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Longevity Medicine: News
Urban Cycler

LONGEVITY MEDICINE

                                      

Longevity Medicine is a fast-growing field. It aims at expanding LiFESPAN, the number of years a person will live. But given the sad state of health many people suffer, its second goal is even more important: expanding HEALTHSPAN, the number of healthy years we live. The facts are straight forward: aging is the main risk factor for Heart Disease, Cancer, Alzheimer’s and Diabetes. Slowing the aging process will therefore decrease chronic disease and “add life to your years.”

Research shows the crucial influence of lifestyle on living a long and healthy live. Only about 15 percent of chronic disease are due to our genetic inheritance. Whereas our lifestyle leads to epigenetic changes that make the essential difference. 

Determining your BIOLOGICAL AGE, which can be significantly younger or older than your chronological age, is therefore not just a number game, but correlates with the risk of chronic  diseases, like heart disease or cancer.

 Smoking and a poor diet can accelerate your biological age, while exercise, good sleep and various therapeutic interventions can slow and even reverse it. 

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By measuring various core BIOMARKERS OF AGING, we get a picture where your weak spots are, and which personalized interventions will help you to live at peak health: 

 

Mitochondrial Dysfunction leads to a decrease of cellular energy production. Without sufficient energy cells will malfunction, promoting senescence and fatigue. 

 

Chronic Inflammation can damage cells and organs due a constantly switched on immune response. 

 

Hormone Deficiencies, often due to the age-depended decline of adrenal, thyroid, sex and growth hormones, lead to suboptimal regeneration and energy.

 

Insulin Resistance happens when cells are not sufficiently responding to insulin causing elevated blood sugar and diabetes. Culprits are a high sugar and starch diet, abdominal obesity, chronic stress, lack of sleep and exercise, and environmental toxins.

 

Gut Microbiome Imbalances are common and can negatively influence health.

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Oxidative stress is the accumulation of free radicals. Caused by processed foods, smoking, alcohol, iron accumulation, pollution and exposure to pesticides or industrial chemicals, it damages tissues and accelerates aging.

 

Slow Autophagy allows old and damaged cells to pile up, resulting in waste accumulation and a declined life span. 

 

Here are some key factors that promote longevity:

First, know your family history - Diabetes, Cancer, Alzheimer’s or Heart Disease? - which might point to your potential  vulnerabilities. 

  • Eat a healthy diet, which for most people consists of a Mediterranean or Paleo style diet. 

  • Practice portion control.

  • Fasting and Intermittend Fasting can stimulate stem cell release, DNA repair, increase insulin sensitivity and mitochondrial function, and promote brain plasticity and neurogenesis.

  • Practice a low-toxicity lifestyle regarding smoking, alcohol and drugs.

  • Eat organic and avoid exposure to toxic chemicals, heavy metals, pesticides, microplastics and mold.

  • Cope with stress by taking up meditation.

  • Sleep at least 7 to 8 hours with sufficient deep sleep and REM sleep.

  • Exercise daily - aerobics and resistance - and be aware of the negative effects of muscle loss. 

  • Keep your friends close and engage in community activities and service.

  • Cultivate a spiritual outlook that gives purpose and meaning.

 

Top Longevity Supplements:

Recent research points to promising compounds that have the potential to extend longevity and improve life quality. (But a  healthy lifestyle is foundational.)

  • Curcumin

  • Omega 3

  • Alpha Ketoglutarate

  • CoQ-10

  • Vitamin C, Astaxanthin and bioflavonoids

  • Adaptogens like Astragalus and Rodiola

  • Glucosamine sulfate and Hyaluronic acid

  • M-tor inhibitors like Glucophage and Rapamycin

  • NAD boosters like NR or NMR

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