Archive for the ‘General’ Category
The elements of aging – inflammation
Our bodies have many defence and healing mechanisms. They are designed to quickly turn on when confronted by something harmful, like toxins, trauma or infection. An example of this kind of defence system is inflammation. We all need inflammation at certain times to fight infection or heal wounds. However, left unchecked, inflammation can lead to
How can I reduce exposure to pesticides and environmental toxins?
Toxins can never be totally avoided, yet we can take a number of practical actions every day to maximize our detoxification defenses
Inflammation and the impact on the aging process
Instead of only reacting against toxic invaders like bacteria, the immune response in aging individuals sometimes turns on itself
Elements of aging – Oxidative stress
When metal parts age, like the hinge on your door or nails in the fence, they become rusty. This chemical change alters the properties of metal. Instead of being sturdy and smooth, rusted metal is weakened, fragile and flaky. Ultimately, rust means that these objects don’t work as they should, the door creaks and the fence
How do toxins impact healthy aging?
We have a number of highly developed strategies for intercepting and neutralizing toxins before they can damage crucial systems as we age.
What exactly is aging?
What is the thing called ‘getting older’? What is it we really want to slow down when we look in the mirror? Put simply, aging is a process of change, progressively taking on the characteristics of those who are older and shedding many of those that characterize the young. If you are a pessimist, this
Live better for longer
Two interesting pieces recently on longevity caught my eye. It was reported in The Lancet that life expectancy is continuing to increase and that a large number of babies born this century will live to be a century. I was first shown statistics like this in 2003 at an anti aging conference in Singapore run
Exposed to the elements – what drives aging?
If you leave things unprotected to the elements they will ultimately age and perish quicker. Colors will fade. Parts will become more brittle and stiff. This is not too far off what happens in the human body. For example, without adequate protection, a life in the outdoors increases our exposure to ultraviolet radiation, and photo-aging
Slow aging and the Faustian Pact
We all want to prevent the onset of disease, defer or even stop the things that negatively impact on our lives. So did Faust and Dorian Grey. But as each found out, the ends never justify the means. There are a lot of Faustian pacts being signed every day, ones that give control over our
Are disease and aging the same thing?
In most people’s minds, getting old is synonymous with disease. Aging alters the onset, manifestation and severity of almost any disease. For example, from about 20 years of age the density of our bones slowly declines. At some point, bone thinning becomes so significant that our risk of fractures is increased. This point (or disease)