How we age and die and how we can slow down aging

A telomere is a repeating sequence of DNA at the end of a chromosome. Each time a cell replicates and divides the telomere loses some of its length. Eventually the telomere runs out and the cell can no longer divide and rejuvenate, triggering a poor state of cell health that contributes to disease risk and eventual cell death. Depending on what we do we can speed up the process ( as most do!) or slow it down (anti aging). Another intriguing possibility is that you may be able to lengthen your telomeres while maintaining their quality, actually turning back your biological clock. The new science is showing that this is also possible, although we are far from any instant Fountain of Youth remedy.

The 21st Century is ushering in a new era of nutritional science, demonstrating the unbelievable power of nutrition to benefit human health. In this new understanding the search for the Fountain of Youth is no longer a fairy tale story. Scientific findings now suggest nutrition may be able to turn back the clock, at least a little bit. And the science clearly shows that nutrition can slow your rate of biological aging. Many nutrients can help protect and enhance repair capacity of your DNA, including your telomeres. A lack of antioxidants leads to increased free radical damage and more risk for damage to telomeres. Free radicals pr0duce inflammation which we want to avoid at all costs. The most basic supplements to address the inflammatory issue are vitamin D and DHA (the omega 3 fatty acid). Researchers have now demonstrated in 2100 female twin pairs, ages 19-79, that the highest levels of vitamin D were associated with the longest telomeres and the lowest vitamin D levels were associated with the shortest telomeres, a difference equating to five years of lifespan potential.  In a group of 608 cardiovascular patients followed over a five year period those with the highest intake of DHA/EPA had the longest telomeres and those with the lowest levels had the shortest telomeres.

The important point to understand is that you need an adequate supply of methyl donors in order for your telomeres to work properly, just like your car needs gasoline. The primary methyl donor for this purpose is called SAMe, which uses nutrients like methionine, MSM sulfur, choline, and trimethylglycine as building blocks.  Forming SAMe from these building blocks requires vitamin B12, folic acid, and vitamin B6.  

The most important basic supplement to help your telomeres is a good quality multiple vitamin along with adequate dietary protein, especially sulfur-containing proteins. Examples include whey protein, eggs, cottage cheese, dairy, red meat, chicken, legumes, duck, nuts, and seeds. Eggs are the highest source of choline in the diet, with other sources containing moderate amounts such as meat, chicken, dairy, nuts, and seeds.

Your brain also has a high need for methyl donors in order for your mood to feel good. If you are stressed out or depressed you are typically lacking methyl donors, meaning your telomeres are also running low of nourishment and prone to accelerated aging. This is a major reason why stress ages a person. Also, better quality skin as you age is directly related to the health of your telomeres.

On top of your antioxidant foundation there are specific antioxidant nutrients such as magnesium, zinc, vitamin C, carnosine, and especially tocotrienol E and resveratrol, are likely to have direct benefits for your telomeres. Nutrients such as quercetin, green tea catechins, grape seed extract, curcumin, and resveratrol all show specific ability to help preserve telomeres, with grape seed extract and curcumin showing the ability to generate longer telomeres.

RICO’S COMMENTS:

Of course any chronic health problem has increased inflammation and free radical damage as features and is likely to be associated with shorter telomeres. It all ties together: good nutrition, specific supplementation, exercise and mind-body connection (the 4 aspects of what I call Total Health). As telomeres shorten and/or or become functionally impaired, your body struggles to keep up. In this situation damaged molecules accumulate in your body and repair processes are hampered, aging is accelerated. The older you get the more the need for supplementation. You get out what you put in, just like any endeavor.

IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO START MAKING THE CHANGES IN NUTRITION AND SUPPLEMENTATION THAT WILL SLOW DOWN THE SHORTENING OF YOUR TELOMERES. GROW YOUNG PEOPLE!

• 15 grams Pure Ion-Exchange Whey Protein Isolate
• 15 grams Super Collagen™ Bioavailable Peptides
• Rich in BCAAs
• Good source of L-Glutamine
• Enhanced with Exogenous Amino Acids
• Multi-vitamin Fortification
• Doctor Formulated

What’s NOT in Collagen Sport™

• Gluten, Wheat, Sugar & Lactose Free
• No Artificial Sweeteners or Flavors
• No Fillers or Synthetic Ingredients

The 4 in 1 Breakdown:

1 – Refuel

Whey Protein Isolate is THE preferred and superior form of protein for athletes. It’s rich in essential and branched chain amino acids (BCAAs), necessary especially after strenuous workouts. BCAAs also play a role in the body’s levels of glutathione, an important antioxidant in the immune system. NeoCell’s whey protein isolate is developed using selective ion-exchange technology, which selects the primary functional and nutritional proteins alpha- and beta- lactoglobulins and other protein fractions for a highly effective and bio-active protein.

2 – Recover

Athletes all too often do not supplement their connective tissues in tendons and ligaments until deterioration sets in, resulting in the typical aches and pains of exercise. Super Collagen® 1&3 undergoes an absorption-enhancing process that uses enzyme hydrolyzation. This process yields low molecular weight collagen peptides for maximum bioavailability. Super Collagen® 1&3 is particularly rich in the amino acids glycine, proline, hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine, and supports recovery, strength, and flexibility of muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

3 – Regenerate

L-Glutamine & Exogenous Amino Acids – Strenuous activity burns through your body’s glutamine supplies, which can push the body to rip glutamine from your muscles if it isn’t coming from your diet. L-glutamine is the most abundant free-form amino acid in skeletal muscle and is crucial in the muscle recovery process. The special chemical structure of L-glutamine makes it the primary amino acid that drives nitrogen into muscle cells for muscle synthesis. Exogenous amino acids overall are important for increase of net muscle protein synthesis.

4 – Replenish

Each serving of Collagen Sport™ provides a good source of daily vitamins and minerals as well as the antioxidant power of Pomegranate extract. Increased activity results in higher oxidation in the body, requiring active individuals to counteract with high quality antioxidants. NeoCell’s pomegranate extract is standardized to 70% ellagic acid, an extraordinary antioxidant that fights cell-damaging free radicals generated during exercise.

RICO’S COMMENTS: This company sent me their protein powder to try out. It looked great. I am a very informed consumer. The only thing was that it is an ISOLATE powder. Isolate has the highest bioavailability  but why I don’t use them anymore is because I found out that isolates are stripped of all the alkalizing minerals and therefore are VERY ACIDIC. My lifestyle is based on having an alkaline, disease-free life. Alkaline bodies resist ALL disease. Disease can’t exist in an alkaline, oxygenated body. So I contacted the company and voiced my concerns as to why I couldn’t use it.

Most companies never even respond to you or just brush your remarks off. They not only contacted me but took my suggestions and got their protein tested  for pH (alkalinity)! Here’s what I recently got back from them: Our Collagen Sport just came back from 3rd party testing, and has a ph of 6.99. We believe the minerals in our formula are able to buffer the acidity of the isolate. That’s like tap water (neutral) and not acidic! Next I asked them if their powder was tested for HEAVY METALS. Mind you these are not questions that the average Joe knows to ask or even thinks about when buying protein powders. MOST POWDERS ON THE MARKET (the most popular ones!!!!) ARE FULL OF TOXINS, FOOD DYES, TOXIC SUGARS LIKE SUCRALOSE (that kill all of your good gut bacteria leading to a multitude of serious health problems), LACTOSE, GMO PRODUCTS, ETC.

Just got this reply back only after one week in reply to the HEAVY METALS question:

Hey Rico I just got back the results of our heavy metal testing 

Whey protein, which is available as a protein powder supplement, has been linked to a variety of health benefits, such as:

Helping your pancreas-produced insulin work more effectively, which helps maintain your blood sugar level after a meal

Promoting healthy insulin secretion

Helping to promote your optimal intake of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals needed for your overall wellness

Supporting your immune system, as it contains immunoglobulins, and boosts immune function by increasing levels of glutathione (the most potent antioxidant in the body)

Provides the most optimal source of essential amino acids which is critical for the repair and growth of muscle tissue – particularly after a workout.

Increases the anabolic environment and prevents muscle breakdown, thereby assisting the muscle-building effects of intense weight training and exercise.

Maintaining blood pressure levels that are already within the normal range

Studies have shown that whey may potentially reduce cancer rates, combat HIV, improve immunity, reduce stress and lower cortisol, increase brain serotonin levels, improve liver function in those suffering from certain forms of hepatitis, reduce blood pressure and improve performance.

From www.mercola.com and www.http://mens-total-fitness.com

RICO’S COMMENTS: Remember do not use Whey Isolate but regular whey protein.

From FLEX Online April, 2008

Stop laughing. We’re serious. Rice protein exists, and you should consider adding it to your shakes. Wondering how one of our favorite carb sources is also mysteriously a protein source? Allow us to clarify. Most foods contain a mix of macronutrients, so even though rice is high in carbs, it does contain protein. However, when eaten as a whole food, rice doesn’t have sufficient amounts of lysine, one of the nine essential amino acids, to be considered a complete protein. But when the protein in rice is concentrated in powder form, it turns into an excellent source of protein. And because its amino profile is different from that of whey, combining them ensures that you get a good balance. Furthermore, brown rice protein has about five times the amount of arginine that whey contains, so adding half a scoop of it to your usual preworkout whey shake will help enhance blood flow to your muscles for better energy during your workout and faster recovery afterward.

BROWN RICE PROTEIN VS. WHEY PROTEIN

This table compares the amino acid profile of 20 grams (1 scoop) of brown rice protein and whey protein.

NUTRIENT       BROWN RICE PROTEIN*  WHEY PROTEIN*

Alanine        0.9                  0.9

Arginine       1.5                  0.3

Aspartic acid  1.4                  2.1

Cysteine       0.4                  0.5

Glutamic acid  2.0                  3.2

Glycine        0.7                  0.3

Histidine      0.7                  0.3

Isoleucine     0.7                  1.2

Leucine        1.4                  2.0

Lysine         0.5                  1.7

Methionine     0.4                  0.4

Phenylalanine  0.8                  0.6

Proline        0.8                  1.3

Serine         0.9                  0.9

Threonine      0.6                  1.4

Tryptophan     0.3                  1.6

Tyrosine       0.9                  0.5

Valine         0.8                  1.1

RICO’S COMMENTS: I have throughout my life continually changed and revised my health regimen as I discover new supplements, ways of training, ways of eating, etc. The more holistic and natural I get the more fit and healthy my body becomes. Approaching 56 years old my fitness is the best it has ever been. Most of this is because of my nutrition and supplementation lifestyle. I eat and supplement to live a disease-free, healthy life. The gym and cardio DO have a correct science to them (we will go into that at another time), but only take 6 hours a week! I know use brown rice protein in addition to my whey isolate protein. I try to get most of my protein from things like free range eggs, free range chicken, wild alaskan salmon, etc. but have a shake directly after my workout to get it quickly into my body without much digestion.

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT, ASSIMILATE AND ABSORB.

Protein Supplementation

If you don’t have time to eat five meals and you are having problems eating enough protein to save your hard-earned muscle gains, then try supplementing with a good protein powder. Don’t assume that as long as you buy a protein powder, you will see results. All protein powders are not the same. The best protein powders are made of 100% whey protein isolate and have a high biological value, or bioavailability—its ability to be absorbed, retained, and used by the body. Biological values are indicators of which proteins are best at aiding nitrogen retention in muscles, which enables them to maintain or grow in mass.

When shopping for protein powders, look for the ones that contain glutamine peptides, are lactose, aspartame, and sucralose free, are cross-flow micro/ultra filtered, contain high amounts of BCAAs (branched chain amino acids), and are very low in fat, sodium, cholesterol, sugar, and carbohydrates. READ YOUR LABELS!

Protein shakes are great tasting and easy to make. You can use water, juice (post workout), almond milk, or rice milk. Use about twelve to sixteen ounces of your choice and add the protein powder. Your protein container will tell you how many grams of protein there are in a scoop, which comes with the container. Just put in the correct amount of protein to come up to the amount you have calculated you need for each meal.