Upside Of Aging

Resveratrol - Your Anti Aging Pill?

A red wine resveratrol ( pronounced rex-vair-ah-trawl) pill is making its mark as the new anti-aging pill. Researchers at LifeGen Technologies in Madison, Wisconsin were recently interviewed on CBS-TV's 60 Minutes last week. They reported last September that Longevinex ®, a patent –applied –for nutriceutical matrix, activates 9-fold longevity genes. That's more than plain resveratrol at a far lower dose than previously reported.

Resveratrol is a molecule found in red wine. It's been touted that it works the same way a calorie restricted diet works, extending life. Most people won't deprive themselves of food, even though it may mean living longer. They will, however, take a pill to live longer.

Because it would require over 90 years proving that this intervention prolongs life in humans, researchers believe gene studies in mice demonstrate an accurate method. The mouse has about the same number of genes as humans (about 30,000) and many of its genes show the same functions.

Those who have reservations about the findings report that a person would have to take a mega-dose of resveratrol and the research with animals showed that animals fed mega-dose resveratrol didn't live as long as animals on a normal calorie diet. Many of the resveratrol pills sold online and in stores also suggest mega dose yet the lower doses, like those found in a 3 or 5 ounce class of red wine appear to work better.

The bottom line – the approval of a pharmaceutical version of a red wine anti-aging pill may be years away if it ever does gain approval.

Would you take the pill if it were available as a nutritional supplement?

To Your Successful Aging

Ruthan Brodsky

Lowering Cholesterol Without Drugs

The medical research continues to demonstrate that high cholesterol puts you at high risk for heart disease. The pharmaceutical companies make billions with the statin drugs that lower your LDL or the 'bad' cholesterol.

The good news is that with just a few exceptions, you can lower your cholesterol without drugs. I did that last year.

It's not easy but it works. Plus I am betting that you already know the steps to take but you may need a little push. I am willing to push.

The keys to lowering your cholesterol are:

    Eat healthier foods

    Exercise more.

The solution sounds familiar, doesn't it. These 2 key ingredients appear to be the solutions for more than just lowering cholesterol. They are also key to eliminating diabetes, weight loss, and good bone health.

Following your waist size is a very good way to figure out if you are at risk because weight can change due to loss of fat and gain of muscle.

Smart food choices will help you take those inches off your waste and lower your cholesterol. Eating foods that contain sizeable portions of soluble fiber, for instance, helps remove LDL and lowers blood sugar levels. I'm speaking of your fruits and vegetables and foods such as oatmeal.

Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids also tend to lower cholesterol. I'm sure you know the list: salmon and mackerel.

Exercise itself doesn't burn off cholesterol like it does calories, but it can reduce your triglycerides and improve your metabolism so that more of the good HDL cholesterol is manufactured which helps rid your body of LDL.

I admit to being one of the fortunate ones. I was able to reduce my blood pressure, my sugar count, and my cholesterol by losing weight and exercising more. It's definitely a lifetime lifestyle – something I have to work on all year round especially during the cold winter months and short days in Michigan when it's easy to cocoon and chow down on comfort foods.

The results are worth the effort; I feel better, I move better, and I think better.

Do you have any tricks up your sleeve for lowering the cholesterol numbers. Lets share them and maybe they will help others. Scroll down to COMMENTS and type your tips in the blank window.

To your successful aging.

Ruthan Brodsky

Pain Relief and Reduced Fatigue with Shoes

The advantages of going barefoot is it increases your foot strength and flexibility. Going barefoot is also said to improve your balance and gait. The research says that feet were healthier before the invention of shoes but I'm not so sure about that. You see, before shoes people didn't live very long and young feet are healthier than old feet.

Today there are several specialty shoes that are suppose to help us. A couple of years ago, my husband bought a pair of Z-coil shoes which were to help reduce lower back pain. These shoes really look odd. The have cone-shaped coil springs in the heels and think cushioning for the ball of the foot. When the foot strikes the ground, the impact is supposed to be reduced which would reduce back pain.

Some days they do give him some back pain relief. However, if he wears them all the time, they stop providing relief. Other people swear by them. It's a costly experiment. They average about $200.

Another shoe is the Vibram FiveFingers. These are snug shoes made like gloves. Each toe has its own compartment. They have no cushioning in the heel which encourages people to walk and hit the ground with your full foot as you would if you were barefoot.

Another special shoe is Vivo Barefoot. These are thin-soled shoes with a Kevlar (bullet proof material)

sole which is to protect you from things puncturing your feet. It also allows you’re your feet to naturally widen when you walk which is what happens you walk barefoot.

The last shoe I'll mention is the MBT or Masai Barefoot Technology. These shoes have a think curved sole that create a rocking motion that makes you feel you are walking on an unstable surface, like sand. The claim is that these shoes put less stress on the ankles and knees and people use their muscles more when they walk in these shoes.

I'm not recommending any of these shoes. The only research about them is from the manufacturing companies so that doesn't count. You may want to check them out but if you have a condition or were in an accident and there's some damage to your feet, I would ask my favorite podiatrist or orthopod or sports medicine doctor before I make any purchase.

One of the problems is that these shoes may alter your biomechanics and even your gait. It may be difficult to switch back. If you want to strengthen your feet, walk barefoot around your home. Or run the stairs in your home. If you have diabetes, just stay with your shoes and make sure they're comfortable.

If you have stories about your shoes, let us know. Scroll down to comments and type your stories in the blank window.

To your aging success,

Ruthan Brodsky

Memory, Healthy Brains and Your Social Life

We all know the saying to use it or lose it. As we get older, we understand the importance of applying that phrase to our body as well as to our brain. We exercise, learn to play bridge, and eat more fruits and vegetables.

What you may not know is that your social life, staying connected with family and friends, plays a major role in preventing dementia.

The big surprise in this recent research from Johns Hopkins University is that the contacts don't have to be face-to-face; telephone and e-mail can also make a difference. They also report that club activities, such as card games, parties, attending meetings and home hobbies were also tied to a lower risk of dementia.

Apparently, interacting with people is another way to exercise your brain. The conversations create new connections between brain cells and help the brain build up a protective preserve.

Staying connected with the rest of the world also helps reduce stress and that reduces the levels of the stress hormone cortisol and lower cortisol levels are linked to better cognitive performance.

Another thought is that maintaining a social network also reduces inflammation because older women who were socially active had lower levels of interleukin-6, a substance linked to chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation is something you don't want; it's linked to Alzheimer's, heart disease and cancer.

Stay connected is the best advice anyone can give.

Join a cooking class or join a book club. Volunteer for a cause that you has meaning for you. Get involved with your house of worship. Teach an adult how to read or mentor a young child. These are all connections which will not only make you feel more positive about yourself but will also be activating your brain, exercising it if you will.

To your successful aging.

Ruthan Brodsky

Brainpower Boosted with Over-the-Counter Remedies

I enjoy watching the late-night ads for products that will take 20 years off your life in 3 easy payments. I'm always amazed how creative someone is to think of that gadget which will take all the wrinkles and folds out of your neck. And then there are the supplements which regenerate flab in two weeks no matter how much or how little exercise you do.

I personally wouldn't mind something for my neck. Nora Ephron says it better in her book I Feel Bad about My Neck and other thoughts on being a woman (Vintage, 2008) Check it out at the Amazon bar on the left.)

Now I've learned that ordinary nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs may considerably lower the risk for Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The good news is that this isn't an infomercial.

Researchers studied data on close to 15 thousand non-demented older adults. They participated in 6 separate studies which recorded their use of ibuprofen such as Advil and Motrin and Aleve. Patients who used some source of ibuprofen like Advil or Motrin, or Aleve were 23 percent less likely to develop dementia. (Neurology. May 28, 2008)

The study also showed that some supplements may benefit brain health although I've read other studies that show this isn't the case. Ginkgo biloba received good reviews in this study as an antioxidant, circulation enhancer and possibly reduces inflammation.

B vitamins were also given identified as helpful. The problem is that as we age we don't absorb the b vitamins as we once did so there's a deficiency.

Omega-3 fatty acids were also considered a must for good brain health. Getting too little omega-3 has been associated with increased risk for stroke, hypertension, AD, and depression. Nothing good!

Choline is the one nutrient that it not as well known. It's a nutrient found in meet, eggs, peanuts and fortified food. Its role is important to transmitting nerve signals in memory function. People who don't metabolize choline as well as younger people tend to have memory problems. Lecithin is a form of choline.

Caffeine, on the other hands, helps improve attention and focus. The research suggests that caffeine may counteract high levels of cholesterol that break down the blood-brain barrier responsible for protecting the nervous system from contaminants carried in the blood stream. Other studies report that regular consumption of caffeine – the kind you find in coffee, tea or chocolate – is supposed to help protect against age-related memory loss and Alzheimer's disease.

That is certainly good news for me. I love my coffee especially in the morning.

What about you? Where do you pick up any of these nutrients – supplements or food?

Write to us in comments.

To your successful aging,

Ruthan Brodsky

Osteoporosis: Reduce your risk 6 ways

First the given: Osteoporosis is an age related disease and it is more common in women than in men. However, men have bones, too, and the condition is increasingly being reported in men

It is a disease that thins and weakens bones to the point where they can break easily. Keep in mind that bone is living tissue. As the bone cells break down they are replaced except as we get older more bone is broken down than replaced.

It's often called the silent disease because you don't have any symptoms until you do break a bone. The good news is that you can prevent the deterioration of your bone – man or woman.

1.Maintain a healthy diet. You want bone-building nutrients such as potassium, magnesium, phosphorous, calcium, (1200 mg per day) and vitamin D – at least 600 IU. I take 800-1000.

2. Exercise. Bone mass is dependant on the stress we put on it. 30 minutes daily of something aerobic works: walking, stairs, tennis. Strength training also counts.

3. Limit caffeine to 3 cups of coffee daily. Caffeine causes your body to excrete calcium and your bones need calcium.

4. Stop Smoking.

5. Avoid excessive alcohol. Too much alcohol prevents your body from absorbing calcium the way it should for stronger bones.

6. Get tested. I get a bone density test yearly. The tests can help your physician figure out your rate of bone loss and help you establish whatever treatments and prevention efforts are needed.

These steps aren't outrageous. In fact, they're almost boring. Who cares? They work and that's what counts. You probably could list these steps for all sorts of conditions but start with doing them to prevent osteoporosis.

To your aging success.

Ruthan Brodsky

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When to Consider Physical Therapy

One of the characteristics of getting older is that our body takes its revenge because of the abuse we've been handing it throughout the years. We tend to suffer from chronic back pain, the after-effects of an injury, bladder problems, and very bad posture, which make matters even worse.

Your answer may not be a pill or a surgical procedure. You may need a course of physical therapy (PT).

Physical therapists treat a range of muscle and skeletal problems. Most of us are familiar with PT when it's recommended following surgery or an accident. Some people with allergies take PT instead of medications.

The problem is most of us think we know how to properly exercise, manage our pain and rehab ourselves. "I've had this neck crick before and I know exactly what to do." I'm guilty of that conversation!

Who knows if I haven't injured another part of my body while getting rid of the neck pain?

Physical Therapists are trained for different body dysfunctions and rehab programs. They not only work with patients for pain relief, but also for strength and flexibility training, proper postural alignment, range of motion, endurance training, stress relieving techniques, balance and coordination, proper walking and setting their patients up with a home exercise program. For women with bladder problems, a physical therapist can educate them in how to strengthen pelvic muscles.

I am seriously considering asking my physician for a prescription to a PT so I can work on my posture. I don't sit very well which usually means my head is too forward and my shoulders rounded. I catch myself every so often but not often enough. I am probably not using my abs and core correctly. My concern is that when I do correct my posture, am I causing more damage or am I actually correct?

PT is covered by most health insurance plans but they usually need a physician's referral to provide ongoing treatment. I know that I lose muscle mass as I age. I'd just as soon keep as much of my core muscles as I can.

I'll call my internist and see what he has to say.

How about you? How is your posture? Do you have any helpful tips for keeping your head over your shoulders instead of closer to your chest? Let us know!!

To your aging success.

Ruthan Brodsky

Resources for Health Information on the Internet

At my last two posts I wrote about how good we were all getting at finding information on the internet.   On the second post I listed several questions you should be asking yourself when evaluating the reliability of the information. (scroll down for previous posts.)

In this post I'm just listing some of the well accepted websites, especially by the medical communities, that provide health information for you and me – the consumers.

The list is not complete. My objective is to just get you going in the right direction. And I repeat, check out the information with your physician before you take any action.

These are some of my top resources for health information on the WWW:

National Institutes of Health 

Medline Plus   

Medline  

Healthfinder

National Library of Medicine

Arthritis Foundation

UpToDate    (Patient information is free)

American Cancer Society

Mayo Clinic

New York Times Health

WebMD

Discovery Health

If you have others you want added to this list, let me know. Scroll down to Comments, type in their web address and what they focus on. Thanks

To your successful aging,

Ruthan Brodsky

P.S, If you are getting close to retirement and want to continue being productive or are thinking abut changing careers because after 30 years it is time, check out my blog: www.FromRetirementToCareerChange.com

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Finding Health Infromation on the Internet

There are lots of us, myself included, who want to learn about health issue on our own. If one of our family members or friends has been diagnosed with some kind of cancer we feel compelled to learn more about it. I don't think it's only curiosity. I believe we want to learn more about the disease thinking maybe we'll be able to help if we know more.

The Pew Foundation recently published a statistic (I don't recall where I read it) that 73% of Americans use the Internet and of those, 79% look for information on health.

Huge amounts of information are available in print and more it seems through electronic media. We've all experienced clicking on a favorite search engine, entering the name of a disease and getting hundreds of hits.

The problem is the quality of the information varies from website to website. And if you're not familiar with the topic, it is difficult to decide whether or not the information we're reading is really credible. Even so some patients report that the information they received on the Internet for a particular condition was better than the information they receive from their doctor.

There are questions you can ask yourself that will give you a better notion of credibility.

Who runs this site? Is the site commercial? In other words, who pays for the site? If it's a government agency rather than a pharmaceutical the chances are the information is not bias and has been reviewed. Government sites usually in .gov. Commercial sites end with .com and organizations, such as the American Cancer Society end in .org

Is the site current? It should be updated frequently. The date should be on every website. This usually appears at the bottom of the page.

The information should state whether the information is intended for the consumer or the medical profession. Many websites have two different areas.

The answers to these questions should give you a fairly decent idea about the reliability of the information on a website. An overall general rule may be just be wary of what you are reading and check the information with your doctor.

Another way to go, not perfect because even the best make mistakes, is to just search for medical information at reliable sites. In my next post I'll send you a list – save it and file.

If you have other questions we should be asking ourselves about a web site, please let us know. Scroll down to Comments and type them in the blank window.

Thanks.

To your successful aging.

Ruthan Brodsky

Health Information on the Internet - Jewels or Junk?

If you've ever spent more than 10 minutes on the Internet searching for information on a medical or health issue, you've probably gathered more information than you wanted – or needed.

Question: How do you know which information is valid, which is out of date, which is just misinformation?

First – there's no such thing as perfect medical information on the Internet. Even reports on research get skewed depending upon what's newsworthy. The same holds true for business. A colleague had a near miss in her business which is teaching eBook writing and technology. My business blog post relayed my belief that no information on the Internet is absolute. Click here to read that post.

So what do you do when you want factual health and medical information? The good news is you don't have to do much leg work for trips to the medical library. The quantity of health information has increased – is increasing – daily. Universities, hospitals, medical groups, the government research organization, and professional groups have established health related sites on dozens of medical topics.

Then there are the social networks and the support groups and forums where patients share information.

The popularity of on-line health sites is rising. The National Cancer Institute's sites, for example, now have 200,000 users each month, up from 20,000 a month just two years ago.

Sometimes the information is excellent. Sometimes it is completely distorted. The problem is so many of us believe what we read.

There's more. The quality of clinical information that circulates among doctors on the Internet via list servers or electronic mailing are sometimes based on opinions of individual doctors and not on the clinical trials and evidence based information.

The quality of medical sites is highly variable. The most reliable ones have information that's approved by boards of leading authorities and updated frequently. Many are maintained by government institutions like the National Institutes of Health or by universities and medical organizations.

Another sign of a quality site is one that has links to other sites on related topics. That way the consumer is getting more than one perspective.

It is good to be a well informed patient but as well as you know your body, you need expertise advice about how to keep that body in good health. That is why you have a doctor. Your doctor may know something about you and your medications or medical history that indicates the new treatment you learned about could be dangerous for you.

More on this topic in my next post.

Ask me questions now about this topic and I will do my best to answer them.

Scroll down to COMMENTS  and type your questions there.  I'll get them.

To your good health.

Ruthan