Can Anti Aging Supplements Help Other Problems?

We all know that many anti aging supplements can help with diseases associated with aging, such as heart problems, Alzheimers, cognitive function, etc.  But can they help with other ailments not associated with aging?

Unfortunately, a family member was recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.  I immediately went on the internet to look up alternative therapies and to my surprise, many of the supplements I already take were on the list of supplements to try for Multiple Sclerosis.

Those not familiar with MS should know that it generally starts in younger people, between the ages of 20-40.  Some of the recommended supplements (this varies of course, depending on the individual) include:

• Fish Oil
• Coenzyme Q10
• Curcumin/Turmeric
• Magnesium
• Selenium
• Calcium
• Zinc
• Vitamins C, E, B12 and D3

And of course, the same things I always preach -  a healthy diet high in antioxidants, lots of exercise, plenty of sleep.

The one thing I forgot about in all my research on anti aging was that a lot of the studies done on supplements were for helping with other diseases, not anti aging.  The anti aging properties of some of these supplements were a by-product or discovery of the study itself.

It’s good to know that many of the supplements associated with anti aging are generally good for you whether help with aging is your goal or not.

Disclaimer: Some of the links mentioned within this post or posts it may lead to are my affiliate links and in such case I will get compensated for recommending those products.

How to Increase the Anti Aging Properties in your Food

Did you know that you can get more anti aging benefits from your food depending upon how you cook it?

Granted, I think we all know that fried food is unhealthy, but there are certain cooking secrets that will release the anti aging properties of foods in a more efficient manner.

Here’s some handy tips from Prevention:

1. Most of us know that tomatoes are a great source of lycopene (a powerful antioxidant that has been linked to cancer prevention). But did you know that cooked tomatoes (such as pasta sauce) have much more lycopene than raw tomatoes? 171% more!

2. Roasting a fatty fish (such as salmon) with olive oil doesn’t increase its fat content. Frying, however, will increase it by 10%. So pop the salmon (with a little olive oil) in the oven instead of the fry pan. (personally, I like grilling)

3. Crush your garlic- I learned about crushing garlic from watching Rachael Ray. But did you know that you should let it stand after crushing for about 30 minutes BEFORE you cook it? Apparently, that activates and preserves it’s heart-protecting properties. Cooking regular chopped garlic even 6 minutes can totally make it lose all its benefits.

4. Steam broccoli – anything other than steaming will tend to reduce the glucosinalates, which are the cancer-fighting compounds.

5. Slow cook meat – meats cooked in liquid at moderate temperatures develop fewer AGEs, which are linked to inflammation and heart disease.

I’ll be coming up with some more anti aging food tips, but please be sure to share any tips you know of in the comment box!