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Once you have taken steps to meet your bodies basic nutritional needs, it's time to look at specific supplements and foods which will further enhance your ability to heal, recover and retard the aging process. Some folks may feel that taking a basic multi-vitamin/mineral formula covers them. While there are some high quality, food concentrate derived multi formulas available, they just scratch the surface of what you can do for your body to overcome injuries and age related infirmities. With that in mind, I will list some of the specific supplements I take, and why:
Boswellia serrata: This ancient Ayurvedic herbal has been used
for centuries in India. It has been shown to be an effective anti-inflammatory
and analgesic agent. It's effectiveness is enhanced by the addition of
Curcumin and is readily available from health food stores and mail order
companies. I take two capsules daily each containing 250 mg. Boswellia,
100 mg. Curcumin extract and 150 mg. tumeric root powder. Bromelain: This is an enzyme derived from pineapple. It increases the turnover rate for proteins (good for healing injuries). It is also has anti-inflammatory properties and thus can help decrease pain and swelling. You can get it from raw pineapple or in pill or capsule form. I take 2000 GDU in a 500mg. tablet twice daily and eat pineapple whenever I find a good ripe one.
Vitamin C: This may seem too obvious , but this vitamin is so important, I felt it needed to be included. Aside from it's roll as an antioxidant and immune system modulator, vitamin C is essential for collagen synthesis and repair. Collagen is the protein that makes up the major portion of the white fiber in connective tissue-particularly in skin, bone and tendons. I take approximately 5,000mg. a day as a supplement to my diet which already includes many vitamin C rich foods. Chondroitin Sulfate: Also see Glucosamine Chondroitin Sulfate is a component of cartilage. In molecular terms, it is a gigantic molecule, mainly composed of repeated chains of glucosamine sulfate. Because of this, it functions in a way that is similar to glucosamine. DHEA: This is short for the tongue-twisting name of the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone. It has been called the "fountain of youth" hormone. It is produced in our bodies by the adrenal glands. Dubbed "the mother of all steroids". DHEA is the most abundant steroid in the human body and is involved in the manufacture of testosterone, estrogen, progesterone and corticosterone. The decline of DHEA with age parallels that of growth hormone, so that by age 65, your body makes only 10 to 20% what it did at age 20. It is acknowledged as an all around anti-aging substance. (Taken from the book GROW YOUNG WITH HGH by Dr. Ronald Klatz.) I take 50 mg. of pharmaceutical grade DHEA daily.* *note: as DHEA increases testosterone production, women should take half the male dosage. Flaxseed oil: There is a class of fats called "essential fatty acids" (EFA's) which must come from dietary sources. Flaxseed oil contains both EFA's (omega-3 and omega-6) which have been shown to be beneficial as anti-inflammatory, cardio-portective and immuno-stimulating substances. Flaxseed oil contains an excellent ratio of 3 to 1 omege-3 to omega-6 EFA's. I use a tablespoon or two daily in a blender drink. Ginger: this wonderful herb/spice has many medicinal properties, not the least of which is that it acts as a potent, natural anti-inflammatory. It's also a digestive aid, circulatory stimulant and carminative (expelling gas from the body). I use a liquid extract in blender drinks, salad dressing and deserts. Glucosamine Sulfate: Glucosamine is technically a form of an amino sugar that plays a major role in cartilage formation and repair. Glucosamine stimulates the production of water-binding glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans, two essential building blocks of cartilage and also inhibits the production of chondrocytes, enzymes that break down cartilage. Glucosamine also appears to suppress the destructive enzymes collagenase and phospholipase. In effect, supplementing with glucosamine is akin to giving your body the raw materials it needs to rebuild cartilage - but naturally. Glucosamine helps to form tendons, ligaments, cartilage and nails. Glucosamine has so few side effects primarily because it is already a natural component of the body. The only problem with glucosamine is that its natural production in the body seems to fade with time, injury and aging. Supplementing with glucosamine can help replace the deficit and restore the proper glucosamine balance. Glucosamine sulfate is highly concentrated in joints and the joint fluids surrounding connective tissues. Current research indicates that Glucosamine in conjunction with Chondroitin Sulfate and Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) have a synergistic effect on the restoration of cartilage and provide support for joint lubrication. All are important in repairing and maintaining connective tissue. I take 1500 mg. Glucosamine, 1200mg. Chondroitin and 3000 mg. MSM in 2 divided doses daily.
Glutamine: The most abundant amino acid in the body. It is the amino acid most used by the body, particularly during times of stress. Glutamine is capable of raising growth hormone levels and age does not seem to diminish the response. Growth hormone is the most potent anti-aging substance yet studied. (From Dr. Klatz's book again) I take 3 grams of Glutamine nightly at bedtime. Mangosteen. This plant, while known throughout Southeast Asia for centuries, has recently gained the attention of the western medical community. It's many medicinal properties range from treating digestive and immune system disorders to skin conditions and inflammatory diseases. To describe it's myriad of uses and the scientific studies that support them would take an entire website. Please visit: http://researchmangosteen.com/ for information on mangosteen. There are 6 links to abstracts of medical studies on mangosteen on my links page. . Melatonin: The sleep hormone, melatonin release is stimulated by darkness and it helps regulate our sleep-wake cycle It's the closest thing to a natural sleeping pill. As with other hormones, our bodies produce less and less as we age. There has been extensive study done on melatonin and here are some of it's other benefits: one of the most potent antioxidants yet discovered; immune booster, cancer fighter, mood elevator. CAUTIONS!! Should not be used by pregnant or nursing mothers, women trying to conceive, children, people on prescription steroids or who have mental illness, depression severe allergies, autoimmune diseases or immune system cancers. Check with your physician. (Info. from Dr. Klatz's book). I take 10 mg. nightly at bedtime. Siberian Ginseng: The ginseng family are collectively known as adaptogens….that is they help your body resist stress, normalize body systems, balance hormones and boost immunity. The Siberian variety has been touted as being especially helpful for joints. I take one or two 400mg. capsules 2 to 3 times a week. I empty the caps into my daily blender drink which I call the "Elixir of Life" White Willow Bark: This bark contains the chemical salicin which your body converts to salicylic acid, more commonly known as aspirin. This is a natural way to get aspirin without actually taking it in the form of an acid which can cause stomach problems. I take two to three 300mg. capsules 2 to 3 times a week prior to activity in the "Elixir. This is by no means a complete list as I am frequently adding substances or modifying intake and dosages. I will update this list periodically. I hope you find this information helpful. UPDATE January 2001 While I take several substances that stimulate the pituitary gland to release more HGH, blood tests revealed my levels were basically 'normal' for my age. To increase my rate of healing and stimulate more cartilage growth, Dr. Laurence Foster (see sponsors page) put me on a program to raise my HGH levels to that of a 25-30 year-old. The primary aim of this therapy is to stimulate wound healing and cartilage growth, but HGH has been described as the ultimate anti-aging therapy. It affects almost every cell in the body and has an over-all rejuvenating and mood elevating effect. The list of benefits of HGH grows with each new clinical study and it's being used to treat everything from AIDS to osteoporosis. Since July of '99, I've been injecting HGH twice daily and can see and feel the difference. I believe it has helped me grow new cartilage as well as heal faster from my last several surgeries. HGH is not yet available in a pill form, but clinical trials of new HGH releasing compounds are underway and they should be available soon. This will make it less expensive and easier to use. See cautions below. CAUTIONS!!! Sam E Short for S-adenosylmethionine, it's a naturally occurring substance that…you guessed it…declines with age. There have been over 75 clinical studies on Sam E and it's been used in Europe for over 20 years. It's reported to be a liver rejuvenator, mood elevator (most widely prescribed anti-depressant in Italy) and anti-inflammatory/cartilage rehabilitator. It's action is similar to some of the new generation of pharmaceutical anti-inflammatories with the distinction that there are no reported G.I. upset and Sam E is reported to support new cartilage growth which the drugs are suspected of inhibiting. Dosage ranges from 400 to 1200 mgs. Daily. As with all supplements, start on the low end and increase slowly. Possible side effects of over-dosage are stomach upset and loose bowels. Some instances of headache have been reported so monitor your use.
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Anti-oxidants:
These are a group of chemicals found in many foods and supplements. They
protect our bodies from damaging free radicals. Free radicals are formed
by virtually all bodily functions...even breathing! Thus nature has supplied a generous
helping of free radical neutralizing substances (anti-oxidants) which
"scavenge" the free radicals before they are able to cause damage. One of
the prominent theories of aging holds that accumulated free radical damage
is largely responsible for the aging process. Many people are familiar
with anti-oxidants like grape seed extract, pycnogenol (pine tar extract),
bilberry extract, melatonin, vitamins C and E, bioflavinoids, selenium
and many others. Foods rich in anti-oxidants tend to be brightly colored
like blueberries, cherries, pomegranates, red grapes and red bell
peppers. Many excellent anti-oxidant supplements are available and should
be part of good supplementation program to off-set the barrage of toxic
and mutagenic substances that we knowingly or otherwise ingest, inhale or
absorb from our increasingly toxic food and environment.