Longevity is greatly helped by anti oxidants glutathione and resveratrol. It is hard to believe, but longevity for U.S. residents is far worse that most developed countries in the world. It is even worse than many third world countries where residents do live longer.
For example the U.S. Census Bureau reports that we are 42nd in longevity. The World Health Organization's recent study in 2009 was better. It said that we are 24th in life expectancy worldwide. We should be number one!
The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reported in December of 1994 that medical induced injury was the 3rd largest killer in the USA. It was exceeded only by heart disease and cancer. Another report by JAMA listed prescription drugs as the 4th leading cause of death. Health treatment and misinformation is a huge factor. Drug companies and the food industry are in business for profit, health easily becomes a secondary issue or totally forgotten.
I don't want to elaborate on the greed and conflict of interest but rather focus on the dynamics of poor health, the cause of shortened lives. Let's examine some causes, especially for heart disease and cancer. They clearly have a co-relationship to the aging of your body's cells.
What are factors that increase longevity? Numerous studies show that whole food and fresh vegetables are real assets to health. A well conducted study done at Harvard University found 30% to 70% reduction of certain cancers when 3 to 5 serving of fresh fruits and vegetables were consumed daily.
There are many phytonutrients (plant nutritionals) that are unknown in function but benefit you. Enzymes, flavenoids, polyphenols are known to benefit in studies that are done but many other factors that help are not known.
Some known, specifically healthy foods that help are the cruciform vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage & Brussels's sprouts). Immune fighting ability is enhanced especially with glutathione... which get its needed sulfur from these vegetables. Glutathione is one of the most powerful anti oxidants your body has.
When you are young there is build up, growth and increase of cell function. It is referred to as "anabolic". With age the breakdown and deterioration of cellular function exceeds build up. It is called "catabolic". Why does this occur? Free radical damage, producing oxidation, is the answer. Just as oxidation rusts iron, oxidation "corrupts" your body's cells.
Free radicals seeking electrons comes from oxidation produced by foreign or toxic chemicals as well as many normal functions of the body. It causes breakdown of cells. Normal biochemistry produces some free radicals but when scavengers and dietary intake of anti-oxidants is deficient, longevity breaks down. Death comes sooner than it should.
Assimilation of whole, raw, healthy food is replaced by packaged foods, excess animal fats, excess sugar and preserved foods. This means that essential vitamins, enzymes, flavenoids, catalysts and phytonutrients found in whole, unprocessed food is deficient. There are over 3000 enzymes in you, many of them in the raw vegetables and fruit; but many are lost with heat and preservatives. There are over 4000 flavenoids...many of unknown function, but important as anti oxidants.
Supplements that help keep the body from deterioration and aging are vitamins A, E, and C. Other anti-oxidants are CoQ-10, a polyphenol of green tea extract, resveratrol and Omega 3's.
Foods that cause excessive free radical damage are too much sugar, too much animal fats and any trans fats. ( Trans fats are hydrogenated vegetable oils that have filled all docking sites on the molecule. This produces a nearly inert foreign substance that is hard to get rid of.)
According to Mark Hyman, M.D., large, regular doses of drugs such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), deplete the important, natural anti oxidant, glutathione. Glutathione is a very powerful anti oxidant that is an immune builder and anti inflammatory agent. Toxins that are not disarmed or eliminated can cause brain dysfunction and sickness. Glutathione is a champion for protection from free radical damage and toxic insults.
Your body needs abundant glutathione to be healthy. Resveratrol and the cruciform vegetables help build good levels of glutathione. Resveratrol, as an antioxidant, furnishes needed electrons. The cruciform vegetables provide organic sulfur compounds that are essential to glutathione.
Glutathione is a potent immune builder. According to world authority on glutathione, Dr. Robert Kellar, all disease subjects manifest a deficient amount of glutathione upon testing. Conversely, optimal levels show huge reductions in numerous disease in dozens of studies.
Many drugs can be harmful over time. Long term use of a drug, or a foreign substance, can cause cognitive decline. Drug are usually foreign substances and can become a neurotoxin that pollutes neurotransmission. (The communication and transmission of messages for body functions)
The importance of what is taken into the body cannot be overemphasized. When toxic substances, drugs or just foods that cause free radical oxidative damage are heavily consumed, it slows down and compromises you body's function. Your bio-chemistry is less efficient and more of the essential nutrients are needed just to maintain normal, healthy levels.
If the body gets all the raw ingredients it needs it can counteract free radical damage and provide optimal function for your body. This means a healthy diet is your best asset to optimal health and longevity...not drugs.
Dr. Denis Van Loan gathers health information from over 17 sources (newsletters, websites & published books) on the latest research about alternatives that are cost effective and proven better for health than mainstream drug treatments. Numerous well controlled studies are cited in his writings. He has websites and blogs on heart disease and migraine headaches. Blog on heart health: http://naturalhealthsecrets.ws Website: http://www.heart-disease-risk.com
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Article added to SearchWarp.com on 10/23/2009 12:34:59 PM. View other articles written byDenis Van Loan, D.D.S.(207)
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