Natural anti-aging therapies

Most people over age 40 who consult me have been told by other doctors that their physical ailments are just aging. Although anti-aging therapies are widely available, these people were offered no remedies or preventive strategies for their discomforts.

Today, anti-aging is a 'hot' topic: It's the subject of dozens of best-selling books and hundreds of popular Web sites. The therapies most often promoted include drugs (e.g., Deprenyl, BHT and Procaine); hormones (human growth hormone or HGH, DHEA, pregnenolone, testosterone and melatonin); and numerous vitamins, minerals, herbs and amino acids.

The long-term consequences of using these drugs and hormones are either unknown or worrisome. For example, using HGH in fully developed adults with AIDS and muscle wasting is safe and effective. Conventional doctors even prescribe it. But here's the key question: Does human growth hormone trigger long-term problems like cancer and organ failure when used by healthy adults to reverse aging? Nothing has been proven on this safety issue one way or the other.

At this time, I advise you to err on the side of safety. With few exceptions, avoid anti-aging drugs and hormones. Stick with safe and well-documented natural therapies. There are many superb remedies for you to consider.


Antioxidants that Resist Aging

Coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant that protects the heart and entire circulatory system. It's made in the body but the liver loses its ability to synthesize this nutrient as one gets older. CoQ10 is effective in lowering high blood pressure, clearing periodontal disease, eliminating angina, reversing some cases of congestive heart failure, boosting energy and fighting breast cancer.

Animal studies reveal that CoQ10 can increase lifespan up to a Êwhopping 50 per cent without any side effects. CoQ10 is a key player in the function of the mitochondria, the part of the cell involved in energy production. Without adequate CoQ10, energy becomes scarce and cells age more rapidly. Recommended dosage: 400 to 600 mg daily.

Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC) boosts energy and reduces the high catabolic cortisol levels in the blood after intense exercise. It enters the bloodstream and penetrates cell membranes more effectively than regular L-carnitine. ALC also improves cognitive function in both normally aging individuals and those with Alzheimer's. It strengthens the heart muscle and prevents the decline of mitochondrial function, which scientists believe may be a cause of aging. ALC may well be the single most important supplement you can take to maintain and improve overall neurological function. Dosage: 1 to 2 grams before you work out and at bedtime.

Alpha Lipoic Acid is a highly potent antioxidant that counteracts cell-damaging free radicals in the mitochondria, thereby preventing aging. Alpha lipoic acid also recycles other antioxidants, such as vitamin E, back into their original form after they detoxify free radicals. It reduces the damage from excess glucose in the blood, which may play a role in aging, especially the accelerated aging that is common with diabetics. Dosage: 600 to 1,200 mg daily.

Lycopene is one of 600 plant pigments called carotenoids. It's considered the best anti-aging carotenoid (twice as potent as beta carotene) because it's the most efficient quencher of an especially dangerous free radical called singlet oxygen. Lycopene, unlike other antioxidants, is regenerated after quenching singlet oxygen. It can therefore detoxify hazardous molecules without being destroyed.

Lycopene levels tend to drop off as we age, despite eating fruits and vegetables that contain it (tomatoes, guava, rosehip, watermelon and pink grapefruit). Animal studies show that lycopene increases survival and decreases the incidence of both cancer and heart disease. Research also suggests that daily lycopene intake prevents macular degeneration, a common cause of blindness in older people. Dosage: 540 mL or approximately two glasses of tomato juice daily.


Vitamins that Help You Stay Young

Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) supplements can increase lifespan as much as 19 per cent, according to animal studies. B5 fights aging because it's a constituent of coenzyme A, which is involved in many chemical reactions essential to life, including detoxification of dangerous substances. Dosage: 1,000 mg or more daily.

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) is vital for metabolizing the amino acids tyrosine and phenylalanine. It's an essential co-factor (along with vitamin B12 and folic acid) in the body's defence against elevated homocysteine levels, which are linked to arteriosclerosis, heart disease and stroke. Animal studies show that B6 supplements can extend lifespan by at least 11 per cent. Note: If you start taking isolated B vitamins, it's important to also take B-complex to prevent an imbalance. Dosage: 100 mg or more daily.

Vitamin C helps virtually every cell in your body to resist aging. Animal research indicates that regular supplementation can increase lifespan as much as 20 per cent. Dosage: 1,000 mg or more daily.

Vitamin E is the major defender of our cell membranes against oxidative damage and thus aging. It works with selenium to boost immune function, reduce the risk of heart attack in both men and women, and protect us from several types of cancer. Dosage: 400 IU daily.

Selenium is a trace mineral with powerful preventive and therapeutic effects for all types of cancer. In fact, it is helpful for just about any disease associated with aging including arthritis, diabetes, heart disease and chronic infection. Dosage: 200 mcg daily.


Grapeseed Extract and Green Tea

Grapeseed extract contains bioflavonoids known as procyanidolic oligomers. These PCOs have been reported to be 20 times more potent than vitamin C and 50 times mightier than vitamin E as free radical scavengers (antioxidants). Like vitamin B-complex and vitamin C, PCOs are water soluble and have a long half-life, up to seven hours after a single dose. Dosage: 300 mg daily.

Green tea or Camellia sinensis is another friend to keep handy if you want to put the brakes on aging. It can significantly boost immune function and prevent oxidative damage to all body cells. The Chinese have been using green tea for over 4,000 years to increase energy, treat headaches, body aches and pains, digestive problems and depression, as well as to prolong life.

Green tea contains polyphenols, especially 'epigallocatechin gallate' Ð believed responsible for all the health benefits. While green tea also contains a little caffeine, adverse side effects are rare to non-existent. (If you dislike the taste of green tea, try jasmine green tea, which I much prefer - Editor) Dosage: 1 to 3 cups of tea daily, providing 240 to 320 mg of polyphenols.


Safe, Not Flashy

Regardless of your health status, you can feel very confident using any or all of these natural anti-aging therapies. While they may not be as dramatic or flashy as the prescription anti-aging drugs and hormones, I can assure you there is no concern for long-term toxicity or side effects.