Don’t Grow Old Before Your Time

By Dr. Greg Fors, DC, DIBCN
Board-certified Neurologist

No one wants to feel old before their time with declining health, muscle loss, increased body fat, decreased energy, low sex drive and foggy thinking. Age may be inevitable but aging is not! Aging is the slow deterioration of cellular vitality over time, which is primarily controlled by our lifestyle choices and genetics. This degenerative process accounts for 90% of all adult illness. However, aging does not occur uniformly in individuals and the symptoms of aging can appear early in life to steal its joy and wonder. The problems of aging usually become apparent to us in our 50s and 60s. But the first signs of early aging can appear even in our 30s and 40s. What are the first signs of aging? It is the all too common symptoms of fatigue, stiffness, chronic muscle and joint pain, loss of muscle mass, poor digestion, recurrent infections, insomnia, mood and memory problems, conditions related to a loss of cell vitality.

What are the primary causes of this loss of vitality and early aging? Our Standard American Diet or SAD for short, which is the overconsumption of calories and the under consumption of nutrients is a driving force of premature aging. Then there are the 4 million synthetic compounds and over 89,000 industrial chemicals we have put into our environment. According to the EPA presently five of the most toxic chemicals known are now found in everyone, chemicals linked to hormone disruption, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation.

It is this hormone disruption, oxidative stress and chronic inflammation that robs us of our vitality and accelerates the aging process. These processes speed up aging by disrupting the energy producing power plants of our cells, the mitochondria. Mitochondria take calories from your food and literally burn them for energy. When mitochondria are working like well-tuned little engines, you have all the energy you need throughout the day. Energy to digest your food, move muscles, think with your brain and generate a vibrant mood. When they are not working efficiently, it leads to symptoms of premature aging and ill health.

Also with early aging both men and women can begin to experience hormonal imbalances that can inhibit their physical, sexual and cognitive function. This process begins to accelerate after the age of 50 and notable symptoms start to manifest. In males the outward symptoms are increased abdominal fat and decreased muscle mass, the hallmark of male hormone balance or Andropause, and the signs of decreased free testosterone and/or increased estradiol. For women the most bothersome problems can be the vasomotor symptoms of hot flushes and night sweats of perimenopause, also caused by hormonal imbalance. Hormonal imbalance in both sexes will cause multiple symptoms associated with premature aging including loss of libido, depression, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, decreased facial hair in men and increased in women.

If this all sounds a little too familiar and discouraging, fear not there is something you can do now before you grow old before your time! Recent advancements in science have found specific biomarkers in the blood and urine that can let you know specifically what is causing your premature aging and health problems. Then with the knowledge of a skilled clinician who can utilize this information a specific program of diet, nutrition, metabolic support and exercise can be developed specifically for you. Making these dietary, nutritional and lifestyle changes can allow you to lead a healthy, vital and happy life. There are no drugs that can do this for you.

Are you suffering with chronic pain and fatigue, digestive issues, mood and memory issues, autoimmune disorders, hormonal imbalances? Then you are growing old before your time! Why not take action today, start eating better, more fruits vegetables, seeds, nuts, and 100% whole grains. Get off the couch start moving around more, dust off that old exercise bike. If you really want to get serious find a doctor who is knowledgeable in utilizing laboratory testing to develop a health optimization and healthy aging program specific for you. If you want to learn more you can call our office at 763-862-7100, also you can attend one of my upcoming seminars on optimizing your health and your aging process. Learn how you can improve your energy, mood, digestion, lean muscle mass, hormonal balance, libido, memory and immune function. If you found this article helpful to share with a friend or loved one why not bring them along to the upcoming seminar?