One Paradigm of what causes aging?

New Paradigm

Having been driven to the airport in a town car numerous times, out of curiosity I asked, “How many miles has this car been driven?” To my surprise, the numbers were sometimes as high as 3-4 hundred thousand miles.

The next question I asked was, “how did you do that?” The answer I got in each case was primarily the process of changing the motor oil frequently, along with consistent maintenance of the engine

I am not here to talk about automotive care but to draw an analogy between aging of cars and aging of the human body.

Our body’s engines are called mitochondria and are located in our cells. The process of eating and breathing in our mitochondria produces the energy we need to survive.

During energy production, the mitochondria produce cellular by-products that are damaging to the cellular structures if not neutralized instantaneously. This process causes wear and tear over time. These cellular by-products are referred to as free radicals.

Scientifically speaking this wear and tear on our body is called inflammation. Science has demonstrated that inflammation over time leads to degeneration of the body’s organs, the accumulation of chronic diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, dementia, and arthritis) and henceforth the process of aging.

We see the evidence on our skin and feel it in the aches and pains of our bodies. Scientists originally have made the connection between free-radical, as bad vs our protective system composed of enzymes, vitamins and anti-oxidants as good. When free radical production exceeds the ability of the body’s antioxidant system the result is increased inflammation and faster aging. This theory is known as the MFRTA (mitochondrial free-radical theory of aging).

Dietary supplements in the form of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and herbal products came to public attention, and they were hyped by the media and supplement industries as an answer to the aging dilemma. 

If changing the oil in car was the answer to prolonging the cars age, antioxidant consumption was the answer to prolonging and reducing the effects of aging. 

Reasonably true, but now assumed inaccurate. Major results in the last ten years have led to the refutation of the MFRTA. New research with regards to aging has demonstrated, first that decreasing free-radical production has failed to increase lifespan, and second high free-radical production has been linked to increased longevity.

 A certain percentage of free radicals improve the abilities of the body’s defense mechanisms and improve cellular communication, in fact, free-radicals were necessary to even prolong aging.  

The new paradigm of aging is not based solely on the over-production of free radicals but on the transient generation and maintenance of free radicals within certain boundaries.

But wait anti-oxidants have not lost their luster, far from it. What is productive, beneficial, and proven scientifically is targeted antioxidant therapy as opposed to the non-targeted indiscriminate usage. This has proven the only method now to keep the balance and thus reduce the imminent effects of aging.

Given these new circumstances, how can an individual decide which dietary supplements and antioxidant products are beneficial and effective?

Modern technology can help us with this question. There now are very specialized laboratories available to perform an innovative line of nutritional tests. The results from the analysis can be implemented to create a personalized targeted replacement program designed to slow down the aging process at its core. The results lead to better overall health.

Most doctor’s offices are not familiar with this speciality testing, but my office is.

Contact my office to get your personalized program started today and for a limited time only save 70% on your initial appointment! Click here to book.

I only have a few appointments available each month for new patients, so book in now to save your spot!