Longevity secrets
longevity research longevity anti-aging longevity natural

A new report issued by the National Center for Health Statistics indicates improved longevity in the US. American adults are living longer, fewer babies are dying in infancy, and the gap between white and black life expectancy has narrowed during the past decade. In 2000, average life expectancy at birth hit record highs, with men at 74.1 years and women at 79.5 years. A century earlier, life expectancy was 48 years for men and 51 years for women. Those who reach age 65 now live to an average age of 81 for men and 84 for women. It is unclear whether this trend in longevity will continue.

2001--For men, life expectancy rose from 74.3 in 2000 to 74.4 years in 2001. Women's life expectancy rose from 79.7 to 79.8 years. White women have the highest life expectancy, 80.2 years, followed by black women (75.5 years), white men (75 years) and black men (68.6 years).

The field of longevity and anti-aging is full of promises and unsubstantiated claims. As of now, there is no definitive research in humans of any substances or techniques that have been proven to extend longevity. However, there are a number of steps we can take to potentially live longer. These include:

Longevity enhancers
Here are some longevity secrets for you.

1. Have a positive attitude and improve your coping skills to daily stresses. Embrace the philosophy that "It's not what happens to me, it's what I make of it." In a sample of people aged 50 and older who were followed for an average of 23 years, respondents who reported having a positive attitude toward aging lived an average of more than 7 years longer than those who had a more dismal view of getting older. Do you want to be happier? Take a look at my book on Happiness.

2. Keep a healthy weight and reduce the number of calories consumed. Caloric restriction prolongs life in animals. Cutting calories may do more than help people shed excess weight, research suggests. According to a new report, a low-calorie diet may also slow age-related changes in the heart's genes that can lead to chronic disease. In the study, "middle-aged" 14-month-old mice were fed either a normal diet or one restricted in calories. When the mice reached 30 months of age, or the equivalent of 90 years of a human life span, the researchers analyzed their heart tissue. The hearts of mice on the low-calorie diets showed nearly 20% fewer age-related genetic changes and also appeared to have less DNA damage than those of mice on regular diets. Restricting calories also inhibited potentially disease-causing changes in the immune system, and suppressed apoptosis, or programmed cell death.
   A telephone poll conducted by ABC News found that 73% of respondents would not restrict their caloric intake in order to live longer.
   Mouse study: eating less at any age prolongs life.

3. Reduce consumption of foods cooked at high temperature

4. Regular exercise and keep physically active. Regular stretching or yoga is helpful in keeping joints and ligaments supple.

5. Avoid smoking cigarettes. Smokers die ten years younger on average than non-smokers
As if smokers need another reason to kick the habit, California scientists have discovered that nornicotine, a byproduct of nicotine, the substance that makes cigarettes so addictive, causes a type of chemical reaction in the body similar to that which occurs when sugar is scorched or food goes bad. This reaction is thought to play a role in diabetes, cancer and other diseases. The interaction between sugars and proteins can produce substances called advanced glycation endproducts, or AGEs. The accumulation of AGEs appears to contribute to the aging process and certain diseases.

6. Have strong connections to others, whether through family and relatives, marriage, children, pets, or connecting with nature, planet earth, and the universe.

7. Get a deep sleep

8. Keep your mind young and active by learning.

9. Try to surround yourself with nature. Green trees in the neighborhood, sunshine in home, are linked to longevity.

Unfortunately, one of the most important influences on longevity is genetics, something we cannot influence with our present scientific knowledge. People who have parents and grandparents who live long are more likely to also live a long life.

Supplements for Longevity
There is currently no evidence that taking supplements will make us live longer. However, it seems reasonably safe to take small amounts of certain supplements that have shown in preliminary research to be helpful.

Antioxidants
People think that a longevity secret is to take as many antioxidants in high doses. But more is not necessarily better.
Acetyl-l-carnitine and Lipoic Acid are interesting nutrients that may be beneficial, more research is needed before making recommendations. If you plan to take them, use low doses, even it means taking a portion of a capsule.
Carnosine appears to be able to extend the lifespan of cultured cells, and rejuvenate senescent cells.
Resveratrol from red wine has potential. Eat a few grapes a week.

Additional potential longevity enhancers:
Being financially stable
Having a satisfying career
Healing old and new emotional wounds
Having a personal religious or philosophical belief system that gives meaning to this world.
Driving safely, wearing seat belts, minimizing the use of cell phones while driving.

Longevity Research Update
Use of carnosine as a natural anti-senescence drug for human beings.
Wang AM, Ma C, Xie ZH, Shen F.Biochemistry (Mosc) 2000 Jul;65(7):869-71. Department of Biochemistry, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150086, PR China.
Carnosine is an endogenous free-radical scavenger. The latest research indicates that apart from the function of protecting cells from oxidation-induced stress damage, carnosine appears to be able to extend the lifespan of cultured cells, rejuvenate senescent cells, inhibit the toxic effects of amyloid peptide (A beta), malondialdehyde, and hypochlorite to cells, inhibit glycosylation of proteins and protein-DNA and protein-protein cross-linking, and maintain cellular homeostasis. Also, carnosine seems to delay the impairment of eyesight with aging, effectively preventing and treating senile cataract and other age-related diseases. Therefore, carnosine may be applied to human being as a drug against aging.

Foods cooked at high heat linked to inflammation
People may be able to lower their risk of heart, diabetes, and possibly other diseases by consuming cool foods, or dishes cooked at relatively low temperatures, such as salads and tuna fish, preliminary research suggests. Foods cooked at high temperatures spurred the production of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), compounds in the blood that stimulate cells to produce inflammation. While AGEs are normally produced in the body at a slow rate, they can be toxic and form more quickly when food is heated to high temperatures. Inflammation is associated with heart disease among all people, but people with diabetes are thought to be particularly vulnerable. People who consumed foods cooked at lower temperatures had lower levels of both AGEs and inflammatory proteins than people who consumed the same foods cooked at higher temperatures. After 6 weeks, levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and concentrations of the inflammatory protein C-reactive protein (CRP) had also risen among those consuming the diet high in AGEs and declined among those in the reduced AGE group. TNF-alpha and CRP are both markers showing increased inflammation.

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