Diet & Nutrition

Even Naturally Sweet Drinks Boost Diabetes Risk

There are as many as 30.2 million people in the United States who suffer from diabetes, some of whom are living with the condition but have not yet been diagnosed. This number continues to rise year by year in spite of efforts to educate people about the importance of watching blood glucose levels. Unfortunately, sugar and blood-sugar-spiking refined carbs are ubiquitous in the typical Western diet. Now, new research confirms that even naturally sweet drinks boost diabetes risk.

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

Diabetes can present itself in one of two ways. First, there may constantly be too much glucose, or sugar, in your blood supply, hindering the ability of the hormone insulin to push enough of it to your body’s cells for consumption and conversion into energy. This is known as type 2 diabetes. Alternately, your body may not be producing enough insulin — if any at all — to process the glucose in your blood. When your pancreas does not produce enough insulin, the condition is known as type 1 diabetes. In either case, the sugar in your blood is not being properly processed by your body’s cells.

Diabetes Risk Factors and Treatment

While there is no one underlying cause for type 2 diabetes, researchers are getting closer to understanding its mechanism of action and there are several factors that raise your risk of developing the condition. They include:

obesity, or being overweight
history of diabetes in the family
low HDL (good cholesterol) levels, or those that drop below 40-50 mg/dL
hypertension
being 45 years of age or older
living a physically inactive lifestyle

In some cases, diabetics may be prescribed medications to help maintain optimal insulin levels, but it’s still necessary for them to monitor blood sugar levels. This means recognizing that sugary drinks, foods high in carbohydrates and other dietary hazards can cause your blood sugar levels to spike and remain high. Since there is no cure for type 2 diabetes, controlling both insulin levels and blood glucose levels is essential to maintaining good health.

A New Study Finds Naturally Sweet Drinks Boost Diabetes Risk

We have known for quite a long time that artificially sweetened drinks, such as soda and iced tea, cause blood sugar levels to rise. It has previously been assumed that naturally sweetened beverages, such as juices with 100 percent fruit juice and no added sugars, are safer for those with a risk of diabetes. However, new research indicates that naturally sweet drinks boost diabetes risks as well, disproving the myth that certain sugars are safe.

A joint study conducted at Boston’s Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health and at China’s Fudan University recently found that any type of sugar can negatively impact blood sugar levels. This includes the refined sugar added to soda, artificial sweeteners used in diet soft drinks and the natural sugar present in fruit juices. The researchers also noted that the increased risk that these beverages cause can be counteracted by switching to unsweetened coffee, tea or water.

The researchers examined sugar consumption among 76,531 women and 34,224 men across a 26-year period. The subjects were asked to fill out questionnaires about their dietary practices, including their consumption of sugary drinks. This enabled the research team to measure sugar consumption and also account for any changes in sugar consumption levels over the course of the study.

The researchers found that a 4 percent increase in sugar intake across a four-year span resulted in a 16 percent increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes within that same time frame. The increased risk was the same whether subjects consumed soft drinks with added sugar, or naturally sweet fruit juices with no added sugars. Subjects who increased their consumption of artificially sweetened diet soft drinks over the same period had their risk of developing diabetes increased by 18 percent.

The researchers also found that minimal changes in sugar consumption could mitigate the risks of developing type 2 diabetes. They recommend that replacing just one sugary drink with water or unsweetened tea can lower your risks of developing diabetes by up to 10 percent. Obviously, reducing your sugar consumption further will result in an even lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, but starting slow will still provide benefits in terms of lowering your risks.

Natural Ways to Keep Blood Sugar Levels Low

Drink More Water

When you drink more water, you’ll alternatively be drinking fewer sweetened beverages, which helps you maintain healthy blood sugar levels right off the bat. Additionally, you’ll feel fuller, so you’ll eat less and consume fewer calories. Some research has shown that drinking more water can lower your body’s insulin resistance, keep fasting blood glucose levels low and better regulate insulin levels.

Take a Supplement

Diabetichron is a specially formulated dietary supplement that uses specific vitamins and minerals to help your body to maintain healthy blood glucose levels within normal ranges. Some of these nutrients include vitamins C and E, calcium, chromium and a range of natural plant extracts, all of which help the body to maintain healthy insulin and blood sugar levels.

Get More Physical Activity

Exercising helps you burn more fat cells, which may be negatively impacting your body’s response to insulin. As you lose weight, you’ll increase your body’s insulin sensitivity and that will help your body burn more sugar and make it easier for insulin to push sugar within the blood to the cells. This cycle can be enhanced by engaging in a number of different activities that will work out a broad range of muscle groups. Swimming, weight lifting, hiking and bicycling are just a few of the exercises you can try.

Probiotics Benefit Parkinson’s Disease, Says New Study

Mar 04 by Ewcopywriting

Parkinson’s disease is a disorder that affects motor skills by way of the central nervous system. While symptoms may be mild at first, this condition inevitably worsens gradually over time. Currently, more than 500,000 people in the United States have Parkinson’s, with approximately 50,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Since motor skills are affected, symptoms of Parkinson’s disease can vary in type and severity from person to person. New research has discovered that probiotics benefit Parkinson’s disease, providing additional evidence of a link between gut health and this debilitating disease.

What Causes Parkinson’s Disease?

It’s believed that Parkinson’s is the result of low dopamine levels in the brain, which eventually causes nerve cells to die off. Dopamine has been identified as the neurotransmitter responsible for communicating messages that control coordination and physical movement. As neurotransmitter levels drop, the affected individual finds it more difficult to control their movements. They may also notice a stiffening of the muscles.

While the direct causes of the disease are unknown, there is some evidence that it may be an inherited condition in some individuals. Alternatively, there is a slightly higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease if you already have an autoimmune disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Parkinson’s Early Warning Signs, Symptoms and Treatment

Some of the early warning signs of Parkinson’s include:

hand tremors
coordination and balance problems
change in posture, causing the individual to lean forward
fixed facial expressions
speech difficulties
cramped or messier handwriting
inhibited sense of smell
sleep disorders

While there is no cure for the disease, there are a number of medications that can help control the symptoms. The drugs prescribed for Parkinson’s won’t eliminate the symptoms completely, but they can significantly reduce the symptoms of the disease. Treatments include both medications that the brain converts to dopamine and or drugs that mimic the effects that dopamine has on the brain. The type of treatment received depends on the stage of the disease.

Link Between Parkinson’s And the Gut Microbiome

Studies have shown that people with Parkinson’s disease have an abnormal presence of a protein called alpha-synuclein, which the vagus nerve carries from the brain to the gut. This may explain the higher presence of protein aggregates in the gut microbiomes of people with Parkinson’s disease.

Since researchers know that alpha-synuclein is linked to the disease, a higher presence of the protein in the gut may help diagnose the disease before symptoms manifest. If the research can be confirmed, this may lead to more effective treatments in both preventing the illness and in controlling the symptoms for those who already have the disease.

Probiotics Benefit Parkinson’s Disease in New Study

In a laboratory study using roundworms, researchers think they may have found a way of using probiotics to treat Parkinson’s disease. The researchers suggest that administering a specific strand of probiotic bacteria could prevent the accumulation of the alpha-synuclein in the gut. The way that these probiotics benefit Parkinson’s may lead to a more effective treatment of the disease if these findings are confirmed.

The study, which was conducted at the University of Edinburgh, involved genetically engineering a worm to develop with the human equivalent of the alpha-synuclein protein. Once they reached adulthood, the worms were fed a supplement that contained Bacillus subtilis PXN21, which is a strand of probiotic bacteria.

Upon examining the results, the researchers didn’t find a difference in the levels of the alpha-synuclein protein itself, but they did observe that it didn’t react with the gut in the same manner. Aggregates of the protein were cleared from the guts of the worms as the probiotic was introduced into their bodies. When compared to normal worms on a traditional diet, the genetically altered worms exhibited far lower levels of the aggregated protein while on the probiotic diet. The low level of protein aggregates remained consistent throughout the lives of the test worms.

The researchers concluded that the B. subtilis PXN21 probiotic was effective in both inhibiting and reducing the protein aggregates in the roundworms. The probiotic does this by forming bio films and producing more nitric oxide, both of which are essential components in the prevention of protein aggregates. The team hopes that future research will confirm their findings and uncover more about the positive effect that probiotics have on the development and treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

What Else Can a Probiotic/Prebiotic Supplement Do for You?

Supplementing with a probiotic formula, or otherwise ensuring that you are getting adequate levels of probiotics in your everyday diet, can do wonders for your overall health. A healthy balance of probiotics in the gut has been linked to everything from stress resilience to liver health. Recent studies have found that in order to receive the full benefit of probiotics, it’s essential to find a high-quality supplement that provides both probiotics and prebiotics.

Probiotics Aid Digestive Health

In particular, one study found that patients who suffered from diarrhea that was caused by taking antibiotics experienced relief from the condition. Another study found that preterm infants had a reduced risk of necrotizing enterocolitis upon receiving probiotic supplements.

Probiotics Help Relieve Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Additional research has found that taking a probiotic helps improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. The probiotic bacteria is especially helpful in relieving the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other similar conditions that can affect the digestive system.

Prebiotics Aid in the Processing of Carbohydrates

Some research has found that prebiotics, which are closely related to probiotics, can help the body absorb carbohydrates more efficiently. This may help regulate blood sugar levels and also aid in better weight management.

Probiotics and Prebiotics Improve the Gut Microbiome

Prebiotics can also help promote greater probiotic growth in the gut microbiome. Some researchers believe this means they can help improve the body’s metabolism and help to encourage a healthier digestive system.

The Top Natural Nutrients for Cellular Protection

Feb 27 by Ewcopywriting

Oxidative stress is a harmful process similar to “rusting” that results when there are more free radical molecules than antioxidant molecules in the body. Because free radicals have an odd electron count, they can initiate long-chain chemical reactions in the body. While these reactions can either be harmful or beneficial, they more often produce adverse effects, including a greater risk of disease. Research is taking a greater interest in cellular protection and the nutrients that help keep cells healthy as we learn more about the causes of disease.

Why is Cellular Protection Against Oxidative Damage Important?

The threats to human health posed by an overabundance of free radicals are well known. Fortunately, compounds called antioxidants inhibit oxidation by lending an electron to a free radical without causing another odd electron count. This means an equal number of antioxidants can help negate the harmful effects that free radicals may have on the body.

If there aren’t an equal or larger number of antioxidants than free radicals in the body, the free radicals are left to wreak havoc, causing cellular damage throughout the body. They do this by randomly attacking DNA and fatty tissue, although lipids and proteins are also at risk of damage.

As a result, the cells that are made up of these compounds are compromised and, as a greater number of cells are damaged, certain diseases are able to develop. A few medical conditions that can result from this type of cellular damage include:

atherosclerosis
cancer
diabetes
heart disease
hypertension, or high blood pressure
Parkinson’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease

Which Nutrients Protect Against Cellular Damage?

While eating a plant-based diet can help you consume the nutrients your body needs to produce more antioxidants, you may still not have enough to combat the free radicals in your body. Taking a supplement engineered to boost cellular protection can establish a better ratio of antioxidants and free radicals.

Resverchron, a natural, broad-spectrum all-in-one anti-aging regimen, provides powerful ingredients in its morning Green Cellular Protect capsule, so you can ensure your body has the nutrients it needs to build a stronger defense against cellular damage. The benefits of some of this supplement’s primary ingredients are discussed below.

Green Tea Catechins

When you steep green tea in hot water, the polyphenols, or catechins, in the leaves are extracted and infused into the water. Once consumed, these catechins provide a number of health benefits throughout the body. They have been found to be beneficial for helping to maintain healthy weight, maintaining healthy blood glucose levels, encouraging cellular health and protecting against heart disease and many other common conditions.

Catechins can benefit these areas of health because they have antioxidant properties that help counteract the activities of the free radicals. In this way, green tea catechins help protect cells from damage throughout the body.

Glutathione

While glutathione is another powerful and naturally occurring antioxidant that can help maintain good health, its levels in the body can be negatively impacted by poor diet, stress and environmental hazards. Research has also found that the level of glutathione in our bodies decreases as we age.

When we take a supplement that contains a sufficient quantity of this compound, it offers cellular protection by helping to counteract the oxidative stress that free radicals cause. As a result, conditions such as psoriasis, liver disease, insulin resistance, autoimmune disease, Parkinson’s disease and many other conditions may be positively impacted.

Pyrroloquinoline Quinone

The compound, commonly referred to as PQQ, is a naturally occurring compound that produces benefits similar to those of a vitamin, although it’s benefits are just now receiving recognition. It plays a part in promoting healthy cellular growth and development, helping to ensure that cells remain healthy and active for longer. It also possesses strong antioxidant properties and is more powerful than many known antioxidants, aiding in the fight to combat the effects that free radicals have on our cells.

Which Vegetables Provide the Best Protection?

Resverchron’s morning Green Cellular Protect capsule also contains a vegetable extract blend that provides the benefits of a range of vegetables in one capsule. The benefits of some of these vegetables are listed below.

Broccoli

The most beneficial compounds in broccoli are carotenoids and sulforaphane, each of which are helpful in protecting cellular health. They do this by helping to flush harmful carcinogens out of the body. Additionally, broccoli extract is helpful in preventing the cell damage that can contribute to heart disease, cognitive decline and digestive problems.

Brussels Sprouts

The antioxidants contained in Brussels sprouts help promote healthy cell growth, while also encouraging cardiovascular health and healthy cholesterol levels within normal ranges. Compounds found in Brussels sprouts are also helpful in flushing harmful toxins out of the body.

Carrots

The beta-carotene in carrots does more for us than just help with eyesight. Additionally, certain compounds in carrots can help improve oral health, promote liver health, boost overall immunity and protect the skin.

Leeks

Hailing from the same family as onions and garlic, leeks provide powerful antioxidants that help protect heart health, promote cellular health and help maintain healthy LDL cholesterol levels within normal ranges. They also improve gut health, promote a healthy pregnancy and encourage healthy weight maintenance by boosting metabolism.

Kale

This superfood contains a hefty supply of vitamin C, but that’s just the beginning of the benefits it provides. Kale contains compounds that possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities, helping to protect cellular health, support heart health and promote healthy vision. It also promotes healthy cell growth and aids in detoxification.

Garlic

This superfood is widely known for its antioxidant properties and is helpful in promoting cellular health. Additionally, it’s effective in protecting the skin against acne, psoriasis and other blemishes. It can also promote healthier hair growth.

More beneficial extracts found in the vegetable extract blend offered by Resverchron include barley, spinach, radish, beet, tomato, onion, cabbage, parsley, cauliflower, celery and yellow pepper. Each one of these extracts possess powerful healing properties that can help fight against the free radicals that contribute to cell damage.

Unleash the Powerful Health Benefits of Superfruits

Feb 19 by Ewcopywriting

In simple terms, a superfruit is a food that contains a condensed serving of vitamins and powerful phyto-nutrients that are beneficial to human health. These foods benefit the immune system in a variety of ways and it has been found that they can even benefit the health of bone marrow. Research is only beginning to uncover some of the significant health benefits of superfruits, which may be why more people are adding these foods to their diets.

What Are Superfruits?

The power of superfruits to boost immunity may help stave off illness and help the body recover faster from injuries by providing the body with antioxidant-rich compounds that are called polyphenols. Polyphenols (flavonoids are just one example) are compounds that are found in many natural plant-based foods, but exist in richer concentrations in superfruits.

These compounds have been found to help the body fight off inflammation, while also acting as antioxidant agents. Research into the functions these compounds serve found that they can increase longevity by 30 percent or more when there’s a consistent high level of polyphenols in the body. To achieve this benefit, researchers recommend a daily intake of polyphenols that’s greater than 500 mg.

What Are the Health Benefits of Superfruits?

In addition to increasing longevity, there are many more benefits of superfruits that you can enjoy by adding these foods to your diet. Here is a short list of some of the health benefits that the polyphenols in these fruits deliver.

Regulate Blood Sugar Levels

While it’s common to experience a spike in your blood sugar levels after eating a meal, adding superfruits to your diet can combat that sudden increase. The polyphenols do this by keeping the body from breaking starch down and transforming it into simple sugars. The polyphenols in superfruits may also help regulate insulin production, so more sugars will be pushed to the cells for use as energy.

Improve Heart Health

The antioxidants that polyphenols contain help to decrease inflammation in the cardiovascular system. Since inflammation is a significant factor in causing heart disease, eating more superfruits may help you maintain a healthier heart. Additionally, researchers have found that polyphenols are effective in regulating healthier blood pressure levels and keeping LDL (bad cholesterol) levels lower. These compounds may also be effective in increasing the body’s HDL (good cholesterol) levels.

Protect Cellular Health

Since the antioxidants in polyphenols are effective in reducing inflammation, they may help protect against unhealthy cell growth. Additional research suggests that a high level of polyphenols in the blood may help prevent cancer cells from developing. Even after cancer cells have developed, test-tube research has suggested that polyphenols may help prohibit unhealthy cell growth.

Boost Digestion

If you have digestive problems, eating superfruits may help resolve those problems. This is because polyphenols also promote healthier gut bacteria, which is essential to proper digestion. A higher level of polyphenols has been linked to more diverse growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut microbiome, so peptic ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease and similar conditions may be alleviated.

Improve Cognitive Functioning

In a recent study, older adults who had experienced memory loss and difficulties in concentrating on complex tasks were given polyphenol-rich grape juice. By the end of the study, those seniors drinking the grape juice experienced improved memory and better mental focus. There’s also evidence that polyphenols can support oxygen-rich blood flow to the brain in seniors.

What Are Some of the Most Powerful Superfruits?

If you’re unsure about adding superfruits to your meal plan for each day, taking a supplement can help you boost the polyphenols in your blood supply. Resverchron is a high-quality daily supplement that incorporates the nutrients and beneficial compounds found in a broad range of superfruits. Adding this supplement to your daily routine can help you get that healthy boost even on days when you may not eat as healthily as you plan.

Here is a short list of some of the most powerful superfruits:

Plums: These fruits are known to help stave off metabolic disorders and cardiovascular-related health problems.

Cherries: While there are a few different types of cherries, they have all been shown effective in reducing the risks of degenerative diseases in seniors.

Blackberries: Regularly eating these berries can help reduce the risks of degenerative disorders that affect the brain.

Strawberries: The strawberry is one of the most powerful superfruits available, because of all it can do for human health. The polyphenols in this fruit reduce the risks of developing unhealthy cell growth, heart disease, inflammation and metabolic syndrome.

Apples: The polyphenols in this fruit have been credited for extending longevity by as much as 12 percent.

Peaches: This superfruit is effective in reducing the risks of metabolic syndrome, which is common in those suffering from obesity. Peaches may also help reduce risks to your cardiovascular health.

Nectarines: Eating more nectarines will help boost your immune system due to the high content of polyphenols that they deliver.

In general, eating more plant-based fruits will expose you to a greater supply of vitamins, nutrients and other beneficial compounds. Eating more natural foods will help you live a healthier life for longer, but adding some of these superfruits to your daily routine may give you an even bigger health boost.

As research continues, we may find that polyphenols provide even more health benefits, but changing your diet now can help reduce your risks of developing many of the common health hazards mentioned here.

How Your Diet Affects Sleep and Mental Health

Feb 13 by Ewcopywriting

The National Sleep Foundation estimates that roughly 40 percent of Americans experience some difficulty sleeping each year. In addition to affecting physical conditions, such as heart health and diabetes, a lack of sufficient sleep is also known to affect mental health, instigating depression and anxiety. In new studies, a focus on nutrition has suggested that diet affects sleep and mental health in some important ways.

New Research Finds That Diet Affects Sleep

In a recent study, conducted at New York’s Columbia University, it was found that refined carbohydrates contributed toward insomnia in women aged 50 and over. Insomnia was especially common when the refined carbohydrates had high sugar content.

The 53,069 subjects participating in the study were all women, aged 50 through 79 and had all experienced some degree of insomnia. The researchers examined how they experienced insomnia and compared the episodes to the quality of their diets.

In short, they found that the women were more likely to have difficulty getting quality sleep when they ate more refined carbs. In particular, white rice, white bread and added sugars interfered with their sleep cycles. Those who drank more soda on a daily basis also suffered from insomnia more frequently.

The researchers believe the mechanism behind this relationship between refined carbs and sleeplessness has to do with a spike in blood sugar levels. As the carbs that are consumed increase the level of sugar in the blood, insulin is released to move that sugar into the cells for consumption. As a result of the sudden drop in blood sugar levels, hormones like cortisol and adrenaline are released. These hormones interfere with the sleep cycle, preventing the individual from falling asleep, or staying asleep.

Nutrition and Mental Health

In another recent study, researchers looked at how dietary choices affect mental health. We already know that the quality of our diet affects mood by determining the health of the bacteria in our guts, the hormones our bodies release and the neurotransmitters in our brains. In this recent study, researchers hoped to pinpoint more specific ways in which diet affects mental health and the risk of mental illnesses.

The study, which was conducted at Sweden’s University of Gothenburg, found that a diet poor in nutrients was linked to a worsening of mood disorders. Specifically, depression and anxiety grew more severe in individuals who weren’t getting a sufficient supply of vitamins and nutrients through their dietary choices.

The study also revealed that a Mediterranean diet appeared to be the best for ensuring mental health is protected. One important way this type of diet benefits people is by protecting against vitamin B-12 deficiency. Vitamin B-12 deficiency can cause a number of adverse effects, such as fatigue, problems with memory recall and lethargy. Prolonged B-12 deficiencies can also contribute to the development of psychosis and manic episodes. Vitamin B-12 is commonly found in beef, sardines, tuna and trout.

Your level of vitamin D is also an important concern, especially for older adults. If you’re not getting enough sunlight each day, it’s likely that you have a deficiency, since the sun is the primary source of vitamin D. Increasing your exposure to the sun, or taking vitamin D supplements, can help you improve cognitive functioning by enhancing memory, attention and concentration. It can also reduce the depressive episodes an individual is likely to experience.

While both studies indicate that nutrition does play an important role in how well we sleep and in our mental health, more research is needed. Future studies can help confirm links between refined carbs and insomnia, while other research can help verify whether a plant-heavy diet will provide the brain with the nutrients it needs to operate more efficiently. In the meantime, reducing your intake of refined carbs while making more nutritious food choices can only help you.

Tips for Cutting Back on Carbs and Increasing Nutrient Intake

Ditch the Soft Drinks

You should avoid sugary drinks as much as possible, because these are the worst culprits for added sugar and refined carbs. There are 38 grams of carbs in a 12-ounce can of soda, while sweetened iced tea contains up to 36 grams. Switching to unsweetened beverages is easier when you add some lemon or lime to the mixture.

Choose Bread Wisely

White bread is another major source of carbs, so you should try to eliminate it completely from your home. Instead, choose rye or whole grain breads as a healthier option. Even when you do switch to whole grains, be aware that they still contain a fair amount of carbs, so eat these products sparingly.

Take a Daily Supplement

In addition to eliminating poor dietary choices, you will also want to ensure your body is getting a full range of vitamins and nutrients. Supplements like Vitachron offer a broad selection of vitamins and minerals in a single dose, helping you to balance out the nutrients you get from your healthier diet. This can help you meet your nutritional requirements every day, even when you splurge on the weekend.

Choose By Color

When you go shopping, try to pick up fruits and vegetables according to their colors and get as many different colors as possible. This will help you maximize the number of vitamins and nutrients you’re naturally consuming. It will also help you enjoy variety without resorting to unhealthy foods.

Study Finds Anti-Aging Supplements Work Best in Specific Formula

Feb 13 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

Are you one of the millions searching for a natural Fountain of Youth? Americans and the Western culture have turned staying young into a national pastime, partaking in surgeries and a variety of extreme procedures to keep their youth and vitality well into old age. While there are many research-supported anti-aging supplements that purportedly help extend youth and help stave off aging from the cellular level, science shows that many of these herbal and vitamin ingredients can have a better effect and better health benefits when taken together in a formula.

What Causes Aging?

In order to understand anti-aging supplements, it is important to understand what causes the aging process to occur. While there are many pathways and biological processes that can break down over decades of life, the mitochondrial pathway and oxidative stress pathway are key components when it comes to the effects of ravages of time.

Mitochondria regulate a multitude of metabolic and signaling pathways in the body and play an important role in programmed cell death. In short, the body’s mitochondria serve as the powerhouses of the cell, producing the energy that our cells need to function. Over time, mitochondria are damaged by oxidative stress, which is destructive to mitochondrial DNA and other structures. Oxidative stress pathways age our body’s cells in a variety of other ways, as well.

It’s no doubt, we need oxygen in order to survive. This element however, is extremely destructive to delicate cell structures, in fact, oxygen is more reactive than other elements in the human body and often converts into free radicals and other reactive oxygen species, all of which are incredibly damaging to the body’s cells.

To reduce the damaging effects from these forms of oxygen antioxidants can help reduce these oxygen species before they can impair cells permanently. As a result of their synergistic functionality, both oxidative stress and mitochondrial pathways share certain steps working together to either speed up or to slow down the aging process.

As the body’s cells begin to accumulate damage, they are less able to repair themselves, leading to the visibly noticeable aging of tissue. These damaged cells also have a harder time making energy as efficiently, which causes the gradual slowing associated with the aging process. As tissues become increasingly damaged, more severe symptoms arise and diseases such as heart disease and dementia occur due to the cells’ inability to function or repair themselves adequately.

Getting the Most Out of Anti-Aging Supplements

The process of aging isn’t prejudiced, that’s why it’s never too early to start an anti-aging regimen. While creams and serums were once the only go-to on the market for anti-aging, new advancements in research have paved the way for a new line of anti-aging management in the form of supplements.

To date, millions of people take anti-aging supplements such as coenzyme Q10 and resveratrol every day, but what if there was a way to make these compounds even more effective when it comes to anti-aging? Thanks to new research and anti-aging breakthroughs in treatment options, there is in fact a way to get the most out of these herbs and vitamins, ensuring that they have the very best effects, and it all comes down to formulation and timing.

First, and most importantly, anti-aging supplements should be taken together in a single supplement. This is because the ingredients can act synergistically, working on similar and related pathways all at once, including mitochondrial pathways and those that repair oxidative stress. When combined, the supplements and supplement ingredients work together and enhance each other’s function, having far greater effect than they would have if taken separately.

Is it Ever Too Early to Start?

Most people do not begin to worry about aging until they are beginning to approach their 30s, and some wait even longer and try to reverse the effects of time rather than preventing them from occurring. According to research in the field of anti-aging treatments and preventative measures, earlier appears to be better when it comes to starting an anti-aging supplement regimen.

In a study comparing starting periods of anti-aging supplements, researchers gave coenzyme Q10 to both middle-aged and elderly rats and then measured their grip strength, a major sign of aging in rats. Results found that the middle-aged ones who took the supplement had more overall improvement, suggesting that anti-aging supplements have more effect on people who aren’t as far along in the aging process.

Keeping Youth and Health Naturally

So, how can people help delay or protect against some of the effects of aging? Experts recommend attacking the root causes of aging by taking antioxidants and supplements that hone in on promoting healthy cellular inflammatory processes and healthy cell growth while protecting against oxidative stress. Since these supplements are more effective when taken together in a formula, look for an anti-aging supplement that contains:

Resveratrol: This antioxidant found in red wine helps to neutralize reactive oxygen species in the oxidative stress pathway.

Vitamin C: This vitamin is an important component in building healthy tissue and maintaining strong collagen to prevent wrinkles and fine lines.
Omega-3 fatty acids: These nutrients reduce oxidative stress and protect our DNA from reactive oxygen species.
BIOPQQ: This nutrient supports brain health and helps maintain high mitochondrial function in nerve cells, which are especially prone to damaging as we age.
MSM: This biological sulfur compound is the main active ingredient of soothing sulfur baths. In its organically bioactive form, MSM also supports healthy cartilage renewal.

Similarly, finding a supplement that reduces aging by specifically focusing on the mitochondrial and oxidative stress pathways, can help focus solely on cellular support and proper function of these pathways. Formulas specifically focused on mitochondrial function and protection against oxidative damage should include:

Coenzyme Q10: Often called CoQ10 for short, this coenzyme is important in preventing aging in both the mitochondrial and oxidative stress pathways.
NADH: A substance that’s an important part of the mitochondrial pathways that produce energy to keep cells running at their highest level.
L-carnitine: This nutrient offers natural detoxification for cells that also aids in mitochondrial energy production.

Combining these types of anti-aging and oxidative stress-fighting supplements together can be more effective, as they work on the same cellular pathways. Working to help maintain good cell repair, detoxification of reactive oxygen and maintenance of mitochondrial pathways, these supplements and ingredients can have lifelong effects, helping you maintain youthful health and energy levels for years to come.