Nutrition

Getting frail as you age can ruin your life.

The chronic, weakening condition known as frailty restricts the life of one out of every four people over age 65. And by the time you’re in your 80s, your chance of becoming frail climbs to over 50 percent.

Frailty means you lose your ability to comfortably move around as your muscle tone basically vanishes and you lose much of the physical resilience needed to bounce back after a health issue like an infection, a fall or surgery.

Frailty increases your risk for poor health, disability and early death. But starting today you can easily […]

As long-time readers of this newsletter know, maintaining healthy vitamin D levels is critical to your good health. Brand-new research shows just how powerful vitamin D is, revealing that your very longevity might depend on healthy vitamin D levels.

But at the same time there’s lots of debate on what constitutes a “healthy” vitamin D level and just how much vitamin D you need to supplement with to achieve it. Let’s take a closer look at the research and what the experts say.

Vitamin D is a well-known factor in bone health, but it also plays many other important health roles throughout […]

In the search for natural ways to keep the body younger, researchers have discovered a nutrient in certain fruits and vegetables they call a “geroprotector,” a new term for something that protects against the root causes of aging.

And they believe this geroprotector does such a good job at protecting cells against the diseases and deterioration of age, it might help us live longer.

Put the Brakes on Memory Loss and Improve Lifespan

This nutrient is called fisetin, and it’s found in fruits and vegetables like strawberries, onions and cucumbers, as well as in curcumin, the antioxidant in the spice turmeric.

Researchers at […]

As you get older your body starts losing its hold on a vitamin that can both help your immune system fight off harmful microbes and keep your skin looking younger.

Plus, studies indicate that getting extra amounts of this important nutrient may offset some of the deterioration of aging.

The vitamin also can keep your DNA functioning properly and may aid you in surviving cancer. In fact, it’s a first-line treatment among alternative cancer doctors, who administer large amounts of it to cancer patients intravenously.

What’s more, tests show that extra amounts of this easy-to-find antioxidant can shorten your stay in a hospital […]

I remember a time when I thought little of my nutritional needs. If I managed to eat some protein, a few carbs and some fruits and vegetables (a “square meal” as they called it then), I thought I was doing the right thing. I was skinny as a rail and I could eat as much as I wanted without gaining a pound.

By the time I hit my mid-20s I could see that things were changing. I went home for Christmas one year and my mother told me I was getting fat. I’d gained about ten pounds, but I didn’t know […]

To age better, you have to give your body the nutritional tools it needs to make your immune system hum, to help your heart stay healthy and to maintain the internal systems that fend off cancer.

Enabling your brain to stay at or near full capacity is also a good idea.

And there’s one particular mineral that’s involved in all of these functions. But many of us are missing out. . .

I’m talking about zinc. Many experts agree that taking a supplement of this mineral is pretty much a requirement for anybody who wants to age better. Since you’re reading a newsletter […]

To be honest, when I first heard the term fo-ti, I thought it sounded like one of the martial arts. But then I learned that it’s actually a climbing knotweed plant that’s native to China and has been used in traditional medicine for centuries.

Its scientific name is Polygonum multiflorum, and some refer to it as “he shou wu,” which means “the black-haired Mr. He.”

Whatever the name, this plant has now sparked the curiosity of modern scientists for its myriad health benefits.

Take a glance at these research findings, and you’ll probably think fo-ti is an absolute cure-all! But it’s not quite […]

The first large scale study on sugar-sweetened beverages has just reported, and the results are clear. These drinks shrink our lifespan. The more we consume, the shorter our lives will be.

The effect on longevity is just the latest in a long string of negative findings on sugar. Official recommendations to reduce sugar consumption go back to 1977.

In 2000 this was stepped up with the new edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. That’s when the government publication started giving specific advice to reduce the intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs).

Since then there has been some decline in the amount the average […]

For those of us living in northern climes, it’s been a long, cold winter. Even more than usual, I’m looking forward to the fresh fruits and vegetables of spring and summer.

Gourmands know that half the secret of great cuisine is fresh ingredients. Just-picked, vine-ripened produce is a gourmet treat, even with no special sauces or preparation. I buy organic whenever possible.

Read up on these seasonal sensations and include them in your next healthy meal or snack. . .

1. Beets

This bright-hued root veggie is having its moment in the culinary spotlight these days, showing up in everything from salads to hummus. […]

Leading scientist Bruce Ames, now 90, has published more than 500 studies in his distinguished career, and shows no sign of letting up.

In his latest paper he introduces the idea of “longevity vitamins.” These are nutrients he’s particularly identified that give us a long and healthy life. Or, to be more exact, they load the odds heavily in your favor.

Despite the name he’s given to the category, none of these is actually classified as a vitamin. And – more interesting to me — several of them are almost unknown.

Considering he’s made it to 90 himself, I’d say his ideas are […]