When we
talk about natural therapies for slowing the ageing process the first thing
that comes to mind is maintaining youthful looking, radiant skin. Our skin
however is just an external reminder of our internal cellular health; and when
a naturopath talks about turning back our biological clock they are talking
about keeping your body in a state which is free from oxidative stress &
inflammation... the two major contributors to degenerative/ age related
diseases.
The most common
problems facing the aging population is arthritis, heart disease, diabetes,
memory decline, cancer and osteoporosis. All of these conditions are initiated
and sustained as a result of oxidation and inflammation. Therefore it is our responsibility
to combat these two issues with great food, healthy lifestyle choices and
perhaps a few supportive supplements chosen to meet an individuals needs and
risk factors.
The most
important preventitive measures come from our lifestyle and are seemingly
obvious but... do you really do all this?
· Exercise: at least 20 min per day, get your heart rate up!
· Brain exercises such as cross
words, trivia or playing cards
· Socialise with friends, be
involved in your community
· Maintain a healthy weight and
muscle density
· Balance your work/ life or
stress/ relaxation
· Double the amount of fruit and
vegetables you’re eating
· Get adequate sunlight
· Sleep between 6 and 9 hours per
night
· Limit exposure to environmental
toxins… smoking, alcohol, processed foods, cleaning products, plastics,
radiation
Email us to take our “Healthy Ageing Patient Questionnaire”
and find out your chronological age. Become aware of areas you may need to
improve on
Fish Oil: I cannot stress the importance of taking a high
quality fish oil… not all brands are the same and you get what you pay for! We recommend Ethical Nutrients, Pure Omega,
Bioceuticals or Nordic Naturals.
Fish oil will help control inflammation, improve
cholesterol, and provide nutrients for good brain function.
Herbal Antioxidants: This
includes but is not limited to Green Tea, Turmeric, Grapeseed Extract and Milk
Thistle. You can find formulas which
contain a blend of these amazing herbs.
Fusion Revital 8 is fantastic as well as Herbs of Gold Pycnogrape. Anti-oxidants keep your cells functioning as
they should therefore reducing damage which can lead to cancer, arterial
disease and brain degeneration
If cardiovascular disease runs in your family perhaps you would
be wise to start on some Co Enzyme Q10 supplementation which is beneficial to
those with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cardiomyopathy, congestive
heart failure or those who are at risk or have had a previous heart attack. It is also very important to regularly check
your homocystine levels which indicate levels of oxidation in the body. If yours are high
then you will benefit from taking folic acid, B6 and B12.
If you are an aging male then preventing future discomfort from
an enlarged prostate (BPH) may be of importance to you. Red Clover and Saw Palmetto are herbs which can
help lower PSA (an indicator of poor prostate health) and inhibit aromatase
enzymes (which cause the prostate cells to over-replicate) Also… did you know that higher Zinc levels are protective against BPH and
prostate cancer; 20-30mg per day is all you need!
Are you already getting aches and pains in the old joints? Prevention
is better than cure for osteoarthritis, best get yourself on a good quality
Glucosamine with Chondroitin and MSM. We
love Nutra Life Concentrated Glucosamine Powder… 1 tsp a day has everything you
need.
Did you see your grandparent’s cognition decline and want to prevent it
happening to yourself? If so then you need to also take a look at the hints under the cardiovascular heading
since the two conditions have a lot of cross overs. Additionally you may start taking a formula
which helps get more blood flow to the brain and reduces inflammation and oxidation. Herbs to look out for are Bacopa, Ginkgo and Green
Tea; Vitamin E and coconut oil also have many benefits. And don’t forget to
exercise that brain!
Of course we shouldn’t
have to dread getting older but it is best to be aware and take action
sooner rather than later!
Email us to take our “Healthy Ageing Patient Questionnaire”
and find out your chronological age. Become aware of areas you may need to
improve on
