Molecular biologist and ultramarathon runner Dr. Andrews shares his tips on how to slow aging.

The future of antiaging is nigh with minds like Bill Andrews, Ph.D., and Isagenix Founder and Master Formulator John Anderson on the scene of telomere biology research.

Telomeres are non-coding sequences of repetitive DNA at the end of chromosomes that are linked to human lifespan — and Dr. Andrews and Anderson are seeking out natural compounds that will turn on expression of telomerase, an enzyme that restores the length of telomeres.

Keeping telomeres long by reversing age-related shortening can potentially slow the onset of poor health and increase human lifespan.

However, as we await the latest developments in antiaging strategies such as inducing telomerase activity, there are a few lifestyle changes we can make to slow down telomere shortening as much as possible.

In our interview with Dr. Andrews, a molecular biologist who has studied aging at a molecular level for more than 15 years, he shared seven of the best known ways science knows of now to slow down telomere shortening to live longer:

1. Don’t ever smoke. Smoking is not only hazardous to your lungs and cardiovascular health, but is also found to increase rate of telomere shortening, which can lead to dysfunction and instability of chromosomes. 
2. De-stress your life. The more stress you have in your life, the greater risk of increasing the rate of telomere shortening and aging more quickly. How to slow it down? As simple as it might sound, the key is to always have a positive outlook on life. Plus, enjoy a vacation once in a while, enjoy friends and social activities, receive plenty of sleep every night, and try meditation.
3. Exercise regularly. By increasing amounts of physical activity, especially intense physical activity, research shows you could keep your telomeres long and healthy, even buffering the effects of chronic stress.
4. Get your antioxidants daily. When high amounts of free radicals attack cells (causing oxidative stress), they leave no stone unturned making chromosomes and their telomeres vulnerable to shortening. You can best protect yourself by getting plenty of antioxidants in your diet from eating fruits and vegetables daily and supplements. 
5. Never go without fish oil. Fish oil contains long-chain omega-3 fatty acids that are well-known for being healthy to the heart, but recent evidence has shown that increasing amounts in the diet is associated also with slowing telomere shortening over time. You can get enough by eating fish a couple of times per week and by supplementing with long-chain omega-3s daily. 
6. Get enough of the “sunshine vitamin.” Several discoveries have made vitamin D the most popular nutrient of the decade because of its many benefits including an association with longer telomere length. You can make sure you’re getting enough by practicing safe sun exposure and supplementing with vitamin D daily. 
7. Practice safe weight loss. Maintaining a healthy weight is important to keep telomeres long. Incorporating Isagenix products into your weight-loss program such as cleansing and replacing meals with IsaLean shakes and bars is helpful for losing weight and slowing telomere shortening.  

In the search for a compound to "turn on" telomerase, an enzyme that restores telomeres, Dr. Andrews and Anderson will screen thousands of natural compounds.

When people talk of “turning back the clock” or living in perpetual youth, it’s all too easy to write them off as quacks or having watched a little too much science fiction—but that’s not so when talking with molecular biologist Bill Andrews, Ph.D., who has studied aging at the molecular level for more than 15 years.

Dr. Andrews is one of the world’s authorities on the biology of telomeres, which are sequences of repetitive non-coding DNA segments found at the ends of chromosomes. Telomeres, commonly likened to the plastic tips on shoelaces (perhaps too simply, says Dr. Andrews), protect chromosomes from damage and decrease each time a cell divides and replicates. 

The length of telomeres is directly linked to age. When we are born our telomeres are long,  but they shorten with each cell cycle as cells continually divide. Telomere length is the nearest measure that science has ever found to determine lifespan in humans, horses, dogs and cats—it acts as an the internal “hourglass” or “biological clock” for aging.

A genuine measure in humans for determining lifespan is groundbreaking medical science – so much that Dr. Andrews says he is delighted that his colleagues Drs. Elizabeth Blackburn, Carol Greider, and Jack Szozstak won a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2009 for their own discoveries in telomere biology.

His own  breakthrough finding was the detection of an enzyme called telomerase, which acts directly on telomeres to replace DNA bases that have been lost to cell division. It’s a key finding because telomerase can be produced by all types of human cells if they are given an appropriate signal, a signal that could  ”reverse aging” and increase the lifespan in humans.

Who wouldn’t want to live a longer, healthier life past 125? The potential to increase healthy lifespan is the reason that Dr. Andrews has screened thousands of compounds searching for ones that stimulate telomerase activity.

Enter John Anderson   

Isagenix Founder and Master Formulator John Anderson

On Aug. 22 at Isagenix Celebration 2010 in San Diego, Isagenix Founder and Master Formulator John Anderson  announced that Isagenix will enter into the forefront of anti-aging products. He also introduced Dr. Andrews and new research they will work on together.

“Dr. Andrews developed the technology to test, verify the activity, and authenticate the effectiveness of natural ingredients that will turn back our human time clock,” said Anderson. “My role will be to search the world for botanicals, natural bacteria and other materials that hold the secrets of youth. These ingredients will undergo full screening by Dr. Andrews to verify its activity, whether or not there’s a ‘hit’.”

Giving credit where it’s due, Dr. Andrews and Anderson said the “genius” plan to work together actually came from Peter Greenlaw, a top Isagenix Associate. Greenlaw was fascinated with Dr. Andrews and his research.

But Dr. Andrews had focused almost completely on drugs and chemicals until Greenlaw suggested to him, “Why not try natural products? I know just the man you need to meet. He has been working with natural botanicals and has formulated thousands of natural products for more than 30 years.”

Dr. Andrews said the idea was brilliant, so Greenlaw arranged for Anderson and Dr. Andrews to meet together on the project. When they met, Dr. Andrews became immediately impressed with Anderson’s vast knowledge of herbs and botanicals while Anderson was impressed with Dr. Andrews.

While awaiting age reversal, slow telomere shortening

Dr. Andrews, discoverer of telomerase

As promising as the discovery of telomerase is in the science of antiaging, Dr. Andrews and Anderson say that for the time being people should focus on implementing the known lifestyle changes that reduce the rate of telomere shortening.

While on stage at Celebration, Dr. Andrews shared that these lifestyle changes included quitting smoking, exercising, and reducing stress.

Dr. Andrews also said that Isagenix products should be added to an antiaging regimen, “There have been at least three publications in the last year showing that some dietary supplements can help slow telomere shortening. When I looked at the ingredients in Ageless Essentials [Daily Pack], I found they were all in there. Isagenix put some real thought into this.”

The company’s Ageless Essentials Daily Pack features AM and PM packets containing key antiaging-focused products: Ageless Actives, Essentials for Men/Women, IsaOmega Supreme and C-Lyte.

As a person actively engaged in extending his own lifespan (he wears a pin on his suit-coat lapel that says “Cure Aging or Die Trying”), Dr. Andrews said he was delighted to start using the Ageless Essentials Daily Pack right away because of its convenience for getting all the nutrients he needs.  

Ageless Essentials Daily Pack is a convenient way to receive key antiaging nutrients.

Determined to Defeat Aging

Convenience comes at a high value to a person who is as resolved to defeat aging as Dr. Andrews – determination is a defining characteristic of the man, who also happens to be a regular on the ultra-marathon running scene.

“When I or somebody else is healthy enough to run a seven-minute mile when they’re 130 years old, that’s when I’m going to know that we’ve cured aging,” Dr. Andrews said. “That’s my benchmark. I love life, I never want to die, and I plan on running a 100-mile race when I’m 100 years old.”

Dr. Andrews suggests that with healthy lifestyle habits such as regular exercise, eating right, and taking Ageless Essentials Daily Pack, we could all join him in staying healthy long enough to see radical reversal of aging in our futures.

With Dr. Andrews and Anderson working on telomerase research together, we can expect the day of increasing healthy life spans to come sooner rather than later.

One in four people in North America have a GI disorder that can be managed with diet and lifestyle.

By Nicole Kafka, M.D., Board-Certified Colorectal Surgeon  

Living with a gastrointestinal (GI) disorder has its challenges in a world of fast food, carbonated and sugary beverages, and high-stress living, and the most important step for a person to take is to consult a doctor who can diagnose the condition and recommend the appropriate treatment – from diet therapy to more specialized care from a gastroenterologist or colorectal surgeon.

Among the most common disorders, which affect about one in four people in North America, are  lactose intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids, chronic constipation, inflammatory bowel disease, and diverticulitis.

The good news is that each of these common GI conditions can usually benefit through simple changes to diet and lifestyle.

Lactose Intolerance

Lactose intolerance is a condition when a person is unable to produce enough of a digestive enzyme known as lactase to break down a milk sugar known as lactose—a disaccharide (double sugar), consisting of galactose and glucose.

People who are lactose intolerant are not able to fully digest dairy products. When people who are lactose intolerant do try to ingest dairy, the condition’s symptoms can range from mild to severe and can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, gas, bloating and nausea.

As we age, the risk of developing lactose intolerance can increase because lactase production decreases. Ethnicity can also be a risk factor: those of African, Asian, Native American or Latin American descent are at higher risk for lactose intolerance. In addition, premature birth or existence of other GI disorders can result in lactose intolerance.

When suffering from lactose intolerance, here are some things people can do to support their GI health:

• Take a lactase supplement when consuming dairy products. Many people with lactose intolerance could avoid common symptoms simply by taking a quality digestive enzyme supplement.
• If extremely sensitive, avoid milk products, but don’t forget your calcium. For some people, even a minimal amount of lactose is not tolerable. They are unable to use products that contain any milk-derived components. For these people, getting calcium by other means, such as through supplementation, is necessary for bone health.
• Try probiotics and prebiotics. Probiotics are friendly bacteria that reside naturally in the intestines, helping to promote a healthy digestive system, and may help with digestion of lactose. Prebiotics support the growth of intestinal flora. Great sources of prebiotics and probiotics are fruit, legumes, whole grains, and yogurt.

Acid Reflux

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or acid reflux, is a condition that occurs when gastric acid backs up into the esophagus. The most common symptom is heartburn or regurgitation, which results when the lower esophageal sphincter cannot relax properly to allow food and liquid to flow down into the stomach; the acid then flows back up into the esophagus, causing a burning pain in the chest.

When a person has a history of acid reflux, here are some things they can do support their GI health:

• Eat smaller meals. Consumption of a large meal, especially one high in fat, can increase the likelihood of having acid reflux.
• Avoid late-night eating. Lying down after eating, or bending over, can worsen the condition. It is important to keep your head elevated for at least 2 to 3 hours after meals.
• Avoid heartburn triggers. These include fatty or fried foods, caffeine, chocolate, alcohol, and acidic or spicy foods.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Excess weight puts pressure on the abdomen, which can cause acid reflux.
• Elevate the head of your bed, using supports under the legs or a wedge under the head portion of the mattress.  This helps gravity work for you instead of against you.   
• Avoid stress. A busy schedule can often lead to poor eating habits such as relying mainly on fatty foods, and may affect stomach function.   

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a condition in which the large intestine does not function properly. In some cases, food is forced through the intestines too quickly, causing abdominal cramps, gas, bloating, and diarrhea. In other cases, food passes very slowly, causing stools to become dry and hard, leading to constipation. People who are most at risk for IBS includes the elderly, women and having a family history of IBS. Medications should not be modified without discussion with the person’s physician.

When a person is managing IBS, here are some things that they can do to support their GI health:

• Optimize fiber intake. Getting enough fiber in the diet, especially soluble fiber, from fruits and vegetables, can provide support for GI health, leading to better management of IBS.  
• Avoid trigger foods. IBS flare-ups can vary from person to person. Response depends to some extent on whether the person has food intolerances (such as lactose) or food allergies.
• Eat small, frequent meals and consume plenty of water.
• Exercise regularly. Increased physical activity can support GI health.
• Try prebiotics and probiotics. Increasing your consumption of probiotics can help promote healthy gut flora and may ease symptoms, but should be used after consultation with a doctor. Great sources of prebiotics and probiotics are fruit, legumes and whole grains, and yogurt, respectively.

Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis

The presence of diverticuli in the colon is a condition known as diverticulosis. The diverticuli are small pouches caused by protrusion of the inner lining of the colon. People who have diverticulosis may be asymptomatic or may have cramping, bloating, and constipation.

When a diverticulum in the digestive system becomes inflamed, perforated, or infected, the condition is referred to as diverticulitis. People with diverticulitis often suffer from symptoms such as abdominal pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, and changes in bowel habits such as diarrhea and constipation.

When a person has diverticulosis or diverticulitis, here are some things they may consider (after consultation with a doctor) to support GI health:

• Exercise regularly and lose weight. Obesity and lack of physical activity are both high risk factors for someone with a history of diverticulitis. By adopting a quality weight management and exercise program (as recommended by your doctor), you can help achieve goals of improving your GI health.
• Optimize fiber intake. One of the main causes of diverticular disease is following a low-fiber diet. Making dietary changes to ensure you consume enough fiber daily can be one of the principal ways to avoid having a flare-up, and can be easily achieved by eating plenty of whole fruits and vegetables, and whole grains. If you are not used to having fiber in your diet, start slowly—add a small amount (about 4 grams) to your diet at a time and build up (to about 5 to 6 grams) per serving.
• Drink water throughout the day. Increasing water intake and spacing water intake periodically can help normalize bowel movements. Fiber is very absorbent, and will draw water from your intestinal lining, leading to constipation, unless you consume enough water.
• Magnesium. Getting enough magnesium in your diet such as from leafy green vegetables can be important for helping to attract water into your colon for normalized bowel movements.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis)

Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis are inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) with a major auto-immune component that requires consultation with a medical doctor and proper medical treatment. They both cause inflammation in the digestive tract. Crohn’s can affect any part of the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus, usually in patches, whereas ulcerative colitis affects only the lining of the colon.

People with IBD may suffer from symptoms that range from mild to severe that include abdominal pain, diarrhea, blood in stool, low-grade fever, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Those at highest risk are those with a family history of IBD, cigarette smoking, and, possibly, environmental factors.

When a person has had a history of IBD, here are some things they can do to support GI health:

• Try probiotics and prebiotics and probiotics. Studies where people incorporated probiotics and prebiotics into their diets have shown potential advantages in GI health. Great sources of prebiotics and probiotics are fruit, legumes and whole grains, and yogurt, respectively.
• Consume fish oil. Fish oil contains long-chain omega-3 fatty acids that have been shown in studies to support GI health.

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are collections of arteries and veins under the anal lining that can become swollen, painful, and bleed. They affect about 5 percent of the population in North America. Often they can be managed with diet, but if they do not improve, it is important to see a colorectal surgeon, as not all anal discomfort is from hemorrhoids, and, even if you are suffering from hemorrhoids, other treatments may be indicated.

When a person suffers from swollen hemorrhoids, here are some things they can consider doing to manage symptoms:

• Optimize fiber and water. Consume plenty of fiber (25 to 30 grams of fiber) and water (at least 8 glasses) throughout each day to aid bowel function and regularity, reducing risk of constipation and decreasing stress in the anal area.
• Avoid sitting for long periods or turning the bathroom into a library. Sitting too long puts pressure where it doesn’t need to be – in the veins of the anus.
• Avoid strain on the toilet. Relax and let your natural function work.  

• Marilyn Territo, a clinical paramedical esthetician, presented an indepth look into the anti-skin-aging particulars behind new skincare products Isa SunGuard and Ageless Renewal Serum.
• David Despain, Isagenix manager of science communications, demonstrated the latest science and featured technolgies in new Essentials for Men/Women.

Isa SunGuard and Ageless Renewal Serum

On Monday,  Marilyn Territo shared an indepth look into the new skincare antiaging products. Unlike other sunscreens on the market that use chemical ultraviolet ray absorbers and don’t protect the skin fully, Territo told us Isa SunGuard features zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.

“These natural minerals work in synergy to block both UVB rays (the burning rays) and UVA rays (the aging rays),” she said.

Marilyn Territo

Territo told us the new Isa Sunguard is not only a sunscreen protecting against sunburn, but also offers key protection from cumulative effects of photodamage that contribute to skin aging. For ultimate sun protection, recommendations are to reapply sunscreen every 80 minutes.

Isa SunGuard is a product that provides unsurpassed protection without toxic ingredients. And, besides protecting the body’s largest organ, it is water-resistant helps to leave your skin looking luminous and feeling hydrated all day long. Learn more about Isa SunGuard by following the link to this new product Web site.

When presenting on the Ageless Renewal Serum, Territo could barely contain her excitement in sharing, “Our new Ageless Renewal Serum provides raw constituents to repair, renew, and regenerate skin.”

What Territo refers to as ”raw constituents,” she explains, are a high concentration of epidermal growth factors that govern the process of skin’s production of matrix proteins such as collagen and elastin. 

The technology is called Repair-Plex™, and is the newest development in skin care offered by Isagenix that helps diminish the appearance of deep lines and wrinkles while firming, toning, balancing and brightening the skin for a healthy and luminous glow.

UPDATE 08/26/10 -

Territo also shared instructions on how to best use Ageless Renewal Serum: 

Morning

1. Cleanse with Gentle Cleansing Gel
2. Use the Intensive Microderm:  2-3 times per week for sensitive, dry, mature skin. It can be used daily for oily and combination skin. Note: Do not use the Anti-Aging Treatment Toner (when applying Ageless Renewal Serum) 
3. On dry skin, apply Ageless Renewal Serum.
4. Apply Antioxidant C Serum with CoQ10.
5. Apply Age-Defying Eye Cream.
6. Apply Isa SunGuard for UV protection and as a day lotion. Note:  For extremely dry and/or mature skin, you can use a thin film of Moisture-Rich Day Cream prior to applying Isa SunGuard. 

Night 

1. Follow the same regimen as the morning program, except do not repeat Intensive Microderm if you already used it in the morning. 
2. Use Intensive Renewal Night Cream instead of Isa SunGuard

Learn more about Ageless Renewal Serum at this just-launced product Web site.

Essentials Demonstration

On Tuesday, David Despain shed skepticism and debunked myths about taking multivitamins and gave a demonstration of the rapid disintegration technology and with animations illustrating optimal release technologies featured in Isagenix Essentials.  

Despain told us that people often offer these common excuses when it comes to buying quality multivitamins:

- I already receive sufficient vitamins and minerals from my diet.
- I’m really interested only in losing weight.
- I heard tablets don’t disintegrate or absorb. It’s just expensive feces. - I already take a generic multivitamin.

David answered each question head on. First of all, he told us, we know that we’re overfed yet undernourished based on National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys:  “Despite our present obesity epidemic, most of us receive insufficient amounts of vitamins and minerals. We are getting enough to prevent clinical deficiencies that lead to scurvy, pellagra, rickets and beri beri, but we aren’t receiving the amounts recommended by the Institute of Medicine for long-term health.”

He added, “This is why, in 2002, the Journal of American Medical Association recommended taking a multinutrient to achieve optimal intakes of vitamins A, C, E, B6, B12 and minerals such as zinc and calcium.”

Despain added that common weight-loss diets make the situation even worse because although calorie-restriction is important, it could lead to clinical deficiencies as reported in two studies recently.

While more and more people are beginning to understand the importance of taking multivitamins, which is clear from statistics from the Council of Responsible Nutrition showing 65 percent of the population in the United States take multivitamins presently, Despain told us that what most people don’t realize is that nutrition science is always changing and we know more every day. 

“We need to think of multivitamins as we do cars, computers and cellphones,” David said. “Most multivitamins are like old-style cellphones with few features, while others have features galore like iPhone or Droid and have great cellphone reception.” Can you hear me now? 

In the multivitamin world, Despain says, this is what people should look for:

David Despain

• Like apps on a mobile phone - A quality multivitamin should be based on the latest nutrition science for long-term health including higher amounts of vitamin D, buffered vitamin C, vitamin K2 (not K1), optimized vitamin A and E amounts, vitamin E as mixed tocopherols, and tailored to men’s and women’s needs.
• Like great cellphone reception – A quality multivitamin should feature rapid disintegration and optimal absorption technologies for greatest benefit to the body.  

To illustrate these points, Despain gave a demonstration showing how quickly Isagenix Essentials tablets disintegrates in comparison to competing companies ranging from generics to network marketing companies.

With help from a volunteer, he placed one tablet from each company into beakers filled with 100 mL of white distilled vinegar tested to show they all had a pH of about 2.4. After a few minutes, the Isagenix Essentials clearly disintegrated at a faster rate than the other products.

“We’re not poopooing these other products; they’re great products from great companies,” said Despain. “It’s just that our Essentials kicks the other products’ trash.”

Despain followed by showing animations of common issues with multivitamin absorption such as:

• oversaturation (example: when there’s too much calcium, a lot doesn’t get absorbed)
• mineral competitiveness (example: zinc and copper inhibit each other’s absorption) 
• chelation (example: when phytates are present from foods or ingredients, they binds to minerals and inhibit absorption)

The design of Essentials (including dosages, forms and sources of nutrients) takes into consideration oversaturation, mineral competitiveness and chelation by delivering nutrients in timed intervals to enhance overall absorption. 

Despain told the audience, “It’s the difference between opening the floodgates like most multivitamins do versus providing nutrients in waves for optimal release and availability in the body.”

To learn more about Isagenix Essentials and Ageless Essentials Pack, follow the links to their new product Web sites here and here.

What else would you expect but serious technical information from the likes of well-informed speakers like Mark Kimes, D.C., Paul Anderson, M.D., Dennis Harper, D.O., Susie Rockway Ph.D.,  and Nicole Kafka, M.D.!

Live-blogged directly from the event, below is a summary of nuggets learned from Sunday’s speakers with a few quotes.

Kimes

First up today was Dr. Kimes, who presented on IsaLean Shake and Ionix Supreme, both of which are designed to help the body run at “optimal body performance.” Dr. Kimes told us that the adaptogen-rich Ionix drink is a “great body body-balancer” that keeps you running at your best under pressure.

Additionally, when Ionix Supreme is taken along with a completely balanced like IsaLean Shake, Dr. Kimes told us, “people can count on pure, wholesome nutrition to meet the demands of the body at all times.”

Second, Dr. Anderson delivered a few provocative points in his presentation on IsaDelights. These specially formulated dark chocolates help you to naturally produce the “feel-good chemicals” that are critical for losing weight and for romance.

“When your brain is struggling and not happy, you’re not happy,” said Dr. Anderson. So feed your brain optimal nutrition and health with Isagenix and IsaDelight!

Dr. Anderson

Dr. Anderson adds the dark chocolates are excellent for getting through Cleanse Days. He told us, “Cleansing is challenging,” but with IsaDelights you can get through them easily by feeding the brain nutrients that cause you to feel your best.

Third up were both Rockway and Dr. Harper with a set-up to teach the audience about technical details behind good, healthy water. “All we need is good, clean food, clean air, clean water and our bodies know what to do,” Dr. Harper said kicking off the presentation on water. 

Dr. Harper

Dr. Harper and Rockway went through the particulars about making sure you’re receiving great-tasting water, low total dissolved solids (TDS), negative oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) – the three factors to look for when finding quality water for your health. Ultimate solution? Drink purified water and treat it with a drop of high-negative ORP IsaWater Alkalized Concentrate.

Lastly, Dr. Kafka took stage with Rockway to educate us (once again, see yesterday’s post) on the importance of “healthy snacking” for poor digestive health and losing weight. According to the speakers, you should watch the calories, but also realize that manufactured foods are often designed to keep you eating them as long as possible.

Dr. Kafka

If you want satisfying, healthy snacks, then the key is to stick to high-protein or high-fiber foods in the form of whole fruits, nuts, vegetables as well as great Isagenix products such as SlimCakes, IsaLean Bars (cut into pieces), Isagenix Snacks (for Cleanse Days), and IsaDelights.

Both Rockway and Dr. Kafka are experts on fiber and couldn’t help but give us a background bulk of information on the differences between soluble and insoluble fiber. Both are critically important for keeping the heart and the gut healthy long term. 

That was it for Sunday, but stay tuned for new product launches tonight and Monday’s and Tuesday’s  Product Vignettes on “New Products.” Exciting!

On Saturday, we kicked off Isagenix Product Vignettes with several speakers including Tony Escobar, Peter Greenlaw, MD, Paul Anderson, MD, Nicole Kafka, MD, Susie Rockway, PhD, Patrick Bitter, Andrea Henkart, Mark Kimes, DC, Jim Rhoades, and Tony O’Donnell — a great line-up! 

Isagenix will be following up with coverage on these speakers, but for now here is a summary with some highlights and quotes from their talks:  

Randi & Tony Escobar

First, Tony Escobar gave us a charged discussion of why it’s so important to cleanse and enjoy a diet rich in alkaline foods for optimal health. Then, he delivered what he called the “tripple whammy for the heart” — Ageless Actives, IsaOmega Supreme and IsaFlush. These support cardiovascular health with nutrients such as CoQ10, fish oil and magnesium.   

Peter Greenlaw followed Tony in discussing the unfortunate nature of our world replete with toxins. He told us to think of a diet like a seesaw, tipping the balance toward nutrition, and “get your mind off calories.” Thanks to Peter for reminding us also that we’re all “educators” first, not salespeople. We’re morally obligated to help people with their health whenever we can.   

Greenlaw

Dr. Anderson

Third up was Paul Anderson, creator of IsaDelight chocolates, discussing how these “happy chocolates” help satisfy our brains. As far as Dr. Anderson’s concerned, in fact, “on average, Isagenix Associates are just happier than other people.” A regular amount of cleansing and replenishing nutrients is critical for keeping up mood, thereby also helping you to avoid junk food and lose weight.

Dr. Kafka

Dr. Nicole Kafka, a colon and rectal surgeon, followed next with Susie Rockway, a nutritional biochemist, to discuss how to best use snacks for losing weight. Dr. Kafka told us: Snacking is good, but “most snacks are manufactured to get you to eat more of them!” The key to weight loss is snacking on high-fiber or high-protein foods such as whole fruits and vegetables, or Isagenix products such as SlimCakes, IsaLean Bars (cut into pieces), Snacks, and IsaDelights. Adds Rockway, ”If you’re going to put something in your mouth, make sure it does something for you.”

Dr. Bitter

Sixth up was Patrick Bitter, a dermatologist, who discussed why great-looking skin depends on healthy nutrition and quality skin care. Bitter enjoys Isagenix’s  line of IsaDermix products because it serves as a complete system for cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. With IsaDermix, he says you can certainly be looking your best and defy the effects of aging. 

Henkart

Andrea Henkart followed with tips for healthy tips for healthy kids. Henkart, who has written books on the subject of raising children well tells us that Isagenix makes this task easier with products such as IsaLean Shake, IsaKids Essentials, and IsaFruits. Henkart added that these can be mixed and matched also with Mars Venus products such as Mars Venus Super Cleanse and Mars Venus Shakes.

Kimes

After Henkart, Dr. Mark Kimes gave us a real in-depth look into how quality protein supports athletes. By sticking with quality, he means avoiding “junk” and sticking  with bonafide whey protein from New Zealand as found in IsaPro and IsaLean Shakes. This whey protein is “high in branched-chain amino acids” to fuel muscle growth and “cysteine,” an amino acid that bolsters levels of the body’s powerful antioxidant glutathione

Next up was Jim Rhoades, who brought the house down (no really, there were so many in the audience that people were sitting on the floor). Rhoades discussed our new product Ageless Actives and why its formulation of coQ10 is exceptional with clinical studies showing 800 percent greater absorption than dry powder versions. Rhoades told us, CoQ10 is what “gives mitochondria (batteries in the cell) a jump-start” for energy and for protecting against free radicals.

Rhoades

Lastly, Tony O’Donnell reminded us why it’s so important for all of us to receive the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables daily — so many benefits, too many to name here. Despite these benefits, the majority of Americans get little or no fruits and vegetables daily. Luckily, with the help of Isagenix products IsaFruits and Greens!, this task can be achieved with greater ease.

That’s all for Saturday, but today (Sunday) there’s another round with fantastic information coming, so stay tuned.

One or two servings of dark chocolate per week is good for women's hearts, a study reports.

They say chocolate is the way to a woman’s heart, and they could be right – eating one or two servings of dark chocolate weekly is good for the hearts of middle-aged or elderly women.

A nine-year observational study followed 31,823 healthy Swedish women ages 48 to 82 and found that those who ate moderate amounts of high-quality chocolate had healthier hearts.

The women who gained the most heart-health benefits had eaten one or two servings of the dark chocolate weekly, followed by those who ate one to three servings monthly. Each serving of chocolate was typically between 19 and 30 grams.

On the other hand, the women who ate one or more servings per day received no benefit, which the researchers suggest was result of  replacing other nutritious foods with the chocolate. So, enjoy dark chocolate, but in moderation and as part of a nutritious diet.

Men, take note – the quality of the chocolate matters.

Finding the right chocolate for a woman’s heart health, while avoiding the pitfalls of eating other chocolates high in fat and sugar, depends on content and value of its cocoa.

The chocolate the Swedish women ate contained higher amounts of cocoa than milk chocolate and was not as highly processed as most dark chocolate found typically in North America.

When choosing dark chocolate, seek out versions that are minimally processed and high in cocoa flavonoids for greatest antioxidant strength. Cocoa is naturally one of the world’s richest sources of  antioxidant flavonoids, which are also found in various fruits and vegetables, tea and red wine.

Previous studies have explored dark chocolate as a delicious and convenient way to gain sufficient antioxidants to support cell health, cardiovascular and heart health.

Source: Mostofsky E., Levitan E.B., Wolk A. et al. Journal of the American Heart Association.

Aged and vibrant mitochondria depend on levels of CoQ10.

Growing old is not so much about chronological age but a consequence of the biochemical processes that happen inside our bodies, the lifestyle choices we make, and how well we can protect our bodies from the toxic elements around us.

Scientists are only now beginning to understand this aging process. Aging is mainly influenced by forces within our bodies including a process called “cellular aging.” Cellular aging is the gradual course over time that leads progressively to the loss of our physiological reserves and functions.

Scientists also developed the free radical theory of aging, which is a theory that the origins of cellular aging are in part the result of the damaging effects of oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress—an imbalance of antioxidant defenses and free radicals—is a product of our environment but also a product of our own metabolism, which brings us to the mitochondrion.

Free Radical Theory of Aging and the Mitochondria

The mitochondrion is a sausage-shaped, double-membrane organelle appropriately nicknamed the cell’s “powerhouse” because of  its efficiency in converting food into a form of energy called ATP. The mitochondrion houses the cell’s capacity for “aerobic respiration,” which features the Krebs cycle and the electron transport chain.

The electron transport chain in the mitochondria is the most efficient as it extracts a total of 32 ATP (only 4 ATP are produced from the Kreb’s cycle and glycolysis). The more mitochondria in the cells the more energy produced to meet our cell’s  needs. The millions of mitochondria found within our cells in our tissues are what generate the majority of the energy that keeps our organs functioning at their prime: giving our brains the power for thought, and our muscles their power for performance and endurance.

As you’d expect from any efficient power plant, however, there are unwanted side effects. In the case of the mitochondria, the side effects are the generation of electrons, which leave the mitochondria to potentially produce free radicals (reactive oxygen species). Reactive oxygen species such as lipid peroxyl radicals attack all cellular components, especially those that are in close proximity to the mitochondria. These can include intracellular proteins, lipid membranes, mitochondrial DNA and cellular DNA.

The majority of oxidative stress on organelles, cells and bodily organs are bestowed upon them by their own mitochondria. It is part of the process of cellular aging and the mitochondria themselves are particularly susceptible to the damage. They are the body’s primary bioenergetic machinery, and require continuous recycling and regeneration throughout their lifespan.

Further, the effective control of mitochondrial biogenesis and turnover becomes important for maintaining energy levels, preventing endogenous oxidative stress and promoting healthy aging. As mitochondrial and cellular deterioration occur, so does a gradual progressive functional decline. The majority of theories suggest cellular deterioration slowly causes loss of organ function. In addition, the damage of oxidative stress from mitochondria can eventually lead to impaired mitochondrial and cellular DNA, allowing for possible mutations and impaired function of DNA replication.

As changes occur in the cells and the organs over time, old age accumulates, physical function diminishes, and the ability to respond to various stressors diminishes. This can be exacerbated by the onset of a progressive illness associated with aging.

CoQ10 Slows Cellular Aging

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) plays a key role in the mitochondria. As a member of the ubiquinone family, it’s a major fat-soluble antioxidant found in all cell membranes, especially within mitochondrial membranes. It’s one of the cell’s most potent scavengers of free radicals, neutralizing the lipid peroxyl radicals that damage cell membranes, proteins and DNA.

CoQ10 is also an acceptor of electrons for transfer along the electron transport chain; it plays a major role in the generation of ATP energy, and is instrumental in the proton gradient across the mitochondrial membrane that is required to form ATP energy.

Humans and animals synthesize CoQ10 to produce cellular energy and to protect cells from the danger of free radicals. However, humans’ ability to synthesize CoQ10 declines 20 percent every decade of life after the age of 21. The decline leads to deficiency, weakness and fatigue throughout the body. And it is estimated that the average intake of CoQ10 is 3-5 mg per day from normal diet (1) — amounts not nearly enough to return the body to youthful levels.

In addition, pharmaceuticals only worsen age-related low CoQ10 levels and lead to worsened health outcomes. There are 143 known pharmaceuticals that cause decreased serum levels of CoQ10 in patients. These include beta-blockers, antidepressants, antibiotics, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone replacement and, most notably, statin drugs.

Statin therapy, which is used to lower cholesterol for millions in the U.S. and Canada, works by blocking the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase in the liver, which regulates both cholesterol and coenzyme Q10 synthesis (1-3). Although the lower cholesterol levels may reduce risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease, the added effects are weakened organs such as the heart, muscle weakness, muscle pain, and fatigue from dangerously low CoQ10 levels.

As we age, CoQ10 supplementation is necessary to protect cells from oxidative damage. Lower CoQ10 levels in tissues and cells allows for uncontrolled leakage of electrons from mitochondria, causing damage to nearby lipids, proteins and DNA. Diminished CoQ10 levels also lead to declines in vitamin E, another potent fat-soluble antioxidant, because CoQ10 is the chiefly instrumental (along with selenium) for the regeneration of vitamin E.

As concentrations of CoQ10 and vitamin E diminish, the cell is more susceptible to free radicals (4;5). The concentration of mitochondria is also reduced, affecting cell, tissue and organ function. This is particularly pronounced in organs with normally high levels of CoQ10 such as the heart, brain, liver, and kidneys (4;5). Reduced amounts of CoQ10 also affect muscle energy and performance. The increase in susceptibility to free radicals—from endogenous and exogenous sources—also potentially affects intracellular proteins, lipids and DNA. Supplementation is vital for avoiding damage.

Long-term heart health ultimately requires CoQ10 supplementation. Because of the key role CoQ10 plays in supporting energy levels, maintaining proper levels of CoQ10 in the heart is essential for proper cardiac function. Because CoQ10 is a fat-soluble antioxidant that regenerates vitamin E, healthy levels are also necessary to guard against uncontrolled oxidation of lipoproteins and LDL cholesterol. Supplementation with CoQ10 in a dose-dependent manner supports cellular and mitochondrial integrity as well as an increase in the number of mitochondria in tissues.

The oral intake of CoQ10 can guard against the ill effects produced by age-related reduction of native CoQ10 in the heart, brain and muscle tissues. Supplementation supports health of the heart, kidneys, liver, and brain and helps reduce oxidation on lipids and lipoproteins—including reducing oxidation of LDL cholesterol—and helps keep the body young (6). In addition, CoQ10 supplementation is crucial when using statin drugs for heart health. Clinical dosages of CoQ10 present favorable protection against LDL oxidation and replenish CoQ10 as a vital component for organ function.

CoQ10’s functional support is clearly demonstrated in athletic performance. Studies in animals and humans demonstrate CoQ10’s effects on enhancing performance and guarding against fatigue.

In one randomized, double-blind, crossover study, scientists selected fifteen healthy, sedentary men to take oral CoQ10 or placebo in two 8-week periods and perform repeated bouts of supramaximal exercise. The study found those taking the CoQ10 experienced increased power and reduced fatigue in comparison to those taking placebo (7).

Additionally, a similar study on Finnish cross-country skiers found CoQ10 supplementation improved physical performance and recovery time (8). These studies support the use of the supplement as a valuable aid for performance enhancement.

Enhanced-Absorption Coenzyme Q10

One drawback of CoQ10 is its poor absorption, which has led scientists such as William Judy, Ph.D., to find ways to increase its absorption. He developed a form of CoQ10 for heart health by using a proprietary non-chemical process method that is performed on the coenzyme.

Unlike other CoQ10 products, this form of CoQ10 undergoes an all-natural method with no chemical solvents to enhance absorption, and is lipid stabilized to prevent re-crystallization.

A human clinical study measuring 36-hour peak absorption determined an 8-fold increase in absorption of Dr. Judy’s formula when compared to a dry powder version (most commonly found on the market) in which only 1 percent was absorbed.

The absorption led to a higher amount of CoQ10 in the blood plasma available for use by the body’s cells.

The patent-pending CoQ10 absorption formula is found in Isagenix Ageless Actives™. It’s a product that features 100 mg of CoQ10 and can be expected to restore healthy levels in the body.

Within a few weeks of using Ageless Actives™, people who take it find they notice increased energy levels and the dosage supports cardiovascular health, brain health, kidney health and liver health – apart from muscle and athletic performance.

Reference List

     1.    Wang X, Quinn PJ. Vitamin E and its function in membranes. Prog Lipid Res 1999;38:309-36.

     2.    Galli F, Iuliano L. Do statins cause myopathy by lowering vitamin E levels? Med Hypotheses 2010;74:707-9.

     3.    Gropper SS, Smith JL, Groff JL. Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth, 2009.

     4.    Matthews RT, Yang L, Browne S, Baik M, Beal MF. Coenzyme Q10 administration increases brain mitochondrial concentrations and exerts neuroprotective effects. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1998;95:8892-7.

     5.    Dhanasekaran M, Ren J. Curr Neurovasc Res 2005;2:447-59.

     6.    Schaars CF, Stalenhoef AF. Effects of ubiquinone (coenzyme Q10) on myopathy in statin users. Curr Opin Lipidol 2008;19:553-7.

     7.    Gokbel H, Gul I, Belviranl M, Okudan N. The effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on performance during repeated bouts of supramaximal exercise in sedentary men. J Strength Cond Res 2010;24:97-102.

     8.    Ylikoski T, Piirainen J, Hanninen O, Penttinen J. The effect of coenzyme Q10 on the exercise performance of cross-country skiers. Mol Aspects Med 1997;18 Suppl:S283-S290.

When choosing supplements, the focus should be on safety and quality.

A new article appearing in Consumer Reports magazine has compiled a list of a dozen ingredients commonly found in dietary supplements with “possible dangers” of side effects that include low blood pressure, heart-rhythm disorders, heart attacks, liver damage, kidney damage, cancer, or death.

As yet another confirmation of Isagenix’s commitment to the safety of its customers and the quality of its products, not one of the “dangerous ingredients” appearing in the report are found in any Isagenix products, nor does the company expect to use any of these ingredients in the future.

The company requires that the integrity of all Isagenix products is maintained through a “no compromise” safety and quality policy. All ingredients are thoroughly evaluated before they are used in Isagenix products.

Further, there are high-standard evaluation methods to determine the safety of each ingredient. All raw ingredient materials are evaluated thoroughly with rigorous tests to establish identity (a process called “fingerprinting”), purity, strength and composition before being approved for manufacture into Isagenix products. Every ingredient is tested for possible traces of heavy metals, pesticides, and microbial activity.

 The company also takes an “extra mile” step with a Finished Product Safety verification process from independent contract laboratories. Samples are tested regularly for consistency in meeting label claims and safety.

 Once again, Isagenix prides itself in being a company that stands apart in the marketplace by standing behind the safety and quality of each of its products. The end-result is a superior line of products that promote health and  bring real results for customer health.

Gray mouse lemurs given resveratrol avoid seasonal obesity. (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

Resveratrol—a natural red-wine compound previously shown to protect mice against excess weight gain when fed a high-fat diet—has now been found to reduce seasonal weight gain in gray mouse lemurs in a primate model of obesity.

The study was published in BMC Physiology by a team of researchers from the  Centre Nationale de la Recherche Scientifique, Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, of Paris, who wrote that they had “demonstrated for the first time the short-term effects of resveratrol on the metabolism of an heterothermic [with varying body temperatures] primate.”

Gray mouse lemurs are a species of prosimian primate that can double in weight (seasonal fattening) within a matter of  weeks. This increase in energy reserves is induced by the arrival of shorter days and longer nights (shorter photoperiod), which serves as a means of adapting to the long dry winters in its natural environment in Madagascar.

When given four weeks of resveratrol supplementation at the time of pre-winter fattening (200 milligrams per kilogram per day), the gray mouse lemurs exhibited the following “significant effects on energy metabolism”:

• Reduction in seasonal body-mass gain associated with an increase in resting metabolic rate of 29 percent while decreasing food calorie intake by 13 percent.
• Strong reduction of daily heterothermia expression (changes of body temperature relating to season) with no change in the daily amount of locomotor activity.
• An increased secretion of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (a gut hormone known to induce insulin secretion) levels that may play an additive role in limiting body-mass gain.

The researchers concluded that, “resveratrol activates energy expenditure by inducing an increase in resting metabolic rate and a decrease in torpor [temporary hibernation] patterns that play key roles in energy saving in this primate. Moreover, resveratrol had a satiety effect in this primate that reduced their spontaneous food intake.”

Resveratrol’s effects are potentially due to stimulation of SIRT1, one of family of sirtuin enzymes, that has a direct role in fat metabolism. Calorie restriction and, recently, intermittent fasting have also been shown to activate SIRT1 activity.

Mouse Lemurs to Humans

In a prepared statement, Fabienne Aujard, a co-author of the study, wrote, “The physiological benefits of resveratrol are currently under intensive investigation, with recent work suggesting that it could be a good candidate for the development of obesity therapies.”

When asked through e-mail about how the study related to humans,  Aujard replied that the main point of the study is that the gray mouse lemur is a non-human primate, “This species is genetically closer to human. The data obtained with this lemur should be more easily extrapolated to humans compared to rodent studies.”

Investigation conducted in humans have mainly studied bioavailability in lesser amounts, not in the high amounts given to the lemurs (equivalent of a human weighing 70 kilograms taking 14 grams of resveratrol). At present, the maximum single dose studied in humans has been 5 grams (70 milligrams per kilogram for a human of 70 kilograms).

“However, despite being a primate, the mouse lemur’s organism is certainly very different from that of a human because of its size and its seasonality,” writes Aujard. “The mouse lemur is a small animal and, like all small mammals, it has a very active metabolism, thus, a very important nutrient metabolism. Therefore, we believe that the doses to be ingested by human to reach the same long-term effects will certainly be lower than that given to lemurs.”

The general recommendation for humans is between 50 to 500 milligrams daily, which is safe as supported by human clinical studies. Although this study shows promising results, it is not yet known whether or not resveratrol will influence fat metabolism or body composition in humans. 

Source: Dal-Pan A, Blanc S, Aujard F. Resveratrol suppresses body mass gain in a seasonal non-human primate model of obesity. BMC Physiol 2010;10:11.