You Can't Defy the Clock, So Defy the Aging Process
By Dr. Fred Harvey
I’ve heard it said that age is just a state of mind. “If that’s true, then why am I feeling so old?” you might ask yourself. Aging is a process that can be either swift and devastating or slow and graceful. I look at aging as an accrual of damage from imbalances in metabolism that result in loss of organ reserve and present as symptoms of dysfunction or disease.
In some cases, genetic inheritance will drive the aging process. However, most of us accelerate it ourselves. For example, cigarette smoke damages the collagen and elastin metabolism of the skin to increase the speed at which skin ages. This will cause premature and severe wrinkling. Cigarettes are an obvious source of body damage, but how often do we consider some of the less obvious offenders?
Many of us have been sold on the hormone replacement and supplementation paradigm of modern chemistry by doctors who focus on “anti-aging” medicine. In many instances, we’ll feel better initially from these products, but over time, our vitality will deteriorate because hormones can become toxic when the underlying cause of hormonal deficiency is not addressed. Hormone replacements treat the symptoms, but they do not resolve the root cause of hormonal imbalance, which can range from sleep apnea to a lack of zinc.
While hormone replacement can be an answer to a vibrant full life for someone who suffers from a low hormone level, we must first look deeper into the cause with a comprehensive history and targeted diagnostic tests. A diagnostic evaluation will help formulate an individualized lifestyle and treatment program. The patient will then be re-evaluated on a regular basis to monitor improvement and assure safety.
A few additional age-defying lifestyle measures to implement:
Reduce Stress: In times of stress, our bodies can release cortisol after the initial “fight or flight” hormones. Cortisol then activates the release of glucose from the liver. Cortisol can cause a hormonal imbalance that results in accelerated aging.
Exercise: Consistent physical activities are vital to help clear the system and reset many intracellular processes that boost energy. There is no benefit quite like some high-intensity interval training to boost my own energy and mood.
Eat Organic: Organic food is the other critical leg of the foundational health platform. Natural, balanced nutrition can help to reverse heart disease and prostate cancer, as well as turn on the rejuvenation and vitality genes.
If you want to learn more about how to defy aging, call Dr. Harvey’s office at 941-929-9355 or listen to Dr. Harvey talk about this and many other health topics each Monday, 10 a.m., on 88.5FM WMNF radio as he hosts “The Healthy Steps Radio Show.”
Dr. Fred Harvey is the Medical Director of The Harvey Center for Integrative Medicine. He is quadruple board-certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, Functional Medicine and Holistic-Integrative Medicine, specializing in chronic illness recovery and prevention and defiant aging. For more information, visit HarveyCenter.com.
