The Science of Aging

Curated by, Joni Hyde

As we age, energy plummets, skin starts to wrinkle, muscles get weak, and our bones become brittle. These are typical signs of a decrease in growth hormone (GH). GH reaches its peak around the age of 20 and begins to plummet at about age 25, marking the start of the dreaded aging process.

CELL DIVISION

The cell division process begins at the time of conception and continues throughout our lifetime. As we grow, our cells divide and multiply at a rapid rate. However, as we get older, cell division slows down. 

TELOMERES 

At the University of Utah, Dr. Richard Cawthon and his colleagues discovered that shorter telomeres are correlated with shorter lifespans. Telomeres are stretches of DNA that protect our genetic information from being destroyed. As our cells divide, these telomeres get continually get shorter. Ultimately, when they get too short, our cells can no longer divide. This shortening has been directly linked with not just aging, but a higher risk of death and disease as well. 

EPIGENETIC FACTORS 

Many people have a preconceived understanding that genetics alone play a key role in how long we live, e.g., “My father had heart disease, and that means I will too.” While this is true to a degree, epigenetic factors play an even bigger role. Epigenetic factors are influences outside of genetics brought on by behaviors such as exercise and nutritional foods that are potential genetic modifiers. In a nutshell, epigenetic factors are overall lifestyle changes that can actually disrupt your own genetic make-up. Consequently, making healthy lifestyle choices can not only improve the quality of our life but may also extend our lifespan.

WHAT EXACTLY IS GROWTH HORMONE (GH)? 

Growth hormone is a single-chain peptide hormone produced by the pituitary gland. This is the hormone that helps you grow during childhood, hence the word “growth”. GH reaches its peak around the age of 20 and begins to plummet around age 25. Thus, the dreaded aging process begins as this hormone slowly declines for the rest of your life. Growing isn’t the only thing GH is good for. Many experts say that supplementing growth hormone levels when you are older can bring them back to levels you had in your 20’s. Some people experience the following benefits in as little as two weeks of starting GH supplementation. 

An increase in GH is associated with: 

* May improve bone health

* May improve joint health

* May increase muscle

* May improve sleep

* May reduce fat

GH REPLACEMENT THERAPY IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE 

Although GH has been looked at as a miracle drug or the Fountain of Youth, it should never be the replacement for a healthy lifestyle. Qualified medical professionals will always recommend a combination of a healthy diet and exercise in order to achieve the best results from GH. For example, those who do not exercise may still achieve fat loss but will do so at a much slower rate than someone who combines the hormone with consistent exercise. 

IS GH EXPENSIVE

Synthetic versions of GH are now available but are very pricey. Typical hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can cost upwards of $7,000 per month. Not only is HRT costly, but it is very time consuming and invasive. In comparison, our homeopathic option is not on only affordable, but also is non-invasive. 

Ask me for more information.

Joni Hyde