Five Fantastic Things That Are Invigorating Me!

The Most Important Principles For Staying Young: 

Five Fantastic Things That Are Invigorating Me!

Dr. Michael F. Roizen

Co-Author of 4 #1 NY Times Bestsellers including: YOU Staying Young.

The Owner’s Manual For Extending Your Warranty (Free Press)

Our basic premise is that your body is amazing:  You get a do over: it doesn’t take that long, and isn’t that hard if you know what to do.  In these notes, we give you a short course in what to do so it becomes easy for you and then to teach others. We want you to know how much control you have over your quality and length of life

Since this series started, we’ve given you dozens of easy to adopt tips to Staying Young. This week, we were totally blown away (that’s a 70’s or 80’s term we know, but that’s what we are) by 5 that are not quite ready for prime time, but excite us about the future. We may not have room for all, but let’s start and see how much we can squeeze in before the space police (the editorial staff) cut us off.

#1. Omega-7’s and Heart Disease, and plaque in brain arteries, and even diabetes. “Wow,” you might say, “I know about that DHA omega-3, that is the active ingredient in fish oil* that helps retain memory and eyesight. But omega-7…what is that?” It was discovered that Macadamia nut oil seemed to decrease LDL (The Lousy kind of) cholesterol, Triglycerides, and inflammatory markers, and to increase HDL (the Healthy kind of) cholesterol. The problem—it was expensive, like $30 dollars a day.  Now, they’ve found a less expensive source, even purer (34-90%, and without the aging saturated fats). They restarted research, and found almost a miracle (these studies have been done at Harvard, the Cleveland Clinic, and in Japan).  Giving a minor amount (not gallons) of this Omega-7 in capsule form to adults decreased liver fat substantially in overweight humans (a very good thing), and did so in two studies (one in Boston and one in Japan). Two studies are better than one study, but not enough or done long enough for us to say to our patients you should take this.  This omega-7 stuff also decreased atherosclerosis  (it actually eliminated observable plaque in mice bred for growing plaque and fed a fat diet).   These changes after omega-7 need to be validated in at least three more human studies before we say take it. In fact, I have asked a company whose scientific advisory board I chair to start such studies.

*We like it from algae, where the fish get it from, because of the almost zero risk of contaminants, like mercury.

Our personal take: we take 900mg of DHA omega-3 a day, and added 200 mg of purified Omega-7 a day.  We even used some purified omega-7 (it is expensive) to sauté with (palmitoleic acid—the omega-7 we take and used for this has a very high boiling point for the Foodies reading this). That’s how strong the data are, and with no side effects reported in the mice and man studies. But remember, while the animal data are strong, not enough human data now exists for us to recommend this unconditionally.

Okay, we went over our allotted word count and we only got to tell you about the first of five great breakthroughs… the other four (I’ll give you the titles now) will go to next month…

2. Exercise… What type, when and how much is best for you for health, building strength, and endurance?

3. Stress management can totally eradicate the DNA changes that family violence or violent disturbing movies or events can cause you and yours. Yes, your reaction to violence changes your DNA and in a way that shortens your life more than playing football without a helmet does.  You can learn how to avoid those DNA changes (remember you control your genes). Read how right here next month.

4. Ceramides and cancer.  Scientists may have accidentally found a cure for pancreatic cancer and glioblastoma (a very bad acting brain tumor). How soon will it be available, and how it works invigorated me about the future.

5. Bexarotene and Alzheimer’s. The first results from attempts by other labs to replicate this amazing cure should be in by mid-June.

While we do not know of side effects from DHA-omega-3 or purified omega-7, do tell your doc about all the things you take. You may be the first to push her (or him) to google “Omega-7”.

Thanks for reading.

Young Dr Mike

You can follow Dr Roizen  (and get updates on the latest and most important medical stories  of the week) on twitter @YoungDrMike. 

Feel free to continue to send questions to youdocs@gmail.com. You can follow Dr Roizen on twitter @YoungDrMike (and get updates on the latest and most important medical stories of the week).  The YOU docs have a new web site: YOUBeauty.com  and its companion BeautySage.com the only site we know of where you can find skin products proven to meet the claims (opened for business on June 1st, 2012), and a new book: YOU: The Owner’s Manual for Teens.  It makes a great (even late) graduation gift.  Thanks for reading.

Michael F. Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer and chair of the Wellness Institute at the Cleveland Clinic. His radio show streams live on http://www.healthradio.net  Saturdays from 5-7 p.m . E-mail him questions at YouDocs@gmail.com.   He is the co-author of 4 #1 NY Times Best Sellers including : YOU Staying Young and YOU: The Owner’s Manual. He is Chief Medical Consultant to the two year running Emmy award winning Dr Oz show– The Dr Oz show is #2 nationally in daytime TV.  See what all the fun is about, and what he, The Enforcer, is up to. Check local listings or log onto DoctorOz.com for channel and time. And for more health info, log onto youbeauty.com anytime.

NOTE: You should NOT take this as medical advice. This article is of the opinion of its author.  

Before you do anything, please consult with your doctor.