Yes

by Routt Bryant

Created on: September 29, 2010   Last Updated: September 30, 2010

Is it possible for the old to become young again? Can we reverse the aging process and create the Fountain of Youth that Ponce De Leon sought? New medical advances and new understandings of centuries old health practices are starting to tip the scales towards a tentative yes.

What do we mean by aging? There is a completely natural, and most likely irreversible, change in our bodies as we pass through infancy and adolescence. If you want to go back to your pre-teen years you’re probably out of luck.  If that is your sole interest I recommend you stop reading this article now. Beyond adolescence the nature of aging seems to be mostly cell damage. This, we can do something about.

Experts estimate that the “natural” maximum lifespan to be in the range of 120-150 years (the oldest human, whose age could be verified, lived just over 122 years) with other scientists arguing that there is no immutable, fixed maximum. How is it we keep coming up short if we could be living so long? Our distant ancestors, with the same genetic code, were lucky to make it to their forties mostly because they were in constant danger of running out of food or becoming food themselves. Once you don’t have to worry about being a Mastodon’s lunch, mutations and disease start becoming the limiting factors. 

No, I’m not talking about X-men and evil mutants… But the cells in our bodies keep being replaced by duplicates. The chance for a perfect duplication is rather good each time but eventually these rolls of the genetic dice hit snake-eyes and you get an imperfect duplication. Even then the chances are that good that the changed cell will perform its basic function and that the slightly different, mutated, cell WON’T result in wild growth such as a cancer. For those of you still hoping for X-men, I guarantee that these mutations will NOT lead to super-powers (just wanted to get that out of the way).

How do we fight against these mutations? First, try to minimize exposure. Don’t roast yourself in the sun. Wear at least a 30 SPF (UVA and UVB) sunscreen – but DO make sure to get enough Vitamin D. About 1000 IU of D3 is a worthwhile daily supplement. Don’t get unnecessary x-rays and you probably should avoid working in a nuclear power plant… There is some evidence that living near aboveground heavy duty power lines is also a hazard. In addition, there are chemical causes of mutation…tell you what, in order to keep this article a decent length I’ll recommend going to webmd.com or doctoroz.com to check out the myriad health hazards we have created for ourselves.

What about reversing aging? It doesn’t look like we are going to have the science fiction nanotech robots (super-small robots that can repair cellular damage from within the body) any time soon. What is currently out there that can reduce, halt or even reverse aging?

1) Eating lean – Several studies have shown that caloric restriction (full, balanced nutrition…just in fewer calories) in rats can increase their lifespans by 10-35%. Some claim even greater gains. Before jumping on an anorexic lifestyle, keep in mind that these rats lived in a very controlled environment with optimized nutrition and minimal stress or demands on their immune systems.

2) Reduce heavy metals – There are certain things that our cells don’t know what to do with, lead and mercury being prime examples. Heavy metals not only stay in our systems, they put continual stress on them. One of the most pernicious aspects of these toxic materials is that they get passed up the food chain. Usually, the higher on the food chain the more concentrated they become. An example of this would be the extremely high mercury levels in commonly found in large fish such as swordfish or tuna. The websites mentioned earlier can give more info but there are chelation therapies to help neutralize and eventually remove these toxic elements.

3) Exercise – Not just to reduce weight, but to optimize hormonal function. A combination of aerobic and weight training seems to be superior to activities that just stress one or the other. Stress reduction activities such as Tai Chi, Yoga or Chi Gung combine the physical with the meditative aspects.

4) Various over-the-counter vitamins and herbs, as well as pharmaceutical products still in testing, show promise in helping cells perform their functions. This not only extends the life of the individual cell (yes, I know it’s a sweeping generalization) but tends to reduce the negative effect some of the cells become improperly duplicated. Since this can get quite expensive, I recommend checking the doctoroz.com website for a good short list of recommended supplements. Don’t forget the vitamin D.

5) Antioxidants – The damage to cells done by radicals (which “rust” or oxidize compounds within the cell) not only shortens cellular “lifespan” but is suspected to be a major component of several diseases. Besides such basics as increasing fruits and vegetables in your diet, I recommend typing “antioxidant” into the webmd.com website for specific foods rich in antioxidants.

Our cells, and thus our bodies, are older than they need to be. To me, reversing aging is (until we get those nifty little nanotechnology robots) about restoring ourselves to the age that we would be if not for the negative aspects of civilized/technologized life. We’ve both gained and lost in terms of our health. Using the best of our knowledge to combat the negative side-effects of our technology can slow and, to some extent, even reverse human aging.

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