How we choose to nourish our body on the inside will strongly affect how we appear on the outside. The visible signs of aging are often the first ones we’ll experience before we actually feel the physical effects of getting older. Here we’ll talk about the most common signs of aging, what is happening under the surface and how being in the Zone provides the solution.
- Fine Lines and Wrinkles: One of the first signs of aging is often the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The reason is the breakdown of collagen and elastic fibers caused by diet-induced inflammation. As these fibers breakdown, the skin loses its structural support and collapses like a pothole in a city street. Additional exposures to everyday inflammatory insults such as UV radiation and smoking can further escalate breakdown of elastin and collagen fibers. A diet low in omega-3 fatty acids such as EPA and DHA is a primary cause of this inflammation. The fastest way to help rectify this dietary deficiency is supplementation with OmegaRx 2. Furthermore, following the anti-inflammatory Zone Diet, will help slow down this degradation of elastin and collagen fibers that normally occurs with aging (1).
- Hair Loss: Unfortunately genetics play a large role in hair loss, but there is some evidence to show that having the right hormonal balance in our bodies can help. Males with balding have an increase in a hormone called Prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), which has been shown to limit hair growth (2). PGD2 is derived from Arachidonic Acid (AA). By following the Zone Diet (which was designed to limit the production of AA) will help to slow down this process.
- Graying: Graying has been linked to oxidative stress within the hair follicle. The best way to reduce oxidative stress (the excess generation of free radicals) is to have high levels of polyphenols in the diet, especially those that easily enter the blood like MaquiRx. Polyphenols activate the certain genes to generate higher levels of the anti-oxidant enzymes needed to neutralize the excess of free radicals in the hair.
- Bone: Numerous factors can reduce bone loss as well as unneeded inflammation from smoking (3). Peak bone mass is reached between the ages of 25-30 and after that we have to do what we can through our diets and exercise to maintain the bone mass we have accumulated (4). More importantly, Omega-3s such as those found in high concentrations in OmegaRx2 have been shown in human studies with subjects at high risk of potential bone fracture (5).
- Muscle Mass: The decline of testosterone and growth hormone, as we age results in the decline of muscle mass in both males and females, this leads to frailty. This is why exercise becomes important as we age because it helps maintain these hormone levels. Increased cellular inflammation can also promote a greater decline in muscle mass. By ensuring adequate protein intake and following the Zone Diet you can help minimize muscle loss that eventually leads to frailty. Polyphenols that easily enter the blood, such as MaquiRx, have been shown to reduce frailty in elderly individuals (6).
- Body Fat: Starting around age 30 body fat begins to accumulate more readily in the abdomen and hips. This can happen despite often having minimal changes in our diet and exercise habits. The reason for this is that testosterone and estrogen levels begin to decline and these hormones are quite effective in preventing the accumulation of stored body fat especially in the abdomen area (7,8). The best way to combat this increase in stored body fat is by following a calorie-restricted diet like the Zone Diet which allows you to lose excess body fat without hunger or fatigue.
- Vision: Macular degeneration is the primary cause of blindness in individuals over the age of 50, one of the underlying causes being inflammation in the retina. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for this condition, but we have shown through our clinical trials that if you reduce inflammation through supplementation with OmegaRx2 can lead to a dramatic vision improvement (9).
There’s no way to stop aging in its tracks, but by nourishing your body using the Zone Diet supplemented with OmegaRx 2 and MaquiRx as your dietary roadmap, you can at least ensure that how you age will be as slow as possible.
You may also like: Anti-Aging Made Easy
References:
1. Sears B. The Mediterranean Zone. Zink (Ballantine Books). New York, NY (2014)
2. Nieves A and LA. Garza. “Does Prostaglandin D2 hold the cure to male pattern baldness?” Exp Dermatol 23: 224–227 (2014)
3. Bone Health and Osteoporosis: A Report of the Surgeon General. Office of the Surgeon General (US). Rockville (MD): Office of the Surgeon General (US); 2004. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK45504/:
4. Maggio M, Artoni A, Lauretani F, Borghi L, Nouvenne A, Valenti G, and Ceda GP. “The impact of omega-3 fatty acids on osteoporosis.” Curr Pharm Des 15:4157-4164 (2009).
5. Hutchins-Wiese HL, Picho K, Watkins BA, Li Y, Tannenbaum S, Claffey K, and Kenny AM. “High-dose eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid supplementation reduces bone resorption in postmenopausal breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitors: a pilot study.” Nutr Cancer 66:68-76 (2014)
6. Urpi-Sarda M, Andres-Lacueva C, Rabassa M, Ruggiero C, Zamora-Ros R, Bandinelli S, Ferrucci L, and Cherubini A. “The Relationship Between Urinary Total Polyphenols and the Frailty Phenotype in a Community-Dwelling Older Population: The InCHIANTI Study.” J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2015 70:1141-1147 (2015)
7. Goss AM, Darnell BE, Brown MA, Oster RA, and Gower BA. “Longitudinal associations of the endocrine environment on fat partitioning in postmenopausal women.” Obesity 20:939-944 (2012)
8. Vermeulen A, Goemaere S, and Kaufman JM. “Testosterone, body composition and aging.”
J Endocrinol Invest 22:110-116 (1999)
9. Georgiou T, Neokleous A, Nikolaou D, and Sears B. "Pilot study for treating dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with high-dose omega-3 fatty acids.” PharmaNutrition 2:8-11 (2014)
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