Who doesn’t want to live a long and active life – a life filled with enthusiasm, creative activity, much joy, and vibrant energy?
Unfortunately, our goals for a long healthspan and those which the universe has in store for us are not usually in alignment. Once women reach the inevitability of menopause, with its shutdown of ovarian hormones, and men start their slow but steady decline into aging, it’s quite clear to all concerned that nature does not improve anyone’s health, and that countering the natural – but negative – effects of the years piling up is indeed a major undertaking.
To age “well” requires embracing and maintaining our hormones and our beautiful innate rhythms. Health is generally optimal when we are 20-25 years of age, and recognizing this fact of life can enable us to both live according to nature’s rules, while also tricking nature into thinking we are reproductive aged people, when we clearly are not!
I like to think that mine is an open and honest approach to aging. I understand what makes young adults healthy and vibrant, as well as all that changes with aging. With that understanding, we can counter what nature has in store for us all as we age by maintaining physiological hormone levels, long after nature has pulled the plug! And of course, maintaining all the necessary lifestyle components – great fitness, adequate and quality sleep, adequate nutrition, low toxicant body load, satisfactory stress control, wonderful relationships, and functional rhythms.
If there is one thing on earth we cannot alter, it’s the day of our birth. We might as well acknowledge and embrace it. And once you understand that aging is not really about the number of years lived, but rather about the deficiencies accumulated – which greatly alter optimal functioning – the name of the game is reducing the rate of accumulation of deficiencies! And that can be done with physiological bio-identical hormone dosing and a great lifestyle
My advice concerning hormones is to remember that all humans are best off with their health around 20-25 years of age, and having a young person’s levels of estrogen and testosterone keeps the health of males and females optimal..
Is that natural when we are old? Of course not! But remember that natural aging “sucks”! I don’t care one iota about what nature has in store for me. I’ve seen that picture and dislike it to the death! The best prevention for the ravages of nature’s aging is having robust hormones – or that’s how I see it. That’s my approach to live, and so far, so good. And I try to do the lifestyle components as well. It is a package deal!
However, there is now a “wrench” thrown into the web of life. Environmental toxicant exposures – whether of chemical or biological origin – are a serious threat to healthy aging. They are not part of the natural order of things, and require a very determined approach to reduce exposures and remediate the damage. Toxins will incredibly muck up all of our body systems and alter everything – and neurological targets are among the hardest hit.
Honestly, I think the biggest threat to our health and to healthy aging today are the environmental poisons we are all bathed in. This is an issue we must face and deal with head on. Natural aging is bad enough, but having to deal with environmental pollution and toxicants is a new element impacting health – and a potential disaster!
Supplements can assist those with environmental toxin exposures, including buffered vitamin C, glutathione, NAC, lipoic Acid bid, Vitamin D + K2, B complex, Omega 3, ubiquinol, magnesium, and zinc.
Regarding the lifestyle components, we at the Integrative Medical Group of Irvine are a rare practice with a fitness specialist, Bob. Bob checks body compositions with the high-end Seca machine. He does fitness assessments and exercise prescriptions, and runs fitness classes. He incorporates high intensity interval training (HIIT) with appropriate candidates. He is also the one to educate and assist with the implementation of ProLon – the first and only fasting mimicking diet.
Along with our naturopathic doctors, Bob does nutritional assessments and implements our specially designed anti-inflammatory reset diet program, elimination diets, and “detox” programs. Removing and reducing exposures to environmental toxicants is a critical part of achieving healthy longevity.
My role is clear – I give you my advice and explain the science and foundations for it. We work as a united team to optimize your current and future health status. Your job is to live your life as you see fit and to make your own decisions. And I will honor and respect them.
