Antioxidant Supplements  An antiwrinkle treatment from within. What reasearch says?  Dark Chocolate - is it good for you? Is it an antioxidant? OPC - Grape Seed Extract,  Pine bark extract and OPC Grapefruit Seed Extract - What is the truth about GSE? Antioxidant-rich Food - Which food has the highest antioxidants? Alcohol and the sun  may help in the antiaging process HGH and anti aging - Side effects and benefits Vitamin E - How important is it really? Melatonin and the Aging Process Anti Aging Dietry Suppliments One major group of dietary supplements that gets a lot of anti aging airtime is the antioxidants,  particularly with regard to anti aging medicine since oxidative damage to cells is reputed to contribute to several chronic diseases including cancer and heart disease.In fact, oxidative damage may even be a factor in the aging process itself, according to a study published in the October 2003 issue of The Journal of Nutrition by investigators at the University Fat Loss 4 Idiots   Learn the 10 idiot proof rules of dieting and wieght loss! Stop using low carb, low calorie or low fat diets. Lose 9 lbs every 11 days! Click Here to see more   Anti Aging Therories Many theories in the anti aging field operate under the premise that aging occurs at three different levels: chronological, biological and psychological.According to Deepak Chopra, MD, and David Simon, MD, authors of Grow Younger, Live Longer: 10 Steps to Reverse Aging (Three Rivers Press, 2001), chronological age is a concrete number that measures time from birth, while biological age indicates how well bodily functions are operating. a lthough we cannot reverse our chronological age, we can reverse the more important measures of our biological and psychological age, and by doing so, can regain the physical and emotional vitality we had in the past," the authors write. Antiaging medicine, as therapies for invigorating biological systems are known, combats the risk of chronic disease to preserve function and vitality. Of course, there's no substitute for exercise and a balanced diet when it come to anti aging, but dietary supplements can complement a healthful lifestyle Anti Aging - Preventing age-related senescence of the immune system The immune system is an intricate network of interacting components. Its basic function is to discriminate and eliminate foreign and undesired entities in the body. Bacterial, viruses as well as cancer cells and super-antigens (toxins) are the targets for the immune system. Immunological functions are known to decline with age, while the incidence of various age-associated diseases-such as infections, cancer, inflammatory bowel and vascular diseases-increases (McGee W, 1993 ). It has been observed that elderly people who have well functioning immune systems live longer (Samsoni P et al., 1993). What can we do to support the immune system and prevent its decline? The thymus gland is of critical importance for immune function. This gland modulates many aspects of immunity, especially the development of "T" (thymus-derived) cells. A decline in thymic function begins, however, at the time of puberty, which results in a limited capacity for T-cell regeneration as early as young adulthood. Adult humans with severe T-cell depletion therefore must regenerate T-cells primarily via inefficient thymic-independent pathways. An indication of this decline was demonstrated in a study in which the recovery of T-cell numbers after exposure to the stress of chemotherapy treatment was retarded in older individuals compared with younger ones (Mackall CL et al, 1995). An unexpected culprit in immune decline may be estrogen. In experiments, estrogens have been shown to be myelotoxic, i.e. suppress bone marrow (Fried WT et al., 1974), to reduce natural killer cell activity (Luster MI et al., 1984), to increase the incidence of autoimmune disease (Ahmed SA, 1990), to alter T-cell development (Screpanti I et al., 1989) and to induce thymic atrophy (Seiki K et al., 1997). The thymus appears to be one of the major targets of estrogen in the immune system. New research suggests that the pronounced decline of thymic function in old age may imbalance the delicate mechanisms of immune-neuroendocrine regulation that have been hypothesized to trigger aging processes (Goya RG et al., 1999). Fortunately age related changes in the thymus structure and function can be partially corrected by mild oral zinc supplementation. Thus preservation of thymic function could have far-reaching consequences for longevity. Aging of the immune system is characterized not only by thymic degeneration and consequent decline in functioning T-cells, but also by increased levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) in the blood stream. TNF-a is a so-called cytokine, a messenger protein involved in the regulation of inflammatory and immunological responses. With aging, TNF-a becomes increasingly involved in the death of T-cells. It has recently been shown that T-cells from aged humans have an increased susceptibility to TNF-a-mediated apoptosis (programmed cell death/ cell suicide) as compared with cells from young subjects (Aggarwal S et al., 1999). By playing a major role in the death of T-lymphocytes (Aggarwal S et al., 1998) this messenger molecule has a powerful impact on the development of various kinds of diseases. TNF-a is, for example, known to play a part in arthritis, Chron's disease, multiple sclerosis, HIV replication, malaria, sepsis and the wasting syndrome (cachexia) associated with cancer. It is also reported to play a central role in the development of cancer as an endogenous tumor promoter (Gelin J et el., 1991; Wu S et al., 1993; Orosz P et al., 1993). The results from a cell culture study (Suganuma M et al., 1996) showed for the first time that inhibition of TNF-a works as a cancer preventative. The authors strongly suggest that specific, non-toxic TNF-a inhibitors will be effective not only in cancer prevention but in the treatment of diseases related to elevated levels of TNF-a. A recent study of TNF-a deficient mice showed evidence that TNF-a is required for the development of cancer. After exposure to a potent cancer-inducing chemical, these mice proved resistant to the development of both benign and malignant skin tumors (Moore R et al., 1999). The Anti Aging Secret to a Long Life Michael Brickey, Ph.D.  There is a fascinating ritual that often occurs when someone turns 100. The newspaper sends a reporter to ask the centenarian, “What is your anti aging secret?” What makes it fascinating is that they don’t know. Often they make something up, e.g., eating broccoli. When Diane Sawyer on ABC News asked 98-year-old Beatrice Wood how she managed to live so long, she replied, “Chocolate and young men.” Sounds a lot like George Burns attributing his longevity to young women or his quip about eating junk food–“at my age I need all the preservatives I can get.” When we look at vital centenarians as a group, however, their anti aging secrets become obvious. Physically they have little in common. Most don’t smoke and they typically maintain a fairly constant weight throughout their lives. They are physically active people but that is a lifestyle choice. That’s about all they have in common physically. Their single biggest anti aging secret is that they all have a strong sense of purpose all of their lives. That was easier for many of them then for us. They grew up in a time when people often worked for the same employer or even at the same job for their whole career. Marriage was till death do us part and religion provided a strong sense of identity. Now we have so many choices and so many things are negotiable. Many people move to other cities to pursue education or jobs. People often have to reinvent their careers. More than half of marriages end in divorce. When we don’t have a strong sense of purpose, we become vulnerable to depression, despair, and physical illnesses. We lose our spark and vitality and argue with our alarm clocks about getting up in the morning. At any time in your life, if you don’t have a strong sense of purpose, finding one needs to be a very high priority. As Elizabeth Kübler-Ross put it, “All events are blessings given to us to learn from." There are some other anti aging traits that distinguish vital centenarians. They are independent and self-reliant people. They view life as too precious to fret about what others think. For example, when they go to a doctor, they decide for themselves whether the doctor’s advice makes sense. They are optimists and have a positive outlook on life. They tend to foster fond memories and let bad memories wither. Consequently, they tend to have twice as many fond memories as negative memories. They let go of resentments. They also have a good sense of humor. Growth hormone drug to be pushed as anti aging medicine Drug-maker Pfizer is testing an experimental  drug called capromorelin as a new anti aging treatment. The new anti aging drug is a growth-hormone stimulator that is meant to force the body to secrete human growth hormone like it did during adolescence. During a person's teen and young-adult years, the body increases production of growth hormones, which are associated with a buildup of lean muscle mass and strength. As a person ages, growth hormone levels gradually decrease. Dr. George Merriam of the University of Washington/VA Puget Sound Health Care System led the anti aging capromorelin research. Patients are reported to have gained an average of three pounds in lean muscle mass after six months on the drug, and they showed improvement in strength, balance and coordination. A little under 400 men and women aged 65 to 84 participated in the anti aging study. While low levels of growth hormones are associated with less lean muscle mass, it is well known that people can maintain strength and health through physical activity and weight-bearing exercise. Dr. Agnieszka Baranowska-Bik and colleagues at the University of Poland recently studied 133 women ranging in age from 20 to 102. Surprisingly, the researchers found that the women aged over 100 were healthier than many of their younger counterparts. The centenarians had lower cholesterol and better control of blood sugar, an indicator of diabetes risk. Both Dr. George Merriam's drug test and Dr. Agnieszka Baranowska-Bik's research were presented at the International Congress of Neuroendocrinology. Anti Aging - Putting The  Research into Practice by Karin Granstrom Jordan, M.D Ph.D. Scientists believe that humans are made for a life span of approx 120 years. Why do so few of us achieve this potential? Getting older is not the real problem- the diseases of aging are what we fear. So far, modern medicine has done relatively little to prevent the underlying disorders that tend to accelerate the aging process and bring the vulnerability, pain, and suffering that we associate with aging. Anti-aging research has discovered that aging is accelerated by declining cellular energy production, free radical damage, the "browning" of proteins by glucose (glycation), and impaired immune defenses. We will examine some fascinating recent anti-aging research on key compounds that have a strong potential for influencing these processes and keeping you young (anti aging). Anti Aging - Mitochondrial decay Mitochondria are tiny structures within the cells that convert nutrients into energy through the process of cellular respiration.  Mitochondrial decay-and the consequent decline in cellular energy production-may be one of the most important causes of cellular decline in aging. This age associated mitochondrial dysfunction seems to a great extent to be due to cumulative free radical damage as well as a lack of important micronutrients in the cell. One co-factor that is critical for the transport of proteins in the mitochondria is a phospholipid called cardiolipin. Coenzyme Q10 is another cofactor that participates directly in energy production. Both of these mitochondrial cofactors decline with age Cellular energy production itself produces free radicals that can damage cell structures, including the mitochondria, and ultimately lead to various diseases if the body's natural antioxidant (anti aging) capacity is inadequate. Acetyl-L-carnitine and lipoic acid are both endogenous (naturally present in the body) antioxidants (anti aging) that have been shown to restore mitochondrial function and reduce free radical damage. (Hagen TM et al., 1998; Lyckesfeldt J et al., 1998). Together with coenzyme Q10, they work to maintain the function of the mitochondria. Acetyl-L-carnitine enhances energy production by facilitating the transport of fatty acids into the energy-producing units in the cells. In two animal studies from the University of California at Berkeley (Hagen TM et al., 1998) acetyl-L-carnitine significantly reversed age-associated mitochondrial decay ( anti aging ). It increased cellular respiration, membrane potential and cardiolipin levels. Acetyl-L-carnitine has been shown to improve energy production within brain cells and is considered a neuroprotective agent because of its antioxidant ( antiaging ) action and membrane stabilizing effects. Several controlled clinical studies in Europe show that acetyl-L-carnitine slows down the natural course of Alzheimer's disease in many important respects. (Calvani M et al., 1992) Remarkably, a 1995 study of acetyl-L-carnitine provided the first demonstration that any drug or supplement could bring about both clinical and neurochemical improvements in patients with Alzheimer's disease (Pettegrew JW et al., 1995). Patients given acetyl-L-carnitine (3g/day for 1 year) fared significantly better than control patients on both the ADAS (Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale) and MMS (Mini-Mental Status) rating scales. The researchers used magnetic resonance spectroscopy to measure neurochemical activity in the patients' brains. They found that acetyl-L-carnitine normalized the levels of key neurochemicals involved in neural membrane function and energy metabolism (high-energy phosphates and phosphomonoesters). Anti Aging - Lipoic acid Alpha lipoic acid helps break down sugars so that energy can be produced from them through cellular respiration. In addition, recent research has discovered that alpha lipoic acid plays a truly central role in antioxidant ( anti aging ) defense. It is an extraordinarily broad spectrum antioxidant able to quench a wide range of free radicals in both aqueous (water) and lipid (fat) domains. Moreover, it has the remarkable ability to recycle several other important antioxidants including vitamins C and E, glutathione and coenzyme Q10, as well as itself! For these reasons, alpha lipoic acid has been called the universal antioxidant ( anti aging ). In addition to serving as the hub of the body's antioxidant ( anti aging ) network, lipoic acid is the only antioxidant that can boost the level of intracellular glutathione, a cellular antioxidant of tremendous importance. Besides being the body's primary water-soluble antioxidant and a major detoxification agent, glutathione is absolutely essential for the functioning of the immune system. Scientists have known for a decade that maintaining a high cellular level of glutathione is critical for life and crucial for health. Raising glutathione levels has been shown to alter the cytokine balance in favor of a Th1 immune response mode (the anti-cancer and anti-viral mode of the immune defense-see sidebar, "The immune system"). (Peterson JD et al., 1998). Agents that deplete glutathione, such as ethanol, have been shown to impair the body's immune defense. TNF-a (tumor necrosis factor alpha), increased in many diseases of aging, has been shown to be involved in depletion of cellular glutathione. (Phelps DT et al., 1995). As we shall see later in this article, TNF-a is thought to be a major factor in the immune decline associated with aging. People with chronic illnesses such as AIDS, cancer and autoimmune diseases generally have very low levels of glutathione. White blood cells are particularly sensitive to changes in glutathione levels, and even subtle changes may have profound effects on the immune response. It was shown that glutathione deficiency in HIV-infected individuals correlates with decreased survival (Herzenberg LA et al., 1997). The practical problem for those who wish to maintain healthful glutathione levels is that taking glutathione itself as a supplement does not boost cellular glutathione levels, since glutathione breaks down in the digestive tract before it reaches the cells. Therefore, the discovery that lipoic acid can effectively boost glutathione levels has very important implications in the prevention and treatment of numerous diseases. In a number of experimental and clinical studies, lipoic acid has now been shown to be useful in the treatment of such conditions as diabetes, ischemia-reperfusion damage, neurodegeneration, heavy-metal poisoning, radiation damage and HIV infection and may offer significant protection against stroke, heart disease and cataracts (Packer L et al., 1995). It is likely that much of the beneficial effect of lipoic acid may be attributed to its ability to increase levels of glutathione, chelate metals (such as iron and copper), quench diverse free radicals, and recycle antioxidants. Anti Aging - Inhibiting glycation Glycation is the name of a process in which glucose reacts with protein in an undesired way, resulting in sugar-damaged proteins (similar to browning food in the oven!) called advanced glycation end products (AGE). The formation of AGE happens in everyone and is a major factor in the aging process itself. These damaged proteins may lead to premature signs of aging (wrinkles and brown spots) and in the long run to damaging effects on most organ systems within the body. Glycation reactions are accelerated in the diabetic patient and contribute to the development of diabetic complications. It has been observed that glycated proteins produce 50-fold more free radicals than nonglycated proteins. As a result of this, AGE exert multiple detrimental effects in the body. For example, AGE induced free radicals activate the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-a (tumor necrosis factor alpha), known to be elevated in the elderly. TNF-a has been shown to be particularly high in inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system (Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis and ischemia) and is considered to promote neurodegeneration (Venters HD et al., 1999). AGE formation is increased under conditions of oxidative stress, such as glutathione depletion that can for example be found in the substantia nigra in the brain of patients with Parkinson's disease. Glutathione is suggested to be the decisive factor that triggers the formation of Lewy bodies in pre-symptomatic cases of this disease. The amino acid carnosine is a natural AGE inhibitor found in high concentrations in the brain, muscle tissue and the lens of the human eye. It is also known to be an antioxidant capable of protecting cell membranes and other cell structures. In vitro studies demonstrated that carnosine inhibits glycosylation and crosslinking of proteins induced by reactive aldehydes, and that it is effective in reducing AGE formation by competing with proteins for binding with the sugars. The authors suggest that this nontoxic compound should be explored in the treatment of such conditions as diabetic complications, inflammatory disorders, alcoholic liver disease and possibly Alzheimer's disease (Hipkiss AR et al., 1998). Many additional functions for carnosine have been suggested, such as immunomodulator, neurotransmitter, metal ion chelator and wound healing agent. In a series of animal studies it was demonstrated that carnosine was effective in overcoming muscle fatigue, lowering blood pressure, reducing stress and hyperactivity and inducing sleep (Quinn PR et al., 1992). More recently carnosine was shown to delay senescence in cultured human fibroblasts (McFarland GA et al., 1994). In an animal study on the effect of carnosine in the ischemic brain, carnosine had a protective effect, preserving nerve cells from damage and death, suggesting that this amino acid might be a promising treatment for patients with stroke (Stvolinsky, SL et al., 1998). In other studies carnosine was shown to be effective in the treatment of senile cataracts in dogs, suggesting the possible use of carnosine in the prevention and treatment of cataracts in humans (Halliwell B et al., 1985). Along with carnosine, lipoic acid has been shown to control the formation of AGE and reduce protein damage from glycation in both humans and animals. This has proven to be of special value in preventing and treating diabetic neuropathy, which is believed to be due in part to glycation and protein oxidation by glucose (glycoxidation). Lipoic acid has been an approved treatment for this condition in Germany for 25 years. Anti Aging would halt the advancement of civilization There's a lot of talk about anti aging research today, but with all the promises of longevity and even immortality, almost no one has apparently considered the consequences of human beings living forever. The more you think about anti aging, the scarier the idea becomes. Think of the people who currently hold power in medicine, pharmaceuticals, media or government. Imagine if they never died. In fact, if you think about it, one of the best things about some people is the fact that they will eventually be six feet under. Actually, that's true for us all.  Living, growing, learning and then dying is all part of a natural process that keeps the species healthy and adaptive. That's why death is programmed into our very cells, so that we can get out of the way and make room for the next generation. Science would never have advanced if the old-school high priests of science lived forever. And society as we know it today will never move forward unless the cronies currently in power someday keel over and die (harsh, but true). This is why I say a civilization that could give its population the ability to live forever (anti aging) would be doomed to eternal stagnation. Mortality is an important component of any successful species. To see why, consider this thought experiment: Imagine if there were an anti aging vaccine that cost $1000, and you could go to the doctor's office and get injected with it, and then would never age another day, even if you live forever. A huge percentage of the population might avail themselves of this anti aging vaccine, but before long, we would start to have a real population problem in the world because new people are being born all the time, but suddenly almost no one is dying of old age. Before long, it would become apparent to all of the adults in society -- that is, those who have attained immortality -- that the fixed resources on the planet Earth can only support a fixed a number of people, therefore, to support the lives of all of those already there, they will have to limit new births. Why? Because it is the rebirth and re-culmination of new ideas, new genetic combinations and new philosophies that give us any hope of improving things in the future. If we, as a civilization, continue to do things the way they have always been done, we're not going to get any different results. Extending our collective lifespan to infinity is certainly not going to mean our quality of life is any better, or that our chances of survival as a species on this planet are any greater. The quest for immortality is fraught with peril at many levels. People love the romantic idea of living forever, but they fail to consider the consequences of what might happen to our species if, indeed, immortality was cheap and attainable by the masses. Fortunately, anti aging technology is exceedingly difficult to master, and I don't see any practical applications of an anti-aging vaccine in our lifetime. It doesn't mean I'm against the concept of anti-aging as most people think of it, which simply means staying active and healthy into the later years of life. I'm all for that because it enhances quality of life, but in no way does it make people immortal. At the same time, I genuinely believe that if genuine "live forever" technology were unleashed on the world today, it would be disastrous for humankind. Our best hope for the future is that we each learn something useful, pass it on to the next generation, then get out of the way to make room for new people with new ideas who can hopefully do a better job protecting this planet (and its people) than we did. Dying is not only an important natural cycle, it's also the most important thing that will ever happen to many individuals in positions of power today. Have you noticed, for example, how most members of Congress are now senior citizens who are completely out of touch with the people they claim to represent? The information on micronutrients and phytochemicals contained on this Web site does not cover all possible uses, actions, precautions, side effects, and interactions. It is not intended as medical advice for individual problems. Liability for individual actions or omissions based upon the contents of this site is expressly disclaimed. Website and all contents (c) Copyright 2007, all rights reserved

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