

A simple way to think of aging is the accumulation of random damage to the building blocks of life – especially damage to our DNA and to certain proteins, carbohydrates and fats in our bodies. This damage begins early and eventually exceeds the body’s self-repair capabilities. It gradually impairs the functioning of cells, tissues, organs and organ systems, thereby increasing vulnerability to disease and giving rise to the characteristic manifestations of aging: loss of muscle and bone mass, a decline in reaction time, compromised hearing and vision, graying of the hair, reduced elasticity of the skin - the list goes on and on.
Aging – that is remaining alive over time – exposes us to more free radical activity, and so makes us more susceptible to afflictions such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke and cancer. The aging process guarantees that one crucial body part or another – the heart, for example – will eventually experience a catastrophic failure. It is an inescapable biological reality that once the engine of life switches on, the body begins to sow the seeds of its own destruction. The real ‘fountain of youth’ lies in the secrets of how to invoke beauty and health from the inside out by addressing any premature signs of aging known as biomarkers. Recognizing and addressing the biomarkers will slow down the aging process and ensure a more ‘youthful glow.’
A ‘biomarker’ is either a substance in our bodies or an observable change that indicates an underlying state of health or disease, such as the presence of sugar in the urine indicating the possibility of diabetes. In some cases, a biomarker may point to a disease before the disease itself becomes apparent. Familiar examples are blood lipid levels - cholesterol and triglycerides - used by doctors to assess the risk of future heart disease. These are conventional biomarkers.
For practitioners of natural medicine, the nutritional biomarkers and those which suggest susceptibility to a disease are of greatest interest. Our bodies, like our cars, have warning lights. If, when the oil warning light flashed, you were to open the hood and disconnect the annoying thing and then chug on down the highway, the result would be a disaster. Similarly we must not ignore our ‘warning lights.’ Fortunately, our bodies offer an array of biomarkers that don’t require laboratory testing; they’re observable physical signs of free radical stress that may signal the potential risk of illnesses requiring antioxidant treatment.
Skin plays a particularly telltale role because it is affected over time by your state of your internal health. Reduced elasticity of the skin is in fact one of the most observable consequences of this natural and inevitable process. Free radicals damage a protein called ‘elastin’ that holds the skin cells together and which gives your skin flexibility and strength. Sooner or later damage to the elastin will cause your skin to sag and appear wrinkled and discoloured. Without free radical attack on elastin, we might be indistinguishable at eighty-five from our high school graduation pictures. The following is a list of visible biomarkers – with possible cause related to excessive free radical activity and a counterbalancing antioxidant supplement.
Biomarkers
Warts are caused by a virus that also causes free radicals to bombard your immune system. Take a combination of vitamin A (10,000 IU a day) and beta-carotene (20,000 IU a day) with food. In combination, try the home remedy duct tape cure. It works! A small bit of silver duct tape over the wart overnight for two to three weeks and voila!
If you have dry hands, you’ll be interested to know that inflammation caused by frequent weather changes can cause free radical accumulation. Use lots of hand cream, wear gloves in the winter and increase your fish intake – especially deep-water fish such as fresh or canned wild Alaskan salmon, sardines, farmed rainbow trout, albacore tuna, Atlantic mackerel, black cod or farmed arctic char. These fish are among the healthiest you can eat; they are relatively clean and free of chemicals and heavy metals.
Rosacea is a rash affecting the face and chest. If your Rosacea is caused by food sensitivities, then take vitamin B2 or riboflavin, at up to 5 mg twice daily, ideally as part of a B-complex. This will possibly clear this condition up.
If you suffer slow healing cuts, you're probably low on vitamin C and zinc. A supplement of about 500 mg of esterified vitamin C, and a therapeutic dose of 10 mg of zinc citrate taken daily with food, will help improve your healing.
Easy bruising indicates a deficiency of bioflavonoid antioxidants such as those supplied in berries, cherries and grapes. Taking extra vitamin C can remedy this and certainly do no harm. Also, make sure to check your blood biomarkers with your family doctor.
If you’ve developed dark brown elbows, you need B-complex vitamins. Excessive stretch marks may be a sign that you’re deficient in vitamin A. Try a combination of vitamin A (10,000 IU a day) and beta-carotene (20,000 IU a day) with food.
Spontaneous nosebleeds suggest your blood vessels have high levels of free radicals, either from repeated injury or perhaps due to fragile capillaries. Either way, increase your antioxidant levels with 500 mg of vitamin C and bioflavonoids from fruits such as berries, cherries and grapes.
Do your gums bleed frequently? Perhaps you just don’t floss enough. On the other hand, free radicals may be at the root of a chronic infection. Take the remarkable antioxidant coenzyme Q10 at 60 mg twice daily.
Hair
If your hair has lost its shine, free radicals from the environment are attacking the hair protein and its natural oils. Although this is not dangerous, it is an indication that you are low on essential fatty acids. You should certainly be supplementing your diet with essential fatty acids such as fish oil.
Are you greying prematurely? This may suggest free radical attack on the pigment of your hair follicles. Take 500 mg of para amino benzoic acid twice daily and cut down on refined carbohydrates.
Is your hair is falling out? Here is where a doctor’s help is necessary. Ask your doctor to test your blood for the hypersensitive form of thyrotropin (TSH), thyroxine (free T4) and triiodothyronine (free T3). Depending on your test outcome, you may want to start taking a set of B vitamins (such as a 50 mg complex taken twice daily with food) and if your TSH is 4.5 or higher (and climbing over time) it's time to see a professional and start taking the amino acid L-Tyrosine (750 mg twice daily on an empty stomach).
Nails
If your fingernails show lots of white spots and you don’t have reason to believe that the marks came by way of injury, free radicals may be using up excess zinc. Supplement your diet with zinc citrate (10 mg a day taken with food).
If you have vertical ridges (called “Beau’s lines”) in your nails, your digestive enzymes, especially hydrochloric acid, may be low or you’re taking too high a dose of antacid medicine. Enzyme imbalance can cause free radical buildup and the inability to absorb all sorts of beauty-enhancing nutrients.
If your nails break easily, free radicals may be attacking your collagen protein. Take the antioxidant amino acids glutathione (1,000 mg twice daily on an empty stomach) and NAC (500 mg twice daily on an empty stomach) and try the mineral silica in liquid form (5 mg once daily).
Eyes
Dark circles under your eyes could be genetic, but the antioxidant methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), when applied topically in cream form, may help. You may also need iron and B12. Ask your doctor to check your blood for signs of anemia, and consult with him or her about iron dosages.
Poor night vision is a sign that your eyes are being hit hard by free radicals caused by sunlight and aging. Try a combination of vitamin A (10,000 IU a day) and beta-carotene (20,000 IU a day) with food
If the whites of your eyes are turning yellow, your liver may not be functioning well and your free radical levels are likely very high. Time to see your doctor and get started on a guided detoxification. Support your liver function with the antioxidant, glutathione. Even though glutathione isn’t easily absorbed in pill form, I would nonetheless recommend a dose of 1,000 mg twice daily on an empty stomach. It wouldn’t hurt to add some dandelion and milk thistle either. Both should be taken as herbal tinctures (liquid extracts) in standardized form. Ask your health-care provider for a personalized dosage and recommended length of treatment.
Mouth
Cracks at the corners of the mouth (angular cheilitis) can signify free radical attack on the metabolic system called methylation, which can indicate heart disease in the making. Take a 50 mg vitamin B complex that includes folic acid and B12, and have your doctor look at your folic acid and B12 blood levels at your next checkup
Mouth ulcers are often a sign that inflammatory free radicals are causing protein tissue destruction. Use the antioxidant power of amino acids l-glutamine and l-lysine (each at 500 mg twice daily on an empty stomach).
If you’re experiencing a diminishment of taste or smell, free radicals may be building up due to allergies and the constant release of histamine. Take extra zinc in order to help other antioxidants clear the inflammation.
Bryce Wylde
Is one of Canada's leading experts on natural medicine. He is the author of The Antioxidant Prescription and host of Wylde On Health on CP24.
www.homeopathicdoctor.ca
For Mom and Baby
by Julie Watson
things to take to correct or based on skin problems