Anti Aging

Aging is insidious. It happens gradually, sometimes so gradually that we barely notice. But, it beats the alternative.

Today there are approximately 450 million baby boomers world-wide. People around the world are getting older and living longer. The over 50 segment is the fastest growing segment of the population and life expectancy is at an all-time high. In the U.S. someone turns fifty every 7 seconds!

So let’s discuss the various theories on aging and what we can do about aging more gracefully. We believe in a “holistic” approach to anti-aging, one that combines exercise (and some exercise intensity), a good nutrition plan, and the appropriate supplementation, safely and naturally.

But first, let’s discuss who needs to consider anti-aging? Basically it’s any male, 35 plus years of age, who might complain of:

“I work a lot, and don’t get much sleep. When I do sleep it’s just not quality sleep.“
“I’ve been a little run down lately, and don’t really have the energy or desire to go to the gym.“
“I’ve been working out trying to eat well, but I can’t seem to put on any lean muscle or lose fat.“
“I just don’t have the motivation.“
“I just don’t feel like I can recover the way I used to.”

The Study of Aging is Gerontology. There are numerous theories on how we age. We will focus on two of the more predominate theories; the Programmed Theory and the Error Theory.
The Programmed Theory asserts that the human body is designed to age, and that there is a certain biological timeline that our body follows. That aging is caused by changes in hormone levels, by genes switching on and off over time, and, by declines in the immune system.
The Error Theory asserts that aging is caused by environmental changes to our body’s systems, which accumulate over time. Free radicals cause damage to cells that eventually impairs function. That chronic inflammation is a major aging factor and a primary contributor to death. That cross linked proteins accumulate and slow down body processes. And, that the faster an organism uses oxygen, the shorter it lives. And, that genetic mutations cause cells to malfunction.

Fortunately there are some general Anti-Aging Protocols that can help slow or reverse visible signs of aging:

Exercise the Body
Exercise the Brain
Eat Better
Balance hormonal levels
Reduce chronic inflammation
Reduce free radicals

Many people associate aging with turning fifty. The big 5 – 0. So let’s review a little bit about the physiology of being 50 years old. What I refer to as the, “So, you’ve been around for 18,250 days”! During the course of a half century the human body experiences relentless change. At 50, we really start to note the physical changes that have been occurring gradually; the need for reading glasses, thinning / graying hair, and some wrinkled skin. Perhaps a bit less muscle and a bit more fat about the midsection. But let’s look a little closer:
Your Cardiovascular System. Starting at age 20, your VO2 max begins to go down, partly because heart rate drops by .6 beats per minute each year. This is true for people who remain moderately active, but the rate is more like 1 beat per minute for couch potatoes. Some decline in VO2 max is attributable to a decrease in the heart’s stroke volume.
Your Muscular System. Our strength peaks between the ages of 20 – 30; then it begins to decline about 6% per decade in sedentary people. Fast twitch muscle declines at an even faster rate due to lack of use, the “use it, or lose it” phenomenon. Also lost with aging is muscle elasticity and joint mobility.
Your Body Composition. After about age 20 men who are sedentary gain excess body fat, in fact, even those who continue to exercise gain body fat. When body fat increases from 20 to 30 percent VO2 max is cut almost in half. Less muscle, more body fat.
Depressed yet? From all the scientific data it appears there is an inevitable decline with aging. The secret, however is that many of the physical losses attributable to aging are in fact caused by disuse and lack of intensity.
In several longevity studies on competitive athletes key measurements such as weight and body fat % remained virtually unchanged after 10 years for those who stayed active, dramatically better than the average population. One of the biggest differences in the study occurred between the group who remained “active” and those who remained “competitive”. As an example, in one study VO2 max declined by only 1% in those who remained “competitive”, versus a 12% decline in those who remained “active”. Other studies have demonstrated that when individuals maintain training intensity, or even increase it as some subjects did, the scientific measures of fitness are also maintained or even improved. Here’s the best part, “much of the slowing in physical fitness after age 50 is not due to age, but rather to self- imposed limitations”. Think about it, is this true for you? Are you limiting yourself by self- imposed limitations?
About 50% of our decline is due to inactivity, another 25% is due to reduced intensity, and only about 25% of physiological losses are due to advancing age.
Back to our general protocols:

Exercise the Body, with some “intensity”
Exercise the Brain
Eat Better, caloric restriction has been proven an effective anti-aging strategy
Balance hormonal levels, there are numerous products and regimens available to you
Reduce chronic inflammation, use an anti inflammatory
Reduce free radicals, use anti-oxidants.

Adopting a healthy lifestyle; with proper nutrition, supplementation and exercise; and, no smoking, or alcohol or drug abuse; can add years to your life expectancy. It’s why we preach a holistic approach to anti-aging.