Published By: K.D Cameron

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The Secret to Living to 100

Dr. Stephen Langer, MD

I became a doctor for one reason—to help people be well and live well. Growing up in the Bronx, NY, where most families included multiple generations living in tight quarters, I saw the suffering of my aging relatives and neighbors up close, and I wanted to do anything possible to help them feel better and live longer, not to mention save myself from a similar fate. Like Ponce de Leon, I wanted to find the fountain of youth.

We’ve come a long way in the last few decades. We’re living longer. We’re better at managing once fatal, chronic diseases. And we know more than ever about the secrets inside our bodies that control how we age. Secrets like telomeres…

Telomeres and aging cells

Your DNA, the blueprint that makes you you, is encoded in every cell of your body, coiled as chromosomes within your cells. At the end of each chromosome is a telomere, which acts like a cap. Think of it like the plastic tip at the end of your shoelace. Telomeres keep your DNA from unraveling.

Nobel-Prize-winning research has shown that telomeres are critical to the aging process. Every time a cell divides, the telomeres are shortened. And once the telomeres are gone, the cell can die. It’s called “cellular senescence,” a phenomenon we’ve always believed to be inevitable.

But is it inevitable? Can it be slowed or stopped? Exciting research has now shown that a specific enzyme called telomerase can protect telomeres from shortening and possibly even help rebuild once shortened telomeres. Even more exciting—we already know that we can influence telomerase activity.

Strategies for Telomere Longevity

Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn, who won the Nobel Prize for her work with telomerase, has produced studies demonstrating that a specific, plant-based diet combined with exercise and healthy lifestyle can not only save but produce growth in telomeres.

Meanwhile, scientists around the world have produced intriguing papers on a number of both synthetic and natural interventions, all of which appear promising and will continue to be proven out in coming years.

So what can you do right now to extend your telomeres and possibly your life?  Eat a whole-food, primarily plant-based diet. Exercise regularly. Laugh often. And if you’re really serious about living to 100, include dietary supplements as part of your longevity program.

Astragalus root is the one herb that has shown extraordinary promise specifically for the nourishment and protection of telomeres.

Folic acid and Vitamin B12 are known to defend cellular health by promoting methylation of homocysteine.

The amino acid dipeptide L-Carnosine has been shown to have potential actions that may influence the rate at which telomeres are damaged or shortened.

And finally, don’t forget L-Glutathione, the body’s most important and powerful intracellular antioxidant.

These supplements, combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle, will provide a firm foundation as you continue your own personal search of the fountain of youth.  May your journey be long, and may the road rise to meet you.