessels and urethras, which have two types of cells and act as a conduit. 3) Hollow non-tubular organs like the bladder and the stomach, which have more complex structures and functions. 4) Solid organs, such as the kidney, heart and liver, are the most complex to engineer. They are exponentially more complex, have many different cell types, and more challenges in the blood supply. ... We've been able to implant the first three in humans. We don't have any examples yet of solid organs in humans because its much more complex. ... One of the problems when you move to larger organs is the getting the blood supply to work, connecting arteries, capillaries and veins to keep the organ alive. It is why some researchers are investigating 'decellularisation' - taking an existing donated organ, stripping out the original cells and replacing them with new cells from the patient who will receive the organ."

Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16679010

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