Redefining aging

If you’re born between 1946 and 1964, this one’s for you. Fact is, today’s so-called baby boomers are redefining what aging is all about, say the editors of Prevention Health Books in Anti-Aging Secrets (278 pp., available at National Book Store). Today, middle age is not about growing in the middle, forgetting where you put the car keys or where you parked the car, or having sore joints or disjointed viewpoints. "It’s about starting second careers, boosting our mind power, loving our bodies, and defying the diseases that used to make women old before their time."

And it’s not just women’s idea of aging that has changed. The editors declare that today’s women are living longer – and better. A woman’s life expectancy has increased by 31 years vis-a-vis a man’s 26 years. The average woman now lives to be 79; the average man, 72. But women are not really counting the years as they are making the years count.

Thus, the book didn’t fail to include the now popular anti-aging supplements that are giving health stores a really healthy business. When you say anti-aging, this word pops up: phosphatidylserine (well, it’s certainly better drunk than pronounced). "This natural supplement has been shown to renew brain cells and sharpen mental performance," says the book.

And the anti-aging supplements are:

• Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA) – Clinical studies suggest they may help prevent nerve damage, which is caused by free-radical attacks, that frequently accompanies diabetes. The generally recommended dosage is 50 to 100 milligrams a day. For diabetics, it’s 300 to 600 milligrams a day, says Dr. Lester Packer.

• Bioflavonoids – Many of them are more potent than the better-known antioxidants like vitamin C and E, says a nutrition scientist. They may help lower the risk of heart disease by preventing the platelets in the blood from clumping together and blocking the arteries. Some can stop cancer before it starts. Quercetin, found in apples, yellow and red onions, and tea, has been shown in studies to discourage the growth of tumors and prevent malignant cells from spreading. Fruits and veggies are good sources of bioflavonoids. In supplement form, the recommended dose is 1,000 milligrams once or twice a day.

• Coenzyme Q10 – It may help prevent or treat many common forms of heart disease. A powerful antioxidant, it also prevents "bad" cholesterol from sticking to the walls of the arteries and clogging blood vessels. As a preventive measure, take from 30 to 60 milligrams a day. For people with heart problems, Dr. Langsjoen prescribes 120 to 360 milligrams.

• Flaxseed oil – It’s a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which lower blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, thus reducing the risk of heart attack or stroke. Omega-3s also raise the "good" cholesterol. Fish oils are the best known sources of omega-3s but flaxseed oil contains twice the amount of omega-3 that fish oils have. Moreover, the cancer-fighting substances in flaxseed, called lignan precursors, prevent breast cancer by blocking the cancer-causing estrogen.

• Ginkgo – This herb helps the brain function more efficiently. It enhances blood circulation so more nutrients reach the brain cells, making them work more efficiently. Research suggests that a concentrated extract of this herb improves the mental functioning of people who have Alzheimer’s disease. In Germany, it is already used to treat dementia.

• Melatonin – It’s one of the most powerful antioxidants there is, says Dr. Russel Reiter. It protects against age-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. It penetrates the brain more easily than some other antioxidants, thus it’s better able to fight the free-radical damage in the brain. Recent findings suggest it may slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

• Pycnogenol – It contains about 40 bioflavonoids with antioxidant powers. Its active ingredients called proanthocyanidins, also found in grape seeds, make it a potent antioxidant. The generally recommended allowance is from 50 to 100 milligrams per day.

• Phosphatidylserine – It improves memory and age-related brain changes, says an expert in anti-aging medicine. Recommended dose is 100 milligrams two or three times a day, and after a month, a maintenance dose of 100 to 200 milligrams a day.

• Vitamin C – It’s an antioxidant nutrient found in citrus fruits, strawberries, broccoli, kiwifruit and other fruits and vegetables. Research suggests that people whose diets are rich in vitamin C have lower rates of cancer, heart disease and high blood pressure. Other studies say that vitamin C supplements may help ward off cataracts and thicken bones during the early post-menopausal years and in women who have never been on hormone replacement therapy. To prevent disease, take 200 to 500 milligrams a day.

• Vitamin E – It’s found in nuts, seeds and vegetable oils. Findings indicate that it may help prevent heart disease and cancer, boost the immune system and help normalize blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. It also seems to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. To stave off diseases, take 100 to 400 IU of vitamin E. To absorb it better, take vitamin E with a meal that contains a small amount of fat.

Excuse us while we take our anti-aging supplements.