THE GREATEST MEDICINE
OF ALL… IS TEACHING PEOPLE HOW NOT TO NEED IT
People with these three "bad" habits actually live
longer
By Marc S. Micozzi, M.D., Ph.D.
On New Year’s Day many of us made a resolution to adopt some
healthier habits for 2020. And while I'm all for making sensible, positive
changes for your health, I always caution against following overly restrictive
diets and compulsive exercise programs.
For one, these restrictions and compulsions just aren't
enjoyable! Plus, the science shows you don't actually need to go to extreme
measures to achieve optimal health. In fact, according to the renowned 90+
Study, keeping three supposedly "bad" habits may actually help you
live longer!
90+ Study busts major myths about longevity
Up until the early 1980s, we knew very little about
so-called super-agers who live well into their 90s and beyond. Except that they
tended to have more so-called "risk" factors. They drank more. They
smoked more. They ate more foods with fats and salt. And they exercised less
than normal-agers.
At the time, most mainstream researchers just shrugged their
shoulders and chalked the reason why up to "genetics." But they failed to consider or acknowledge
the other possibility…
That the presumed risk factors are NOT actually risk factors
at all, at least not for everybody. Instead—they may actually be reasons why
these people live longer!
Thankfully, researchers with the University of California's
(UC) Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders took it upon
themselves to dig deeper into the science and get to the bottom of the
conundrum by starting the renowned 90+ Study.
The study initially came out of a 1981 survey involving
14,000 men and women who lived in a retirement community in California. The
survey asked the residents about their diet, activities, vitamin intake, and
medical history.
About 20 years later, the UC researchers located 1,600 of the
original group, who were then 90 years old or older. And they began assessing
the 90-plussers' cognitive, neurological, psychological, and physical function
every six months. Researchers also analyzed their physical activity, diet,
medical history, and medication use.
And they came away with three initial finding. After more
than 16 years of following these super-agers, three major findings emerged…
1.) They drink more alcohol
The mainstream likes to blame all kinds of chronic, deadly
diseases on consuming any alcohol—including cancer. But it turns out that men
and women who drink moderate amounts of any type of alcohol actually live
longer than teetotalers.
Specifically, the UC researchers found that the 90+ people
in the study who drank about two glasses of wine or beer daily had an 18
percent lower risk of early death. And—this beneficial effect was even stronger
statistically than the life-preserving practice of moderate exercise!
It makes sense to me that the study didn't pinpoint a
specific type of alcohol, either—such as red wine—as the one and only type of
beneficial drink. In my view, drinking any type of alcohol in moderation is
beneficial because it lowers stress, the No. 1 hidden cause of heart disease.
So, go ahead and enjoy a glass or two with dinner. Or—enjoy
a nice hot toddy by the fire to help stay warm!
2.) They drink more coffee
The mainstream also likes to talk about coffee like it's
some kind of crutch or vice. But I stopped buying that nonsense 35 years ago.
Because—as I often report—studies show that coffee has dozens of health
benefits.
Like alcohol, coffee contains many powerful, healthy
constituents, including antioxidants and polyphenols, that benefit your health.
So it's no wonder that men and women who regularly drink moderate amounts of
coffee live longer than those who don't!
3.) They weigh more
The mainstream also likes to scare you about the supposed
dangers of carrying some extra weight. And perhaps you made a New Year's
resolution to shed some of it in 2020.
Well—let me share some good news…
In this study, people who were "overweight" in
their 70s also lived longer than those who were underweight —or even normal
weight—at that age. This finding may come as a surprise to you, given the kinds
of commercial ads and marketing images we see all around us these days.
But this study, as well as plenty of others, clearly shows
that carrying a bit of "extra" weight is actually protective.
Especially as you get older. In fact, being underweight at older ages could be
a sign of chronic illness, which of course, is associated with shorter
lifespan.
Clearly, longevity is not all about avoiding every so-called
"risky" behavior! And it's not even just about your good genes.
So, as we move forward into 2020, live like a super-ager and
follow this simple, healthy advice:
Don't worry so much about the number on the scale. Instead,
eat like some of our grandparents did with a balanced, Mediterranean-type diet
filled with fresh, organic vegetables and fruits; free-range, grass-fed and
-finished meats; wild-caught seafood and fish; full-fat dairy (such as cheese,
milk, yogurt, and eggs); and nuts and seeds.
Go ahead and enjoy alcohol—of any kind—in moderation. I
always recommend one to three glasses, depending your body size.
Exercise—but only in moderation. Aim for 150 minutes per
week. And remember; don't overlook the benefits of a daily walk in Nature.
Which brings me to my next tip…
Spend time in Nature whenever you can. Because as it turns
out, Mother Nature has a Secret Weapon for health and longevity.
Keep a positive outlook on life by seeking spiritual
enrichment or practicing mindfulness meditation. To learn more about meditation
and how to fit it into your busy life, check out my book with Don McCown, New World Mindfulness .
Stay active socially by spending time with your family or
joining a dinner club or book club. Most people need some social interaction to
stay mentally and emotionally healthy. And as I've written before, isolation
and loneliness can kill—so keep your social contacts intact and remain part of
your community.
I also recommend keeping a pet! By doing so, you'll have a
faithful companion by your side. In fact, having a pet is one of the top-10
simple health changes you can make to improve your overall well-being and
longevity.
Most of all, enjoy life. It is indeed good.
New evidence shows statins speed up the aging process
By Marc S. Micozzi, M.D., Ph.D.
The bad news about cholesterol-lowering statin drugs just
keeps piling up.
It's not surprising when you understand the basic biology.
Statin drugs are metabolic poisons. They interfere with normal cholesterol
metabolism by design. But cholesterol is a key constituent of all your cells,
brain tissue, nerve tissue, and hormones.
And in any case, the metabolic disruption appears to go far
beyond cholesterol. In a recent interview, one general practitioner said
statins "just make many patients feel years older. Side effects mimic the
aging process." (Many GPs now question statin use, especially among the
elderly, as I recently reported.)
Now—I don't like to use the term "anti-aging." I
prefer the term healthy aging. It seems to me if you're "anti-aging"
it must mean you favor of the alternative—which is to not get older. But in the
case of these drugs, it seems big pharma invented an "ANTI-anti-aging"
pill. In fact, new research by scientists at Tulane University shows statins
speed up the aging process by interfering with stem cell metabolism.
Stem cells help repair tissue damage, and replace brain and
muscle cells. Plus, many experts now believe stem cells are the key to understanding
cancer and other diseases. (Note: this important research comes from the use of
adult stem cells, not fetal stem cells.)
For this study, scientists treated stem cells with statins
under lab conditions. And they observed dramatic effects after just a few
weeks.
Statins prevented stem cells from performing their main
functions to reproduce and replicate other tissue cells to carry out repairs in
the body. They also prevented stem cells from generating new bone and
cartilage. These effects all add up to faster aging (not to mention a general
disaster for your health).
Other known side effects of statins include cataracts,
dementia, diabetes, fatigue, joint problems, and liver, muscle, and nerve
dysfunctions.
In observing patients, researchers say statin drugs don't
seem to outwardly affect a fortunate few. But for others, statins slow them
down in more subtle ways.
And for still many others, they experience serious side
effects that help clinically confirm these disturbing toxicities from the drugs.
Dr. Malcolm Kendrick, a GP in the U.K., said, "This
research reinforces what has long been suspected. The side effects of statins
mimic the aging process."
As in the U.S., millions of men and women in the U.K.
currently take statins to supposedly lower their heart attack risk. And a
10-year UK National Health Service Plan has already been introduced to
prescribe these drugs to patients with only a 10 percent risk of heart attack
over the following decade. They claim this step could save thousands of lives.
But critics contend much of the data has never been made public and the work
needed to ensure that routine use is not harmful has not been done.
You should also follow these six steps to keep your heart
healthy:
1. Maintain a healthy diet filled with fruits, vegetables,
fish and lean meat to get enough protein.
2. Cut sugars, carbs and "soft drinks."
3. Get some moderate exercise regularly.
4. Take a daily B vitamin complex to reduce homocysteine,
which damages the heart and blood vessels far more than cholesterol.
5. Take 10,000 IU of vitamin D per day.
6. For healthy aging, the dynamic duo of aspal (South
African red bush) and dandelion extract provide vitality to older men and
women. Look for 400 mg of one or both ingredients in dietary supplements and
water-soluble powder mixtures.
Common scan can WRECK your kidneys
By Dr. Allan Spreen
They'll make it sound as easy as snapping a photo with your
cellphone. "Just a scan," they'll tell you. "We're just
taking a picture to help us figure out what's going on." Sure, sounds good. But wait a minute... what are you
sticking in my arm?
Yeah, the scans they like to send you out for these days...
like MRIs, CT scans, and angiograms... ain't always a quick zap-and-go X-ray.
They want to pump some dye into you so you light up like a
flashy Christmas tree on the screen, letting them see what's going on more
clearly in whatever trouble spot they're examining.
But those bright dyes have a DARK side...Kidney damage. And
instead of trying to PROTECT you from it... the mainstream is working overtime
to hide the risk.
The DARK truth about contrast dye
This condition has alarmed enough people that it's got an
official name: Contrast-Induced Nephropathy.
See, all that dye eventually has to get processed and
filtered through your kidneys. If your kidneys aren't at 100%... which is VERY
common, even if you've never been diagnosed with kidney problems... OF COURSE
they're gonna choke on that dye.
Yet they want you to think it's just some crazy old
coinky-dink! A new report in Medscape claims the risk is overblown...
"unfair"... and maybe not even real.
Don't be such a chicken. Get the dye... get the scan... and
stop worrying.
Care to guess the type of expert they cited? Someone who
just happens to be "...a scientific advisor for GE Healthcare, the
manufacturer of a variety of contrast media products..."
Gee, no conflict there!
This is a little like saying the dangers of going for a swim
in shark-infested waters are exaggerated... that sharks aren't necessarily to
blame for all those bites... and then citing a shark as your expert.
Of course, you can't always say NO to these scans.
Sometimes, you need the things.
Fortunately, there are 4 ways to minimize the risk...
- CHECK kidney function: Make sure it's good before they feed it a chemical.
- LOWER the dosage: It varies wildly from clinic to clinic. Insist on the LOWEST possible dose for the scan.
- DRINK UP: Unless there are special instructions to the contrary, get plenty of water the day before and day of the procedure. Avoid caffeine/booze/anything else that'll dry you out.
- LOAD UP: Some studies have found that taking N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and vitamin C supplements twice a day before and on the day of the scan can protect the kidneys and cut the risk. Just let your doc know.
And if your scan is an outpatient thing, keep a close eye on
how you feel in the days after the scan. Get help ASAP if ANYTHING feels off... at ANY time.
Until next time, stay healthy and happy
JD Roma
The information on this blog is provided for educational
purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care, and
medical advice and services are not being offered. If you have, or suspect you
have, a health problem you should consult your physician (preferably a
Naturopath).
No comments:
Post a Comment