Ageless Body, Ageless Mind
Feeding our Bodies for the Healthy, Long-run
What causes aging?
Many theories and differing opinions exist:
1. Declining levels of hormones from pituitary and hypothalamus
2. Declining collagen (key protein of soft tissue - 1/3 of bodies protein) production
3. Buildup of lipofuscin (cellular garbage); brownish pigment accumulates inside the cells (particularly nerve and heart muscle cells)
4. Cumulative oxidative stress / free radical stress to cell walls, receptors & DNA.
What is Oxidative Stress? Free Radicals
Free radicals are atoms or molecules that contain one or more unpaired electrons.
Unpaired or "free" electrons are compelled to steal an electron from the nearest cell.
Each electron "theft" causes damage to the cell and accelerates aging.
What Causes Oxidative Stress and the formation of Free Radicals?
-Simply living creates oxidative stress and free radicals. Dr. Bruce Ames estimates that each cell in our body suffers 100,000 free radical hits every day. They are the by-products of living and lifestyle.
-Breathing (carbon dioxide)
-Eating all types of foods
-Consuming fried and fatty foods - "junk" foods
-Air pollution
-Chemicals in foods, water and drinks
-Chemicals in health and beauty products
-Pharmaceuticals & over-the-counter medications
How is Free Radical Damage Manifested?
-Damage to DNA (blueprint for cellular operations).
-Damage to unstable polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) forming phospholipids membranes of almost every cell in our bodies disrupting ion transport and hormone receptors.
-Cell membrane brittleness in blood vessel wall increasing risk of hypertension (high blood pressure) and arteriosclerosis.
-Damage to mitochondria (our cellular power plants) which require 90% of oxygen intake. Dr. Harman MD, PhD believes there is a direct link between life span and free radical damage to mitochondria.
Complexity of Free Radicals
Four different Oxygen Free Radicals
1. Superoxide
2. Hydrogen Peroxide
3. Hydroxyl
4. Singlet Oxygen
Two Nitrogen Free Radicals
1. Peroxynitrite
2. Nitric Oxide
And, Lipid Peroxide Free Radicals.
Superoxide Free Radical
Most abundant and damaging free radical in human body
Simply breathing creates Superoxide - 1 to 3% of body's total oxygen intake is converted to superoxide in the mitochondria every day.
Can be chemically converted into other forms of free radicals
How can we combat free radicals?
Antioxidants to the rescue! The National Institute of Health states "The amount of antioxidants you maintain in your body is directly proportional to how long you will live".
ORAC: Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity - A test developed by USDA researchers at Tufts University to measure the antioxidant strength of substances.
H-ORAC - measures hydroxyl free radical absorbance
N-ORAC - measures peroxynitrite absorbance
S-ORAC - measures superoxide absorbance capacity
Where do we find antioxidants?
>Natural sources of vitamins A,C & E are excellent antioxidants.
>The enzymes Glutathione and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) neutralizes superoxide (produced by our bodies in declining amounts as we age).
>SuperFoods - fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants such as blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, spinach, kale, prunes, Chinese wolfberries, Berry Young Juice, blackberries, beets, onions, oranges, etc.
>Fresh, organic whole foods are always better assimilated by our bodies than synthetically produced vitamin supplements.
>Pure essential oils like clove, myrrh, citronella, coriander, fennel, clary sage, German chamomile, cedarwood, rose, nutmeg and many others far exceed the antioxidant value of common foods.
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs) like DHA (decosahexaenoic acid)
-Crucial for healthy brain and eye function.
-DHA occurs in high concentrations in the cerebral cortex where reasoning & logic take place.
-When DHA becomes oxidized, brain & cognitive function can deteriorate leading to memory loss, dementia and even death.
-PUFAs are very unstable and vulnerable to chemical alteration and oxidation forcing the antioxidant systems of the body to work overtime to protect health. The liver slows PUFA production with age making it increasingly difficult to sustain the brain, tissues and other organs.
-Fish and flax seed oils are good sources of PUFAs to supplement our bodies, provided we have ample antioxidants to keep the oils from immediately going rancid in our stomach and liver.
Protecting PUFAs with Essential Oils
Numerous studies over the past two decades have concluded the effects of essential oils to significantly slow the rancidity (oxidation) of fatty oils. (University of Cairo, Scottish Agricultural College-UK, Semmelweis University of Medicine-Hungary)
Essential oils such as thyme, clove, rosemary and sage arrested the oxidation of linoleic acid, a polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acid. Dietary administration of essential oils to aging mice had a marked effect on fatty acid distribution by virtually restoring the proportions of PUFAs to levels observed in young mice.
In addition, the essential oils of thyme, clove, nutmeg and pepper restored DHA in the eyes to much younger levels.
DHA is crucial for normal eye health; declining levels of DHA are associated with the heightened risk of age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in old age. DHA is also essential to brain health.
Thyme oil has been tested to partially prevent brain aging through the protection of essential fatty acids. Lifelong supplementation of thyme can provide up to 75% protection against age related brain decline. Thyme essential oil also preserves levels of PUFAs in the heart, liver and kidneys; and at the same time raises total antioxidant levels including glutathione peroxides and superoxide dismutase.
Clove oil also has potent antioxidant-boosting properties by increasing levels of GST(glutathione S-transferase) one of the most important detoxifying enzymes in the body critical for neutralizing potential cancer-causing chemicals.
Ningxia Red
Made from Chinese Ningxia Wolfberries, the strongest antioxidant known (25,300 ORAC ), Blueberries (2,400 ORAC), and Raspberries (1,200) per 3.5oz.
>18 Amino Acids
>21 Trace Minerals
>16% Protein by weight (more than bee pollen) - displays an insulin-like action effective in promoting fat decomposition and reducing blood sugar.
>More vitamin C than oranges
>Nearly as much Beta Carotene as carrots.
Ningxia Red juice has shown to protect liver function, improve visual acuity, lower blood pressure & cholesterol. Strengthens muscles and bones, stimulates the heart, works as an aid to treat diabetes and impotence.
Berry Young Juice is protective for cancer patients - increases lymphocyte transformation rate and white blood cell count (measures of immune function)
Select Essential Oils - ORAC ?/TE 100g.
Clove Oil - 1,078,700
Myrrh - 379,000
Citronella - 312,000
Coriander - 298,300
Fennel - 238,400
Longevity (Blend) - 151,100
Peppermint - 37,300
Grapefruit oil - 22,600
Orange oil - 1,890
Lemon oil - 630
Essential Oil User Precautions
NEVER use water to dilute should skin become irritated or if oils get into eyes. To dilute an essential oil, use a fat soluble substance such as carrier (vegetable) oil, milk, creams, etc. Use milk or vegetable oil for eyes. Water will magnify the intensity of the essential oil; vegetable oil will reduce intensity.
Citrus oils are photosensitive and can burn skin in direct sunlight leaving a dark area on the skin for weeks. Do not use citrus oils on exposed skin for up to 2 days before direct sun exposure. Literally, apply citrus oils to areas where the sun does not shine (soles of feet, behind ears, on wrists, etc.).
Dilute essential oils for children: 1 to 3 drops per tablespoon of oil or milk for infants, 1 to 3 drops per teaspoon of oil for 2-5 year olds, and the same for pets, as a rule of thumb.
If pregnant, avoid essential oils of wintergreen/birch, lavindin, cumin, basil, tarragon, sage, rosemary, hyssop, savory, and cinnamon bark. If pregnant, use the following oils with caution: peppermint, rose, vetiver, yarrow, spearmint, nutmeg, fennel and clary sage.
High Blood Pressure AVOID peppermint, sage, thyme and hyssop.
Epileptics AVOID rosemary, tarragon, hyssop, wintergreen/birch, sage, nutmeg, lavindin, fennel and basil.
DRINK LOTS OF WATER to flush out toxins being removed from the cells by the oils.
