Delay aging with supplements

Everytime I am in New York City, I go to all the pharmacies and drug stores and out of curiosity, I inquire about their latest anti-aging supplements.  Then I make comparisons and narrow down the list so I don’t seem like an excited kid in a candy store wanting to buy everything that promises the fountain of youth till we get to the pearly gates.  In this age of advance laser technology, we can avail ourselves of treatments that result in a wrinkle-free face and tight skin, but we still have to take supplements to retard the aging process on the cellular level.

Buying supplements is not similar to buying off-the-rack dresses. We have to make sure that we buy good brands and we have to know our body so we know what we really need.  Speaking for myself, after going through food poisoning five times in my life, I have to aid my digestive system with probiotics and enzymes.  I have had some sports injuries when I was active in sports (when I was a fledgling  equestrienne, I fell off a horse when he tripped over something and threw me off his back) so I sometimes experience back and neck pains.  For that, I take collagen and turmeric, which seem to work for me.  Make sure you study your body so you can determine the supplements that you need.

I notice that as we age, our cognitive functions decline.  Our memory is no longer as sharp as when we were young. I read in a health journal I subscribe to that vitamin B12 made of methyl cobalamin (take note and don’t get B12 that is made of cyano- cobalamin as it is a low form of B12) is beneficial in improving the memory and alleviating sleep dysfunction.  I found it at Healthy Options in Rustan’s and bought it for a friend who needed to improve her memory and normalize her sleep time.  After taking it for a month, she claims her memory has improved a hundredfold and she has normal sleeping habits now.
It really is important to get the right brand of supplement as not all brands are created equal.  During a visit to Whole Foods Supermarket on 2nd Avenue, a lady saw me trying to choose the right kind of extra virgin olive oil to buy.  She couldn’t help herself recommending the brand she thought was the best on that rack: Bragg organic extra virgin olive oil! And she ventured further: If I was getting apple cider vinegar, it has to be Bragg, too!

Health Source Pharmacy on First Ave. recommends Natures Plus products. GNC, CVS, Duane Reade, Windsor Pharmacy recommend their own brands, but then again, I recommend you know what you think you need for your own well-being before buying any of their products.

I went to the site of StopAgingNow.com and reviewed their products. I tried some of their products and I am quite satisfied with them.

Here is a short list of supplements that anti-aging pharmacies recommend, some of which I plan to take myself:

1. CoQ10 — improves cardiovascular function, boosts energy and stamina, supports cognitive function (keeps brain cells healthy and supports mental energy and clarity), fights free radical damage (it is a powerful antioxidant that helps reduce oxidative stress to fight harmful free radicals), supports healthy vision and hearing, improves oral health.

2. Turmeric  or curcumin (a compound found in turmeric) — supports joint and muscle health, fights body inflammation, supports healthy brain cells and improves the memory, promotes healthy mood balance, promotes youthful radiant skin, and supports cardiovascular function.

3. Vitamin B12 — you may have a vitamin B-12 deficiency if you have the following symptoms:  irritability and mood swings, confusion or “fuzziness,” low energy and weakness, persistent sleep problems, hearing and vision loss, digestive problems, memory problems, weak immunity.

4. Astaxanthin — promotes healthy cholesterol balance, supports eye health, boosts cognitive function, makes skin look younger, revs energy and mobility, keeps joints flexible and healthy.

5. Resveratrol — found in red wine, it’s good for the heart and the entire cardiovascular system.  But taking it in pill form is better as it does not have the alcohol in red wine. Resveratrol also helps balance cholesterol.

6. Green tea — loaded with antioxidants, it promotes fat burning so it is good for weight loss.  However, taking it in pill form is better for some as one capsule equals the antioxidants found in three cups of brewed green tea, which could have a lot of caffeine and affect your sleep.  The capsules are de-caffeinated and naturally increase energy levels, rev metabolism, and help regulate stress hormones.

7. Cinnamon extract — clinically proven to support healthy glucose metabolism and blood sugar levels, acts as a powerful heart- protecting antioxidant, and promotes weight loss.

8. Probiotics — good for a healthy digestive system. As we age, the digestive system encounters some difficulty in the digestion of food and probiotics nourish the friendly bacteria in our digestive tract to ensure healthy digestive function.

9. Green foods — a blend of spirulina, chlorella, organic wheat grass, barley grass, and aloe vera supports detoxification and boosts energy.  We need to detoxify our body of toxins that we get from food, medicines, and chemicals that we put into our body.

10. Alpha lipoic acid — called the universal antioxidant because of its ability to penetrate into virtually every cell in your body, including brain tissue.

Aside from the usual vitamins that we all know are good for us (vitamins A, B-complex, C,  calcium, D,  E,  etc.), the above list could work well for our specific needs and I believe could retard the aging process.  But what is good for the goose may not be good for the gander, so I suggest that you get to know what is deficient in your system by having a blood test and consulting your doctor, holistic or mainstream.

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Source of anti-aging vitamin recommendations: StopAgingNow.com website