Archive for the ‘Immune System’ Category
Seniors Need This DNA Friendly, Anti-Aging Compound
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This super anti-aging compound is found in every cell in our bodies. Maintaining high levels of this compound is required in order to maintain excellent health and genuine longevity. The name of this compound which was discovered back in 1888 is glutathione, but its importance for senior health was not appreciated for nearly a hundred years. The earliest studies in the 1920’s and 1930’s focused on its role in protecting the eyes of seniors from cataracts, macular degeneration, and a host of other eye diseases. Later in the 1980’s research in the United States established the link between high levels of glutathione in the blood and tissue with folks who experienced robust health and extreme longevity.
The following items provide very good news for seniors who are concerned about taking preemptive aging steps to foster their senior health. In terms of aging, damage to DNA is one of the causes of accelerated aging, but glutathione assists strongly in DNA repair. When it comes to cardiovascular health, one of the major causes of cardiovascular disease is oxidation of fats in the blood which can be greatly reduced by glutathione. The damage to DNA strands has been linked to cancer; glutathione has the ability to prevent DNA damage and repair damage after it has occurred which makes it one of the most powerful cancer preventers known to modern medicine.
Seniors can increase their intake of glutathione by consuming cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage. In addition they can take the supplement N-acetylcysteine (NAC) which is broken down in our bodies into glutathione.
Why Colorful Foods Are Healthy For Seniors!
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Vegetables and fruits come in a broad spectrum of colors including all the colors of the rainbow starting from purple through blue, green, yellow, orange, and red. They come in additional colors including white, tan, and brown. Bright colorful fruits and vegetables are loaded with health promoting phytochemicals. The colors that include red, white, and blue are most appropriate now, because they are the colors of the upcoming 4th of July celebration. For example tomatoes, cherries, watermelon, red apples, red peppers, and cranberries all contain the phytochemicals lycopene and anthocyanin that help reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers such as prostate cancer. This is good news for seniors who are concerned about taking preemptive aging steps against cancers and for cardiovascular health. Alternatively white vegetables including garlic, onions, and cauliflower which contain the phytochemical allicin which lowers cholesterol and blood pressure and increases the body’s immune system’s resistance to infections.
Finally the blue fruits including blueberries, blackberries, purple grapes, and plums contain the phytochemicals anthocyanin and phenolics that reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Seniors Can Get an Immune System Boost1
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Seniors who are concerned about taking preemptive aging measures to improve their senior health can get an immune system boost by implementing some simple changes in their diet. This year in May an article appeared in a leading publication dedicated to immunity that reported on the benefits for the immune system due to adding fiber to the diet. The fiber used in the lab tests included both soluble and insoluble fiber that was added to the diet in the form of citrus pectin over a period of six weeks. In the tests the subjects that had received the added fiber were 50% less susceptible to an induced bacterial infection and recovered about 50% faster than those that lacked the added fiber in their diet.
The researchers traced these benefits for the added fiber to changes in the response of immunity cells to the challenge of a bacterial infection. Without the added fiber the immunity cells tended to be pro-inflammatory, but by adding the fiber the immunity cells became more anti-inflammatory. The immunity cells that were more anti-inflammatory were better able to fight the bacterial infection. This is good news for seniors who want to get an immune system boost, in order to improve their senior health, because they can add a number of popular foods to their diets to increase the fiber in their diet. Foods containing soluble fiber include apples, nuts, seeds, oats, barley, citrus fruits, strawberries, and carrots. Supplements in the form of powders are also available.
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Why Is Topical Vitamin D Needed by Seniors?
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Recently the health reports in the media have contained a number of articles that promoted the benefits of vitamin D3 for seniors, because it contributes to inhibiting something like 27 age-related diseases. The preemptive aging benefits of vitamin D3 have been highlighted particularly for their ability to reduce the risk of disease such as cardiovascular disease and a number of age-related cancers particularly the hormonal based ones. As we age the ability of our skin to synthesize vitamin D3 from sunlight decreases so that by age 70 we only synthesize about 25% of the amount we did when we were in our 20’s. Fortunately seniors can access vitamin D3 in supplement form to make up the difference. This is good news for seniors who are concerned about their senior health.
Seniors who supplement with vitamin D3 can restore their blood levels of D3 to their youthful levels, but there is a problem. The vitamin D3 that is taken in supplement form is used by our bodies to help build and maintain strong bones. Our skin is the last organ to receive the vitamin D3 which is taken in supplement form. Fortunately for seniors there is good news to report on this matter. Vitamin D3 is available in topical form, so that it can be applied directly to the skin. Applied in topical form vitamin D3 will contribute to skin cell repair, growth and metabolism. It will help to destroy free radicals and stimulate the skin’s immune system. Applying vitamin D3 topically may provide a rejuvenating effect on aging skin.
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Seniors Need an Immune System Boost in Spring!
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When the seasons change from winter to spring many folks seem to be more susceptible to colds and flu viruses. This is particularly the case for seniors, because their immune function typically degrades with increasing age. Although considered “routine,” colds and flu in seniors can quickly progress into dangerous and even fatal upper-respiratory complications such as pneumonia. Seniors who are concerned about fostering their senior health can take preemptive steps to achieve an immune system boost. Seniors can take the following vitamins to boost immune system.
The vitamins C and E are two leading antioxidant vitamins that boost the immune system. Senior men need to get the full spectrum vitamin E that is found in foods, because typical supplements only provide the alpha component. Seniors need to add a third vitamin to complete the team. The vitamin that completes the immune system boost team is vitamin D3 the ’sunshine vitamin’.
In addition to the vitamins seniors need to get the immune system boosting minerals, supplements, and foods that complement the vitamin immune system boost team. The minerals are selenium and zinc. The dietary supplement that is known to boost immune system is DHEA. Finally the foods garlic and green tea are both known to inhibit bacteria and viruses. These vitamins, minerals, supplements, and foods can provide seniors with the immune system boost they need to preempt spring colds and flu.
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Can Garlic Breath Save Your Heart?
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In common folklore wearing garlic is supposed to repel vampires, but in our workaday world consuming garlic may have a major health benefit. For some time garlic has been touted as food that can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease is of particular importance to seniors. Previous research into how garlic contributes to cardiovascular health focused on its ability to help our bodies synthesize both NO and CO. Garlic apparently helps our bodies boost the levels of both carbon monoxide (CO) and nitric oxide (NO) so that the heart is better protected against cardiovascular disease. This is good news for seniors who are searching for ways to take preemptive aging steps to foster their senior health, but there is even better news about garlic.
Recent research has discovered that garlic helps our bodies synthesize a third molecule known as hydrogen sulfide (H2S) which is not as well known as the first two, but which your nose has probably detected. The H2S molecule gives off the familiar odor of rotten eggs. The H2S molecule is the one that is responsible for the infamous ‘garlic breath’ that appears after anyone has eaten anything containing garlic or its extracts. The small amount of H2S that is generated from eating garlic is not toxic and apparently has a beneficial effect on our cardiovascular health. Specifically the H2S molecule produces several physiological effects that benefit cardiovascular health including relaxing blood vessels, promoting the development of new blood vessels, and lowering blood pressure.
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Senior Health Requires Sufficient Magnesium
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When the topic of magnesium deficiency is raised it usually has to do with balancing calcium to ensure healthy bones, but there is much more to discuss. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) magnesium is needed for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body. Magnesium helps to keep heart rhythm steady, it promotes healthy blood pressure, and its role in managing cardiovascular disease is rapidly emerging. Additional benefits for cardiovascular health are provided by magnesium, because of its role in reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes which threatens cardiovascular health. In a recent study the participants with a lower level of magnesium showed an increased risk of coronary heart disease greater than 50%.
This is very good news for seniors who are trying to take steps against preemptive aging by making certain that they are getting sufficient magnesium for their general senior health and for their cardiovascular health in particular. It turns out that the foods sources that are high in magnesium are generally popular. The magnesium rich foods include nuts, dark green leafy vegetables, legumes, whole grains and fish. Fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids are also high in magnesium. Low cost dietary supplements of magnesium are available in the event that folks discover that they are not getting sufficient magnesium from the foods in their diet.
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Why Black Beans Are a Super Healthy Food
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Why have black beans which are a plain simple food been a staple in the diet of folks in Central and South America for more than 7,000 years? It turns out that the folks in those regions figured out long ago that this plain simple black bean is a nutritional powerhouse. They are sometimes called the ‘poor man’s meat’, because by combining them with rice or corn which are complementary grains you get a protein that is low-calorie, but it is basically fat-free and full of a large range of nutrients. For example the polyphenols in black beans assist in preventing the oxidation of cholesterol which short circuits artheroschlerosis. This is good news for seniors, because blocking artheroschlerosis is a prime requirement for preventing cardiovascular disease.
In addition to the polyphenols, black beans contribute magnesium that improves circulation of blood and oxygen to the entire body which is another plus for senior’s cardiovascular health. The high fiber content of black beans helps to prevent heart disease and heads off digestive disorders. Their high folate content also helps guard against heart attacks. Finally, another major contribution provided by black beans is their high concentration of cancer-fighting antioxidants. This is certainly good news for seniors who are trying to find preemptive aging means to improve their senior health.
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Two Sources for the Healthy Omega-3s
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The press and the health journals have both been reporting on the many benefits of the omega-3s from fish fats which are the richest source of the omega-3s. The omega-3s were discovered in the 1970’s when researchers figured out that the Eskimos in Greenland ate a high fat fish based diet, but seldom developed heart disease. Since then many studies have been conducted and both the FDA and the American Heart Association have compiled some of the benefits of eating oily fish or consuming fish oil. The list of benefits is long and impressive. Here are some of the highlights. The omega-3s are known to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, to provide relief from inflammatory diseases, to raise the levels of the ‘good’ HDL cholesterol, and to lower the levels of the ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol.
The key omega-3 fats in fish are EPA and DHA. Folks can get an adequate amount of both by consuming 3-ounces of salmon or of sardines that are fresh, frozen or canned. These particular fish are low in mercury so they are preferred. Beside fish as a source there are plant sources of omega-3s. The plant sources include flaxseeds, flax oil, and chia seeds. They provide alpha-lineolic acid (ALA) which our bodies convert to the EPA and DHA forms that are found in fish. Other good foods sources of ALA are pumpkin seeds and walnuts. This is good news for seniors who are looking for preemptive aging information that they can implement to enhance their senior health.
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Pick the Right Type of Vitamin D
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Recently the major health publications and the press have been promoting the significant health benefits that result when folks consume an adequate amount of vitamin D. Sadly some of the reports fail to identify the form of vitamin D that produces the better health results which are especially important for achieving senior health. The form of vitamin D that produces the better health results and last for a longer time is the same form that our bodies synthesize using sunshine. This is the form of vitamin D that is sometimes called the “sunshine vitamin” which is vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). The form of vitamin D that is often put in many multivitamins is the vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) form which is not utilized in our bodies as well as is the vitamin D3 form.
Seniors who are concerned about taking preemptive aging steps to protect themselves against as many as 27 age-related diseases need to verify that they are getting the vitamin D3 form. This is particularly true in the winter months when the amount of sunshine is at its yearly lowest. Seniors who are deficient in blood levels of vitamin D3 are at greater risk to their cardiovascular health and to contracting cancers, particularly the hormonal ones.
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