Category Archives: Anti-Aging Medicine

Scientists have been researching ways to increase a humans healthspan and possible lifespan for decades. Here are things they have considered, and what they have learned.

The intervention:Rapamycin

What is it? First identified in the 1970s in a soil sample from Easter Island, this FDA-approved drug is used to suppress the immune system in transplant patients. Counterintuitively, it also appears to boost immune function in healthy animals. Rapamycin may reduce inflammation, which increases with age. One study found that rapamycin rejuvenated the hearts of old mice. After treatment, there were significant improvements to cardiac function. Research with mice has also found that even when they where administered rapamycin late in life, the mice still had improvements to lifespan and their healthspan.

The verdict: Geroscientist Matt Kaeberlein said rapamycin shows the most promise of any drug that targets aging, in his opinion, although he doesnt necessarily think rapamycin will increase lifespan by 20 to 30 years on average in people. Although it might at the right dose. I do think theres reason to believe that rapamycin could improve several age-related health problems, including boosting immune function and protecting against dementia, cancers, and heart disease.

But critics say it is unclear what the downstream effects could be. If you take a compound like that for a few decades, there may be downstream effect a small epidemic of lymphoma, perhaps, said geriatrician Dr. Peter Boling. While it is approved to prevent rejection in organ transplant patients, it is not approved to treat aging.

There are also questions about side effects, which may include susceptibility to infection and the possibility of developing lymphoma.

We still dont know about all of the hidden dangers. As hopeful as we might be, we have to be aware of the limitations, said Boling.

The intervention: Metformin

What is it? This drug has been prescribed to millions of people to treat diabetes. Among other effects, it decreases insulin levels. It also appears to target biological mechanisms related to aging. Its anti-aging effects may be linked to its influences on metabolic and cellular processes associated with inflammation. It has been linked to lifespan extension and protection against age-related diseases in animal models.

The verdict: The speculation in scientific circles has been that many of the drugs used to treat early-stage chronic disease may be effective, at least in part, because they target aging itself.

Metformin is an interesting case, said Kaeberlein. It clearly increases survival in people with diabetes and likely would do the same for pre-diabetics and others with significant metabolic disease, which represents a growing percentage of adults, he said. However, its less clear whether metformin will be beneficial in people who are metabolically healthy and exercise regularly.

The studies in mice suggest that metformin is different from rapamycin, in the sense that metformin only increases lifespan by a very small amount and in some cases has been reported to have no effect or even shortens lifespan in mice.

The FDA has accepted a clinical trial, Targeting Aging with Metformin, known as TAME, which will test whether metformin can delay the onset of age-related diseases and conditions including cancer, cardiovascular disease and Alzheimers disease. The goal of the trial, which is estimated to cost $55 million, is not to help people live to be 120 years old but to add health to our years, said the American Federation for Aging Research.

Like metformin, several promising drugs show great potential and await trials. If successful, the TAME trial would give the pharmaceutical industry impetus to advance these drugs and transform aging from a period of sickness to a time of extended vitality.

The intervention: Caloric restriction

What is it? A dietary regimen that reduces calories while maintaining nutrients. Research in lab animals, which started almost a century ago, has shown that it is possible to delay age-related diseases in mice and rats through dietary and caloric restriction, but results have varied.

A parallel study of two groups of rhesus monkeys, one at the University of Wisconsin and the other at the U.S. National Institute on Aging, looked at the life-prolonging and health effects of a calorie-restricted diet. The researchers found that the Wisconsin monkeys on a diet with 30 per cent fewer calories than the control group survived to about 28 years for males and about 30 years for females a couple of years above average for monkeys in captivity. Calorie-restricted monkeys in both groups showed fewer age-related health conditions compared to the control monkeys.

Some biohackers people who use biological interventions to optimize health have embarked on caloric restriction diets, with the goal of living longer. Entrepreneur Dave Asprey, author of Bulletproof Diet, has said he plans to live to be 180 and is hacking his own biology with a number of interventions, including supplements and a strict diet.

The verdict so far: The rhesus monkey study also produced some contradictory findings. The National Institute on Agings study found that while the dieting monkeys showed improved health, they didnt necessarily live longer than the control monkeys. Its not clear why there was a difference between the two groups of monkeys, although they were fed different diets and had different feeding times and access to food. The ages at which they dieted may also have come into play.

There is no compelling evidence caloric restriction will work with people, said Doug Gray, a molecular biologist with an interest in the role of protein homeostasis in aging and diseases of aging at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.

If this sounds like a depressing route to extreme longevity, even scientists agree. Noted one researcher: Life might seem longer, but it wouldnt necessarily be longer.

The intervention: Gene editing

What is it? Genome editing, or gene editing, is a type of genetic engineering in which DNA is inserted, deleted, modified or replaced.

Last February, for example, the journal Nature Medicine reported on a therapy using CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technology aimed at suppressing rapid aging in mice with the rare genetic disorder progeria, which causes accelerated aging. According to the report, two months after the therapy, the progeria mice were stronger and more active and had better heart health. Their lifespan also increased by about 25 per cent.

The verdict so far: Not ready for prime time, said Boling. Even though we have successfully mapped the human genome, and its technically possible to remove a gene sequence and replace it, we have yet to successfully edit genes in a complex organism. Many people dont want to eat food containing genetically-modified organisms, let alone become one, he said.

I dont think we have a clear handle on a special gene sequence that would essentially change the aging process. I would want to see if we could do it in a limited and focused way without undue downstream consequences.

In 2017, researchers at Stanford University medical school reported that injections of blood plasma from donors between the ages of 18 and 30 showed promise for helping human Alzheimers patients with mild to moderate symptoms regain some ability to perform basic daily tasks.Colleen De Neve Colleen De Neve / Calgary Herald

The intervention: Young blood

What is it? There have been a number of studies that looked at whether giving old mice blood from young mice could reverse some signs of aging. Even the researchers admitted it sounded creepy, but the results were intriguing. One study at the University of California, Berkeley, published in 2018, found that old mice showed benefits, including better muscle repair, from receiving blood from young mice. But young mice who received old blood had negative effects, including performing poorly on a strength test.

In 2017, researchers at Stanford University medical school reported that injections of blood plasma from donors between the ages of 18 and 30 showed promise for helping human Alzheimers patients with mild to moderate symptoms regain some ability to perform basic daily tasks, such as remembering to take their medications or preparing meals. The results were based on reports from the patients and their caregivers. The researchers cautioned that more research is needed, since the trial involved only nine patients who had received plasma infusions and nine who had received a placebo saline infusion.

The verdict so far: Dont try it. In a statement last February, the FDA said it had significant public health concerns about establishments that offer infusions of plasma from young donors to treat conditions ranging from normal aging and memory loss to Parkinsons disease, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimers disease, and PTSD.

Simply put, were concerned that some patients are being preyed upon by unscrupulous actors touting treatments of plasma from young donors as cures and remedies. Such treatments have no proven clinical benefits for the uses for which these clinics are advertising them and are potentially harmful, warned the FDA. There are reports of bad actors charging thousands of dollars for infusions that are unproven and not guided by evidence from adequate and well-controlled trials.

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What can hold back the hands of time? Scientists have looked at these five treatments - Ottawa Citizen

What: LDUNA Aesthetics and Wellness Center, designed to explore and introduce the future of advance treatments for the purposes of anti-aging, wellness, and aesthetics, is hosting a grand opening celebration on Jan. 22. Recognized astheCenter of Excellence for Merakris Therapeutics, a biotechnology company that focuses on cellular regeneration, Ldunasprocess will help to empower a healthier, happier, and improved quality of life.The event will feature jazz entertainment byNieve Malandra, delicious bites by Chef Anthony Vidal, 30-40% off treatments booked that evening, and raffle prizes.

Our centers approach to non-surgical procedures and regenerative treatments to enhance and restore youthfulness will not only change the way others see you, but the way you see yourself. says Byron Brooks,Director of Operations at Lduna Aesthetics and Wellness Center. We are grateful to the Henderson community for welcoming us and look forward to working with Henderson Leadership and community members to sponsor and support community activities and initiatives.

The med spas aesthetics category provides the most innovative, non-surgical methods of skin tightening for both the face and body. These services include Botox, Kybella, Juvederm, and other known fillers, Plasma Pen, as well as, fat cell reduction body contouring, laserskin improvement treatments, micro-needling with exosomes, and other technological skin related services. The anti-aging services offered are genetic testing and bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, to ensure peak biological performance, while Ldunasregenerative medicine category includes the following treatments: Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), exosome therapy, and joint mobility injections.

Additionally, LDUNAs line of featured luxury products include: Cosmedix, Lucrece, Valmont, GM Collin, NeoCutis, and Jan Marini.

When: Wednesday, January 22

Time: 5:30pm

Address: 10521 Jeffreys Street, Henderson, Suite 220, 89052

Who: Byron Brooks, Director of Operations

Dr. Bonnie Fraser, and Dr. Abraham Fakhouri, Medical Directors

Debra Newell,Celebrity Interior Designer, Featured on Netflix and Bravo

Nieve Malandra, Entertainment/Singer

Chef Anthony Vidal

Zach Zoufaly,Chippendales Performer

For more information, please visit:https://lduna.com/(in development) or like and share on Facebook atLduna Aesthetics and Wellness Center.

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LDUNA Aesthetics and Wellness Center Grand Opening Celebration, Jan. 22 - Nevada Business Magazine

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New Delhi 23rd January 2020 On Saturday, January 18th, 2020, the Advancells Group & the International Fertility Center together ended their first workshop Sub-Specialty Training in Application of Regenerative Medicine (S.T.A.R. 2020). The three-day workshop had specialized doctors, medical practitioners, learned scientists of Advancells, the leaders in cell manufacturing & processes and IFC, one of India's most prestigious Fertility institute who were joined by candidates with MBBS/BAMS/BHMS/BPharma & Master's degree in Life Sciences.

The key-note speaker of the workshop was Dr. Rita Bakshi, founder and chairperson of International Fertility Centre, the oldest fertility clinic and one of the most renowned IVF clinics in India, one of the organizers of the event. Participants also had a privilege to listen to Dr. Sachin Kadam, CTO, Advancells and gain hands-on experience in the preparation of PRP; Liposuction method; and Bone Marrow aspiration. All these techniques were talked about at length and demonstrated in the form of manual & kit-based models to help the candidates gain exposure.

Dr. Punit Prabha, Head of Clinical Research and Dr. Shradha Singh Gautam, Head of Lab Operations at Advancells successfully set the base of stem cell biology for the participants who were experts in gynecology field, stem cell research and pain specialist. With the help of detailed analysis of 'Application of PRP for Skin rejuvenation'; 'Preparation of Micro-fragmented Adipose Tissue and Nano Fat & SVF (Stromal Vascular Fraction) from Adipose Tissue'; and 'Cell Culturing and Expansion in a Laboratory', applicants understood the application of stem cells in aesthetics, cosmetology, and anti-aging.

Vipul Jain, Founder & CEO of Advancells Group said, 'Educating young scientists about stem cells is important for us. With this workshop we wanted to discuss and share the challenges and lessons we have learned in our journey of curing our customers. We wanted to establish more concrete knowledge base in the presence of subject matter experts and help our attendees in more possible ways. We are hopeful to have successfully achieved what we claimed with this workshop'.

Given the resounding success of the Sub-Specialty Training in Application of Regenerative Medicine (S.T.A.R. 2020), it's hoped that the future events shall offer even greater wisdom to the participants by helping them improve and the lead the community into the age of greater awareness.

Advancells Group Advancells is leading the field of stem cell therapies in India and abroad, with representative offices in Bangladesh and Australia. The company provides arrangements for stem cell banking and protocols for partner doctors and hospitals which they can use for treating the patients using regenerative medicine. With a GMP compliant research and processing center that works on different cell lines from various sources such as Bone Marrow, Adipose Tissue, Dental Pulp, Blood, Cord Tissue etc. Advancells also intends to file a patent for this processing technology soon.

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Advancells Group & IFC Concluded their 3-Day Workshop on Regenerative Medicine - MENAFN.COM

Netflix is stirring up controversy by giving Gwyneth Paltrow a platform to share what several critics are calling pseudoscience with her new show, The Goop Lab, which debuted this week.

The show, which Netflix files under provocative and quirky, is described as the following: Leading with curiosity, Gwyneth Paltrow and her goop team look at psychedelics, energy work and other challenging wellness topics.

The topics being tackled in the series range from energy healing, psychic mediums and orgasm workshops to taking psychedelics as a form of therapy and plunging into freezing water to stimulate the immune system.

Along with the Daily Beast calling the show a nightmare, Time writer Judy Berman writes: As with the brand itself, whats disturbing about the show is that when you combine Gwyneths aura of trustworthiness with a mishmash of real science, New Age nonsense, vague female empowerment rhetoric, naked commercialism and some startling knowledge gaps in areas where Goop claims expertise, the result has its unique dangers.

Related Video: Gwyneth Paltrows The Goop Lab: Fact-Checking the Health Claims

But in the shows defense, some of the featured wellness practices are supported by science. In one episode, for example, it appears that Paltrow is getting a PRP, or platelet-rich plasma, facial (what some call a vampire facial, which is a trademarked term) an anti-aging treatment thats popular with celebrities.

With the facial, venous blood is taken from the patient and separated into the cellular component and the plasma component, Nava Greenfield, MD, of Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City, explains to Yahoo Lifestyle. The plasma is then injected or topically applied back to the patient in specific locations. It can be used for hair loss, or in combination with microneedling for the face. Microneedling is a popular procedure where tiny needles are used to induce a specific kind of injury to the first and second layer of skin, promoting collagen synthesis. When used in combination with PRP, superior results are often obtained.

Although it may sound out there, the facial stimulates the production of collagen to help tighten, smooth, and improve skin tone, according to the Cleveland Clinic. As with any injection, the treatment does carry a small risk of bleeding, pain or infection, but is considered safe.

In another episode, people really, Goops employees who have volunteered to try these experimental wellness treatments take psychedelic drugs, leaving one employee sobbing on the floor and then later saying, I went through years of therapy in about five hours.

David Spiegel, MD, director of the Stanford Center for Integrative Medicine, tells Yahoo Lifestyle that theres actually some interesting research on the psychotherapeutic effects of psychedelics (such as MDMA and magic mushrooms), with one 2018 National Institutes of Health study calling the therapy potentially life-preserving. Some clinical trials are showing it helps with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression in people nearing the end of life, he says. It can help people come to terms with impending death.

But Spiegel emphasizes that psychedelic drugs need to be used in a controlled setting and in combination with psychotherapy for these mental health benefits.

Gwyneth Paltrow getting a PRP (or platelet rich plasma) facial on an episode of Netflix's The Goop Lab. (Screenshot: Netflix)

Still, plenty criticize The Goop Lab (or really, anything Goop or Gwyneth Paltrow-related, for that matter), and question the legitimacy and safety of some of the practices in the series, pointing out the lack of objective experts. But while many may view the decision as an oversight, Elise Loehnen, chief content officer at Goop and executive producer of The Goop Lab, suggested to Fast Company that it was deliberate: We felt like we would be manufacturing drama by trying to find a detractor.

Timothy Caulfield, research chair in health law and policy and professor in the Faculty of Law and School of Public Health at the University of Alberta in Canada has been vocal about his criticism of The Goop Lab, writing on Twitter that the series is an infomercial for [Paltrows] pseudoscience business a business worth an estimated $250 million.

The topics covered are classic wellness woo: a mashup of the supernatural, spiritual and science-y, Caulfield tells Yahoo Lifestyle. Some topics, like the cold therapy, use the familiar strategy of a powerful testimonial the 'inventor Wim Hof with an extreme experience cold! and a dash of scientific speculation to make it seem credible.

Spiegel is also wary of the series, telling Yahoo Lifestyle: Goop is her company so its an infomercial, basically. Shes a great actress, but that doesn't make her an expert on these so-called treatments. Its fine to explore things as long as you dont pretend your exploration is more than what it is. I dont like the pretense of it being a scientific examination.

Several other doctors, most notably Jennifer Gunter, MD, have repeatedly called out Paltrow and Goop in the past for what Business Insider calls scientifically indefensible and potentially harmful health information and products, including the now-famous jade and rose quartz vaginal eggs. Goop claimed the stone eggs provided health benefits when inserted vaginally namely, balance their hormones, regulate menstrual cycles, prevent uterine prolapse and increase bladder control, according to the Los Angeles Times. But after a lawsuit was filed by 10 state prosecutors in California over advertisements not backed by competent and reliable scientific evidence, the company ended up paying $145,000 in civil penalties. (Jade eggs, $66, are currently unavailable on the site.)

Goop has some fine advice, for example, [in] an article on sleep on their site, Gunter said in a statement provided to Yahoo Lifestyle. They also distribute some dangerous advice, for example drinking goats milk to treat parasites (the parasites are non-existent). When good information is next to harmful and presented in the same way, how can people distinguish? In addition, they sell useless and potentially harmful products, such as supplements.

Gunter continued: Finally, they have used their international platform to advance harmful ideas, many of which are medical conspiracy theories. For example, bras cause breast cancer (they don't), fears about vaccine safety and concerns about fluoride, adding, The supplements are not supported by science. At all. The idea that a medium can help with health is as anti-science as one can be; it is the definition of snake oil. So you'll have to ask Goop for the science behind their myriad of false claims.

Critics are concerned that those misleading claims will now have an even bigger platform on The Goop Lab, with Netflixs 167 million subscribers worldwide. Ars Technicas Beth Mole writes that, on the show, Paltrows ignorance and lack of critical thinking skills are on full display as a parade of questionable experts with the noted exception of sex educator Betty Dodson, PhD and ridiculous claims about health and science march across the small screen unchallenged.

Caulfield tells Yahoo Lifestyle, The spreading of misinformation can have a real impact. Just being exposed to this nonsense can make it seem more plausible, especially if it is packaged in a memorable manner.

He adds, I also think that a show like this adds more noise to an already confused health information environment. In this age of misinformation, it is disappointing to see an entity like Goop, which has a long history of profiting from misinformation, have the opportunity to push more pseudoscience. We shouldn't forget that Goop and Gwyneth benefit financially from the growth of their brand, which is what this show does. It is an infomercial for Goop, not an independent science-informed documentary.

Critics have also called out Netflix, saying this isnt the first time the streaming service has created controversy with its health documentaries. As HuffPost U.K. (HuffPost U.K. and Yahoo are owned by the same parent company, Verizon Media) put it: The streaming service has a history of producing irresponsible health programs that could potentially affect viewers.

In 2019, RealClearScience.com posted a list of multiple shows that have aired on Netflix, which the publication dubbed anti-science documentaries, while the American Council on Science and Health shared their own list back in 2017. The documentaries called out include What the Health, Cowspiracy and The Magic Pill.

In What the Health, Vox wrote that the film cherry-picks studies about nutrition and often exaggerates their findings or reports them out of context, to drive home his case for veganism and cranks the food fear sirens to irresponsibly high levels, such as claiming that eating processed meats is as bad for you as smoking.

As Vox points out, theres a causal link between eating processed meat and certain types of cancer in humans, chiefly colorectal cancer. But the actual risk is quite modest and far, far smaller than the cancer risks from smoking. According to the World Health Organization, processed meat has been classified in the same category as causes of cancer such as tobacco smoking and asbestos... but this does NOT mean that they are all equally dangerous.

In The Magic Pill, Australian chef Pete Evans claims that the popular keto diet can treat type 2 diabetes, cancer and autism. Michael Gannon, then president of the Australian Medical Association (AMA), called The Magic Pill hurtful, harmful and mean and compared it to the controversial film, Vaxxed, telling the West Australian in 2017 that both films were competing in the awards for the films least likely to contribute to public health.

In 2018, the current AMA president, Tony Bartone, MD, shared his own opinion about The Magic Pill, telling the Sydney Morning Herald: All forms of media have to take a responsible attitude when trying to spread a message of wellness. Netflix should do the responsible thing. They shouldn't screen it. The risk of misinformation... is too great.

While noting that Netflix has some incredible documentaries, HuffPosts Todd Van Luling (HuffPost and Yahoo are owned by the same parent company, Verizon Media) writes that many of the documentaries the streaming service adds each month make dubious claims that wouldnt withstand scrutiny from a fact-checker.

But in at least one case, Netflix appears to have listened to critics by pulling the documentary, Root Cause, in March 2019, which came under fire after several medical organizations, including the American Dental Association, said the film falsely links the root canal procedure to breast cancer and heart disease, employing baseless claims gleaned from discredited 1920s research, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Yahoo Lifestyle reached out to Netflix for comment but has not yet heard back.

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'The Goop Lab' and other controversial documentaries: Why Netflix is facing criticism for promoting 'pseudoscience' - Yahoo Lifestyle

Most of us try our best to live a healthy lifestyle by exercising and eating right and for good reason. Maintaining our health helps ensure that our immune system, our body's defense system that protects against foreign invaders, is strong. Without a fighting immune system, we become susceptible to all sorts of infectious diseases and viruses.

Staying hydrated is one way to boost your immune system. Make it a habit to drink a glass first thing in the morning.

Credit: EmirMemedovski/E+/GettyImages

There are big things we can do to keep our immune systems healthy, including eating right, exercising and staying up-to-date with vaccines, but there are also small things we can do on a daily basis to keep our body's defense system in tip-top shape.

In that spirit, here are nine everyday microhabits that can help boost your immune system and keep your body healthy.

Even if you don't smoke, you may suffer from the damage it can cause to parts of your immune system if you are exposed to it secondhand, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Chronic secondhand smoke exposure causes inflammation of both upper and lower respiratory tract and impairs the immune system's ability to produce antibodies in response to exposure to bacteria," explains Julia Blank, MD, family medicine physician at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California. "This leads to decreased clearance of bacteria from the lungs and increases asthma flares, which can both make a person more vulnerable to infection."

Try to avoid places where you'll be exposed to secondhand smoke, and ask others around you to get in the habit of going outside if and when they smoke.

Protein is an essential component of a healthy immune system.

Credit: Rawpixel/iStock/GettyImages

Protein is a vital nutrient for many reasons. It helps the body build and repair tissue, and it's also the centerpiece of a healthy immune system, says Roger Adams, PhD, personal trainer, doctor of nutrition and owner of eatrightfitness.

Research, including a March 2016 study in Food & Function, has shown that protein from high-quality sources (i.e. lean meat) is essential for optimal health. "If protein intake is poor, it can impair the body's ability to make antibodies, large proteins produced by the immune system in response to the invasion of foreign molecules," Adams says. "Without sufficient protein to make antibodies, the immune system loses its ability to fight infections."

Protein can be easier to come by at lunch or dinnertime, so breakfast is the perfect meal to squeeze in more.

The American College of Sports Medicine recommends getting 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram (or 2.2 pounds) of body weight each day, but keep in mind that people who are active need more. Weight-lifters or those training for a running or cycling event should eat between 1.2 to 1.7 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight daily. To put that into perspective, a weight-lifter who weighs 170 pounds should be getting somewhere between 92 and 131 grams of protein each day.

This one might sound obvious, but too few people actually wash their hands well enough to eliminate illness-causing bacteria. In fact, one April 2013 study published in the Journal of Environmental Health observed the hand-washing behavior of nearly 4,000 people and found that as many as 95 percent don't wash their hands for a long enough time after going to the bathroom.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends washing your hands for at least 20 seconds to minimize germ exposure and keep the immune system from getting overwhelmed.

Sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice through as you soap up your hands to make sure you're hitting the 20-second mark.

All fruits and vegetables are beneficial for our health, but some can do more for our immune system than others. The cream of the crop are the ones rich in color, as they tend to have more nutrients, Adams says.

"The more colors, the more antioxidants, which the body uses to fight off free radicals that may contribute to cellular damage," he says. "Also, these foods are loaded with vitamins and minerals essential for a healthy immune system."

Unfortunately, most people aren't getting enough. For adults, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends eating two cups of brightly colored fruits and two to three cups of vibrant veggies per day. But even one extra serving will do you good.

Learn how to fill your plate with healthy, nutrient-dense foods by logging your meals on the MyPlate app. Download now to fine-tune your diet today!

Getting enough sleep can help boost your immune system.

Credit: David-Prado/iStock/GettyImages

Sleep is essential to a healthy, functioning immune system. One February 2019 study in the_ Journal of Experimental Medicine_ found that a good night's sleep can boost the efficiency of T cells in the body, a type of white blood cell that helps the body fight off viruses.

"Many people stay up late and miss the opportunity to boost their immunity by proper sleep hygiene," says Shiva Lalezar, DO, functional medicine and anti-aging specialist. "The adrenal glands, which produce cortisol (the stress hormone), epinephrine and norepinephrine, get disrupted by poor or inadequate sleep, which, in turn has a negative impact on the immune system."

In order to go to bed at a proper hour, you have to create a healthy bedtime routine, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Start by giving yourself a curfew for example, head to bed at 10 p.m. every night and avoiding stimulating activities for at least four hours prior. Just like you set an alarm to wake up in the morning, set one to remind you to start winding down for sleep.

Staying hydrated by drinking enough water on a day-to-day basis will also give your immune system a boost.

"Dry mucous membranes and cracked skin can all be areas pathogens can invade your body," says Adams. "Staying hydrated will reduce dryness in essential areas, like the mucus membranes in your nose, and give your body's natural resources a better chance at warding off pathogens."

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommends that men drink approximately 15.5 cups and women get 11.5 cups of H2O each day. Start by downing a glass first thing in the morning to start your day on the right foot.

According to Lalezar, a shot of ginger and lemon juice a day can help reduce inflammation and boost immunity.

"Ginger is a rich antioxidant and is antibacterial, and lemon is high in vitamin C, is an antioxidant and has antiviral and antibacterial properties," she says.

She recommends pre-mixing lemon juice with two tablespoons of minced or chopped ginger and keeping it in the fridge for a few weeks. "The lemon juice will act as a preservative to keep the ginger fresh during that time."

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7 Microhabits to Easily Boost Your Immune System - LIVESTRONG.COM

From exorcisms to sexual revelations to psychedelic psychotherapy, The Goop Lab series makes some pretty spectacular claims, all beneath a disclaimer that the show constitutes entertainment, not medical advice.

Among them: that the right diet could add years to your life, keeping you youthful and healthful beyond your chronological age.

In episode 4 of the series, goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow and her crew test out three dietary interventions designed to slow or even reverse aging.

"You can make yourself younger on the inside you're probably going to look younger as well," says guest expert Morgan Levine, an assistant professor of pathology at Yale University, at the start of the episode.

Using an algorithm designed by Levine, Paltrow and two Goop staffers have their blood tested to determine their biological age, based on markers such as metabolism, kidney and liver health, and cardiovascular function.

They then embark on three different diets to see which, if any, is capable of prolonging their youth and shaving time off their biological clock.

Goop chief content officer Elise Loehnen and VP of marketing Wendy Lauria tried face treatments and diets on the show. Adam Rose/Netflix Paltrow, 46 years old the time of filming, is told she has a biological age of 44.2. She is the prescribed the most extreme of the test diets: a five-day cleanse designed by Walter Vongo, a professor of gerontology at the University of Southern California. The cleansemimics a fast, while providing nutrients to avoid unpleasant side effects, through tea, freeze-dried soups, and nut bars. In total, she consumes 500 to 800 calories a day.

Next is Goop's chief content officer Elise Loehnan, just shy of turning 40, whose biological age is 37.9, according to Levine. Loehnan is put on a three-week-long Mediterranean-style pescatarian diet, mostly plant-based. It includes some fish, but no red meat or poultry.

Wendy Lauria, Goop's vice president of marketing, rounds out the group, with a biological age of 48.4, just over a year younger than her actual age, 49.5. Lauriais assigned a three-week vegan diet of plant-based meals, excluding all animal products like meat, fish, milk, and eggs.

Paltrow came out on top in the final test results, which showed that her fast-mimicking regimen had shaved 1.7 years off her biological age, bringing her to a youthful 42.5 (compared with her actual age of 46 years).

Longo, who designed the dehydrated mushroom soups and nut bars, explained that fasting has shown to have a wealth of benefits when done correctly, including significantly reducing the risk of major diseases.

Studies have found fasting shows promising benefits for losing weight, burning fat, reducing cholesterol, and other factors in health.But many of the studies have been small and/or focused on specific populations, so there's still a lot of research to be done before we fully understand how various types of fasting can affect health.

"We are getting insight into early time restricted eating but there is no solid research there yet it may be that a period of fasting during night hours is good for your metabolism but studies are still coming," Dr. Caroline Apovian, professor of medicine in endocrinology, diabetes, nutrition and weight management at Boston University School of Medicine, told Insider.

As for the show's "contest," Apovian was skeptical: the claims just went too far beyond what current research can support.

"We just do not know enough about genetic predisposition to factor into an equation about how what you eat affects your 'biological age,'" she said. "It is true that nutrition can put you at lesser or greater risk of chronic disease diabetes cancer heart disease basically all due to increased inflammation in the fat tissue and then leading to the chronic diseases through travel to other organs."

However, the idea that it can reduce aging and we can detect that in a simple series of tests is not supported by research, she added.

"There is no basis for blood tests supposedly revealing reduction of biological age by 1.7 years. This part is all made up and not based on any nutritional science whatsoever," Apovian said.

Furthermore, fasting isn't for everyone there can be significant health risks in dropping below 1,000 calories a day (Paltrow's diet included 500 to 800 calories a day) and it can be particularly dangerous for people with a history of eating disorders.

Morgan Levine, a pathologist at Yale University, and Valter Longo, the USC scientist who designed Gwyneth Paltrow's fasting diet. Adam Rose/Netflix Loehnan, after eating a pescatarian diet of plant-based foods with some fish, found her biological age dropped by a year, from 37.9 to 36.8 years old.

Her eating plan was similar to the Mediterranean diet, a plant-based eating plan that includes leafy greens, fish, and healthy fats. This style of eating has been widely supported by nutritionists and medical experts for its evidence-backed benefits, including to helping reduce the risk of diabetes, and protecting against certain types of cancers as well as cognitive decline.

It also has many similarities to the diets in so-called Blue Zones, areas of the world where people live the longest, healthiest lives.

Lauria, however, wasn't so lucky. After trying the vegan diet for three weeks, her blood tests revealed no change to her biological age, which remained just shy of her actual age at 48.4 years.

Analyzing the results, Longo blames the lack of protein in a vegan diet, saying the fact that Loehnan was able to eat fish made the difference.

However, there's also plenty of research to show people do see health improvements on a vegan diet, particularly if you get enough protein and other nutrients.Veganism has been linked to a better gut microbiome, leading to weight loss and fat loss, as well as reducing risk of cardiovascular disease.

It may not be true that snacking on superfoods can make you younger, but what you eat can still certainly affect your health. However, that leaves plenty of room for personal choice, since there's no "one size fits all" approach to nutrition, Apovian said.

"We do not know enough about what kind of healthy foods in what quantities or % for which persons are the healthiest.So we say that you can be healthy on a Mediterranean diet or a vegan diet or a high protein diet or low fat diet," she said.

Apovian added that it is safe to say that any diet that reduces dietary "junk" can improve your health.

"We do know that healthy diets are any diets that eliminate or decrease the intact of processed foods that are high in nonfood ingredients, sugar and saturated fat," she said.

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Gwyneth Paltrow claims she shaved 1.7 years off her biological clock by changing her diet - INSIDER