You Live Longer

Living longer is possible and a lot of that has to do with the immortality gene. The immortality gene can help you live longer and it is inside every cell that has a nucleus, but it’s turned off until you activate it.

In 2009 the Nobel Prize for Medicine was awarded to Elizabeth Blackburn, Jack W. Szostak, and Carol Greider who are pioneers in the science of longevity. They discovered ‘how chromosomes are protected by telomeres and the enzyme telomerase.’ Telomeres are at the end of your chromosomes. According to Dr. Dave Woynarowski, who spoke in 2011 at The Longevity Now Conference, telomeres are the parts of our DNA that are like a biological time clock that determines how much time you have left to live.

Telomeres are responsible for every cellular mechanism. We can live longer and slow down the aging process by doing 2 things:

1) Slow down the loss of telomeres and

2) Add length to the telomeres

Aging can be thought of as an imbalance of cell damage and cell repair. When we have more damage than repair, we are in a state of declining health.

Dr. William Andrews discovered the immortality gene, telomerase, which can help us to reverse biologic aging. There are some genetic functioning terms that you need to know in order to help you live longer:

* Phenotype – how a cell acts and behaves

* Geneotype – the genetic expression of the cell, what is read in the DNA and what is not read

* Epigenetics – the ability to determine how your DNA is read which can

reprogram your DNA

THIS ONE THING WILL HELP YOU LIVE LONGER
HOW TO REJUVENATE CELLS
Dr. Dave Woynarowski says that we need to ensure effective levels of Omega-3 fatty acids in our bodies. This is the one key thing that will help us to live longer.

In a study of Omega-3s and longevity, people who took supplements with Omega-3 fatty acids had reduced likelihood of death, less incidence of heart attack and fewer strokes than people who did not take Omega-3s.

Another study found that Omega-3’s were associated with less telomere shortening and among patients with coronary artery disease, there was a relationship between blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids from fish and the rate of telomere shortening over a 5 year period.

In addition to this one thing (Omega-3 fatty acids) that will help you live longer, we need to:

* create a strong anti-oxidant defense and

* preserve the telomere length that we currently have.

The telomeres are at the ends of our DNA and they act like a biological time clock that determines how much time we have left to live. They are also responsible for every cellular mechanism, including rejuvenating stem cells.

Stem cells are important because they can help repair our bodies when damage occurs. For example if you cause damage to your liver by drinking too much alcohol, the stem cells can help make more liver cells to repair the damage.



WHY FOCUSING ON CELLS IS SO IMPORTANT
There are about 9 trillion cells in the body, give or take a few. The most important part of the cell that we need to focus on is the cell membrane. The cell membrane controls what gets into and out of the cells.

The cell membrane also has cell receptors that determine how you interact with the outside world. This can help with everything from how we sleep, to how we get the nutrients that we eat, how we deal with stress, and how much if any toxins and pollution that we absorb from the outside world.

The most important component of cell membranes are fatty acids. Without them the membrane gets stiff, dysfunctional, and will release inflammatory chemicals inside and outside the cell. Dr. Woynarowski says that we need to take care of the cell membrane or nothing works well in our bodies.

Inside the cells, Vitamin D is used to support the mitochondria, which are the powerhouse of the cell. They are also important in the aging process, because they make free radicals and use them appropriately inside the cell. When the cell membrane leaks, free radicals go out of the membrane and cause damage to other cells. Free-radicals do good things inside the cells, but not outside of them.

You can get a blood test to determine your blood level of Vitamin D, but you might actually need to know your intracellular level of Vitamin D as well. Vitamin D is also important because it affects genes and causes protein synthesis.

THE EXCITING FIELD OF EPIGENETICS
Epigenetics came about recently after the discovery that we are only using about 20% of our DNA. When scientists sequenced the entire human genome they learned that only 20% of our genes were actually part of what makes us human. The other 80% of the DNA was called ‘junk DNA’ and scientists did not know what it did.

You can read more about ‘junk DNA’ in our article here. The extra 80% of our DNA has recently been discovered to play an important role in how genes are expressed. Rather than determining if you get blue eyes or brown eyes, these pieces of extra DNA determine whether you will develop glaucoma or macular degeneration.

Queen bees are larger and live longer than other bees and they are the only ones that produce eggs to make baby bees. But all bees actually have the gene that could make them a queen, their cells just haven’t been given the right signal to express that queen gene. Baby bees that were fed a diet of royal jelly actually changed the expression of over half of genes involved in the signaling pathway that creates queen bees. In other words, not just humans but other animals have genes that are not being expressed and if we can find the right way to trigger them, we can unlock the healing power of our DNA.


 If your parents had Alzheimer’s disease or other illnesses, there’s a chance that you could also develop that, but there’s also a good chance that you can do something about it by reducing the likelihood that that gene will be expressed in yourself.

Creative People Recharge

There are many self-prescribed methods of relieving Creative Block that countless artists use; some isolate themselves, some imbibe on alcohol, some daydream, some sleep it off, etc., etc. (As a writer, I can attest to doing trying all of these – some successfully, others not so much.

CREATIVE BLOCK CAN BE OVERCOME BY FINDING A GOOD RECHARGING RITUAL THAT WORKS FOR EACH PERSON.

CBS (Creative Block Syndrome, not a real medical condition) resists many attempts at treatment, as there is not a universal cure. However, below are a few prescriptions (non-substance, of course) that many-an-artist have found useful.

HERE ARE 5 WAYS CREATIVE PEOPLE RECHARGE:
1. TURN OFF THE TELEVISION
Mind-wandering is a catalyst to great creative thinking, but mind-numbness is not. Engaging in some mindless activities, such as watching television, inhibits creative thought. Although some television shows may inspirational and well-meaning, studies demonstrate that the vast majority of television programs actually lower different types of intelligence.

On the flip side, watching or reading material that challenges our intellect and promotes creativity can be beneficial. The challenge lies in actually finding television shows that prioritizes intelligence, creativity and other attributes that spark creative thought.

Interestingly, some monotonous activities (think most jobs) may actually be a great place to garner some creative thoughts. In a study published in the journal Psychological Science, some tedious tasks accomplish exactly that. The founder of genetics, Gregor Mendel, is said to have counted pea plants and honeybees in his quest to substantiate his theories.

2. WRITE BY HAND
Digitization has led to the near eradication of longhand and shorthand writing. Crafting our calendars, shopping lists, and even signatures have all become doable through technology. However, it turns out that writing something down gives a sense of permanence and concreteness that pecking away at a keyboard or touchscreen does not.

Our brainpower is also helped out when we write by hand. Virginia Berninger, a professor of educational psychology at the University of Washington, states that writing by hand stimulates the portion of the brain responsible for thinking and working memory – two important functions relative to creative thought.

Lee Rourke, an award-winning author, puts it this way: “The constant tap-tap-tap-tap on the keyboard reminds me of all the offices I’ve worked in. The sound bores into me, it fills me with an anxiety I could do without. I feel like I’m signing off invoices rather than writing my next novel.”
Writers (including this one), take note.

3. WATCH SOMETHING FUNNY
To be clear, this is not a reason to watch the hilarious and dopey antics of those on reality TV. Instead, watching something short and funny may provide the mood boost someone needs to break their creative slump. The simple reason: solid creative thinking is best achieved in a positive frame of mind. While feelings relating to anxiety may help with focus, feelings of humor, especially the act of laughing, help stimulate creativity.

Mark Beeman, a professor of psychology at Northwestern University, conducted a research study that linked a part of the brain – the anterior cingulate cortex – with mood-boosting activity. The anterior cingulate cortex is responsible for emotion, empathy and decision-making – a part of the brain that may help develop connections that lead to a spark in creative insight.

4. TAKE A SHOWER
There are few activities that relax the mind and body as effectively as a hot shower. People with creative talent will almost universally state that they work best when the mind and body are free of tension. Additionally, a shower is also a relatively mindless task, which liberates the mind to wander into creative territory.

Multiple studies have been published linking other activities to creative thought, as well. Creative sparks may fly on a routine commute; when on a fishing trip, or simply resting in solitude.

In one study, researchers assigned people to one of three different groups and issued a specific task. The first group was given a demanding task during a rest period; the second group received a simple task and was encouraged to mind-wander, while the third group was not given any task. Afterwards, the three groups were given a series of creative problems to solve. The group that was allowed to mind-wander solved the creative problems at a higher rate than the other two groups.

5. GET SOME SLEEP
Of all the creative hacks available, the simple act of sleeping is perhaps the most valuable. During this period, the brain is essentially reorganizing and retooling for the tasks that lie ahead; this process is called consolidation, and it activates the brain’s neural networks responsible in forming new connections and associations.

While sleep is valuable to the creative process, it is more so when we’re close to having an answer to a problem. Waiting a day and utilizing the brain’s automatic consolidation process enhances the probability that these elusive answers will surface.

As with any creative solution, taking advantage of sleep works best when applied intelligently. Benjamin Franklin may have said it best: “Early to bed early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”

Rumor has it that Ben was quite creative, as well.

The Most Powerful Antioxidant Food For Your Immune System

Guavas grow in Mexico, Central, and South America, and have a tangy, sweet, tropical flavor. It contains copious amounts of antioxidants and vitamins, and the skin can even be used in cooking and baking. The leaves, seeds and skin can also be consumed or used for medicinal purposes.

Because guavas are both low in calories and contain many important vitamins and minerals for the human body, it easily deserves the title “The Ultimate Superfood,” in our opinion. Below, we’ll tell you a little bit more about why you should consider buying guavas at your local grocer and making them a staple in your diet.

HERE’S WHY THE GUAVA IS THE MOST POWERFUL ANTIOXIDANT FOOD FOR YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM:
According to the USDA, 100 grams of guava fruit contain the following nutrients:

68 calories
14.3 grams carbohydrate
2.6 grams protein
228.3 milligrams vitamin C (381 percent DV)
5.2 milligrams lycopene ( 52 percent DV)
5.4 grams fiber (21.6 percent DV)
624 IU vitamin A (12.5 percent DV)
49 microgram folate (12.3 percent DV)
0.2 milligram copper (11.5 percent DV)
417 milligrams potassium (8.8 percent DV)
22 milligrams magnesium (5.5 percent DV)
40 milligrams phosphorus (4 percent DV)
As you can see, you can get many essential vitamins and minerals from this fruit alone. Not to mention, you can eat it raw, making it a quick and easy snack on the go. In ancient cultures, they would actually use the leaves from the guava fruit to make healing, medicinal tea to cure a variety of ailments. However, most people eat the fruit raw, so below, we’ll go over some important benefits from eating this fruit loaded with antioxidants.

IT BOOSTS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
Because guava provides over 350% of the recommended daily value of Vitamin C, it can repair the immune system and keep it functioning properly. Vitamin C has long been associated with a healthy immune system, so getting in your daily recommended amount is crucial in keeping illnesses at bay. Guava fruits provide even more Vitamin C than an equal serving of oranges, quite surprisingly. Vitamin C helps to stop cell damage because of the antioxidants it possesses, so it can even help to heal arthritis, cancer, and heart disease. This study in Pakistan in 2012 revealed that guavas had the highest concentration of Vitamin C, making it a powerful healing food that you should definitely add to your diet.



GUAVA CONTAINS MORE ANTIOXIDANTS THAN ALMOST ANY OTHER FRUIT
As we mentioned earlier, the antioxidants in the guava fruit pack a powerful punch. A 2011 study by Hyderabad’s National Institute of Nutrition in India revealed that guavas had the most antioxidants when compared to other Indian fruits such as apples, bananas, and grapes. Antioxidants prevent free radicals from forming and damaging cells, which means it’s vital for humans to get plenty of antioxidants in their diet. The study recommends eating unripe guavas, as these have the most antioxidants.

IT CAN PREVENT CANCER
Just as we said above, the antioxidants present in guavas can help reduce free radicals in the blood, and therefore, reduce the risk of developing cancer. Guavas contain high amounts of lycopene, an antioxidant known for preventing cancer. Although this antioxidant is more well-known in association with tomatoes, guavas have a considerable amount of this powerful cancer blocker, and it can actually prevent growth of many types of cancer cells.

If that’s not enough, this study recently found that guava fruits can help to keep strokes at bay, as well.

GUAVA CONTAINS A HIGH AMOUNT OF BOTH POTASSIUM AND FIBER
As you might already know, potassium and fiber play a crucial role in keeping our electrolytes stable, maintaining low blood pressure, and preventing digestive diseases. This study found that potassium in guava fruits can decrease both blood pressure and blood lipids. Potassium also keeps the heart functioning properly, lowers the risk of strokes and kidney stones, and helps to prevent bone loss.



Because guava fruits contain over 20% of the daily recommended value of fiber, they can help you stay full longer, which aids in promoting weight loss. Also, having a high fiber diet can decrease the risk of numerous diseases, including diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and much more.