Want to Age 20% Slower? Master This One Biomarker

Open Instagram, and spend a few seconds watching some video about a new supplement that promises eternal youth -- next thing you know, every anti-aging supplement and lifestyle widget on the planet appears in your feed.??

There is so much noise around anti-aging, longevity, and geroscience it is hard to keep up and filter out the difference between what is legitimate and what is pure BS.?

I believe supplementing with the correct molecules complemented by a high-nutrient diet slows aging and can reverse chronic disease. Moving towards a longevity-centered lifestyle must be triggered by a life-changing event,?personalized and targeted toward specific health objectives, however.

After seeing some trends in my health moving in the wrong direction over ten years ago (weight, cholesterol, glucose), I started biohacking. It has impacted my health and wellness more than I hoped. With consistency, experimentation, and lifestyle augmentations, my blood biomarkers, weight, and muscle mass have stayed in an optimal (not to be confused with “normal”) or near-optimal range based on my health objectives. I no longer spend endless hours on a treadmill or at the gym, take medication, or engage in diets. No miracles, just first principle thinking AND practicing.

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When people ask me what they should do and what supplements to take, my go-to response is to start simple. Do not think about what supplements to start taking. Start by thinking about the 80/20 rule and the one dominant molecule they should STOP consuming — glucose — refined sugar.?

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The facial expressions I see after doling out this simple advice are eye-opening. People love sugar because it releases opioids and dopamine into the bloodstream. Sugar companies love sugar, processed food companies love sugar, and some believe that the healthcare (sick care) system loves sugar. Each feeds the other's profitability — a near-unintended symbiotic relationship.?

Refined sugar and sweeteners are as addictive as cocaine, are in 70%+ of every processed and packaged food on grocery shelves, and are linked to every inflammatory disease on the planet -- diabetes, cancer, metabolic syndrome, arthritis — every disease ending in "cis" and “itis.”

It is a $46 billion industry that supercharges a $1 trillion processed food industry that feeds the U.S. sick care industry — a perfect chronic illness pipeline.

If you want the simple scientific bases and the hows and whys sugar is slowly killing you, and the simple things you can do to increase your health span by 20%, read on.

Simple sugar or glucose is the primary source of energy for our bodies. It is a critical biomolecule involved in many physiological processes like metabolism, cell signaling, and gene expression. However, at high levels, it can lead to serious health problems such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that glucose also plays a significant role in the aging process.??

It is now believed that glucose is the second most influential biomarker on the rate of aging, after chronological age.?Boom!

Granted,?aging is a complex process influenced by many factors, including genetics, lifestyle, and environment. The aging process is characterized by a gradual decline in the body's ability to repair and regenerate itself, leading to an increased risk of age-related diseases and mortality. One of the key drivers of the aging process is cellular senescence, often referred to as “zombie cells”, which is the irreversible arrest of cell growth and division that occurs in response to various stressors.?

The main difference between cellular senescence and apoptosis is that senescence represents a state of irreversible growth arrest, whereas apoptosis represents a programmed form of cell death. Cellular senescence is associated with a range of age-related diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative disorders.

Glucose plays a significant role in the aging process by contributing to the accumulation of cellular damage and the development of cellular senescence.?

One of the primary ways in which glucose contributes to aging is through the process of glycation. Glycation is a non-enzymatic reaction in which glucose binds to proteins and lipids, forming advanced glycation end products (AGEs). AGEs can accumulate in tissues over time, leading to oxidative stress, inflammation, and tissue damage. AGEs are associated with a range of age-related diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer's disease.

Another way glucose contributes to accelerated aging is by activating the mTOR pathway. The mTOR pathway is a complex signaling network involved in physiological processes, including cell growth, metabolism, and autophagy. However, excessive activation of the mTOR pathway has been linked to the development of age-related diseases and a shortened lifespan. High glucose levels can activate the mTOR pathway, leading to increased cell growth and a decreased ability to undergo autophagy, which is the way cells recycle damaged proteins and organelles.

In addition to these direct effects on cellular function, high levels of sugar can also contribute to the aging process by promoting the development of insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a condition in which cells become less responsive to insulin, leading to insulin resistance --- a key risk factor for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other age-related diseases. In addition, insulin resistance can also contribute to the development of cellular senescence and the accumulation of AGEs.

Simply stated: Sugar will age you fast, kill you slowly, and make you?suffer all along the way.?

If you’re an entrepreneur/business owner who had a life-changing health event, are 50+, or are concerned that your healthspan is headed in the wrong direction, I’m happy to share how I eliminated my sugar addiction and reduced my biological age by 12+ years.??