The
Role of the Immune System in "Graceful" Aging
One
other issue that is critical in our discussion is the role of the immune system
in aging. We must keep our immune systems healthy if we want to live a long
life! If you die young, due, at least in part, to a weak immune system, this
cannot be considered living a long life! Too many people die young from
pneumonia, cancer and other diseases that could have been prevented had their
immune systems been properly taken care of.
Yes, the tools that one uses to slow down the
aging process are very similar to the tools that are used to enhance the immune
system! Developing your own personal longevity program means eating to live a
long, energetic and healthy life.
This may seem pedantic to mention, however,
but if you die young from years of not taking care of yourself properly, you
can't live a long life -- correct? Therefore, discussing "anti-aging"
medicine with those who do not generally take care of themselves is
pointless.
Your
Own Personal Longevity Program
This
is not for the faint of heart. If you want to continue eating junk food, large
quantities of refined sugar and carbohydrates, smoking, drinking (more than very
moderate quantities of alcohol), skipping exercise, etc., you can't at the same
time pursue an "anti-aging" agenda.
Why
are so many folks struggling with various concepts or aspects of the aging
process? For one, there are many pressures to consume food of less than
optimal quality. We eat too much food. We drink soda frequently and in
excessive quantities. We maintain a sedentary lifestyle without much
regular exercise. We consume too many food additives, artificial dyes,
preservatives and artificial sweeteners whose safety is questionable. In
addition, we eat too much sugar, a definitive factor in aging! Also, we
are exposed to too many heavy metals like mercury, aluminum (a light
metal!), cadmium, lead, arsenic and more....
Another
reason so many folks are not aging as gracefully as they otherwise could
is the less than adequate insurance coverage for "natural
medicine".
Modern
medicine focuses on treating disease whereas alternative medicine
focuses on building health. They are two different animals! If you
are sick, you may need to see a doctor. However, if you want to stay well
and out of a doctor's office (as much as possible), you'll need to learn
more about preventative medicine. Anti-aging medicine is quintessentially preventative
medicine!
Treating
Disease is NOT the Same as Building Health
Here
are some general points to slowing down the aging process. Manage stress
better. Learn how to eat right and learn how to detoxify (cleanse) your
system. Cleansing can be done with herbs, fresh raw foods, fresh, raw
vegetable juices and/or fasting (for a reasonable length of time). It is
also important to consume plenty of filtered, fluoride-free water, to
consume anti-oxidant nutrients like Vitamin C, E, CoQ10, Selenium, etc.,
to receive adequate rest, and to practice some kind of stress management
program.
In
addition, when folks reach over 40 years of age, a master hormone known as DHEA
tends to go down. This hormone may slow down the aging process. Ideally, one
should get a DHEA level blood test before consuming this supplement. Typical
dosage is from 5 to 50 milligrams.
Also,
of prime importance is excellent nutrition. Just remember, that the quality of
what you eat is intimately related to how quickly you'll age! Since sugar
increases insulin production and insulin production encourages fat storage and
depresses growth hormone production, refined sugar should be consumed very
rarely, if at all.
Fluoride: A Significant Aging Factor!
The
integrity of collagen is crucial in order to allow humans to age
gracefully. Unfortunately, numerous studies show that fluoride poisons
collagen producing cells. These would include osteoblasts (bone),
chondroblasts (cartilage), fibroblasts (skin, muscles, ligaments,
tendons), odontoblasts (dentin of teeth), and amelioblasts (enamel of
teeth). We know it poisons these specialized cells because we can see the
increased urinary production of amino acids unique to collagen protein
within the body. Such amino acids as hydroxyl-proline and hydroxylysine
are seen in the urine of individuals after the consumption of just a few
milligrams of fluoride. Thus, at normal intake levels, fluoride is causing
the disruption of collagen. Not surprisingly, fluoride has been called The
Aging Factor by one author, since it promotes aging of the bones,
skin, ligaments, tendons, etc.
The
cause of collagen breakdown is uncertain. However, it may be due to the
known disruption of hydrogen bonds by fluoride at low levels of intake. It
may also be due to an interference of essential enzymes, necessary for
setting up the proper conditions for intact collagen.
During
the aging process, cells lose their ability to know the difference between
cells that should be mineralized and cells that should not be
mineralized. Studies show fluoride to cause tissues that should be
mineralized to lose minerals and cells that should not be mineralized to
gain minerals. Aging ligaments, tendons, skin and even the aorta, are
tissues that, with aging, become increasingly calcified. That this is
"normal" doesn't make it healthy! Indeed, with proper lifestyle
(including a minimum fluoride exposure and intake), such dangerous
calcification of soft tissues can be kept to a minimum. Proof of these
facts can be found in the worldwide literature on fluoride intoxication.
It is in this literature that with fluoride intoxication or excessive
intake, larger amounts of imperfect or deformed collagen fibers may be
formed. In addition, the body's ability to regulate formation and
mineralization is hindered. (Yiamouyiannis, Fluoride: The Aging Factor,
1986, Chp 4, "Breaking Down the Body's Glue")
Summary
Laboratory
rats and mice that are fed fifty percent of their normal rations live 30
to 50 percent longer! This is the only area of research that is definitely
proven to extend lifespan. So if one is to "under-eat", what
they're really doing is not over-eating. This can only be
achieved through the habit of eating wholesome foods, free of pesticide
residues, keeping one's diet primarily alkaline ( that is, rich in
fruits and vegetables) and getting a good night's sleep every day.
It's
also important to drink sufficient quantities of water, take your
anti-oxidant nutrients, maintain a positive attitude about life and try to
be as proactive as possible in all areas of your health and your life. Two
more things - look both ways before crossing the street and do not
tailgate!
©
2009 Tom Petrie, B.S., C.D.N.
