It's true I'm turning 40 in ten days so I thought what a perfect occasion to highlight supplements that are anti-aging. After all we're all moving in the same direction but what will make it possible to stay healthy and fit in our later years? It's what we do TODAY that counts. Lifestyle, lifestyle, lifestyle!
There are four major factors that contribute to the development of chronic and degenerative disease as we age. These factors are:
Free Radical Damage
Chronic Inflammation
Hyperinsulemia (metabolic syndrome)
Stress (excess or diminished cortisol)
All of these factors are interrelated, because each contributes to the others. So, it's not just about correcting any one of them, it's about simultaneously working to prevent all four. The main way to do this is by adopting a healthy lifestyle, and cannot be achieved by supplements alone, although they are a part of the picture.
There are five areas of your lifestyle that need to be addressed to ensure that you stay healthy so you can improve with age.
A Check Up From the Neck Up - What this means is we need make adjustments in our thinking. That is we need check for "stinkin' thinkin" meaning if we are thinking negatively then this produces negative energy that then draws negative into our lives. This relates to the power of mind/body connection. What we focus our mental attention and emotional energy on will become our reality. So, if we worry that we're going to get heart disease because "it runs in the family," we more than likely will. If we are convinced that old age will bring lots of chronic health problems that will cause us to need lots of medical help, it will. That's why it's so important to choose to believe that you can live a long and healthy life.Three resources to learn more about this topic are: The Secret on DVD, * Excuse Me Your Life is Waiting - The Astonishing Power of Feelings by Lynn Grabhorn, *Law of Attraction by Michael Losier, * Ask and it is Given - Learning to Manifest Your Desires by Esther Hicks, Jerry Hicks, Wayne W. Dyer One of the best ways to change beliefs and start living a connected life is to have a Thetahealing™ session. I am an Advanced Thetahealing™ Pracititoner and can help you to clear limiting beliefs that are holding you back from being the best you that you can be. Call me for more information or go to the Thetahealing™ page to find out more about this amazing energy work.
Be a "Picky Eater" -I'm not talking about what most of think of as a picky eater, the child who won't eat their fruits and vegetables and only wants to eat junk food. I'm talking about the opposite of this, one who eats the fruits and vegetables and avoids junk food. Nothing, not even supplements are meant to replace a healthy diet. I'm not going to be the parent figure here and I'm sure you've heard a million times before but by eating fresh fruits and vegetables (organic if possible) you are a step ahead in the aging game. You probably know why these foods are so healthy but just in case you don't --they are loaded with antioxidants, and antioxidants help reduce inflammation and free radical damage, which in turn slows aging and reduces one's risk of cancer, diabets, heart disease, arthritis and so forth. So supplement your diet with antioxidants but don't do it to replace a healthy diet.
Exercise - Regular exercise is an important part of staying healthy and helps slow down the aging process. It helps you lose weight, helps diabetes, reduces your risk for cardiovascular disease, relieves depression, the list could go on and on about the benefits of exercise. Start slow and increase slowly. Don't over-do it or you won't want to do it at all! Check with your health care provider before starting any exercise program.
Sleep -You need quality sleep at about 7-8 hours for rejuvenation, tissue repair and a host of other benefits. If you are having trouble sleeping you need to do something about that. I've also written an article on sleep and insomnia here.
Supplements - These are obviously an important part of an anti-aging program, but it isn't going to make up for bad lifestyle habits in the other four areas. Because it's difficult to get really good food in modern America and because of the high level of pollution, I think supplementation is important.
Keep reading to find out more about antioxidant products offered by Nature's Sunshine and you can also contact me for an appointment either in my office or by phone to start on an anti-aging program specific to your needs.
"He who has health has hope, and he who has hope has everything." — Arabian proverb
All About Antioxidants
Antioxidants are the body’s natural defense against free radicals. As free radicals move through the body, they react with other molecules and damage the cells they touch, resulting in health concerns that range from premature aging to abnormal cell growth and heart concerns. Antioxidants deactivate free radicals before they can damage adjacent cells. In addition to combating free radicals, antioxidants also indirectly build healthy new tissues.
No two antioxidants are exactly alike. Some are fat- soluble, some are water-soluble, some are soluble in both water and fat. Some antioxidants concentrate in the liver, while others protect the eyes or heart. Research studies show that fruits and vegetables or supplements that have high antioxidant values can produce the following health benefits:
Eye Support. Antioxidants protect the lens and macula of the eye. Antioxidants can protect the eye from sun damage that often leads to age-related macular degeneration. NSP offers Perfect Eyes, Carotenoid Blend and Lutein to promote eye health.
Nervous System Support. Antioxidants can help protect cell membranes from lipid peroxidation (a key step in the changes that can result in central nervous system concerns). Try Alpha Lipoic Acid and Brain Protex for these benefits.
Circulatory System Support. Stress, poor nutrition, pollution, unhealthy lifestyles and the aging process (free radicals) take their toll on the cardiovascular system. Fortunately, several antioxidants help protect heart cells and support the blood vessels. Vitamin E, Grapine®, Co-Q10 and Super Antioxidant provide excellent support to cardiovascular health.
Immune System Support. Antioxidants augment the body’s natural antioxidant levels, increase the body’s ability to destroy foreign invaders and promote the body’s ability to synthesize substances that help fight infections and inhibit abnormal cell growth. NSP Green Tea Extract, Berry Healthy, Super Antioxidant and Vita Lemon may benefit the immune system in this way.
Liver Support. Antioxidant supplementation can support liver function by protecting against oxidative damage and promoting the natural elimination of toxins. Milk thistle is renowned for protecting the liver. Other powerful antioxidants for the liver include Indole 3-Carbinol, Alpha Lipoic Acid and N-Acetyl Cysteine.
Intestinal System Support. Antioxidant supplementation can help keep your colon healthy and clear of free radical damage. Green Tea Extract and Super Antioxidant are important antioxidants for the intestinal system.
Breast and Prostate Health. Antioxidants are excellent for protecting and supporting the breast and prostate gland. Lutein and Breast Assured support breast health, while Men’s Formula and Super Supplemental Vitamins and Minerals (with lycopene) promote prostate health.
Antioxidants and ORAC The potency of antioxidants can be quantified by determining their Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) values. Nature’s Sunshine, one of the industry’s leaders in technology and product testing, has the ability to test all antioxidant products for ORAC values. These values not only allow NSP to guarantee the quality of our antioxidants, but they also help you choose the antioxidants that are right for you. However, it is important to understand that the ORAC value is just one measure of a product’s value. Products with higher ORAC values may directly prevent oxidative damage as free radical scavengers, while products with lower ORAC values may exert health benefits through other avenues, such as improving blood flow or supporting the body’s detoxification process.
NSP has released ORAC values for several of our leading antioxidant products.
*These ORAC values are expressed as micromoles of Trolox equivalents per gram of a sample
Antioxidant Supplements
Super Antioxidant -Has protective effects on the liver and may be helpful along with Milk Thistle Combination for people who are frequently exposed to chemicals.
Thai-Go-A healthy mangosteen beverage that has a low glycemic index (won't raise your blood sugar) and is a convenient and tasty way to get more antioxidants into your diet.
Super Orac- Provides key nutrients needed by the body to neutralize free radicals, helps prevent cellular damage and may exhibit anit-aging benefits.
Perfect Eyes-Protect your eyes with the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin which have been shown to protect the macula of the eyes from free radical damage.
Grapine w/Protectors
- 20mg proanthocyanidins Hi Potency Grapine
- 60mg proanthocyanidins
Both of these Grapine products are particularly beneficial for vascular problems like varicose veins.
IF Relief- Contains a combination of herbal extracts that may support the body’s natural process for muscle pain and inflammation relief following exercise and massage
CO-Q10 Softgel-Valuable antioxidant and anti- inflammatory nutrient that is especially helpful for the cardiovascular system.
Green Tea Extract-Powerful antioxidant that helps to counteract the inflammation that is the root cause of coronary heart disease.
You're getting your vitamins, minerals, tonic herbs and antioxidants all in the same drink.
This drink was developed for those people doing the foot spa detoxification programs to help balance their pH and to provide energy after detoxing. The drink gave these people so much energy that they started taking it regularly.
This information is for educational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose and treat diseases. If you have any health problems consult a healthcare practitioner before embarking on any course of treatment.
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