Category Archives: Longevity Medicine

The use of raw or heated ginger can help people shift to natural pain management.

In a recent study performed by researchers from the Georgia College & State University, it was found that consuming the world-popular root ginger can actually alleviate pain and reduce tissue inflammation.

Raw ginger vs. heated ginger

The researchers used raw ginger supplementation and heated ginger supplementation for two groups of respondents for a period of 11 days.  The respondents then underwent exercises that produced mild muscle soreness.  In short, some pain and inflammation was induced to test whether or not the ginger supplementation would work.

Raw ginger produced 25% less pain and inflammation within the period of one day, while the heated ginger reduced 23% less pain and inflammation.  The researchers concluded that daily consumption of ginger (ginger supplementation) can benefit individuals who are often exposed to exercise-related pain and tissue inflammation.  The said study has already been published in the medical journal Journal of Pain.

Why ginger is good for you

Ginger is naturally rich in antioxidants and other beneficial compounds like zingerones, which makes it a prime choice for people who want to naturally protect their bodies from free radical damage, stress-related fatigue, etc.

Other natural compounds in ginger also produce analgesic-like effects on the body, which is why it was effective in reducing tissue swelling/inflammation and pain in the study.

Since you have a more natural choice now, there’s really no need to depend on OTC analgesics and painkillers when dealing with post-exercise soreness.  If the soreness and pain is mild, then raw or heated ginger would be a good substitute for OTC painkillers and NSAID drugs.

Another reason why I’m advocating natural pain management is that OTC drugs often produce long term side effects. Both analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are notorious for long term side effects.

The information is available, but the common conception is that these drugs are so harmless that even kids can take them regularly without being exposed to certain risks for side effects.  This is simply not true.  For example, common OTC analgesics can produce the following side effects:

• Feeling of nausea
• Dizziness
• Vomiting
• Urinary problems
• Constipation
• Hives
• Slowed heart rate
• Muscle rigidness

Natural pain relief

Apart from ginger, there are other natural pain relievers that you can try:

1. Cayenne cream – Cayenne cream contains the compound capsaicin, which is found in chili peppers.  Studies show that capsaicin is capable of reducing tissue inflammation by lowering the levels of substance P in the body.  Substance P facilitates the transmission of pain signals.  Since it’s a topical agent, you can use it on any sore muscle easily.

2. Essential oil of black currant & evening primrose – The E.O. Of these two plants contain the compound gamma linolenic acid, which has been indicated for people suffering from arthritic conditions.  You can also try borage oil, which contains a higher percentage of gamma linolenic acid.

3. Cetyl myristoleate – CM is a type of natural oil found in fish and butter (dairy-based).  CM can help joints move more efficiently and also has anti-inflammatory properties.

4. Bromelain – Bromelain is a compound that naturally occurs in food like pineapples.  It naturally fights inflammation in the body.

5. Krill oil or fish oil – These two types of oil are rich in omega 3 fatty acids, which are good for the heart and inflamed tissues.

6. Boswellia – The boswellia plant has anti-inflammatory properties, which makes it a natural pain reliever as well.

7. Turmeric – A base ingredient for curries, turmeric contains the compound curcumin, which has been shown to reduce tissue inflammation in patients with arthritis and even psoriasis.

8. Arnica – Arnica is used in homeopathic treatments and is recommended for individuals suffering from pain and swelling after undergoing surgical procedures (especially around the knee area).  Arnica can be used orally or topically.

9.Aquamin – Aquamin is a type of seaweed which has also been touted as a natural anti-inflammatory agent. In addition to its anti-inflammatory properties, aquamin may also help people build healthier bones (according to a study published in the Nutrition Journal). 2,400 mg every day is recommended.

10. SAM-e – SAM-e or S adenosylmethionine is a type of amino acid that is naturally produced by the human body.  It can help lessen inflammation and it also affects the production of brain chemicals like dopamine, which are helpful in regulating mood and pain.

Sources:
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
nutraingredients.com
nutraingredients.com
arthritis.about.com
medicinenet.com
msnbc.msn.com

Discuss this post in Frank Mangano’s forum!

News of a study linking telomere length and cancer risk, but it's still the case that the relationship could be indirect, such as both sides of the correlation being based on levels of biochemical damage. For example, it might reflect the state of mitochondrial biochemistry in a person: "A new study suggests that shorter length of leukocyte telomeres - chromosome markers of biological aging - are associated with an increased risk of cancer and death from cancer. ... Telomeres are a structure at the end of a chromosome involved in the replication and stability of the chromosome. Genetic factors and environmental stressors can shorten the length of the telomere, and telomere length has been considered to be an emerging marker of biological age. Some research has suggested that short telomeres and chromosomal instability contribute to malignant cell transformation. ... [Researchers] conducted a study to assess the association between leukocyte telomere length and risk of both new-onset cancer and cancer death. Leukocyte telomere length was [measured] in 787 participants, free of cancer in 1995 ... Analysis indicated that short telomere length at the beginning of the study was associated with new cancer independently of standard cancer risk factors. Compared with participants in the longest telomere length group, participants in the middle length group had about twice the risk of cancer, and those in the shortest length group had approximately three times the risk. Cancer incidence rates were inversely related to telomere length, with participants in the group with the shortest telomere length having the highest rate of cancer."

View the Article Under Discussion: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-07/jaaj-lob063010.php

Read More Longevity Meme Commentary: http://www.longevitymeme.org/news/

Much like the slow and steady lengthening of life expectancy, there is a general improvement in cancer treatment outcomes thanks to progress across the board in modern medicine: "The continued drop in overall cancer mortality rates over the last 20 years has averted more than three-quarters of a million (767,000) cancer deaths according to a new report from the American Cancer Society. The American Cancer Society's annual Cancer Statistics article reports that the overall death rate from cancer in the United States in 2007 was 178.4 per 100,000, a relative decrease of 1.3 percent from 2006, when the rate was 180.7 per 100,000, continuing a trend that began in 1991 for men and 1992 for women. In that time, mortality rates have decreased by 21 percent among men and by 12 percent among women, due primarily to declines in smoking, better treatments, and earlier detection of cancer. ... Cancer incidence rates decreased in men 1.3 percent per year from 2000 to 2006 and in women 0.5 percent per year from 1998 to 2006. Death rates for all cancer sites combined decreased 2 percent per year from 2001 to 2006 in males and 1.5 percent per year from 2002 to 2006 in females."

View the Article Under Discussion: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-07/acs-cdc070710.php

Read More Longevity Meme Commentary: http://www.longevitymeme.org/news/

A little stress improves our biochemistry: “Recent evidence suggests that calorie restriction and specifically reduced glucose metabolism induces mitochondrial metabolism to extend life span in various model organisms, including Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans and possibly mice. In conflict with Harman’s free radical theory of aging (FRTA), these effects may be due to increased formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within the mitochondria causing an adaptive response that culminates in subsequently increased stress resistance assumed to ultimately cause a long-term reduction of oxidative stress. This type of retrograde response has been named mitochondrial hormesis or mitohormesis, and may in addition be applicable to the health-promoting effects of physical exercise in humans and, hypothetically, impaired insulin/IGF-1-signaling in model organisms. Consistently, abrogation of this mitochondrial ROS signal by antioxidants impairs the lifespan-extending and health-promoting capabilities of glucose restriction and physical exercise, respectively. In summary, the findings discussed in this review indicate that ROS are essential signaling molecules which are required to promote health and longevity. Hence, the concept of mitohormesis provides a common mechanistic denominator for the physiological effects of physical exercise, reduced calorie uptake, glucose restriction, and possibly beyond.”

View the Article Under Discussion: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20350594

Read More Longevity Meme Commentary: http://www.longevitymeme.org/news/

Russian cryonics provider KrioRus is starting to receive the sort of mixed press attention that Alcor did five years ago or so: “‘I don’t ever want to die… It wouldn’t suit me,’ said Innokenty Osadchy. Fortunately, the 35-year-old investment banker is certain he has found a loophole out of death. Osadchy is ready to pay a small fortune to freeze his brain until future technology allows him to continue his life – after being transplanted into a new body and resuscitated. ‘Why do I have to die in a couple decades? I don’t see any logic in this. It won’t be another life, it’ll be the continuation of my life. I don’t ever want to die ever. Not in a year, not in a million years.’ Osadchy and other clients of Russian cryonics company KrioRus believe the brain operates like a computer hard-drive and its contents can be frozen and stored for the future. ‘We know that the personality is stored in the brain. So when a person’s body is old, there’s no reason to keep it,’ said Danila Medvedev, who runs KrioRus, the first cryonics outfit outside the United States. … Since its 2005 launch, KrioRus has been building new vats, in anticipation of the 30 clients, like Osadchy, with whom it already has contracts.”

View the Article Under Discussion: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hcee6gk4tTAqxAfRk1MhcG5dMELw

Read More Longevity Meme Commentary: http://www.longevitymeme.org/news/

A little stress improves our biochemistry: "Recent evidence suggests that calorie restriction and specifically reduced glucose metabolism induces mitochondrial metabolism to extend life span in various model organisms, including Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans and possibly mice. In conflict with Harman's free radical theory of aging (FRTA), these effects may be due to increased formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within the mitochondria causing an adaptive response that culminates in subsequently increased stress resistance assumed to ultimately cause a long-term reduction of oxidative stress. This type of retrograde response has been named mitochondrial hormesis or mitohormesis, and may in addition be applicable to the health-promoting effects of physical exercise in humans and, hypothetically, impaired insulin/IGF-1-signaling in model organisms. Consistently, abrogation of this mitochondrial ROS signal by antioxidants impairs the lifespan-extending and health-promoting capabilities of glucose restriction and physical exercise, respectively. In summary, the findings discussed in this review indicate that ROS are essential signaling molecules which are required to promote health and longevity. Hence, the concept of mitohormesis provides a common mechanistic denominator for the physiological effects of physical exercise, reduced calorie uptake, glucose restriction, and possibly beyond."

View the Article Under Discussion: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20350594

Read More Longevity Meme Commentary: http://www.longevitymeme.org/news/