RetireNation

“Live to 120 years old by eating as much as you want and drinking lots of red wine!”

That’s the intriguing finding of a recent study from Harvard researcher David Sinclair and his group.

The only catch is that you’d have to drink about 1,500 bottles of wine a day to get those results. Of course, that would kill you pretty quickly — before you’d have a chance to reach age 120! Still, those are important findings …

In fact, Dr. Sinclair thinks they’re so important that he started a company to produce a pharmaceutical derivative of the active compound in red wine, resveratrol.

Although his findings have merit, I think he is misguided in his attempt to find a “magic pill” that will allow you to eat whatever you want and live forever. The body is much more complex than that.

This week, I’m going to explain why a magic pill WON’T work — and provide ten tips that really WILL help you live longer and prevent all the diseases of aging.

Why “Magic Pills” Don’t Work

Don’t get me wrong. Dr. Sinclair is on the right track. But I believe he’s focused on the wrong thing. In looking for that “magic pill,” he’s not taking into account the bigger picture.
That approach will always fail.

Sure, there has been a lot of fanfare about this new “drug” resveratrol that can extend your life span and let you eat whatever you want and have the fitness of a trained athlete without any exercise. But that’s wrong on a couple of counts …

First, resveratrol isn’t a drug at all. It’s a natural plant defense molecule, or ” phytonutrient,” that’s found in grapes (and therefore red wine), as well as in peanuts, berries, and a Chinese herb called hu zhang.

Second, all the excitement reinforces the idea that a single molecule (whether from a drug or a plant) can solve all our health problems. In functional medicine we look at ALL the systems of the body. We need to consider resveratrol as just ONE of many healthful plant compounds.

You see, resveratrol is just one of thousands of polyphenols, which make up just one class of phytonutrients. These phytonutrients act in many ways, the most important of which is as a genetic control system, turning on and off genes that help us stay healthy.

This is the science of nutrigenomics — which describes how food is information that tells our bodies what to do, not just a source of calories we need for energy.

I believe that all the excitement about resveratrol is misguided. Everyone is looking for a quick fix, and scientists (especially ones who start pharmaceutical companies to market their discoveries) are looking to make a quick buck.

There is nothing wrong with either. But in order to find the real secret to longevity and to healthy aging and fitness, we need to look at how this compound works and learn from that how to keep ourselves healthy.

The secret lies in our mitochondria.

Mitochondria: The Real Secret to Healthy Aging and Lifelong Fitness

Mitochondria are the little organs in every cell that turn oxygen and food into energy.

For now, let’s examine two recent studies that shed light on these mighty little organs that hold the key to health, weight loss, and longevity.

In the first study, published in Nature, Dr. Sinclair and his colleagues gave one group of mice a diet high in fat (60 percent of calories). What happened then was interesting …

In middle age they all became obese, got diabetes and fatty livers, and died early.

Another group of mice were fed the same diet, but also received resveratrol at a dose of 24 mg/kg of body weight. That’s the equivalent of the amount of resveratrol found in about 750 to 1,500 bottles of wine a day! What happened to those mice was even more interesting …

They still got fat — but lived longer and did not develop diabetes. They were also more agile and had more endurance than the rats that didn’t get the resveratrol. Interestingly, their cholesterol profiles didn’t improve — BUT they didn’t get heart disease, showing that cholesterol is not the big evil we think it is.

Let’s take a closer look at what these findings really mean.

In this study, resveratrol produced changes associated with longer lifespan and produced the following biologic effects:

• It increased insulin sensitivity, leading to better blood sugar control.

• It reduced levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I), a molecule related to the growth hormone that promotes cancer growth.

• It increased AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a signaling system in the body that controls insulin sensitivity and can prevent diabetes.

• It increased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor coactivator-1 (PGC-1) activity. This is a critical signaling system that turns on genes that improve blood sugar control and improve mitochondrial function.

• It increased the numbers of mitochondria, which boosts the capacity to turn food into energy and burn calories.

• It improved motor function, making the old rats more agile.

• And finally, the resveratrol helped prevent the effects of aging by modifying 144 out of 153 metabolic pathways that are controlled by genes.

This all sounds good. And it is! But the most important thing that these findings tell us is ignored by Sinclair and his colleagues.

They tell us that aging and disease are controlled in large part by SUGAR and insulin function in the body!

In a moment I will explain how you can use this information to reverse disease, lose weight, and live longer and healthier. But first, let me tell you about the second study, which in some ways was even more dramatic.

That study, which was published in Cell by Johan Auwerx from the Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cell Biology in Illkirch, France, tested much higher doses of resveratrol in mice. These doses were 18 times higher than those in the first study. That’s 400 mg/kg of resveratrol — equal to about 360 daily capsules of resveratrol for a 130-pound person!

Imagine achieving the fitness of a trained athlete, staying thin, preventing diabetes and heart disease, and living to 120 years old — all while eating a high-calorie, high-fat diet (and taking 360 pills a day of resveratrol)! That’s the equivalent of what happened to the rats.

Specifically, the rats fed the high doses of resveratrol along with their high-calorie, high-fat diet showed the following effects:

• They did NOT gain weight, and reduced the size of fat cells.

• They didn’t develop pre-diabetes or metabolic syndrome.

• They increased the number of energy-producing mitochondria in their muscle cells.

• Their metabolic thermostat was turned up and they increased fat burning by increasing thermogenesis.

• They increased their endurance and aerobic capacity (without exercise).

• They maintained their cells’ sensitivity to insulin, resulting in better blood sugar control.

Plus, they had enhanced muscle strength, reduced muscle fatigue, and improved coordination. And resveratrol increased the activity of PGC-1 alpha, which in turn controls genes that affect blood sugar control — with no bad effects on their organs.

This seems incredible! But it’s all very plausible if you understand the root causes of obesity, aging, and disease. Those causes are blood sugar control and the health, number, and function of your mitochondria.

It’s unlikely that taking ONLY resveratrol — even at high doses — will allow us to live a life of sloth and gluttony and be disease-free forever. But what these studies do tell us is VERY important.

When we view these findings from a systems perspective — understanding ALL the influences on blood sugar control, insulin, and our mitochondrial function — we can create a lifestyle and program that works to keep us healthy, thin, and young.

Recently, I was at a conference on longevity and aging and had a chance to converse with Dr. Leonard Guarente from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1995, Dr. Guarente discovered a gene called SIR-2 in yeast that controls longevity. He was a teacher of David Sinclair, who authored one of the recent studies on resveratrol I discussed above.

I asked Dr. Guarente what REALLY was at the root of the effects of this master gene that controls longevity (called SIRT-1 in humans). Resveratrol works through this gene. His answer was quite simple. It was …

… SUGAR!

This gene has its master effects on aging by improving how the body controls sugar and insulin sensitivity.

This isn’t really surprising. All the effects of aging are increased by worsening blood sugar control — even before you get diabetes. People with diabetes have smaller and more poorly functioning mitochondria and get cancer, heart disease, and dementia at far greater rates than the general population.

So if we could fix our blood sugar control and boost our mitochondria, we could live longer and disease-free.

Considering this, let’s look at the big picture again …

Taking a magic pill just won’t do the trick. That’s especially true if you factor in all the other real-life insults that affect us, such as poor diet, stress, environmental toxins, and a sedentary lifestyle — all of which affect blood sugar control and mitochondria.

Instead, you need to know ALL the factors that DAMAGE your blood sugar control and mitochondria. And you need to know ALL the factors that IMPROVE or boost your blood sugar control and mitochondria.

These are just the back-to-the-basics principles of functional medicine that I’ve been talking about for years — identify the bad stuff and take it away; identify the good stuff and add it.

So what can you do to live longer and stay disease-free — other than drink 1,500 bottles of wine or take 360 pills of resveratrol a day? Here is just a partial list!

Ten Tips to Help You Live a Longer and Healthier Life

1. Balance your blood sugar. I outline how in UltraMetabolism: increase your intake of whole foods that contain lots of fiber, such as beans, whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds.

2. Eat protein with every meal. This helps balance your blood sugar. Include nuts, beans, fish, lean animal protein, and omega-3 eggs in your diet.

3. Increase your intake of omega-3 fats. These improve blood sugar control by working on the same cell-signaling mechanisms as resveratrol. Eat wild fish (salmon, sardines, black cod, and herring) or take omega-3 fatty acid pills (1,000 to 2,000 mg of EPA and DHA a day).

4. Eliminate or dramatically limit flour products. That means anything with sugar from any source.

5. Find ways to relax every day. This prevents diabetes and controls your blood sugar by reducing levels of cortisol, the stress hormone.

6. To boost your mitochondria, you will need to exercise and build muscle. Try interval training, a technique of exercising fast (like sprinting) for one minute and then more slowly (like fast walking) for three minutes. Repeat this in cycles totaling 30 minutes twice a week.

7. Eat foods with phytonutrients. There are many protective ones other than resveratrol, including those found in green tea, pomegranate, and all dark, colorful fruits and vegetables.

8. Consider supplements that help protect and boost your mitochondria. These include Coenzyme Q10 (100 to 200 mg a day), acetyl-l-carnitine (500 to 1,000 mg twice a day), alpha-lipoic acid (100 to 200 mg twice a day), D-ribose (5 g once or twice a day), magnesium (150 to 300 mg twice a day), B-complex vitamins (daily), and NADH (5 to 10 mg a day).

9. Live clean and green. Limit your exposure to heavy metals, pollution, and other environmental toxins — all of which poison your mitochondria.

10. Learn how to detoxify. Support your body’s detoxification system and your liver function.

This is just a start of what you can do.

Just remember — you will need to take a comprehensive approach to health, leveraging the latest research to help you improve your metabolism, stay thin, and live longer. There are no quick fixes. But addressing your whole system will give you a huge advantage!

Now I’d like to hear from you …

What do you think about the constant drive to find a “magic pill” to cure all our health woes?

Have you experienced any instances of looking at the big picture of your health versus trying to solve all your problems with a “magic pill”? What were the results?

Have you tried taking resveratrol supplements? Did you notice any effects?

What are you doing to improve your mitochondrial function?

Have you experienced any health or weight loss benefits by getting your own blood sugar and insulin under control?

Please let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

To your good health,

Mark Hyman, M.D.

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Every now and then, something so good comes along that it behooves us as human beings to spread the word so that all can share in the good fortune. Such is the case with the apparent health promoting benefits of acai, pomegranate, and above all resveratrol. Science is showing that there is a correlation between taking these substances and better health. People are starting to look and feel younger everyday, so why shouldn’t you?

Although research is still being done to determine whether acai, for instance, is as health-promoting as claimed by many of the purveyors of acai-based supplements, this fruit serves as a delicious additive to assorted juices, smoothies, and other beverages. Acai has a mix of nutrients including calcium, iron, and vitamin A; moreover, acai contains antioxidants in the form of various flavonoid compounds, and some resveratrol. Given our constant bombardment by all kinds of free radical producing agents, one would think that some acai in our diet, derived from food, or additional acai, as through supplementation, would not hurt our attempts to ward off as much oxidative damage as possible.

Pomegranate, on the other hand, has been shown in laboratory studies and in human pilot studies to impart disease-prevention benefits. In studies, pomegranate reduced heart disease risk factors, namely low density lipoprotein oxidation and foam cell formation. The latter is problematic because accumulation of foam cells in a particular area of the body can lead to stroke or cardiac infarction. If these benefits were not enough, pomegranate has been shown to reduce systolic blood pressure and to be effective against the proliferation of breast cancer cells in vitro. Although more studies need to be done, such preliminary findings and results bode tremendous therapeutic and disease-prevention applications of a simple and abundant nutrient.

Now enter resveratrol. Resveratrol is a plant phytoalexin. This fancy word means that resveratrol is a compound produced by plants to defend themselves from invading pathogens (disease-causing agents). If you have not already heard all the buzz about this compound, then you must be spending way too much time working-or working out-and not enough time keeping abreast of the latest nutritional hot words. Although the studies conducted with resveratrol have been largely done with mice and some other species, the potential implications are earth-shattering! If even some of the results cross-apply to humans, then researchers may have just discovered what the ancients had sought for millennia-the fountain of youth!

In studies on mice, resveratrol has promoted longevity and been shown to increase life expectancy. Resveratrol demonstrated profound anti-cancer properties across broad spectrums of carcinogenic cells: breast, skin, colon, gastric, esophageal, prostate, pancreatic, and leukemia type cancer cells all were thwarted by resveratrol interaction. This compound has also been shown to lower blood sugar and thus thwart diabetes. Again, these studies have not been replicated in humans, but such results harbinger the possibility of an agent that could very well be the universal disease prevention elixir!

Resveratrol is found in the skins of grapes, and since grapes are used to make wines, one would expect to find this substance in wine. Indeed this is so and the benefits of imbibing wine, particularly red because of its higher concentrations of resveratrol, have been known for centuries. Unfortunately, in order to get the resveratrol needed to have the benefits discussed above, one would have to drink many, many bottles of wine-to the tune of about 1000-to get the life extending and health promoting benefits promised for from resveratrol studies in mice.

Now given the above discussions, it would behoove one, I think, to look seriously into trying to admit some of these nutrients into the diet, particularly resveratrol. Since this compound has not been shown to be harmful, the worst that could happen is…well nothing; however, the potential benefits are life-changing. New technologies are being developed by some upstart companies to deliver resveratrol into the diet in beneficial ways. Unless you have the budget and time-and tolerance-to drink a 1000 bottles of wine a day—-or eat bushels of blueberries-you might want to check this substance out and how you can get more into your diet. Happy wine drinking…and blueberry eating!

Here is the resource box:

Joe Pagano is an acclaimed educator and author whose ebooks are read around the globe. Author of dozens of ebooks and articles, Joe’s primary focus is in the mathematics, education, and self-help arena. An avid fitness enthusiast, Joe trains regularly with free weights and in the martial arts, and is an accomplished Sei Kei Ryu Jiu Jitsu practitioner.

A strong advocate of the healthy lifestyle, Joe recently got involved with the ground-breaking technology of the Yoli Blast Cap Nutritional concept. This invention is changing people’s health for the better while offering them a tremendous income opportunity.

To learn more about this ground-breaking and revolutionary nutritional concept go here: Blast Cap Nutrition To visit Joe’s educational website see Math by Joe .

What is a Yoli BlastCap?

A Yoli BlastCap is a fruit juice that, when mixed with water, produces a highly nutritious and great-tasting health drink. It tastes like Tang, and one BlastCap is equal to six servings of fruits and vegetables.

Instead of a pre-mixed drink, the BlastCap comes in the form of a small cap that you “blast” into a container of water. Then, shake to mix, and you’re ready to enjoy.

One major fact to consider with this product is recent life expectancy polls. The results reveal startling information that parents are now expected to outlive their children. This is derived from the fact that so many of the foods we eat these days are highly-processed and contain many additives and preservatives.

Yoli BlastCaps offer a great alternative to the countless number of sugar-laced energy drinks that so many people consume on a daily basis. Most that have had these drinks have experienced the tremendous crash they bring once the initial “buzz” wears off.

Yoli BlastCaps are a great energy drink alternative for people young and old.

The Yoli Opportunity Review

While the Yoli BlastCap is a product that is packed with vitamins and nutrition we all need, you must view the opportunity from all angles before deciding to become a distributor.

Yoli BlastCaps are entering into a competitive market where hundreds of juice options are available to the consumer. On the same note, this means strong competition will take place for distributors as well. There are some important factors to evaluate if Yoli is going to take off and make a name for themselves in the MLM industry.

The statistics say that 97% of distributors will fail in network marketing, regardless of what opportunity they join. In order for Yoli to avoid this albatross, they must make a name for themselves early. This Yoli BlastCap review is dedicated to the actions they need to take.

Yoli BlastCap Point #1: Recruit some “Heavy Hitters” -The network marketing industry is filled with people who have found success by implementing proper strategies to build their business. In order for Yoli to take off, they need to find some of these MLM gurus and add them to their stable. With this, their stock will rise immediately because the “heavy hitters” carry influence. When people see a person who’s had success in this industry join this company, they’ll follow suit. This will allow Yoli’s message to spread to a larger audience at a much faster rate.

Yoli BlastCap Point #2: Proper Marketplace Exposure – As I mentioned before, the juice/energy drink product is very popular and saturated in network marketing circles. Companies like Mona Vie have gained a substantial share of the marketplace, and Yoli will need to claim some of that market if they plan to compete. To do this, they will need to implement marketing campaigns that shows consumers why Yoli BlastCaps are a better alternative to the competitors. If this is done effectively, Yoli should be able to get some customers to jump on board, which will naturally lead to more distributors as well.

With the product Yoli has in place, it appears they’re ready to make a splash. If they can position themselves correctly and tie some seasoned leadership to their opportunity, they have a chance to a big name for themselves.

But…there is one more very important point that Yoli must pay very particular attention to if they plan on finding a high level of success…

Yoli BlastCap Point #3 – All network marketing companies are only as good as the system they have in place. This is an industry that’s full of brand new business owners who have zero experience running a business. To that end, it’s imperative that brand new distributors learn how to market their business and generate targeted leads for their products.

In order to have success in Yoli, you need to realize that, as a business owner, it is your responsibility to expand your knowledge and learn how to market your business. Top income earners in this industry are privy to marketing techniques that target highly-qualified prospects and potential distributors. If you expect to compete with these top earners, you must learn how to do the same.
There are many methods available, but your success will come when you establish a winning mindset, make it your mission to succeed, and realize your business is just that…a BUSINESS. As you look to bring people into your opportunity, be aware that most people won’t join because of the opportunity…they’ll join because of YOU.

Spinning my wheels in MLM for two years led me to this realization. Products, comp plans, and companies mean nothing without solid leadership behind them. To discover how you can become the next leader in this industry, check out my story and don’t be the next casualty of network marketing.

Jason Cercone is an Internet Marketer who focuses on leadership and home business development. Jason and his team work with serious entrepreneurs who are dedicated to putting the rat race behind them and building a lucrative empire on their own terms.

For more information on Yoli, please go to YOURLASTBIZ

Yoli is one of the hottest new MLM companies to be hitting the industry in the fall of 2009. It is creating quite a bit of hype and I want to share with you what I know in regards to Yoli and their product and how to truly be successful.

At the time of this writing, Yoli is in a very pre-launch phase, to contact someone regarding the amazing opportunity that exists, please visit YourLastBiz

What’s Yoli?
The first thing to know or consider when deciding on any company is, “What kind of a product do they have?” and “Will people really want to buy it?” The main product that Yoli distributors will be selling is 2 different types of beverages; one a sport drink and the other a health drink. There are many companies in the MLM industry that sell these types of beverages so how will they differentiate themselves from the rest of the pack…well here is how.

In almost everything you pick up to satisfy your thirst, besides water of course, there is some type of preservative that is added to make sure that when you pop the top it is as fresh as when it was first bottled. There are some studies out that show these types of preservatives are not good for our overall health. What they has done is pretty cutting edge in terms of the drink industry…they have partnered with or created a type of “Blast Cap” technology.

How it will work is that instead of the drinks coming to you already with the flavoring, preservatives, vitamins, etc. which is how most other drinks come, you will simply “blast” the product into your drink when you are ready. Pretty interesting, huh? As our world tries more and more to head toward being healthier this seems like a product that many people would want.

Yoli Success?
Your true success in the network industry will be determined by developing skills, understanding marketing, sales, management and being a true entrepreneur. From my experience in the network marketing industry over the last couple years these all play a huge role in becoming successful but the one that sticks out he most is marketing.

More info on Yoli YourLastBiz

There are SO many ways to market yourself and your business and it is just up to you to determine which will be the best for you. For example, there are some that are great at speaking with complete strangers on the street, others who are good at getting a few close friends together and building a great team and others who understand how to market on the internet, phone or mailings.

Before joining any company, take time to really think about how you are going to “market” your business and truly be successful.

Lastly, it is of utmost importance to make sure that you have a good mentor leading you. So many get off task or lose their focus and all is lost when that happens. Learn to market, develop yourself and find yourself a good mentor and you will be on the road to success.

This is your opportunity to start something right at the beginning of, “history in the making” please go to YourLastBiz to contact your founding distributor, mentor, today!

After reading this book and realizing that it was first published in 1910, I was at awe that the principles and philosophy mentioned ring so true today!

It’s less than a two hour read and it will have a profound effect on the way you think. The Science of Getting Rich is a must read for anyone seeking to gain more out of their lives. Other than the Bible, this is, hands-down, the most compelling information I have ever read!

Click below and get your FREE copy today; read it, follow it and watch what happens!