Age Management Medicine is about prevention and
optimizing your health. Optimal health begins with
whole foods. Why eat whole foods? Because foods
that are closest to their natural form are rich in
nutrients. In contrast, processed foods are so modified
-with cooking, preservatives and other artificial
means-they get stripped of most of their nutritional
content.
Maca is a turnip-like root vegetable native to the
Andean mountains in Peru. It is a cruciferous
vegetable in the broccoli and cauliflower family.Grown
at altitudes of 12,000-14,000 feet where no other
crops can survive, maca is a hardy, resilient plant
that's incredibly rich in amino acids, phytonutrients,
fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. Maca earns its
superfood status not merely on the grounds of this
nutritional density, but from maca's true super-power:
its renowned-clinically proven-ability to regulate,
support and balance hormonal systems in both men
and women.
How can a root vegetable balance your hormones?
Maca (like ginseng) is classed as an adaptogen-an
adaptogen is a substance that produces a response in
your body which increases your power of resistance
against multiple stressors and has a normalizing
influence on your body's multiple systems.
Maca has an uncanny ability to regulate and
rejuvenate your adrenal glands-an especially
important action in a modern life full of
uncomplementary stresses that tire and overwhelm
the adrenal system, sapping you of energy and
making stress even more challenging. Properly
supported, your adrenal gland will restore your
stamina, improve mental clarity and your ability to
handle stress.
If adrenal support isn't enough to convince you of
maca's superfood status, consider this: maca's
adaptogenic properties restore hormonal balance in
both genders (as proven by scientific studies and
human clinical trials).
Maca's reputation as an enhancer of libido and sex
drive may be of interest to both men and women.
It was used traditionally in Peru as a fertility and libido
enhancer and recent human clinical trials published in
a peer-reviewed medical journal showed a 180%
increase in libido and a 200% increase in sperm
count.
Supporting the adrenal gland and balancing
hormones with maca has another key benefit: it slows
down the aging process and can reverse some of the
physical signs of aging.It helps to decrease the stress
hormone, cortisol.
The impressive resume of the superfood maca can be
capped off with one more thing: maca possesses the
amino acid building blocks of serotonin, helping your
body curtail stress, support mental health and reduce
cravings for artificial stimulants, like refined sugar and
caffeine.
Chlorella contains more chlorophyll-the alkaline-
promoting powerhouse-than any other known plant,
Chlorella is a freshwater green algae with an amazing
growth rate that makes it the fastest growing plant on
earth. It is also the oldest at an estimated two billion
years old, according to fossil records.
Not to be underestimated because of its microscopic
size, chlorella packs an impressive punch on many
fronts. Chlorella is a strongly alkalizing, complete food
that shines as a vitamin and mineral supplement. One
of the few plant-based sources of B-12, chlorella is a
welcome addition to any vegetarian or vegan diet
based on this fact alone.
At a whopping 65% protein, chlorella is an incredibly
efficient source of protein, possessing 19 amino acids
-including all ten essential amino acids-as well as
essential fatty acids and a host of vitamins, minerals
and enzymes. Clean and green, chlorella is being
researched as a future alternative to protein farming in
Japan.
Renowned for its cleansing and detoxifying abilities,
chlorella enhances your immune system at a cellular
level. It binds to heavy metals and removes them. It
also protects against radiation.
Able to quadruple in a single day, chlorella's
impressive growth rate stems from a compound called
chlorella growth factor (CGF)-combined with nucleic
acids (RNA and DNA), the superfood chlorella is a
supplement built for healing. Consuming chlorella
regularly speeds cell regeneration, enhancing
healing, expediting muscle recovery and slowing the
signs of aging. The CGF in chlorella stimulates tissue
repair, supporting your immune system in times of
stress and helping you avoid getting sick.
White Chia is packed with trace minerals, vitamins and
essential fats. White chia is an ancient South
American plant belonging to the mint family. Its seeds
are small and round (similar to poppy seeds) and are
a sound addition to any diet.
Because of its EFA profile, white chia seeds are most
often compared with flaxseed. Both are rich in Omega-
3-but white chia can be eaten whole and doesn't
need to be ground like flax does to make it digestible.
White Chia tops the charts when it comes to fiber-it
boasts more beneficial soluble and insoluble fiber
than any other natural source. In fact, for every 12g (2
flat tablespoons) serving, top brands of white chia
provide more than 5,000mg of fiber.
What gives white chia its superfood status? Its 20
percent high-quality protein and antioxidant content
are a good place to start, but its real value is the
specific combination of minerals it contains. White chia
is high in magnesium, potassium, calcium and iron-
nutrients particularly well-suited to supporting post-
training recovery because of their use in muscle
contractions and the rate they're lost through sweat.
Dark leafy greens -collard greens, mustard greens,
chard, kale, spinach and all forms of lettuce are their
own special super food group. Dark leafy greens are
an excellent source of calcium and are vitamin and
mineral rich. They are also alkaline-forming and full of
active enzymes.
Dark leafy greens are available everywhere and easy
to incorporate on a daily basis.
Super Food Pseudograins include: Buckwheat,
Amaranth, Quinoa and Wild Rice.
Buckwheat: rich in essential amino acid tryptophan-
the critical component in serotonin production-
buckwheat is a good choice for enhancing mood and
mental clarity. High in protein, buckwheat's particular
protein structure is being studied for its unusually
strong ability to bind to cholesterol. Also a good
source of manganese and vitamins B and E,
buckwheat contains compounds that are being
studied for the treatment of type-2 diabetes, high blood
pressure and elevated cholesterol.
Amaranth: with two times the calcium of milk, three
times the fiber and five times the iron of wheat flour,
amaranth is also quite high in potassium,
phosphorous and vitamins A, E and C. Particularly rich
in lysine-an essential amino acid very difficult to find
in plant-based sources-amaranth is a calcium-
delivery powerhouse (lysine helps your body absorb
calcium in the digestive tract, so in addition to being
calcium-rich as a food, amaranth's super-power is
making sure its calcium is highly bio-available). It's
also 90% digestible, giving amaranth star-status as a
high net-gain food.
Quinoa: packed with B-vitamins and 20 percent
protein-the highest of any pseudograin-quinoa is
another good source of iron and potassium.
Nutritionally similar to amaranth, quinoa is also quite
high in lysine.
Wild rice: another source of lysine and high in B-
vitamins, this original North American aquatic grass
thrives in the wild (native to the northern regions of
Canadian Prairie provinces), so it's seldom treated
with pesticides.
Sprouts- Alfalfa, Clover, Broccoli, Mung, Garbanzos,
Peanut, Lentils, Peas, Adzukis,Radish, Arugula,
Mustard, etc., Sprouts are enzymatically alive and
nutrient packed They are one of the most complete
and nutritional foods available. Sprouts deliver high
net-gain nutrition with minimal energy cost through
their pre-digested proteins and bio-available amino
acids.
Coconut Water and Coconut Oil are two distinct super
foods.
Coconut oil is rich in medium-chain triglycerides, or
MCTs. Medium-chain triglycerides are unique-
they're a form of saturated fat-yet have several health
benefits. Your body utilizes MCTs differently from other
fats: digesting medium-chain triglycerides is nearly
effortless and unlike saturated fats that do not contain
MCTs (which become stored in your cells), MCTs are
utilized in your liver. Within moments of being
consumed, medium-chain triglycerides are converted
by your liver to providing immediate energy.
Solid at room temperature, coconut oil is the only fat
you'll want to use for frying-that's because it's one of
the only oils that can be heated to high temperatures
without being converted into trans fats.
Coconut water is packed with electrolytes, making it
ideal for keeping your body naturally hydrated. Where
many athletes turn to sport drinks that are full of
processed sugars, artificial flavors and additives.
Make meals using some of the super foods listed and
find creative ways to incorporate them into your program.
These are all high net gain, nutrient dense foods. Try
incorporating even one of them today.
Nutrition is extremely important in an Age
Management
Medicine program. If you exercise and do not take in
High Net Gain foods like Super Foods, then all that
you are doing is tearing
your body down. Your body needs the right amount of
nutrients to build itself back up after exercise and
constantly on a daily basis.
One of the problems with eating a high calorie, low net
gain diet or a low calorie, low net gain diet is that your
cortisol level- the stress hormone increases. This
leads to
accelerated aging and storage of body fat. This is the
reason that some people have a high percentage of
body
fat despite exercising on a regular basis.
I encourage you to read the e-booklet on Nutritional
Stress and incorporate the method that I describe into
your program. This method is specifically designed to
optimize your health through high net gain nutrition in
the form of superfoods that
provides more energy and decreases your risk for
disease.
