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To
a certain extent, yes.
Your longevity is heavily influenced by your
genetics. But, your health as you age – and your
vitality – are determined by the choices you make
every day. Health only comes from healthy living,
based on healthy choices.
People are as different on the inside
as they are on the outside. Look around at the wide
variety of people you know. Look at the health
status of each of them and you will see people of
the same chronological age that are far
different in their biological age. Healthy
habits give you absolutely the best chance of
reaching your wisdom years with the health you need
to explore your interests and carry on your work
with enthusiasm.
The
basics of Healthy Aging
When your body signals that cell repair or
replacement is needed, growth hormone accomplishes
this with the nutrients you have available at that
time.
So, just imagine: a cell reaches the end of its
normal lifespan and needs to be replaced. Growth
hormone is present to facilitate this change. Your
body recruits the nutrient building blocks that it
needs to do the job − including proteins, fats,
carbohydrates, water, vitamins, minerals and enzymes
− and you build healthy cells.
What if you don’t have enough nutrients available to
facilitate this replacement? What if you are missing
a vitamin, protein, water, fat or some other
critical nutrient when it is needed most?
Well, one of two things will happen: Either the cell
will not be replaced (sarcopenia, from the
Greek meaning "poverty of flesh"), or the cell is
replaced, but without critical elements
needed to keep it healthy.
A cell deprived of the proper nutrients will be
prone to disease, as well as:
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Attacks by viruses and infections
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Attacks by your own immune system, resulting in
conditions such as lupus and rheumatoid
arthritis
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DNA mutations, like those seen in Parkinson’s
disease and cancer
Your body must replace millions of cells each day.
That is why it is critical for you to have
all of the nutrients you need, available at
all times. One single day of poor nutrition will
mean that you will make deficient cells. These cells
may live for many months or years and will be
susceptible to disease and injury. We recommend a
multiple vitamin and mineral supplement every day as
a foundation for healthy cells.
Nutrients to the rescue!
The nutrient families with the best scientific
evidence for healthy aging are antioxidants. Fruits
and vegetables contain antioxidants. Antioxidants
manage oxygen in a way that allows you to create
energy without unleashing free radicals. A free
radical might be likened to the exhaust from your
car; it is toxic pollution that results from making
energy.
Antioxidants put out the fire caused by oxidative
stress. If oxidative stress poisons a cell or a
group of cells, the DNA will be mutated. If this
happens in your brain you can get diseases such as
Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. If it happens in your
bloodstream you can have a heart attack or stroke.
If oxidative stress chokes and inflames your cells
you can get cancer.
Antioxidant
supplements come in a number of presentations
according to your need:
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If stress has placed you on the road to heart
disease or stroke, stress-specific antioxidants
are available. These will usually include
nutrients and plant substances that will help
reduce the impact of stress on the DNA of your
cells.
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A special antioxidant for healthy aging is
Vitamin C. When you take Vitamin C every day you
extend the lifespan of every other antioxidant
in your body. Vitamin C is a general,
broad-spectrum antioxidant that works with
vitamins, minerals, enzymes, protein and
collagen to help keep you young and healthy. In
fact, Vitamin C has such power that science and
medicine have shown its ability to protect
against many horrible health conditions.
Other nutrients are
critical as well:
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Vitamin B-12: Many people lose the ability to
fully absorb Vitamin B-12 as they age. B-12 is
very difficult for mature adults to metabolize.
That is why it is important to take an easily
absorbed, sublingual B-12 supplement; it
bypasses the digestive system and goes directly
to the bloodstream, where your body can begin to
use it.
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Healthy fats: Finally, as part of the nutrient
base you need for healthy aging, you have to
include
healthy fats. Good fats do many
wonderful things for your health. You make good
hormones from good fats. Healthy fats are
anti-inflammatory. Almost every cell in your
body is enclosed by a membrane of fats. If the
fats you consume are healthy, your cells will be
healthy. If the fats in your diet are “bad
fats,” they can lead to inflammation, imbalanced
hormones and unhealthy cells.
Most importantly, your brain is made from mostly
fat. In unhealthy aging, the adult brain may shrink
25% or more after age 50. It becomes prone to
diseases such as depression, Alzheimer’s and
Parkinson’s.
The emotional and
spiritual links to aging
What about the emotional and spiritual aspects of
healthy aging? Are they important as well? Jeanne
Moreau once said that age does not protect us from
love, but to some extent, love protects us from age.
The ability to Give and Receive Love
is the beginning of healthy aging. Spirituality is
also good for us. It defines us and makes us truly
human. Spirituality nurtures altruism and this type
of generous giving is also good for your health.
You have great work to do and you need all of your
resources – physical, emotional and spiritual – to
help you do it. Get healthy and get busy!
Exercise
Your Brain!
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Take Control of Your Health
Remain healthy and active without regard
for the calendar!
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Get your nutrients
– you can’t make healthy cells without
them.
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Get your rest and exercise
– you can’t produce growth hormone any
other way.
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Get involved
– a rich social and spiritual life will
not only help you live longer and
healthier but also provides a sense of
purpose – a reason for living a long and
healthy life.
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