Goji is pronounced [go-gee] and this berry is quickly becoming a popular trend of late in all its varied forms. They can be found in many variations such as a component of trail mix or diet crunch bars, they can be consumed on their own or consumed as a beverage in a juice or tea. They are most commonly eaten as a dried fruit and in fact this is when they are at their most potent.

The people who regularly ingest this amazing little berry say they experience a feeling of well being when eating them on a day to day basis or a ”I feel fabulous today” feeling whenever they take goji berries in juice form. In parts of Tibet the goji berry is referred to as the laughing berry!

In order to gain maximum benefit from the goji berry it is said that the berry must be eaten in its dried formulation though you will still receive substantial advantages from drinking the goji berry in juice form. People will often use the goji berry to make a tea – a very popular method of gaining the maximum amount of nutritional value while not needing to experience the taste. Personally I do not think the taste is at all difficult to endure. For those people who are on the go and still want to enjoy the benefits of goji berry they can take them in capsule form.

Goji berries are sometimes called Wolfberries and they are by no means a new found sensation since they have been utilized for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine for health and longevity purposes, curing many maladies along the way. Their nickname is the longevity fruit and they were given this name because in the geographical region where this fruit is abundant and consumption is greatest, there are sixteen times more people over the age of one hundred versus the rest of the nation. This group of hundred year old plus individuals appears to be much stronger and more vital than their aged peers in western society.

There is some ancient legend or myths as it were that claim one gentleman who regularly consumed goji berries throughout his existence actually lived to the age of two hundred fifty two years of age. Of course it is called the longevity fruit! It has also been named the “hallelujah berry” for reasons that the rest of us can only speculate over. But, are these claims of remarkable innate abilities truthful? Likewise with numerous other herbal and dietary additions, there is not enough significant scientific verification to back up the many therapeutic advantages attributed to the goji berry but what follows is what is understood about the goji to date.

Goji berry benefits are well known and have been displayed in various medical illnesses over time. They aid in controlling and even turning around obesity, safeguard us from cancer, thwart age associated macular degeneration [eye disease], restore hair pigment, stimulate the immunity and has been used effectively as a treatment for infertility and sexual impotency.

As highly nutritious as the goji berry is, it is thought to be extremely safe for all who consume it but women who are breast feeding or pregnant should avoid ingesting goji berries until more research has been done on how goji actually functions within our systems. Those who do consume goji berries should restrict their amount of ingestion of the goji berry to from ten to thirty grams each day. They contain selenium which could be toxic when taken in abnormally high levels. Selenium is also an essential mineral for men so goji would be an effective method for men to get their necessary selenium quantity.

Goji berries are quite effective at reducing blood sugar levels and knowing this, those who consume goji berry should avoid other supplements known to reduce blood glucose levels like ginger, kudzu and fenugreek so they can avoid the possibility of hypoglycemia. At the same time there is a warning for goji users to avoid the ingestion of herbs like ginseng, turmeric, and valerian since combining them with goji berry risks a potential drop in blood pressure.

The Nutritional Impact Of Goji Berries

Reflect on this if you will. Goji berries are a substantial source of nutrients, minerals and vitamins as well as antioxidants. Based on weight, they hold sixty eight percent carbohydrate, twelve percent protein, ten percent fat and ten percent fiber and contain three hundred seventy calories for each one hundred grams. They also are laden with an amazing thirty three minerals and six vitamins!

It is common knowledge in Chinese medicine that the goji berry has upwards of eighteen amino acids; eight of which are indispensible to the health of our bodies. It is also no secret that the tiny berry holds twenty one trace minerals. The goji is an excellent source for vitamins E, B1, B2 and B6. How absolutely amazing that this enormous quantity of healthful nutrition is found inside the tiny goji berry; about equal in size to a dried raisin? It is a veritable multivitamin in and of itself!

Here Are Even More Particulars – Check Out These Imposing Specifics: [Nutrients In 100 grams of dried Goji fruit]

• 112 mg of Calcium;

• 1132 mg of Potassium;

• 9 mg of Iron;

• 2 mg of Zinc;

• .05 mg of Selenium;

• 1.3 mg of Riboflavin;

• Between 2 to 100 mg of vitamin C;

• 7 mg of Beta-carotene;

• Between 25 and 200 mg of Zeaxanthin;

The goji berry is so insanely healthy for an individual that the common suspicion is it has to taste dreadful, but this is absolutely not true. As I mentioned I think it tastes great, reminiscent of cranberries, raspberries and even strawberries all combined into one great flavor.

By this time you must be raring to go running to the nearest health food market to sample some goji berry but you should be forewarned – goji berry products are not inexpensive. You could quote easily pay upwards of fourteen dollars for a thirty two ounce container of one hundred percent pure goji berry juice.
 
It might be asking too much but if you truly desire getting the maximum benefits from the goji berry, you should seriously consider becoming a total vegetarian so you can experience the entire package of the goji berry’s potential force. Who knows, once you begin taking the extraordinary goji berry on a regular basis, experiencing first hand its nutritional might, you may also live to see your two hundred and fifty second birthday!

Anti Aging, Anti Aging Supplements, Health And Aging, Longevity

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You are all for living a long time but right now you just do not want to hear about any hard work connected with extending your life, thank you very much! So there must be some other things you can do that do not require as much effort. Unless you are sure you have the genetics or are at least willing to take the risk that you have the right DNA to outlive your peers, you will need to make SOME kind of sacrifice toward the cause.

I’m about to discuss some very simple yet practical things you can do to potentially add a good number of years to your life. They are simple because they do not require a gym membership or financial shares in a local organic produce farm. Pull up a recliner, grab a glass of carrot juice and follow along:

• You can extend your life by steering clear of glycation end products – also known as [AGE]. Keeping away from any products that have sugar added if you can and in most food that is factory processed or refined this will be the case. When these types of products are consumed, that additional sugar mixes with your proteins and creates AGE cellular gummy bunches that acts a lot like glue within your system, including your brain and between singular cells which will quickly decrease your body’s capacity to function at its pinnacle tier.

This AGE will not simply mean a swift and degenerative process of aging but the electrical synapse and nerve impulses emitted by the brain and central nervous system will be impaired and will no longer have the capability of managing the intricate and rapidly required neural and nerve indicators necessary for ordinary mental and physical responses.

AGE is a trigger for inflammation and also encourages skin aging due to it impeding innate collagen and epidermis rejuvenation. It also speeds and gradually worsens aging and immunity health deficits like Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, diabetes mellitus, macular degeneration and various cancers and so many other age associated illnesses. When you make a conscious effort to stay clear of products with added sugar you will go a long way to safeguarding yourself from so many of these debilitating sicknesses while doing wonders for your longevity, not to mention the health of your brain.

• Everyone should be supplementing their modern diet with a good multivitamin these days but if you only get one vitamin, be sure it is vitamin K. The K vitamin will enhance your overall health, reduce the risk of osteoporosis, and assist in the prevention of arteriosclerosis [hardening of the arteries] and even heart disease.

New research has shown the significance of acquiring additional innately formulated vitamin K with your system, more specifically K2 that is in MK-7 formulation. Vitamin K has been discovered to be one of the most vital nutrients that your body must attain in order for it to age in its most favorable manner. Estimates by scientists conducting research claim a person could live for ten to twenty years more than if they did not receive optimal amounts of vitamin K. This vitamin K is more than just necessary for your blood to clot, it also aids in the prevention of lost bone and assists in averting any calcium seeped from the bones from winding up in the arteries and heart valves as calcification [arteriosclerosis].

 The renowned Framingham nurse research study where more than seventy two thousand women have been evaluated for more than ten years and a closely related study of older men for a seven year time frame revealed that women in the lower twenty percentile who had the most reduced quantity of vitamin K ingestion increased their odds of broken hips by thirty percent. This compared to those ladies with better and larger quantities of vitamin K consumption. Men in the top twenty five percent who had the largest quantity of vitamin K ingestion suffered from sixty five percent less fractures of the hip than those in the lowest twenty five percentile of vitamin K consumption per day.

This is significant since there is not much more serious than a hip fracture in an elderly individual and post hip fracture mortality statistics clearly verify this point.

By ingesting the proper variety of vitamin K a person can actually assist in turning around arterial and heart valve calcification by aiding the bones in their retention of calcium. When you decrease the quantity of calcium that makes it into the circulatory system you will not just be thwarting osteoporosis but you will be raising your health odds and perhaps even saving your life by enhancing the flow of blood within your system. When the amount of calcium is reduced that would ordinarily harm your arteries, you are also helping to make the arteries healthier by raising their elasticity levels which also makes blood circulation smoother to the outer reaches of the body.

Vitamin K comes in different types. It can be located naturally in those leafy green vegetables we all love so much; vitamin 2K as well is located inside egg yolks, cheese and fermented soybeans – known to the Japanese as “natto”. There is a newer variety of vitamin K known as MK-7 and this brand will last in the circulatory system much longer, upwards of seven to eight times as long as vitamin K1. An individual could take an amalgam of vitamin K1 and vitamin K formulated as MK-7 while also taking in vitamin K2 in the MK-4 formulation which would prove to be considerably more beneficial as the effects of the three vitamin K variations would be considerable.

There is some concern, primarily due to a lack of knowledge and awareness of the new studies about the significance of vitamin K as most physicians tell their patients who have been prescribed Warfarin [or Coumadin] to stay away from any extra vitamin K over the caution that added vitamin K could limit the blood flow perhaps causing blood to clot. There is no need for concern if patients were taking reasonable quantities of vitamin K2 and of course consulting closely with their physician. Their doctor needs to be knowledgeable about anticoagulants – drugs that thin blood – as well as vitamin K making sure the physician keeps an eye on normal blood coagulation by observing quarterly or semiannual blood tests.

In addition to all this, studies that are continuous and prolonged are signaling that failure to get adequate vitamin K will not simply cause fragile bones but moreover it will add to the dangerous calcifying effect of the rather vital heart valves.

If what you just read still does not exhilarate you regarding the complete effectiveness of vitamin K, this marvelous nutrient has been displaying an ability to thwart certain cancers by preventing inflammation while supporting apoptosis [cellular death] of cancer cells which perish innately and are replenished by healthy cells. Another exciting benefit from vitamin K consumption is it assists in better insulin usage in those men suffering from diabetes mellitus [type two]; however, further prolonged evaluation needs to be conducted to see if the same advantages can be had by women who also suffer from type two diabetes.

Now you have two relatively simple things you can do to increase your longevity by a good number of years. Nowhere did I mention that you needed to take up running, by a treadmill or modify your diet in any drastic manner. You simply supplement with vitamin K variations and watch your sugar intake in the processed and refined foods. That means reading labels when you buy groceries and possibly giving up certain foods that you are eating now. The good news is that there is usually a natural replacement for a processed food with too much added sugar that you can substitute.

Can you imagine how much longer you would live if you not only implemented the above new ideas with a half hour walk around the block each day?

Anti Aging, Anti Aging Supplements, Health And Aging, Longevity

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If you are going to live a long life you better start planning for it right away. I believe it was Mickey Mantle who famously said “If I knew I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself” and no truer words have been spoken regarding age! Anyone reading this bit of text just now has made the first step to enjoying optimized longevity. Most folks do not plan ahead for the things that occur as we age that can obscure a once clear vision of growing elderly. Think of it as planning for your 401k, only having the good health to spend it.

You have to plan for living an extended life because even the most passive of us winds up with some physical breakdown over the years. There is available research that states that upwards of eighty eight percent of United States inhabitants over age sixty five have some form of ongoing medical problem. As tough as this is to deal with it is a fact of life for most of us that we will be living with some medical ailment in old age. Would it not be great though, if we could safeguard ourselves from most of these chronic health issues?

Chronic means ongoing and an ongoing medical malady is classified as a condition that lasts longer than three months. The longer a person lives, the more likely they are to experience a chronic medical problem. These medical ailments just do not occur suddenly. Usually these problems are a culmination of other factors that have been happening over a number of years such as smoking, excessive drinking, not exercising enough and overeating.

Ongoing Medical Situations

• Arthritis – Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and Polymyalgia rheumatica;

• Hearing impairment – Tinnitus, Requiring hearing aids, Presbycusis, Ototoxicity;

• Conditions about the mouth – Periodontal disease, bone loss, false teeth, soft tissue trouble, dental implants, diabetes, gum disease, oral hygiene and health;

• Malignancy – prostate cancer, lung cancer, bladder cancer, melanoma, gallbladder cancer, stomach cancer, breast, mouth cancer, colo-rectal cancer, skin cancer (non-melanoma), liver cancer;

• Cardiovascular illnesses – vascular disease, stroke, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular illness, angina pectoris, hypertension, peripheral artery disease, heart failure, TIA, arrhythmia;

• Chronic Pain Conditions – Neuralgia, joint pain, shoulder pain, painful feet, hands and hips, back pain and many more;

• Diabetes Mellitus – Type two diabetes causes blindness, limb amputation, circulation trouble, kidney ailments;
 
It is possible to live an extended life and remain fairly healthy while doing so. The first thing that must happen is to respect our bodies more. This esteem for our body occurs in numerous ways.

• Watching what we eat more closely. Hippocrates, he of the famous oath and ancient Greek healer stated “Let food be thy medicine and let medicine be thy food”. Pretty good advice for an old timer!

• Maintaining a proper bodyweight. When we add pounds to our frame we also add the risk of developing medical complications such as type 2 diabetes, sky high cholesterol, heart disease, hypertension, vascular diseases and other major medical headaches to contend with.

Calorie restriction is now being discussed by experts as a means of living longer as well as healthier. One specific medical pathologist has spent two decades studying how diet and genetic alterations could make the aging process occur more slowly. His breadth of research included monkeys, rodents etc that had experienced caloric limitation and experienced many different physical as well as mental advantages. There was less joint pain, better mental acuity, and fewer eye diseases. There is much to be learned from our diets.

• Quit smoking Tobacco [or anything else!] – When you smoke, you are causing undue stress and harm to each major organ in your system. Stopping the filthy habit will at least give you better odds at an extended life while aiding in the prevention of lung conditions, heart problems and cancer.

• Keeping Physically Active – Probably the most important advice here is to keep moving to keep fit. That includes anything that gets you moving about like walking, riding a bike, hiking, extreme gardening, extreme bowling, you get the idea. Setting up a small home gym could save your life but short of that have some form of exercise you can do at home, like resistance band training.

• Be Sure To Get Adequate Sleep – It has been calculated that approximately forty million Americans have a sleep problem of some kind. They are being deprived of sleep by various disorders which is unfortunate since we need sleep to live an extended life. A lack of sleep will affect us physically by assisting in the development of diabetes mellitus based on a study conducted four years ago. Sleep deprivation affects the glucose regulation. Only sleeping for five hours each night has been linked to eight gain, memory trouble, inability to focus and a higher probability for heart disease [coronary artery calcification].

• Be Sure To Always Use Sun Block – The rays from the sun are quite harmful, especially in the last twenty or thirty years. UV rays will cause your skin to age prematurely causing wrinkles and creases. You will also be at risk from skin cancers – specifically the quite deadly melanoma.

• Maintaining Oral Health – Be sure you floss each day. Research has revealed that poor oral hygiene causes more trouble than just periodontal or gum disease. There is a connection to heart disease, osteoporosis, lung ailments and a huge association to diabetes as well.

• Find A Way To Rid Your Life Of Stress – Experts the world over claim and medical science researchers now verify that stress is a major contributor to aging and certainly therefore an enemy of longevity. Extended periods of stress in one’s life can be hazardous to health contributing to illnesses such as hyperglycemia, high cholesterol, heart disease and you could enter into severe depression.

Some ways to beat stress are to get plenty of exercise, meditation, go for long walks, listening to soothing music, writing in a journal, begin to practice positive thinking and be optimistic about life, try taking up a new hobby.

• Begin Taking A Good Health Supplement With Antioxidants – There is not much good to say about the diets western society punishes themselves with. Even when we eat plenty of healthy foods, they rarely maintain their nutritional value once we finish preparing them. Most of the food in our supermarkets is so highly processed and refined that the level of antioxidants is greatly reduced. It is for this reason that we need to supplement our diets with antioxidants that are missing from the foods we consume.

Free radical activity is stronger than ever before and we are in mortal combat with this minute but eventually deadly foe. We should also be getting a strong multivitamin with minerals to make up for a lack of essential vitamins and minerals also missing from our diet. If our meals consist of thrown together prepared foods or fast food from restaurants, we need to begin supplementing now. Resveratrol is the latest media darling but it has shown itself to be quite an effectual antioxidant.

Medical science is researching resveratrol quite relentlessly and the findings are actually pretty amazing. Resveratrol is responsible for lowering cholesterol, stroke prevention, heart protection and far too many more benefits to mention here. It would behoove the reader to hurry out and purchase a resveratrol supplement. It would also be a good idea to find a supplement that has ample resveratrol properties but also is combined with another antioxidant such as green tea extract or something similar.

Living for a long time does not need to be a harrowing experience and it is not something that you should begin to fret about. You simply must start doing the necessary things today to prepare for tomorrow. From a health perspective we need to focus our efforts on sustaining an appropriate level of fitness so we can enjoy our extended years. Think how great life will be when we have a chance to enjoy it in our golden years when we will be not only financially healthy but physically healthy as well.

Anti Aging Supplements, Gerontology, Health And Aging, Longevity

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It has been since this time that cordyceps became popular as a pick-me-up stimulant that seemed to improve many other physiological issues such as better organ functionality, improved immunity and general strength and well being. Cordyceps are suggested as a means to recovery from childbirth and surgery or illnesses.

Cordyceps are commonly recommended as a treatment method for asthma, chest congestion and coughing, weak lung and wheezing, shortness of breath and as an expectorant. Cordyceps work vigorously on the “lung meridian”, that of Chinese traditional medicine lore, and therefore is effective as a remedy and preventive therapy for lung ailments. In those individuals who require a boost of energy due to a weak respiratory system, cordyceps enhance energy so physical labor is easier, as well as sports or physical activity in general.

Traditional medicine practitioners quite often utilize cordyceps as a means of treating overall fatigue, weakness and debilitation. As a means of staving off stress cordyceps are quite effective and they are used to battle fatigue and intense tiredness while augmenting endurance. This remarkable fungus is used as a stimulant when added energy is required for day to day activities and it will aid in adjusting sleep cycles while effectively assisting in the transfer of essential nutrients within your body. Cordyceps are also proven to aid in the oxygenation of the cells so knowing this it would behoove a person to try taking cordyceps to improve their physical well being.

Cordyceps are also known for its effectiveness as an innate aphrodisiac and is highly sought after as a sexual tonic. It does not have the fast acting tendencies of say horny goat weed, deer antler or even sea dragon, cordyceps acts in a more overall intense manner to strengthen sexual prowess. It is known for its yin and yang capacity and as a strong yang tonic it reinforces the kidney channel, also of traditional medicine teachings, an area known for sexual vitality and longing.

In traditional Chinese medicine, cordyceps is for use in males suffering erectile dysfunction but it is also a treatment for impotence and infertility. It will treat and improve one’s libido, sexual function and desire as well as energy requirements and the physical durability required for sexual activity. Many studies and investigations have been conducted that display the results of cordyceps and their ability to stimulate the discharge of testosterone as it relaxes the smooth corpus cavernosum muscle found in the penis. This provides for additional blood flow causing firmer erections while enhancing sexual feeling. Investigations concluded at Beijing University that there was a sixty four percent success ratio in men who endured sexual impotence.

Cordyceps act as a strong traditional anti aging trigger for rejuvenating the body while innately encouraging longevity in its users. It restocks the yin and yang energy balance rebuilding physical potency subsequent to intense physical, emotional or mental effort. It should be emphasized that cordyceps act to safeguard an individual from the rapid advance of aging related to stress sources. Investigations have verified how cordyceps will raise the activity level of superoxide dismutase [or SOD] – an extremely favorable and forceful antioxidant in our bodies. Since cordyceps is a potent antioxidant on its own it assists in ridding the body of free radical activity that can lead to early aging and more serious though common age related degenerative illnesses.

Cordyceps has displayed a capacity to lower a person’s bad LDL cholesterol as they raise the good stuff, the HDL cholesterol level. It can stop the bad LDL cholesterol from oxidation as it thins out the blood to thwart plaque formation or clotting, both of which can clog blood vessels. This action will aid in the prevention of strokes or heart attacks. There have been clinical trials and investigations that show people who suffer from heart disease are able to amazingly rebound and begin progressive healing while taking cordyceps along with their physician prescribed pharmaceuticals.

Your kidneys have been referred to as “the root of life” and so cordyceps has been utilized primarily as a treatment for kidney malfunction. Recent medical research has verified that cordyceps are definitely safeguarding the kidneys while they also aid in improving their operational capability. Kidney transplant patients have taken cordyceps and found them very effective at aiding in healing processes. There is one caveat here that when using cordyceps for kidney conditions you should only do so under the guidance of a medical professional.

Cordyceps have traditionally been a way of making the body stronger and building up its defenses from infectious contagions and studies of late have proven that they are powerful immune system enhancers. Cordyceps will trigger the development of immunity cells like macrophages, lymphocytes, T helper cells and interleukin within your system. They will act as an extraordinary immunity regulator since they will stimulate the underachieving immunity cells and calm the overactive types.
Since the 1970s in China they have been investigating the ability of cordyceps to restrain cancer cells. The examinations have revealed that cordyceps aided in the reduction of the size of a tumor and enhanced the sick patients coping ability where chemotherapy and radiation treatments were given. It also lowered the toxicity consequences on the bone marrow caused by these therapies. The investigations showed that cordyceps had anti tumor characteristics and they trigger natural killer defenses.

When our immune system is strained it must work harder longer as it works at neutralizing harmful environmental byproducts that surround us always. Try as we may, we will get sick and our bodies will be out of balance from the constant onslaught of infectious bacteria and damaging free radicals. Cordyceps as a mushroom/fungus have the innate ability to protect us from much of this potential harm by augmenting our immunity. Particularly as we advance in age our bodies become more vulnerable and it is even more important to ingest cordyceps.

Cordyceps or cordyceps Sinensis are found in extreme altitudes and are also known as “winter worm or summer grass even caterpillar fungus by some based on the Chinese definition of its name.  It is a natural cross union of insect and plant life. It was thought to be a worm rather than an herbal plant form when it was first discovered centuries ago. The cordyceps is a byproduct of a variety of fungus which leeches off the larvae of Chongcao bat moths and shapes into a fungus – larva combo body, taking up to seven years to finish its cycle of life.

The cordyceps is actually a culinary delicacy in Chinese society having been used in soups and various brews along with pork and poultry. Because it is so lavishly priced and quite scarce, once again a mushroom was only available to the wealthiest of ancient cultures reserved for emperors and royalty. Cordyceps have been known for centuries as an effective treatment in traditional Chinese medicine.

In 1993, a trio of female Chinese athletes al set new global records at the national games in China. When quizzed by journalists, their coach credited their success to intense physical training and being supplemented by cordyceps mushroom fungus. Even now studies continue to verify the effectiveness of cordyceps for their healthful benefits.

Approximately ten years ago a modest study was conducted at the American College of Sports Medicine during their annual meeting that revealed how cordyceps based supplements such as CordyMax and Pharmanex had raised considerably the ceiling oxygen uptake and anaerobic maximums, which might lead to additional exercise capability and an opposition to eventual exhaustion.

Cordyceps are a simple way for anyone to get maximum health benefits from their dietary and nutritional meal planning. Rarely has there been such a powerful food product with such healthy benefits that can be so easily added to any current menu. They can be found in a natural dried formation, powdered mix, tinctures, as a dietary supplement or they can be mixed into soups or broth as a tonic. Young people and the elderly alike can all benefit from the phenomenal features offered by this highland mushroom fungus that has been helping keep people healthy and live extended lives for many centuries. That seems like quite an impressive track record.

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Humans have long considered the prospects of longevity. There was a time only several hundred years ago when people prayed and hoped they would live long enough to see their children grow up. These days so many people are witnessing the fourth generation of their immediate clan being born. There have been stories and fairytales that centered on extreme longevity for centuries and there are more recent actual accounts of people living for extreme periods of time.

In the Bible – under Genesis – they talk about Adam and Eve living in Eden and when Eve ate that apple all bets were off for any chance at immortality; both of them being banished to an earthly existence. There is Ponce de Leon and his maddening quest for the Fountain of Youth, actually a small spring in Florida by all accounts – sorry Ponce! How about the Holy Grail, it is said that this chalice that Jesus and his apostles sipped from during the last supper would give anyone who imbibed from it an incredibly extended life.

Finally there was Gilgamesh, a ruler of Babylon who also headed out in search of immortality. His plan to remain awake for seven days and nights did not work out and his immortality was seized from him. Greek mythology is chock full of stories about immortal gods and their many escapades. Yes, there are fairy tales, fables and even scripture but in recent times we have some living legends of our own.

 The region of Abkhazia located in the south of Russia in the Caucasus Mountains, it is claimed that people here have lived for up to one hundred fifty years of age. Hey, it could happen! There have been marriages reported at the age of one hundred ten years and it has been said that fatherhood was achieved at the age of one hundred thirty six years…those crazy Russians, right? I mean the Soviets have actually said that one of the citizens of this area by the name of Shirali Muslimov lived to ripe old age of one hundred sixty eight years young! They must be kidding, right?

More recently there have been observers actually living with a population of tribe’s people known as the Hunza’s, in the Hunza Valley of rural Pakistan. These folks claimed to see people living quite healthy lives well past the century mark. It is not uncommon to see elders aged ninety years to one hundred twenty years of age actively participating in village life. Their diet is one of fruits, grains and vegetables, all of which they grow on their own and harvest for everyone’s benefit.

There is an increase in awareness concerning longevity. More physicians than ever are promoting therapies, drugs and services that claim to assist in life extension and healthy longevity. Some medical personnel have gone out on a limb to spread the word about the amazing properties of red wine, green tea and other herbs in pill form – all claiming to increase longevity and health in general. When all the promotion ceases and media reports die down for the latest anti aging breakthroughs, all things revert back to the things we ALL have known for some time. If we want to live a longer healthier life we need to practice the basics, alter our lifestyle if necessary, get more physical activity, decrease our stress and eat a better diet.

 Of all of these, the most important thing you can do to increase your longevity is to get more adequate exercise. If until now you have lived a sedentary lifestyle, change that up and start to gradually get more active. By starting to slowly build your level of activity you are more likely to continue it long term rather than jumping right into a heavy workout regimen. While you are at it, start taking some mature student courses at a local college. Better yet, commit to completing the higher education you never finished. There is evidence that shows better educated people tend to outlive those without a high school education.

Going back to school will also help you meet more people and get you active in a social setting. This has also been proven to aid in longevity when people are socially active and spend time networking with others. So get smarter and meet new people while you are at it. Having close relationships with a few people is really beneficial according to experts. Strong familial ties as you age are vital and failing that, cultivate a few really close friendships of people you can trust and confide in. This is a way of thwarting any potential depression.

Try and stabilize your sleep patterns. Getting adequate sleep each night is critical to good health and longevity but aim for the same pattern and quantity each night as well. Your body at any age requires time to restore itself and to heal. Water, water, water! You need to drink plenty of fresh, filtered water to detoxify contaminates from your system. Our bodies are over seventy percent water so it makes perfect sense to drink lots of water and not beer! If you smoke, quit now. This is a no brainer and not easy to do, but find something to motivate yourself and give up the habit.

Everyone should have a yearly physical exam. This is good preventative maintenance for your body. Sadly, people take better care of their cars than they do themselves in this regard. Men in particular are sensitive to getting checked out regularly by a physician – the rubber glove syndrome! Many women have been trained early in the need to have a yearly check up and men must learn from their example. Leaving the doctor’s office with a clean bill of health is worth the anxiety.

As you get older it is said you begin to get wiser – if only this were true! You need to start being more careful in life. That means taking the time to think before you act. If you want to truly appreciate healthy longevity, use your head. It amazes me how every year I read and hear the same news reports of snowmobilers crashing through thin ice and perishing. Do these people not read or hear the same reports every year that I do? Having fun is important certainly, being dumb about it is another thing altogether. Longevity is a gift and we all too often kick that horse in the mouth.

I remember talking to a little old neighbor lady who was in her late nineties and she said she never over did it with anything, always in moderation. She said she did it all – not just all at once! What great advice. So many things are hazardous to your health and body. The same things that will heal you can also kill you when you over do it. Same thing goes for food so practice moderation with your diet and it will sustain you for many years, over eating the good tasting stuff and it can kill you. Frequently discuss your medications with your physician and discuss whether you can safely cut back. Drink lots of tea and limit the alcohol. No more than one glass of wine a day and make it red. Eat some chocolate if you like; just make sure it is the dark variety.

No matter how well you control your diet and try and eat healthy, you will still be lacking in certain nutrients. This is why you should supplement your diet with vitamins and minerals. A good dietary supplement will help you get all the essential vitamins you need. [“Essential” means the nutrients your body cannot manufacture on its own]. Minerals specifically are tough to retain. You can barely absorb ten percent of the minerals your body consumes naturally. They need to be constantly replenished. By keeping your vitamin and mineral count current you are aiding your body in its battle against toxicity. Try and purchase a superior liquid vitamin supplement since it will be absorbed more easily, providing you with a little added health assurance.

You can do more to ensure your longevity by doing things like splashing on the sun block, even if you are the type that does not burn. If you are in the direct sunlight for any more than fifteen minutes each day you are at risk of serious damage by UVA and UVB rays. Individuals who keep their minds as active as their bodies are also ahead of the longevity game. People who read more live longer and are more apt to avoid dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Optimism is particularly vital as you age, so work at keeping a positive mental attitude as you get older.

Finally, keep working at what you love, be it your present career or perhaps volunteering your time to teach what you are good at. Your objective should be to acquire longevity with a soul that has achieved satisfaction from a life well lived. Do not be afraid to try new things; just make sure you avoid snowmobiles in the springtime!

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The researchers were able to join the viral particles together by making use of light-sensitive polymers. While the viral particle has a negative charge, the polymer on the other hand has a positive charge. The two opposites attract and as a result the two stick together. As a consequence, the polymers act as a glue, and absolutely stuck together. As this is the case, the challenge lies in being able to separate all the parts once again.

The polymers that have been used by the researchers are long chain of molecules that are linked together in a tree-like structure. That is, every end of the chain can link to a dissimilar particle. The polymers that have been used by the researchers can in fact be manipulated with light and that is the mystery of their success. When polymers are illuminated with UV light or light having a low wavelength for a very brief period, they fall apart. This permitted the researchers to put the particles together, introduce this complex into the body and thereafter allow it to separate once more in the body.

Filling a virus

There are various ways in which the empty particle may be used. For instance, the particle can be filled with growth promoters or drugs. After it is injected in the body, one can make use of light to make sure that the complex separates at a particular location, from which the drug can spread progressively. On top of being use as drug distributors, virus complexes can also made use of to construct chips. In that case, as a replacement for drugs, a viral particle is filled with magnetic particles in order to make an integrated electronic switch. Now the researchers will try to apply layers of polymer virus complexes of varied make-up to a surface and thereafter, similar to conventional chips, make use of light to make structures and patterns in this.

Source: Science Daily

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That is a few million years of trying to avoid death and during that time; man has done almost everything he could to hasten the grim reaper, even inventing new ways to die. Luckily, while pursuing ways not to die, he was also looking into methods of at least not dying too early. Still, the search to slow aging has gone on for nearly as long as that quest for immortality. Both are ancient stories.

These old stories have taken on new levels of pursuit in the last several decades. The quest to slow the aging process has made more of an immediate impact than the race to immortality. The simple fact is that it is easier to look and feel younger than to stop an evolutionary and biological certainty. Some strides have been made in the anti aging business for instance cosmetic surgery procedures, anti wrinkle serums, healthier diets, exercise regimens and supplements that keep us fit and healthy.

All lead gradually to greater longevity and yet we still have such a long way to go. So much still needs to be understood about aging and what factors control it. So many things have influence over the process of aging like ecological issues such as pollution and environmental contaminants, economic circumstances, lifestyle choices and behavioral factors, some beyond our control. Genetics plays a role, though not as large a part as once thought. Then there is just plain blind luck of the draw.

The average United States citizen these days can expect to live well into their upper seventies or lower eighties and women as a rule have better longevity than men. This is quite a jump from the days when America was still a colony! In the colonial years the average American lived until age forty five and luck had a whole lot to do with that benchmark.
 
Longevity is a phenomenon of modern times, according to S. Jay Olshansky, a biologist and demographic expert from Chicago and the University of Illinois. He says the largest number of humans ever born perished prior to the age of ten, usually due to infectious diseases. Now that is at once a frightening and astounding statement.

The survival rate has been increased in significant ways, and specifically for the younger people, by improving sanitation and discovering new medicines like penicillin to fight off infections. Childhood vaccinations for numerous diseases have assisted the drop in mortality dramatically. The thing is it just is not that simple to add another seventy or eighty years onto the life of a seventy or eighty year old individual, according to Olshansky.

Though there have been some considerable gains in life span in the last hundred or so years, novel work being done on the advance of aging to what is considered the ceiling limit of one hundred twenty years old probably will not occur in the near future. There is some promise though and there is a lot of money being spent so anything is possible, just not too likely anytime soon. Here is what we have for fighting aging at this point:

Hormone Treatment and Vitamins
 
The anti aging business in America is very big business indeed with sales recorded at better than fifty billion dollars per annum, mostly due to purchases of dieting supplements, hormones, vitamins and minerals.

Antioxidants are also making up a good deal of the popular vitamin supplement trend these days with sales of vitamin C and E doing well. Antioxidants are said to be capable combatants against free radicals, essentially these are unbalanced molecules thriving within our bodies that can be very damaging when left unchallenged. Antioxidants challenge these invaders. Left unchecked, free radicals will cause rapid aging, cellular deterioration, and organ harm, eventually leading to cancer and other deadly diseases.

More research needs to be completed on antioxidant effectiveness as does study involving the effective capability of hormone treatments such as testosterone, estrogen, DHEA and HGH or human growth hormone. Many medical practitioners prescribe these to their patients in their declining years as a means of warding off the effects of aging and for treating age related illness and conditions and modest successes have been observed. The problem that exists is more research is required – with the likes of the American Medical Association stating that hormone supplementation is risky, lacking evidence of success and perhaps hazardous to the health of the recipient.

Restricting Caloric Intake

Since the 1930’s, researchers have understood that a nutritious but limited diet will increase the longevity of certain living organisms, specifically lab rodents, some monkey species right down to the most minuscule yeast life form. This has been documented but it still remains a mystery whether or not this restriction of calories will have the same effect on humans. Various University research teams across the United States are in the midst of carrying out a new investigation to gather some practical data to evaluate its effectiveness in people.

Those involved in the study as participants are going to consume one quarter less food than they would eat normally and it will be calculated in calories for a period of two years. Investigators will closely observe the contributors to establish if the lower calorie diets are responsible for any actual health advantages that could be linked to an extended life. It will also be interesting to see if these study volunteers can actually remain on such a rigid and limited diet for any length of time, most are guessing the majority will not be able to.

Hyperbaric Treatments

This concept of anti aging involves maintaining a routine of turns inside a chamber that has various levels of pressurized oxygen that is suppose to energize and revitalize the body while it enhances healing and gets rid of toxicity within the body responsible for accelerated aging.

More commonly utilized as a treatment for healing wounds due to reduced circulation of blood, it has also proven effective as a means of treating carbon monoxide poisoning victims. The effectiveness of hyperbaric therapy as a way of fighting the effects of aging is at best, uncertain and worst, a waste of time. Some experts believe that the reverse may be true and it could literally speed the course of aging by rallying the formation of free radical amalgams.

Resveratrol

An innate substance found in certain plants and their fruits, resveratrol has been hyped and promoted to no end by the media and medical mouthpieces as the next great cure all. No doubt that it has some amazing properties but enough already with the overhyped successes and cures for this and that disease or condition. Resveratrol is found in red wine in larger amounts than white and those who sing its praises say it negates age associated issues in animals, but there is a fly in the ointment. Once again while it has shown its effectiveness in worms, fruit flies and even fish, it has been less successful in lab rodents. As for humans, many of the healthful advantages of resveratrol have yet to be verified.

Further Anti Aging Options

There are other things we can do to see that we have a happier, more satisfying life and revel in it with some longevity while we are at it. Unfortunately there is no simple anti aging pill we can take on the horizon but we do not have to have a snooze inside an oxygen chamber either. You may even know some of these methods as sage advice based on firsthand experience: You can start eating more nutritiously, get enough physical activity, manage your stress better and get adequate sleep. There is no need to burn yourself out with exercise but raising your heart rate for twenty or thirty minutes a day will do wonders for your health, well being and anti aging efforts.

Numerous investigations have revealed that people, who have a higher education, astonishingly live longer than those people with less learned knowledge. Education is more of a positive longevity factor than both race and income level. Therefore, the better educated you are, the longer you will be around to put it into good practice.

It has also been verified that keeping up your personal associations with others both for socializing, employment and for worship can aid your longevity. Those folks who have plenty of likeminded friends or remain active within social network environments are just inclined to last longer than those who are disconnected and anti social. The former are also presumably experiencing more joy and satisfaction while they actively participate in their extended life and superior health.

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Ganoderma has many amazing benefits for an individual’s health, starting with an innate ability to aid with stress to treating common conditions like fatigue and an inability to sleep. The ancient Chinese used this extract as a means of attaining longevity and to power up their immune systems, much like it is used in modern times. One’s immunity is critical to overall health and the properties found in ganoderma are renowned for this healthful advantage. A poor immunity function leaves a person open to many infectious contagions that can do untold immediate harm and over time.

The ganoderma extract has been used on patients who are undergoing cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, which can be quite hard on the recipient. Chemo treatment has comprehensive negative reactions on a person’s body is ravages their immune system. These adverse reactions include fatigue, falling hair, nausea, no appetite; all of which have been reduced to a great extent when the patient is taking ganoderma extract.  Since ganoderma is an immunity enhancer, it is effective for any illness or condition that zaps one’s ability to fight infection. It is for this reason that it is also prescribed for HIV and AIDS patients.

It has also displayed an ability to alleviate the dismal effects of allergies and also help some skin conditions such as acne. It works to fight against the damaging advance of aging from harmful rays from the sun when it is used on a continual regimen. Many users claim it has improved the age spots on their skin.

There is uniqueness to this traditional medicine and its effectiveness seems to know no limits since it also aids in easing particular liver dysfunctions, lung ailments and even heart problems have been improved. Another very interesting reaction from taking ganoderma extract is that it can reduce hypertension in people and also impede the growth of tumors. It has also been noted that ganoderma will improve the body’s general blood circulation.

Ganoderma certainly sounds too good to be true and one may wonder what it is that makes this natural remedy seem so unbelievable. The healing effects of the extract are believed to be a result of this exceptional mushroom substance containing complex carbohydrates called triterpeniods as well as a litany of amino acids, proteins, polysaccharides and triterpenes [or ganoderic acids]. This is quite an impressive list of ingredients in a single extract and little wonder it has been featured by traditional Chinese medicine practitioners for so long.

Ganoderic acids mimic antihistamines within our body and really do assist those suffering from allergens. Triterpenes leave a harsh taste in the mouth which has an effect on the extract as a whole; however, the antihistamine efficiency is rated based on the amount of bitterness. Ganoderma extract is a singularly extraordinary product and is still referred to in some regions as the king of herbs. It has a positive effect on the functioning of the liver that helps to detoxify by ridding the body of toxicity more efficiently. 

Our bodies are bombarded by toxins through our diets and particularly through environmental causes like smog and water pollution. These contaminates are the reason many feel an all encompassing feeling of fatigue and exhaustion, usually accompanied by an inability to get a peaceful sleep. A person might also feel a lack of connectivity with their cognitive function and have trouble remaining attentive, while great pressure is focused on the immune system that sets the stage for all varieties of Infectious conditions and illnesses.

This substance has been utilized as a successful diuretic when a person is plagued by water retention and also as an expectorant for lung congestion; it is highly sought after as a cold remedy. Since it has an innate sedative capacity it is used as an effective non habit forming sleep aid. Modern science and medicine has yet to look into the many unique traditional medicines known as curatives in the Far East for centuries but ganoderma is making some headway into western society as people look for assistance in alternative treatments.

It has been called a miracle cure by some, but for anyone who is concerned about their health and is interested in giving their systems careful attention, this powerful herbal remedy should be explored. Many in the west have no knowledge of the dramatic capability of ganoderma extract, unlike many Asian cultures where it has gained prominence. It is used as a therapy for a multitude of conditions and has proven itself extremely valuable as an innate curative.

Ganoderma is harvested from the bark of trees and is a very bitter mushroom taken by many in Asia for its proven healthful qualities and ability to improve one’s chances for increased longevity. This is not a mushroom derivative that is promoted for use in food preparation though; it should only be used for its medicinal value.

Ganoderma is available in various formulations starting with a liquid extract that is quite popular, it can be found in capsule form for oral administration, and as well it is increasingly more accepted taken in tea or coffee. The main advantage from taking ganoderma is that is it is extremely potent as a means of augmenting personal immunity and as a purifier. It can be an amazing curative for numerous areas of the body and acts as a wonderful therapeutic prophylactic.

For people who are progressing in age, ganoderma is a wonderful natural means of slowing the advancement of aging features. It can help reduce the amount of tissue degeneration and will revitalize cellular structure. The anti aging characteristics of ganoderma are many and it is absolutely laden with antioxidants, something our bodies need to continually replenish.
One of the reasons why it is so effective for controlling heart problems is its effectiveness at regulating safe levels of cholesterol. As more mainstream medical professionals begin to recognize the power of ganoderma, they are promoting it as a means of combating some types of cancer at their earliest stages.

The main ingredient in ganoderma works effectively to develop better blood circulation, while it promotes better energy and endurance. It can aid in sustaining proper function of a person’s metabolism and improve chemical imbalances within the body. It is a natural remedy so it can be utilized in differing quantities to promote increased health and detoxification of your internal systems with no known adverse reactions.

One more immense advantage to taking ganoderma at this specific time is turning out to be reasonably more affordable for the masses. It was not that long ago when this substance could only be found in parts of Asia and because of how it is grown or produced, quantities were restricted. Supply and demand meant that the cost was prohibitive too many except the most well to do. Today, the product is being produced in controlled environments like labs where they cultivate and harvest the fungus in a far more industrious manner.

So, due to this increased efficiency with production, prices are dropping and it is becoming more popular as a natural curative. Before you begin to invest your money in this or any new natural product you should do some research on your own and investigate that which you are about to ingest into your body. Discuss it with your primary healthcare provider as well. You want to make sure there are no contraindications or reactions with any drugs you might already have been prescribed. With medical clearance you could be on your way to greater, more vigorous health and a longer life.

In Chinese, the definition of this mushroom is “the herb of spiritual potency” – it has also been called the “mushroom of immortality”!

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Since man first walked upright we have been asking ourselves why is it that we get sick. And for as long as humans have been seeking assistance from their medicine man, the answer has been – we are what we eat. Obviously the answer is a bit more complex than that but the point is made, what we put in our guts determines what kind of health misfortunes we will likely experience. We now know that what we eat directly effects how we age and what our odds are for any sort of extended longevity.

Most often are shortened life spans are a result of the processed and refined foods and beverages we consume which are loaded with contaminates and can produce the pernicious free radicals that will assault our body’s. They create a whole host of difficulties for us from contracting deadly illnesses like heart disease, diabetes and most foreboding of all, cancer.
Origin Of The Problem: Free Radicals

So, what are free radicals? In rudimentary terms, these are atoms that do not have an electron. Yep! This hitch for the atom means they are chemically abnormal and pretty unbalanced. When they are like this, they force an all out assault on our healthy cells in an attempt to “pilfer” the elusive electrons from some other molecule so they can become steadier. When we consume foods that contain these free radicals, we are inviting unbalanced and combative molecules into our systems where they will cause nothing but trouble and create havoc on a molecular plane – and illness and disease, we get sick!

Ask yourself when the last time you ate a big meal and afterwards you felt overly full, worn out and lethargic? This takes us back to or initial query as to why we get sick. The way you feel after that type of meal is more a response to outrunning an axe murderer rather than eating a meal.

When you pig out at meal time your body is required to digest this overload by expending far more energy that it usually would and for much less beneficial return. This scenario of feeling like you are being chased down by a madman with a gardening implement is in fact the way your body is impacted by the trauma of overeating and without getting any health benefits from it. The consequence of this is you are inviting still more free radicals into your system.

In the same way, as we consume evermore fast food that is processed or refined, our systems must work overtime using up precious energy reserves in order to break down through digestion the lousy food choices you are making. That does not even take into account the preservatives and additives that make up so much of these types of foods. These things have a huge negative impact on our health as we unnecessarily use up energy for digestion that we would ordinarily be using to enjoy our life. That meal better be worth it!

Of course there are other contributing factors that lead to the creation of free radicals like stress in our lives, too much anger and depression. Our bodies become overtaxed by oxidative stress and this causes our immune system to become vulnerable, giving free reign to the free radicals to course through our bodies doing damage. There is no getting away from the fact that this ongoing battle is played out regularly within our bodies and we are willing participants for the enemy in so many cases.

Consuming Natural Fare

Equally as important, eating natural foods or the organic varieties that are available, is a means of rejecting a considerable amount of free radical opposition within our bodies. When we treat our diets with more care and caution, we are removing the imposing burden of free radicals, taking away one portal for them to do harm through our dietary sustenance. There are plenty of other ways for free radicals to do their damage to our health without eating them!

Consuming a natural and organic foods diet is the primary way to having a healthy life. They permit your metabolism to operate at peak efficiency and clear the way for a more vigorous and energy filled physical life. When you feel healthier and have more energy, you function with a new mental outlook and positive well being.

As was hinted at earlier, food borne free radicals are only one manner by which this scourge can invade your being. Free radicals surround us in our environment and ecologically we are at the mercy of fate and our own awareness and ability to avoid exposure to contaminants that will gradually make us sick. Each time we step outdoors we are assaulted by car exhaust, delivered by thousands of automobiles, carbon monoxide from the industrial complex pervades the air we breathe and atmosphere we live and work in.

This poison and others are everywhere we go and there is just so much we can do about it as individuals. But there are certain things we can do to mitigate the effects. On a personal level we can choose where we spend time, how safe we make our own small personal space on the planet. Avoiding plastics and other environmentally unsafe products and many of the contents kept inside them is also a start. Cleaning supplies used in our home can be natural produced rather than man made. Be aware of what types of chemicals we are allowing into our homes.

As for our personal lifestyle choices, many of us could do a better job of making these decisions. Drinking alcohol, smoking tobacco are two choices we make that have a great bearing on the question of why we get sick. It is amazing that we purposely do these destructive things to our bodies than wonder why we become ill.
 
Fortunately, we have the ability to turn around the effects of free radical damage, make us healthier while we do it and decrease the harm that free radicals inflict upon our physiology. We counter the risk of free radicals by learning more about antioxidants and how they serve to protect us and make us healthy.

How Antioxidants Protect Us

Antioxidants is a term that encompasses all sources of nutrition, vitamins or supplements that assist in counteracting and safeguarding us from the damage done by free radicals and oxidative trauma. The most familiar of these antioxidants that do battle with free radicals and aid in keeping us healthy are the vitamins A, E, and C.

These healthy combatants, among other kinds of antioxidants, give up their additional electrons to the free radicals, effectively assuaging them. When they do this they eliminate any reason for the free radicals to run rampant within our systems causing mayhem while destroying our healthy cells, damaging organs all in their attempt to regain their equilibrium.
 It is important to become familiar with at least some of the more common sources of antioxidant laden foods. These would include organic fruits, vegetables, teas [black, herbal and green], nuts and certain spices. These should make up your primary resource for antioxidants since they are more easily able to assist in the absorption of the antioxidants found within them. There is no doubt that taking a supplemental form of antioxidant or consuming vitamins and minerals have a huge impact also.

Antioxidants are amazing for our quality of health but their effects have much more value than previously understood. For instance, antioxidants can significantly reduce the physical pain we feel. Antioxidants help to decrease inflammation internally in cells that encourages less soreness and aching. The effect this has on our personal well being cannot be discounted since it allows us greater freedom for physical activity once the pain is alleviated. Persons who were once not able to exercise can now take part in improving their fitness level. This means healthier heart muscles and the opportunity for a better quality of life and potential longevity.

Therefore, when we ask the question “why do we get sick?” is the answer free radical damage due to oxidative trauma? Are we consuming enough fresh natural foods so we gain all the benefits that antioxidants can produce? That would be a resounding affirmative on both counts. However, we also must start paying closer attention to the kind of environments we place ourselves in. Working conditions, where we live and spend the most time need to be clear of toxicity as much as possible.

If a person works with toxic chemicals, they should consider a job change if they want to remain healthy. Eventually contaminants will leech their way into your system regardless of the precautions taken. When locating your home pay special attention to the surrounding areas. Many older neighborhoods once had factories and industrial facilities intermingled within communities where employees often lived. Now, years later, new families move into these areas with plans to refurbish only to find out too late that the old factories are surrounded in chemical waste from a bygone era. Entire neighborhoods become ill.

It is said that are health is the most important asset we have. Anyone who has been desperately ill can attest to this fact. The majority of us need to increase our personal attentiveness to the dangers around us if we expect to live an extended life span. As humans in the twenty first century we have so many potential threats working against us [we have not even discussed the free radical damage caused by the sun] that we need to do what we can to maximize our chances for a long and healthy life. Start by paying more attention!

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The benefits of consuming fish oil are far too numerous to cover in this simple text but I can give you an abridged version so you have the important facts. You are about to have a better understanding of why so many healthcare providers from physicians to dieticians, naturopaths and traditional practitioners quite simply fawn over this supplement.
How Fish Oil Benefits The Brain

A lack of omega 3 fatty acids has been connected to numerous health conditions such as depression, anxiety, moodiness, bi polar disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, ADHD, ADD and even postpartum depression. Many millions of individuals are experiencing one or more of these illnesses and yet there are many more that are linked to omega 3 deficiencies. You can be fairly certain someone you know is suffering from a lack of omega 3’s in their diet and are paying the price.

Scientific investigators from Harvard School of Public Health and other prestigious Facilities have conducted studies that show marked improvement of these conditions when omega 3 intake is increased. Separate evaluations prove that even in people who do not suffer from these or other illnesses will benefit from taking omega 3 supplements. Memory and concentration are both improved when fish oil is taken for an extended period. If you do further research on fish oil and brain enhancement you will see a direct link to improved brain health and functionality.

How Fish Oil Benefits The Heart

Information released by the American Heart Association has revealed that omega 3 fatty acids have a beneficial effect on those folks with a healthy heart as well as those who are in danger of developing or already have cardiovascular disease. The effect of omega 3’s on a person’s heart is the most studied health eventuality with billions being funneled to researchers for analysis. Until quite recently, heart disease was the number one cause of mortality in western society though it has since been exceeded by cancer. Fish oil supplements are known to aid in the prevention of heart disease and help those who already suffer from it. Fish oil supplements are useful for those who may be predisposed to heart disease through genetics.

Omega 3’s act as blood thinners and this is helpful for those prone to heart attacks due to blood clots becoming wedged within coronary arteries. When the blood is thinned a person’s odds of producing a troublesome blood clot are lowered significantly.

Additionally, fish oil is known to lower triglyceride quantities. This is the blood fats that are in the same family as cholesterol and when linked to high cholesterol a person’s risk of developing heart disease is dramatically elevated.
Studies have verified that omega 3’s could assist in lowering or even thwarting heart rhythm irregularities by strengthening the heart’s electrical physiology. This will aid in safeguarding against the unexpected death from myocardial infarction or heart attack.

Fish Oil Benefits And Cancer

I mentioned above that cancer has now become the number one killer in western society and specifically in the United States. Certainly there are a variety of different cancers but recent investigations are revealing how omega 3’s are helping to avert some cancers. They also show that in some cases if cancer already exists it can aid in preventing it from advancing.
There is still a good deal of research remaining to be done but, DHA and EPA omega 3’s, the kind located in fatty fish like mackerel and produced in fish oils supplements, might safeguard individuals from these subsequent varieties of cancer: Breast, testicular, prostate and ovarian. All these cancers are common though breast and prostate cancers are the most prevalent, claiming many victims so when a substance such as omega 3 displays any sort of breakthrough, then further research must become a priority.

 While we wait for further evidence to support the omega 3‘s impact on various cancers it seems that the current data that is available would be enough for many people to at least begin a regimen of fish oil supplements. It is very likely that there is a link between cancer prevention and fish oil omega 3 fatty acids.
 
Fish Oil Benefits And Expectant Or Breast Feeding Mothers

There is no question in the medical community that the brain of a fetus requires omega 3 in vast amounts if it is to develop properly. Expectant mothers are encouraged to ingest a molecularly distilled for of fish oil supplement in order to give the developing fetus every opportunity. It should go without saying that they should speak with their primary health care practitioner prior to commencing any fish oil regimen. Your physician can closely observe any potential reactions or adverse chemical responses.

Mothers who are breast feeding should also consider ingesting an omega 3 supplement or consume enough omega 3 laden foods since they are a great source of fatty acids.

If you are a nursing mother, you should also be taking an omega 3 supplement or eating enough omega 3 foods because they are an essential fatty acid. Essential means our bodies need it but cannot manufacture them on its own. Omega 3 is considered an essential element and this means it cannot be produced innately by us so we must replenish by supplement or foods. Any omega 3 a nursing mother consumes will be passed on to her unborn fetus via the breast milk. 

When a mother is finished with breast feeding it would behoove her to remain on the omega 3 regimen to aid her own health. In young children omega 3 fatty acids have been linked to a reduction in Attention deficit disorder and manic activity. There is also evidence it can lead to a higher IQ. To finalize, fish oil has also proven beneficial with women who experience cramping during menstruation.

Fish Oil Benefits And Inflammation

It is a fact that many of our aches and soreness related to arthritis are because of inflammation. It is also a fact that certain studies have displayed a significant association between fish oil and its benefits and an ability to ease this arthritic discomfort.

This is also the case with Crohns disease, a painful inflammation of the bowel also known as ileitis or inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]. In a specific study that lasted for one year, sixty nine percent of people afflicted with Crohns disease who were ingesting fish oil supplements remained free of symptoms versus those who were given a placebo.

Something of interest to those who suffer the embarrassment of psoriasis or acne, the most important issue is inflammation. No one is claiming that fish oil is a cure for these skin conditions; however, the anti inflammatory characteristics in fish oil will often improve their appearance. Many dermatologists recommend fish oil supplements to patients to assist the condition of their skin and it is known to enhance the youthful vitality the skin once had.

I personally have been taking a fish oil supplement for approximately six months now. I have suffered with Crohns disease for nearly twenty five years and in the last six months I have noticed a remarkable improvement in not only my Crohns symptoms but also my general health and well being. I am one of the converted and take my supplement like clockwork each morning.

This has been but a brief overview of the benefits of fish oil supplements. If I have struck a chord with you your next step is to determine which supplement is right for you. Your pharmacist can help you make the best choice and there is a copious amount of information about omega 3 fatty acids and fish oil supplements online. If I were you I would not hesitate to get started, particularly if you are in your mid life or older, you will soon see and feel a difference. Be patient though, within a week I noticed change but within a month the difference I felt was astonishing.

Now that you’re fully aware of the best fish oil effects to date, you can begin to take the steps to choosing the right fish oil supplement for your daily regimen.

Anti Aging, Anti Aging Supplements, Health And Aging, Longevity

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