The Body Ecology Guide To Growing Younger

Bottom line: it is essential to evaluate, nourish, and rejuvenate your entire endocrine team–your hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, adrenals, and ovaries or testes–to stay young and healthy.

Well over 2,000 years ago, Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” And yet today, we have come to rely too much on synthetic drugs to cure what ails us. Even advocates of the “natural-foods movement” rely too heavily on vitamin and mineral supplements and components of plants. There are about 60 nutrients known at this time to be essential to human nutrition. Yet even if we swallowed a megavitamin/ mineral pill consisting of generous quantities of all these nutrients, we could not maintain our health. This is because whole foods give us something we can’t get anywhere else—they contain a live, spiritual essence that modern science has not yet identified.

Supplements can be healthy in the short term, until your inner ecosystem is reestablished. A wise way to supplement is to consider your personal lifestyle and habits. Answer these questions about the supplement:

Remember—toxins are very damaging to the endocrine system. That’s why the principles of cleansing set out in Chapter 18 are an important first step in nurturing and healing the endocrine system.

When I first began studying Chinese medicine, every teacher and book referred to the kidneys as the root of “chi” or life force, supplying energy to all other organs in the body. After many years of relentless personal study, I now believe that this is a modern-day misinterpretation of this ancient system of healing. I believe that what ancient practitioners meant to convey is that creating energy in a person’s body is essential in order to establish, regain, or maintain health. Certainly your kidneys are important organs, but if it is energy you seek, look to your adrenals.

While not mentioned in the many textbooks I researched, the adrenals—and the thyroid—are the most important organs of focus if you want to regain youthfulness, health, and vitality. What happens when the adrenals and thyroid have lost their life force or “spirit”? Your digestive system, brain, sexual organs, heart, and central nervous system suffer.

Because of the stressful world we live in, and the confusion and negativity all around us these days, we are often in a fight-or-flight mode whether we realize it or not. This puts incredible stress on our adrenals. We have to find ways to calm them, and then nourish them back to health. In addition to stress-reducing techniques, like meditation and gentle exercise, the following supplements are indispensable to resetting the adrenals. Certain amino acids (GABA, tryptophan, DLPA, and tyrosine), holy-basil extract, B vitamins, and vitamin C help to calm down this fight-or-flight response so that you can then nourish the adrenals back to health. The shen herbs, like reishi, help calm the adrenals so that the tonic herbs can start to rebuild them.

Minerals are the most important part of the equation when nourishing your adrenals. Every second of your life, your adrenals must obtain the minerals they need from your bloodstream. How do you ensure that you have mineral-rich blood? An 80 percent plant-based, sugar-free, probiotic diet is a must. A healthy digestive tract that digests food and eliminates efficiently is also essential. While athletes try to replace minerals with sugary drinks like Gatorade, there are far better alternatives. (For more information on mineral supplements, visit: www.bodyecology.com.)

Then there’s the thyroid. Located slightly below the Adam’s apple, the thyroid gland is intimately related to our metabolism and how quickly our bodies utilize energy. It helps us make protein, and it controls our sensitivity to the other hormones our bodies manufacture.

To function properly, your thyroid needs zinc, selenium, iodine, tyrosine, and good fats that contain vitamins A and D … all of which are found in egg yolks, butter, ghee, red-palm oil, and cod-liver oil. Coconut oil is excellent because it “warms” and “fuels” the thyroid. It also helps speed up metabolism, and can help you lose weight.

There’s been a lot of talk lately about human growth hormone (HGH), the most abundant hormone produced by the pituitary gland and the one responsible for the growth of nearly every cell and tissue of the body. HGH affects protein formation, cell differentiation, and cell growth. What most people don’t realize is that the pituitary never stops producing growth hormone—even as we age. It simply stops releasing it.

Although the impact of this hormone is most profound in the first 15 to 18 years of life, it will continue to influence the deposition of new bone on old bone throughout our lives. For adults, restoring HGH to its optimal youthful level is one of the most powerful of anti-aging therapies, as it causes our cells to regenerate, repair, and replicate.¹

HGH increases the rate of protein synthesis and the mobilization of fat from fat cells in the body. It also decreases the rate of glucose use. As we age, we release less and less HGH, and by the time we are 60, we only have about 20 percent of the amount we once had in our bodies. Diminishing HGH is called somatopause, and it contributes to many of those telltale signs of aging—lower energy and stamina, increased body fat, risk of osteoporosis, decreased sexual function, weight gain, and a greater tendency toward depression and anxiety.

HGH is also essential for hydration. In fact, you cannot correct dehydration in your body if you have low levels of HGH. As it slowly begins to decline, you become more dehydrated and wrinkled. HGH levels also affect your hair color. As the hormone wanes, there is also a gradual dying off of stem cells called melanocytes that provide a reservoir for the renewal of pigment-manufacturing cells. Without these pigment-manufacturing cells, your hair becomes gray and loses it shine.

Many people have started taking growth-hormone-replacement-therapy injections, which could have some unpleasant side effects, including swelling of the arms and legs, water retention, high blood pressure, joint pain, and raised insulin levels.² These injections are also quite expensive. Ideally, we would begin to generate our own HGH through diet, lifestyle, and important supplements. The high-intensity, short-duration exercise program mentioned later in this chapter increases HGH.

A safer way to increase HGH is to take a secretagogue formula. As its name implies, a secretagogue is a substance that causes another substance to be secreted. Amino acids (like arginine, ornithine, lysine, glutamine, glycine, and GABA) and glandulars (usually the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary) are “stacked” or combined, because together they work more efficiently to stimulate the release of your own naturally occurring HGH.

Secretagogues have been on the market for at least a decade. Unfortunately, some of the more effective formulas come in a sachet packet and contain sugar or an artificial sweetener. If you use one of these, be sure to put the ingredients into three to four ounces of young coconut kefir or a probiotic liquid before drinking it. Adding a teaspoon of apple-cider vinegar to this mixture is also wise because HGH naturally depletes potassium, and apple-cider vinegar is an excellent source of this mineral. These tips will help offset some of the negative issues associated with this type of secretagogue.

You can also purchase secretagogue formulas in capsule form and as a homeopathic liquid. These last two do not contain artificial sweeteners or sugar. Because of the recent popularity of secretagogues, more than 75 companies sell them, and there are inferior formulations offered at a low price, so buyer beware.

The anti-aging benefits of taking a secretagogue are all over the Internet. They appear to be true for many and include increased energy and exercise endurance; weight loss; an improvement in skin texture and a reduction of wrinkles; darker, thicker hair; and stronger immunity. Most also report increase in sexual energy, better sleep, and a decrease in frequent nighttime urination.

Secretagogues are not recommended for children, teenagers, or pregnant or lactating women. It is not advisable for diabetics or borderline diabetics to use a secretagogue without the supervision of a physician, preferably one who specializes in anti-aging medicine, because HGH opposes the action of insulin. L-arginine and L-ornithine, two key ingredients in a secretagogue formula, may improve or worsen diabetic conditions. There are no known side effects from taking a homeopathic version of HGH.

Many people today reach for the quick fix of hormone-replacement therapy, but when they do, they are not addressing the real problem. Typical of our tendency toward narrow thinking, many endocrinologists are prescribing estrogen, progesterone, and perhaps testosterone and DHEA; however, your pituitary and hypothalamus glands are also part of your hormone-producing team. They need your focus and support as well. And of course, don’t forget your liver. It processes your hormones, so the healthier it is, the healthier your entire endocrine system will be.

If your hormones have started to decline and you are seeing signs of a hormone imbalance, you must begin asking yourself these questions: “Why have I become deficient in these youthening sexual hormones? How can I rejuvenate the organs that produce these hormones so that they’ll begin to manufacture them once again?”

Bottom line … it is essential to evaluate, nourish, and rejuvenate your entire endocrine team—your hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, adrenals, and ovaries or testes—in order to restimulate the production of HGH.

Perimenopause can be a very difficult time for a woman today. When her hormones are out of balance, she’ll feel quite unhinged until she finds her way to a savvy endocrinologist experienced in bioidentical hormone-replacement therapy. Most women believe that a decline in estrogen and progesterone is an inevitable part of menopause. But with proper diet and supplementation, it is possible to have healthy ovaries and adrenals (the two organs that produce most of your estrogen and progesterone) even if you have entered perimenopause or menopause.

Although a woman may benefit from testing and individualized hormone supplementation, the fact is that our hormones are always fluctuating throughout the day. Even bioidentical hormones, while a dramatic improvement over synthetic hormones, can never exactly mimic the fluctuations and rhythms of our own naturally produced hormones.

Testing your hormones at least twice a year is wise. However, you might consider postponing your next set of tests until after you’ve been on the Body Ecology program for several months. Many women find that their hormones balance out significantly and that they no longer require hormone treatments, or they only need minimal amounts.

As a woman, you should know that when your estrogen levels drop, you will most likely suffer from low levels of two important, feel-good brain chemicals—serotonin and dopamine. These brain chemicals are very much related to mood and happiness.

Because low serotonin causes both depression and low self-esteem, you can see how this might negatively affect your relationships. Bad relationships seriously drain a woman’s energy. Both stress and a diet of excessive animal protein are especially harmful for a woman, because they lower serotonin. A woman needs to feel calm and needs to eat much less animal protein than a man. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), or a lack of exposure to sunlight, especially in the winter, also depresses serotonin levels.

With low serotonin levels you will find yourself craving carbohydrate-rich foods. You may have all the willpower in the world, but there is a true biological reason for your cravings for chocolate. Your brain is always trying to achieve balance and when stressed, wants to feel calm again. It’s no surprise that chocolate is a favorite food of many women, as it increases endorphins and temporarily elevates both dopamine and serotonin. But chocolate is very high in oxalates, makes you more acidic, and is usually combined with sugar. Both chocolate and sugar are addictive and age you quickly.

Drugs that increase serotonin levels are not the answer. Low serotonin levels cause constipation, and while these “serotonin reuptake inhibitors” may temporarily relieve you of constipation, they soon cause it again as serotonin levels increase and then become too high. Healthier choices are the supplements 5HTP and tryptophan, an amino acid. Either can be taken in the morning or at bedtime to increase serotonin levels naturally. Serotonin Luxe is one of our favorite products for increasing serotonin naturally (visit www.bodyecology.com).

While women have less dopamine in their brains than men do, you won’t feel content or at peace with life when your levels of this neurotransmitter are low. Declining levels of dopamine can lead to restless legs syndrome, fibromyalgia, or Parkinson’s-like symptoms. In midlife, this combination of declining estrogen and dopamine may create mood swings, severe hot flashes, night sweats, or sleep disturbances.

Fortunately, the amino-acid supplement tyrosine can help normalize dopamine levels in your brain. If you have cancer, do not take tyrosine, because certain types of cancer use amino acids to fuel their growth. If you are on an antidepressant medication, you should only take tyrosine under your doctor’s supervision. Tyrosine affects mood, and you may need to adjust your dosage, but we recommend 500 milligrams in the mornings as a start. It’s great for your thyroid and the prefrontal cortex of your brain, too. Take tyrosine in the mornings, as it can keep you up at night if you take it close to bedtime.

Mucuna pruriens, an ancient herb from India, also increases dopamine levels in the brain and can be taken at any time of the day. PEA (phenylalanine), the chemical found in chocolate and cocoa, increases dopamine as well. E₃Live, blue-green algae from Klamath Lake, is rich in PEA.

Clearly, because of the close connection between your hormones and your brain chemicals, it would be wise to have your doctor test your amino-acid levels to see what brain chemicals you may be deficient in.

Relationship expert John Gray, Ph.D., has written a fascinating book about our hormones and brain chemicals. It is an enjoyable read for both men and women who want to better understand their emotions and behaviors and those of others. Dr. Gray’s book is called Venus on Fire, Mars on Ice: Hormonal Balance—the Key to Life, Love, and Energy.

We sometimes forget that men also have their hormone challenges. Men should have their HGH, DHEA, estrogen, and testosterone levels checked twice a year. In men, the hormone decline of testosterone in particular can be subtle and incremental, while estrogen levels can climb too high. They may find that they aren’t as self-confident or as motivated as they used to be, or may even struggle with depression or sadness. One day they wake up and find they’re in the throes of the “grumpy old man” syndrome.

Acupuncture is an excellent therapy for balancing hormones in men, and Chinese tonic herbs, mentioned in the previous chapter, help restore energy to the adrenal/kidney meridian in the body. Walking or other daily exercising is a must to keep levels of hormones like DHEA and HGH high, but even with exercise, it may be necessary to use a small amount of all the natural, bioidentical hormones that you are deficient in.

Don’t underestimate the importance of testosterone. It isn’t just for sex drive and sperm count. It also helps maintain bone density, muscle mass, and red-blood-cell production. For most men, a more noticeable decline in testosterone starts in the mid-40s, and so does this common yet unnecessary symptom of aging: a decrease in muscle mass, with an increase in body fat. Unfortunately, reduced physical energy and endurance, gradually decreasing libido, loss of bone density, and an increase in cholesterol accompany this decline in testosterone. A deficiency of testosterone has even been cited as a precursor to cancer. Search for a physician trained in functional medicine with a specialty in hormone and anti-aging therapies. (Go to A4M.com for a referral.)

Dopamine is a brain chemical that is vital for a man’s happiness, and it, too, decreases with age. Lower levels intensify the negative effects of low testosterone mentioned above. Anxiety, depression, cravings, and addictions all can be traced to low levels of dopamine. This neurotransmitter helps keep us alert, active, and motivated. Sexual desire and feelings of excitement and pleasure decline as dopamine declines. General symptoms of aging such as poor sleep; fatigue; depression; decreased muscle tone; and loss of cognitive functions, like memory, alertness, concentration, and decision-making, can become issues. A man with low dopamine levels loses his ability to make executive decisions.

Dopamine has a positive effect on heart and circulation. It keeps a man’s metabolic rate high. As his metabolic rate declines, he puts on weight. Dopamine is essential for control of movement. Numerous research studies have identified low levels of dopamine as a cause of Parkinson’s disease. As mentioned previously, tyrosine, mucuna pruriens, and PEA from E³Live Klamath Lake blue-green algae help increase dopamine.

While today we have the luxury of bioidentical hormones and natural supplements that increase neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin, bioidentical hormones will soon be seen as merely a temporary bridge to something even better. With new inroads in stem-cell therapy, we will soon be able to produce these hormones again on our own.

There are few areas of medical science that are more fascinating and have as much potential for transforming how we think about healing, longevity, and quality of life than stem-cell research.

Whether used preventively or as an active intervention, stem cells are the latest anti-aging miracle. Found in almost all multicellular organisms, they are unique in that they not only have the capacity to renew themselves, but they are also able to differentiate—to develop into specialized cells that make up a variety of our organs and other tissues. They can literally transform themselves into any other type of cell in the body, which is why they have been called the “building blocks of nature,” with potential to treat numerous diseases and traumatic injuries, as well as to regenerate entire organs.

You may not be aware of this, but you’ve been using stem cells your entire life. Think of them as the body’s MASH unit—they see trauma and quickly mobilize to fix it. When you cut your finger or get a sunburn, stem cells receive the alarm signal and rush in to repair the damage.

There are two basic kinds of stem cells—those found in most adult tissues and those found in the cells of three- to five-day-old embryos. Adult stem cells, found in brain, bone marrow, muscle, skin, blood, liver tissues, and especially adipose (fat) tissue, can change into most cell types.

The stem cells found in three- to five-day-old embryos (embryonic stem cells), on the other hand, are pluripotent—that is, they have the unique ability to develop into any of the 220 cell types in the human body.³ But it’s not just embryonic stem cells that have this ability—umbilical-cord and placental stem cells are also pluripotent. In fact, researchers have found strikingly similar characteristics between cells taken from the outer membranes of the amniotic sac and embryonic stem cells.

Bone-marrow transplant, a stem-cell therapy that has been used for many years as a treatment for leukemia and other types of cancer, is well known today. But as mentioned above, stem cells can also be derived from umbilical-cord blood and the placenta, as well as from the Wharton’s jelly in the lining of the umbilical cord, from peripheral blood, and even from menstrual blood.

The first implication of stem cells for aging should be obvious. When organs fail or wear out over time, stem cells may have the capacity to bring them back to life again. In this sense, they might be used to restore our prenatal energy, to grow new teeth, replace exhausted livers and kidneys, and repair damaged limbs. Imagine if our adrenals and glands such as the hypothalamus, pituitary, and pineal thyroid could be reenergized with stem cells? Phase III trials in the U.S. are revealing how stem-cell products might address a range of indications, including osteoarthritis, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, Crohn’s, and Parkinson’s, particularly when treated in the early stages. Furthermore, in Panama there have been several cases in which spinal-cord injuries were reversed; and numerous cases of multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and autism markedly improving using both allogenic (donor) umbilical-cord cells and autologous (native) bone marrow– and adipose-derived stem cells.

And there are cosmetic impacts as well—for example, mesenchymal stem cells, which are particularly effective at rebuilding tissue, bolstering immunity, and combatting inflammation, have been used as anti-aging treatments, offering patients noted improvements in restoring hair to its original color, creating a smoother complexion, and reducing age-related pigmentation marks.⁴

Scientists have recently found a type of stem cell in hair follicles that is capable of making epidermis, sebaceous tissue, and more hair follicles—in short, new skin and hair. Paul Sanberg, professor of neurosurgery and director of the University of South Florida Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair, points out the profound implications this could have for cosmetic skin repair and grafting, and perhaps even for hair replacement.⁵

But there’s a second, possibly more important thing to understand about stem cells. Research and early clinical studies have proved that stem cells can release nutritional or “trophic” factors that can be of great benefit. At the University of Buffalo in New York, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were injected into hamster leg skeletal muscles. Not only did the MSCs not migrate away from the target area, but they also released trophic factors that traveled to and repaired the severely damaged heart.

What’s more, just injecting the trophic factors without the cells into leg skeletal muscle had about the same benefit as the cells had! This has huge clinical implications … think how wonderful it would be to treat heart disease and many other conditions with either intramuscular shots of MSCs or even just the trophic factors. For those interested in learning more, please see the free online article entitled “Heart failure therapy mediated by the trophic activities of bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells: a noninvasive therapeutic regimen” (available at: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2716100).

As we get older, our stem-cell reserves decline, we aren’t able to produce new ones, and the ones that we have become less robust. But scientists are discovering that the environment in which these cells exist also matters. If that environment is inflamed, it can impede the functionality of stem cells—they can no longer do what they are intended to do.

A study conducted at the University of South Florida has found that the injection of human umbilical-cord cells can assist an aging brain. When umbilical-cord blood cells (UCBCs) were injected into aged laboratory animals, improvements were found in the microenvironment of the hippocampus (an area of the brain that plays an important role in long-term memory and spatial navigation), and there was also a measurable rejuvenation of the neural stem/progenitor cells.

“Brain cell neurogenesis (new cell development) decreases dramatically with increasing age, mostly because of a growing impoverishment in the brain’s microenvironment,” says study co-author Alison Willing, Ph.D., of the Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair. According to researchers, the decrease in neurogenesis that accompanies aging is a result of a decrease in proliferation of new stem cells, not the loss of existing cells. However, the improvements they saw did not come from direct replacement of cells but by changing the microenvironment of the brain in which the cells reside. Willing added: “The increase in neurogenesis we saw after injecting UCBCs seemed to be due to a decrease in inflammation.”⁶

Once again we see the enormous role that inflammation plays in aging. Do you remember the factors that cause inflammation? Food with pesticides, environmental pollutants, mercury in the air we breathe, excess body fat, poor diet, lack of exercise, and even genetic predisposition can contribute to inflammation in the body. As we age and become more inflamed, our brains shrink, and the stem cells that might be on the ready to repair them just aren’t functioning as well anymore.

In fact, any of the above can contribute to neurotoxicity, and can lead to disabling genetic defects in the neural stem cells. Research in mice has shown a 2-month-old mouse will have about twice as many neural stem cells as a 24-month-old mouse. This loss in brain stem cells is likely tied to most all neurodegeneration that occurs with advanced aging, or even earlier if there is enough neurotoxicity present.⁷

The implications of this should be obvious. People who live a healthy lifestyle have lower inflammatory markers—markers that prevent healthy stem cells from being released. Lifestyle can turn down the “hot-water faucets” of inflammation inside us and create the kind of healthy environment we need to get those stem cells activated.

If you eat well, sleep deeply, exercise regularly, are well hydrated, and have high/normal vitamin D levels, many more stem cells will be released from your bone marrow and you will age slowly. With this new understanding of stem cells, medical textbooks will now have to be rewritten to say that in many ways, death and aging are a sign of insufficient stem-cell production in your bone marrow. Viruses and toxins from heavy metals, pesticides, and chemicals cause mitochondrial failure in your bone-marrow cells so that they cannot produce healthy stem cells.

It’s especially important to note that exercise is one of the primary ways we can create new stem cells. When we exercise, there are six to eight times as many stem cells present in our peripheral blood. Here’s an example of what exercise can do for one area of the body in which we often see signs of aging—our brains.

As we age, our cortisol levels increase, and the hippocampus decreases in size. The hippocampus, as noted before, is related to memory and plays a big role in dementia. Exercise can help the hippocampus to regenerate. A stem cell will re-create the cell that is needed, in this case a neural cell, and at the same time it will replicate itself. Working with aged mice, researchers in Florida have demonstrated that a single injection of human umbilical cord blood mono-nuclear cells (HUCBMCs) can rejuvenate a mouse’s hippocampus and supply of neural stem-cell progenitors. The aged mouse brains also began producing new nerves. And this type of therapy doesn’t have to be invasive. It can be introduced into the peripheral veins (injected in the arm) rather than directly into the brain.⁸

So, basically we’ve added a new theory of aging—the stem-cell theory. We age because we stop releasing adequate numbers of stem cells. What we eat, how we think, the people we surround ourselves with, and how many toxins we are storing in our bodies all impede the activation of these cells. Rejuvenation begins with the reactivation of weaker, dying cells first, followed by the restoration of new stem cells that have been lost.

Other studies have shown that the optimal conditions for stem-cell release are related to being properly rested—this means that sleeping regularly and restoratively, managing our stress, and finding balance in our lives can affect the maximal release of stem cells. Paul S. Frenette, M.D., professor in the Department of Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, writes: “We don’t know why stem cells circulate in the blood but the maximal release of stem cells in the circulation occurs when the animal is resting. This argues for a role in regeneration.”⁹

One of the most exciting uses of stem cells has been the regeneration of tissues. Anthony Atala, M.D., the head of the regeneration program at Wake Forest University, stated that his researchers have grown nearly two dozen different types of body parts, including muscle, bone, and a working heart valve. He went on to say: “I think if we start combining things like better prevention, better care, doing things better for our body, and just with regenerative medicine, we may push [our life spans] up to 120, 130 years.”¹⁰

Dr. Leonard Smith, medical advisor for this book, is a volunteer on the surgical staff at the University of Miami, and medical advisor for the University of Miami Department of Integrative Medicine. He is also a consultant for the Institute for Cellular Medicine, which specializes in research and clinical stem-cell therapy, and publishes articles on stem cells in peer-reviewed journals. Located in Panama City, Panama, the Institute has treated more than a thousand patients.

When researchers at the Institute began their work several years ago, they worked solely with umbilical-cord stem cells. Today, they also use bone-marrow cells and fat-derived stem cells from liposuction, with good results, especially in the area of autoimmune diseases. Promising outcomes have also been seen for autistic children and people suffering from multiple sclerosis, renal and heart failure, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis. In addition, they have treated several paraplegics with spinal-cord injuries who are now recovering nicely, including walking again.

Now affiliated with several universities, the work done at the Institute may be on the cutting edge of stem-cell advances. (For more information on the Institute for Cellular Medicine, go to: www.cellmedicine.com.) There are increasing numbers of stem-cell clinical trials now taking place in the U.S., mostly at universities. There are, however, some publicly traded companies doing stem-cell trials. Ongoing clinical trials on type 1 autoimmune diabetes are under way all over the world. Just like computers changed the world we live in forever, it is becoming quite obvious that stem-cell therapy has the potential to benefit humankind in many ways that were unimaginable to out ancestors.

Stem-cell therapy has marvelous potential for the treatment of our most feared illnesses, but it is primarily aimed at a single disease process or traumatic injury. There is another kind of cell therapy that offers anti-aging benefits. It complements stem-cell therapy because it doesn’t just treat a single organ or gland, but reaches into all organs, endocrine glands, and connective tissues. We call this more comprehensive kind of cell rejuvenation “classic cell therapy” to differentiate it from stem-cell therapy.

Classic cell therapy was introduced by Dr. Paul Niehans of Montreux, Switzerland, in 1931, when he injected calf parathyroid into a patient whose parathyroid glands had been damaged during thyroid surgery. The patient survived and went on to live a healthy life into her 90s. Variations of this method have been practiced in the 80 years since then, and during his lifetime, Dr. Niehans went on to treat many heads of state and movie stars of the World War II era and beyond. Mick Jagger uses this type of therapy, as did Dick Clark, to stay remarkably energetic and to look much younger.

The goal of classic cell therapy is to slow, and even reverse, biological aging. The focus is on the immune and endocrine systems, as well as connective tissue. Breakdown in these areas is the cause of aging and is responsible for most chronic disease.

The cells used in classic cell therapy are slightly more mature than stem cells, resulting in an organ-specific cellular serum. The tremendous advantage to this is that the cellular serum can be administered intramuscularly and will migrate to the target organ—that is, heart to heart, lung to lung, and so forth. This has been demonstrated by radioisotope tracing studies.

Further studies at the Pathological Institute of the University of Munich have shown that protein biosynthesis in the targeted organ will increase by up to 100 percent compared to untreated organs, resulting in renewed vitality and function, commensurate with a younger biological age.

My good friend Judi Smith, with the International Clinic of Biological Regeneration, has developed a protocol reflecting more than 30 years of experience in the field and major pharmaceutical advancements. This protocol is designed to treat the body as a whole, and then to target specific organs/glands relating to immune and endocrine function, the connective tissue, and skin, as well as the pituitary, hypothalamus, and adrenal glands, to support immune function and reduce inflammation. Other serum preparations can be customized to address the specific concerns of each individual. This combination, particularly when administered periodically (three to six months apart), can have significant positive impact on both appearance and vitality.

The idea is not just to look and feel as great as you can, as long as you can, but to also have the vital energy to pursue your interests and passions. While classic cell therapy can’t prevent aging entirely, it can slow it down considerably and even give you more energy like you had when were much younger. And now, of course, you hold a “bible” in your hands that provides you with all you must do to actually reverse the “hands of time.”

Our knowledge of stem-cell, trophic, and gene therapy is evolving at a tremendous speed. With new insights being reported every day, this is an exciting time to be alive—for every generation.

For many people “life after 40” includes more satisfying and meaningful sexual relationships. The urgent hormonal drives we experienced when we were younger will have abated a bit, and most of us are no longer focused on conception and starting a family. But these changes in lifestyle and drive don’t mean we no longer want, or can’t have, fulfilling intimate relationships. In fact, with more of us single today than at any other time, we are more willing to enjoy our sexuality and meet each other in nontraditional ways, such as online social-media sites. And because women of this generation tend to be more educated, career-oriented, and affluent, they aren’t necessarily dating in order to “settle down” and get married. They view their sexual relationships as just one more aspect of a fulfilling life.

It should be noted, however, that many of us who came of age before the HIV epidemic don’t have a sense of the dangers of sex that younger generations do. Women over 50 are at risk of developing HIV from heterosexual sex because their thinner vaginal walls are more susceptible to cuts and tears. The number of new HIV infections among older women is rising, and AIDS cases among women 50 and older nearly doubled between 1988 and 2000.¹¹

And what about sexual-performance issues, particularly in men, whose problems with erectile dysfunction dramatically increase with age? Too often, we want a “quick fix” approach to sexual problems or waning sexual energy. If something isn’t working, or isn’t working as it did when we were 18, we reach for a pill. But magic pills like Viagra and Levitra don’t address the underlying conditions that may be producing sexual dysfunction, and for many, they simply don’t work at all.

Al Sears, a Fort Lauderdale physician, has developed a 12-minute exercise program called PACE, which advocates shorter bursts of intense exertion as a healthier means of losing weight and staying fit. It has the added benefit of improving one’s sexual performance. Short bursts of vigorous exercise cause an increase in blood flow and boost the supply of nitric oxide in the body. Being able to release nitric oxide is critical to erection of the male penis and female clitoris for sexual responsiveness. Our supply of nitric oxide declines as we age, and this is one reason why older men and women often report declining performance in the bedroom.

High-intensity workouts are a great way of improving nitric-oxide production, but as we grow older this can be more challenging, as we have less stamina during rigorous exercise. Sears recommends a more incrementally intensive program that allows exercisers to control and manage their own progression.

Sears’s PACE program increases endorphins—those feel-good chemicals in the body—as well as brain chemicals like serotonin and dopamine, which make us feel content yet excited about life. Peri- and postmenopausal women, in particular, can be quite low in endorphins and brain chemicals because these decline as estrogen declines. HGH and testosterone levels also increase dramatically when we exercise.

The PACE program is a form of interval training that uses running as the mode of exercise. This is fine, but for many people over age 40, running may be too stressful on the joints, ligaments, and tendons. Rapid walking may be more appropriate and is just as effective. Interval training with swimming, with elliptical cross-training machines, and even with weights can be done. The key is to exercise at maximum or near maximum intensity for 10 to 60 seconds and then rest or go slower for 30 seconds to two minutes, and then go fast again. Interval training increases the release of growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor one (IGF-1), and testosterone; and helps lower blood sugar and sensitize insulin receptors. All of these are critical for optimal sexual performance for both men and women.

In addition, this program increases the intake of oxygen by increasing the capacity of our lungs and preventing them from shrinking with age. This in turn ensures that our energy levels rise; excess fat is burned; and the anti-aging process is activated by the dynamic regeneration of cells and tissues inside the body, including increasing the number and function of mitochondria, our energy producers.

Like most exercise, interval training will also decrease total body inflammation as long as you don’t overdo it. Remember to start slowly, then gradually increase the intensity and decrease the amount of time in between each exercise.

Here is a PACE outdoor-running workout proposed by Dr. Sears.¹² You can do this walking as well.

2. Start. Once you’re warmed up, start at low to moderate intensity, and increase the level of intensity after each set. Start first by running (or walking rapidly) for two minutes.

3. Recover. Now relax. Notice your heartbeat, and keep track of how long it takes to get back to normal.

4. Repeat. Then run for 90 seconds, followed by rest. Repeat this; and decrease the exertion period each time from 90 seconds to 45 to 30 and then to 20 seconds for a total of six sets. This shouldn’t take more than eight to ten minutes.

Anti-Aging on the Cutting Edge

Whole-Body Vibration:
A Way to Enjoy the Benefits of Exercise

When you hear the words vibration machine, you might get a mental image of an overweight woman wearing a wildly vibrating belt that shakes and bounces the cellulite from her hips. Fortunately, we’ve come a long way from those funny contraptions of the 1950s! In fact, vibration technology is said to be the medicine of the future and the ideal anti-aging tool. I own a machine and love it.

The first generation of whole-body vibration machines appeared on the market in the ’70s, and today there are more than 30 different companies making them, ranging in price from $700 to $15,000. They can be found in the homes of professional athletes, dancers, entertainers, physical therapists, doctors, and authors. However, it pays to do your homework before purchasing one.

How Whole-Body Vibration Works

With most whole-body vibration machines, you stand on a platform that vibrates rapidly with a motor that creates either a vertical, a vertical and horizontal, or a seesaw movement. On the motor-driven machines, you stand on a platform and do workout sessions and resistance-training exercises. This produces very effective results in a shorter time than without the machine. While motor-driven machines are mostly for exercise, they do cleanse your lymph system and stimulate circulation. A professional trainer will give you the best results and customize workouts for your unique body type, changing them as needed. All machines come with educational materials that demonstrate how to use the equipment in your home.

Motor vs. Sound-Wave Vibration

The safest and most medicinal whole-body vibration machines use sound waves under the platform to create a vertical vibration that can be adjusted, offering a wider range of vibrational frequencies and medicinal benefits. You can stand or sit on these machines and can practice qigong or meditate. If you have a weaker constitution or an injury, or are struggling with osteoporosis, this is the vibration machine for you. The motor-driven ones can be injurious to hips and knees, while the sound-vibration ones are softer and gentler—perfect if you have physical limitations. And if you just won’t exercise because you lack the time or desire, sound-vibration machines provide many of the benefits of exercising without the exercising.

My own sound-wave vibration machine—the TurboSonic X5—stands proudly in my home (www.turbosonicusa.com). I also highly recommend the new SonicLife (www.soniclife.com), a less expensive version of the TurboSonic, but just as effective.

The Benefits of Whole-Body Sound Vibration

In addition to feeling and looking vibrant when you step off of a sound-vibration machine, you will immediately notice improvements in balance, a common problem as we age. The gentle vibration stimulates the middle ear so your sense of equilibrium improves; while you also build muscle, tendon, and ligament strength. But there are many other benefits:

• Cleanses the lymph system and stimulates circulation

• Improves blood pressure, digestion, sleep, stress, and overall mood

• Stimulates healthier, more resilient cells

• Creates stronger, better-defined muscles

• Lowers cortisol and naturally increases bone density, testosterone, and growth hormone

• Promotes cellular waste removal, increasing your ability to detoxify

Exercise is just one way to bolster healthy sexuality. Dr. Ridwan Shabsigh, a certified urologist specializing in sexual health, encourages people to see their sex lives in the context of better overall health. He points to the conditions that can contribute to sexual dysfunction—from diabetes and obesity; to cardiovascular disease, depression, and drug and alcohol abuse. Dr. Shabsigh’s holistic approach looks at overall lifestyle choices—diet, exercise, supplements, stress reduction, avoidance of self-destructive behaviors, and commitment to a partner—and how these issues can positively or negatively affect sexual function.¹³

There’s no reason why sex can’t be “sensational” as we age, argues Shabsigh, and for many, sexual intimacy is better than ever before because we’ve learned and grown wiser from past relationships. We are much more in tune with our bodies now, and we are, in turn, more attuned and attentive to the needs of our partners.

As the years come and go, you may no longer have the sexual motivation you used to have. You may be resigned to this and feel that your desire for sex has become a lesser priority than other things, like self-discovery, grandchildren, friendship, and travel. Perhaps you’ve been told that as you age your sexual energy will become directed outward to more spiritual and service-oriented activities.

True, this has been the norm for previous generations, because they did not have the resources to stop the decline in hormones, endorphins, and brain chemicals that keep us looking and feeling sexy. But healthy levels of sexual hormones, equal to those present when we were in our 20s, give us a love for life that can still be directed into both service-oriented activities and an active sex life.

Indeed, sexual energy is spiritual energy. Sexual energy is the sacred energy of creation, and we certainly can and should enjoy healthy sexuality throughout our lives.