Everything Anti-Aging

The Immune System

The immune system, which is made up of unique cells, proteins, tissues and organs, defends people against germs and microorganisms 24/7. In most cases, the immune system does a great job of keeping people healthy and preventing infections. But every so often problems with the immune system can lead to illness and infection.

What the Immune System Does

The immune system is the body’s main defense against infectious organisms and other nasty invaders. Through a series of steps called the immune response, the immune system literally attacks organisms and substances that assault our systems and cause disease. The immune system is made up of a vast network of cells, tissues, and organs that work in combination together to protect your body. The cells that are part of this defense system are white blood cells, or leukocytes. They appear in two basic types, which combine to seek out and obliterate the organisms or substances that cause disease. Leukocytes are produced or stored in numerous locations throughout the body, including the thymus, spleen and bone marrow. (For this reason, they are called the lymphoid organs.) There are also clumps of lymphoid tissue throughout the body, primarily in the form of lymph nodes, which house in a sense the leukocytes. The leukocytes socialize through the body between the organs and nodes by means of the lymphatic vessels. Leukocytes can also circulate through your blood vessels. In this way, the immune system works in a well-coordinated manner, like your own personal army to monitor the body for germs or substances that might eventually cause problems.

The two basic types of leukocytes are:

1. Phagocytes, which are cells that masticate invading organisms.

2. Lymphocytes, which are cells that allow the body to remember and continually recognize previous invaders and help the body destroy them.

Several different cells are considered to be phagocytes. The most common type is the neutrophil, which mainly fights bacteria. If doctors are worried about a bacterial infection, they might order a blood test to see if a patient has an increased number of neutrophils triggered by an infection. Other types of phagocytes have their own specific jobs to make sure that the body responds properly to a specific type of invader.

There are two kinds of specific lymphocytes: the B-lymphocytes and the T- lymphocytes. Lymphocytes start out in the bone marrow and either hibernate there in a sense and mature into B cells, or they leave for the thymus gland, where they mature into T cells. B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes have separate jobs to do. For example, B-lymphocytes are like the body’s military intelligence team, covertly seeking out their targets and sending defenses to lock onto them and kill. T cells are like the little soldiers, destroying the invaders that the intelligence team has identified.

Here’s how it works:

Antigens are foreign substances that invade the body. When an antigen is detected, numerous types of cells work together to recognize and respond to it. These cells trigger the B-lymphocytes to produce antibodies, which are specialized proteins that lock onto specific antigens. Antibodies and antigens fit together like a lock and key. Once the B-lymphocytes have produced antibodies, these antibodies continue to exist in a person’s body, so that if the same antigen is presented to the immune system at another time, the antibodies are already there to do their job and fight the antigens. That is why if someone gets sick with a certain disease, like chickenpox for example, that person typically does not get it again. This is also why we use immunizations to avert getting certain diseases. The immunization introduces the body to the antigen in a way that doesn’t make a person sick, but it does allow the body to manufacture antibodies that will then protect that person from future attack by the germ or substance that produces that particular disease. Although antibodies can recognize an antigen and lock onto it, they are not capable of destroying it without assistance. This is where the job of the T cells come into play. The T cells are part of the system that destroys antigens that have been tagged by antibodies or cells that have been infected or somehow changed. (There actually are T cells that are referred to as “killer cells.”) T cells are also involved in helping signal other cells (like phagocytes) to do their specific duties. Antibodies can also neutralize toxins (poisonous or damaging substances) produced by different organisms. Lastly, antibodies can activate a group of proteins that are also part of the immune system. They are called complement; they assist in killing bacteria, viruses, or infected cells.

All of these specialized cells and parts of the immune system offer the body protection against disease and infection. This particular protection is called immunity.

Humans have three types of immunity — innate, adaptive, and passive:

Innate Immunity:
Everyone is born with innate (or natural) immunity, a type of general protection that all humans have. Many of the germs that affect other species do not harm us. For example, the viruses that cause leukemia in cats or distemper in dogs don’t affect humans. Innate immunity works both ways because some viruses that make humans ill, such as the virus that causes HIV/AIDS, don’t make cats or dogs sick either.

Innate immunity also includes the external barriers of the body, like the skin and mucous membranes (like those that line the nose, throat, and gastrointestinal tract), which are our first line of defense in preventing diseases from entering the body. If this outer defensive wall is broken (like if you get a cut), the skin attempts to heal the break quickly and special immune cells on the skin attack invading germs.

Adaptive Immunity:
We have a second kind of protection called adaptive (or active) immunity. This type of immunity develops in time throughout our lifespan. Adaptive immunity involves the lymphocytes (as in the process described above) and develops as children and adults are exposed to diseases or immunized against diseases through vaccination.

Passive Immunity:
Passive immunity is in a sense “borrowed” from another source and it lasts for only a short period of time. For example, antibodies in a mother’s breast milk provide an infant with temporary immunity against diseases that the mother has been exposed to. This can help defend the infant against infection during the early years of childhood. Everyone’s immune systems are different. Some people never seem to get infections, whereas others seem to be sick all the time. As people get older, they usually become immune to more germs as the immune system comes into contact with more and more of them. That’s why adults and teens tend to get fewer colds than children because their bodies have learned to recognize and immediately attack many of the viruses that cause the common cold.

Things That Can Go Wrong With the Immune System

Disorders of the immune system can be broken down into four main categories:

1. Immunodeficiency disorders – primary or acquired disorders.

2. Autoimmune disorders – in which the bodies own immune system attacks its own tissue such as it would foreign matter.

3. Allergic disorders – in which the immune system overreacts in response to an outside antigen.

4. Cancers of the immune system.

Immunodeficiency Disorders:
Immunodeficiencies occur when a part of the immune system is not present or is not working appropriately. Sometimes a person is born with an immunodeficiency; these are called primary immunodeficiencies. Although primary immunodeficiencies are conditions that a person is born with, symptoms of the disorder sometimes may not show up until later on in life. Immunodeficiencies can also be acquired through infection or produced by drugs. (These are sometimes referred to as secondary immunodeficiencies.) Immunodeficiencies can affect B-lymphocytes, T-lymphocytes, or phagocytes. Acquired immunodeficiencies usually develop after a person has a disease, but can also be the result of malnutrition, burns, or other medical problems with that person. Certain medicines also can cause problems with the functioning of the immune system.

Immunodeficiencies caused by medications
Some medicines intentionally suppress the immune system. One of the drawbacks of chemotherapy treatment, for example, is that it not only attacks cancer cells, but other fast-growing, healthy cells, including those found in the bone marrow and other parts of the immune system. In addition, people with autoimmune disorders or who have had organ transplants may need to take immunosuppressant medications. These medicines can also reduce the immune system’s ability to fight infections and can cause secondary immunodeficiency.

Autoimmune Disorders:

In autoimmune disorders, the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s healthy organs and tissues as though they were foreign invaders.

Autoimmune diseases include:

· Lupus – which is a chronic disease marked by muscle and joint pain as well as inflammation. The abnormal immune response may also involve attacks on the kidneys and other organs.

· Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis – this is a disease in which the body’s immune system acts as though certain body parts such as the joints of the knee, hand, and foot are foreign tissue and attacks them.

· Scleroderma – which is a chronic autoimmune disease that can lead to the inflammation and damage of the skin, joints, and internal organs.

· Ankylosing spondylitis – this is a disease that involves inflammation of the spine and joints, causing stiffness and severe pain.

· Juvenile dermatomyositis – which is a disorder marked by the inflammation and damage of the skin and muscles.

Allergic Disorders:

Allergic disorders occur when the immune system overreacts to the exposure of antigens in the environment. The substances that provoke such attacks are called allergens. The immune response can cause symptoms such as swelling, watery eyes, and sneezing, and even a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis. Taking medications called antihistamines can relieve most, but not all symptoms.

Allergic disorders include:

· Asthma – which is a respiratory disorder that can cause, breathing problems, and frequently involves an allergic response by the lungs. If the lungs are oversensitive to certain allergens (like pollen, molds, animal dander, or dust mites), it can trigger breathing tubes in the lungs to become narrowed, leading to reduced airflow and making it harder for a person to breathe.

· Eczema – this is an itchy rash also known as atopic dermatitis. Although atopic dermatitis is not necessarily caused by an allergic reaction, it more often occurs in kids and teens who have allergies, hay fever, or asthma or who have a family history of these conditions.

· Allergies of several types can occur in kids and teens. Environmental allergies (to dust mites, for example), seasonal allergies (such as hay fever), drug allergies (reactions to specific medications or drugs), food allergies (such as to nuts), and allergies to toxins (bee stings, for example) are the common conditions people usually refer to as allergies.

Cancers of the Immune System:

Cancer occurs when cells grow out of control. This can also happen with the cells of the immune system. Lymphoma involves the lymphoid tissues and is one of the more common childhood cancers. Leukemia, which involves abnormal overgrowth of leukocytes, is the unfortunately the most common childhood cancer. With current medications most cases of both types of cancer in kids and teens are curable.

Although immune system disorders usually cannot be prevented, you can help your immune system stay stronger and fight illnesses by staying informed about your condition(s) and working closely with your doctor.

Staff – Everythingantiaging.com

Boost your immune system with the help of Antioxidant Supplements at www.everythingantiaging.com!

Why do some people have a more difficult time losing weight than others?

We all know people who can eat whatever they want and never put on an ounce (though oftentimes the pounds do sneak up on them as they age).  Genetics clearly is a factor in how easily someone loses weight. Also, gender differences play a role. When men lose weight they tend to lose abdominal fat first, whereas women have a more difficult time losing abdominal fat. However, there are additional, more controllable contributors.

First, muscle mass is directly proportional to metabolism, and thus calories burned.  People who have a large muscle mass burn more calories and can more easily lose weight when they control caloric intake than someone who has a low muscle mass.  Therefore, if you want to optimize your weight loss success incorporate strength training into your routine in order to build muscle mass and increase overall metabolism.  This also helps to ensure that any weight you do lose will be fat and not muscle.  Keep in mind that your metabolic rate will still stay high even once you’ve lost weight.

Secondly, people who have more weight to lose initially experience rapid weight loss when they decrease their caloric intake and increase physical activity.  This is because their baseline is often a very high calorie diet.  For example, if someone who weighs 250 pounds and normally eats 3000 calories per day, if he/she cuts back to 2200 calories per day and expends 300 more calories per day with exercise, he/she can easily lose two pounds in one week.  On the other hand, if someone who weighs 125 pounds and normally eats 2200 calories per day cuts back to 2000 calories per day and expends 200 more calories per day with exercise, he/she will only lose about .75 pound in a week.  This reality partly explains why contestants on the Biggest Loser can drop exorbitant amounts of weight each week.

Finally, behavioral factors cannot be ignored.  Some people are more successful at losing weight because they are better able to adhere to a lower-calorie diet and regularly engage in physical activity.  In the end, it comes down to calories.  In order to lose weight you have to expend more calories than you consume.  It takes about a 3500 calorie deficit to lose one pound.  Start keeping track of your intake and approximate your expenditure. You should start to see the pounds come off, though some people may lose more quickly than others.  If you continue to cut calories and increase physical activity and you still don’t notice any weight loss consider checking in with your doctor. It’s possible that you could have a medical condition that’s preventing you from being able to lose weight.

Julie MED RD LD

Check us out at www.everythingantiaging.com.

HGH Up

HGH Up from Applied Nutriceuticals is the most powerful and unique HGH supplement available today. HGHup is the supplement industries first hANh™ (Hybrid Anabolic / Near Hormonal); which is defined as a product that engages a synchronization of natural and exogenous factors to produce a pronounced anabolic and hormonal response. The clear advantage of a hANh is that the user is able to obtain maximal physiological benefits comparable to that of fully hormonal products while minimizing potential harmful side effects and disruption of endogenous factors post-usage.

HGH UP also promotes unparalleled increases in serum HGH and testosterone levels without a doctor’s prescription. It is the only orally viable formula that is proven to raise HGH and testosterone levels in human subjects.

Some of the benefits of HGH Up include:

- Average of 8% increase in the bodies lean muscle mass (in 6 weeks)

- Average of 25% reduction in body fat percentage (in 6 weeks)

- Raised strength via improved neural connectivity – add 20-40 lbs. on all major lifts!

- Speeds up healing of injuries and better recovery from physical stress and training

- Better skin tone – reverses premature aging

- Deeper, more restful sleep – feel better and more alert upon waking up every day

- Healthier, more youthful feeling

Staff – Everythingantiaging.com

Get your HGH Up today at www.everythingantiaging.com!

Farro Salad with Grilled Eggplant, Tomatoes and Onion

Ingredients:

- 1 1/2 cups farro

- 3 Japanese baby eggplants, halved

- 1 small red onion, peeled, halved, and thickly sliced

- Olive oil, for brushing

- Salt and freshly ground black pepper

- 1/2 pint grape tomatoes, washed and sliced in 1/2

- 1/4 cup chopped fresh dill, plus more for garnish

- Sherry Vinaigrette, recipe follows

Directions:

Lepti-Trim

Leptin, a hormone like messenger protein, is produced in relatively large amounts by fat tissue an in smaller amounts by other peripheral organs, and it often secreted in to the bloodstream, where it travels to the brain and other tissues, causing fat loss and decreased appetite.

Obesity, according to the CDC, or Center for Disease Control, is the number 1 health risk factor facing our society currently. In fact, obesity is associated with higher rates of chronic medical conditions and worse physical health than a lifetime of worse physical health than a lifetime of smoking, poverty or drinking.

The leptin-weight loss connection has been proven in several multi-center studies conducted by the  American Medical Association. These studies found that weight loss increased with increased doses of leptin among all subjects. At the highest leptin dose, more than 95% of the subjects weight loss was from fat. No clinically significant adverse side effects were noted or observed throughout the study and following its completion.

Manufactured in the fat cells, leptin tells the brain whether the body has sufficient energy stores, or fat. The hormone sends signals to the hypothalamus, the brain’s eating control center, and tells us when to stop eating.

Staff – Everythingantiaging.com

Check us out at www.everythingantiaging.com today!

Is it safe and ok for children to strength train?

Research has shown that strength-training can be both safe and effective for most youth when age-appropriate training guidelines are followed effectively.

The False Stories- For decades youth strength training was widely discouraged, as many people viewed this type of training as dangerous, believing that it would stunt children’s growth by causing damage to their bone growth plates. From that misconception, resistance training was presumed to be a high risk activity, in which injuries were quite prevalent.

The Truth - There are now multiple studies that have shown a low risk of injury in children and adolescents who follow age-appropriate strength training guidelines. In fact, when considering the injury rates among adolescents reported in other sports (such as football, gymnastics, and wrestling), resistance training actually proves to a safer option, and poses no greater risk of injury than many of the sports and activities that youth regularly participate in.

There is no minimum age requirement to participate in a youth strength-training program. For the most part, if your child is ready to participate in some type of athletic activity, he or she may be ready for strength training. This can occur as early as 7 or 8 years of age if your child possesses the emotional maturity to listen to and follow directions.

Julie MED RD LD

Find all the supplements you need and more at www.everythingantiaging.com!

Limuz Nei

Just this past winter I was really starting to feel majorly out of shape, so I finally decided enough is enough and that I needed to seriously get back into shape ASAP!

I knew going into it that my body was going to be sore and worn out within the first 5 minutes of any physical activity and lack of healthy dieting, but I was determined. This is when a friend of mine turned me onto Limuz Nei and some of their other supplements. She told me all about how just by using Limuz that I’d really help boost my immune system while getting back into training and how effective it was with helping to boost my energy levels naturally.

I am so happy to say that I took her advice and tried it out. Limuz Nei has helped me maintain my energy levels and stay healthy during this slow process of getting back into shape. I love the taste of Limuz too, the fizz is great! I plan on continuing to use this for the rest of the year and as long as I can get my hands on it! It finally feels great to be back in the swing of being healthy! Thanks Everythingantiaging! Michael O. TX

Staff – Everythingantiaging.com

Get your Limuz Nei today at www.everythingantiaging.com!

Get out and walk

A nice long walk for about 60 minutes a day five days per week can increase what is called your maximal oxygen intake by as much as 25% within three months. This referred to as the Vo2 max and it’s the body’s ability to consume oxygen. This 25% increase is enough to turn back the clock for 12 years on a person; it can also add years of functional independence on a senior’s life because of the increased health benefits.

As someone ages, the body will lose, on average, 5 milliliters of oxygen per kilograms of body weight per decade. Because Vo2 max performance declines through the years, so does the amount of activities you can do without getting fatigued.

Frequent and high impact walking can at least slow this process down- if not reverse it!

When someone’s oxygen intake is not at optimal levels, it can really take a toll on his or her lifestyle and daily functionality. Aerobic exercise, which walking most definitely is, will help with Vo2 max and can extend independence and may also help fight stroke risk, obesity, some cancers and osteoporosis.

It’s no mystery that exercise like brisk walking or any aerobic activity for that matter can build muscle. This can help in recovery from injuries and prevent falls that elderly people typically experience. You can’t stop the age clock from ticking but if you take up frequent walking and aim to increase that oxygen intake, you will slow down the body’s aging process considerably.

The Team at i-Supplements.com

Browse our easy to use online catalog at www.everythingantiaging.com today!

Grilled Chicken with Cherry-Chipotle Barbecue Sauce

Ingredients:

1 cup fresh or frozen dark sweet cherries

1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth

1/3 cup cherry preserves

1/3 cup ketchup

2 tablespoons cider vinegar

1 1/2 teaspoons minced canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce

1 1/4 teaspoons dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Directions:
Stir cherries, broth, preserves, ketchup, vinegar, chipotle peppers, thyme and allspice in a small deep bowl. Transfer to a shallow non-reactive dish (see Note) large enough to hold chicken. Add the chicken and turn to coat well. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight.

Preheat grill to high. Oil the grill rack (see Tip). Remove the chicken from the marinade.

Transfer the marinade to a medium skillet.

Reduce the grill heat to medium and grill the chicken until cooked through and no longer pink in the middle, 7 to 9 minutes per side. Meanwhile, bring the marinade to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until the sauce is reduced by about half, 12 to 15 minutes. Let the chicken cool slightly; serve with the sauce.

Staff – Everythingantiaging.com

Prevent Varicose Veins and Treat them Naturally

We all know them when we see them. Varicose veins are the bulging elongated veins usually found in the lower legs. These ugly, often painful veins occur when blood backflows in to them. Factors that may affect your chances of varicose veins are your family history, vein weakness, pregnancy, obesity, and excess fluid in the cavity lining of the abdomen. You may experience feelings of heaviness in the legs after standing or walking for prolonged periods, or in hot weather.

The good news is that there are natural remedies to address the condition of varicose veins. Most conventional treatment usually involves surgery or painful injections; these natural remedies are painless and non-invasive.

• Vitamin C helps maintain the integrity of the blood vessels and research has indicated that those individuals with higher levels of vitamin C have lower incidence of varicose veins.

• Butcher’s Broom Extract alters the levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate, the intercellular signaler that degrades the venous tissue.

• Horse Chestnut Extract, which can be used both internally and externally, inhibits the venous enzymes that degenerate the vein wall. Just 300mg three times per day produces benefits within 12 days!

• Ginkgo Biloba decreases the levels of endothelial cells that detached from the vascular wall causing damage to the veins.

• Gotu kola stimulates wound healing and increases collagen synthesis. Additionally, gotu kola reduces the breakdown of connective tissue in blood vessels and reduces heaviness in the limbs, edema and foot swelling.

• Witch hazel ointment may also help combat varicose veins and should be applied at least three times a day for two or more weeks.

Staff – Everythingantiaging.com

Help prevent and treat un-wanted varicose veins with products found at www.everythingantiaging.com.