Month: February 2012

Aging Faster Than You Wish, Slow it Down

Wallace Bishop I.N.H.C, C.N.C.2 Comments
Be Youthful Later in Life!

I don’t want to age any faster than necessary and I am sure you don’t want to either. There is where the NutriBullet can make your health really benefit!

 

Did you know you have a profound affect on how quickly your body ages?  Every morning looking in the mirror can tell us how we are aging externally. The real issue is how you are aging internally. How well are your cells and ultimately your organs and glands holding up against the daily assault of free radicals, toxins, stress and nutritional deficiencies?  The idea is to slow down the aging process if we can.  There are things you can do to not only reduce the aging process but maybe even reverse it in some cases.

Can We Slow Down Aging, YES! The sooner in life you begin to live a life of wellness the younger your body can be as you get older.

So what does aging really mean? Technically, aging is a combination of all metabolic life activities, effects of exposure to toxins, microbial agents, nutrient deficiencies and their total combined effect over time on the body’s cells.

As part of life, we are exposed to micro-organisms, environmental toxins, drugs, emotional toxicities, unhealthy foods, nutrient deficiencies and stress, let’s call these “negative health catalyst”, or NHC. These NHCs have a direct impact on our cells ability to continue to replicate in a healthy state. NHCs can cause damage to the cell and even DNA in our cells. They do this in different ways. In one case they cause free radicals to form that can damage the cells and even the DNA in the cell to the point that the cell will begin to replicate itself in an unhealthy state.  In another way they lower our immune function to the point that the immune system is not healthy enough to stop the growth of bacteria, viruses, micro organisms and even mutated cells and the mutated cells can multiply to the point of disease. In another way they turn on the adverse health potential of certain genes to express themselves as disease and illness, but potentially the most damaging effect of these NHCs is their ability to shorten our telomeres and cause damage to our DNA through free radical damage to our cells.

What Causes Aging?

In my opiniot biggest causes of aging are:

What Are Telomeres?

Our genes are located on twisted, double-stranded molecules of DNA called chromosomes. At the ends of the chromosomes are stretches of DNA called telomeres, Telomeres are protective DNA-protein complexes, which protect our genetic data, make it possible for cells to divide and hold some secrets to how we age and get cancer. Think of the plastic caps on the end of your shoe laces. This is sort of what the telomeres look like. They keep the strands of chromosomes from unraveling. As the effects of NHCs advance our cellular aging the telomeres get shorter and shorter.   Once the telomeres get so short, the cell can no longer replicate and over time aging accelerates.

In 2009 three American scientists who discovered telomeres were awarded The 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology of Medicine. Their work began a couple of decades earlier. What they discovered only enhances our belief that the way we live has an undeniable impact on the status of our health. Although this research certainly identifies the damage caused by the shortening of our telomeres , further research is underway to fully understand its role in life longevity and the advancement of disease and illness.

To strengthen our telomere’s we must increase the presence of the enzyme telomerase in our cells. Telomerase is an enzyme that is responsible for keeping telomeres healthy. As we age our bodies produce less and less telomerase thus we begin to age faster and faster. In addition the NHC’s also slow down the cellular production of telomerase.

How do we slow down the aging Process?

By living a lifestyle of wellness we greatly enhance our potential for slowing the aging process and having a life of vibrant health.  Recent studies even show that a lifestyle of wellness actually can increase the cellular production of telomerase and improve overall health. If we remove NHC’s and include nutrient dense foods (lots and veggies and fruits), pure water, relaxation, adequate sleep, health building exercise, fresh air, sunshine and emotional and spiritual balance, we can improve every facet of our health potential. You can in many cases trump genetic tendencies.  The way you live has such a powerful effect on your health that it literally can mean the difference between sudden death and a life of longevity with vibrant health.

At this point I would not recommend taking supplements or products specifically designed to increase telomerase or telomere length, its too earlier in their use to really know if they are safe and effective. Some studies show some of the products may increase other illnesses. Just stick with a health diet and lifestyle and let Mother Nature do her thing!

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

WebND

The contents of this blog is not and should not be  considered medical advice. This blog is for informational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. Never quit taking prescription medications unless advised to do so by your doctor.

Related articles

Have a Healthy Happy Valentine Heart!

Wallace Bishop I.N.H.C, C.N.C.4 Comments
Make Your Heart Healthy!

It’s Valentines Day so lets talk about heart health! The heart is an amazing organ that works non-stop every second of your life.  Without its complete function you will not live. Disease and illness of the heart and other related illnesses can cause compromised heart function allowing you to live however not the kind of lifestyle you may enjoy.

Many factors can affect our heart health. Our diet, stress, other lifestyle factors like smoking and the amount of physical activity we get play a huge role in heart health.

In less than a minute, your heart can pump blood to every cell in your body. In about a day your heart beats 100,000 times pumping around 2000 gallons of blood containing oxygen and nutrients to 100 trillion cells through 60 thousand miles of blood vessels.  That is a huge job that requires a special muscle.

The heart is an organ and also a muscle.  The heart requires a lot of energy and quality nutrition to keep it healthy.  The muscles in the heart are unique and do not fatigue. It only stops when oxygen is no longer available.  The demands put on the heart are so great; each cell in the heart muscle has many more mitochondria than other muscle cells have.  Mitochondria are the parts of the cell that make energy.

Exercise increases the hearts fitness so it can deliver more oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. Develop a good exercise program!

Because of the great energy requirements put on the heart, nutrition is very important.  Vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, enzymes and antioxidants are super important for heart health.

  • Studies show that a plant-based diet can even reverse heart and cardiovascular disease.  Vegetative foods provide a bounty of nutrients the body needs for great heart health.
  • Studies show Nuts and seeds daily reduce the risk for heart disease. They are anti-inflammatory and a good source of Vitamin E, which, is very important for cell membrane health and is also an antioxidant.
  • Omega 3’s from Salmon, sardines, ground flax seed and walnuts reduce inflammation and keep blood platelets from sticking reducing the risk for cardiovascular disease
  • Antioxidants in fruits and vegetables reduce inflammation and protect the heart from free radical damage.  The greater the volume of oxygen is needed in a cell to make energy, the higher the potential for free radical damage.  The heart is a big air and fluid pump.  So antioxidants are even more important for the heart muscle.
  • Magnesium is very important for heart health because it helps blood vessels relax potentially reducing blood pressure which, if high can damage the heart.
  • B Vitamins are critical for preparing foods into energy.
  • B12, Folate and B6 are critical to reduce the protein homocysteine from our tissues. Homocysteine causes cellular damage to the heart and blood vessels and heavily related to heart disease.
  • Iron, B12, Vitamin C and Folate are important to make healthy red blood cells and blood vessels.

Some of the best foods for heart health are:

  • Nuts and seeds (walnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pecans)
  • Avocado
  • Dark chocolate
  • Leafy greens (spinach, kale, collards, mustard greens, turnip greens)
  • Asparagus
  • Broccoli
  • Brussel sprouts
  • Carrots
  • Bananas
  • Tomatoes
  • Beans (pinto, garbanzo, black)
  • Pomegranate
  • Blueberries
  • Goji Berries
  • Strawberries
  • Raspberries
  • Salmon
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Oats
  • Quinoa
  • Wild rice

The better question might be what foods are bad for heart health. That is a simple answer.  Any foods that are not good providers of vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, enzymes and antioxidants should be avoided.  This would mean any refined and processed foods.

Sugar is a poison that is the biggest cause of heart and cardiovascular disease.

The average American now consumes over 170 lbs. of sugar per year.  At the beginning of the 20th century, the average American consumed less than 10 pounds per year.  The rise in the intake of sugar over the past 20 years has created almost epidemic levels of diabetes, obesity and heart disease.  Unless we get the intake of sugar under control, the percentage of Americans suffering from lifestyle related disease and illness will continue to climb. Sugar is not the only food ingredient that is causing us problems; it is however close to being the worse, if not the worse.

A new study recently published in Journal of the American Medical Association concludes that sugar intake significantly contributes to illness and specifically increases cholesterol levels.

Researchers at Emory University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta examined the added sugar intake and blood fat levels in more than 6,100 adults.

  • Study participants consumed an average of 21.4 teaspoons of added sugars a day, or more than 320 calories a day from these sources.
  • The study also revealed, that people with the higher intakes of added sugars were more likely to have lower levels of HDL (good) cholesterol and higher levels of triglycerides, which studies have shown to raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.

The American Heart Association is recommending that women get no more than 6.5 teaspoons (25 grams) of added sugar per day and men get no more than 9.5 teaspoons (38 grams) per day.

  • A Dairy Queen Blizzard has 26 teaspoons (124 grams) of sugar
  • A 20 oz. Pepsi has 17.5 teaspoons (70 grams) of sugar
  • A 1.7 ounce bag of M%M Peanuts has 8 teaspoons (32 grams) of sugar

How do we cut out the excess sugar?

The first step is to read the food labels on the foods we eat. Look at the Nutritional Label. Check the area under carbohydrates; you will see fiber then sugar. If the amount of sugar is more than 7 grams per serving I would read the ingredient section to see where the sugar was coming from.  If they were from added sugars I would seriously consider looking for a healthier choice with less sugar.

Some people may be addicted to sugar. Most doctors do know believe that sugar is addictive and it may not be, however the physiological response from a quick rise in blood sugar is a corresponding quick drop in blood sugar that creates a craving for sugars to get the blood sugar back to a healthy level again.  This is a vicious cycle that some people may find hard to break. It takes about a week of eliminating added sugars from the daily diet to break it. If you do try it cold turkey, expect a headache and fatigue for a couple of days. Now you are free of the sugar cycle!

Partial list of added sugars

  • Beet Sugar, Brown Sugar, Cane Sugar, Confectioner’s Sugar, Corn Syrup, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Demerera, Dextrose, Granulated Sugar, Grape Sugar, Molasses, Muscavado Sugar, Raw Sugar, Refined Sugar, Sucrose, Table Sugar, Turbinado Sugar, White Sugar, Maple Syrup

Honey and molasses are natural and a better choice however they still cause a quick rise in blood sugar.

In my opinion the best choices for home use are stevia, xylitol and d-ribose (a sugar that produces more energy with very little blood sugar impact)

When shopping for foods, absolutely avoid high fructose corn syrups and limit the amount of added sugars to no more than 7 grams per serving.

Summary

  • Avoid added sugars, the healthiest sweeteners are  Truvia and raw honey.
  • Make your diet mostly vegetables, fruits, beans and nuts and seeds.
  • Exercise daily
  • Reading food labels are an important habit you should develop. It is the first step in your road to wellness. If you do not know what you are eating how can you control it?
  • Reduce your salt intake to 1300 mgs per day to reduce blood pressure.
  • Drink plenty of clean water

Happy healthy eating!

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

Nutritionist

WebND

The contents of this blog is not and should not be  considered medical advice. This blog is for informational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. Never quit taking prescription medications unless advised to do so by your doctor.

Related articles

Enzymes, the Catalyst of Life

Wallace Bishop I.N.H.C, C.N.C.1 Comment
This is where enzymes live! RAW FOODS

Enzymes are a type of protein and act as catalysts that promote chemical actions at the cellular level. There are two major actions in the body in which things are made and another in which things are broken down. These too systems are called the catabolic (tears down) and the anabolic system (builds). Enzymes are a major part of these two systems.

Digestion requires enzymes that tear down foods to their smallest molecular state for absorption and utilization in our bodies.  In our metabolic system enzymes prompt actions that convert things from one form to another. This is extremely important and we could not live without enzymes. Our bodies make several quarts of enzymatic fluid everyday.

Most enzymes do other things than digest foods. In fact, the body is designed to provide only a small amount of enzymes for food digestion. Our body has limited enzyme resources and is only going to produce so many.  If the enzyme resources are constantly being used to digest foods, others systems and organs can’t do their job as well and suffer the consequences. Our heart, lungs, kidneys, thyroid, liver, muscles and other organs also need enzymes to do their jobs.

So where should our food digesting enzymes come from? The answer is living plant foods. Raw vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds have live enzymes that will do the majority of digestion of the foods once they have been sufficiently chewed to release the enzymes. When we eat these living foods in raw form (not cooked) we get enzymes that support our body. The enzymes raw foods provide keep your pancreas from being overworked and can add years to your life

Enzymes also carry nutrients and can’t function without certain nutrients.  Some enzymes carry specific vitamins and minerals and without the presence of the vitamins and minerals the enzyme can’t do its job. It’s sort of like going to the prom without a date. You are there and are available but with no partner to dance with. Enzymes need vitamins and minerals to dance! This is just one reason getting lots of vitamins and minerals in your body is so important.

If your enzymes can’t do their task due to a lack of nutrients that means you can’t build hormones, make and repair tissues, make adequate energy, blood cells or immune compounds.

Once the temperature of a raw food goes beyond 117 degrees enzymes die and in addition some vitamins are damaged.  Eating raw veggies and fruits insures you get maximum nutrient content. Living foods contain enzymes.

In a nut shell, eating raw vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds will give your body the enzymes it needs allowing the body to produce enzymes for other very important life support functions. The body is only going to make so many enzymes and when it reaches that point, well death is at the door.

Please make raw vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds a part of your daily diet routine. Your pancreas will love you for it.

Healthy Wishes

Wally Bishop C.N.C.

WebND

The contents of this blog is not and should not be  considered medical advice. This blog is for informational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. Never quit taking prescription medications unless advised to do so by your doctor.

Related articles