Vitamins for Longevity – Maintain Your Health, Combat and Prevent Disease

As we strive to live a long healthy life, we search for nutritional supplements to increase stamina, support our immune systems, and gain mental well being. A leading nutritional authority on the subject is Jean Carper. Her book, Stop Aging Now! The Ultimate Plan for Staying Young & Reversing the Aging Process, offers valuable information on maintaining your health, combating and preventing disease, and longevity. In the added support and longevity section I have included information about common names and indications, from pdrhealth.com, on the individual vitamins listed.

For basic nutritional health, outlined from Stop Aging Now, select a good Multivitamin and Mineral supplement with at least the minimum of the following:

400 IU vitamin E
500-1000 mg Vitamin C
10-15 mg Beta Keratin
200 mcg Chromium
50-200 mcg Selenium
1000 mg Calcium
200 IU Vitamin D (do not take if you get exposure to sunshine)
15-30 mg Zinc
200-300 mg Magnesium
30 mg CoQ10

For added support and longevity Jean Carper suggests:

3-30 mcg B 12 (or cobalamin. A group of cobalt-containing compounds identified as corrinoids)

B 12 is extremely beneficial for older adults and for patients that have had gastric surgery. People who suffer from chronic illnesses or are vegetarians may benefit from taking B 12. It may help slow pre-cancerous conditions in smoker’s lungs. It may also improve the symptoms of some neuropsychiatric disorders, chronic fatigue, and HIV disease. Studies have shown that it may prevent some vascular diseases and breast cancer.

400 mcg Folic acid (folate, is basically a combination of B vitamins, pteroylglutamic acid (PGA) or para-aminobenzoic acid it is linked end to end with a pteridine ring and glutamic acid)

Folic acid may reduce birth defects. Research suggests it may also have anti-atherogenic, anti-carcinogenic, neuroprotective and antidepressant actions.

2-20 mg B 6 (a common name for three related compounds, pyridoxine (PN), pyridoxal (PL) and pyridoxamine (PM))

B 6 may aid in the relief of some symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Also, it has shown improvements in some symptomatic cases of gestational diabetes. It protects against metabolic imbalances caused by some oral contraceptives. Preliminary evidence suggests it may help protect against atherosclerosis, melanoma, and help with some neurological conditions. It can stimulate the immune system. It may sooth certain types of nausea and vomiting.

120 mg Ginkgo

Aids in brain circulation, muscle circulation, helps relieve vertigo from poor circulation, and ringing in the ears resulting from poor circulation.

100 mg glutamine (a protein amino acid)

L-glutamine is a resourceful amino acid. It is important for regulating the acid-base balance in your body. It allows the kidneys to remove waste and prevent acidosis. It also helps protect the body from ammonia toxicity by excreting toxins as ammonium through the kidneys or converting it to urea by the liver.

100 mg glutathione (a combined term to refer to the tripeptide L-gamma-glutamyl-L-cysteinylglycine)

Glutathione has the cysteine molecule, which makes the amino acid more soluble, allowing it to have a reduction/oxidation reaction in living tissue. Glutathione catalyzes, aids in metabolism and nerve signal transmission, and is important to gene expression and apoptosis.

1-4 grams DHA (Docahexaenoic acid, a component of fish oil, or omega-3)

DHA is a piece of the phospholipids of cellular membranes, especially in the brain and retina, which is necessary for optimal neural development and visual acuity. It may useful for those with peroxisomal disorders (such as Zellweger’s syndrome), cystic fibrosis sufferers, attention deficit disorder, dyslexia, and may help with cognitive impairment, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. The recommended dose for pregnant women is 100-200 mg daily.

EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid, a component of fish oil, or omega-3)

Along with triglyceride-lowering activity, EPA may have anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombosis, and immunomodulatory actions.

DHA and EPA are usually combined and prepared at a ratio of 1.5, up to 3, and are sometimes referred to as Omega 3.

1 clove of garlic a day is therapy for hardening arteries, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

50 mg Soy isflavones (Soybean)

Soybean possesses estrogen-like activity, is an antioxidant, and may have anti-carcinogenic, anti-atherogenic, hypolipidemic and anti-osteoporotic uses. It may prevent or treat osteoporosis, heart disease, and cancer. Soy may also improve some menopausal symptoms.

Carper also suggests you drink green and black tea and add the 10 anti-aging fruits and vegetables to your diet:

Avocados
Berries
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots
Citrus fruit
Grapes
Onions
Spinach
Tomatoes

Sources:

Stop Aging Now! The Ultimate Plan for Staying Young & Reversing the Aging Process by Jean Carper.

http://www.pdrhealth.com/

http://www.jeancarper.com/

Reference:

• www.jeancarper.com/