GoldenHealth4Seniors

Currently in the USA coronary heart disease is a leading cause of death due to heart attacks. The key contributor to coronary heart disease is the development of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis develops in the arteries when there is an imbalance of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) compared with the high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Both types need to be properly balanced in the optimum ratio required for managing cholesterol in our arteries. If too much LDL is present and not enough HDL is present, then the path to atherosclerosis is wide open. As the level of LDL increases the risk of heart disease increases. High levels of LDL are an ally of cardiovascular disease.
Oxidized LDL is a second ally of cardiovascular disease. Oxidized LDL starts inflammatory processes that lead to the process that clogs arteries. Additionally oxidized LDL interferes with white blood cells resulting in a continuous build up of oxidized LDL in the artherosclerotic plaque. Fortunately for seniors there are steps that can be taken to thwart the allies of atherosclerosis that foster cardiovascular disease. A form of CoQ10
has been shown to protect against LDL oxidation provided it is in the form of ubiquinol CoQ10. The nutrient that has demonstrated the best anti-LDL oxidation effects is none other than pomegranate. In terms of choosing a means to achieve preemptive aging against atherosclerosis pomegranate stands in first place. Two strong allies that can protect senior health against cardiovascular disease are pomegranate and ubiquinol CoQ10.

According to some recent research many seniors suffer from a serious vitamin B-12 deficiency. The researchers estimated that as many as 40% of Americans have low levels of vitamin B-12. Making matters worse some of the drugs used to reduce stomach acid tend to increase the deficiency. In fact more than 20% of seniors over the age of 65 suffer from severe B-12 deficiency. Unfortunately the symptoms of B-12 deficiency may go undetected early on, because they are subtle, but the later consequences are often catastrophic. B-12 deficiency has been identified as a link to age-related dementia, cognitive impairment, and depression. Even mild B-12 deficiency may be a contributor to Alzheimer’s disease. Getting adequate B-12 in their diet is obviously a preemptive aging measure that will contribute to improving senior health.
On the positive side B-12 plays a critical role in breaking down homocystene that contributes heavily to the development of a number of chronic diseases including heart disease, stroke, and rheumatoid arthritis. It turns out that B-12 works synergistically with folic acid to reduce high levels of homocystene. Getting absorption of adequate amounts of B-12 can be a problem for seniors, because of changes in the stomach linings of seniors. This absorption problem means that eating foods that contain B-12 such as meat, milk, and eggs will not help. Taking the typical oral supplements of B-12, which are in the form of cyanocobalamin, may not succeed either, because it is not adequately absorbed. Taking B-12 by injection has its own limitations. Two other approaches offer hope for achieving adequate absorption by seniors. B-12 can be taken sublingually or by one of the new oral supplements for seniors which is in the more easily absorbed form of B-12 known as methylcobalamin.

Now that winter is effectively arriving in the northern part of the USA, seniors who have major health concerns about contracting colds and the flu, especially the H1N1 flu need to take preventive measures. Instead of waiting until a cold or the flu has already arrived and is causing illness, why not take preemptive measures before any respiratory infection occurs. It turns out that a number of common foods can provide an immune system boost that is vital for senior health. More than a dozen are included among the top immune system booster foods. For breakfast orange juice and oatmeal are first class contributors to a healthy immune system. The oats are a source of beta glucans an immunity system booster and orange juice supplies more than the daily requirement for vitamin C. Pouring milk fortified with vitamin D over the oatmeal will provided additional strength to the immune system to prevent upper respiratory infections. To provide further protection drink a cup of black tea and continue through the day, because black tea builds up your immune system’s T cells into super T cells that end up successfully fighting flu and cold infections.
Yogurt that has been fortified with Lactobacillus acidophilus as well as Bifidus and L. rhamnosus can provide an immune system boosting snack, because those cultures appear to stimulate the white-blood cells that fight infection. Several times a week have chicken soup for lunch, because it thins mucus and relieves the symptoms of a stuffy nose. Adding garlic and onions can increase the immune boosting strength of the soup. The allicin in garlic is a strong bacteria fighter. For dinner a soup of clam chowder or oyster stew will provide selenium that helps the white blood cells fight viruses. For the main course make certain to include some fish like salmon, mackerel or herring in order to get the benefits of the omega-3 fatty acids that boost the activity of the cells that eat up the bacteria. For dessert a slice of pumpkin pie with black tea can round out the day. The pumpkin contains abundant vitamin A that will combine with zinc from the shellfish like oysters to fight infection. In addition to the foods suggested for building immune system, seniors can take vitamins to boost immune system.

Today in the field of oncology one of the latest key words used in regard to the treatment of cancer is chemoprevention. It means using natural or synthetic chemical compounds as a cancer-preventing strategy. These compounds can delay the onset of cancer, inhibit its spread or best of all reverse carcinogenesis. Researchers have known for some time that the cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, brussel sprouts and cauliflower are loaded with chemopreventive agents. More recently new chemopreventive compounds have been discovered in celery, artichokes, and parsley, but in small amounts. Studies performed on large populations have provided evidence that the folks whose consumption of larger amounts of these vegetables have lower rates of a number of cancers. Those cancers include breast, colon, lung, and prostate cancers.
The good news is that some of the newly discovered vegetable compounds may have even more potent chemopreventative effects. For example one of these compounds called apigenin has shown multiple chemopreventative means to protect us against cancer. It can kill cancer cells by starving them, by preventing them from spreading, and by preventing inflammation that can allow a cancer to spread. Another compound benzl isothiocyanate (BITC) gives cancer cells the signal to shut down and die. BITC messes with the cancer cells life cycle to prevent them from growing and replicating so they die. These newly discovered chemopreventative compounds have been combined with the established ones into a combined formulation of vegetable extracts that are now available as supplements for seniors.

The reports on the longevity boosting effects of resveratrol have been well established. Recent studies based on ongoing plant extract research have discovered a plant extract that is very similar to resveratrol. This plant extract functions in ways similar to resveratrol, because it provides many of the benefits for longevity required for senior health. This compound which is found in minute quantities in grapes and blueberries regulates genes that control the development of diseases that typically affect seniors. Diseases like atheroschlerosis, cancer, diabetes, and systemic inflammation are classic examples of such age-related disorders. This plant extract is called pterostilbene and like resverotrol it is a member of the stilbene family of compounds. It turns out that when the two are combined they work synergistically to enhance the good health benefits of resveratrol which is very good news for senior health.
When resverotrol and pterostilbene are combined they activate a person’s longevity genes. Together they act on our longevity genes in a manner that parallels Calorie_restriction without the obvious and very unpleasant side effect that accompanies caloric restriction. They act at different times in the process that controls gene expression. In particular pterostilbene acts after resveratrol has performed its work to activate the longevity genes. In this way pterostilbene complements resveratrol’s ability to preempt cancer and diabetes. In the case of cancer they turn on the genes that kill cancer cells and turn off the genes that allow cancer cells to spread. They provide similar activity to head off diabetes and memory loss due to aging. Now that the combined extracts of both resverotrol and pterostilbene are available to seniors they do not have to comsume five cups of blueberries and drink 20 bottles of red wine a day to get the benefits of the longevity twins.

For seniors protecting our immune systems is critically important for our senior health and well being. The first line of defense against diseases and infections is our immune system. For seniors concerned about their health finding a way to boost their immune systems naturally would be very beneficial. A number of foods supply a compound that provides a natural immune system boost. Baker’s yeast, shiitake mushrooms and cereal grains such as barley, rye, oats, and wheat contain this compound. The compound is beta glucans and we have to get it from outside sources, because our body does not make it. Extensive research has shown that beta glucans make the immune system more efficient. Beyond natural food sources supplements containing beta glucans are currently available. They provide a well quantified amount of beta glucans for folks who want to insure that they are getting an adequate amount of beta glucans. Beta glucans can be added to the list of supplements for seniors who want to want to ensure and an immune system boost.
The mechanisms by which the beta glucans operate is explained as follows. The beta glucans stimulate two important defenders of the immune system including the immune cells called macrophages that attack invading pathogens and the lethal white blood cells the destroy tumors and viruses. In one study the beta glucans from oats was used to test the efficacy of lowering cholesterol. The study showed significant reductions in total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein. The folks who had received the higher amount of beta glucans achieved greater reductions in the total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein. In several other studies the beta glucans were used successfully to prevent or mitigate the duration of upper respiratory infections. Finally, beta glucans have been used in Japan to reduce tumor activity in cancer. The particular beta glucan that was found in shiitake mushrooms has been used as an immune system stimulant against cancer in Japan since the 1980s.

The leading cause of blindness for seniors is age-related macular degeneration. Based on recent research there appears to be a strong correlation between age-related macular degeneration and chronic vascular disease. Macular degeneration seems to be tied to the gradual degradation of blood vessels in the eye. A number of researchers investigated patients for any common risk factors for vascular disease and macular degeneration. They discovered that patients already suffering from macular degeneration had elevated levels of homocysteine. Elevated levels of homocysteine are known to be a marker for for cardiovasular risk. Additional studies verified that the higher homocysteine levels were a marker for increased risk of macular degeneration in seniors. In parallel studies researchers found that C-reactive protein inflamatory marker for cardiovascular diseasewas equally predictive as a marker for increased risk for macular degreneration in seniors.
The researchers next investigated the possible causes of the elevated homocysteine levels. They focused on the possible vitamin deficiences that might be contributing to the elevated homocysteine levels. They discovered that the seniors suffering from macular degeneration were deficient in levels of vitamin B6, B12, and B9 (folic acid). In a study of over 5,000 women over the age of 40 who were known to be a risk for cardiovascular disease, those who supplemented with the three members of the vitamin B family had their risk of macular degeneration reduced by over 40%. This is good news for seniors, because supplementing with the three B vitamins and eating foods rich in those vitamins will promote healthy eyes that are necessary for senior health.

Recent studies of the mineral requirements for the American diet revealed that most Americans are consuming in the range of 50-70% of the amount of potassium recommended by the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine. The amount of potassium recommended for adults is 4.7 grams/day. This is amount of daily potassium is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but most Americans are not getting even this minimum amount. Most Americans are nutritionally deficient in potassium. One result of this potassium deficiency is that the same folks are inverting the potassium/sodium ratio in their diet. This inversion of the potassium/sodium ratio can have negative consequences for senior health.

Seniors need to increase the potassium intake in their diet by consuming potassium rich foods in order to preempt the decreased muscle strength that is typically observed in older women and men. Maintaining muscle performance is vital for senior health, in order for seniors to enjoy their golden years. Restoring the dietary potassium/sodium ratio by increasing the potassium intake to at least the minimum level recommended level of 4.7 grams/day will contribute to enhanced muscle performance in seniors. Seniors can increase their potassium intake by consuming potassium rich foods such as fruits, leafy green vegetables, vegetable fruits, and roots. In addition to consuming potassium rich foods, seniors can take potassium supplements as needed.

We have been reading the health news that has been full of reports about the benefits of resveratrol for extending life similar to benefits demonstrated for caloric restriction for senior health. Both caloric restriction and resveratrol work to promote longevity, because they change the way our genes are expressed. Both turn off the senescence genes and turn on the youth genes that promote cellular vitality. Recent research has shown that pomegranate protects against age-related diseases such as atherosclerosis, cancer, and type 2 diabetes by altering gene expression in a way similar to the action of resveratrol. Pomegranate extracts work in a multifold manner to prevent atherosclerosis and to undue the effects of atherosclerosis that has already attacked the arteries. In addition pomegranate juice has been shown to reduce total cholesterol and LDL levels which effectively reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Due in large measure to pomegranate’s broad spectrum antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it has shown excellent results in preventing certain cancers and reversing the progress of already existing cancers. Treating folks with pomegranate extracts, juice and oils have been shown excellent results for mitigating breast, colon, and prostate cancer.
Finally pomegranate juice and extracts have demonstrated powerful preventative effects at multiple levels for folks who are pre-diabetic and those who suffer from type 2 diabetes. In lab tests the juice lowered blood sugar and in human trials it improved the lipid profiles in diabetics. The juice reduced the markers of tissue oxidation in diabetics by more than 50% which reduces the amount of atherosclerosis.

As seniors our brain cells need nourishment just as much as the other cells in our bodies. Under normal circumstances we get all the nourishment that we need for all the cells of our bodies from consuming a diet of well balanced healthy foods. As we age our ability to absorb the nourishment that we need decreases. In some cases this lessening of our ability to absorb sufficient nourishment has serious negative consequences for the operation of our brains and our health. Good health depends on balancing all of our bodies’ systems such as cardiovascular, digestive, nervous, and so on. Our health begins to decline whenever one or more of our systems becomes unbalanced. If we are not getting adequate nourishment or if our bodies begin to block the nourishment, then our health begins to deteriorate. For example the deterioration of our health can appear as one of the neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. In some cases our senior bodies stop absorbing the normal amount of glucose that that our brains need to function. When this begins to occur our brain cells become weakened. Unless those brain cells can access the nourishment that they need by another path they will begin to atrophy.

It turns out that there may be another path to access the nourishment needed by our brains. Normally our cells accept glucose in order to burn it to produce the energy they need. When we fast our glucose stores are emptied, but we have a backup systems to provide energy stores for our cells. Our backup system for producing energy relies on synthesizing ketones from fats. The image depicted above illustrates the chemical formula for ketones. When we fast or eat a low carbohydrate diet, our bodies synthesize ketones from fat. Earlier in the 20th Century ketonic diets were used as therapy for neurodegenerative conditions. These diets were not practical, because they nearly eliminated carbohydrates and required the consumption of large amounts of fats. Recently, some medical research has discovered a possible path to getting ketones into our cells as a backup energy for folks who cells are not absorbing the glucose needed for good health, particularly good senior health. The value of absorbing the ketones becomes critically important for folks who are suffering from any of the neurodegenerative diseases. The preliminary research indicates that medium chain tryglycerides (MCTs) can be converted to ketones that will nourish the brain cells. MCTs can be found in unrefined coconut oil and in refined MCT oil.