Ultimate AntiAging Program

ISBN 1-57566-409-7

Anti-aaing theories may look good on paper, but is it possible to reverse or stop the aging process in real leople? Gary Null, America's leading expert on alternative lealth, wanted results that could be measured by actual ife experience, and could make individuals look and feel youna and energetic. So he asked over l ,000 volunteers to help him try out his comprehensive four-part anti-aging program based on the most recent scientific findings on staying young. Three years later, the same men and women who participated in his study experienced dramatic results that were documented in the PBS special, " How to Live Forever."

In concise, clear language, Gary Null brings you the same plan that changed the bodies and mental outlook of the participants who used it first. GARY NULL'S ULTIMATE ANTI-AGING PROGRAM begins by teachina you the very best and safest ways to detoxify your Body from the poisons that accumulate and force it to age. You'll then learn how to fortify your immune system through nutrition and diet, to fight cancer, arthritis, heart disease, and dozens of other ailments— naturally and without prescription drugs. Next, instead of losing your height or Decomina dangerously frail, you will find out how to effectively buila body mass ana strengthen bones. Finally, Gary Null explains how to use the mind-body connection to conquer stress, banish depression, and find joy in each new day. And that's not all. His remarkable program will also show you how to:

REVERSE OR ELIMINATE MENOPAUSE STOP WRINKLES AND GRAY HAIR KEEP EYESIGHT SHARP IMPROVE SEXUAL PERFORMANCE END FATIGUE KEEP MENTALLY ALERT AND IMPROVE MEMORY AND MUCH MORE So throw out your calendar and forget about chronological age. GARY NULL'S ULTIMATE ANTI-AGING PROGRAM is the (Continued on back flap)

GARY N U L L ’S

ULTIMATE ANTI-AGING PROGRAM GARY MULL, Ph .D.

KENSINGTON

BOOKS

h ttp://w vm .kensingtonbooks.com

DISCLAIMER

Readers are advised to consult with health-care providers knowledgeable in alternative/complementary/preventive medicine to determine which vitamins, minerals and food supplements would be beneficial for their particular health needs and the dosages which would be best for them.

KENSINGTON BOOKS are published by Kensington Publishing Corp. 850 Third Avenue New York, NY 10022 Copyright © 1999 by Gary Null All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews. Kensington and the K logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off. Library of Congress Card Catalog Number: 98-075068 ISBN 1-57566-409-7 First Printing: February 1999 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Printed in the United States of America Text design by Stanley S. Drate/Folio Graphics Co. Inc.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Special thanks to: Sally Burton, general text editor; Patrick Jennings, chief science researcher; Lois Zinn, transcriber and Sallie Batson, w riter.

CONTENTS

PART 1 CONFRONTING AGING 1

THE GOOD NEWS: AGING IS CHANGING

3

Age Is Only a N u m b er • The Search fo r a W ay to Live Forever • The Quest Begins • The Protocol Evolves • The Law s o f Compensation • Success a n d Failure • E nvironm ental Outreach • W hat's A head in this Book • Bonfire o f the Calendars

2

WHAT'S Y O U R PLAN TO STOP AGING?

14

Where Are You Right N ow ? • M y J o u rn a l M y Friend • Taking a Look at Your Life • Taking a Look at Your Body • Change Is the Challenge • Early Evidence o f Aging • Goal-setting 101 • W ho Can Help w ith H ealth?

part

11 TESTIMONIALS

3

WHAT PARTICIPANTS IN OUR STUDIES ARE SAYING

35

PART 111 IS IT POSSIBLE TO REVERSE AGING?

4

THEORIES OF AGING D amage Theories • Program m ed Theories

vii

117

v Contents

viii

5

THINGS FALL APART: HOW THE BODY AGES

125

Heart Disease • Stroke • Cancer • The Brain • The Endocrine System • The Im m u n e System • The M usculooskeletal System • The L ungs • The S kin a n d H air

6

LIFE EXTENSION TECHNOLOGIES

135

Exercise • Dietary Restrictions • Phytochemicals • Sm a rt Drugs • N utrients • Herbs • Therapeutic A m in o Acids • Essential A m in o Acids

part

IV HOW TO LIVE FOREVER

7

THE ULTIMATE ANTI-AGING PROGRAM

251

The Reversing-the-Aging-Process S tu d y • The Protocol fo r Lasting Youth

8

DETOXIFICATION: THE FIRST STEP TOWARD HEALING

258

The Clean-up Begins • W hat to Cut Down On • Other Factors A ssaulting O ur Im m u n e System s • W hat to Accentuate • Dealing w ith Those W ho Try to Subvert You • Detoxing Your H ome

PART

V

YOU’RE AS YOUNG AS YOU MOVE 9

THE BENEFITS OF EXERCISE H ow Exercise Helps You Right N o w • H ow Exercise Helps You Over the Long H aul: The M ental a n d Physical Benefits • Aerobics, Anaerobics, a n d Other " I c s W h a t ' s the Difference?

283

Contents

10

WARMING UP AND COOLING DOWN

ix

287

Ease Into Your W orkout • The Low dow n on Cool Downs

11

THE POWER OF AEROBICS

290

Ya Gotta Have Heart • Breezing Through Breathing • Ju m p in g R ight In — Ten F un Aerobic Choices • Getting Into Interval Training

12

KEEP MOVING! THERE'S EVEN MORE

PART

VI

300

EATING TO LIVE 13

WHAT'S FOOD GOT TO DO WITH IT?

307

Good Food Keeps Us Going! • Dietary D ownfalls • Virtues o f Vegetarianism • Is the F ountain o f Youth Really a Water Fountain?

14

MEAL PLANNING MADE EASY

316

Eve H ad the R ight Idea: The Fantastic Fruits • Grains: T h in k Whole fo r Health • Let There Be Legum es • The Power o f Proteins • Fats fo r Fitness

15

WEIGHTY MATTERS

335

Exactly H ow M uch Should You Weigh? • Choose to Lose— B u t D on't Diet

PART

VII INSIDE MOVES

16

MENTAL GYMNASTICS

341

17

MAKING CONSCIOUS CHOICES

354

v Contents

X

PART V l l l

AMD IN CONCLUSION 18

THE VIEW FROM HERE

379

APPENDICES

SPECIFIC APPLICATIONS OF VITAMINS, NUTRIENTS, AND HERBS

385

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

463

INDEX

487

PART 1

CONFRONTING AGING

1

THE GOOD MEWS: AGING IS CHANGING

s Baby Boomers tu rn fifty, fear of aging has prom pted an explo­ sion of interest in slowing, if no t reversing, this process. Boom ­ ers, and subsequent G eneration Xers, are u n ited in their passionate desire to rem ain young. They w ork out; they eat foods th a t are p e r­ ceived to be healthy; they take supplem ents; they w ear trendy clothes— all to m ain tain a grasp on youth. W hy is it, then, th a t some people rem ain youthful well into w h at is considered m iddle or even old age, w hile others begin to show m arked signs of aging in their tw enties? In m y ow n family, virtually all the m en on m y father's side w ere either prem aturely gray or bald. My hair w as already th in n in g and graying at age eighteen and, by twenty-five, I was letting m y hair grow a bit longer to m ake the hair loss less obvious. All the vitam ins, supplem ents, organic foods, and exercise in the w orld cannot restore h air lost because of a genetic tendency for balding. Like m any others, I, too, believed th a t such genetic program m ing could not be reversed. Or so I w as taught.

A

AGE IS ONLY A NUMBER Like it or not, w e begin to age the m om ent we are born. However, given th a t our bodies are designed to live productive, vital lives well past age one hundred, this should no t be an issue. As a population,

3

4

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

w e are living longer. This, however, does not m ean th a t w e are aging better. H ypertension, congestive h eart disease, arterial sclerosis, stroke, dem entia, arthritis, diabetes, Parkinson's, A lzheim er's, c a n ­ cer; osteoporosis; m enopause; graying and hair loss; w rinkled skin; fatigue; w eakness; lost of m uscle m ass and tone; dim inishing vision, smell, and hearing; a tendency to overw eight; digestive problem s, and loss of appetite— I refuse to accept these conditions as norm al. I assert th at, w hile a youthful attitu d e is helpful, no one needs to sim ply accept a decline in vitality— be it w rinkles and balding, gray hair, or osteoporosis and loss of m uscle m ass and tone— as their fate because they have reached a certain age. Once w e accept th a t age is only a num ber, there is m uch w e can do to retain, and even regain, our youth. The good new s is th at w e have done ju st th at. Not once, w hich could be a fluke, b u t w ith four successive research groups— m ore th a n a th o u san d people w ho participated in four separate ninem o n th program s and tw o separate e ig h teen -m o n th program s.

THE SEARCH FOR A WAY TO LIVE FOREVER In 1993, I began a quest to b etter u n d erstan d w h a t really causes us to age prem aturely and develop these diseases assum ed to be part of the aging process. Frequently, sym ptom s of these ailm ents could be alleviated by dietary changes. Diabetics could b etter regulate their blood sugar through diet and exercise; osteoporosis p atien ts could restore bone m ass th ro u g h dietary changes and w eight training; even patients w ith cardiovascular disease could reduce serum cho­ lesterol levels through diet, but n o th in g could effectively change the aging process. During the past five years, I have conducted studies w ith a p ­ proxim ately five th o u san d people— one thou san d volunteers specifi­ cally for this project— in m y search to create a protocol to slow aging. My goal was to not only alleviate these conditions— lower d an g er­ ously high cholesterol levels; help in su lin -d ep en d en t diabetics get off insulin, etc.—b u t to find a new w ay to process disease. My prem ise: A healthy body does not get sick with anything. And, in this context, a healthy body does not age prem aturely. From this point of view I began m y search for effective ways to

Confronting Age

5

slow, and even reverse, aging. This book is a distillation of a pow er­ fully effective protocol th at, followed fully, stalls aging, regardless of your current age.

THE QUEST BEGINS Historically, w e have considered everything from gray h air and creaky joints to heart diseases and m em ory loss to be norm al m a n i­ festations of th e aging process. However, in m y travels around the w orld, I had already seen enough contradictions— even w ith in the sam e culture— to know th a t there are things th a t people do th at vary th e speed of the aging process, as w ell as the n u m b er of ill­ nesses experienced in this process. My research took m e to Italy several tim es specifically to in te r­ view hu n d red s of people about their diets, exercise levels, genetics, as well as environm ental and stress factors. In tow n after tow n, village after village, I found th a t people w ho lived in rural areas lived longer, chronologically, and, m ore im portantly, exuded a sense of calm, joy, and serenity th a t I did no t observe in those w ho lived in the m etropolitan areas of M ilan, Rome, and Naples. This w as also true of m y visits into the countrysides of England, Scotland, Ireland, and France. It th en becam e a task of trying to isolate w hich factors changed w h en a person m oved from th e m ore bucolic countryside to the su b ­ urbs or the cities, and vice versa. This took years of effort. In the course of m y research I reviewed all of the w orld's available epide­ miological research on longevity and interview ed th o u san d s upon th ousands of individuals in several countries about their diets and exercise habits, health, environm ental conditions, and attitudes about aging. I docum ented m y findings and felt ready to p u t w h at I had learned into practice.

THE PROTOCOL EVOLVES Over the next five years I w orked w ith m ore random ly selected vol­ u nteers from Los Angeles, W ashington, D.C., M iam i, and New York

6

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

City. I w ould experim ent w ith different criteria, bu t I always used the sam e basic protocol, w hich consisted of a pure vegetarian diet. Excluded w ere all dairy products— including m ilk, yogurt, and cheeses— and processed foods, refined carbohydrates, sim ple sugars, artificial preservatives, color and flavor enhancers; foods treated w ith pesticides and herbicides; carbonated beverages; artificial sw eeteners; m eat, chicken, and shellfish; caffeine, including coffee, tea, cola drinks, and chocolate, and m ost salt. To the u n in itiated , this m ay sound painfully restrictive; how ever, I assure you, this diet w as very versatile. It included a w ide selection of w hole grains, n u ts, seeds, fruits, legum es, fresh herbs, and coldpressed oils, such as olive oil, flaxseed oil, and m acadam ia oil. W ater w as to be pure, free from fluoride, chlorine, and chem icals. And participants w ere to consum e at least one to tw o liquid m eals a day, preferably from quality proteins m ade from rice or soy, plus a w ide variety of phytochem icals from fruits and vegetables. I also sug­ gested a n u m b er of cookbooks to show people how creative this regim en could be. Part VI— E ating To Live tells you how to com ­ pletely restru ctu re your eating habits. M y associates and I th en m easured param eters and created groups accordingly At one tim e, w e h ad five h u n d re d overw eight people in one group. O ther groups created w ere for those w ith a r­ thritis, herpes, Lyme disease, chronic fatigue syndrom e, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, food allergies, depression, and anxiety disorders. We soon found th a t people h ad difficulty sticking w ith the program as I outlined it for them . I found it ironic th a t a person w ho th o u g h t n o thing of eating fifty french fries or three scoops of ice cream w ould balk at taking three or four v itam in capsules.

THE LAWS OF COMPENSATION The basic nutritio n al and exercise program s form ulated in the course of developing this protocol are n ot ad eq u ate to reverse th e d am age incurred in th e cou rse o f a lifetim e o f n eglect. The laws of com pensation stress th at, to the degree th at we have dam aged our bodies— through caffeine, sugar, m eat, processed foods, environm ental pollutants, etc.— we m ust supply the body w ith a like am ount of no u rish m en t, from w hole, pure organic foods

Confronting Age

7

and concentrated supplem ents, to com pensate and rebuild our bodies. Eating m oderately, or taking a daily m ultivitam in, alone, will not u n do the dam age. That process is so advanced and the dam age so incipient th a t it will require enorm ous com pensation. A little v ita­ m in C, for exam ple, will not repair a body dam aged by years of abuse; m assive am ounts, adm inistered over a couple of years, may. Society places few lim its on w h a t w e can do to dam age our b o d ­ ies— alcohol, cigarettes, m eats, fried and processed foods, etc. Yet, w h en it comes to doing som ething good for our bodies, such as eating healthy, nourishing foods, exercising, even taking vitam ins and supplem ents, w e lim it ourselves. R em em ber this w arning w h en you read w h at I recom m end for this anti-aging protocol, w h en you hear yourself say, "W hat do you m ean I have to take . . ." We are ultraliberal in creating disease and radically conservative in the areas of preventing and treating it. To live longer and h e a lth ­ ier, these conditions m u st switched. Nevertheless, if you only follow the diet from your teens, you w ould double your life span. Once you reach your m id-tw enties, you need the diet and n u tritio n al supplem ents, exercise, and stress m an ag em en t to stave off aging. Ju st im agine w h a t is possible if you integrate the entire program into your life w hile you're in your tw e n ­ ties, thirties, or even forties! Yes, I can teach you how to retard and even reverse aging even if you're in w h a t is statistically old age. I've even developed a repair and rejuvenation protocol th a t has proved affective in reversing ail­ m ents in people over sixty. Some of the participants have joined in m y study as their last chance for relief before resigning them selves to living out their lives in nursing hom es.

SUCCESS AND FAILURE The highest failure rate (95 percent) occurred in the study group com prised of people w ho h ad been diagnosed w ith chronic depres­ sion. Those participants couldn't m ake it th ro u g h the first m onth. A group of overw eight individuals fared only slightly better, w ith a 90percent failure rate after three m onths. One group had nothing w rong w ith them . Here, there w as a success rate of about 40 percent.

8

v Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

Less th a n half of those participants finished either six m o n th s or a year w ith th e program . I th en rew orked the protocol, this tim e adding an exercise p ro ­ gram . This included forty-five m in u tes a day, six days a week, of pow er w alking, and three sessions of w eight training per w eek to build m uscle m ass. The addition of this physical com ponent im ­ proved our success rate by approxim ately 7 percent across the board. The next alteration in the protocol was the addition of stress m an ag em en t techniques. This included a variety of techniques, in ­ cluding biofeedback, hypnosis, guided visualizations, and positive affirm ations. I had th o u g h t th a t behavior m odification technology w ould support, and even increase, particip an ts' ability to adhere to the program ; how ever this did not result in m ore people sticking w ith the program . So, we looked tow ard their hom e environm ents.

ENVIRONMENTAL OUTREACH We began to teach people how to clean up their personal en v iro n ­ m en ts— one m ore place to lessen their exposure to toxins. They learned how to go through each room of the house getting rid of h idden toxins by rem oving carpets, particleboard, and o ther unsafe m aterials. People learned how to properly insulate their hom es; how to get rid of dust and mold; how to shop for and use h ealth y cleans­ ers, such as apple cider vinegar for w ashing w indow s. They learned to replace chem ical-laden toothpastes, m o uthw ashes, and cosm etics w ith biofricndly products. We held in -d ep th w orkshops on the advantages of full-spectrum lighting, and tau g h t people how to garden using diam ide-rich earth and praying m antiscs and ladybugs in lieu of toxic pesticides for their houseplants and gardens. We covered shopping for all-organic cotton sheets, blankets, and bedding in place of products m ade from chem ically treated fibers. This becam e a very popular part of our protocol. Any tim e we would announce a m eeting on this topic, there would be a 95-pcrcent atten d an ce level. We discussed the vital im portance of good nutrition. I spent a trem endous am ount of tim e reviewing the w orld's literature and doing my ow n research to see w hich n u trien ts could best benefit us

Confronting Age

9

by stopping disease processes like cancer. I found m ore th a n a h u n ­ dred different fruits and vegetables th a t could do th a t an d listed th em in The Clinician's Handbook o f Natural Healing. I researched foods high in phytochem icals to balance the body's n atu ral horm one levels. These w ere given in juice form, w hich p ro ­ vided higher bioavailability, so th a t the person doesn 't lose n u trien ts due to poor digestion. Then I considered foods th a t help to cleanse and detoxify the body, and talked about garlic, onions, shallots, and other sulfur-rich foods th a t can elim inate harm ful bacteria, p a ra ­ sites, and viruses from our intestines, blood, and liver. Earlier in life, m any people dam aged their bodies by taking drugs or drinking alcohol; this w as an effort to reverse th a t dam age by repairing the cells. Part of th e protocol th e n included flooding the body w ith or­ ganic fruit and vegetable juices spiked w ith various n u trien ts from aloe vera to vitam in C to stop m utagenic activity, end DNA dam age, cleanse the system , and ultim ately repair the body. The final step in this process w as rejuvenation. We found th a t antioxidants, as a fam ily of n u trien ts, w ere very im portant. Some cam e from the foods them selves, b u t m u ch m ore w as recom m ended in the w ay of supplem ents. I gave m uch higher th a n usual doses th a n w h at people w ould norm ally take. V itam in C, for exam ple, could go from 5,000 to 20,000 m g or higher per day. In some cases, individuals w en t beyond protocols of w h a t could be tak en orally and began to take n u trien ts intravenously, including high levels of vitam in C, glutathione, and aqueous vitam in A (a w ater-soluble form of vitam in A), plus selenium and B complex. This w as d eter­ m ined to be particularly beneficial for people w ho had hepatitis, h e r­ pes, cytom egalovirus, Epstein-B arr virus, cancer, and AIDS. H undreds of people, u n d er the supervision of their physicians, used these protocols w ith rem arkable benefits. In fact, one of these individuals w ould later becom e a co-instructor in m y program as a n u rse practitioner. After earning a doctorate in nursing and sp en d ­ ing tw enty years in th e field, she developed hepatitis B, herpes, Epstein-Barr, m ycoplasm a, and cytom egalovirus. Today she has none of these diseases. She is com pletely well. This w ould not have happened th ro u g h diet and vitam in supplem ents alone, as she had been diligent in those areas. She did n o t see any concrete im prove­ m ent u ntil she began the intravenous vitam in protocol. This nurse is not alone. There are h u n d red s of people ju st like

10

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

her w ho elim inated viruses, bacteria, and diseases com pletely from their system s, solely by following the program I have developed for you. This tau g h t m e th at, in m any cases, proper diet alone w as not enough, nor w as exercise or stress m an ag em en t. These treatm en t m odalities did prevent a person from additional injury and assault to the system , b u t they could no t u n d o the dam age already done from years of abuse or neglect. W hen I saw th a t these people w ere m aking enorm ous strides w ith th e m ore rigorous procedures, I real­ ized th a t m y protocols w ould have to becom e m ore intense. But there w as still som ething m issing. Despite the benefits, m any people continued to drop out. I did a h air study on 707 in d i­ viduals in a n in e -m o n th period. Those w ho actually stuck w ith the protocol had a success rate of m ore th a n 90 percent in reversing balding, graying, and thinning. Some individuals w h o h ad been bald for m ore th a n thirty years had a new head of hair. O ther things changed as well. Diseases w ere reversed— arthritis disappeared, energy increased, sleep im proved, and allergies w ere gone. I knew th a t the protocol definitely w orked. W hat I d id n 't know w as how to get people to stick w ith it. I did an o th er study on reversing the aging process. This w as a huge study done for th e first tim e in th e U nited States w ith before-and-after photographs, blood and m edical w orkups, and journals to record daily results. We followed p articip an ts' prog­ ress, and, every three m onths, added an additional regim en to their program . Those w ho followed the program rigorously and stuck w ith it for the duration of the study experienced rem arkable b e n e ­ fits. W om en w ho w ere fifteen years postm enopause becam e m en o ­ pausal again. W rinkles began to disappear. Bags u n d er the eyes and jowly chins w ere gone. Gray hair becam e black, thick, and lustrous. Libidos retu rn ed and m uscle tone cam e back. At our final m eeting, one w om an said to me, "I have my youth back, som ething I never th o u g h t possible.” M any d id n 't achieve these results because, once again, few stayed w ith the com plete protocol. Still w ondering why, I decided to do o ther studies. I did a second o n e-an d -o n e-h alf year reversingthe-aging process group and a second h air study group, again w ith phenom enal results for those w ho adhered to the program . I knew

Confronting Age

11

I had at least answ ered one basic question— can we slow dow n and reverse the aging process?—w ith an unequivocal yes. But I had not yet found an answ er to m y second question: W hy a re n 't people sticking to som ething th a t can so benefit them ? Then it occurred to me: W hat I h ad om itted w as w h at I w ould now find to be the single m ost im p o rtan t p art of the entire p ro ­ gram —m odification not only of the behavior b u t of the existing b e ­ liefs as well. Our belief system is w h a t creates our im pression of reality w hich, in turn, determ ines w h eth er or no t w e are able to stick w ith a program . T hat's w hy w e have overw eight people w ho are unable to stick to their diets, people w ho engage in m indless daily acts th a t can lead to self-destruction. W hat I did next w as to create a program for self-em pow erm ent. In this program , I w ould take a topic; for instance, the subject of starting over. We talked about w h a t has been lost in life— relationships, loved ones, jobs— an d discussed ways of letting go and getting back into life. I realized th a t people frequently d o n 't receive unconditional em otional support at hom e or at w ork. M ore likely, they're surrounded w ith toxic th o u g h ts and negative, cynical, and bitter attitudes. You can 't be happy u n til you th in k happy. And you can 't be angry unless you th in k angry. M any people do not th in k before they act. I created a program to help people think, reducing their chances of flying off the handle. I also took a look at the strengths and w eak ­ nesses of the tw elve-step recovery m ovem ent, and created some eighty different tw o-hour lectures. I w en t from holding these ses­ sions m onthly to having groups m eet on a biweekly basis. These study groups w ould deal w ith behaviors, beliefs, and values, as well as the physical com ponents of the program — diet and exercise. I quickly saw th a t this w as th e m issing ingredient; there was now a 90-percent success rate am ong people w ho stayed w ith the program . I found th a t if a person ju st followed the diet or exercised regularly, they w ould not stick w ith the program . However, if they dealt w ith the m ore im portant issues, they w ould stick w ith the diet and exercise. I took small groups of tw enty-five to fifty people off to my ranch in Texas and, m ore recently, to m y hom e in Naples, Florida, for in ­ tensive cleansing and rebuilding program s th a t lasted for one to two w eeks. Here, people had no responsibilities other th a n to relax in a

12

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

supportive environm ent surround ed by people w ho w ere there to encourage them , telling them how capable they w ere of m aking proper choices w ith their life and h ealth . No negativity w as present, only unconditional sharing. In addition, they had a chance to expe­ rience w h at it w as like to eat gourm et vegetarian m eals every day and juice up to twelve or fourteen glasses of fresh organic fruit and vegetables a day. People lost w eight; they got th eir energy back; they began to u n d e rsta n d how they had created th eir ow n problem s. For m any, this w as a revelation. Participants in these intense detoxification program s had a 97percent success rate. They stuck to the program , and they h ad the greatest overall reversal of aging.

WHAT’S AHEAD 11M THIS BOOK I cannot list every th o u g h t related to every question raised in these study groups. There is n o t enough room to perm it m e to include details of eighty-six different self-em pow erm ent series, some w ith as m any as fifty questions. W hat I have done, how ever, is select some of the m ost popular questions— m ore th a n en ough to get you started on your ow n anti-aging program . I have given you a com plete, in -d ep th look at how I w ould view each question in the larger context to show you the various ways in w hich you can answ er them . Take your tim e w ith this book. D on't ru sh th ro u g h it. Come back at different tim es to the sam e question to see how m any ways you can look at the problem . Over tim e, as you open yourself up, you'll find m ore and m ore positive solutions to negative problem s. In the end, I have developed a program th a t helps people w ith every im aginable issue. It is no t m erely designed as an attack against disease but rath er as a m eans to rebuild a person's health th ro u g h diet, detoxification, exercise, stress m anag em en t, and self-actualization. This last com ponent— self-actualization— w as not part of the protocols em ployed by the early study groups. W hereas the m ajority of participants in those groups did not stick to the program , m ore th a n 90 percent of the people w ho come to our program now stay w ith it.

Confronting Age

13

Louann Pennse, w ho has assisted in teaching the study groups, has w orked w ith m ore th a n a th o u san d people in the last three years. She teaches five days a w eek, and I w ith her, three classes a night, and she gives m e her feedback as w ell as th a t from h er p a rti­ cipants. As a result, I have been able to determ ine w h at people are using and not using in the program . After w orking w ith m ore th a n five th o u san d people these last ten years, I have been able to filter everything dow n to an u n d e r­ standing of w h a t w e have to do to change the w ay w e age. This I will share w ith you.

BONFIRE OF THE CALENDARS M uch as bra burning w as em blem atic of the fem inist m ovem ent in the 1960s, I see calendar burning as the sign of these tim es, as m ore and m ore people— of all ages and types— disregard their chronologi­ cal ages and, ra th e r th a n seeing th e years th a t they spend on this planet as a countdow n to death, adopt this life-transform ing p ro ­ gram th a t teaches all they need to know to stay biologically young and in peak perform ance for all the decades to come.

WHAT’S YOUR PLAN TO STOP AGING?

ould you im agine starting your ow n com pany w ith o u t detailed operational and financial plans for th e first one, two, five, and ten years of business? Or starting off on a vacation w ith o u t first m apping out every detail of your trip— w here you're going, how you'll get there, w here you'll stay, how m u ch you'll spend? Or w aiting u n til your child is a senior in h ig h school to sock aw ay m oney for a college education? Preposterous, you say. So w hy is it that so m any people neglect to plan for aging? I'm not talking about a retirem ent plan; I'm talking about physically aging. As you've probably realized, you're never too young to prevent this process. In fact, the earlier you com m it to the anti-aging p ro ­ gram s, the easier your job will be. However, m ost people a re n 't even aw are th a t they are aging u n til they are in need of repair. W hile the younger you are w h e n you start caring for your body th e b etter it is, there is no age lim it to begin this program . Partici­ p ants in th e study groups th a t provided this pioneering d ata ranged from 40 to 91. The m ost im p o rtan t thing is to start now.

C

WHERE ARE YOU RIGHT NOW? We all have heard m otivational speakers and infom ercial gurus a d ­ vise corporate executives and entrepreneurs, “ Plan your w ork, th en

Confronting Age

15

w ork your plan." This w isdom also applies to m atters of h ealth and aging. So, how do you m ake a plan for reversing aging? Start out by taking stock of w here you are at this m om ent. Take inventory of your physical, m ental, em otional, even spiritual assets and liabili­ ties, so th a t you'll be able to structure an anti-aging program th a t targets your ow n needs. There are three im m ediate tools you can use to form the fo u n d a­ tion of your anti-aging program . First, if you're n o t doing so already, start a journal. Second, take stock of your life, and third, take an objective look at your body. The latter tw o are not one-tim e exer­ cises. You'll do this at least once a m o n th as a m atter of habit, so th a t you really will know w here you are . . . right now.

MY JOURNAL, MY FRIEND I'm not talking about a "D ear Diary, Today I h ad lu n ch w ith so-andso." I m ean a serious journal not only of your activities— w h at you ate, how you exercised and for ho w long, etc.— bu t your feelings and thoughts, your hopes and dream s as well. Yes, dream s. Young people dream . . . regardless of their chronological ages. The purpose of keeping a journ al is to m ain tain a regular in v en ­ tory of your life, especially w ith regard to reversing the aging proc­ ess. Areas you m ay w a n t to address in your jou rn al include: • A food journal, docum enting everything you eat and drink; w h en you ate or drank it; w h a t you w ere doing at the tim e, and how you felt before, during, and after you ate. • A record of your exercise regim en, i.e., how far you w alked or ran; w h at exercise program you did at the gym— how long on the treadm ill, etc.; your pulse rate; respiratory rate; and any physical sensations. • Vital statistics— height, w eight, and overall m easurem ents. If you're w orking w ith an exercise coach, personal trainer, or m edical practitioner to m onitor your h ealth as you begin this program , ask to be assessed to determ ine your lean-fat ratio and bone density. Have these m easurem ents tak en every few m onths and record th em in your journal.

16

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

You m ight also w rite about conditions in your fam ily and w ork environm ents, anything th a t will enable you to redesign your life. I know a m an w ho becam e an optom etrist, joining his fath er in a thriving practice in New York City. W hile he w as very good at his profession and kept th e office open— and grow ing— even after the death of his father, he expressed the fact th a t he had very little passion for the field. As w e talked, I asked him w h at m otivated him to follow in his fath er's footsteps. Surely, at one tim e, there h ad been some desire to becom e an optom etrist. He grew quiet, reflecting on his career choice. Then he spoke: "W hen I finished high school, I w anted to be an actor. I w en t to college plan n in g to m ajor in theater, but once I looked at the realities of becom ing a successful actor— and know ing th a t I w ould like to have a fam ily and a nice hom e— I started thinking about som ething I could do th at w ould give m e the m oney to have th a t life. I knew th a t m y dad h ad done very well in his practice, and I knew h e'd be pleased if I cam e into the practice. I guess w h at I'm saying is th a t I becam e an optom etrist by default." I asked him w h at he w ould do if he could do anything th at pleased him . I also suggested th a t he w rite this dow n, in elaborate detail, creating a vivid, m em orable picture of his ideal profession. And he should m ake note of his conditions of satisfaction— the things he could not do w ithout; conditions th at, if not m et, w ould m ake the job unacceptable. About three m o n th s later, I saw this m an happily scurrying dow n the street w ith a shopping bag filled w ith books. "You w ere right," he said w ith a grin. "I w as so m isera­ ble in m y job, and had been for so long, th a t I d id n 't even notice it. W hen I started w riting th e description of my perfect profession, I ju st m ade lists. Then I looked to see if there w ere any patterns. I show ed m y lists to my wife, w ho ad m itted th a t she w as a little a n x ­ ious over m y th in k in g of changing careers in m y m id-50s— our kids w ere about to head off to college— bu t she agreed to play along w ith me. I really d o n 't th in k she th o u g h t I w as serious. Now I'm studying for the LSAT. I'm going to law school." The m ore he w rote in his journal, the m ore he delved into the question of w hat he w ould do if he could have any job in the world, he determ ined th at law m ight be his niche. "I've always thought th a t lawyers are actors w ho m ake better m oney," he joked. Turning serious, he added, "I've been interested in how the judicial system w orks since the Sixties and the Civil Rights m ovem ent. I d o n 't see

Confronting Age

17

m yself becom ing the next F. Lee Bailey, b u t I do believe I could be very happy in a general practice; say, w ith Legal Aid, or one of those organizations th a t help people go up against their landlords." Now he w as using his journal to plan his course of action, invest­ igating w h at it w ould take for a m an w h o 'd been out of school since 1965 to get into law school, and getting a n appraisal of his optom e­ try practice as the first step tow ard its sale. Indeed, the profits from the sale of the practice allowed him to follow his ow n dream w ith ­ out disrupting his fam ily's plans. Five years later, he is now practic­ ing law w ith a small firm th a t specializes in te n a n t advocacy and is younger and healthier and, above all, happier th a t he has been in thirty years. All this from a few pages in his journal.

TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR LIFE This is w hen you determ ine w here you are now w ith regard to your relationship w ith the people in your life, w here you fit in your u n i­ verse. The following chart provides you w ith a b lueprint designed to develop a clear picture of the state of your life. In your journal, w rite your responses to the points and questions in this inventory. From this point, you will be able to m ake the changes in life and lifestyle th a t will enable you to reverse aging. D on't approach this as if you're taking a test. Instead, w ork on a few points— tw o or three, or five or six, if you're up to it— every day u n til you've com pleted the process. A nd rem em ber: There are no right or w rong answ ers. This is an inventory, n o t an inquisition! < ^ » -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STOP HIDING, START LIVING 1. Beyond working for a standard of living— what other more essential goals could you be working toward: (a) (b) (c) (d)

Study; mastery Enjoy nature Hobbies More time for family

2. To what do you completely commit yourself? 3. How do you handle failure and crisis?

18

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

4. Do you positively affirm that others and yourself must meet certain standards? 5. What standards do you have? 6. Do you try to validate yourself by proving yourself all the time? In what ways? 7. What happens when we live in denial of our other self? 8. When we only feel good by being accepted by others, what are we feeling? 9. If you have experienced love and still need love, what then are you seeking? 10. Success gives you . . . Failure gives you . . . Where will each take you? 11. What rules don't we want to obey anymore? 12. Who in your life is toxic and who is healthy? How do they effect you? 13. Describe ten negative messages you give. 14. How do you show your negativity? 15. Can being too confident trigger negative reactions in others? 16. How will changing directly affect you? 17. Do you focus on the strengths or weaknesses of yourself and others? 18. When and where do you waste time? 19. How much personal variety do you allow? 20. How do you access your spirit? 21. Do we think higher thoughts but act out the lower self? 22. What do we do with those parts of ourselves that we don't like and don't want to acknowledge? 23. Do we blame others for what we have repressed in ourselves? How do we do this? 24. Are we fooling others about what and who we really are? How? Why? 25. Which is more important— (a) What we think of ourselves? (b) What others think of us? (c) Why? 26. How do you cope with loss? 27. Are you more than your parents? How do you show it?

Confronting Age

19

28. What family failings do you still blame yourself for? 29. Your original spiritual energy was manifested by your parents. Was it a valued, cherished feeling? If not, how do you feel about it? 30. Which is more real to you? Why? (a) (b) (c) (d)

The thought of something The feeling of something The emotion of something All of the above

31. How much free expression have we allowed ourselves? 32. Which is correct to you and why? (a) We do stupid things because it's all that we know. (b) We've used it successfully in the past. (c) We are emotionally compulsive and obsessive about someone or something outside of ourselves. (d) We get attention and if we get nothing else, it has its benefits. (e) We focus our energy on others, then blame them for not having energy left over for ourselves. (f) We are a system of mirrors reflecting back to other more essential persons. 33. Our ego distorts and denies what? 34. What can you do without a lot of money? 35. How many right choices did you make today? 36. How do we affirm ourselves? (a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

Quietly Meekly Apologetically Affirmatively Demandingly

37. How well do you do everything? What determines the quality of your effort? 38. What purpose have you created for your life and legacy? 39. How do you feel about uncertainty? 40. What determines how and what you think about? 41. Which is more relevant—the circumstances or your view of them? 42. How much do you need to achieve harmony?

20

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

43. We hide or run from what? Why? 44. What is more important—the event or our response to it? 45. What happens when you don't want anything from anybody? 46. Do we give exclusively in order to receive exclusively? 47. What constitutes success? 48. How much new or old experience are we prepared to accept? 49. Do we honor our individual capacity for experience? 50. Which fantasy do you enjoy? Why? Can you actualize it? 51. What negative influences do you still allow or encourage in your life? You'll find m ore of these thought-provoking exercises later in this book. Use th em w ith rigor to create a lifetim e of age-reversing habits for yourself.

TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR BODY Before w e can truly m ake m ajor changes in our lives, w e m u st be w illing to m odify our outlook and gain deeper u n d erstan d in g of o u r­ selves. We m u st first learn to have a sense of Self, as w ell as a love of ourselves. Also, w e m u st know w h a t w e look like. M ost people h av en 't a clue w h at their bodies look like. Oh yes, they look in the m irror to shave or pu t on m akeup, to see if their clothes are on straight. They look at them selves as th o u g h looking at a h ead sh o t— from the shoulders up. As you begin your anti-aging program , you m u st take a close look at your body. All of it. If you ca n 't tru st yourself to be objective ra th e r th a n critical of your body, I recom m end th a t you ask a trusted friend or fam ily m em ber— an anti-aging buddy— to do this exercise w ith you. Record and date w h at you see in your jou rn al for future reference. • Stand in front of a w ell-lit, full-length m irror, n ude or w earing a bathing suit or underw ear. • Study the shape and condition of your body, from head to toe; front, back, and both sides. You'll need a large h an d m ir­ ror— or an o th er pair of eyes— to accom plish this.

Confronting Age

21

• Look at your skin. W hat is its texture? Is it dry, oily, w rinkled, sm ooth? Note any blem ishes or scars, edem a, discoloration, or moles. • How is your m uscle tone? Do you appear to be lean, m uscular, or flabby? • How do your shoulders, chest, and abdom en look? Toned or soft? W hat about your shoulder blades and lower back? W hat does your derriere look like? • W hat is th e condition of your hair? Is it dry, dam aged, oily, shiny? Straight? Curly? Thick? Thin? Are you balding and, if so, w here? Is it gray? • Pull a strand of hair from the back or crow n of your head. Does it feel sm ooth or rough? Stretch it out as far as possible. Is it strong and pliable or w eak and brittle? • Look at your fingernails. Are they sm ooth or ridged? Are they strong or w eak? Is the nail bed a w arm pink (indicating am ple blood flow th ro u g h your fingers) or is it speckled w ith w hite or dark spots? Are the cuticles pliable and soft? • Is your posture erect and strong, or are you stooped over? • Are your shoulders straight, relatively parallel w ith the floor, or are they shrugged up around your ears? Do they slope dow nw ards? • Do your knees m eet evenly? Are you knock-kneed or bowlegged? Are your legs flexible and aligned so th a t you stand relaxed and centered? • Do you stand w ith your feet facing forw ard, positioned d i­ rectly u n d er your hips? • Study your feet, assessing your toenails by the sam e criteria as your fingernails. • Are your feet and toes callused or is the skin sm ooth and su p ­ ple? Are there bunions, ham m ertoes, flat feet, bone spurs, or any other condition? Is there thickened skin on your heels? Are your arches and insteps strong?

CHANGE IS THE CHALLENGE Age reversal requires a certain am o u n t of dedication and com m it­ m ent to change, som ething not everyone is w illing to do. Alice a p ­

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

22

plied to m y age reversing program on a dare: h er best friend had insisted th a t she com e into the program because she w as a heavy sm oker and serious coffee drinker. Reflecting on her experiences in the study group, she w rote: "It w as a challenge to give th em up so I could get in. It w as like a dirty bet w ith m yself th at I could do it." W riting about th e benefits she received from the program , Alice expressed her appreciation not ju st for th e protocol itself bu t also for the support groups th a t gave her th e backup and coaching she needed to stick w ith it. She wrote: The following are my benefits: 1. 2. 3. 4. 6. 7.

I gave up smoking cigarettes and started exercising. My skin texture changed from coarse to smooth. I lost almost all of my facial and neck wrinkles. I got color back into the skin on my face. I went back to school to become a mathematician. I no longer feel faint if I must wait a while before eating break­ fast. 8. The quality of my sleeping is profoundly restful, as it was in my thirties, even if I wake up on occasion to use the bathroom. 9. I no longer fear old age, Alzheimer's disease (which my father now has), or life in a nursing home. They just don't seem like "fairly immediate" doom to me. I feel that I am in charge of these "options." 10. I have violent reactions to certain face creams, which shows me that my system is too pure to process certain contami­ nants. The very fact th a t you're reading a book th at offers the u ltim ate anti-aging program indicates th a t you have at least a passing in te r­ est in staying young and healthy. W hether you'll be able to accom ­ plish the results I offer is an o th er m atter. Are you up to the challenge? Are you com m itted to m aking the changes in your life, taking the steps necessary for age reversal to happen? Ask m ost people if they w an t to becom e healthy, and they'll say, "S ure I do. I d o n 't w an t heart disease, arthritis, depression, cancer, hem orrhoids, w rinkles, diabetes. I d o n 't need th a t." Fair enough. But p u ttin g a tim e fram e on w h en they'll begin to m ake the changes

Confronting Age

23

they need to m ake is an other thing. A bout 98 percent of th e people w ho listen to m y radio show, atten d m y lectures, or read m y books d o n 't actualize w h at I talk about. As part of the research to develop this anti-aging protocol, I con­ ducted a year-and-a-half-long hair study to help people grow new hair and reverse graying and thinnin g . Seven people w ho com pleted the protocol now have new, thick hair. In addition, their w rinkles are gone, and they have overcome all kinds of illnesses. A lthough 140 people initially enrolled in the study, only seven finished. T hat's an infinitesim al percentage. W hat h appened to the other 133? They w ere unw illing to follow th ro u g h because they w ere no t w illing to m ake true changes. W hat you say you w an t to accom plish is im m aterial if it doesn't m atch w h at you do. W hat you do, ra th e r th a n w h at you say, tells m e w ho you are. If w h at you do and w h a t you say are the sam e, th en you're in balance. But m ost people say they w a n t to be healthy, th en do u n h ealth y things. Well, if you do som ething th a t's im m oral, you're not m oral. If you do som ething th a t's unhealthy, you're not healthy. We've got to stop the gam es. We've got to stop deceiving ourselves.

EARLY EVIDENCE OF AGING M ore th a n one-third of the A m erican population is chronically ill. And th a t's an u n d erstatem en t, because it assum es th a t you're ill only at the point of diagnosis of a classically defined disease. That figure do esn 't take into account the idea th a t you can be 80 percent unw ell before the first sym ptom s of disease m anifest. It m ay take tw enty years for en ough tu m o r cells to show up on an X-ray or m am m ogram . At the tim e of the diagnosis, you're at the end stage of a healing crisis, not the beginning. Your arteries could be 90 percent occluded before you find sym ptom s of angina or some other condition. It m ight take forty years for an occlusion to get th a t bad. You're told it w as caught early, w hen, in actuality, you got it at the end. So, w e've got an other 100 m illion people w alking around w ho are processing disease th a t is not yet diagnosed. Then w e have another 50 m illion people, bringing us up to 90 percent of the A m er­ ican population, w ho have the early stages of disease. These are our

24

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

youth. Take a h u n d red ten-year-olds at random , and you will find th a t 50 percent of th em already have the developm ent of old age disease. They already have the beginnings of coronary h eart disease, arthritis, loss of smell, sound, or taste, due to overstim ulated lives. Those of you w ho are baby boom ers— forty years old and over— d id n 't grow up exclusively on a ju nk-food diet. You played outdoors and got plenty of exercise, and you probably had ju n k foods a couple of tim es a week, but not at every m eal. M ost of today's children eat ju n k food— or at least highly processed food— at every m eal. R ather th an daily physical activity, m ost spend th e bulk of th eir tim e in sedentary pursuits, w atching television or surfing th e In tern et. And they live in an overly excited, toxic environm ent. T hat's w hy their h e alth is so m uch w orse th a n those of us w ho grew up in earlier tim es— even as recently as the 1950s and 1960s— before fast foods and m icrow aveable m eals. To p u t it in perspective, 90 percent of th e A m erican population contributes to a 1.3-trillion-dollar disease budget. We are increasing our health care costs at a rate of alm ost 13 percent per year. In o th er w ords, the greatest single increase in our gross n ational product is in m edicine. Trouble is, w e have little to show for it as far as cures. Any im provem ents in h eart disease have been because of lifestyle im provem ents, not m edical ones. Sam e for cancer. People are m a k ­ ing changes in their lifestyle th a t are helping th em to prevent the disease. So prevention is the only vehicle th a t accounts for a change. And still w e're increasing the disease rate every year. In the 1970s and 1980s, people becam e upset w h en skyrocketing defense budgets reached $250 billion. Im agine $1.3 trillion. T hat's six tim es the defense budget. T hat's m ore th a n all of our food, e d u ­ cation, and m ilitary spending com bined. Next year, it will be $1.5 trillion. And w ithin ten years it will be $2 trillion on disease. None of th a t goes tow ard prevention. Only a tiny percentage of the A m erican population is healthy. And it is no accident th at they arc healthy. They w ork at it. You have to w ork on being healthy, ju st as you have to w ork on disease. Both processes are based upon the choices we m ake. So, w hen will you change? You'll change w h en you lose it all, w hen you realize one day th at you've m ade the w rong choices. Think of how m any tim es you changed because you lost everything. Yet, w hen you had w arning signs along the w ay th at w h at you were

Confronting Age

25

doing w a sn 't right, you d id n 't pay atten tio n . You h ad to hit bottom before you w ere forced to change. Then you did so grudgingly. "Okay, I guess I'll change." Well, there's no pow er in th at. T hat's no t a good m otivation. Think of people in relationships. A w om an w ho has been com ing to m y health support group on Fridays is in an abusive relationship. Her boyfriend has been nothing b u t a living hell in her life. At one point, he th reaten ed to kill her, slam m ing her up against the w all ju st because she w as late com ing hom e. We told her to re tu rn to class only if she w as willing to change, b u t she w as no t ready for that. A nother person in the class, Joel, has changed. He finally started to u n clu tter his life. This after tw enty years of being around m e w ith little progress and grow th. Finally, I told h im directly, "Today you've got to change, Joel. I d o n 't w an t you here for an o th er tw enty years doing n o th in g ." So, he w ent out and shaved his beard and cut his hair, w hich is som ething he h ad not changed since high school, despite suggestions from m any of us at the center. He also cleaned and organized his ap artm en t and u n clu ttered his life. Breaking old p atterns of behavior takes courage. You have to stop thinking about everything else th a t's a distraction. O therw ise, you have a th o u san d exits along your path. You keep reaching for the exits instead of going forw ard. Now Joel is going forward. If Joel could do this, w hy could n 't the w o m an go hom e and tell her boyfriend th a t he w as not to be in her life any longer? She couldn't do th a t because she d id n 't w a n t to. It w as not th a t she couldn't. Can't shows no choices. Her choice w as to need him in her life. T hat's the choice she m akes, know ing the consequence. W hen she rejoined us later th a t evening, did she no t say she was shaken? She said, "I ju st w en t hom e, and he slam m ed m e up against the door. He raised his fist to me. I ran out past him . And he said, 'I'm going to kill y o u .'" I told h er to go to the police and have this m an arrested and to get a restraining order on him . But she w o u ld n 't do it. She said, "H e'll be helpless. He w o n 't know how to survive." Think of how m any tim es you've m ade an excuse for som eone else's toxic, negative behavior or lifestyle. You felt you w ere red eem ­ ing yourself th ro u g h suffering by acting as a chronic caregiver, know ing the other person w ould th e n create a codependent rela­

26

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

tionship w ith you. A toxic codependency never becom es positive. You're only going to get h u rt. And th e o th er person's no t going to change if you're going to be responsible for him . If you're going to cook his food and give him a free hom e and free clothing, w hy should he change? So, here w e have a situation w here Joel w as finally w illing to take a step out of his m alaise and depression and start to do som e­ thing w ith his life. One evening of doing th a t w as w o rth m ore th a n tw enty years of com ing to m y talks. You've got to do som ething, not th in k about it. W e're a society th a t overthinks. W e're all w aiting for som eone to provide us w ith an answ er so th a t w e can act u p o n w h at w e know w e should do, in ­ stead of looking for the answ ers ourselves and th e n acting. B etter to act on som ething th a t d o esn 't w ork out th a n w ait for th a t one correct answ er. Everything is a learning process; there is no perfect answ er in life. Perfection does n o t exist anyw here in th e universe. Everything is im perfect. We intentionally blur th e difference betw een w h at we need to see and w h at is there. Therefore, w e can always dream about w h at we feel is perfect w h en it is not. Joel is now in the process of changing. He has taken the first step, and th a t gives h im confidence to take the second. He w as step ­ ping in his m ind, b u t he never actualized it. Now he is. But the w om an in th e group h a s n 't actualized change. She has brought only toxic m en into h er life for the past ten years. That prevents her from getting on w ith her career. W hy does she do th at? Because as long as she continues to believe th a t she needs to help these people w ho d o n 't deserve h er help, she can say, "M y life is w o rth som ething; I suffer for o th er people." W rong choice. But as m uch d eterm ination w ent into saying, “ No, I w o n 't get this person out of m y life," as there w ould be to get th a t person ou t of her life. These are not m indful decisions. They are reactionary decisions. I now challenge you to m ake the m indful decisions to m ake the changes in your life to grow younger, not older, w ith each passing day.

GOAL-SETTING 101 Before you get dow n to the business of reversing how your body ages, you m u st set some param eters— specific, measurable goals— to

Confronting Age

27

m ark your progress. You've already tak en physical inventory of your body in the exercise described in the section, Taking a Look at Your Body, (page 20) and you've begun the inquiry into the em otional and spiritual com ponents of your life in Taking a Look at Your Life (page 17). Use your responses to these exercises as a foundation for the following Introspective Reflections. M ake your descriptions as vivid, as dynam ic as possible. The clearer the m ental im age you create, th e m ore likely you will be to achieve this goal. In short, decide ho w high you w an t to fly. W hat do you w an t w ith your life? W hat w ould it take you to get out of bed every m orning w ith a positive attitu d e? Do you w an t to feel better, be healthier, live longer, and have freedom from h ea lth prob­ lem s? D on't settle for poor h ealth or a w eak im m une system! Then w rite about how you w an t to feel physically, em otionally, spiritually. In vivid, graphic detail.

WHO CAM HELP WITH HEALTH? Ultimately, you are responsible for your ow n w ell-being, bu t having access to proper health-care practitioners is an essential com ponent in all h ealth m aintenance, including a program designed to h alt and reverse aging. A good holistic m edical practitioner w ho provides ed ­ ucated guidance as well as treatm en t can be invaluable, b o th in tim es of crisis and, for prevention, during tim es of wellness. A lternative health practitioneers can help define any w eak links in your body's structure and function and th en direct you tow ard optim al care. There are num erous approaches, bu t some general guidelines bear m entioning. A good holistic m edical practitioner will perform at least three basic types of analysis before recom m ending any treatm en t modality: 1. Take a com plete m edical history, including h ealth conditions of your parents and grandparents, as well as other family m em bers. 2. Perform a physical exam ination th a t goes beyong conven­ tional m ethodologies. 3. Carefully analyze the results of appropriate laboratory tests taken at the tim e of the history-taking and physical ex am in a­ tion.

28

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

In addition, you— as th e consum er of these health -care ser­ vices— have th e right to expect the p ractitioner to include som e or all of these techniques in his or her repertory: • an approach th a t treats the person as an organic whole, not m erely a collection of ailing parts; • an o rientation tow ard optim al h ealth and sensitivity to dys­ functions th a t signal an im balance in the individual; • th e d em o n strated ability to listen carefully and skillfully clas­ sify any relevant sym ptom s in order to arrive at th e best possi­ ble diagnosis and tre a tm en t plan; • as m any noninvasive diagnostic techniques as possible; • an aw areness of th e potential diagnostic value of even very m inor signs and sym ptom s in th e prevention of m ajor dys­ function; • a preference for noninvasive over invasive treatm en t program s (for exam ple, adm inistering substances orally ra th e r th a n in ­ travenously or by injection, except w h en a condition m a n ­ dates a m ore direct route); • recognition of the im portance of stren g th en in g the body's re ­ sistive capacities and an interest, w herever possible, in a t­ tem pting to repair any m alfunctioning organ or gland rath er th a n to replace its function w ith supplem entary secretions; • fam iliarity w ith a com bination of treatm en t m odalities, in ­ cluding n u tritio n al supplem entation, exercise, stress m a n a g e ­ m ent, and lifestyle changes, to help the person regain balance; • a w illingness to refer th e individual, w h en the condition w a r­ rants, to o ther m edical practitioners w hose specialized k n o w l­ edge in a given area m ay provide the m ost valuable restorative program ; and • an acute aw areness of the im portance of the individual's ow n attitu d e tow ard health, aging, and disease, and a w illingness to com m unicate clearly and openly w ith th a t individual. The alternative h ealth practitioner should expect you to be an active, com m itted participant in your h ealth care, not a passive p a ­ tient w ho accepts everything the doctor recom m ends w ith o u t q u es­ tion. Therefore, it is your responsibility to ask all the right questions in order to get the vital inform ation you need to help you contribute to your healing, and anti-aging process.

Confronting Age

29

• • • • •

W hat, specifically, is being treated? How do you know this is the problem ? W hat are some realistic goals in m y situation? W hat is the projected tim e fram e for treatm en t? Does every p atient w ho has this condition get exactly the sam e tests and treatm ents? • W hat are my w eak links? • Are these tests and treatm en ts relevant to my body and condi­ tion? TYPES OF PRACTITIONERS

It is not my policy to recom m end a specific practitioner or treatm en t m odality to a person. I do, however, believe th a t it is vital th a t you have the inform ation needed to m ake inform ed choices. The quality of a doctor's care depends on both th e physician and the patient, and m u tu al compatibility. Therefore, I am supplying you w ith guide­ lines to some of the m odalities th a t are viable alternatives to o rth o ­ dox m edical practices. I do n o t discuss chiropractic and osteopathy, nor do I profile nutritionists, althou g h an experienced holistic n u tri­ tionist m ay be enorm ously helpful in enabling you to m axim ize the n u tritio n al potential in your diet. Instead I concentrate on m o d al­ ities th a t readers m ay not have easy access to. A cupuncture, chelation therapy, clinical ecology, hom eopathy, naturopathy, and orthom olecular m edicine m ay be extrem ely useful treatm en t protocols as you reverse aging.

A cu p u nctu re This school of m edicine comes from China, w here ancient scholars learned to open up blocked energy pathw ays, or m eridians, so th a t healing energy, called chi, flows directly to the particular point in the body w here it is needed to stim ulate the body's in n ate healing powers. W hile in m any states an a cu p u n ctu r­ ist m ust also be a m edical doctor or osteopath, licensing require­ m ents vary from state to state. A cupuncture is especially good for pain m anagem ent, m usculo-skeletal problem s, nerve and circula­ tory problem s, and addictive behavior patterns. Cost of treatm en t m ay range from $50 to $100 per visit. C helation therapy This is a relatively new m edical science, started only about tw enty-five years ago. At this tim e, m ore th a n

30

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

one th o u san d physicians, including m any board-certified cardiolo­ gists, are using this m odality, w hich involves an intravenous drip of a chelating agent know n as EDTA. This stim ulates d estruction of free radicals, w hich are apparen tly the prim ary causative agent of the aging process itself. By slow ing dow n the destructive potential of th e free radicals, the cells are able to heal them selves. As cells heal, they are m ore able to fight off infection and disease. Objective d ata supports claims th a t chelation therapy can even open up the arteries. Im proved vascular circulation in people w ith blocked a rte r­ ies, especially those to the b rain and the extrem ities, has been d e m ­ o n strated following tre a tm en t w ith this m odality. Chelation therapy costs about $100 per visit and the course of tre a tm en t generally includes tw enty to forty treatm en ts, depending upon th e severity of the condition. People are beginning to receive this therapy as prophylactic tre a tm en t to slow th e aging process. The therapy, how ever, is not w ith o u t its problem s as p atients, espe­ cially those w ith kidney disease, m u st be m onitored for renal fu n c­ tion. Physicians m u st be certified chelation th erapists to perform this procedure.

Clinical eco lo g y Clinical ecologists closely exam ine th e rela­ tionship betw een the elem ents of a p erson's diet and any sym ptom s they have been experiencing. For exam ple, a person's irritable bowel m ay be the result of m ilk consum ption. The practitioner will be able to identify this causative factor by exam ining all the foods, in h a l­ ants, and liquids th e patien t consum es, testing th em alone and in various com binations, to determ ine w hich m ay be causing a physi­ cal or m ental reaction. This therap y has proved to be helpful in re ­ lieving sym ptom s of arthritis. Clinical ecologists generally use a four-day ro tatin g and elim ination diet, preceded by an initial fiveday fast in a controlled environm ent. This tends to be broader th an tre atm en t by traditional allergists. Cost is com parable to th a t of a clinical physician, ranging from $100 to $150 per visit, depending on the state. The initial visit m ay cost betw een $125 and $500, d e ­ p ending on w hich tests are perform ed and the tim e required. H om eo p a th y Based on the principle th a t the causes of illness m ay follow a law of sim ilars, hom eopathy calls for a healthy person to be given a dilute am o u n t of a specific causative agent to help the body rebalance itself. If a person has a head cold, the practitioner

Confronting Age

31

w ould adm inister a substance th a t w ould cause a head cold in a healthy person; in a sick person, this substance helps to cure them . H om eopathy is particularly useful in treating fevers, bacterial infec­ tions, toxicity, and the cum ulative effects of alcohol, drugs, tobacco, caffeine, or sugar. It is not recom m ended in treatm en t of cancer, AIDS, h eart disease, and other chronic illnesses. At one tim e the prevailing form of m edicine in this country, hom eopathy is now lim ­ ited in scope, as a result of an inten se drive against it spearheaded by the A m erican M edical Association and allopathic m edicine. Re­ new ed interest in this trea tm en t m odality has brought this practice to the fore. Licensing requirem ents vary; in some states, the h o m eo ­ p a th m u st be a m edical doctor in addition to his hom eopathic spe­ cialization. Cost of hom eopathic treatm en t runs betw een $45 and $125 per treatm ent.

N aturopathy N aturopaths can treat m ost conditions. They are not, however, perm itted to perform m ajor surgery, alth o u g h they m ay perform some m inor procedures. This m odality is centered in the botanical sciences, using herbs and tinctures, w ith a w ide variety of n atu ral im m u ne-stim ulating properties. N aturopaths also utilize m uscular and skeletal bodily adjustm ent. They use a m u ch broader basis for diagnosis th a n do conventional allopathic physicians. Li­ censing requirem ents vary from state to state. Cost of treatm en t is relatively inexpensive, in the neighborhood of $100 to $150 per visit. O rthom olecular m ed icin e The goal of this m edical special­ ization is hom eostasis, or balance, of the chem icals th a t occur n a tu ­ rally w ith in the body w ith o u t using synthetic drugs th a t m ight interfere w ith n a tu ra l processes. O rthom olecular m edicine practioners are conventionally trained m edical doctors— physicians and psy­ chiatrists—w ho utilize this technology as part of their practices. Frequently thay use a high-dosage vitam in regim en, far greater th a n the average physician w ould presum e to prescribe. O rthom olecular psychiatrists have had striking success in treating schizophrenics w ith m egadoses of niacin (B3), vitam in B6, and vitam in C. Cost of treatm en t is com parable to th a t for conventional physicians.

TESTIMONIALS

3 WHAT PARTICIPANTS 1M OUR STUDIES ARE SAYING

s I've told you, during th e past five years, there have been some five th o u san d participants— one th o u san d specifically for this anti-aging project— in the controlled scientific studies th a t provided the data for the protocol detailed in this book. The average age of these dedicated participants is forty-three— w ith one group including children, and an o th er targeting older adults, ages sixty to ninety-tw o. Of these, approxim ately 55 percent w ere female. M ost w ere m iddle class— schoolteachers, civil service w orkers, m id-level m anagers, com puter technicians, etc. A pproxi­ m ately 20 percent had advanced degrees, w ith professions such as psychology, social work, law, dentistry, chiropractic, nursing, ac­ counting, and education. A nother 20 percent w ere in the lower in ­ come and education brackets; these people w orked in offices, retail stores, and at trades. Here's w h at some of these am azing people have to say about their experiences in the program .

A

In December 19941 found out I was HIV-positive. Like so many people, I went through a deep depression, hopelessness, guilt, fear, and anxiety. At the same time, I had to make believe everything was fine, since no one in my family knew.

35

36

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

The first time I heard your name was from a gentleman selling vitamins at Queens Mall. He was giving me the advice to not take AZT because you said it was toxic, and he asked me to listen to you, but I had no idea when, where. At work, m y office is separate from another, and one day, I walked in and heard you on the radio, got the station, and listened in m y own office. Then I realized it was the same person the vitamin man had told me about. I've been a faithful listener ever since, so naturally, when you announced this program study, I signed up. It's very hard to change, but you have encouraged me to do so. Since starting in the group almost a year ago, I've been taking the supple­ ments and your Veggie Green Stuff capsules. I've become more conscious of what I eat, so much so that m y kids are "upset" at you because I don't buy meat anymore—maybe once a month. But then, on the other hand, if I'm going to eat something I shouldn't, they will say to me, "What would Gary Null say?" and I'll stop. I have a lot of respect and admiration for you—your honesty, integrity, the truth you share to help heal the world. To summarize the changes in me from this program: I go to the bathroom regularly, whereas before I was always constipated. I feel better, more positive. The other day, I went to m y mother-in-law's and ate her meal. It must have had MSG or something in it, because I got such a headache—which never happened before. I listen to m y body now—its reaction to the things I eat. I'm encouraging my husband and kids to eat healthy and change their lifestyles also. I know this is just the beginning, but I thank you for your dedication, your time, and your guidance for those of us who are searching for a better life. My T-cells haven't changed much, but I trust God and your testimony that people have been brought to HIV-negative. This is m y goal—to be healthy, physically, mentally, spiritually, and be around a long time to enjoy m y chil­ dren, husband, and life itself. —Nancy N.

I have improved in terms of energy, most significantly. I have also found I have much more patience and m y relationships have improved. At work, I have become more efficient and I have more energy to do activities on the weekend. All in all, I find that when I keep close to the protocol, I feel and function much better. —Joel K.

Testimonials

37

So much has changed since I entered your study, and I thank you for the wisdom and enlightenment you have shared with me and the others in our group. My story is long, but I will try to be brief. In February 1996 I went to a holistic medical doctor. My symptoms were: I was tired and "drained" all the time, especially after eating. After days and days of intradermal skin tests, it was clear that I was allergic to almost every food and inhalant on the planet. The situation looked bleak. Then I read your book. Who Are You Really?, in April 1997. It opened my eyes to recognize m y true life energy. In your book you give such good exam­ ples, and I recognized myself as a dynamic, supportive energy in absolutely the wrong profession. I have been a lawyer for fourteen years. When I joined your study group in July 1997, I was asked to write an answer to the question, "How do I live and experience life?" Looking back on my answer then shows how much I have changed in m y thinking. In the sum­ mer of 1997, m y answer was: "I don't. I'm a workaholic. Life sucks. I'm trapped—on a treadmill, worn out, mentally and spiritually dead." Wow! I cannot believe that was how I answered that question. I was critic­ izing myself and angry with myself and others. Then, in September 1997, I accepted a full-time teaching position at a graduate school. Then I struggled and questioned, why isn 't everything "all better now"? I was carrying two full­ time jobs—teaching and lawyering. Today, less than a year later, as I write to you, I am more peaceful and aware. I am in transition and I accept and honor that. Now I see that at first I was trying to make a quick change—to jump from full-time lawyering to full­ time teaching. It was impossible to do. I had obligations to finish. I couldn't leave everybody stranded. You taught me to begin to plan for the change. Now m y plan is to let go of the old way and make peace with where I was and what I was. I accept and approve of myself. I recognize that I cannot make a radicaljump. I was trying to change too fast. Now I'm finding a solution—giving myself time. I'm giving myself time for self-learning, yoga, and meditation. I am saying no to any new law obliga­ tions and I'm finishing up with the old obligations. I’m finding a balance here, because now I know that even greater change requires mastery. I'm going someplace on a path better than where I was. I am focusing more on being present in the moment. I trust myself and m y intu­ ition. Instead of old voices and preconditioning controlling my life, I choose nurturing thoughts.

38

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

Now, when I meditate each morning, I say to myself, I forgive and I am forgiven. All is well. What is it that I need to know about m y career? I am peaceful and kind and gentle to myself and I accept that I am in transition, and I don't criticize myself. Thank you, Gary, for this protocol, the nutritional products, self-empower­ ment videos, and for being so wise that you chose Louanne Pennse to lead our support group. She is an inspiration to all of us. —Geri L.

My energy level has improved during this year-and-a-half-long Reversing the Aging Process study. I require less sleep. The ability to maintain a more intense mental alertness, over an extended period of time, has increased, Vision at 71l/2 years of age has remained stable, without the need of eye­ glasses. Gum health has improved, and m y nails are strong and growing more rapidly My hair root color has become a speckled brown, black, and gray, where it was previously white. It also grows more rapidly. Skin wrinkles are lessened and skin texture is smoother and softer. Sexually, m y aging process has been reversed. Use of Eternal brought about premenopausal conditions. I experienced sweats, fuller breasts, and va­ ginal lubrication. Intake of Passion affects m y sexual responses. The intensity of those responses are greater. I also experience sexual stimulation from visual sources. These responses are at a level that had been fifteen years ago. I started taking Greens and Grains recently. Since that time, I lose only a few hairs when I shampoo. My nails are stronger and are growing more rapidly than previously. I'm always searching to determine how I can function more purely in order to manifest m y true being. Who Are Your Really? made me aware of why I function as a Dynamic Asserter and how to do that more proficiently. You stim­ ulate self-recognition. Especially important is the toxic people I've removed from m y environment. Those who are family I have to endure—at times—and have set new rules for dealing with them. May 12, 1998, marked twenty-four years since I became a Nicherun Shoshu Buddhist. The only purpose of chanting, “Nan myoho renge kyo," is for personal enlightenment. One can only be to others what they are to them­ selves. For me, the chanting opens and cleanses energy patterns. Only then can rebuilding of positive energy occur. Thank you, Gary, for being such a devoted host of this fun and joyous voyage. —M arsha W. C.

Testimonials

39

For the first four months of the program, I resisted taking the supplements. All m y life, I never took any vitamins and supplements other than what was in the natural foods. I had been eating only natural foods and nothing else. I bought all the required items on the protocol the first night after class. But they stayed on m y table untouched for the first four to five months. Finally, I decided that I am in the program already, I might as well go with the flow. I also created more faith and trust in the program. The whole thing was a chal­ lenge to my belief system to take factory-made products as foods and as nutri­ tious aids. I was open to change, and new ideas gradually sunk in me over the course of the program. I let it happen. Physically, I am more than ever in touch with m y energies within and the energy of other people. Prior to the program the energy field was unknown to me. I took a couple of courses in Pranic healing and in Chi Gong. Awareness of this issue even helps me in m y business. I evaluate the em­ ployees who work in m y business. During the day, if I observe that they are not present or their energies are low, I send them home to take care of them­ selves. I didn't do this before. I used to try to get a lot produced during the course of the day. Spiritually, I got in touch with m y emotions, which I had piled up under a bunch of factual stuff. I had been ignoring how things affect my feelings. I put myself in this program again because I wanted to be in a support group to detoxify and because I have benefitted from the program. I am not finished. I believe that some changes happen as a result of a process and some other changes can occur very fast. The change in eating habits, lifestyle, or spirituality can only happen as a result of a process. They require time and exposure. And the support group provides this for me. I do not have any "obstacles" in m y life. I do not look at m y life this way. I am looking at where I want to develop to from here and where I want to move on to. I have done everything I've ever wanted to do in m y life and I do not have any wish lists to work on, or to be attached to. At this stage of my life, I am inquiring into what I can leave behind and what is m y legacy. I want to contribute. I must decide in what way My passion is in the environment and probably in alternative medicine. I have decided to get out of the business I am in and move on to something that I can directly impact and contribute. That is m y challenge. I am in the group because I have benefitted from it. Repeating it will not be the same experience. Probably, more than anything else the group has helped me not to ignore myself emotionally and spiritually.

40

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

I am also benefit ting detoxifying m y body. I have learned a lot of small detailed but important information about foods and health. —Mavash

For the first four months of the program, I resisted taking the supplements. All my life, J never took any vitamins and supplements other than what was in the natural foods. I had been eating. When starting the program, I was pretty well mentally readjusted. Three years ago, m y own beliefs were validated as far as not conforming to what the society demands from you, just being a freer thinker with no restrictions. Physically, I work a lot of hours, so I didn't find the time to take care of myself as I should have. On weekends I enjoy outdoor activities. After starting the program, I am more aware of the need for daily exercise for the physical, mental, and spiritual aspect in growing and becoming whole. I've had a hard time in the spiritual area. After having been pushed out of the Catholic Church at an early age, I have had bitter feelings toward the Church and no desire to return. After having children, my wife wanted to bring the children up Catholic, still respecting my feelings. I feel my own spirituality, even though it is not channeled through some bureaucratic system. I am at peace with myself and follow the values I believe are correct. I still feel some­ thing lacking in this area, like I need to do more. I am on a new plane of thinking. A higher level, clearer, sharper, more relaxed, able to control anger better. When I wake in the morning. I'm on, not having to wait for a cup of coffee to start to function. It was easy eliminating coffee. Also I feel less limited than before just from my own limitations I put on myself. That's gone—the sky is the limit. I am able to solve problems better just being more focused and less frantic, just clearer thinking. Everything just seems less difficult, enabling me to enjoy life much more. After using protein supplements and weights I am back on track feeling lighter and stronger with more energy and endurance. From time to time I've been having problems with my energy levels. Also, my hair is thicker and faster growing, skin is clearer and healthier looking, nails are thicker. Although not channeling my beliefs through a fixed system, I do feel more at peace with myself. I feel on a higher plane after making these changes in my life. I don't feel I need the rules and regulations from a given religion or the guilt or suffering that's expected of you. Though I feel I would like to find another religion different from what I learned in my past just to expand my mind.

Testimonials

41

The changes I have made were not as difficult for me because I truly want to better myself and make up for the past abuses of m y body and the pollution that has accumulated for so long. After making these changes and feeling so much better, it is clear that this is the way I want to live the rest of my life, no doubt. The change was a little different for m y wife, who had seen me trans­ form into a new person. She had a hard time adjusting to this, but the change was all positive in m y eyes anyway, and now she sees that I am a better, more honest person. I tell it like it is, I don't hold back and accumulate negative emotions. As far as diet goes, I really did not have a hard time eliminating the bad stuff after learning how it effects the body. Though switching to the new diet has been a constant learning process, I still have a way to go. Sometimes I feel weak and tired, most likely from m y diet, but it's becoming easier. People look at me drinking my juices and look at me kind of funny, but I don't care because I know I am better off than them just by drinking the juices. My hours at work make it difficult to get the physical part done, but I just make time the best that I can, always being aware of the need to incorporate the physicalaspect of the program. It's hard not to make these changes after learning what we have in the program. I find now it's impossible to go back to m y old ways. After feeling the positive changes and growing every day and looking for­ ward to a longer, healthier life, it's like I have been reborn. I would also like to run the marathon in 1999, because I don't think I could be ready in 1998. Still I'm going to train now. I love life now. Where everything was pretty much a drag, now I'm on a higher plane looking to go higher and meet harder chal­ lenges and learn and better myself as I go and grow through life with m y new life's program. Thank you. —Edmund H.

One of the issues I felt difficulty in overcoming was the guilt surrounding my mother's death. I worked with her in her treatment to seek an alternative ap­ proach and although she complied initially, in the long run she didn't want to maintain the dietary and lifestyle changes. I felt there were perhaps other ways or approaches I could have pursued in her care in retrospect, but that's all in thepast. I felt I could have even contributed to her demise, but I learned I have no control over otherpeoples's actions.

42

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

After four years of living with this guilt I finally let go. Today m y father has mild coronary disease, which I feel is partly due to the loss of m y mother. I am helping him but understand now that I can explain the options, make suggestions, but ultimately the decision is his own what course he chooses to take. Physical challenges were prematurely aging skin and hair loss, also fifteen or so years of acne. Today my skin is softer, smoother, and more youthfullooking. My acne is gone. It is rare to see any hairs on m y pillow, because the excessive hair loss has ceased. Finding m y purpose in life is an issue I am working on still. But I'm following m y instincts and intuition and this is pro­ viding insights along the way. Like doing the things I enjoy doing, rather than what I may have been conditioned to do. The forgiveness letters and the emo­ tional work were very helpful in the letting go of the guilt of m y mother's death and the past as well. Again, the appearance of m y skin, hair, and no longer having any acne is a big improvement. Regular exercise along with di­ etary changes have made for a better-toned body. Although at one time I trained with weights approximately two to two-and-a-half hours a day, three to four times per week for almost ten years, eventually I slacked off, and today I don't exercise as long so I don't get burned out or bored. I do different things in addition to weight training, biking, mambo dancing, meditating, and have a more balanced approach so I could continue for the long term. The program provided me with options I wouldn't normally consider. Because I've been able to let go of the past I look forward to a brighter future. As a result of the physical and emotional work and changes, I've made more time to focus on the spiritual. Although I'm still not sure what my purpose in life is overall, one aspect has been to serve. As a political activist in m y spare time I do work around political prisoners. The people I've come to know, the knowledge I've gained, the personal growth I've experienced have exceeded my contributions, as well as the work I've done for the community advocacy organization. After visiting the stock exchange on Wall Street as a youth, eventually I took a job on Wall Street. I saw myself or created an image for myself that I should be in the business world. Working on Wall Street was an atmosphere that was oppressive and depressing. We worked long hours and then were demoted for our troubles. When I discovered how Wall Street carried its money I realized this was not my ticket out of my perceived poverty. I wanted a life better than m y parents, who struggled in factories and odd jobs. I suppose I was overcompensating. I left Wall Street and studied the things I enjoyed— anthropology instead of business. Learned a new language. I am pursuing my

Testimonials

43

interest and intuition, and although I felt a bit apprehensive at first and re­ ceived many criticisms initially the changes I've made feel great. I have adopted an organic vegetarian diet, I exercise approximately five days per week. During m y fourth month of the program I was feeling some­ what fatigued and began to exercise less, but the extra antioxidants helped. I used to feel stagnant and that I wasn't growing. Today I am taking on challenges I probably wouldn't have dreamed of in the past—particularly around m y activism with regard to political prisoners and other issues. I do temp work for a community advocacy organization and prefer jobs that potentially serve the community. Today I see myself as having a future in which I am open to all sorts of possibilities and not confining myself to preconditioned notions. I find myself willing to explore different things and not just playing it safe as I did in the past. Initially taking risks felt scary and things usually didn't turn out as planned; however I've learned to reflect, learn from the situation, and look for new ways to make improvements. I have learned from the chances I've taken, I feel less apprehensive and look forward more to the challenge. I'm not sure where m y pursuits will take me, but at least I'm more open to the unknown and am willing to challenge boundaries, where in the past I probably would have barely even considered, let alone pursue. As a result of the changes I've made I feel more connected or engaged to people and things around me. Sort of like being part of a process in the larger scheme of things I'm still learning to comprehend. —Benjamin V.

I will be sixty-four years young soon and I was thinking about retirement be­ fore I started the program in February. I also lost myjob because of downsizing (company moved). Now I feel energized and know that retirement is not what I am looking forward to. In July I will start a twelve-week training program and will join the work world again and life. Physically I have lost fifteen pounds, converted to a vege­ tarian diet, and I powerwalk! I feel better now than I have felt for a long time. I did dilation four years ago because of severe angina. I have been free of the angina; I am taking all the recommended supplements and vitamins. I have high blood pressure and cholesterol, am overweight. Spiritually I am more at­ tuned to m y surroundings, try to learn more about other people, their customs. Also, I get in touch with my own beliefs and thoughts. Try to help others—if they want m y help.

44

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

When I started the program, I was mostly interested to learn to avoid old age diseases and to avoid possibly having to go later into an old age home. Now I know that I do not have to acquire the diseases that most older people succumb to. I want to live an active and healthy life—and now I know that it is possible if I continue the program that we started tonight, and I will con­ tinue! It taught me, live a clean and healthy lifestyle: Avoid all the bad foods, negative emotions, negative people. I have no problems avoiding the meats, dairy, and my favorite— chocolate. There are some negative people around me, but their negativity has no influence on me, because I do not let it happen. I am nowin control of diet, emotions, and m y life! I have become more tolerant, see my life in a different light, do not make fast judgments. I am sure that I will overcome m y high cholesterol, get off my blood pres­ sure and thyroid medication, reduce to m y normal weight. I will be healthy and enjoy m y life with m y children and friends—old and new—for a long, long time. I want to help other people who are willing to learn from my experience. I want to join others who have the same healthy goals in life. I want to enjoy an active lifestyle, nature walks, powerwalks. The only way I would not be able to achieve this is by defeating myself with self-doubt and getting off the pro­ gram and teachings. No doubt there will be setbacks—but I will not let it deter me from achieving m y goal! —Wilma W.

Growing up I was taught one way of being healthy: by eating the correct foods. However, on joining the program, I've learned so much about how the body works and is nourished by other nutrients and the process the body goes through. My belief was not quite correct. It was a challenge to change my lifestyle, but mentally I know it was the right change. As the weeks went by, I realized the changes, which were the results of sticking to my diet and know­ ing it worked for me, the way it was supposed to. I was always ready to help anyone who wanted to make this change in their life, and reaching out to others made me feel good, with some satisfaction. I am focused in my thinking and usually set a goal in my mind and really go after it to allow it to happen. The effect of what was told to me in the program made a complete change in my life, and I am able to rationalize problems in the way of health, not any major one, and conquer the problem. Today I am a better person in shape as I feel much healthier than before. Many of the nutrients I took, the juices, and the habit of eating organic vegeta­

Testimonials

45

bles, grains, and fruits gave me phenomenal results. My hair is not as gray as before. Patches have come out with the original black renewed hair; m y skin is subtle, firm, and younger-looking. My nails are soft and pink. The arthritis in m y fingers diminished, and I don't have those dizzy spells as before. It's m y belief that m y cholesterol is much lower. I have lost seventeen pounds. I still have to do more in the line of exercises, but this is due to an ailment in the leg. My outlook of appearance is much more appealing to others, as they tell me I look younger. I feel great internally and externally. This physi­ cal change is of great importance to me as m y health is my happiness. I can do much more at home, as I have more energy I sleep two hours less and I do not feel fatigued as before. At times, I would feel sloppy on the job, but after at­ tending the classes, I am more alert, think clearly, and am always energetic. I conquer negative emotions by having a passion for what I want, and carrying out m y energy to the positive thought. Being here I am more con­ nected with the Higher Being. My prayer life is meaningful to me and others. I share m y time with others in their grief and pain, and I can always refer to an encyclopedia, my magnets, and communication with Him. He is always there for me when I need Him. I feel that innermost relationship spmtually. Behavioral patterns have changed, as I do not have any hatred in m y heart for people anymore. It does not get me anywhere when I can change the nega­ tivity to something positive by assisting and giving myself in a situation. Really, I do find comfort, peace, and satisfaction when I can reflect myself in a manner that would be pleasing of others. They would see and imagine me the way I am. It is my belief that whenever you can do a good deed or say a good word to someone or of them, it is the correct way in mind and body. I am a more focused person in m y thinking, and I am able to solve problems I may face on m y own. Also, I help others who are in need of it. My body feels more youthful, healthier, and always moving onto a happier life. I am free of sickness and I feel great. I am more spiritually connected and m y life is more meaningful of a happier, prayerful life. I have been worried about m y high cholesterol, due to many years ago and time again this problem existed. After m y body gave me the symptom last year, as I could not breathe properly, I would take Q10 and smell peppermint oil, but it would persist. This is when I made a decision to solve the problem. After taking the green juices, red stuff, and nutrients, I do not have the breathing problem, so I believe my cholesterol is dropped somewhat. My sister got over her asthma after forty years of her life. She was always in the hospital emergency, and at one time the family thought we would lose her, but she feels great now. I feel much more healthy and I feel I'm living a

46

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

much more meaningful life. This change was with results and I intend to keep on it all my life. I see there is a way of life taking good foods and with supple­ ments and exercise, one has to be on the way to good health. — Hyacinth F.

I was timid and giving into other peoples' opinions and not speaking up for myself. I was happy letting my husband make decisions—at least the small ones. Now I speak for myself and am involved in ever)' aspect. I went to a massage course and will set up my own place in October when I come back from vacation. I am no longer depressed! I lost fifteen pounds and feel great. The energy is up. No more migraines. The age spots are fading. The edema is much less and I can tolerate the heat better. My arthritis has improved. So has the irregular heartbeat. My skin looks much younger; also my hair looks better. The compliments of other people is proof nobody believes that f am sixty-five. I am exercising aerobics and re­ bounded and starting weight training. I am reading books about Chinese philosophy and way of life. Nutrition and yoga. I feel connected to the people I care for (older people who need help). This program made me aware that I am great and make good decisions. We consolidated our debt to a low interest rate. I took care of an older sick person against m y husband's will and she rewarded me with her life insurance. I feel I can do what I want to achieve. When I began the program I had to stand up to my husband, who does not believe in this program. He fought me tooth and nail and gave me even’ argument in the world. I convinced him that it 1 1 . 7 5 the right thing for me because of my body and my health and that f was going to do it no matter what. He still wants his meat and potatoes, but slowly he tries vegetarian meals. He drinks a Juice in the morning and tries tofu. I still have a hard time to get the juicing and exercise in every day. I still have to get more variety in my cooking. I have still a way to go. — Marie Q.

< !> The major issues that challenged at the start of this program were procrastina­ tion, lack of focus in my life goals and objectives, getting and maintain ig a better clarity of my thoughts, and to stop letting family problems and pebbles

Testimonials

47

in m y path deter m y objectives. I also had to overcome the lifelong allure of the foods I normally ate. Physically, I needed to lose weight, lower m y cholesterol level, gain more energy, get m y body in the best physical condition possible, and correct m y slight anemic problem. Spiritually, I lacked self-love. I didn't spend enough time in meditation or prayer and lacked a proper focus on my Higher Self or a Higher Being (e.g., God). My mind has gained tremendous clarity. I am now able to better focus on the objectives in m y life that are important to me. Procrastination, although not eliminated, has been lessened to a degree—I now do most things right away. I have eliminated attending association meetings unless m y presence there will contribute tremendously to the meeting. I ha ve made m y family take on more responsibility. I am now not so selfish or self-centered, but the me today is now entered in every equation as a primary focus of decisions I make. I have eliminated some of the people and places I used to attend regularly. I have not eaten any meat—except fish—since the first week of the program (that was tough). I do not crave what other people eat anymore, although at time I am tempted to taste (but do not do so). I am now able to tell people I am not eating any meats and do not care how they see it. My energy has improved. I have not yet checked m y cholesterol, but I have no doubt that there has been a tremendous improvement. I have not lost much weight, but m y muscle tone in m y arms and legs has improved. I am a lot less tired on less sleep, and I now wake up at 5:30 a . m . instead of 6:30 a . m . My breath is no longer atrocious. My skin is not as dry or peeling as much as when I started. For a time, at the beginning, m y whole body ached and m y joints cracked constantly—wherever I might ha ve suffered an old injury, now the pain is gone and the joints are cracking less. I am eating a lot less food now than before. Spiritually, I am now able to meditate a lot longer and do not fall asleep as quickly as before. I am also now able to pray and get deeper into the prayer. I still need to focus more on m y Higher Self and speak more directly to the Higher Being (God the Father). I have still not overcome all the obstacles, but it's an ongoing process. At times, I feel I have not lived up to my abilities and achieved the things I was born to do. But I realized that I have to find myself and improve m y health to do all I was put on this Earth to do. I am in the process of overcoming a tremendous financial problem. I also have to overcome more than fifty years of doctrine on culture of eating all types of meat, fish, chicken, lobster, etc. Overcoming constant family problems or the wants of friends, the demands of

48

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

my job and civic associations. The above problems are still present but to a lesser degree. —Neville B.

When I first joined the support group, I was aware and was struggling to change the way I was conditioned to think. Not just health, but the way I view the world. A lot of the things that were raised in class about guilt and making excuses was taught to me several years ago. Being in this group, in a way made me see that 1 have gone a long way I remember when I had excuses after excuses and never wanted to make any changes. The pain it caused me was great. I wasn't progressing. So when people in the group raise things to me about something I might be doing wrong, I am not so fast to attack them but, always and I mean always, remember that they are coming from the posi­ tion that they want to make me better. I know that and I know how hard it was for me to get to that stage. It's an everlasting struggle. It is m y opinion that the first step is helping yourself and one that I'm willing to take. Over a year ago, I was working out and one day I just stop. Looking back at it now, I realize I was not motivated. Since joining this group, I realized that my reasons for working out were wrong. I used to work out to look good, and I found myself working out hard. But when I didn't see the results that I wanted, I quit. Working out should not be for looks, but used as a way to stay healthy. It was only when I started to think in those ways that I began to love working out. See, because there was no pressure for time. Every day I went to the gym and benefitted. It made me relaxed, vibrant, and, yes, it made me look good. This group made me see that my mental and physical state is one and the same ways. I struggle to change my lifelong views and must change my view on staying healthy. P. S. Since joining this group, I feel great, better than I felt in many years. —Milton J.

I started with feelings of guilt. I was apprehensive, spending time in the past. I was influenced by my environment, having trouble actualizing. I fell disorga­ nized, struggling with relationships, commitment, finances, and self-image. Physically, I was gaining weight and feeling achy. My skin was blotchy, hair graying. I was losing my good exercise habits. I was a recovering smoker.

Testimonials

49

I did not think spirit was essential. My spirituality was awakening; I knew it existedand believed in it. However, it was not an integral part of my life. I have become more aware of m y mental process. This has enabled me to see why I was behaving in some negative ways. I lost fifteen pounds; m y skin is clearer. My hair seems darker. My digestion is better. I used to have polyps in m y lower intestine and they are gone. My life is more affirmed, being able to help others. I feel more worthy. I came to the program to change m y diet and attitude in order to detox. I had done some work in these areas previously. However, I seemed to be sliding back to m y old ways. The detox program seemed like a good way to get started again. I was a little apprehensive about the completeness of the program. After about two weeks, I changed m y diet, leaving behind meat, dairy, and sugar. This was relatively easy in that everybody was supportive. I have to give myself credit for making m y family and friends supportive. Listening to Gary, I had been exercising regularly for three years. However, I have stopped exercising. I am still struggling with it even though I am active on the job. I ha ve gained many insigh ts in to the meaning of life and actualizing. I see myself integrating more in the future. Right now I feel like I'm letting myself and the group down. I can do a lot better. I see myself joining the running club. Mentally, I think I am getting it. I think I might be able to do more with myself and find more meaning in m y life. —Michael M.

Mentally, I was chronically depressed. I felt hopeless and lost. When I looked in the mirror I kept thinking and knowing that I was just getting older and uglier and sicker. I was only twenty-one! Each day I would wake up feeling as if I was in an eternal jail, expecting nothing good to happen, only people who I resented and who didn't love me to meet. I had nowhere to go. I felt that if I didn't have anyone to go some­ where with, it would be pointless to do it by myself. So I stayed home a lot and did nothing. I was so bored with myself, I just slept most of the day. I had to think whether something I would do was productive or not. Trying to only do productive things, like reading about business law all day, and having no fun at all made me even more depressed. I wasn't aware at the time that I ended up doing nothing all day because I was so bored. I had nothing to look forward to, nowhere to go, couldn't conceive of what to do, and was always saying to myself that I couldn't do it. I

50

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

couldn't go to the bookstore in Manhattan because I didn't want to spend the $3 for the train ride. I couldn't get a date because I was too ugly and unlovable. I couldn't be healthy because I didn't have enough money. I couldn't be happy because I was so hopelessly sensitive to criticism and always being made fun of for unknown reasons. I felt sorry for myself a lot. I sang all of m y favorite depressing songs over and over to myself. Often I cried before I slept. I hardly ever laughed; I isolated myself from meeting people and didn't smile very much. Another big issue was that I had very low self-esteem. Being a Creative Assertive, I am always somewhat insecure, but I really thought of myself as unworthy of any success. I couldn't even look a person in the eyes when I talked to him. I let people talk to me in condescending ways. I let them tell me how stupid and no good I was, and I believed it. That came from m y family I had no friends. Physically, I was underweight, had acne all over m y face, dark circles under m y eyes, weak feeling. I had bad indigestion. I couldn't eat grains or starchy foods without having an itchy reaction on m y face, with more pimple eruptions afterwards. I felt bloated after meals. I ate a lot of fat, which made me feel sluggish, and added to m y feelings of depression. I had been weight training at home for about two years, but I could not get any muscle mass. It took all of m y strength to squat one hundred pounds, ten times. I slept about twelve to fourteen hours a day I had many rear outbreaks of herpes cold sores, especially when under emotional stress. Felt tired a lot— couldn't wake up early in the morning. Spiritually, I was very selfish. Didn't care about anyone but myself. Now I feel good for no reason many times. I look forward to each day, wondering whom I will meet. I do m y best not to hold grudges. Don't feel sorry for myself, don't tell myself I can't get a date. I say to myself, "Come on, baby, you can do it," instead during difficult times. Don't sing sad songs anymore, only uplifting ones. Can squat 170, deadlift 170 for twenty reps without much trouble. I gained twenty pounds. I am more muscular now, have more endur­ ance. No itch herpes. I think more about helping others. I bought gifts for my sisters for the first time in their entire lives for their birthdays. I don't talk about myself to death to other people, and I have forgiven all the people who hurt me. Not angry and bitter about anything. — Oscar L.

Testimonials

51

It has been very easy for me to do and follow each step of the program. I have been listening for over eight years and had followed Gary's advice, books, and protocols ever since. This has been an opportunity to do it more in depth. I had been very physically active; this is just a step forward to move m y life where I want to be. The program has helped me to focus more in my emotions and feelings and have control over m y adventure, instead of focus on someone else's opin­ ions. It has brought a center to my life as a whole. I am a happier person, I relate to others more easily, and have more flexibility. Mentally, I have a lot more focus and clarity. Everything is a thought away, and I am able to accom­ plish almost anything that I want to. Physically, I have a lot more energy and feel like I am worth a million! When I started the program on January 16, 1998, I had Candida and a cystofibroid breast. Today I am free of it. I feel completely healthy and full of energy. My skin has improved in clarity, softer; my hair is fuller and thicker. I feel a sense of wellness, well-being, am happier and more centered. My body looks healthier; I lost some unwanted fat. I am leaner and in great shape. I am pleased to have joined this program. I would recommend it to anyone who would like to improve their health. I am thankful to Gary Null for sharing his time and knowledge with us. Thank you very much and keep up the good work! —Elizabeth P.

Although I had no label-able (or at least labeled) major issues at the start of the program, I noticed, in general, a better mood. Changes got made—I started being firmer about m y boundaries, making sure m y work got done before tak­ ing m y daughter out to the playground. Thus, calmer existence. I had been going away every weekend to avoid my husband (divorce situation). I saw this was draining me and decided to stand m y ground. I started giving myself more space from the other "Playground Moms" who let their kids do things they didn't like and then bemoaned it—and stopped wondering if there was some­ thing wrong with me. 1 The fun things—I played a softball game, because I wanted to. I stopped relationships with four people who had lied to me/shown contempt, etc. I seized an opportunity to do something new I wanted to—plastering a house—by offering to help a friend. I had been too busy worrying and thinking I needed to "solve the prob­

52

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

lem" before doing anything. I noticed that I didn't even consider looking at what was working, positive goal-orientation—that in me caution was so strong, "what I want" never even saw daylight above a very pessimistic as­ sumption of "what I can have." I realized this (me) was the biggest influence in making m y life bleak. Even though there were some people putting pressure on me that I was blaming—that getting rid of their stuff would only leave me more effectively running from m y fear, pain—more comfortably addicted but not joyful. I see people's "stuff" more clearly, helping me let them be more easily, if that seems appropriate, or challenge them if that seems appropriate. Today I told a woman (who I knew post facto had abused her child physically and emotionally) who was going to have the child (who I know) evaluated for Attention Deficit Disorder that she needed to face the fact that the child had emotional patterns produced from her experiences and not to be drugging the child to avoid (under the hypothesis "it's genetic") responsibility. I am not unconsciously running around wasting m y emotional energy looking for peo­ ple's approval/attention. I never was a conformist in my behavior, but there was a stress in wanting to be liked. —Briseis G.

I had a lot of confusion and was pretty depressed. I had also felt alone and disconnected. My house was suffering and m y business also. I had the hardest times making decisions. I felt as though I was a pinball with almost no control over things going on around me. All the time this is going on I was a great actor. I tell you, not much fun at all. I was overweight, approximately 195 pounds. No desire to do anything— just go to work, try to do myjob, spending more time trying to get out of doing things than actually doing them. My back was in constant pain. I felt bloated. Spiritually, I felt very alone with no place to turn. I was always looking for something, but failed to touch anything. Very mad for no reason. I am no longer depressed. I don't need to talk about how bad life is because now it is great. I have very little trouble making decisions. I was seeing a person to help me. This I started in October. She said many times that in all her years no one had made the progress I had in such a short period of time. I no longer see her. Physically, m y shape has changed dramatically. I went from 195 when we started, with no energy, to 160 now. My weight has been stable for about six

Testimonials

53

weeks. I used to wake up every few hours at night. Now I sleep straight through. I guess this is more mental than physical or maybe a combo of both. I sleep about five hours a night and have more energy than ever. I take the exercise pretty seriously (actually, it's a lot of fun). Before I had all I could do to get off the couch. I would be winded for nothing. Now I ride a bike about forty minutes every day. I have no more back pain and I can button all of my pants. I was listening to the AM station before Christmas and heard Gary men­ tion new programs forming. This is something I felt I needed but was afraid to do. So what I did was just call before I had too much time to talk m y way out of it. I tell you, from that first meeting on, every day is better then the day before. I have a cabinet shop and m y work is no longer painful. I almost look forward to going. I have recently opened a new business also, and it's been a lifelong dream. I no longer see it as impossible. It is a firework company and I know now I will have no problem seeing this through. At first m y family was afraid I was joining a cult. Now I am asked ques­ tions on a daily basis. I receive a lot of support. I had no idea life could be this good. I like to help people around me and look forward to doing as much as I can. —Anthony N.

I was struggling in January—not feeling in sync, needing to move in a direc­ tion, not sure about the direction. I knew I was moving in a positive direction but thinking that I needed to make some decisions about m y life. I felt more confused, disoriented—why am I doing a lot of things and not happy with the results? Physically, I felt fat and ugly, with a double chin. My complexion was darkening, m y back was hurting, m y tongue was coated. My clothes didn't lay correctly on m y body. I had a smile, but m y singing had stopped (sort of—I sing for myself). My digestion was off. I was spiritually connected to higher powers and yet I was still searching. I did not really know how I would spend m y next seven tyfive years. (I'm forty-eight now.) This is m y year. I am making more strides in m y life than I have perhaps in any other year. I am feeling more clear on a daily basis. I am feeling and thinking and remembering more. Iam more in touch with myself. These things have occurred because I want them to and because I am constantly working to have them manifest. I am providing space for mental clarity. I am working on

54

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

it and it is happening. My body is changing. I am working hard to make it happen. The program I think is a major factor. I continue to exercise more and more and 1 feel good about myself. So far I've probably lost twenty pounds., but muscle takes the place of some of the fat. My complexion is returning to its natural state. My back has fewer blemishes and hurts less often. My breath­ ing is deeper. M y memory is improving (somewhat). I can perform more stren­ uous exercises. I look into the mirror and now I think there is hope. I'm getting pretty again :) I'm liking my physical body more. As the fifth child in a family of nine, I have always been the person who tried to bring sanity to insane family situations. Always the one who tried to negotiate, work things out. Striving for balance maybe. The giver—I remember as a teenager I was feeding hungry children (who didn't belong to me) in our community, working with youth. Concerned about making a difference, this spirit led me into counseling, and now for over twenty years I have been coun­ seling and assisting people to change their lives. While very gratifying, I always wanted more. Now I understand as I change myself more, I will be more effec­ tive in what I do. As I change me more and I open myself up to what is most gratifying for me, I become more in tune to m y needs, and their resolution. I am able to affect more people in a positive manner. I will be communicating to masses of people—motivating, uplifting, and nudging, pushing toward behavior modification. — Adele B.

In April I was offered a chance to teach piano to a group of adults in an Adult Education program at a city high school. I accepted and am now teaching a group of thirteen people on Monday nights. A year ago, I probably would have refused to do it, but now that I am doing it, I can see a future—teaching or performing music; getting back into music, doubts and all. I've begun studying with my old music teacher and spending a lot of time at the piano, and decid­ ing how to teach my class. It is something that just happened, but I felt good enough to try it (even though the negative tape was playing in my mind). Another thought occurred to me—if I fail or the job is not renewed, so what? I can keep studying and try' to teach elsewhere. This is a big step for me. Physically I have gone from doing little or no exercise to five days a week. I use a NordicTrak, hand weights, and recently began jogging. This is a major step for me because I have always hated exercise, hated gym classes in school, couldn't do most of what was expected, and I had a father who was bigger,

Testimonials

55

stronger, and much more athletic than me. I've always been repelled by gyms and the whole jock mentality. I now am starting to believe that just doing it is important, not how good or how athletic I should be. Spiritually, I am trying to find some connection with life—rather than a just "go with the flow" attitude. I don't accept major religious dogma but am very excited by music, art, theater, etc. Music (composing, performing) is, in one sense, a form of meditation. You need that quiet space. I have had to overcome a negative attitude, fostered by a negative or nonsupportive family environment—not abusive, but closed. I am small, m y father was big. I was weak, he was strong. He played sports, I played music. My relatives are generally bigger than me, and this really developed into an inferi­ ority complex. I guess I suffer from what you call the "small man syndrome. "All through high school and college I was smallest of m y friends. This, combined with a negative attitude, has been very hard to overcome. I am still working on it, a work in progress. I have made some progress and am supported by m y wife. I feel this has held me back in life, music relationships, and having a positive outlook. This is definitely a work in progress. —Fiore D.

At the start of the program, I was almost mentally paralyzed. I thought that m y career was over. It was a major challenge to change the outlook of m y life. I have many health problems; among the most important were high blood pressure, high cholesterol, enlarged prostate, and hemorrhoids. I was under medical care, and it seemed that treatment was taking me nowhere. I had the belief that for me there was nothing left in life. I was waiting for m y Maker to take me away. I reexamined m y life. I felt the rush of energy. I restarted my engine. I discovered that there was a life ahead of me. I discovered new interests and I started living again. One of the first things I did with m y new burst of energy was start an exercise program. My healthy habits made me lose weight. As I saw my progress, I became more committed to the program. Needless to say, I recuperated m y health in every way. I am so amazed that at m y age, I am accomplishing things that I thought I never would. I thank God for putting me on the right track of good health. I feel that now I am more in touch with myself. I found new purpose in my life and m y energy and optimism is spread to others. Friends and relatives see the changes in me and request my advice.

56

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

One of the biggest obstacles was inside of me. I have procrastinated for so long that it took a monumental effort to get organized and committed. The second obstacle was clutter in every way. I have examined m y life and little by little I started uncluttering my mind of preconceived ideas, or unhealthy hab­ its, and of physical clutter. I became less angry and fearful, and when anger and fear stoke me, I've examined m y feelings and tried to find out why I was feeling that way. I have forgiven everybody that has hurt me in the past. I understood that the only thing that was hurt was my ego. I have realized that by taming my ego I can free more energy and use it in positive ways. I see myself now and in the future healthy and active, helping other people to reach their goals. I have embarked in new tasks that I never dreamed of. Now I am into biking, camp­ ing, and hiking. —Magno O.

When I called to join the program back at the end of October, I was at the end of my rope. I had been struggling with thoughts of suicide for the past four months and was hoping that being in the program would give me the lifeline I so desperately wanted and needed. I'd been out of work for a year and was feeling hopeless about my situation. I had no unemployment benefits left—my boyfriend was supporting me—and felt useless and worthless. I was seriously considering signing myself into a psychiatric hospital. That is something that I'd never considered in m y forty-three years of living, sincc I know all too well how mental illness is treated and am against using drugs as a first line of treatment (if at all). My first meeting was a bit overwhelming, since I didn't start at the begin­ ning of the group, but I caught up and began the program. It was difficult to afford the supplements, but my boyfriend was supportive and able to help out a bit every week. He was willing to help in any way since it was painful for him to see me in such a state and it made him feel so helpless. The biggest change occurred after a month of being off sugar and dairy'. After that point and to this day (eight months later) I have not had the deep depression return. The questions I was asked to answer, and reading the life energies book helped me make some major life changes. 1 applied to, was accepted, and grad­ uated from the Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners Program. Most people who go through this program are retired because it's held on Wednesdays out on Long Island from 9 a . m . to 4 p . m . Basically, you can't hold

Testimonials

57

a regular nine-to-five job (as I've done for most of m y working life) and be in this program. I decided I should just do it now and not wait. I got a job taking care of two children for a friend and was able to have a small income (better than none). I also moved in with m y boyfriend of nine years. I also eventually began doing a work/study with the Tri-State Healing Cen­ ter, working with Diane and Ray, that I enjoyed and appreciated very much. It felt so much better, not having to take more money from m y boyfriend. Also, I started a Community Supported Agriculture organic produce proj­ ect in m y hometown and now have eighty members. I gave lectures, started an CSA newsletter, and helped get an article about CSAs published in Newsday. I now need to find a larger location and hope to get another 120 members. These are things I might have dreamed about doing but would never have thought possible. I always thought m y place in the universe was to help people with their dreams and that (1)1 didn't have any dreams or (2) if I did, there was no way they would come true. This brings me to the present and what I can now say is, I wish I could start the program all over again! The reason is because (like Gary said) I did great with the questions, making life changes, and the spiritual parts, but I didn't deal with the diet and exercise parts of the program as I could/should have. I would like to be a buddy for a new person on the program because I'm a good example of what can happen (great and not so great). I now realize that I want and need to get up to speed with the diet and exercise parts of the program so I am able to keep up with the life changes I've made so far. If I don't, I can see illness around the corner. I won't have the strength to keep up with myself! I realize that I have to get out of m y mind (so to speak) and into m y body. I had been sexually and physically abused periodically throughout m y life, starting as early as age seven (and possibly younger) and stopping approxi­ mately twenty years later, and because of that have always had a desire to be bodyless. This program has helped me get m y self-esteem to a place where I'm ready to go to the next level of healing. It's all a matter of me getting out of m y own way since I am my biggest obstacle. As far as the future goes, I am not sure what it will bring, but I know it's going to be a lot more positive and fun than the first forty-three years. I thank Gary and Luanne, and everyone else connected to this work, many, many, many times. —Suzanne Z.

58

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

When I was young, I suffered from severe chemical and food sensitivities. The orthodox methods (antibiotics for m y strep throat) offered no help. Staying off most foods prevented the occurrence of extreme allergic reactions. I still was not feeling good. This was weakening every aspect of m y being (cognition, physical strength, moods, state of mind). I had a pale complexion and dark circles under m y eyes. When I got involved with Gary Null's allergy program, within two weeks of green juices I was feeling remarkably better. Nowit's been nine months and I can eat almost any food. The clarity of m y thinking is better. My "light years"—I have no more moodiness, depression, lethargy, or poor complexion. Instead, I feel vital, healthy, and alive. In the future I see myself helping other people through m y experience. I will continue to learn about internal energy Perhaps I will get a Ph.D. in Orien­ tal medicine. I will take m y own hardships and the lessons that I learned from them and use them to help others. — Peter A.

The obstacle that I had to overcome was that I always followed Null's wellness program, but I was a comfort addict and did things in moderation. Now, I am more disciplined and able to handle the challenge of discomfort. I've been following my health detox program continuously and find it enjoyable and pleasant to do. On the physical level, m y dentist told me my gums looked the healthiest he had seen in me, when I went for m y half-year visit. I told him about your health detox program and the protocols that I took; he wasn't interested. My friends tell me that I look so good, they are inspired to get healthy themselves. I now have a youthful appearance and rejuvenation of glowing skin and hair. I lost about twenty-five pounds and five inches form my waist. I've been cross training almost every day in my rotation routine. I went from walking three miles to jogging five miles. I do about one hour, ten minutes walking and running stairs in a stadium. I bike about sixteen miles on weekends. I'm also weight training and have been taking judo and jujitsu for twenty-five years. I have more energy, strength, vitality, and alertness due to this program. My health is excellent. I'm never sick or fatigued, and I no longer have sinus problems. Many people and friends have been complimenting me about my well-being and positive attitude. Many come to me seeking health and nutri­ tional advice, but when I tell them what they have to give up (coffee, sugar,

Testimonials

59

smoking, wheat, dairy, alcohol, negative attitude), most change their minds. Some end up making gradual changes, and I help encourage them to do their best. On the emotional level, I use meditation, hypnosis, affirmations, and cre­ ative visualization to destress. I no longer let toxic people run m y life and/or seek their validation. I've been letting go of many things and getting clutter out of m y life. I've become more detached from m y possessions, am laughing more and slowing down m y lifestyle to the speed of nature, which has in­ creased m y awareness. I have become more spiritual, kinder, gentler, humbler since the program began. My intuition and physic abilities are much sharper from eating, drinking, and juicing organic foods. I'm no longer afraid of challenges and uncertainty in m y life. I am better at self-actualizing rather than just talking. I judge people for what they do rather than what they say. —Steven H.

I started this program at a point where I had become totally obsessed with my weight and body image. This obsession led me to exercise extensively and have such a rigid control over what I ate. There was no joy in any of this for me. My obsession left no room for m y family or friends. Everything I did had to fit in around m y rigid schedule. This obsession was just replacing a lot of pain I had inside me. If I kept myself busy with exercise and a rigid schedule, I didn't have to deal with any emotions, not sad ones or good ones. I heard Gary Null on the radio for the first time last October, he was talk­ ing about detoxification. I know m y body wasn't that toxic, but mentally I was struggling. The thing that interested me about what Gary was saying was that his detoxification program was mental as well as physical and spiritual. I joined the next available support group with m y husband, because I felt if we could do it together, it would really be helpful. Once starting the group, and following the protocols, my self-esteem started to improve; I started seeing m y thought patterns in a new light. If I could replace m y negative thoughts with positive ones—what a change might occur! Now I find myself continuously reinforcing positive affirmations to m y­ self and to others, and I believe more and more opportunities are being open for me. I'm more flexible and relaxed, I'm enjoying myself more, and I'm con­ stantly making changes and looking for ways to improve my life. I have increased my body fat to a much healthier level. My sex drive has

60

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

increased as well. I have also started to cut back on so much strenuous exercise and add more yoga and learn Chi Gong, which I needed to help balance me physically. My cholesterol dropped fifty points and my HDL went up to a very healthy ratio. I believe this was due to the elimination of dairy products, as I was not eating any other animal products before. I am sleeping about one hour less a day. I used to be a chronic gum chewer and candy eater. I would crave sugar through the day. Now these cravings are gone and I can't imagine ever desiring those things anymore. In the future I see myself becoming more of who I am. I plan to study Feng Shui; I've started studying Chi Gong. I plan to continue looking inside myself and questioning things that prevent me from honoring m y true self. I'm looking forward to this journey. — Didi S.

I first met Gary Null in January 1997. I am amazed at the changes that have occurred since then. I should start by describing the life I led prior to that meeting. I drank ten cups of coffee a day or more. Lunch would be a hero or pizza. Dinner, I could think of nothing better then a burger and french fries washed down with a cold beer—more than one. If not for Chinese takeout, I never would have eaten vegetables. In short, I consumed all the vital chemicals not found in nature. I was a toxic mess, a blob sitting in front of a TV set with one hand on a beer and the other in a bag of chips. I was 380 pounds and killing myself; worse, I was very unhappy. I knew something had to be done, but what? On January 12, 1997,1 arrived at Gary's Paradise Gardens, fully committed to do whatever "this nut" wanted for two weeks. That first day, I had no ap­ preciation of the changes I would undergo. For fourteen days, I was happy. I lost sixty pounds. For the first time in my life I was detoxified. In February, I was back in the real world, enjoying a new lifestyle. All my food came from the health food store. I realized a healthy body and a healthy mind went hand in hand. If I put toxic food in my body, I would have a toxic mind. I now identify myself as a vegetarian. Quite simply, I do not eat meat or dairy. Those few time I cheated, I felt awful. In the past year I have had meat six or seven times, all at social occasions—Christmas or Thanksgiving or in­ vited to dinner. While I looked forward to these parties and thought I would enjoy the food, I found that I have changed. I no longer like the taste of meat. The next day, it always made me feel sluggish.

Testimonials

61

The next step in m y health evolution was to buy a juicer. My days now begin with green tea and vegetable juice. They give me a shot of "energy" I never got from coffee and a Danish. I can and use powdered juice and find them to be very good. I find juicing helps to keep me connected. Gandhi did not have to spin his own cloth. The most important part of my day is exercise. Every day without fail, I work out. I run or walk forty minutes to an hour every morning. In the evening I lift weights or do Chi Gong. This for me is the most essential part of each day—if I have a hard workout, everything falls into place. I now set goals for myself; doing this I must be careful—frustration and negative thoughts creep in when I do not achieve these goals in the time limit I set. My life is better than it was and getting better each day. I know that I still have a long way to go, but I will be in good shape soon. —Kevin F.

When I began the protocol, at issue was my general attitude of skepticism regarding whether I would indeed be helped by this program. And whether I was capable of following the protocol laid down was another issue I thought very hard about. How could I manage without eating meat? I was also a wor­ rier, and the general direction of m y health was of concern to me. Worrying about my health did not, of course, help the situation. Lack of energy and insomnia, also flatulence caused by a spastic colon. There was also stiffness in the legs, which to me indicated a sign of arthritis. Indigestion, dizziness, and leg cramps were virtually a way of life for me, and despite numerous lab tests and doctor's visits, relief at best lasted only for a short time. All of the above contributed to m y desire to seek help for my physical condition. After almost a year in the program, I have become more confident about m y health in general, and I can see marked improvement in mind, spirit, and body. Having followed the program almost religiously, including the medita­ tion techniques, I find that my mind is more focused and m y memory has definitely improved. The most obvious result I have noticed is the increase in m y energy level. With only six hours of sleep I can complete a full day without feeling tired or lethargic. My skin is also much smoother than it used to be, and the liver spots that once covered m y neck and chest are barely visible. My fingernails, toenails, and hair grow very fast and have to be trimmed more often than before. The constipation, indigestion, and bloating have been grea tly reduced. —Winston W.

62

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

I was glad when I heard of the opportunity to start in a support group with Gary Null. Over the last ten years, I started gaining weight and became a couch potato. Three years ago, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and started using Synthroid pills. I used to get spells of tiredness almost every month that sent me to bed to sleep in order to feel better. I knew that I needed to do something different but did not have enough motivation to do it on my own. That's why getting into the support group was a big difference for me. I can say that the challenges that I was facing when I started the program were dealing with low self-esteem, low motivation to move forward, eating the wrong foods, and being unable to lose weight. I also felt the passion that I used to have when I was younger had diminished. I needed a different perspective in my life. After I started the program and continued the protocol, I felt less tiredness. I am exercising now and I feel great. People tell me that I look thirty-five years old—I am now forty-six, with a grandson. My skin is smooth and I feel young. I don 7 get headaches and I am in a good health. I have some cysts in my breast that I believe will disappear with the change of eating habits. In the past, I used to wear my glasses for reading; now I remove them. My blood test came out much better than the first test. The program has helped me be more relaxed and assertive. When I am facing a problem, I look at it with a different perspective and know that it will be solved, even if it isn't at that particular moment. I get less angry with people and don’t feel that I need to compete. My thoughts are more clearly to the point without getting into loo much rationalization. Since I started the pro­ gram, I felt depressed only once and I faced it and it was nothing. My self­ esteem has been raised and I am able to look at myself without self-blaming. I feel now more motivated to get involved in different things; to be adven­ turous and allow the child within me to come up. For example, I heard of a workshop for the preparation of the Latin American Feminist Women Confer­ ence, to take place in 1999 in Santo Domingo. Since I am Dominican, I decided to go and find out what it is all about. It was a nice trip and I came away with more knowledge of what is going on concerning women, children, and family issues in Santo Domingo. — G ilsia P.

As an artist, I felt that my focus was not up to my ability (with the years that I’ve put into training, more than twenty-five years). Prolific thoughts should

Testimonials

63

have been in prolific works. After listening to Gary Null for three years on the radio, I decided that this could only help me focus and get to the work I needed to do. Since I've been in the program five months, there have been many changes. I have lost 10 pounds. My energy, which was low, has increased. I'm not as tired as I was previously. I talk less and finally I find myself listening more to what people are saying (particularly in m y family). I did not realize how angry I was until we had to write ten letters to people who caused us some kind of pain. After that exercise I was truly able to let go of the anger, and able to speak to m y exhaustion without feeling anything, pain or other­ wise. While I've always been a mediator, trying to understand why people do the things they do, I no longer care to understand them. I don't need them in m y life—now I please myself first. When I began this program I wasn't sure what I wanted to do—become less toxic, enabling me to focus on what I needed to do for me. What's impor­ tant is that all m y life had been the need to create with word or with paint. Two years ago I changed m y schedule as a full-time teacher to part time and replaced m y painting full time. Since then I painted, but not full time. Hence m y entrance in the program. I realized I needed to focus m y energy and thoughts to create and decided this might be exactly what I needed. It was more than what I envisioned. The questions we had to ask ourselves and an­ swer honestly helped to create an environment for change. I used to be a sweet junkie and now I can walk by cakes, pies, and cookies without feeling deprived. I find I eat many more raw vegetables—something I had not done before. I am rarely tired. I walk now more than I have done in the months before beginning the program. My energy level is higher and I feel great. —Mimi V.

I did not have any physical constraints that I was aware of. The introduction of the detox program made me aware of m y mental restrictions more so than physical. To learn how to focus and not be sidetracked by obstacles was my starting point. I did not know or understand how m y energy or relationships would or could affect m y perspective of life. This stage of unwillingness al­ lowed me to be happy in m y ignorance. I learned how to get toxic people out of my life. I leaned how to strengthen m y attitude, be patient and not respond with negativeness. I look at myself in a new light of happiness and motivation. I have learned how to be happy with myself.

64

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

Physically, I am stronger from exercising daily. I am a martial artist and I am able to do things other people I work out with are unable to do (handstand pushups, dips, and pushs into having my body parallel with the floor). — Barry R.

At the beginning of the program, I was challenged with learning how to think clearly, to learn to focus and how to plan. Staying away from toxic people and not letting myself get carried away with their problems. It is a slow process, but I'm under control. The challenges that I have at home, in my marriage, I look at with courage, not indifference. The learning process is an every'day affair. My letting go of meat has improved m y digesti ve problems, which I'\ c had since childhood. I found out also that I have an allergy to corn that we con­ sumed daily. Learning to eat organic food has not been easy. My consciencc reminds me every time I go against the rules. Letting go of sugar has been great. Detoxifying my system is still an ongoing process—m y brain fog is slowly going away. — Marjorie A.

I had been listening to your program for many years; but when m y husband and I retired at age sixty-two, Myron began listening to your show. When he heard the call to participate in the study, he talked it over with me and we decided to go with it with deep sincerity. We happily bought juices, changed our water system to a filtration under the sink, joined a gym and connected to organic food sources. It became a total change in our daily routine—a new way of life. As we proceeded with the protocol, we noticed big changes in our energy. I couldn't lift any weight at first on the machine cycle. Now I can handle fortyfive pounds pull down. Five pounds bench press, sets of Fifteen at a time. We do all kinds of lifting, pressing, pulling, and our muscles are bulging. My skin glows with health. People stop me and notice a different quality in my look, but they can't put their finger on it. My chiropractor says that my skin and look are significantly different and youthful. The contact and atten­ tion to my own body and the speed at which I can respond to what my body needs is manvlous. My nails are stronger and more youthful. I experience increased strength and endurance and continued, good energy. I also have a

Testimonials

65

new attitude of optimism. I have experienced more rapid hair growth. My gums are healthier and firmer and m y teeth do not decay. I also experience improved sleep patterns. I do not stuff myself with poisonous herbicides, ani­ mal products, etc., and the juice is visibly energizing as I drink it. So many of our friends are manifesting illnesses and at the moment, the two of us are emanating good energy and good health. That is worth all the effort. We will continue in this maintenance protocol for life. It is a sensible concept to move toward wellness and prevention, rather than indulgence in illness. I have begun piano lessons and am given a complex new piece to work on because m y mind is seeking challenge. Myron and I dance Western Square Dance at a challenge 3A level. We are alert and aware of the political and cultural ramifications of the protocol. We think that these positive results are only the beginning of what is possible for us as productive, creative, serviceoriented seniors. We have joy and optimism, humor and openness, and that makes our lives full of possibility. —Wilma H.

I am an artist. I am very excited. Tomorrow my husband and I are leaving on a two-week Baltic cruise with friends. We were married forty-five years ago. We never did anything fun like this. Our friends do it often. We are both work­ aholics, and love what we do. Having fun has been work for us. Also, m y diet is limited because of food allergies. I once got amoebic dysentery on a trip. I worried about getting colitis away from home. Gary, I am the woman who told you that twenty years ago, the head of gastroenterplgy of a New York City hospital said, "Barbara, get rid of your colon, and get on with your life." I started listening to you. By 1980, I had changed a lot. After my last colonoscopy, I saw a computer printout of the inside of m y large intestine. It was "pink and purty." Now, being in the pro­ gram, m y colon is perfect. I question whether there really is such a thing as colitis, oris it just sensitivities to different things? Back to our trip. My husband and I never have been together for two solid weeks without work projects. We will have fun! —Barbara K.

Following your protocols for the reversing the aging process study has signifi­ cantly improved m y health in many ways. My weight is maintained at 110

66

Gary Null's IJltimate Anti-Aging Program

pounds effortlessly. It used to fluctuate a lot. It was as high as 130 pounds at one point several years ago. This 110 pounds is the weight I maintained when I was nineteen-twenty-two years old. It's wonderful! I require one hour or more less sleep per night than I did before the study. Now I sleep more soundly and feel more alert and energized during the day. I have gotten no colds or flus since I have been in the program. This is a welcome change! I had been going to a dermatologist before the study for acne and rosacea. The topical medication he prescribed for rosacea did not help it. Also, he prescribed tetracycline to be taken on an ongoing basis for acne. I refused to take this. I believe that the protocol for the study was a much safer and more effective treatment for acne. Acne is no longer a problem for me and the rosacea has significantly improved. I find that I look and feel younger now than I did before starting the program. People often assume I am ten or more years younger. I'm so grateful for this. My skin is more clear and healthy. My hair is silkier and seems thicker. Also the number of gray hairs growing in is becoming fewer and fewer. This is great! Menstrual pain has lessened very significantly. I used to take Tylenol about every four to six hours for the first forty-eight hours of m y menses. I take no medication now whatsoever, and experience at the most only mild discomfort. Also I no longer have the premenstrual puffiness and headaches I used to have. Emotionally, I'm better able to deal with day-to-day stress and traumatic events. In general, I feel more calm and positive than I did before the study. I am fully committed to using what I have learned to maintain my health and perhaps improve it further. I have been sharing what I have learned with oth­ ers and I'm grateful for the joy of watching them benefit too. — Marlene D.

The improvements in my overall health have been amazing. It is difficult to really believe in something until you actually put it into practice and notice the results for yourself. I used to suffer from severe seasonal allergies. During the night, I would not be able to breath easily since my sinuses would swell and make it difficult to breathe. One nostril would get so clogged that it wouldn't work properly. In a few days I would develop headaches and a bad case of halitosis. This caused me to withdraw from speaking with people at the office, since I did not want them to notice my breath. I had tried going to ENT doctors, but they always told me these were ragweed, pollen, or dust allergies that I

Testimonials

67

had to live with. Then they would give me a prescription for some nasal spray and send me on m y way. Needless to say these were only temporary and arti­ ficial remedies. Since being on your strict protocol I have not had these allergic attacks during spring or fall! I have also noticed that m y mental sharpness is better now then it was when I was twenty-eight years old (I'm presently forty-one years old). I've noticed this because when I was twenty-eight, I tried going for my master's degree in electrical engineering while working full time. I was not able to focus to the level required for maintaining a B average or better. I've been in graduate school now for three semesters and I have a GPA of 3.25. In this past spring semester, I registered for two courses while working on a project in the office with a very tight schedule and lots of pressure. One of the courses required commuting to the campus thirty minutes away. On both courses I received grades of B. My friends admire m y effort, but what they don't know is that I have an edge they don't have; I have more energy, have an optimal diet, and I'm putting all these health benefits to good use. I've also expanded my physical activities to include bicycling and playing tennis. I recently played someone eleven years m y junior in a tennis match. I did not get winded and we had to play a tie-breaker. This also I remember not being able to do at age twenty-eight! My emotional well-being was terribly challenged a few months ago, but I think I was able to get through it because of what I've learned from you. I want to thank you very much for all you've done for me and others. —Miguel P.

Being involved with m y study group has established a new dimension in my life, which is I'm a new person. Over the years I do recall you stating that in the order of priority, one's belief system was first and foremost; second, stress management; third, exercise; and diet last. On September 25, 1996, at our first session, you specified that diet represents 15 percent; exercise, 10 percent; stress management, 25percent; and behavior, 50percent. This time it was loud and clear—maybe because it was quantified, especially with behavior and stress representing 75 percent of the package. The Tools and Techniques that were shared in our biweekly meeting were invaluable because it allowed those of us who went through the exercises to get to know more about ourselves and examine our conditioned minds. Also to see where we have been the source of our own suffering and limitations in our

68

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

lives. I've never been at such peace with myself as I am now, having a "can do" attitude with what matters to me and what is important to me. Reexamin­ ing m y beliefs, values, and perceptions has provided tremendous benefits with regard to my interactions with others; where they might attempt to manipu­ late, control, or induce feelings of guilt it has not worked, and not being a victim to these mind games is very empowering. The greatest challenges that I encountered during the entire process was to integrate the suggested dietary intake and consistent exercise with my schedule, so the most number of juices I had gotten to was approximately six. My present occupation requires me to be on the road driving to be in and out on various appointments in various areas, so preparing and taking enough of the juices with me during the day was not as consistent as I would have pre­ ferred it to be. In spite of it all, the number of sleep hours that I'm able to get by on has reduced to approximately five hours per night. My energy level has never been better and focus with clarity is greater. I am certainly looking forward to going into the advanced stage of the Reversing Aging Process if you decide to continue, because I know there are greater strides I'll be making with the continuous growth and process in my life. —Ivon

Changes on the physical level due to the Reversing Aging Study: much less muscle soreness, especially upon waking and also after physical work. Less lower back pain, which has bothered me for years. An increase and leveling of energy throughout the day. Better digestion and quicker transit time culminat­ ing in better-formed stools. My skin looks better, eyes clearer. I didn't consider myself overweight, but my set point went from 192 to 186 pounds, and I am physically stronger. Faster hair growth, a bit more hair on legs. If I do get a rare cold it is of short duration (one to three days). I feel comfortable with less often chiropractic adjustments. Very little of the old, lingering lethargy after rising in the morning. A marked diminishment of allergic reactions. On the emotional and mental level: an improvement in mental alertness. My mind feels stronger, more new ideas. Fewer periods of brain fog. An im­ proved outlook on life because I am proactive. An improved awareness of stress and its impact on m y health. This is an area in which I need to do more work. I have become more aware of m y lifelong need for control and its harmful effect on my psyche and physical health.

Testimonials

69

Answering the questions posed to the support group has effected my rela­ tionships in several ways. First with myself: the questions increased m y aware­ ness of the fact that many people and events have negatively impacted m y life and that I don't have to buy into these agendas. My best course is to honor self first, and this is not selfish. Don't be afraid to say no. Change and growth come with some pain and I have been in a comfort zone. Don't beat up on myself, accept errors. I have more belief in m y abilities. I must not only know, I must actualize. On relationships with others: I have distanced myself from members of m y family who are hostile and negative. I have begun to set limits, to say no. It has at times been painful. I am working on letting family members know h o w l feel about their actions. I realize that m y future doesn't lie in m y present job. I have been more forthcoming in presenting m y views regarding manage­ ment problems within m y company. The value of kindness and caring is clear. Humor and lightness goes far. —Charles M.

Since starting this program in January, I have had positive changes both physi­ cal and mental. Starting with the physical changes, the constant rash I had on m y face from lupus has completely cleared up. I have had the rash for the last two-and-a-half years, and I was told the only way to clear it up was with antibiotics. I also suffered from extreme fatigue. I have cut out 1.5 hours of sleeping. Also migraine headaches that I got often have almost been 100 per­ cent eliminated. My concentration level at work has greatly improved, along with a general feeling of overall calmness. As far as the mental part, this has been m y most accomplished detoxing. I have been able to totally eliminate an abusive father and brother from m y life. This is the most liberating feeling!! I put up with so much from them for years; now that part of m y life is gone forever! Having dealt with that situation has also opened m y eyes to the kinds of relationships I have been in. All my relationships with men have been abusive. I have never been treated with kindness or respect. I will never let anyone treat me that way again. I have learned that I am good and that I am deserving of kindness and love. This is the greatest feeling. I have also reevaluated my friendships. I have eliminated the ones who were users and takers. I have also uncluttered m y household. I have gotten rid of bags and bags of clothing. I have given many knickknack types of junk to an animal group

70

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

for a garage sale. So many happy and positive things have happened over the last few months, that ha ve changed my life for the better. My life is better now than it has ever been. I am very grateful for this program. — Laura B.

I have been transformed by the experience of the program. Physical and mental changes have taken place that I did not, could not anticipate. I have found it easy to stay on the diet and supplement regimen. I have no problem staying away from meat, dairy, and wheat. I eat out in restaurants far less than I did. I enjoy shopping for organic products in health food stores and take pleasure in cooking. My wife has come to enjoy the meals I cook and has taken to shopping for organic produce and groceries in the local health food stores. My closest friends and family members first were upset with m y dietary changes. They had their negative comments about the number of supplements I take. However, I know the benefits of the changes. With the first two weeks of the program I saw and felt significant changes in m y body. I no longer had the bloated feeling in m y stomach. My energy level increased. People think I'm eight to ten years younger than I am. I have comments about the radiance of m y skin. I lost twenty pounds without dieting! I've packed on five to seven pounds of muscle. My workouts are energy-filled. I lift more weight than ever before. I run three to four miles, three to four times a week. I jump rope for fifteen minutes every day and practice martial arts three times a week. I've added to m y evening social schedule during the week and I meditate each day—all on six hours rather than the eight hours of sleep that I used to require. Emotionally and mentally I have made changes that make me feel like a kid again. I have a positive outlook on life. I see life as filled with endless possibilities. I have begun to explore career changes and see myself adding to my professional life. I'd like to become a personal trainer. I began classes in the study of philosophy. I have a sense of calm about me, an inner peace with­ out anxiety or preoccupation with the past or future. My relationships with my wife and others have improved. I have learned to accept others without the need to change them. I have eliminated toxic people and activity from my life. I want to share this with others. However, I will never impose m y "way" on them. I have become a better human being and have come to enjoy ivho I am. Nick J.

Testimonials

71

I am a hepatitis B carrier and I would like to not be infected with this virus anymore, and have more energy I feel m y energy level is more even. I do not have those high and low yo-yo-like energy levels. I also started having mercury fillings removed, which eliminated this frequent hazy feeling I feel in m y brain. I am a person who has problems being consistent and focused. I do get some major goals in my life accomplished, but a lot of others I start, then I stop it. I wanted to learn to be fluent in Spanish and I would start studying, but after a few weeks I would stop, and eight years have passed and I still can't speak Spanish. The reason for this behavior I believe is because I am interested in so many things that when I start something, I would be working at it for awhile when another activity would appear and distract me. I would stop whatever I was doing and be off on a different path. Then when I look back at m y life, I realize that I have accomplished very little. Had I concentrated on one thing at a time I would have accomplished more in the same amount of time. I know m y first goal is to heal myself from hepatitis. That means doing what needs to be done listed in the program and obtaining the job that is what I want to do because only then will I feel that I am honoring m y life and time. This I feel is an important part of m y healing, because the anxiety and guilt that I feel now for not doing what I want affects m y healing process. I see myself a year from now filled with energy and health to live every day able to fulfill m y goals. I want to feel that every minute of m y life is lived with purpose and direction. —Junglien C.

At the start of this program, I was feeling very depressed, because I had been struggling with CFIDS for almost ten years. I had been to many physicians (both holistic and conventional) and felt that they were not really dealing with m y whole being—just a few body parts such as m y thyroid, liver, etc. I would look around me and just feel so lonely and overwhelmed because it seemed like everyone else was enjoying their lives much more than I was. I really felt stuck and rather hopeless. Physically m y body was very depleted. One doctor several years ago told me he didn 't know how 1 made it through the day because I had zero energy in m y meridians. I had to force myself to get through each day because I have a husband and two sons. I gave my family all I had and often there was noth­

72

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

ing left for me. (I know now that my focus was misdirected.) My hormones were out of balance. My thyroid was not functioning well and m y adrenals, lymphatic system, liver, and gastrointestinal systems were all out of balance. I had very bad PMS every month; for almost two weeks out of four I would be achy and bloated. I would go to bed exhausted and wake up just as tired. Spiritually I didn't feel very connected to the world. I guess I felt that life was passing me by and all I had was this struggle called chronic fatigue. I still volunteered and gave of my time to causes but always wished I could do more. Mentally I am feeling much more hopeful about m y future. I am now convinced that I am a good person and say to myself over and over how proud I am of myself. Even though I feel that I have always been a kind person, I feel that I am even kinder and more giving because I really like, no, love myself. I feel that by saying the affirmations that we were taught I have a much more positive attitude about m y abilities. I realize that a big part of m y problem has been selfesteem or lack thereof, and now I feel m y selfesteem is really blossoming. I feel more confident asking for what I want from other people and am much less shy about talking in public. Another aspect that has im­ proved is that I no longer feel tearful as much as I used to. I know that by feeling stronger mentally I am also helping my immune system to heal. I have been working hard to detoxify m y body and have been faithful about doing the program because I knew it would work. Finally I found some­ one who understood that I am much greater than the sum of my parts. My gastrointestinal system has improved considerably, e.g., I am no longer bleed­ ing rectally and have much fewer episodes of diarrhea. My PMS is down to a day or two as opposed to two weeks of agony I can get through more days now without the overwhelming need to take a nap in the middle of the day. I have been exercising for about twenty minutes, five to six days a week, and feel a definite improvement in m y stamina. My body feels more toned and my mus­ cles feel much stronger. I recently learned that I have the beginnings of osteo­ porosis and I am also working with a holistic gynecologist to build up my bones. I have taken a deeper interest in my religion and have felt very comforted by being a part of a group. I have been seeking out people to help who are suffering and have given them information about natural forms of healing. Recently I gave four friends information about how to prepare for and recover from the various surgeries they were undergoing using nutritional protocols. They all seemed grateful for my help, and it made me feel very satisfied. I find that I really enjoy helping people. The greatest obstacle that I had to overcome was not believing that I was

Testimonials

73

worth the time to invest in changing m y life and healing m y problem. At first it was hard to physically get myself to the bimonthly meetings, but once I got there it was always worth the effort. It seemed like an expensive proposition in buying all the supplements, but I changed m y priorities and decided that it would be worth all the expense, and I realize it has been. My family, especially m y children, did not like all the changes I was making in the food I was buying, but I did it anyway. Now m y boys are beginning to respect what I am trying to do because they see that I'm feeling better. I see myself as becoming a happy person totally I feel very focused as to m y goal in improving every part of my One of m y biggest goals for the future is finding m y passion in life, and hopefully finding employment in that field. I feel now that I have the tools necessary to achieve this. Another goal of mine is totally overcome CFIDS, and actually be healthier than people around me who have no so-called illnesses. I thank the program so much for putting all the necessary components into this study group. —Iris S.

Where do I begin to convey to you how listening to you and being part of the study group has changed my life? It hasn't been easy, and I haven't done it perfectly, but I'm not going to be hard on myself. I've actually done really well, even if I've had m y slipups. I've lost about twelve pounds and gone down about two or three clothing sizes. I've never felt better. When I really stick to it, I feel the best. The juicing has probably been the best thing that I've incorporated into m y daily life. What a difference that has made. I feel more energetic and can get by on less sleep, so I have more of m y day to be productive. Just that alone is a major coup! The first thing I noticed, and probably most important to me, was not having any menstrual cramps. My body barely goes through any noticeable changes, and it doesn't distrupt m y life the way it used to. I haven't taken any kind of drug—not so much as an aspirin—since beginning the program eight months ago. My facial skin has never been better. I don't even get the one or so monthly breakouts that werejust commonplace. I have a pretty regular exercise routine, which is great. I've been able to get rid of a lot of "stuff," including clothes that I had no need for that were just taking up m y living space. That's an ongoing process.

74

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

What I love the most is that people are asking me what changes I've made in m y life, and I'm able to share with them what I've been doing. People want to hear this information. Even if they are not ready to make the changes for themselves, they are listening to it and noting what is possible. I'm living proof! I've been talking to people I never thought I would and saying smart things like never before because m y confidence level is high. It just makes sense not to eat any animal products, or even use any kind of animal products. It just makes sense to eat a live diet. Processed foods were—and still are—only being produced to make money. There is nothing good about them. Being healthy is so simple, I can't believe the road I had to travel to figure it out. But I'm grateful I've discovered the answers now; it could have been another thirty-seven years. I look forward to sharing information with as many people as I can. That is what is most important not to hoard this valuable knowledge, but to get it out there among the masses. It can't be said enough. The world will have to change when people start making changes themselves. For this I thank you and look forward to continuing to listen to you and your ideas. —Amy O.

In the beginning of the program, I felt that I was in a bad state of mind. I felt limited by the hepatitis that I have. Now I don't care about the disease I have in my body. I don't seem to care about my morality as much. I understand that the most important thing is m y attitude. If I keep a positive attitude, I know things will be all right. To be aware of myself and the things around me is the only thing that counts. To understand that to have compassion for myself is to have compassion for others and vice versa. Hepatitis was my physical challenge at the beginning of this program. Now the challenge is me and how I can change to be a better person. I guess this is what my challenge has been all along. —Joel K.

I have gained awareness that I used to be fearful with other people in interac­ tions with them. In the same context, I had a strong need to be approved of, loved and admired. Now, I no longer fear others and I realize that I do not need love from others. I realize I can, through my own personal positive achieve­

Testimonials

75

ments, manufacture my love for myself, and I have been doing these things— and I feel so very, very comfortable in the presence of all others, and I just am. A number of different people say that I look very well. I feel very well generally. I believe m y stamina has increased, and I am starting to do some strength exercises for m y upper body. — Murray G.

Since beginning this program, for the first time in m y life, I am able to see myself as a loving, beautiful, complete, whole person, and I see all of these things in myself. I accept myself and I'm making choices because I want to make them. I'm enjoying myself, and exploring all the things I've always wanted to do without fear. I have decided to have closure in all m y unfinished business. I'ver regis­ tered to go back to school, and I'm excited about doing that. It's taken me so long. All of a sudden, I have a list of things I want to do, and I'm taking one step at a time. I see myself starting projects—helping children, counseling, and sharing all I know about the changes I have made in m y life. I see myself challenging me to run the marathon. I see myself making a transition from living in New York to another space. I have uncluttered m y life, and I continue to do so. I need less and less accumuation of stuff. Physically, I feel lighter; emotionally, I love myself more and more. I see myself being self-sufficient about the work I want to do—starting an organic cleaning business, learning massage therapy, and doing holistic counseling are the goals I'm focused on for the next five years. I look younger, more energetic. When I started the study, I didn't exercise enough. I was about ten pounds overweight and had no energy by the middle of the day. I had acne on my cheeks and forehead and m y skin wasn't healthy at all. By the end of the study, I did the Avon 5k Run and felt wonderful. This propelled me to join the New York Road Runners Club and run in competitions. My skin looks wonderful, and friends and family have commented on how great Ilook. 1 never had a problem changing m y diet. My issue was the mental/emo­ tional challenge and realizing at this time in m y life I'm actualizing my goals and living without stress and negativity, and that co-creating m y life is some­ thing that is so easy to do. I feel blessed that I'm doing it, negotiating with myself and accomplishing the daily goals I'm setting for myself.

76

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

I have turned m y life around from one of mediocracy to one of purpose and fun. —Lindsay P.-T.

Throughout the course of this protocol, many changes have taken place forme. Answering the questions consistently has created a shift in behavior patterns that, while not entirely assimilated, I surrender to what is an on-going process in the future. Gary, you said that the class would be determined through natu­ ral selection, and the reasons I am in it thus far are that m y choices come from an idea you stated at the beginning: honoring our happiness. I have learned to be completely true to myself and, slowly but surely, m y life is beginning to be organized around this principle. Interestingly, serving the happiness is the constant, while every circum­ stance, condition, and choice is always changing and the challenge I find now is in not being so affected by their good or bad outcomes. So, the future is entirely shifting by what I determine now, from eating habits to eliminating past-based destructive ways of being that would otherwise sabotage choices. The paradigm, as you have created it, is a future that can alter the quality of life on this planet for all our world family, as it embraces life itself versus the old world paradigm that destroys life. I see with new eyes that were strengthened from the inside out, while m y heart is filled with gratitude from what has been revealed to me. Specific measurable results of m y participation in this study: A. P h y s i c a l l y : A ten-year complaint of chronic cysts on ovaries during PMS and menstru­ ation. Prior to starting the protocol, a medical doctor recommended surgery to remove them and wanted to prescribe birth control pills to reduce inflamma­ tion. This pain inhibited movement and desire to exercise, as well as creating excruciating difficulty with bowel movements. Within three months of proto­ col, all symptoms disappeared and the problem became entirely nonexistent. Years of inability to sleep—I could go days without needing rest—I discov­ ered I had a thyroid condition that could cause a premature heart attack, as well as outward symptoms of bulging eyes; nenous disposition; easily angered over the slightest issues; cravings for sugar that were out of control. Since the protocol, I desire sleep at a regular hour and rise without an alarm clock at exactly six to seven hours from sleep time. The bulging is greatly reduced and

Testimonials

77

seems gone, and m y disposition is so excited about life and much more peace­ ful. (I am able to control the level of excitement also.) Chronic soreness in the throat area, with swollen glands every few months it seemed, has disappeared since I began the protocol. I only experience that familiar lump-in-the-throat feeling when I don't say what I really wanted to say to someone. Breathing difficulties from secondhand smoke inhalation, from apartment neighbors. I often had painful breathing and shortness of breath. Since the protocol I breathe with no discomfort or pain or any kind. I have doubled my capacity for breath, which is evident when I sing, because m y phrasing is be­ yond belief in length and ability, compared to what it used to be. I have made unreasonable requests of management that I was afraid to before starting, and now have gained progress and cooperation to limit smokers to their rooms only. (They had been smoking in hallways, elevators, and stairwells.) My skin has gone through major shifts and continues to as I experience this protocol. When I began, it was rough and dry, with no blemishes except during menstruation. Now it is like silk and blemishes are slight at the time of menstruation. Cravings for foods completely ran my life. At times I felt helpless to their destructive ways. Gradually, with the protocol, my willpower became some­ thing I never knew existed that now makes choices from what honors m y life. The sugar cravings are not completely shifted, as I still desire sweets at the onset of my menstrual cycle. (As children, we ate nothing but candy in our household from morning to night—the worst kinds—as we did not like the diet of canned foods and instant potatoes with meat our dad offered.) Now I no longer eat what in my past was okay. Sugar is now replaced with fruit or fruit-sweetened products or barley-rice sweeteners. This is forever shifting. Neither do I desire to eat dairy foods, whereas in the past I ate cheese or yogurt every other day. I look and feel fifteen years younger. B. M e n t a l l y : Before the protocol I was often lethargic, in attitude and spirit. I was run by negativity and resignation. Nothing seemed to go m y way and probably never would. I lacked an ability to focus and think clearly. I was a big reaction machine. Poor you if you crossed my path on a PMS day or you fooled me. My anger ran me. It kept relationships with men nonexistent, and friends at a distance. Everyone was out to get me, or so I thought. I swam and sang, despite this lack of luster in me. It was all just a superficial experience of life and happiness. The rut I kept digging got bigger and bigger.

78

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

In the beginning of the program, I became increasingly self-aware, to the point of embarrassment that I was ever that rude or hostile to someone. It is so easy to apologize and admit my wrongs immediately. I take notice when an old habit wants to engulf me, and I discipline myself to take the other direction completely—whether it be to table a disagreement or choose a food that honors me. I wake up with a jolt of joy and I sleep from exhaustion. I am noticing that I am pretty reliably happy most of the time, and, in the face of challenge, a newfound resiliance takes over, and I know I can handle it. I am further from giving up than I could have been a year and a half ago. Gratefully yours. —Juliet H.

Being on the protocol has helped me physically and mentally. My year-long bouts with allergies have ended. I no longer suffer from seasonal attacks of hayfever brought on by pollen, ragweed, and other allergens. The flu and colds I got with every change of season have also diappeared. Numerous aches and pains experienced when bending down, reaching, or lifting are gone. I sleep better, wake on time, and take these functions for granted, where previously they were unpredictable and problematic. My body has changed considerably, so much so that the list of improve­ ments seems endless to me. But, more dramatic, has been m y change of mind. I no longer suffer from mind fog. My concentration does not lag when listening to someone speak or while reading, and my writing has improved. Since all three are inextricably linked, the change has been hard to believe. I now feel I'm more tolerant and understanding of those I choose to be with. I am able to stand outside myself, seeming to witness changes in behav­ ior and attitude I was not aware of previously. My social skills are such that I no longer see unexplained behavior as threatening or strange. This did not happen overnight, nor did it happen solely because of the diet, the juices, or even the exercises. It happened because both phases of diet and exercise complemented the classcs taken and meetings held to clear up ques­ tions and problems that occurred during different phases of the program. It was during these meetings that I began to change former concepts of self. Questions were handed out to take home and think about. A lot of thought had to occur before they made sense, and any attempt to answer or even understand them was futile if you—/—did not think hard. These ques­

Testimonials

79

tions dealt with the existence of who you were, or who you thought you were, challenging not only conscious beliefs but ones held without being aware of them. Initially, thought brought on resistance, but the more I grappled with the questions, the more meaningful m y responses. They forced in me an open­ ness of mind that could no longer cling to the shakey precipice of the easy reply. What has followed has been a profound sense of why and how I dealt with the world around me and where I could obtain some of the answers. —Norman P.

In February 1997,1had brain surgery due to a tuberculum sella w meningioma. The tumor wrapped itself around m y pituitary gland, destroying m y optic nerve. I am blind in the right eye and have limited vision in the left. My thyroid gland is not producing its hormone (hypothyroidism). I started on the protocol in September—eight months after having a crani­ otomy—twenty hours of surgery—with complications that had me in Intensive Care for three days. (I did not have the strength to brush my teeth; I was so weak I could not walk.) I joined the Natural Running and Walking Club and, ten months after surgery, I discontinued all the steroids, seizure pills, synthroid, laxatives, antiacids I'd been taking. I had a pill for and to counter com­ plications. Due to m y participating in this program, I no longer talk about m y illness. Instead I speak about m y new health. I am more positive in m y thoughts, behavior, and speech. My medical doctor cannot understand how I have recov­ ered physically, emotionally, and mentally in such a short time. Gary, I am doing great. I am happy. I am legally blind—so what? —Frank E.

I have a psychiatric history that spans more than thirty years and includes five hospitalizations. The first lasted for ten months, and subsequent hospitaliza­ tions ran from two weeks to one month. I have been on psychiatric medications for most of this time. I have a goiter and an inflamed thyroid from Lithium and mild tardive dyskinesia from Stelazine. I often wanted to stop taking medication but was told by my doctors that the standard approach for anyone who has been hospi­ talized several times is to remain on medication for the rest of his or her life. I

80

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

did attempt to go off medication several times, but without true support from others, I was not successful. Last year,■before I heard of your study group, I once again pushed to stop medication, but each time I brought up the subject, I was told, "This is not the right time." During the summer, while changing the dial on the radio, I heard you speaking about a meeting that would take place that night to form support groups, one of which would involve individuals with depression. Although I was not very familiar with your ideas, I decided to attend. At that time I was taking Wellbutrin, Stelazine, and Lithium. 1 was just beginning another at­ tempt to stop Lithium. Today I am off all psychiatric drugs. I ha ve been off Lithium since July and off Wellbutrin and Stelazine since November. I did this without m y psychia­ trist's knowledge, and only informed her in January that I entered the New Year 1998 free of all psychiatric drugs. I feel balanced, happy, excited by life. I am less confused and clearer in m y thinking, with improved recall. Since November, several crisis situations have occurred, which I have handled well and without undue stress. Most surprising is the return of a range of subtle feelings, which must have been suppressed by all the drugs. I see myself emerging from a pit. Before me I see a horizon that continues to expand. One step leads to the next. Sometimes I may fall, but I am resiliant. Early in the study, almost immediately, your views and energy touched me in some way that enabled me to gain trust in my ov/n perceptions. It is as though a part of me that had been captive to the psychiatric view that I was "sick" was set free to reclaim my health and to renew confidence in my own experience. I was then able to get off the medications, to explore the questions of each meeting, to write forgiveness letters, to write affirmations, to let go of negative thoughts more often. I did stray from the diet and had a gangrenous gallbladder removed in March—which may have been partly due to Premarin that I had been taking for five years and have now stopped. I am now back on the diet, and will soon begin exercising again. I am also in the process of ending therapy. I believe that, in my twenties, had I stayed clear of the psychiatric profes­ sion and its drugs and, instead, worked on mental attitude, focus, and goals, I would not have started down the slippery slope leading to greater and greater dependence on medications. I also believe that the experiences that led me to the hospital were valid, spiritual experiences for which I was simply not prepared. Thank you for a new beginning. — Patricia F.

Testimonials

81

It is a privilege to be part of your research program. Since the first week of applying your protocol I began to experience a series of changes in my life. My vision has improved; I gained energy, and my memory has improved. Now I have better control of my life. In general, this protocol has helped me to grow physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I hope for more to come! — Joseph J. L.

When I came into the study, I was not self-assertive. I would keep m y opinions, m y emotions, m y needs inside to avoid conflict and uncomfortable situations. This was because I always felt "less than" or incapable of doing things. In other words, I had no self-confidence. I failed in college, and my previous image of a gifted, smart student was replaced for many years by a belief that I was no longer special or smart. I decided I couldn't learn anything difficult, so I made this belief come true by not making a 100 percent effort at college. I was afraid to fail; I believed I would fail, and so I failed. This was carried over into all aspects of m y life. I adjusted by lowering my expectations—keeping m y challenges easily manage­ able—so that I would not fail. Every day I replayed past mistakes, situations when I could have acted better, situations that caused me pain or embarrassment, and I would feel bad all over again. Physically, I had begun to see m y metabolism slowing down. Previously, I had no problem maintaining m y weight. Now I was gaining weight and look­ ing out of shape. I was beginning to look older than m y years. About five years ago, I noticed my hair thinning. While it is not important to have hair, I believed it to be a sign of ill health. I wanted to be so healthy that I could grow a full head of hair. Now that I look back, I had smoked for more than half of m y life. I could feel the effects of smoking on my body—reduced endurance; clouded thinking; low self-esteem. I had no ambition or high-energy drive. Since joining the study, I have come to believe that I am both hero and architect of my life. There is no waiting for some magic to happen. I am the magic. With regard to physical conditions, I have lost twenty pounds and have the best muscle tone in my entire life. I have stopped m y hair loss. Bursitis in

82

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

my right knee is greatly diminished. I can exercise more and exert m y knee more than before, I don't have the swelling or discomfort I had before. I would have afternoon drowsiness and mental fog between 2 and 4 p . m . I do not have that anymore. I am also able to increase my energy levels through simple breathing techniques—and also because 1 now believe it is possible for I sleep an hour or two less per night. My recovery from infections, colds or flu is amazing. I was able to rid myself of pharyngitis without any antibiotics in less than a week. Flu would have lasted a week. Now—if do feel sick—I am able to knock it out in two and a half days. All of the symptoms are not as great as before. I am able to exercise longer and with greater ease. Recovery from exercise and exertion is greatly improved, i.e., when I have a heavy workout day, I am not as sore or fatigued the next day. I am able to do several activities in one day and not be exhausted afterward. — Andrew K.

Thank you for creating this protocol. The changes I was able to make during this protocol were more marked than any changes I have been able to make in several years. When I followed the protocol closely—September through February: • I lost twelve pounds. • I lost several inches from m y hips and waist.

• My blood pressure dropped to 102/60. • My self-confidence and energy level rose to a new high. • My sense of security, that I could cope with new situations, increased. • I received many comments on my shiny hair. • People commented on how nice my skin was. • / had a more focused, steady sense of energy. • I was less dehydrated. • I didn't get headaches, whereas before I usually got at least one severe headache a month. • Overall, I felt more competent, confident, positive, and clear-headed. • I was able to focus on other goals in my life. It is clear that my stated goals continue to be missed, despite all of the "preparing" I had done.

Testimonials

83

The act of succeeding in your protocol was the biggest step I have taken in years. I had taken your suggestion to join the weight-loss group, conscious of my desire to lose weight but not really aware of how the extra ten or twelve pounds bothered me. When I succeeded in losing twelve pounds, the psychic burden that was lifted seemed more like a hundred. That, in combination with the pointed exercises that we did in the group, raised m y self-esteem, to use that trampled word. I felt better and stronger than ever. I had learned to cope with and compensate for the way I look, except for those few extra pounds, so I would always hide myself. My new mode is, "I feel energetic, attractive, and strong." This was such a palpable improvement for me that I felt like a different person and the people around me really noticed. They saw the physical change immediately, which I thought was funny because, as much as the weight both­ ered me, it was within the norm enough that I didn't think anyone else would notice. But people especially noticed how I seemed stronger and happier. When I lost m y job, it was perfect timing, and I was unfazed. As is my tendency, the moment I had more energy, I took on more efforts. In the course of this process, I have come to see myself more clearly. I have always been very energetic and enthusiastic, as well as ultrasensitive. As you can see, that combination can make someone vulnerable. I am a person who lives so much in the moment that I have had trouble with gaining perspective or disciplined long-term thinking, although the level of self-discipline I have shown during long periods of m y life for artwork and physical training might seem to believe this. I am a typical creative assertive as described by various traits, but mainly dynamic supportive. The main challenges for me have always seemed to be the practical concerns to taking care of myself, food, clothing, shelter, finances. All of this has led me to a new place in this moment, in reference to the protocol and my life. I am able and strong enough to see "doing m y artwork'' as the organizing principle, and everything can follow from there. The protocol requires that I commit to a workout routine, which I can usually do for a limited period of time. The protocol is practical and easy, and I had great satisfaction and success with its routine, i.e., I had a job. Now, I must rise to the challenge of making my own routine and making it long-term—a day at a time. There are other important challenges that face me now that do require courage, as you spoke of the other night, because, as you quoted Henry Emer­ son Fosdick, "He who chooses the beginning of the road, chooses the place it leads to."

84

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

There is one other point that I want to address and that is that I went through the weekly questions in the context of other questions that I have been working on and found they are extremely focusing and practical. They really cut to the heart of the matter and are critical to the age-reversing process. When I missed doing them, I really felt the drag in terms of slow grasping of the entire process of the protocol. The questions are pointedrelevant, essential and practical. For me, the biggest challenge will be to acknowledge the limitation that I cannot do everything and have the courage and consciousness to choose. I really appreciate your giving your time to this process. Thank you. — Elaine R.

Since I began to follow this protocol, I have lost twenty pounds—178 pounds, down from 198—without eating any less food. In fact, I eat more healthy food and burn it off more quickly. My sleep is now more restful. I sleep more soundly and wake up more alert than before beginning the program. My hair is growing in a lot faster than before—almost twice as fast, in fact. I am growing new hair in the front of m y head, which was bald before, and I had a bald spot on the back of my head but now it is gone. I suffered with lower back pain into m y left buttocks, sciatica with pain so bad I could not walk for two days. This is gone now. I think more clearly now, and I think good, positive thoughts. Sexually, I am more alive than ever. My erections last sometimes two hours and I feel more passionate when I make love. It is like I am seventeen all over again. I share more in a physical way with m y mate than ever before. Sex is great again, not a chore. I have more physical energy than I ever had before. My muscular strength has almost doubled. I can lift more weight and workout longer with more strength than ever. I can play and work longer without tiring. I was an alcoholic for twenty-two years and every cell in my body was toxic. I have overcome my addiction to sugar and food. I am free of that chain now, and eating fresh, organic fruits and vegetables and green juices daily. This has taken away m y craving for sugar and has replenished my body. I look forward to each new day with joy and happiness instead of anger, pain, and fear. Joe O.

Testimonials

85

I have learned that I should really watch the things I eat because why would I want to put something harmful into m y body? Everything around us has an effect, and it is up to us whether we choose to accept it. I have also learned to take one day at a time and live it to its fullest, and that everyone gives of an energy—some good, some bad, depending on who we are around. We can change this energy, so you don't want to be around people who put themselves down, and you don't want people who feel sorry around because they can have an affect on us. —Donny R.

From this program I learned to use m y energy more efficiently in a positive way—toward God, m y family, and all people—to honor life, spirit, mind, and body. I've also learned that power, money, and greed are things that keep you prisoner in your hfe. Nourish your body and mind with foods that provide health, not disease. —John R.

One Sunday morning about a year ago, I woke up, ate breakfast, got dressed, and started to go out. I looked for m y car keys but could not find them. I went downstairs to look for my car, and it was missing too. I realized that I had left the keys in the trunk lock and m y car had been stolen. Later I was listing to Gary Null and he mentioned the Reversing the Aging Process group. I knew this was what I had to do. I called up, and luckily there was room forme. I had been juicing for almost a year—not organic. I also was taking supplements. I was ready to begin the protocol. Once I began the pro­ gram, I started to feel better. I didn't get sore throats in the morning after taking 5000 mg of vitamin C at night. I decided that I was going to start living like a human being instead of working all the time like I had been doing. I had taken the month of August off and told m y toxic baby-sitter I couldn't pay him so much. Shortly after I stopped working, I fell in love, and started going out with a man, for the first time since my divorce eight years earlier. I was very happy. I was praying to get m y car back, and looking for it. One day, I went for a walk and was pulled to go by Our Lady of Mount Carmel

86

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

Church. I walked a different way than I would have walked ordinarily and, miraculously, spotted m y car. I was so grateful to get it back, and the experi­ ence increased m y faith in God. Of course the exercise walk was part of the program. Now, I am facing the challenge of building a relationship with my boy­ friend and creating harmony between us and m y wonderful, exuberant son, Sam. I am working less and spending more time with Sam. I still need to work on my weight and overeating—especially when writing for m y job. I am sleeping better now, especially if I exercise a lot. Anemia, which had been a problem, has not gotten worse. Also, I still need to work on having more respect for myself and deal even better with toxic people in a calm, confident way and give m y knowledge effec­ tively to others. I am a work in progress, and I still have a long way to go. — Virginia R.

At twenty you have the face that God has given you, At forty you have the face that Life has given you, and at sixty, you got the face you deserve.. . . Last year, this time on BAI Radio, Gary mentioned an orientation and I felt I had to go. So I showed up with m y sidekick and I knew in a flash He's talking to me to the Big Apple bimonthly I'd dash. Just sign on the dotted line so we know you commit, Show up in your sneakers and shorts and don't try to quit. If you want to be a fox. . . You're gonna have to detox. Oy vays uh meer! No more bagels with a shmeer! As a species we're full of feces. No dairy, pesticides, caffeine, or wheat, Your homework will be checked, so don't try to cheat. I was introduced to aloe Vera, Phil, Sam, Ian and Jill, All colors, shapes, and sizes—no one's "over the hill." Since my teens already a vegetarian so I thought I was cool (huh) Harboring anger and resentment, parasites, and stubborn as a mule.

Testimonials

87

Whether in lead be Louanne Pennse, George, or Gary All agreed dispose of old patterns and you don't have to marry. Seek in yourself, both the solution and cause And don't react too quickly, but take time to pause. When we no longer say and do what we feel and know We limit our Options and counter the natural flow. Identify and cut loose toxic people in your life Be it boss, father, mother, neighbor, sister, brother, husband, or wife. Banish Imbalance and Disharmony and let your love light shine. Control engaging in meaningless responsibility and "no pearls to swine." I wanna dance in m y magnetic pants. Where would I be without pycogenol, quercetin and Suprema C? Having more fun in the buff Thanks to Red and Green Stuff, But gotta stay on guard, Thanks to potent rock hard. I surrendered m y fears. Shed some tears and took off five years. It's about dignity of choice and honoring m y inner voice. Thank you, it's been an honor and privilege to share with this group. Now it's time to actualize, spread my wings, and fly this coop. With joy, entitlement, self-esteem, and pride, Peace, love and Null Trim, It's been one helluva ride! — Lisa H.

It comes to me as a complete surprise that I am writing this letter to you. It never occurred to me that I would meet you, or even be a client at your healing center, but life is full of surprises. I am grateful for this program because I feel it has put me on the right path and I feel fantastic! I have more energy, think clearer, and, best of all

88

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

thanks to hypnosis I have stopped smoking—m y husband, too. I have also stopped eating meat and feel very good about this accomplishment. Within this year, I have done a lot of work on myself, of which this pro­ gram is a very positive part. I continue to work and make many positive changes. Thank you for your insight, courage, and unselfish sharing of your knowl­ edge. God bless you! — Muriel C.

Where to begin? This program has been a life-changing experience, even though I had begun some of the components of the protocol—detoxing and using nutrition—to control my lifelong asthma symptoms for about a year and a half beforejoining this group. For most of m y life, I had relied on pharmaceu­ tical drugs that appeased m y symptoms, made the initial problem worse, and severely damaged m y immune system. At the age of twenty-six, I decided to try a more natural approach. My research served me well, and I managed to get off the drugs, but I still had some episodes of breathing difficulty. I was able to control this with herbs and homeopathic remedies, but was disturbed that after all I was doing, this was still happening. Since I started this protocol, I can't even remember the last time I had serious asthma symptoms. I believe the green drinks, not consum­ ing sugar, caffeine (I was truly an addict, convinced that for some people it helped their asthma), or meat, has had a great effect. However, an even bigger difference is in m y mental attitude. Having given up wheat, dairy, and processed foods at the beginning of m y search for good health, I felt very deprived. When I was upset, stressed, or otherwise not happy with life, I would eat and eat all those things I knew were bad for m e . . . and I would feel good, satisfied. Now my attitude has changed completely. I only want to put into m y body things that will really nourish me at a cellular level. I listen to what my body is saying when it tells me it wants something sweet, and I know now that it needs a little nutrient boost, not a huge slice of chocolate cake. I also take into consideration what is going on emotionally, the power of association, and environment, all of which drive me to eat things that are going to hurt, not heal my body. Just this past week, I made another breakthrough out of my old thinking pattern. Having had asthma, exercising has already been difficult. My husband had just found a study on exercise-induced asthma and encouraged me to push

Testimonials

89

through the symptoms until the right hormones were released into m y body to counteract the wheezing. Well, in our living room, in a very safe way, we tried it, and, low and behold, it worked! Unbelievable. I have been working out on a Lifecycle every day now for a week and I feel great afterwards. I just had to get through that "wall of discomfort." My husband and I are doing this program together. This has given us an opportunity to really look at what is important to us, where we are going, how we plan to get there, while we are still newlyweds. It has brought us closer together as a family, as we make rather unconventional decisions about the food we eat, how we spend our time and our money on health and ourselves, and just how we journey through the rest of our lives together. — Diana Y.

It is difficult—indeed, impossible—to say what I gained [during a two-week intensive course at Gary's Florida ranch]. In the process of time, and a deeper internalizing of the Body-Mind-Spirit insights received—these things will be­ come clearer and increasingly real in manifestation. Revelation without mani­ festation is high-minded soul activity. I want these Divine Insights to be the bone of m y bone and flesh of m y flesh I thank you with tears of joy and grati­ tude (though I "never" cry) for opening this awesome place of beauty and spiritual harmony to those of us who are privileged to come here and make choices. I saw more things this week and I received just what I came for—but much, much more. I still have a fuzzy, toxic head, but I have focus and motiva­ tion and a new sense of who I am, warts and all. I am humbled and delighted by God's ways of revealing ourselves to us. I leave here, reluctantly, with an attitude of gratitude—ready for the next step. I am also leaving with a sense of intuitive awareness that the years to come will be very different and with new consciousness, and the levels of energy revealed that defy our present imaginings. I say yes to whatever my role is in the Divine Awakening. This week has heightened that awareness. I know now that I am moving toward Divine Health—and that Candida is a temporary thing until I learn what it has to teach me. Again, I thank you and bless you for your gift of self and sharing this holy place. — Faye Marie L.

90

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

I have definitely enjoyed the [anti-aging] protocol. I have lost almost thirtyfive pounds. I am not hungry and I feel really strong. I am much happier and more content with myself and my life in general. I have a positive attitude toward things in general. I have also been gaining more respect from m y peers. — Charlotte

I had symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, poor circulation, depression and anxiety. I was sleeping ten to twelve hours a night and was still drowsy during the day. I got sick every few weeks with flulike symptoms. Now, all of these symptoms are gone. I haven't felt this healthy since I was five! I have tons of energy during the day. I'm usually in a good mood, and I can do much more because I sleep less. Friends have asked me to buy "Gary's Green Stuff'' for them, and one friend has started on the protocol. — Maris A.

Since starting with the program last year, I can't begin to imagine m y mental outlook and physical ability then and now. To me, the difference is astounding. Twelve months ago, while starting the program, I felt my first priority was to rid this body of toxins. Many strange things happened, which I shall not enumerate. My physical well-being has improved, but the most wonderful im­ provement has been my mind-set and intellect. I have been more humane, open, truthful, and less mean-spirited. One observation: truth has its drawbacks. It is amazing how few people appreciate hearing the truth. They want to be placated, stroked, whether it is the truth or not. Still I will not be as I was. It is fun to realize that the brain has also become detoxified. The interplay between mind and body is happening to me, although the mind seems to be ahead of the body Thank you to the support group and its leaders, Louanne Pennse, and yourself. — Lorraine V. P.

Testimonials

91

Weight loss was the first thing I noticed after beginning the program. I lost fifteen pounds and I have been able to keep it off in the time since I completed the program. I am also starting to build muscle from working out three times a week. My self-esteem is higher; I am more confident, and I am no longer intimidated by doctors. Iam also motivated to try new things, such as studying a third language and taking dance lessons. I play soccer once a week; I've stopped listening to commercial radio; I don't watch much TV anymore, and I've gotten into reading. When I'm working, I listen to books on tape. Last month Iran a five-mile race. A year ago, I wouldn't consider doing any of it. I worry less; I don't let things get to me. I enjoy m y running and walking. I've weeded out all toxic relationships, and finally, I've noticed that I don't get sick as often as I used to and, if I do, it doesn't last as long. — Dimitrios R.

Participating in Gary Null's anti-aging program has improved my health physi­ cally and emotionally. After eliminating dairy foods, sugar, and fried foods from m y diet—I was already a vegetarian—m y allergies improved and I had fewer colds and better elimination. I also have had more energy and some weight loss. The behavior modification aspect of the program has taught me to be more assertive and confident. I am closer to achieving m y goals. — Andrea B.

I had been in a support group for six months. My weight had stabilized and I was getting discouraged. Rather than taking m y old path of sabotaging the progress I had made by returning to old ways, I decided to visit Paradise Gar­ dens for a week. I thought m y goal was to lose more weight; however, attending the semi­ nars, watching tapes, and attending your talks made me realize that was a limited goal. If I truly committed to the process unfolding before me, I would have the opportunity to start on the road of being a whole person. The pain of the fragmented, unconscious life I had led was overwhelming, and I now know that the process started in this short week will make the difference between a life lived on the side of mere existance and one which will be lived to its fullest at a high-energy level.

92

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

I liked being challenged. Walking six miles to start and increasing the amount every day was something I didn't think I could do, so I stopped think­ ing and turned the walks into a meditation. I had not thought of this approach before and it has helped me to go farther. I expect I've never done anything more important in m y life. — Carol N.

Before I began this program, I was stuck in a job I disliked. I was unable to produce anything creative. I am now in the process of getting out of this job — I've already handed in m y resignation—and I have made plans to reactivate my creative side. Before I began the program, I had arthritis that made it impossible for me to walk from time to time. I have no more arthritic pains. The fungus on m y right heel disappeared. My hair, which was thinning, is showing accelerated growth. I have practically no ridges on my fingernails and m y energy level is up considerably. Spiritually, I view the future as a good place. My buttons can't be pushed anymore. I can't give you a straightforward account of the obstacles I have overcome, because I do almost everything in an almost somnambulistic, intuitive way. I do have more inspiring dreams than I used to have, and therefore follow a path that is leading me somewhere, but not in that concrete way. When I compare myself now to the way I was a year and a half ago, it is that I moved away from fears and doubt toward hope and optimism, and in some respects, m y life has taken on a more constructive form. All your questions gave me an opportunity to deal with issues directly— not my inclination—and therefore, just by thinking of an answer, m y life has become redirected and rechanneled. — Beatrice T.

Many family and friends were surprised to find out I had joined a "detox group." They thought I was already taking very good care of my health and, relative to most people, I was. But I knew there was plenty of room for im­ provement. In the eight months since I began this [anti-aging] program, changes are:

Testimonials

93

• Physically: I sleep an average of an hour to an hour and a half to two

• •

•

•

hours less per night and have tons more energy. I am raring to go each morning. I've lost twenty pounds, m y skin is smoother, m y hair shinier, and m y nails stronger. I'm much stronger, with more muscle tone from lots of exercise (power walking, cycling, and Nautilus with some yoga). Mentally: I have a better perspective overall, am more appreciative, and stop to smell the roses more often. Work: I am managing two hectic businesses and four employees more calmly and enjoying it. I have lots of ideas of other ventures and I am researching and pursuing some of them, including a book project with a friend that should be fun and will ultimately help people. Play: I'm taking more time out. It's difficult, but possible, and I'm mak­ ing it a priority Also making sure I have plenty of reasons to laugh each day. I love doing things spur of the moment, so I'm ready for action as often as humanly possible. Relationships: I'm focusing on nontoxic people, detaching with love from the others. I'm finding that many people, including family, friends, and strangers, want to know more about what has me looking, feeling, and acting younger. I find it very gratifying to share what I'm learning. — Susan M.

Because of a bladder problem, which had practically taken over m y life, I was very limited in m y activities. I couldn't make any plans without knowing where the nearest bathroom was in advance. If I walked, it was in a large circle, always leading back to the house within a half hour or so. With that improving [since beginning to follow the protocol] I can actually visualize a marathon forme in the not-so-distant future, since I expect to con­ tinue on this path. I really feel reborn. I think that was actually m y biggest hurdle. I can now travel again, which I had always loved to do and couldn't be­ cause it had become such a hassle. I can visit m y daughter who lives in Califor­ nia who I seldom see because of constraints on her time at her job and with school. I was unable to sit through a complete movie without missing the middle or the ending, so I had stopped going. I will again be able to go to museums, musicals and plays, and go to the opera without hopping over people. I have more energy now and seem to do with less sleep. I start to sing

94

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

while I'm doing the dishes. Sometimes I don't realize I'm singing until I hear myself. It just comes out, spontaneously, and then I laugh at myself. That's another thing I'm able to do easily—laugh at myself. I don't take myself so seriously as I used to. I was always very sensitive and easily hurt, so I would not stand up for myself to anyone. Now I say what is on m y mind. I do chal­ lenge people if I feel I am right. That's a big step for me, and a release. I had feelings of low self-worth, having grown up with criticism and sel­ dom being able to do anything right. Then, when I married, it was just rein­ forced, and I continued on a downward spiral; that is, until I said, "Enough." I not only turned myself around, but my husband also changed. He is very careful of the things he says and does now, so as not to hurt m y feelings— which he admits did not come easily for him. Uncluttering is an ongoing process. Every day I look to see what I can get rid of. I feel lighter and have opened up some valuable space that was needed. I look forward to doing more of it. — Mildred L.

I came into the program thinking this would be a good physical change forme. The physical has been the least of the blessings of the program. That's not to say I haven't noticed any physical changes. I was a confirmed "junk food junkie" fast-food restaurants, greasy fries and hot dogs, chocolate bars and ice cream. Interestingly, the easiest part of the diet has been the ab­ sence of meat. It has become quite a creative and rewarding experience for me to figure out m y weekly vegetarian menu. The most difficult thing has been staying away from sugar. That's m y everyday challenge. The first change I saw was very quick. Every autumn, since I was a child, I would develop a terrible bronchial cough. Recently, doctors were treating it like a form of asthma. This cough usually lasted between one and three months. Three days after I started this program, the cough was gone. I attri­ bute this to the absence of dairy foods from my diet. Other physical benefits: I am only sleeping four and a half to five and a half hours per night and I am rarely tired during the day. Also, a few of my associates says m y skin "looks better." I think the program has become a springboard for me at this time— mentally and physically and even spiritually. It has also been a continual source of discussion, both supportive and adverse. Many, like my father, are amazed I have stuck it out as long as I have. Some, like m y mother-in-law, seem to

Testimonials

95

ignore it and insist I eat her store-bought chicken. Many simply don't under­ stand this at all, and that too is a great motivator for me to stay with the program. — Paul A.

My week here [at Paradise Gardens] was both the shortest and longest of m y life. Short, because I hated to leave. Long because I have rarely, in m y 64‘/2 years, found so much tranquility. Thanks to your teachings I have determined to make a beginning in changing m y life. I cannot do it at the pace you suggest, but for m y life energy typing, it's a start. — Bemie P.

For someone with a history of chronic fatigue, committing to a time allotment twice a week to commute to the city was a challenge to me at the start of this program. I also had to adjust to how m y family reacted to m y lifestyle changes, and I had to get accustomed to the changes in m y diet. Physically, the exercise regimen took some getting used to. I have learned to have a more positive outlook on life, regardless of any negative events that have happened or that will happen. I have learned to control m y temper and not make any decisions if I am in an angry state of mind. I will also admit if I make a mistake, even if I risk embarrassment. I spend more time with m y children and am able to remain patient with them, even if they are whining or nagging. I find that I am more courteous on the road, which is important since I spend ten hours a day driving. I know that my positive attitude will lead to total well-being. Since I began the program, m y skin condition [eczema] has improved and m y energy seems to be longer-lasting. My senses of taste and smell are im­ proved, so that now I desire less sweet and less salty foods. It seems that I have less gray or white hair than before, and I have fewer body aches, and m y vision has improved slightly. Spiritually, I am more willing to help others, even if it inconveniences me. I am also eager to pass on any information that I have learned, if I feel it might benefit the person in need. I know that respecting others' views and opinions without condemning them is an important part of life. Striving to live guilt-free will open up my mind to new learning experiences.

96

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

At first, dealing with m y wife's extremely skeptical view of my participat­ ing in this study group was hard to overcome. . . . Being that I had adjusted my diet two years prior to joining the study, it hasn't been too hard to work in the few additional changes. Elimination of wheat and sugar was probably the hardest to overcome, but I have kept them out of my diet. My wife is learning how to cook according to m y new diet. She is creating some great-tasting dishes. . . . I feel m y health is at about 60 percent now, and I see myself as being closer to 100percent in a year or less, since I will continue to have a steady desire to do whatever it takes. — Lou L.

The biggest change I have experienced since beginning this program has come through focus and eliminating toxic people from m y life; for being able to say no without feeling guilty. My bodyrequires less sleep, and my elimination is regular. I have also learned so much more about healing the human body through detoxification. I am truly grateful for this lesson in healing. — Mutaba H.

Since the beginning of my participation in this program, the following has occurred: increased mental clarity; a better sense of overall calm and relax­ ation; a much improved outlook on life; an even broader sense of consciousness and self; less crankiness; less fatigue; improved recall and memory'; a much improved ability to cope with stress; faster and more graceful movement; an improved feeling of mental clarity; overall improvements in my level of energy; clearer skin; clearer nasal passages; less excess mucous; improved resting heart rate; decrease in the amount of sleep needed for rejuvenation; improved work­ out recovery limes; a noticeable increase in lean muscle tissue; improved bowel movements, which are also more regular; less sluggishness; more patience, and a decrease in my tonsil size. No longer do I have dark shadows under my eyes. There is significant decrease in pain from peripheral neuropathy in both legs and an extremely remarkable decrease in arthritis pain, both resulting from multiple trauma suf­ fered July 7, 1997. The surgeon who operated on my crushed right calcareous stated that post-traumatic arthritis was inevitable and that I may have to con­

Testimonials

97

sider fusion in the future. I haven't gotten sick since I began the program—and that's without a spleen. I can't thank you enough for the knowledge you've bestowed upon me in any other way than to continue to actualize it. Forever I shall be grateful. — Patrick H.

The changes I have made since beginning this protocol are more marked than any changes I have been able to make in several years. During the six months that I followed the protocol closely: • I lost one pound per week for a total of 12 pounds. • I lost several inches from m y hips and waist. • My blood pressure dropped to 102/60. • My self-confidence and energy level rose to a new high level. • My sense of security that I could cope with new situations increased. • I received many comments on m y shiny hair. • I felt like I had a more focused, steady sense of energy. • I was less dehydrated. • I didn't get any headaches, whereas I usually got at least one severe headache per month. • Overall, I felt more competent, confident, positive, and clear-headed. • I was able to focus on other goals in m y life. • People commented on how nice m y skin was. Then, for the next month or two, I had a more difficult time sticking to the protocol. In that short time, I gained back a few of the pounds that I had lost; I experienced much more exhaustion, and I had headaches again. Now, I am back solidly on the program. — Elaine

Six years ago, I came to a very serious crossroads in m y life. I was nutritionally deficient, physically ill, and fatigued—with all the symptoms of Lyme dis­ ease—and I had a rotten attitude. After being introduced to Gary's ideas re­ garding health and fitness, I gradually began to experiment with his concepts and found that I did improve. I learned that I had to take responsibility for myself in every regard and not depend on others to take care of me. I don't just hand myself over to the professionals any more, whether it's

98

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

m y physicians or my auto mechanic. I discuss the problem with them and I take the responsibility of making all the final decisions based on m y readings and, to a lesser degree, their advice. I'm feeling much better since I began this journey six years ago and I plan to continue to improve. I'm not looking for shortcuts. I realize I'm in it for the long haul. — Philip G.

[Since beginning this anti-aging protocol] the cracking in m y knuckles from arthritis is gone. My gums, which looked like raw meat for almost four years, are completely healed. My vision has improved somewhat. There definitely is a threshold. I have an improved relationship with m y father, and have gotten rid of some very toxic people—which has made my life much easier. But I have more to go. I have much more energy. Before, I fell asleep at my desk almost every afternoon. At some point, a few months after I started the program, I started to feel like I did many years ago, when I was really young. I am much happier. I used to be hungry all the time, really all the time. Now I can go without eating for a long, long time. I'm hardly hungry, even when I sit down to eat. But I eat. I lost a lot of weight—close to thirty pounds—without effort, and I feel real good about that. I can move about with much more ease. I am very glad all that extra weight is gone. I am more conscious of m y spiritual being. I realize that my spiritual needs have to be taken seriously. I have started to read the Bible again. I pay closer attention to what I am doing and try to be in the present, whatever I am doing. I do the activities for the sake of doing and do not look for rewards or approval. I only look for a happier life. I truly believe that to take care of your spiritual needs first is most important, and everything else will fall into place. My spiritual and physical being arc now at a better level. I am now closer to where I want to be. Thank you very much for your help! — Sigrid G. E.

Stress is the primary factor in the weight/hypertension problems that prompted me to join the study group.

Testimonials

99

Through adherence to the protocol the regenerative powers of m y system were tapped. My hair, skin, nails, and overall health improved. A serious prob­ lem with heavy menses and anemia, which led to a life-threatening situation has been alleviated. Although I haven't reached m y target weight or controlled my hypertension, I'll regroup and pursue the regimen in a more diligent manner. This is a life-sustaining protocol. Learning to own m y experiences has set me on the path to wellness. Thanks, Gary. — Trelline G.

Prior to joining Gary's study, I knew that I had some issues, but never realized how serious they really were and how much of an impact they had on m y life. The reason I didn't recognize this was because I was too afraid to reach down and examine muself to see it. I grew up feeling that I was never good enough. I never fit in anywhere and was always the person the class bully beat up. Not having any self-worth or confidence, I became a crowd pleaser. I became whatever anyone wanted me to be just to gain some sort of acceptance. This went on all of my childhood and most of my adult life until I went to Gary's ranch in Florida and started this program, which I have continued since returning home. This is the area where I made the greatest changes in m y life. I look at life from a new perspective, just like I'm starting over again at forty-four! I was thirty to forty pounds overweight. My blood pressure was 180/110, and my cholesterol was over 290. I drank eighteen cups of coffee a day, never realizing that it was a drug, and I thought Dr. Adkin's high-protein, all-redmeat diet was the answer. Now, m y blood pressure is 110/80, a reduction that came without use of drugs. My cholesterol is 240, and I have lost approxi­ mately eighteen pounds (after only four months) and would like to lose an­ other eighteen. I no longer use any products with caffeine or sugar. I drink no sodas and eat no red meat. I ha ve reduced m y dairy consumption by more than 80 percent and have become a vegetarian—with the occasional exception of fish and chicken. I feel 100 percent better, and mornings are no longer a problem for me. I have also started a training program and was accepted to run the New York Marathon. — Gary M.

100

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

Since I started this program, my health has improved and my emotional well­ ness is getting along. I have smoother skin and more energy. I gained ten pounds—before I was underweight. I can lift weights more intensely and my recovery is faster. When I wake up in the morning, I feel clear-headed. The support group questions have helped me to let go of the past and the people who I resented. I no longer feel angry and don't waste time brooding over that. I catch myself in the middle of negative thoughts and think of some­ thing more helpful instead. I've let go of the people who don't accept me for who I am. Creating new relationships is still a challenge for me, bring a creative, assertive type, but I'm hopeful. I'm trying to have more fun, to laugh more. These are the most notable changes . . . so far. Thank you very much for your guidance. — O. L.

I will say that this program has made me look and feel wonderful. I have unbelievable energy now. I need much less sleep—two hours less a night—and feel better than I did with a full eight hours before I started the protocol. My mind is much clearer and focused. I have always exercised, but now my body is much leaner and my muscles are more defined. How have I changed physically? My body is much more sensitive now. I can feel the difference when I don't take care of it—miss exercise, eat the wrong foods, or tax it with stress. I feel the extra energy I have from not overeating and keeping myself clean. I don't get any pains. I was never sickly, but sometimes I might get an ache here or there. Now, I never have anything like that. I always feel great! I still crave sweets, but now I'm not addicted. I have the willpower to do what is right for myself. Even if I do cheat, it's only eating organic peanut butter and raw honey on organic breads, or unsweetened carob-covered al­ monds—not anything that is bad for my body. The biggest change mentally is that I believe in myself more. I look out for my well-being now, and I am learning to say no to people and situations that I should say no to. I am learning howto focus myself and stay unstressed. Some­ times I still become overwhelmed, but now I can calm myself down much easier.

Testimonials

101

I do not kill myself working now. I know I am human and that I can only do what I am capable of doing. I let the people I do work for know this. I am making as much time as I can for play. Instead of saying I want to do something or travel somewhere someday I am planning and doing those things now. —Marcia D.

Three months before I joined the study I was diagnosed with a melanoma in m y right eye. I am legally blind in m y left eye, so I was terrified. I was told that it was not small, but not large. My treatment options included removing the eye, radiation—which would leave me blind within five years. Only by probing did I find out that I had the option of doing nothing. The doctor told me that I could "watch it"—but if the cancer grew, it would spread to m y liver and I would be dead within a year. I decided not to just watch it, but instead to do something to be rid of it, or never let it grow. The first mental challenge was dealing with the authorities. The words of traditional medical doctors were very powerful. The words of Gary Null were also powerful. I needed to become m y own authority. I was also overweight and not taking care of m y body. I knew that I was eating poorly. I knew that the cancer was a wakeup call that literally held a gun to m y head. I also had migraine headaches, chronic lower back problems, prostate problems, rotator cuff problems in m y right shoulder, and arthritis in m y right big toe. Since beginning the protocol, the melanoma has not grown for eight months. The migraines virtually disappeared about two months after changing m y diet. I lost thirty-five pounds, and m y back problem has shown marked improvement. Before I began the program, I took a product made of saw palmetto and other herbs for m y prostate problems, but it didn't help. Now it works. My body is receptive to healing. My shoulder is about the same—a minor problem—and my toe is slightly better. Overall, I just feel better. My energy level varies, but on the whole I am much more energetic, and feel I have a younger body that knows how to heal itself. — Eugene N.

102

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

In the course of the study, I have eliminated dairy, flour, processed food, etc. I have identified and eliminated food allergies. In addition, I've learned and felt the benefits of eating a healthy diet. I ha ve wonderful skin, and I no longer ha ve colds or sin us problems, which plagued me most of m y life. I have more energy, and I no longer experience painful menstrual cramps. I am able to feel m y body processes working. I listen to m y body—I never did that before. If I feel any major changes, I am able to identify what the cause was, i.e., sinus headache—I ate something that I was allergic to. — Nevea V.

My intention [when I started the study group] was to get healthy, to get some energy and gain a feeling of self-motivation back in m y life. Well, it happened. I started to let go of things in m y life like: I cleaned out m y basement. This was a big thing for me, since I had not touched it in fifteen years—I just threw everything away.

I noticed that I was arguing less and less with m y wife. I bought her a copy of your book, Who Are You Really? It helped. As far as m y health is concerned, m y energy came back. I started to feel good. My skin became younger-looking, and I began to look at the world differ­ ently. Other things started to change also. When I was eighteen years old, as a soccer player, I was kicked on the back of m y left leg. That injury turned into varicose veins. Seven months into the protocol, the varicose veins started to shrink. They are now half the size of what they used to be. That is unbelievable. I now need only six or seven hours of sleep a night. I would say that I have stuck with the protocol 90 percent. Gary, I would love to go to the next level with you. My life is different; m y children's lives are different; m y wife's life is different. Things are going great, thanks to you. — Tom G.

I would like to begin by saying thank you for having been the catalyst that is leading to many positive and exciting things in my life. As a result of being in this group, I have seen some specific changes in m y physical health and have also developed a far greater awareness of the joy and love in my life and my relationships.

Testimonials

103

I will start by telling you about the physical changes. I have had two prob­ lems that I wanted to try to address differently, since traditional methods were not working. For one, I suffered from headaches for what seems like years. Sometimes, they were just bothersome tension-type headaches, and some­ times they were migraines, close to debilitating. Sincejoining the group [eight months earlier] I have been eating a primar­ ily vegetarian diet—including fish; have eliminated caffeine, and, to a large extent, refined sugar; have exercised, and have basically followed the protocol laid out for us. Iam happy to be able to say that the frequent tension headaches just don't seem to occur anymore. What this means for me is that I have no need for the Tylenol or ibuprofen tha 11 took regularly—probably on an a verage of four pills a day for any number of years. The next thing I hope to conquer is the migraines. I also have had a problem with cold sores. I had an episode a few years ago in which the virus appeared in one of m y eyes. Fortunately, m y vision wasn't affected, but I did have the cornea scraped, which was a frightening experience. Since being in the study group and making the nutritional changes, the episodes and severity of cold sores have slowed down, and I have been able to stop taking the antibiotic that was originally recommended. I want to continue working to eliminate them altogether, however. As I think about the rest of m y life to date. I know that I have been very fortunate. I am basically an optimistic person and feel loved and respected in m y relationships—this includes in m y professional role as well as in m y relationship with m y husband, our five children, and close friends. I also know that I am effective at what I do. I am an intelligent, supportive woman and have a natural desire to learn new things. And having been in the group has introduced me to many new things that I want to explore. For example, I have enrolled in a fascinating course called Mind Body Health in which I am learn­ ing how to practice mindfulness meditation. I am also studying T'ai Chi as a result of having learned about it in our group. But having read Who Are You Really? was probably the most exhilarating experience of all. To be able to understand m y own energies and those of the people around me has given me far greater insight and understanding and almost a sense of power or, perhaps better said, empowerment. — Natalie K.

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

104

How have I changed since I began the program six months ago? • 1 now exercise six days a week. When I first started walking, it took me

• •

• • • •

• •

• •

thirty minutes to walk a mile. Now 1 walk a fifteen- to sixteen-minute mile! I've lost more than sixty pounds. I have eliminated two toxic people in my life. I sleep less and better. My skin has cleared up. 1 has e better bladder control. I don't talk on the phone at night anymore, giving me much more free time. Now I do yoga one night and meditate every night. I don't gossip or listen to gossip, and I don't engage in negative conver­ sations. I am happier. I feel joy. I am a better healer, a better doctor, a better human being.

With my mental and physical improvement, my patient numbers have in­ creased because of my attitude, and because I am physically stronger, I can see more patients. Life is good. — Stacey T., D.C.

Before joining the study, I was continually challenged with chronic fatigue. Every day I would be troubled by low energy and other physical symptoms. My adrenal glands were underactive and I was almost constantly under stress. I had hypoglycemia and felt a gnawing hunger until the evening. I was too tired to exercise. I had allergies and sensitivities to many foods and chemicals, and had repeated bouts of sinus infections. My thyroid function was low. I was cold and tired, and I had trouble at night, occasionally waking and not being able to fall asleep again for many hours. Now I have more energy. Yes! I knew / could, since I had had short epi­ sodes of high energy before. I haven't had a sinus infection in ages. I feel a sense of physical integration that I attribute to many things, but especially to T'ai Chi and Chi Gong exercises. My hypoglycemia is practically gone. I don't feel stressed out to the point of being wasted mentally and physically. I wake up earlier and more alert than before.

Testimonials

105

I trust m y body to heal itself. I got rid of my prescription medications. . . . I see myself as integrating m y life more and more in the future, and combining m y work with m y friends. I feel that keeping healthy, in every way, is not just a personal priority, but it helps in my mission to help others and in my environmental work. I am looking forward to the rest of m y life with joy and love! —Eleanor H.

I would like to share some of the changes I have experienced in the four months since I began this program. Spiritually, I feel as though we, the mem­ bers, are all one from the same source and receiving the same benefits; for example, breathing the same air, receiving the same sunshine and rain, and desiring the same inner peace. Emotionally, because of this spiritual awareness, I am able to control my emotions faster. This is due to the fact that I am aware that I can return to the spiritual source for any kind of relief I need. Also, I have discovered that my mental attitude now relaxes my physical body, and I feel less anxiety, less im­ patience, and more understanding when I interact with m y fellow man. Because of these improvements in m y life within such a short time, I must say thanks a lot. —Samuel N.

The effects your program has had on my life are very powerful. I gave up meat and fowl, sugar and dairy foods soon after starting the program. I had started an exercise program before coming into the study, so I continued it. I gave up drinking twenty-one years ago and smoking ten years ago. Giving up my life­ long habit of negative thinking and indulging negative emotions is a different proposition, but I've made real progress with it. I no longer look for the worse parts of a given situation, while ignoring the good. I now find myself feeling very uncomfortable around negative, complaining people, and I quickly get away from them. I've been putting the program's behavior and attitude modification tech­ niques to work in my life as much as possible, and they've been very beneficial. One thing that's been really helpful is the signs and sayings on the mirror. I put a picture of m y desired weight goal on my bathroom mirror, on the refrig-

106

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

erator, and on the dashboard of my car. The effect on my appetite has been tremendous. I've been very religious about taking the supplements, and judging from the various effects I'm having, they are doing their job. Some of the changes I've experienced are: • Weight loss: 30 percent of goal. • Broke my self-imposed five-mile running barrier for the first time m

• •

• •

• • •

• •

fifteen years, running eight miles. I had lost part of my sense of smell five years ago, and it has definitely improved since starting the program. Increased hair growth and decrease in amount of gray. Large increase in energy—no more comatose state at 3 p . m . every' day. Increase in self-esteem. I've begun singing lessons and will perform in a coffeehouse soon. Took a small comedy part in a church play—something I never would have done before. Decrease in junk around the house. Have been reevaluating my priorities and forming some goals for my life. People tell me that my skin looks belter and that I look younger. — Rich V.

< i> Following this protocol and answering the questions jwsed has been the moti­ vational force to allow me to achieve the weight loss I wanted and to change my life for the better. A lot of the questions revived memories of positive attitudes I carried with me twenty years ago, when I had little problem making things happen for me. Over the years. I've lost touch with this reality'. It's nice to have it brought back to me and have me working on things from that standpoint. I am an avid skier and have taught skiing for more than twenty years, full time and part time. Being on the protocol has helped me have the most reward­ ing season of my career. I've been getting an overwhelming amount of positive feedback from my students. 1had the best year of tips received and best lessons taught ever. I was one of twelve out o f270 instructors to recene an award for excellence. I've been relatively injury-free this season. The last four seasons I experienced injuries that lessened my abilities on the slope* for weeks at a time.

Testimonials

107

I have also decided to retake a high-level certification exam, which I failed when I originally took it fourteen years ago. I feel that my athletic performance has reached the level where I feel comfortable taking it again. I also feel com­ fortable with the exam being a learning experience, and if I should fail it again, I won't be waiting as long to retake it, but will continue my training and retake it at my earliest convenience. My level of excitement has increased because of m y level of achievement in weight loss, athletic prowess, and positive overall attitude. I am still working things out and continuing to detoxify my surroundings. I am still a work in progress. I've got a good idea of what changes I must continue to make, and am excited about what these changes will bring to me. — Marc C.

In the six months since beginning the program, I have changed physically, losing twenty pounds and working out four to five days a week. I have incredi­ ble energy and am not tired. I sleep less, but the sleep I get is restful. Mentally, I am more clear-thinking, making decisions regarding m y life and business quicker, as opposed to laboring over them. I have no depression, but a general feeling of grounding and balance. Affirmations work. Work—love it! I own my own business, an organic vegan home delivery service. Since being a member of the group, I am more organized—no procras­ tination. Our company has tripled its business. The company has become an extension of m y being. I have much more quality play in m y life, and I choose very carefully who I'd like to play with. My time is important. Most importantly, because work is demanding, I truly enjoy m y "playtime. "As far as relationships go, once again, time is valuable—which made it easy to shed relationships that were toxic and draining. I moved out of a six-and-a-half-year relationship to a studio apart­ ment that belongs to me— serene, peaceful, and beautiful. I am choosing rela­ tionships that are positive. Although not every day moves gracefully through m y life, each day is growing more enjoyable and fun. This support group has helped change my life to a positive, peaceful state of being. A definite catalyst. — Liz M.

The reason I decided to join the study is a desire to reach my potential spiritu­ ally, physically, and emotionally. To achieve this, I must empower myself. The

108

Gary N ull's Uvltim ate Anti-A ging Program

commitment to the program without compromise is a powerful statement. It says that I am making m y own choices in my life, and that these choices are positive and affect every aspect. I am in control. In the past two years, I have been divorced, lost m y job, and lost my apart­ ment. The reason that this happened is that I allowed other people to make my decisions for me. Basically, I didn't think enough of myself to express my wants, desires, needs, likes and dislikes, and all the other good stuff that comes along with being a person. I feel that I have come a long way in the past three months, primarily because of the program. Being in control of m y decision of what I will and will not put in my body is empowering. I believe the body is sacred and should be treated as such. It is the temple in which we live. Physically I do feel more energetic than I did before. Lack of energy was a problem in the past due to m y consumption of large amounts of sweets. Before I was married, I was very spiritual. While I was married, I was less so, due to the demands of being a father, husband, and provider. Now that I am single and possess the solitude necessary for reflection and spiritual growth I am following m y path that leads to discovery and wholeness. What I have also discovered is that making positive changes in one aspect of your life leads to positive changes in other areas. Sometimes you don't consciously make posi­ tive changes; they just happen, one built upon the other. — Tom M.

I have changed physically in that I have a lot more energy and I sleep less. I have lost about twenty-five pounds and have a lot more strength and less pain from fibromyalgia and arthritis. People say m y skin looks good and want to know what I am doing—and I tell them. (There are a lot of new Green Stuff users out there!) I am mentally clearer and more focused and, as a result, m y teaching is better. I am a lot more tolerant and less angry with students and other people, too. I don't let my toxic relatives get to me any more. I even feel that some of my positive energy is rubbing off on them. I have had a lot to deal with in the past six months, including my mother's death and my sister's recent car acci­ dent, and I know I wouldn't have been able to cope with this so well without all the changes I have made. I have a lot more to do in terms of getting rid of years of toxicity and I need to work more on being less angry and more playful. — Liza S.

Testimonials

109

It's been approximately twelve weeks since I began your program. My com­ ments will be limited to these twelve weeks; however, please note that I have been following your advice for more than two years, via your radio shows, books and lectures. During weeks one through six, I felt an unusual amount of fatigue. This was frustrating because I felt it had a negative impact on my exercise program. I work out at a gym at least four times per week. I found myself easily fatigued during my workouts. However, by the seventh week, m y strength and endur­ ance returned. In fact, recently I've noticed gains in m y strength training— both more weight being lifted and more muscular definition. Other physical changes I've experienced so far include a cleaner, clearer complexion—friends have also noticed and commented on this— and, unfortu­ nately, an accelerated hair loss. Probably the most significant emotional change I've experienced is an overall feeling of well-being. I know the program is helping me physically and the physical improve­ ment makes me feel very good about myself. I've also noticed a great change in m y outlook about my work, my friends, and my life. Certain things that seemed so important to me—especially concerning m y work— don't have the same importance. . . . I especially feel very aware and alert, and very focused on what's going on around me. — Chris M.

I would like to thank you, Gary, for your constructive criticism of my power walking, as well as for your encouraging me to compete eventually in this sport. As for my foot problems, I will follow your advice because I trust you. I know I will be cured. I'd like to let you know, Gary, based on my perception, you are a perfect example of mens sana in corpore sana. You have given me inspiration to strive for the same, although I wonder how far I will get, or when I will feel complete. — Rose V.

Before I joined the program, I envisioned myself becoming one of Gary's great success stories, being able to go from one mile running to twenty miles or a

110

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

marathon's length in a week's time, and being able to prioritize m y life in order to work m y eight-hour job in eight hours instead of twelve or thirteen, as I have often done in the past. I tried to compensate for my avoidance of honoring m y own belief system as well as compensating for lack of placing my spirituality as m y numberone priority by taking additional vitamins, supplements, exercise, and helping others. Now, after m y week here, I will continue to raise m y vitamins, juices, and exercise, but no longer as a compensation mechanism. I will continue to honor m y health with a renewed commitment and vigor to life, because I have hum­ bled myself to God, m y higher power, within me. So now I realize that all the problems I had before will still be in there when I return to New Jersey, but I can face them with less fear because I am more of a complete person. For this I would like to thank Gary Null for his inspiration, insight, and generosity.. . . I hope to repay you every day by providing myself and everyone else in my life with the same love and caring that you have given me, and hopefully it will return to you and your staff tenfold. Thank you. — Brian B.

I wanted to write you and thank you for helping me find a new direction in life. I went to your ranch in Naples [Florida] as one person and came home another. I have made permanent changes in my life and I feel terrific. The changes I have gone through are too numerous to list, what I can say is, now, I feel as if there is nothing I can't do. Thank you so much again. It is truly wonderful, the way you use your gifts. — Laura J. G.

My illness had gone undiagnosed for a year and a half and had been debilitat­ ing. But this week [at Paradise Gardens] I looked at deeper issues—such as what stands between me and health and well-being. Your example of how to live with joy, strength, and fierce and unflagging dedication inspires. The best way to express my gratitude will be to heal. I hope I can return soon and become strong enough, over time, to prevail. — Nancy A.

Testimonials

111

I've been "detoxing" for a year now, and my life keeps getting better and bet­ ter. I almost feel like a child again—the whole world is mine to explore. My life will never be the same. I also want to thank you for being a wonderful role model in m y life. I admire the passion you have for your beliefs and work, your refusal to compro­ mise them, and your dedication to the mastery of each day in your life. You have set the bar very high! Your efforts have made the world and m y life better, and I plan to help others grow and improve their lives. — M ike C.

My spirit is awake for the first time since I was a little girl. I feel as though I have come full circle. . . . I am at last at peace and harmony. Body, mind, and spirit are one. You have touched so many in m y family already. Mike and I have both made life-affirming changes. My father-in-law is beginning to heal. We've made our children healthy again. The effects are endless and go much deeper than mere words can express. — Gina S.

A new beginning at sixty-seven; what an opportunity for me! I am so grateful to you for showing me how I can do more for myself and others. . . . You have taught me that there is so much more for me to learn in order to "follow my bliss." Again, thank you for showing me the way to a healthy body, mind, and spirit. — Dorothea M.

I began this age-reversing program because I wanted to start living a healthier life. I would start, but go off track. I lacked motivation as well as discipline, but by joining the group, I have become more motivated and disciplined. I knew exercise was good for m y health, but I didn't exercise. By joining the group, I have started to exercise a minimum of three times a week. I now have the motivation to exercise. Since stating this program, I have lost weight

112

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

and do feel more energetic. The weight loss and high energy I now ha ve is very motivating and I see myself living a healthier life and eating healthier. — Florence H.

Physically, this program has given me a pathway onto how to extend my life­ span. How to get away from the American diet, how to cope in this society when you are perceived to be different. This program has given me energy, and an overall feeling that m y body is much cleaner. It has helped me see that there is another way to live your life. — David Y.

Before beginning the program, I had had a history of fibrocystic breasts for twenty years. I was underweight and was not exercising at all. I had noticeable hair loss, and I had been taking Synthroid for a history of possible thyroid cancer. After approximately six months in the program, my fibrocystic breasts have decreased by more than 50 percent, and I have gained two pounds. I am now exercising five to six days a week and I have muscles! My hair loss started to slow down. Also, I have stopped taking Synthroid. — Yanick D.

I just improved my body and that helped me feel better emotionally and spiri­ tually. I have learned to give more care for my body in the future. — Eva

Since I started the program, my poor memory and awareness have improved. I had been full of fear, angry and overreactive, and I felt victimized and had uncontrolled reactions to very small problems. I am much calmer and happier now, and shyness, guilt, and low self-esteem are improved. I feel that people have more respect for me now and that I have more control over many things. Acne is clearing up; my nails look much better now, with the spots on them going away. Arthritis pain is 70 percent improved and a problem with dry eyes—I was told by the eye doctor that I would have to take these drops for

Testimonials

113

the rest of m y life—is gone. I am sleeping better and back pain has improved by 30 to 40percent. I had many allergies—mold, string beans, eggs, grasses, animals, bee pol­ len, and on and on. I was given injections two or three times a week for a year without getting better. Another allergist told me I am only allergic to yeast. Nothing seemed to help. I often had trouble breathing, and I had problems walking into a temple weekends because the air was very toxic with mold. People complimented me that I look ten years younger on a recent trip to Israel. Several complimented me on my new glasses, but it wasn't the glasses—it was my new face! I didn 't beheve that I could have spiritual joy again. I felt a lot older. Now I believe I can have more joy in general. — Moshe M .

I came into the study detoxing from a twenty-eight-year, progressively abusive marriage. Drawing on all my resources to get me through—actually having the source physically removed from the house, restraining order, court appear­ ances, custody hearings for m y son. I actually came down with acute myelogenous leukemia during the separa­ tion period. After they got it in remission with chemotherapy, I attended your lecture on Who Are You Really? I approached you for how to get my totally depleted health back. You said, "Detox," but I had no money to go away for one. The answer to m y prayers, literally, came through the radio when you announced the support group I am now reporting on. Mentally I had to pick up the pieces, decide to live healthier, happier, and holier—not than "thou," but by strengthening my faith in God—and building confidence in the derisions and direction that had gotten me this far. Simplifying my life, moving, juicing—these were not options. Survival is where I started. I had to rebuild m y immune system—all my defenses were down. My hair was gone but was growing back. Fingernails, skin, muscles, strength—all weak. I had never really exercised that regularly. For years I had spurts of en­ ergy—perhaps from "toxic relationship drain''—but not consistently. Swim­ ming is something I've always enjoyed—but that was seasonal and sporatic. Still, I worked thirty hours a week, kept house with three teenagers, cooked, took interior design classes at the Fashion Institute, and did some drapery and design work on the side—before bottoming out.

114

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

Coffee got me going in the morning. I ate too much meat and processed food. When I would go out for a walk, it was when I couldn't stand the pres­ sure in the house any longer. Now I power walk/run three miles at least five times a week—and enjoy it. I do 200 crunches/sit-ups daily, which has made a visible difference. People often comment on how well I look—after cancer, if you're alive, they're sur­ prised, I guess—but it's a boost to keeping up the maintenance protocol. I could intellectualize how important this study has been to m y recovery— but I couldn't seem to do it until Sam, my Hasidic friend in the group, caught up with me on the way to the subway with something important so say: "Patty, you have to thank your ex-husband for freeing you from all the effort and energy it took out of you to keep the marriage going—that now you have all that energy into getting yourself well." Wow! I couldn't believe that; now I could do it. Amen. — Patricia B.

P A R T 111 —

< £ » —

IS IT POSSIBLE TO REVERSE AGING?

One does not evaluate one's own position in terms of what has just been lost, but rather in terms of what remains to work with. — Robert Grudin, Time and the Art of Living

4 THEORIES OF AG1MG

he bottom line: We begin to age the m om ent we are bom . How long the process takes, and how well we do it, depends almost entirely on how well we take care of ourselves. The h u m a n body is a collection of cells— 100 trillion by some estimates, bu t w ho's counting? The point is, no serious discussion of the aging process can begin w ithout first considering w h a t is ta k ­ ing place at the molecular level as we grow older. M odern theories of aging generally fall into two camps— dam age theories and program m ed theories. Damage theories are primarily concerned w ith the dam age that occurs inside the cells over time. Program m ed theories center around the idea that aging results in large part from a sort of genetic clock that decides w h en cells can no longer operate and reproduce at a rate sufficient enough to m ain tain optimal health. These distinctions are not necessarily m utually exclusive, but they do serve as a useful guide for discussing current thinking on how and w hy we age the w ay we do.

T

DAMAGE THEORIES While the emphasis and nam es m ay vary (e.g., free radical theory, cross-linking theory, radiation theory, DNA repair theory, oxidative stress theory, im m une theory, m em brane theory, waste accum ula­ tion theory, calorie restriction theory, etc.), free radicals lie at the heart of m ost dam age theories of aging.

117

118

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

First identified m ore th a n forty years ago by Gerschman, and cham pioned as the key to aging ever since by biochemist D enham H arm an of the University of Nebraska, free radicals are molecules w ith unpaired electrons in their outer shell. Such molecules can wreak havoc on norm al cells by attem pting to steal an electron from another molecule in order to restore their balance. In doing so they can initiate a destructive cycle th at may multiply and quickly spread, destroying healthy cells in the process. This more or less infectious pattern can continue indefinitely. Free radicals are powerful oxidizing agents that cannot be avoided altogether in th at a majority naturally result from m any norm al reactions in the body involving cellular respiration. While it is required for life and responsible for as m uch as 95 percent of our m olecular energy, oxygen itself is in fact the m ost prevalent free radical found in the body. Unfortunately, w h e n not kept in check by an adequate supply of antioxidants, w hich attack them directly and prevent new ones from forming, free radicals can lead to all kinds of degenerative problems such as atherosclerosis, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, cataracts, osteoarthritis, neurological disorders, and im ­ m u n e deficiency. The free radicals m ost critical to the aging process include super­ oxide anion, hydrogyn radical, singlet oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, and hypochlorous acid. At the molecular level, they can wage an assault on several fronts, such as dam aging im m u n e cells (white blood cells), lysomes (digestive enzymes), and un satu rated fatty acids (lipid peroxidation), destroying DNA and causing DNA m u ta ­ tions, hardening cell and nuclear m em branes, breaking off cell m em brane proteins, etc. The specific site of free radicals is a key factor in determ ining their degree of danger. Most can be found in the mitochondria, w here they cause the least harm . The m itochondria are the cells' chief engines and are surrounded by the cell m em branes. These m em branes, also a com m on location for free radicals, are particu­ larly vulnerable because they are composed of un satu rated fatty acids. An interesting aspect is the waste products free radicals leave behind in the wake of their dam age to cell m em branes. M any cells, particularly heart and nerve cells, accum ulate lipofuscin, a yellow pigment, increasingly as they age. Lipofuscin, often referred to as age spots, comes from oxidized fat moleculcs. Some suggest that

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

119

eventually the buildup of this molecular trash becomes a b u rden that damages the cell itself and causes it to stop functioning p rop­ erly. Free radicals perhaps do their greatest dam age through a process of fusing DNA and protein molecules, referred to as cross-linking. Unlike the other contents of cells, the body cannot produce new strands of DNA. The best it can do is repair them , but not always. In addition to dam aging DNA, cross-linking results in the body's essential proteins becoming stiff and therefore unable to function correctly. This process is responsible for m any of the symptoms m ost often associated w ith aging— cataracts, wrinkles, brittle bones, k id ­ ney failure, hardening of the arteries, and im m u n e deficiency. Crosslinking is particularly prevalent in diabetics, as glucose fuels the process, and helps explain w hy diabetes is a disease recognized for its severe prem ature aging effects. In order to com bat the dangers of free radicals it is im portant to identify where they come from. As previously stated, many, if not the majority, of free radicals occur naturally in the body. They are produced as a by-product of norm al cellular activity, as well as in response to both psychological and physical stress, an example being excessive exercise. However, free radicals can increasingly be found in our environm ent in the form of toxic waste, chemicals, pesticides, sunlight, radiation, and cigarette smoke, as well as d i­ etary sources such as coffee, alcohol, fried and barbecued foods, etc. The trick to keeping free radicals u n d er control is to avoid external sources w here possible, and to m ake certain th at the body is well supplied w ith antioxidants to w ard off those w e cannot. Most people are familiar w ith at least some of the benefits a ttrib ­ uted to such popular antioxidants as vitam in C, vitam in E, and betacarotene. The first line of defense against an excess buildup of oxy­ gen at the molecular level consists of three protective enzymes n a t u ­ rally found in the body: superoxide dism utase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. Free radicals are defeated essentially by being trapped, or iso­ lated, and not allowed to seek out electrons from neighboring cells. Free radicals can th e n be metabolized and turned into harm less paired oxygen molecules or simply water. Dietary sources of antioxi­ dants (nonenzym atic com pounds) can produce similar effects. While dietary antioxidants such as vitam in C are useful in the

120

Gary N ull's U ltim ate Anti-A ging Program v

fight against free radicals, this is not the only place they are needed in the body. The m ore antioxidants involved in this fight, the less are available overall. If neither the protective enzymes nor dietary sources of antioxidants can stem the rising tide of free radicals, the cells attem p t to destroy th em themselves. This burns up vital energy the cells require for more im portant activities. While free radicals destroy healthy cells, those cells that are not being destroyed are expending m ore and more resources both in attem pts to keep the free radical onslaught at bay and to clean up and repair the dam age th at already has been done. Eventually som e­ thing is going to give. And th at som ething increasingly moves from the molecular level outw ard, taking the form of heart disease, c a n ­ cer, diabetes, arthritis, senile dem entia, Alzheimer's disease, a w e a k ­ ened im m u n e system, and n um erous other ills. Key to un d erstan d in g w hy free radicals are central to dam age theories of aging concerns the issue of m aintaining oxygen balance w ithin the body. Techniques designed to successfully m ain tain this delicate balance are at the heart of m ost natural anti-aging protocols today.

PROGRAMMED THEORIES Regardless of the interpretation of the causes of aging, there is little debate that excess free radicals are harm ful. Those partial to theories that the body is program m ed to age in a certain way argue that, while free radicals are clearly an expression of aging at the metabolic level, they alone cannot be a primary cause of it. U nderstanding w h at happens to our bodies (as well as our m inds and spirits) as we age is not the same as know ing w hat trig­ gers the aging process itself. True, free radicals create big trouble, but w h at allows th em to do so m uch more, say, at age sixty, as opposed to twenty-five? For some, the answ er resides in the genes. The logic behind program m ed theories of aging rests on the b e­ lief that the body contains a genetic clock that is preset by heredity to begin deteriorating at a given point and time. Central to such theories are results from anim al studies involving selected breeding

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

121

for extended life span and in vitro (outside the body) studies show ­ ing that certain cells stop replicating over time. Variations on this them e have suggest th at the heart has a lim ­ ited n u m b er of potential beats and the im m u n e system generally reaches its greatest strength at puberty, only to gradually decline from then on. While the prospect of a ticking time bomb for selfdestruction m ay bring little solace to the health-conscious individ­ ual, there is clearly an elem ent of tru th to such thinking, in that all species have a m a x im u m life span and no one lives forever. The concept of an innate aging clock begs the question of w here it is. Some have argued th at it resides specifically in the m ito cho n ­ drial DNA. Others point to the hypotham alm us, pituitary gland, th y ­ m us gland, or pineal gland. Yet it is the w ork of cell biologist Leonard Hayflick th a t is not only most responsible for m odern p ro ­ gram m ed theories of aging, bu t has given rise to the m ost intriguing idea to date. In 1961, Hayflick found that h u m a n cells, or fibroblasts, while continuing to live, only divide approximately fifty times before ceas­ ing to function correctly. This finite n u m b er has come to be k now n as the Hayflick limit. It is governed by three factors: The first is the m ax im um life span of the species from w hich a cell is obtained. Second involves the age of the cell's source, and the third depends on the type of cell itself. An obvious exception to such findings are cancer cells; they never stop dividing. Efforts to explain this ap p ar­ ent contradiction spaw ned the telomere theory of aging. Developed in the early 1970s, it took hold in 1990 and rem ains a fertile area of research today. Telomeres are the protective caps on the ends of chromosomes th a t carry DNA. W ith few exceptions, there are forty-six chrom o­ somes on each cell. Every chromosom e has two ends w ith a telomere on each one, w hich adds up to 92 telomeres per cell. Studies show th at a telomere is roughly 5,000 base pairs in length shortly after birth. It is shortened by roughly sixty-five base-pairs w ith each cell division. Because of this, some researchers argue that the length of telomeres should be considered a biom arker of h u m a n cell aging. They note that cells stop dividing w h e n they get too short. This changes their gene expression and results in eventual cell death. Advocates of the telomere theory suggest th at by controlling the

122

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

activity of telomeres, scientists m ay both be able to enable some cells critical to the aging process to keep replicating (thus live longer) and prevent others (cancer cells) from doing so. In his book, Reversing Human Aging, Dr. Michael Fossel writes: Cells have chromosomal "clocks” that determine their life spans. A cell dies when its clock runs down. Cancer cells, on the other hand, continually reset their clocks, allowing themselves to divide forever. If we reset the clock of a normal cell, it lives anew; if we stop the clock of a cancer cell it dies. When we can set the clocks, your cells need not age and cancer can be cured.

It is Fossel's contention th at all this m ay be possible w ithin the next ten years, a case he m ade in the J u n e 3, 1998, issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association. In an article entitled "Telomerase and the Aging Cell: Implications for H um an Health," he notes that "recent research has show n th at inserting a gene for the protein com ponent of telomerase into aging h u m a n cells reextends their telomeres to lengths typical of young cells, and the cells th e n display all the other identifiable characteristics of young, healthy cells." Fossel argues th a t such findings not only suggest that telomeres are the central tim ing m echanism for cellular aging, but also d e m ­ onstrate th at such a m echanism can be reset, extending their repli­ cative life span, resulting in m arkers of gene expression typical of younger cells w ithout the hallm arks of m alignant transform ation. Taking his case a step farther, he suggests, "It is now possible to explore the fun d am en tal cellular m echanism s underlying h u m a n aging and therefore determ ine the extent to w hich the major causes of death and disability in aging populations in developed co u n ­ tries— cancer, atherosclerosis, osteoarthritis, m acular degeneration, and Alzheimer dem entia— are attributable to such fundam ental m echanism s. If they are am enable to prevention or treatm ent by alteration of cellular aging, the clinical implications have few his­ toric precedents." Fossel's claims are bold, but he is not alone in m aking them . In a January 16, 1998, article published in Science, A. G. Bodnar and colleagues reported on the results of a study in which two telom erase-negative norm al h u m a n cell types— retinal pigm ent ep ith e­ lial cells and foreskin fibroblasts— were transfected w ith vectors

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

123

encoding the h u m a n telomerase catalytic subunit. At the tim e of publication, the cells had exceeded the norm al life span by tw enty divisions, suggesting a causal relationship betw een telomere sh o rt­ ening and cellular aging. Designs for telomere inhibitors to fight cancer and inducers to reverse aging are already in the works, and the implications could be profound should they pan out. Still, the theory is not w ith o u t its critics. One is Hayflick himself, no w a faculty m em ber at the Univer­ sity of California at San Francisco Medical School and past president of the Gerontological Society of America. He believes telomeres m ay be useful for un d erstan d in g the ultim ate limits of life span b u t do n o t reveal m u ch about how to directly influence the aging process. A nother is noted molecular biologist Harry Rubin. Rubin has attacked the widely held assum ption th at there is an intrinsic fixed limit to the n u m b e r of divisions vertebrate cells can undergo. He argues th a t studies supporting this idea have been carried out in vitro or ex-vivo (removed and pu t back in the body), and it is being placed in these u n n a tu ra l environm ents that stops cells from divid­ ing. He takes his critique further, suggesting th a t results of such studies actually support a more stress-based model of aging, in th a t it is external factors (putting cells in a foreign culture) th a t causes a reduction in grow th rate, as opposed to any inherited genetic tim e­ table. In other words, it is the cells' inability or failure to successfully adapt to a stressful environm ent that is m ost responsible for their failure to replicate, perhaps paralleling conditions created over a life­ tim e of external assaults to the homeostasis of th e body from free radicals and other factors that m ay produce such dam aging effects. The tru th about how and w h y we age surely involves elem ents from both the dam age and program m ed camps. M any of us w ould like to believe w e can exercise absolute control over the speed at w hich we w ear dow n by im plem enting proper dietary and lifestyle habits. However, there is simply no denying the fact that the oldest recorded m a n to date lived to be a mere 120, an d m ost never m ake it anyw here close. W hen m easured collectively, h u m a n beings, like fruit flies, fall w ith in a generally recognized life span th at is, to some degree, ge­ netically determ ined. The average life expectancy in the United States is approximately seventy-six years. Additionally, the largescale New England Centenarian Study, in association w ith Harvard

124

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

Medical School, shows th a t there are approxim ately forty tho u san d people over the age of one h u n d re d in the U.S. This translates to 1 centenarian per 10,000 Americans, based on a population of m ore th a n 250,000,000. Ninety per cent of these lucky few are w om en. Similar patterns have been found in other industrialized countries. We are, however, individuals. W hy can some people ru n a m a ra th o n at age seventy-five while others drop dead from a stroke at forty? Science increasingly sug­ gests th a t the difference m ay well involve the daily, personal choices we m ake concerning how w e treat our bodies. Before exploring such choices, it is im p o rtan t to step beyond the cellular level and look m ore practically at w h a t hap p en s to us as we age in order to u n d e r­ stan d how to prevent it.

5 THINGS FALL APART: HOW THE BODY AGES

he obvious endpoint to aging is death. It is therefore useful to consider m ortality rates as a place to start. According to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) statistics for 1996, heart disease, cancer, and stroke continue to be the three lead­ ing causes of death in the United States. The estim ated rankings based on 1996 data are as follows:

T

CAUSES OF DEATH (Based on 1996 Data) Rank

Disease

Incidence

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Heart disease Cancer Cerebrovascular disease (stroke) Chronic lung diseases Accidents Pneumonia and influenza Diabetes mellitus HIV Infection Suicide Liver disease

733,834 544,278 160,431 106,146 93,874 82,579 61,559 32,655 30,862 25,135

W ith respect to the issue of aging, these num bers are tell­ ing. W hat they indicate is th at m ost Americans die of degenerative diseases.

125

126

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

By nature, such conditions develop over a long period of time. They at once seriously influence and are influenced by the aging process. In o ther words, diabetes can kill you prem aturely by accel­ erating the aging process. You can also develop diabetes as a result of aging too quickly. Throw genetic predispositions into the mix and the question of which comes first is a tricky one. In his book How and Why We Age, Leonard Hayflick presents data obtained from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA). The largest study of its kind ever done, the BLSA began in 1958. Still ongoing, the study m akes use of as m any as 150 trained research gerontologists w hose job it is to exam ine the physical and m ental changes in healthy people as they age. Hayflick sum m arizes the re­ sults to date as follows: • There is no evidence that a single factor or a single clock regu­ lates the rate of aging in all our organs. • Because there is a large a m o u n t of individual variation, chro­ nological age alone is a poor predictor of perform ance. Some eighty-year-olds m ay perform as well as the average fifty-yearold. • Some things— for example, resting heart rate and personal­ ity— do not change w ith age. • Some slow losses are not caused by aging but rath er diseases, such as arthritis and Alzheimer's disease. • Some losses are inevitable consequences of aging, unrelated to disease. These physiological changes occur over time as part of the norm al aging process; for example, reduced reduction in speed and losses in short-term memory. • Sudden losses are the result of diseases— especially heart a t ­ tack and stroke— rather th a n aging. • Primary changes can lead to secondary changes. Some norm al changes that occur as we age may result from the body's a t­ tem pts to com pensate for some other norm al loss. For ex a m ­ ple, w ith increasing age, greater cardiac o utput is required after exercise. • Lifestyle decisions, notably adoption of a low-cholesterol diet or stopping drinking alcohol or sm oking cigarettes, can influ­ ence the occurrence or progression of some age-associated dis­ eases. There is no direct effect on the fundam ental aging process.

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

127

• Longitudinal changes in functions help to distinguish ageassociated processes from disease. Reflecting on such findings, Hayflick writes: The BLSA tells us that there is no single aging process. A person's rate of aging may vary significantly from what might be predicted from the averages. There is no general pattern of aging applicable to all of our organs. Aging results from the interaction of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Age changes are highly indi­ vidualized. The disabilities frequently associated with old age may be caused more by the effects of disease than by aging processes. Chronological age is an unreliable measure of aging— but a proven measure of the passage of time called birthdays and receiving presents.

So be it free radicals, telomeres, or a molecular stew of these and other factors th at m ake us vulnerable over time, the tru th is, m ost people die, if not from specific causes, from a certain p attern of dis­ ease. As m ore th a n 65 percent of a n n u al A m erican deaths are attrib ­ uted to h eart disease, cancer, and stroke combined, it is w o rth taking a brief glimpse at each of these gradual killers as part of a general look at how, to paraphrase the poet Yeats, we fall apart.

HEART DISEASE The clearest evidence of aging is th at w hich can be seen by the naked eye. Hair loses its pigm entation and becomes gray, or begins to th in and fall out. Fingernails thicken and become brittle. Skin toughens and begins to wrinkle, reducing its sensitivity and m aking us m ore susceptible to injury. Each of these problems is associated w ith w h a t m ay perhaps be the m ost serious change th at takes place over time: a reduction in the rate of blood flow th roughout the body. The implications of this are trem endous, not only w ith respect to this country's perennial leading cause of death, bu t to a huge n u m b er of other, often subtle, conditions, such as impaired m em ory or lack of sexual arousal. W hen blood flow is restricted, every system

128

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

in the body— right dow n to proper n o u rish m en t of the tiniest p arti­ cles inside our cells— suffers. As m an y as 60 million Americans cu r­ rently suffer some sort of heart disease. The m ost prevalent form the disease takes is atherosclerosis. The arteries become clogged by an excessive buildup of fats k now n as plaque. Excess free radicals can convert regular, or good, cholesterol, which is required for cell m aintenance, into more threatening forms of oxidized, or bad, cholesterol— the primary com ponent of plaque. (Hence the strong correlation betw een heart disease and serum cho­ lesterol levels.) Plaque develops over time, adhering to the arterial wall and eventually obstructing blood flow. Thus plaque forces the heart to work h arder as its blood supply is reduced. This can eventually lead to a full-blown heart attack, as well as stroke, seemingly sudden events th at m ay actually have been decades in the m aking. Ju st as many, if not more, Americans suffer from a condition that, while separate, is intim ately linked to heart disease— hypertension. There are two types of hypertension: essential and secondary. More th a n 90 percent of hypertension cases are diag­ nosed as essential, m eaning the direct cause is not know n. Second­ ary hypertension occurs w h e n endocrine or kidney dam age causes a rise in blood pressure. H ypertension is m ost dangerous due to its potential dam age to the heart and blood vessels.

STROKE Of the total am o u n t of blood pum ped by the heart, a quarter of it goes to the brain. Strokes occur w h e n this flow of blood is restricted either due to clots, the rupturing of blood vessels, or a more global obstruction like that associated w ith atherosclerosis, and thus brain cells die from a lack of oxygen. Stroke can result in im m ediate death or severe physical conse­ quences, including limits on the ability to speak, walk, see, talk, and use the hands. Symptoms associated w ith stroke depend to a large extent on w h at areas of the brain are affected. In addition to the n u m b er of deaths they cause each year, estim ates are more th an 2 million

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

129

Americans currently suffer from some kind of disability due to strokes.

CANCER Cancer is a condition w here previously healthy cells m u ta te and begin to grow out of control. Allowed to continue unchecked, these cancerous cells can rob norm al cells of vital nutrients and develop into tum ors th a t can spread th roughout the body and eventually overwhelm it. Almost all cells have the potential to become cancerous. They can function properly one day, tu rn cancerous the next, and th en either be repaired by the im m u n e system or simply be destroyed and replaced. The problem occurs w h e n the im m u n e system m alfu nc­ tions for w hatever reason and cancer cells are allowed to take root and divide. Cancer can strike anywhere, b u t is generally divided into five basic types: carcinomas, sarcomas, myelomas, lym phom as, and leukemias. Most com m on are carcinomas, w hich attack the internal or­ gans— prostate an d breast, for exam ple— and skin. Sarcomas are the m ost deadly and also the m ost rare, developing in the connective and m uscle tissues and hitting the m usculoskele­ tal and lym ph systems. Also rare, myelomas begin in the plasm a cells and destroy bone marrow. Lymphomas are cancers of th e lymphatic system, two com m on examples being Hodgkin's and non-H odgkin's lym phom a. Finally, leukemias, unlike the others, take the form of an over­ production of w hite blood cells rather th a n tum ors, and begin in the tissues of the lym ph nodes, spleen, and bone marrow. Ju st as some cancers are m ore com m on th a n others, some are also more deadly. For example the incidence of pancreatic cancer in American m en is roughly 13,500 new cases per year. Male pancre­ atic deaths per year are estim ated to be approximately 12,000. A similar pattern is seen in w om en. By contrast, the num ber of new prostate cancer cases per year is around 165,000. The n u m b er of

130

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

m en w h o actually die from prostate cancer is about 35,000. In w om en, the ratio w ith respect to breast cancer is roughly the same. M uch inform ation will be presented on natural approaches con­ cerning how to treat and prevent each of these three diseases, in ­ cluding a host of others. Before doing so, however, it is w o rth noting additional ways in w h ich some im p o rtan t parts of the body change over time.

THE BRAIN Aging's m ost dram atic effects are reserved for the brain. M any peo­ ple w ould gladly accept a few less taste buds or a stronger set of reading glasses as a n orm al consequence of getting older if it was accom panied by a guarantee th a t their level of m en tal functioning w ould no t decline. In essence, to experience our ability to th in k slip­ ping away is to become increasingly estranged from a sense of w ho we really are. The brain contains an estim ated 100 billion cells and gradually shrinks th roughout life, becoming as m u ch as 10 percent smaller by the age of ninety as it was at twenty. It, and an intricate w eb of peripheral nerves, m ake up the body's nervous system. Two types of cells— neurons and glial cells— power this system. Degenerative disorders of the nervous system, such as Alzhei­ m er's disease and other forms of dem entia th at lead to cognitive deterioration, occur, at least in part, because of the aging of such cells. Glial cells far o u tn u m b e r neurons an d are responsible for pro­ tecting them , since neurons generally d o n 't divide and cannot be replaced. The fact th a t neurons are finite in n u m b e r also explains w h y m any of the sym ptoms associated w ith strokes rem ain perm anent. Neurons operate via chemical m essengers called n e u ro tra n sm it­ ters. Acetylcholine is considered the m ost im portant of these. Others include dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, epinepephrine, and histam ine. Like neurons themselves, n eurotransm itters gradually dim inish in num ber, w hich limits the ability of neurons to com m unicate w ith one another. N eurotransm itters are transm itted betw een neurons

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

131

through synapses. These synapses, w hich connect the neurons, also decline as we age and the less they are used.

THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM Home to the cells and tissues responsible for the production of h o r­ m ones, the endocrine system has factored prom inently in m any theories and discussions about aging. H ormone levels m e a s­ urably change over time and directly influence the activity of m ost cells in the body. Im portant horm ones th at have been show n to d e­ crease w ith age include insulin, grow th horm ones, thyroid h o r­ mones, DHEA, m elatonin, testosterone, estrogen, androgens, and aldosterone. As w ith free radicals, the question rem ains w h eth er this is a result of the aging process, an instigator of it, or a com bination of the two. Either way, a host of different types of horm one replace­ m e n t therapies have increasingly m ade their w ay into anti-aging protocols. Several of these have produced rem arkable benefits and will be discussed in m ore detail later.

THE IMMUNE SYSTEM The m ost notable problem faced by the im m u n e system as we grow older concerns a significant shrinking of the thym us gland, w hich is responsible for regulating T-cells. While the consequences are many, one of the worst involves the inability to distinguish foreign proteins in the body from m inor changes occurring in our norm al proteins th at have always been there, b u t are now being altered by age. Unfortunately, the im m u n e system is often too sensitive for its ow n good and ends up attacking itself, a process referred to as a u to ­ immunity. A utoim m une conditions include lupus, rheum atoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. This, coupled w ith an overall w e a k ­ ening of the body, can become a great burden on the im m u n e sys­ tem, m aking us susceptible to a host of conditions we would normally be able to fend off. These include infections such as p n e u ­ monia, not to m ention cancer.

132

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

THE MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM In the m inds of many, osteoporosis and arthritis are synonym ous w ith aging. Osteoporosis involves a loss of bone tissue, or density, resulting in w eakening of the bones themselves. This occurs for a variety of reasons, including horm onal changes, nutritional deficiencies (such as a failure to absorb enough calcium), and a lack of use from inac­ tivity. Contrary to w h a t you m ay see in popular media, osteoporosis is not merely a w o m an 's disease. M en also show evidence of bone loss. Arthritis takes two forms. O steoarthritis develops w h e n the sm ooth cartilage surface of the joints connecting bones wears out and becomes inflamed. This m ig h t be from overuse or from an in ­ ability of cells in this area to replace themselves. Rheum atoid a rth ri­ tis is an au to im m u n e disease. The im m u n e system m istakenly identifies its ow n dam aged joint surface cells as the enem y and a t ­ tacks them . Inflam m ation w orsens and the joint is eventually destroyed. The prim ary threat to m uscle posed by age is disuse. It's no se­ cret th at u n u sed muscle tissues can tu rn to fat. While cosmetically unpleasant enough, there are m ore serious problems th a n sagging triceps and love handles associated w ith letting such atrophy go u n ­ checked. M any systems of the body depend on the proper functioning of muscles. Respiration is one. The muscles surrounding the rib cage are directly involved in the ability to breathe deeply. The excretory system is another. Muscles are necessary both for urination and def­ ecation. It is no accident th at two of the m ost com m on complaints am ong the elderly are bladder incontinence and constipation.

THE LUNGS Chronic lung disease is the fourth most prevalent killer in the United States, w hich is indicative of a w eakening of the respiratory system toward the latter stages of life. The activity of the cilia and elasticity of lung tissue decreases over time, m aking it m ore difficult to properly take in oxygen and

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

133

expel carbon dioxide. This aggravates the critical oxygen balance required for healthy cells. Add to the equation years of smoking and other environm ental insults— secondhand smoke, polluted air, chemical fumes, and the like— and the consequences can be deadly. Symptoms associated w ith this reduced lung capacity include fatigue, anxiety, and sh o rt­ ness of breath.

THE SK11M AND HAIR M ost skin dam age— especially wrinkles and dryness— stems from excess exposure to free radicals and the ultraviolet effects of the sun. This leads to a loss of the protein collagen and an overabundance of another protein, elastin. Some wrinkles occur as a result of use, such as lines in the face th a t accentuate com m on expressions like squinting. Both the outer skin layer, dermis, and inner layer, epidermis, th in w ith age from a reduction in cells. Sweat glands either shrink or become dam aged over time, w hich results in reduced perspiration. Evidence of this loss of function lies in the fact th at elderly people tend to sweat less. The elderly become less sensitive to pain as a result of loss of nerve cells in the skin. Also, they are more susceptible to feeling tem perature changes, since the n u m b er of blood vessels in the skin declines w ith age as well. The rate of w o u n d healing is com m only reduced for the sam e reasons. In m ost cases, the am o u n t of body hair decreases w ith age. There are, however, some exceptions. Hair in the nostrils and on the ears and eyebrows m ay increase just as it is th inning on the scalp. M any w om en experience u n w a n te d hair grow th above the lip and chin as a result of decreased am ounts of estrogen at the onset of m enopause. Growth patterns of hair also change as we get older, as can color. Because of a reduction in m elanin-producing cells in the cortex of the hair, the hair loses its natural color and becomes gray. Like it or not, gray hair has been found to be a reliable indicator of the aging process in general. Returning to Hayflick and the results from the BSLA, the follow­ ing is a list of other physical changes th a t frequently occur w ith age:

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

134

• • • • • • • • • •

Increased risk of cavities/periodontal disease M etabolism slows/body consum es fewer calories Body fat redistribution E nlargem ent of prostate gland Decline in visual acuity Increased cataract risk In terru p ted sleep Loss of kidney function Duller sense of smell Progressive hearing loss

6 LIFE EXTENSION TECHNOLOGIES

suspect that strategies for prolonging life have been around for as long as h u m a n life itself. Yet, despite the plotting, planning, and research— not to m en tio n the wishing, hoping, and dream ing— through the ages, the m ost dram atic increases have occurred during the past century. Statistically, this change can be explained by advances in eradi­ cating infectious disease, improved sanitary conditions, and reduc­ tions in infant mortality. At least in industrialized countries, fewer people die young th a n ever before in history. This pushes up the m ean w ith respect to m easures of life expectancy. But this is not the entire story. Not only are people merely escaping the fatal childhood diseases of the past, they are also living longer. The m ax im u m h u m a n life span m ay not have changed m u ch over time, bu t the nu m b er of people approaching it continues to rise. Now, m any experts in the field are beginning to think th at the science of life extension is on the verge of a paradigm shift. Consider the following passage from Fossel:

1

Your life span can be extended by several hundred years. The tech­ nical hurdles appear enormous, but so were the ones involved in getting to the moon, building a computer, or sequencing a human gene. These obstacles will be overcome sometime within the next decade.

Granted, intricate concepts like telomeres rem ain more or less theoretical, bu t one of the great ironies of the burgeoning science of

135

136

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

life extension is that m u ch of it involves practices th at are hardly n ew at all.

EXERCISE One low-tech way to live longer is to exercise. While it was once widely believed th at vigorous exercise was harm fu l to the body and an obstacle to long life. Studies now show the tru th is exactly the opposite. Results from dozens of anim al and h u m a n trials clearly indicate th a t the old adage "use or lose it" is well founded. In an extensive review of the scientific literature on life extension, Bernarducci and colleagues point out th at exercise has historically been th o u g h t of as m ore a modifier of disease th a n a direct life extender. They cite the results of th e w ell-know n Harvard A lum ni Health Study involving 17,321 m en, however, w hich suggests th at "total energy expenditure and exercise intensity over tim e is indirectly re­ lated to all-cause m ortality and in d ep en d en t of disease modifica­ tion."

DIETARY RESTRICTIONS Animal studies have consistently show n th at reducing the total level of calories consum ed can also significantly increase life span. While m ost of these have been limited to rodents, the implications are clear. We m ay not be only w h a t we eat, but m ay well live a lot longer because of how m uch we don't. Temporarily setting aside the issue of specific dietary nutrients, even more prom ising are the healthprom oting agents increasingly being discovered in foods themselves.

PHYT0CHEM1 CAES Phytochemicals, found in edible plants, have been found to exhibit potential benefits in the prevention and treatm en t of disease. Scien­ tists are only beginning to explore the healing properties of the thousands of natural com pounds found only in the foods we eat. According to the Journal o f the American Dietetic Association:

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

137

It is the position of the American Dietetic Association (ADA) that specific substances in foods (e.g. phytochemicals as naturally oc­ curring components and functional food components) may have a beneficial role in health as part of a varied diet. The Association supports research regarding the health benefits and risks of these substances. Dietetics professionals will continue to work with the food industry and government to ensure that the public has accu­ rate scientific information in this emerging field.

The report goes on to say th a t phytochemicals are present in m an y frequently consum ed foods, especially fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, and seeds, as well as in such less com m on foods as licorice, soy, an d green tea. In addition to naturally occurring phytochemicals, scientists are developing w h a t they call functional foods, w hich consist of any food or food ingredient providing h ealth benefits beyond the traditional nutrients it contains. Phytochemicals and functional food com ponents have been a s­ sociated w ith the prevention and/or treatm ent of at least three of the leading causes of d eath in this country— cancer, diabetes, and heart disease— and w ith the prevention and/or treatm en t of other medical ailments, including neural tube defects, osteoporosis, ab ­ norm al bowel function, and arthritis. Dr. J. F. Potter, professor of epidemiology and director of the University of M innesota Cancer Prevention Research Unit, has been studying the relationship b e­ tw een diet and cancer for m ore th a n fifteen years. Like scientists worldwide, he has found that people w hose diets are heavy in fruits and vegetables have lower rates of m ost cancers. Limonene in citrus fruits, for example, is k n o w n to increase the production of enzymes th a t help the body dispose of potentially carcinogenic substances. Even the National Cancer Institute estim ates th a t one in three c an ­ cer deaths are diet related and th a t eight of ten cancers have a n u tr i­ tional component. Phytochemicals have been actively used by pharm aceutical com ­ panies in m aking m any of their products. According to a report in Business Week, 25 percent of m odern pharm aceuticals are derived in some way from plants. The heart medicine digitalis and the cancer drugs vinicistine an d taxol are just some examples. Pharm aceutical companies m ay soon be m otivated to isolate com ponents in foods into pill or supplem ent form to m arket the

138

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

individual elem ents for their h ealth benefits. However, due to reg u ­ latory problems, such com panies will have to m arket naturally oc­ curring com ponents as drugs. W hat m akes phytochem icals new in the public ranks is their potential health benefits before people get sick, and the saving of bo th lives and health-care dollars as a direct result of their use. U n ­ fortunately, according to Dr. Stephen L. DeFelic, head of the F o u n ­ dation for Innovation in Medicine, the field is still in its infancy because of too few large-scale clinical trials focusing on the health benefits of foods. Because phytochemicals cannot be patented, com ­ panies are reluctant to finance som ething that could cost as m uch as $200 million for the testing and clinical trials required for FDA approved. Nevertheless, epidemiological evidence and small, closely m o n i­ tored h u m a n trials point to benefits th at m ay well be sleeping giants w h e n it comes to prolonging life. Such is the case w ith licorice root. In one USDA study, the extract taken from the licorice root proved to be fifty times sweeter th a n sugar w ithout prom oting tooth decay. It contains prostaglandin inhibitors th a t m ay guard against cancer and ulcers, an d it is being pursued by m any com panies that w a n t to use it as a food additive. In an o ther study, Michael Gould, professor of h u m a n oncology at the University of W isconsin Medical School, has found that dlimonene, the major com ponent of orange peel oil, protects rats against breast cancer. In addition to findings such as these, the ADA report notes that well-designed clinical trials indicate the beneficial effects associated w ith high fruit and vegetable diets cannot be d u ­ plicated by nutritional supplem entation alone. Clearly, there are m ore benefits to be had in the healthy foods we cat th a n is obtained from the most com m on nutrients often associated w ith them , such as vitam ins C, E, beta-carotene, and niacin. The m aterial on phytochem icals th a t follows has been obtained from the extensive electronic database assembled by Stephen M. Beckstrom and James A. Duke at the National G erm plasm Re­ sources Laboratory, Agriculture Research Service, United States De­ partm ent of Agriculture. This database is accessible on the World Wide Web at: (http://w w w .ars-grin.gov/~ngrlsb/).

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

139

HEALING PROPERTIES OF PHYTOCHEMICALS Activity

Food Sources

Antiaging

Purslane; Indian Mulberry; Garden Sorrel; Luffa; Da-Zao; Vinespinach; Spinach; Carrot; Nasturtium; Barley; Berro; Roselle; Papaya; Pigweed; Swamp Cabbage; Jew's Mallow; Sweet Potato; Chives; Black Mustard; Bell Pepper.

Antialzheimeran

Brazilnut; Cowage; Dandelion; Soybean; Black Gram; Cala­ bash Gourd; Fenugreek; Shepherd's Purse; Flax; Ground­ nut; Shagbark Hickory; Ben Nut; Pumpkin; Sunflower; Scotch Pine; Pea; Dang Gui; Lentil; Pignut Hickory.

Antianginal

Lanceleaf Periwinkle; Pignut Hickory; Sharbark; Hickory; Irish Moss; Purslane; Blackbean; Red Cedar; Asparagus; Oats; Cowpea; Ben Nut; Spinach; Purple Tephrosia; Visnaga; Snakeground; Licorice; Black Cherry; Black Gum.

Antianxiety

Pignut Hickory; Shagbark Hickory; Huaco-Mullo; Ramie; Red Cedar; Buffalo Gourd; Texas Colubrina; Tomato; Pig­ weed; Broccoli; Brigham Tea; Chaff Flower; Wolfberry; Luffa; Spiny Pigweed; American Styrax; Red Clover; Vale­ rian; Angel of Death; Da-Zao.

Antiarrythmic

Lettuce; Asparagus; Purslane; Chinese and Generic Gold­ thread; Endive; Cowpea; Oats; Black Gram; Radish; Lambsquarter; Pignut Hickory; Chinese Cabbage; Chayote; Dill; Pigweed; Spinach; Cucumber; Huang-Lia; Garland Chry­ santhemum.

Antiarthritic

Cantaloupe; English Walnut; Avocado; Camu-camu; Cu­ cumber; Safflower; Apricot; Sunflower; Butternut; Calabash Gourd; Brazilnut; Sesame; Evening Primrose; Pinyon Pine; Marijuana; Canaloupe; Black Cumin; Chilgoza Pine.

Antiatherosclerotic

Camu-camu; Evening Primrose; Broccoli; Pigweed; Tomato Pignut Hickory; Luffa; Black Currant; Shagbark Hickory Purslane; Bitter Melon; European Nettle; Black Cherry Berro; Groundnut; Chinese Cabbage; Broadbean; Spinach Lambsquarter.

140

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

Activity

Food Sources

Antibackache

Nicaraguan Cacao; Cowpea; Black-Cohosh; Asparagus; Spirulina; Yellow Gentoin; Ma Huang; Blackbean; Bael de India; Macambo; Pito; Sunflower; Ben Nut; Shepherd's Purse; Okra; High Mallow; Pokeweed; Buchu; Cerraja.

Anticancer

Lemon; Celery; Caraway; Celery; Orange; Cardamom; Fen­ nel; Mandarin; Neroli; Lime; Corn; Bayrum Tree; Mace; Star-Anise; Common Thyme; Sage; Fennel; Cucumber; Carrot; Parsley.

Anticarcinogenic

Mango; Witch Hazel; Asparagus Pea; Emblic; American Dogwood; Pomegranate; Aleppo Oak; Ipecac; ArrowPoison Tree; Hispid Quabain; Da-Zao; Teak; Ashwagandha; Bogbean; European Squill; Grecian Foxglove; Purs­ lane; Ipecac; Purple Foxglove; Da-Zao.

Anticariogenic

Grape; Copaiba; Lemon; Licorice; Crab's Eye; Lignaloe; Biblical Min; Typical Mountain Mint; Celery; Common Thyme; Wild Bergamot; Tea; Clove; Agrimony; Cubeb; Camphor; African Blue Basil; Coriander; Winter Savory.

Anticataract

Camu-camu; Pansy; Japanese Pagoda Tree; Evening Prim­ rose; Acerola; Campechy; Buckwheat; Sang-Pai-Pi; Onion; Mayapple; Peegee: Strawberry; Sunflower; Bitter Melon; Purging Croton; American Elder.

Anticirrhotic

Licorice; Brazilnut; Crab's Eye; Cowage; Chinese Gold­ thread; Huang-Lia; Goldenseal; Barberry; Dandelion; Soy­ bean; Black Gram; Calabash Gourd; Couchgrass; Fenugreek; Autumn Crocus; Shepherd's Purse; Huang Po.

Antidepressant

Parsnip; Camu-camu; Acerola; Asparagus; Pignut Hickory; Lettuce; Pigweed; Purslane; Shagbark Hickory; Berro; Lambsquarter; Endive; Spinach; Chinese Cabbage; Broc­ coli; Cowpea; Huaca-Mullo; Tomato; Chayote; Oats.

Antidiabetic

Chicory; Indian Snakeroot; Common Thyme; Two-Flowered Sandspur; Gobo; Red Clover; Da-Zao; Safflower; Kudzu; Maracuya; Indian Fig; Ramie; Dandelion; Rice Paper Tree; Jack Bean; Burn Mouth Vine; Pyrethrum; Desert Date; Flax; Kudzu.

Antifatigue

Lettuce; Asparagus; Endive; Black Gram; Cowpea; Lambs­ quarter; Radish; Chayote; Chinese Cabbage; Purslane; Oat;

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging? Activity

141

Food Sources

Garland Chrysanthemum; Dill; Dandelion; Pigweed; Cu­ cumber; Kudzu; Spinach; Borage. Antiglaucomic

Camu-camu; Pansy; Japanese Pagoda Tree; Pumpkin; Acerola; Chinese Foxglove; Buckwheat; Sang-Pai-Pi; Celery; Peegee; Bitter Melon; American Elder; Pokeweed; Parsley; Common Smartweed; Warburghia.

Antihypertensive

Pansy; Japanese Pagoda Tree; Evening Primrose; Endive; Lettuce; Asparagus; Black Gram; Lambsquarter; Cowpea; Radish; Purslane; Chayote; Chinese Cabbage; Oats; Pigweed; Garland Chrysanthemum; Dill; Dandelion; Spinach.

Antihyperthyroid

Guanique; Shagbark Hickory; Pignut Hickory; Black Oak; White Oak; Common Thyme; Northern Red Oak; Blackbean; Lettuce; Grapefruit; Orange; Cabbage; Asparagus; Buckbush; Endive; Shortleaf; Parsley; Red Cedar.

Anti-impotency

Pignut Hickory; Lettuce; Bitter Aloes; Shagbark Hickory; Red Cedar; Chinese Goldthread; Huang-Lia; Generic Gold­ thread; Asparagus; Sassafras; American Styrax; Black Cherry; Smooth Suman; Spinach; White Oak; Shortleaf Pine; Parsley; American Persimmon; Brussels Sprouts.

Antilupus

Purslane; Wheat; Swamp Cabbage; Indian Mulberry; Nas­ turtium; Pokeweed; Garland Chrysanthemum; Garden Sor­ rel; Sensitive Plant; Perejil; Asparagus; Chinese Hibiscus; Da-Zao; Vinespinach; Spinach; Carrot; Barley; Comfrey; Huaco-Mullo.

Antimelanomic

Grape; Lemon; Himalayan Mayapple; Wild Bergamot; Ajwan; Common Thyme; Asparagus Pea; Nude Mountain Mint; Horsemint; Small-Flowered Oregano; American Dog­ wood; Tonka Bean; Winter Savory; Portuguese Thyme; Agbo; Waldmeister; Autumn Crocus; Mayapple; Creeping Thyme; Da-Zao.

Antiosteoarthritic

Camu-camu; Bitter Melon; Emblic; Bell Pepper; Cayenne; Horseradish; Cashew; English Walnut; Vinespinach; Guava; Sallow Thorn; Berro; Garden Sorrel; Chaya; Calamansi; Broccoli; Black Currant; Cassava.

142

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

Activity

Food Sources

Antioxidant

Parsnip; Pawpaw; Red Mangrove; Camu-camu; Rowan Berry; Pansy; Japanese Pagoda Tree; Arbutus; Date Palm; Pomengranate; Emblic; Canaigre; Vanilla; Babul; Carrot; Licorice; Gum Ghatti; Coffee; Water Chestnut.

Antiparkinsonian

Camu-camu; Acerola; Broadbean; Ben Nut; Sunflower; Buffalo Gourd; Cowage; Berro; Asparagus; Black Cumin; Blackbean; Spinach; Chaya; Asparagus Pea; Jew's Mallow; Soybean; Vinespinach; Swamp Cabbage; Pigweed.

Antirheumatic

Sunflower; Licorice; Lemon; White Willow; Crab's Eye; Ajwan; Nude Mountain Mint; Horsemint; Common Thyme; Cornmint; Wild Bergamot; Evening Primrose; Sunflower; Winter Savory; Ben Nut; Autumn Crocus; Asparagus Pea; Yellow Gentian.

Antischizophrenic

Indian Snakeroot; Licorice; Celandine; Gaunique; Fenu­ greek; Shagbark Hickory; Avocado; Ajwan; Pea; Spiny Pig­ weed; Pea; American Ginseng; Pignut Hickory; Wheat; Potato; Barley; Rice; Sesame; Soybean; Black Oak.

Antistress

Parsnip; Parsley; Fenugreek; Mace; Chinese Ginseng; Black Nightshade; Perilla; Carrot; Eleuthero Ginseng; Purslane; Air Potato; Parsley; Indian Snakeroot; Indian Mulberry; Nas­ turtium; Pokeweed; Garland Chrysanthemum.

Antitum or

Lemon; Indian Snakeroot; Common Thyme; Celery; TwoFlowered Sandspur; Red Clover; Da-Zao; Safflower; Kudzu; Maracuya; Indian Fig; Ramie; Rice Paper Tree; Jack Bean; Copaiba; Evening Primrose; Burn Mouth Vine; Pyrethrum; Desert Date.

Cancer-preventive

Avocado; Safflower; Celery; Khasi Pine; Apricot; Canta­ loupe; Common Thyme; Lemon; English Walnut; Marsh­ mallow; Chilgoza Pine; Brazilnut; Karaya; Watermelon; Buffalo Gourd; Indian Snakeroot; Evening Primrose; Cu­ cumber.

Cardiotonic

Tea; Guarana; Chinese Goldthread; Generic Goldthread; Black Pepper; Ouabain; Huang-Lia; Coffee; Goldenseal; Bloodroot; Cacao; Abata Cola; Yoko; Genipap; Mate; Horse Chestnut; Barberry; Ma Huang; Clove; Cayenne.

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

Activity Hypoglycemic

Hypotensive

Immunostimulant

143

Food Sources Evening Primrose; Tea; Chinese Goldthread; Sanchi Gin­ seng; Gaurana; Greek Sage; Huang-Lia; Onion; Golden­ seal; Physic Nut; Mayapple; Coffee; Oleander; Rosemary; Periwinkle; Tonka Bean; Garlic; Cinnamon; Barberry. Indian Snakeroot; Common Thyme; Two-Flowered Sandspur; Parsnip; Red Clover; Da-Zao; Ramie; Camu-camu; Safflower; Kudzu; Maracuya; Indian Fig; Evening Primrose; Burn Mouth Vine; Rice Paper Tree; Jack Bean; Pyrethrum; Desert Date; Flax; Kudzu. hicory; Gobo; Elecampane; Dandelion; Licorice; Coneflower; Costus; Leopard's-Bane; Crob's Eye; Coffee; Mugwort; Chinese Goldthread; Generic Goldthread; Java-Olive; Huang-Lia; Goldenseal; Beet; Malangra; Lambsquarter.

SMART DRUGS

A nother emerging area of longevity research concerns the subject of substances th a t can enhance cognitive functioning. In their 1990 book, Smart Drugs & Nutrients: How to Improve Your Memory and Increase Your Intelligence Using the Latest Discoveries in Neu­ roscience, Dr. Ward Dean and John M orgethaler described a host of pharm aceuticals— vitamins, herbs, and horm ones— th at have been found to do just that. Due to the strong interest in their work, the same authors followed up three years later w ith an u pdated version u n d er the nam e Smart Drugs II. Similar m aterial has been published that focuses m ore broadly on life extension. Smart drugs generally fall into seven classes: vaso­ dilators, nootropics, n eurotransm itter m odulators/replacem ents, nerve grow th factors, essential nutrients, alu m in u m chelators, and miscellaneous substances. The following is a list of some examples, accompanied by brief descriptions.

A rafin il (O lm ifo n ) Adranifil, a m em ber of the eugregorics class of drugs, acts on parts of the brain responsible for depression and declining alertness

144

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

associated w ith aging. In addition to its chief ability, w hich is to increase alertness, studies have show n adranifil m ay have direct anti-aging effects on the brain and be of help in the treatm en t of Alzheimer's disease. O ther positive effects th at have been reported following adranifil use include im provem ents in memory, clarity of thought, sleep, fatigue, self-esteem, and attitude. While such effects resemble those of caffeine, the benefits of adranifil have proven to be m uch m ore long-lasting, while not being accom panied by problems of tolerance. Ideal dosage ranges from two to four tablets per day. C ontraindi­ cations include epilepsy, kidney or liver damage, pregnancy, tra n ­ quilizer or antipsychotic m edication use.

A m in o g u a n id in e A m inoguanidine is a new anti-aging drug th at is best used to prevent the aging process rather th a n as a treatm en t once the debili­ tating effects of aging have occurred. Its prim ary action is to stop the cross-linking of proteins, w hich leads directly to aging dam age th at cannot be reversed. This cross-linking process is particularly prevalent in diabetics, as it feeds off glucose. A m inoguanidine works by linking itself w ith substances that can cause cross-links, hence keeping cross-links from starting and possibly preventing the onset of such aging-related conditions as senile cataracts, thickening of the arteries, kidney failure, thinning bones, osteoarthritis, and especially skin wrinkles. Cross-linking can alter every protein in the body, resulting in steady deterioration. A m inoguanidine can interfere w ith this process, w hich m akes it a promising new anti-aging therapy. The ideal dose is approxim ately 300 mg twice per day. B io stim First used in France fifteen years ago, biostim's chief anti-aging benefit is th at of enhancing the im m u n e system as it gradually di­ m inishes over time. Widely used against chronic bronchitis, which is a leading cause of d eath am ong hospital patients and a problem that hits the elderly especially hard, biostim is also often used to boost the w eakened state of im m unity in cancer patients. Studies show that it is capable of fighting off num erous types of infection. One placebo-controlled study involving three hundred elderly

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

145

patients found th at three m o n th s' treatm ent w ith biostim signifi­ cantly reduced the rate of lung infections for up to one year. For prime effects, two biostim tablets should be taken per day for the first eight days of the treatm ent course, followed by three weeks off. This course should be repeated twice more, w ith only one tablet per day. Contraindications include any au to im m u ne diseases; children an d pregnant or lactating w om en should not take biostim.

B ro m o crip tin e Bromocriptine has been found to improve m em ory by acting on the dopamiergic system of the brain. Also, it m ay play an im portant role in other conditions associated w ith aging, notably Parkinson's disease and hypertension. In this study, brom ocriptine was ad m in is­ tered in dosages of from 2.5 m g to 8 mg per day over a period of eight weeks. Doses of 1.25 to 2.5 mg per day have been show n to be effective in improving sleep patterns, and in improving symptom s associated w ith restless leg syndrome. Bromicriptine has exhibited anticancer activity in patients w ith advanced breast cancer, and may be useful in treating depression, as well as low sex drive in males. C e n tr o p h e n o x in e Studies show th a t centrophenoxine can be effective against ageinduced brain damage, including stroke. Results of anim al trials in ­ dicate long-term use of centrophenoxine can decrease lipofuscin in brain and cells; reverse the buildup of m ineral potassium in brain cells, attack free radical-induced aging damage, and improve learn ­ ing ability. Centrophenoxine has been show n to be effective against m ental deterioration and to improve m em ory in the healthy elderly as well as dem entia patients. Contraindications include convulsive disor­ ders; patients w ith severe high blood pressure and pregnant and lactating w om en should not take centrophenoxine. D ean er/D M A E Deaner was pulled from the U.S. m arket by the FDA in 1983 u n d er the reasoning that, while safe, it was not effective for its a p ­ proved purpose, w hich was the treatm en t of hyperactive children. The drug is still available in Europe.

146

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

Deaner stim ulates the central nervous system, and studies sug­ gest it can counter deterioration in cognitive function associated w ith aging, and help fight fatigue and depression. Exactly how this is achieved is not certain, but researchers have found th at deaner raises phosphatidylcholine levels in the brain. The active factor in deaner, DMAE, is available in other forms and is increasingly used as a nutritional supplem ent. DMAE has been show n capable of increasing mood, m em ory and learning ca­ pacity, and life span in anim al studies. Ideal deaner dosage varies, w ith the m ost com m on ap p roxim at­ ing 400 m g per day, beginning w ith lower levels and w orking up. DMAE dosages range betw een 500 m g to 1000 mg per day.

D ila n tin Dilantin (phenytoin or diphenylhydantoin) is approved only for treatm en t of epilepsy in the U.S. but is perhaps m ost noted for its effects on depression, as cham pioned by celebrity financier Jack Dreyfus. Dilantin has been claimed to benefit m ore th a n a h u n d red ad d i­ tional conditions, including the ability to learn, long-term memory, verbal performance, obesity, m otion sickness, w o und healing, alco­ holism, and drug addiction. Animals studies have show n th at dilantin can reduce tum or incidence, prolong life span, and prolong reproductive period. The suggested dose for dilantin ranges betw een 25 to 50 mg per day in nonepileptics. H y d erg in e Hydergine is available only by prescription in the United States, having been approved by the FDA as a treatm en t for senile d e m e n ­ tia. Generically, hydergine is also k n o w n as egroloid mesylates and dihydrogenated ergot alkaloids. This drug is an extract of ergot, w hich is a fungus found on rye. Its chief action is that of increasing oxygen to the brain. Hydergine has proven effective in the treatm en t of Alzheimer's disease. Results of one double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that the long­ term adm inistration of ergoloid mesylates had beneficial effects w ith respect to aging-related sym ptom s such as tiredness and dizzi­

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

147

ness and led to improvem ents in m easures of intelligence am ong healthy, elderly subjects. A review of twenty-six other studies involving the clinical effects of hydergine on num erous conditions associated w ith aging showed therapeutic benefits w ith respect to cognitive dysfunctions, m ood depression, and subjective scores of overall well-being. Doses of 12 mg per day significantly enhanced cognitive function in healthy young volunteers. In stroke patients suffering from m ental disturbances, doses of 6 m g per day had beneficial effects. Hydergine has exhibited a n ti­ aging effects in the brains of rats. Oral hydergine produced signifi­ cant im provem ents in symptoms of sleep disturbance, agitation, and depression in patients suffering from alcohol-related encephalopa­ thy. Hydergine protected against alcohol-induced effects of aging in mice as well. In a study of nursing hom e patients, the adm inistration of hydergine over a period of tw enty-four weeks led to significant im ­ provem ents in sym ptom s of senile m ental deterioration. Doses of 6 mg per day of hydergine taken over a period of twelve weeks led to significant im provem ents in m em ory am ong elderly outpatients suffering from mild m em ory im pairm ent. Daily intravenous in fu ­ sion of 3 mg co-dergocrine mesylate ("hydergine” ) for a fourteenday period produced significant im provem ents in symptoms associ­ ated w ith m ulti-infarct dem entia, including cognitive dysfunction, depression, fatigue, and w ithdraw al in elderly patients. Results of additional anim al and h u m a n studies point to the potential benefits of hydergine in the treatm ent of elderly patients suffering from m ental im pairm ent. The adm inistration of hydergine/nifedipine (pontuc) had significant anti-hypertensive effects in elderly patients w ith isolated systolic hypertension. Patients treated w ith co-dergo­ crine experienced significant reductions in platelet deposition rela­ tive to controls, suggesting it m ay be useful in preventing m ural throm bus formation, transient ischemic attacks, and atherosclero­ sis. Hydergine taken at doses of 3 to 6 mg per day produced benefits in 55 percent of patients suffering from bronchial asthm a, w ith 25 percent reporting significant im provement. In a study of patients suffering from problems on the cochlear com partm ent and/or ves­ tibular level that clinically m anifested by perceptive hypoacusia, tin ­ nitus, and rotatory vertigo, treatm en t w ith hydergine doses of 30

148

Gary N ull's U ltim ate A nti-A ging Program v

drops three time per day, totaling 4.5 mg/day, over a period betw een thirty and ninty days led to a global im provem ent in vertigo sym p­ toms am ong 93.7 percent of patients. A 57.1 percent im provem ent was seen in tinnitus sym ptom s and there was 20 percent im prove­ m en t w ith respect to hypoacusia. A single oral dose of 2 mg of hydergine exhibited PRL inhibitory activity and proved effective in treating hyperprolactinem ic anovulatory patients. In general, the ideal dose of hydergine is approxim ately 10 mg per day.

KH3 KH3 is a popular drug the world over due to its chief anti-aging ingredient— procaine. Procaine acts on cell m em branes by increas­ ing the rate of oxygen consum ption; hence its antioxidant effects. Studies suggest KH3 m ay be beneficial w ith respect to m em ory and m ental focus by increasing blood circulation in the brain. One placebo-controlled study involving elderly subjects found th at five m o n th s' w orth of KH3 treatm en t significantly improved memory. Three others produced similar results. Patients suffering from h e a r­ ing loss taking two KH3 capsules per day experienced im provem ents in hearing and general feelings of well-being. In a study of fifty elderly patients w ith high blood pressure, KH3 was able to lower blood pressure and decrease reliance on bloodpressure-lowering drugs. KH3 has improved muscle strength and sym ptom s of incontinence in healthy elderly subjects as well. A rec­ om m ended course of treatm en t consists of one to two capsules of KH3 at breakfast over a period of five m onths. Children, pregnant and lactating w om en, and those allergic to procaine should not use KH3. N im o p id in e Nimodipine is a calcium -channel blocker licensed in the U.S. for treatm en t of hem orrhagic stroke. Like m any sm art drugs, the potential benefits of nim odipine far exceed those for w hich it has been approved by the FDA. Nimodipine increases blood flow to the brain, w hich makes it a good drug not only for stroke, but for condi­ tions such as epilepsy, anxiety, dem entia, and Alzheimer's as well. An Italian study on the effects of aging on the brain found that the adm inistration of 90 mg per day of nim odipine to elderly p a ­ tients led to improved m ental performance in 70 percent of those

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

149

taking the drug. Animal studies have produced similar results, while also showing th at nim odipine can reduce stress-related illnesses and prevent seizures either induced by ischemia or alcohol and opiate w ithdraw al. Contraindications for nim odiprine use include other calciumchannel blockers, high doses of dilantin, and pregnancy. Doses range from 60 mg every four hours to treat subarachnoid h e m o r­ rhage to 90 mg per day for Alzheimer's. In healthy people look­ ing to improve cognitive performance, a dose of 30 mg per day is suggested.

O x ira ceta m Oxiracetam is a piracetam analog th at anim al studies indicate can improve learning and memory. Similar results were obtained w ith respect to improved m em ory in a group of elderly patients suf­ fering from dem entia. A nother study of patients suffering from d e ­ m entia found th at the adm inistration of 800 mg of oxiracetam twice a day over a period of twelve weeks significantly improved m em ory and concentration. W hen taken together w ith piracetam at doses of 6000 m g per day over a tw o -m o n th period by h u m a n subjects, oxiracetam p ro ­ duced beneficial results against psychosomatic and neurologic symptoms, and also gave evidence of an ability to reduce platelet aggregation. The best doses of oxiracetam have been show n to range betw een 1200 to 2400 mg per day. P er m ix o n Permixon holds great promise as an alternative to surgery for m en suffering from problems of the prostate. In one study, m en w ith enlarged prostates received 320 mg per day of perm ixon over a period of thirty days. Results showed sig­ nificant im provem ents relative to controls w ith respect to symptoms including night urination, pain during urination, urine flow rate, and urine retention following urination. P ira ceta m Piracetam is considered one of the strongest nootropic drugs studied. A large body of research points to its potential as a cognitive enhancer and intelligence booster, w hich has m ade it one of the

150

Gary N ull's U ltim ate Anti-A ging P rogram v

prem ier sm art drugs widely available today. Piracetam has exhibited anti-aging effects in mice w ith respect to deficits of the central m u s ­ carinic cholinergic receptor function, and was show n to improve age-related dim inished driving skills by upw ards of 80 percent in a study of elderly drivers. Studies have also proven piracetam effective in the treatm en t of a host of cognitive disorders and improves cognitive function in general. It increases th e flow of inform ation betw een brain h e m i­ spheres, w hich has been linked to enhanced creativity. Results of one twelve-week trial showed that the adm inistration of either 2.4 or 4.8 g per day of piracetam to elderly psychiatric patients w ith mild diffuse cerebral im pairm ent led to general im provem ents, p ar­ ticularly w ith respect to socialization, cooperation, and alertness. Significant im provem ents were also found w ith respect to m em ory perform ance and IQ scores. The intravenous adm inistration of 6 g b.i.d. of piracetam over a period of two weeks led to significant im provem ents in m ost cortical areas of Alzheimer's patients. Doses of 9 g per day to a group of twelve Alzheimer's patients and 2.4 g per day in sixteen patients w ith mild senile dem entia led to increases in alertness am ong p a ­ tients in both groups. The com bined adm inistration of 1600 mg three times daily of piracetam and 400 m g three times daily of p e n ­ toxifylline led to im provem ents in psychointellectual perform ance in elderly patients suffering from recent onset of slight to m oderate m ental deterioration. A single dose of 2400 mg of piracetam exhib­ ited antihypoxidotic effects in healthy males. The combined adm inistration of 200 mg of oral viloxazine and 9 g of oral piracetam per day over a period of three m o n th s led to im provem ents in elderly outpatients suffering from depression. Piracetam proved effective in the treatm en t of alcoholic patients hospitalized due to acute w ithdraw al syndrome, and improved brain injury in rats following long-term alcohol exposure and w ithdraw al. A nother study found th at piracetam treatm en t improved cogni­ tive functions, including short-term m em ory and concentration, in alcoholic patients suffering from organic m ental disorder. Several studies have indicated that piracetam m ay be helpful for dyslexics. In one, doses of 3300 mg per day taken over a period of twelve weeks significantly increased reading speed and n u m b er of words w ritten in a timed period am ong a group of dyslexic boys between the ages

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

151

of eight and thirteen. Dyslexic children betw een the ages of seven and a half and thirteen years old w h o were treated w ith piracetam experienced significantly improved reading ability and com prehen­ sion scores relative to controls. A nother study followed sixteen dyslexic children through a d u lt­ hood and th en compared th em to fourteen healthy students during a tw enty-one-day period of piracetam treatm ent. Results showed significant increases in verbal learning am ong dyslexics (15 percent) and students (8.6 percent). Mycoclonus patients treated w ith 8 -9 g per day of oral p ira­ cetam experienced significant benefits w ith no side effects. The a d ­ m inistration of up to 10 g per day of piracetam to three patients suffering from progressive myoclonus epilepsy led to the elim ination of photoparoxysm al responses in each. In a study of sixty myoclonus patients treated w ith piracetam, results showed the drug to be effec­ tive w ith respect to gait ataxia, handw riting, m otivation, sleep tro u ­ ble, attention deficit, depression, and convulsions. A pilot study found th a t piracetam proved extremely effective w ith respect to the pursuit of tracking am ong five of five vertigo patients receiving the drug. Piracetam coupled w ith ergotoxin proved significantly effective in alleviating sym ptom s associated w ith vertigo in vertigo patients an d those suffering from related symptoms. The com bination of piracetam and dihydroergocristine in fifty-five vertiginous patients adm inistered over a period of three m o n th s had beneficial effects. Results of another double-blind, placebo-controlled study showed th at piracetam significantly reduced sym ptom s associated w ith vertigo in patients suffering from the condition. The ad m in is­ tration of piracetam had beneficial effects w ith respect to clinical im provem ent of acute circulatory insufficiency and an analgesic ef­ fect in myocardial infarct patients. Piracetam proved effective in controlling spasticity in eight of sixteen cerebral palsy patients. I n ­ travenous doses of 30 mg/kg bw (ten-tw elve injections per course) of piracetam had beneficial im m u n e enhancing effects on patients suffering from chronic bronchitis. The intravenous adm inistration of 10 g per day of piracetam diluted in a 250-ml saline solution over a period of three days led to im provem ents in six out of nine patients suffering from sudden hearing loss. Piracetam can prevent the onset of neuropathic pain syndrome,

152

Gary N ull's U ltim ate A nti-A ging Program v

and improve visuom otor reaction tim e and accuracy in Parkinson's patients. The adm inistration of 4800 mg per day of piracetam over a period of eight weeks to patients w ith postconcussional syndrome significantly reduced sym ptom s associated w ith the condition, in ­ cluding fatigue, sweating, vertigo, headache, reduced alertness, and intense sweating. Doses of 8 g per day of piracetam proved beneficial in the treatm en t of patients suffering from prim ary as well as sec­ ondary Raynaud's syndrome. Piracetam can be helpful against sickle cell disease. It has exhibited antiulcer activity in rats. T reatm ent w ith piracetam h ad beneficial effects on the depth of consciousness and psychic function in patients suffering from acute viral neuroinfections. One h u n d red brain tu m o r patients ad m in is­ tered piracetam w ere able to m ain tain near norm al consciousness postoperatively to a degree significantly greater th a n controls. Piracetam has exhibited antihypoxic effects in th at it inhibited free-radical lipid peroxidation, retarded the consum ption of oxygen in liver m itochondria and enhanced hem oglobin oxygen-binding properties. Other conditions for w hich the drug has show n promise include burns, diabetes, hypoxia, stroke, goiter, sleep disturbance, cardiovascular disease, stress, m en tal fatigue, and epilepsy. Sug­ gested doses can go as high 4,800 m g per day split into three sepa­ rate doses. Like all pharm aceutical drugs, piracetam has side effects. You m u st consult your physician to weigh the benefits against the side effects before using it.

P y r o g lu ta m a te (PC A ) Pyrogluatame is an am ino acid found in fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy products th at studies indicate may be a powerful booster of cognitive ability. Results of anim al studies show pyroglutam ate can improve learning and memory, as well as produce anti-anxiety effects. Additional h u m a n studies have show n pyroglutam ate can be helpful against alcohol-induced m em ory loss, in patients suffering from m ulti-infarct dem entia, and in elderly patients w ith verbal m em ory decline. Pyroglutam ate has been used successfully against alcoholism, senility, and m ental retardation in Italy. The recom ­ m ended dose for pyroglutam ate ranges betw een 500 to 1000 mg per day.

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

153

R u lid (R o x ith ro m y cin ) Rulid, a powerful antibiotic developed in France, has been used to treat a variety of infections, including those of the lungs (includ­ ing pneum onia and bronchitis); ear, nose, and throat; urinary tract; skin; genitals, etc. The suggested doses of Rulid is 150 m g taken twice per day b e ­ fore meals over a period not to exceed ten days. V a so p ressin Vasopressin is a peptide horm one stim ulated by acetylcholine th a t is intricately involved in the process of m em ory and has show n high promise in the treatm en t of m em ory loss an d learning prob­ lems w h e n taken synthetically as a supplem ent The only form of vasopressin th at is presently available in the U.S. is diapid, a nasal spray used to treat excessive urination in diabetics. V in ca m in e An extract of periwinkle, vincamine works by increasing blood flow to and enhancing oxygen usage by the brain. It has been used against a host of different conditions, including depression, m em ory loss, high blood pressure, vertigo, poor m ental focus, and hearing problems. Studies also indicate it m ay be effec­ tive against alcohol-induced brain dam age and in patients suffering from Alzheimer's. Suggested dosage is 30 m g taken every twelve hours. V in p o c e tin e Vinpocetine is a sm art drug th a t works primarily by enhancing the utilization of oxygen by and increasing blood flow to the brain. Due to these effects, it has been show n to significantly improve m em ory in healthy subjects. Results of another study involving 800 patients w ith various eye problems showed a 71 percent rate of im provem ent. Vinpocetine proved most effective against dry macular degeneration. It is also capable of improving blood flow to the inner ear and has thus been used effectively against such problems as cochleovestibiluar neuritis and presbyacusis. Viopocetine can alleviate symptoms associated

154

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

w ith m enopause as well. Suggested dosage is one to two 5mg tablets taken three times daily. See also the reports on acetyl-l-arnitine, choline, deprenyl, DHEA, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, m elatonin, and phosphatidylserine in the sections on nutrients and herbs.

NUTRIENTS

The verdict is in on the case for nutrition as a life extender. The sheer volume of peer review studies supporting the link betw een diet and good health is clear and convincing evidence for those w ill­ ing to take the time to look. Data continues to support the use of supplem ents as well. The days w h en anyone could seriously question the value of things like vitam in C are over. The m ore im portant issue now and for the future is to specifically determ ine w hich nutrients do w hat, and at w hat doses. The m aterial that follows is based on the m ost up-to-date inform ation available.

A ce ty l-L -c a r n itin e Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) is a powerful anti-aging n u trien t that studies increasingly show can benefit patients suffering from a host of aging-related conditions. Specific to the aging process itself, ALC at doses of 1500 mg to 2 g per day adm inistered to elderly patients w ith mild m ental im pair­ m ents proved to be beneficial against cognitive and emotionalaffective m ental im pairm ent. Supplem ental ALC has improved d i­ m inished walking capacity in the elderly. N um erous other anim al studies point to similar direct anti-aging effects of ALC. No disease is more associated w ith the negative effects of aging th a n Alzheimer's. ALC has been found to be particularly beneficial to patients suffering from this condition. In one study, 2.5 g per day of acetyl levocarnitine hypochloride adm inistered for three m onths, followed by 3 g for three m o n th s on mild to moderately dem ented Alzheimer's patients showed those receiving the treatm ent experi­ enced significantly less deterioration in timed cancellation tasks and digit span.

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

155

In another, 2 g of Acetyl-L-carnitine per day for tw enty-four weeks had beneficial short-term m em ory effects on patients w ith Alzheimer-type dem entia. ALC has proven to be effective against dem entia in non-Alzheimer's patients as well. Loss of neurological function and control is a com m on problem associated w ith aging. The adm inistration of either 1 or 2 g per day for seven days of Acetyl-L-carnitine has led to im provem ents in H response, sleep stages, and spindling activity in Parkinson's disease patients. Doses of 3 g per day coupled w ith 50 m g of m ethylprednisolone for two w eeks led to significant functional recovery of the nerves in patients suffering from idiopathic facial paralysis. Animals studies point to ALC's capacity to improve neurological function as well. Evidence exists suggesting ALC m ay possess anticancer activity. The same is true w ith heart disease. One study found th at 3 m g per day of acetyl-L-carnitine adm inistered intravenously to five patients undergoing aortic reconstructive surgery prior to ischem ia induction h ad positive effects on the am elioration of h u m a n skeletal muscle dam age induced by ischemia-reperfusion. A n u m b e r of anim al stu d ­ ies also point to the usefulness of ALC in treating diabetes. Stroke victims have also benefited from supplem ental ALC. Re­ sults from one study showed th a t acetyl-L-carnitine had significant positive effects on m em ory and cognitive perform ance tasks in el­ derly patients w ith cerebrovascular insufficiency. Intravenous a d ­ m inistration of 1.5 g of acetyl-L-carnitine led to im provem ents in cerebral blood flow in cerebrovasular disease patients w h o had suf­ fered from a stroke at least six m o n th s prior to treatm ent. A nother study showed th a t intravenous adm inistration of 1500 mg of acetylL-carnitine had beneficial effects on four out of ten patients suffer­ ing from brain ischemia. Other conditions ALC holds promise for include depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, AIDS, cognitive dysfunction associated w ith alcoholism, am enorrhea, and Down's syndrome. W ith respect to depression, the adm inistration of 3 g per day of acetyl-L-carnitine for thirty-sixty days significantly reduced the severity of symptoms in senile patients betw een the ages of sixty and eighty. Supplem entation w ith 1500 mg per day of acetyl-Lcarnitine led to significant im provem ents in patients betw een the ages of seventy and eighty suffering from symptoms of depression.

156

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

A nother study showed the adm inistration of acetyl-L-camitine to be significantly effective relative to controls in reducing depressive sym ptom s am ong elderly patients hospitalized for depression. Suggested doses of acetyl-L-carnitine range from 1000 to 2000 m g per day.

A c id o p h ilu s Lactobacillus acidophilus is a ferm ented bacteria found in the vagina, m o u th , and small intestine, and is directly involved in the digestion of milk sugar. Colon cancer patients adm inistered Lacto­ bacillus acidophilus ferm ented milk have experienced a significant increase in num bers of intestinal lactobacilli and dietary calcium intake, while also show ing decreasing trends in levels of both solu­ ble faecal bile acids and faecal bacterial enzymes, both being colon cancer risk factors. Results of in vitro studies have found th a t lactobacilli and other lactic acid bacteria can absorb cooked food m utagens. H um an s tu d ­ ies have dem onstrated th a t Lactobacillus acidophilus consum ption can significantly reduce m u ta g e n excretion following fried m eat consum ption. M ultibacterial com binations of Lactobacillus acido­ philus (10(9)) and Bifidobacterium bifidum (10(9)) adm inistered to elderly patients w ith bowel disorders have proven effective w ith respect to restoration of duodenal bacterial flora and subsidence of clinical symptoms. A nother study concluded th a t the adm inistration of six capsules of live lyophilized Lactobacillus acidophilus (10(9) CFU/ml) per day produced significant relief of sym ptom s in elderly patients suffering from bowel disorders involving sym ptom s of diarrhea, abdom inal pain, and meteorism. In postm enopausal w om en, local treatm en t w ith vaginal tablets containing 0.03 mg of estriol provided total restoration of the vagi­ nal environm ent while sim ultaneous im plantation of Lactobacillus acidophilus restored an acid vaginal milieu. Studies also show it can be highly beneficial in patients suffering from vaginitis. Lactobacil­ lus acidophilus has exhibited im m u n e enhancing, cardioprotective and anticancer effects in anim als studies. A lp h a -c a r o te n e W hen combined w ith o ther natural carotenoids, alpha-carotene has been show n to inhibit the form ation of colon cancer in rats.

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

157

A nother study concluded th at alpha-carotene obtained from palm oil was even more effective th a n beta-carotene in preventing the onset of liver and lung cancer in mice. Alpha-carotene has been show n to be up to ten times more ef­ fective th a n beta-carotene in inhibiting the proliferation of h u m a n cancer cells in vitro. It has exhibited chemopreventive effects against oil-induced skin tum ors in mice as well.

A lp h a -L ip o ic A cid Alpha-lipoic acid is an im portant antioxidant th at has been show n to boost the power of other antioxidants as well, including glutathione and vitam in E. Results from num erous studies point to the efficacy of alpha-lipoic acid in the treatm en t of diabetes. In one, the adm inistration of 600 mg of alpha-lipoic acid over a period of three m o n th s led to im provem ents in sym ptom s of distal symmetric neuropathy in patients suffering from long-term diabetic late syndrome. A nother showed th a t 1000 mg of alpha-lipoic acid significantly increased insulin, stim ulating glucose disposal in NIDDM patients. Intravenous adm inistration of 600 mg per day of alpha-lipoic acid over a period of three weeks reduced symptoms associated w ith diabetic peripheral neuropathy in NIDDM patients. Patients suffering from diabetic neuropathy have also improved fol­ lowing the oral intake of alpha-lipoic acid at doses of either 2 X 50 mg or 2 X 100 mg per day. Additional studies suggest alpha-lipoic acid m ay have benefits for stroke victims, protect against cardiac ischemia/reperfusion in ­ jury, prevent cataracts, help prevent cancer, and improve memory. Doses of 0.15 g per day of lipoic acid for one m o n th have had positive effects in patients w ith stages I and II open-angle glaucoma. It has also exhibited anti-HIV activity b o th in vitro and in visto. A scorb yl P a lm ita te Ascorbyl palm itate is a lipid soluble derivative of ascorbic acid th a t studies have show n can significantly inhibit colon cancer in rats. B e ta in e Results from a host of studies indicate that betaine is capable of exhibiting anticonvulsive activity, osmoprotective effects, protecting

158

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

rats against alcohol-induced liver dam age, useful in the treatm en t of hom ocystinuria and neurological im pairm ent.

BHT A com m on antioxidant food additive to prevent spoilage in packaging, BHT (butylated hydroxy toluene) has been show n to ex ­ tend life span in mice and has exhibited superoxide scavenger (a n ti­ aging) effects in vitro. Studies have indicated, however, th at some people m ay have adverse reactions to BHT w h e n used as an additive. B ifid u s Bifidus (bifidobacterium bifidum) are a b u n d a n t in the large in ­ testine, and can also be found in lower levels in the smaller intestine and vagina. Proper digestion an d absorption of n u trien ts plays a critical role in the aging process These bacteria are believed to decline w ith age, and thus supple­ m en tal use of bifidus m ay be directly involved w ith aging in this respect. A host of peer review studies support the use of bifidus in the tre a tm en t of bowel and gastric disorders, including ulcer and diarrhea, w hich can often disrupt digestion and lead to larger health problems. Bifidus m ay be effective in preventing the risk of cancer and also helps to strengthen the im m u n e system. In one controlled study involving twelve h ealthy subjects, researchers found th a t 500 ml per day of Bifodium lo n g u m -en rich ed yogurt and 5 g of lactulose/L led to stability of the h u m a n fecal flora, a m arker for colon cancer risk. A nother study concluded th at bifidobacterium bifidus proved to be useful in the tre a tm en t of w om en suffering from epithelial c an ­ cer. Animal experim ents have dem onstrated bifidus can inhibit the developm ent of liver, colon, and m a m m ary tum ors. Bifidus has also exhibited anti-cancer activity in vitro. W ith respect to im m u n e e n ­ hancem ent, the regular intake of Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus acidophilus has been proven to m odulate im m unologi­ cal and inflam m atory responses in h u m a n subjects. Similar findings have been obtained in studies involving mice. B io tin A B-complex vitamin, regular use of biotin has been linked to im provem ents in patients suffering from diabetes, and can help

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

159

counter the problem of brittle nails often associated w ith aging. In diabetic patients experiencing sym ptom s of peripheral neuropathy, high doses of biotin adm inistered over a period of one to two years led to im provem ents w ith in four to eight weeks of the start of tre a t­ m ent. Anim al experim ents have show n th a t biotin can improve glucose and insulin tolerance as well as reduce hepatic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in diabetic mice. Biotin has also been linked to im provem ents in nondiabetic patients suffering from dif­ ferent neurological disorders. Daily biotin supplem entation over a period of six m o n th s has been proven effective in treating brittle nails. One case study re ­ ported on a young w om en w ith adult-onset myoclonus, ataxia, hearing loss, seizures, hem ianopia, and hem iparesis w ho was treated w ith large doses of biotin an d showed favorable results. Bio­ tin has also improved skin conditions in dogs.

B orage Oil Borage oil can be beneficial in the treatm en t of patients suffer­ ing from atopic derm atitis and has been show n to help reduce blood pressure in hypertensive rats. B oron Boron is a trace m ineral th a t is primarily obtained th rough fruits and vegetables. Daily intake of 6 m g per day of boron has been show n to produce significant im provem ent in patients suffering from arthritis. Boron supplem entation can also enhance cognitive perform ance and brain function, and has exhibited anti-HIV p ro ­ tease activity. C alciu m The role of calcium in both the prevention and treatm en t of os­ teoporosis is well docum ented in the scientific literature. Results of one double-blind, placebo-controlled study th at exam ined the ef­ fects of 1000 mg per day of calcium in com bination w ith 50,000 IU per week of vitam in D on the effects of corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis showed treatm en t could help prevent early bone loss in the spine of such subjects. A nother looked at the effects of increased exercise and dietary calcium in w o m en w ho had been postm enopausal for longer th a n

160

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

ten years. Results showed th at calcium supplem entation in the form of either 1 g per night in tablets or 1 g per night in milk pow der led to bone loss cessation over a period of two years. Such effects were increased w h e n com bined w ith exercise. Calcium supplem entation can improve the bone m ass of postm enopausal w om en using estro­ gen replacem ent therapy and w ith a low intake of dietary intake calcium. Findings from a three-year study showed th at supplem entation w ith 1.2 g of calcium and 800 IU of vitam in D3 reduced the n u m b er of hip fractures and other nonvertebral fractures am ong am bulatory w o m en living in nursing hom es by 23 percent. In addition to its role in countering the problems associated w ith bone loss, high calcium intake m ay be effective in the treatm en t of such unrelated diseases as arterial hypertension, nephrolithiasis, colon cancer, etc.

C h o lin e Supplem ental choline alfoscerate treatm en t is capable of c o u n ­ teracting various anatom ical changes of the rat hippocam pus associated w ith aging. Additional anim al studies point to its cardio­ protective activity, potential benefits for stroke victims, and positive effects on memory. In h u m a n s, choline has also been show n to improve sym ptom s associated w ith stroke w h e n adm inistered at intravenous doses of 1000 mg per day over a period of two weeks. Elderly patients have reported relief from a host of neurological conditions such as dizzi­ ness, cephalea, insom nia, depression, and poor m em ory following supplem entation w ith a 6-m l-per-day dose. Head injury patients have experienced benefits from choline, as have those suffering from hemiplegia, hepatic steatosis, and sei­ zures. Tarkive dyskinesia is an o th er disorder w here choline tre a t­ m ent has proven highly effective, w ith dosage ranging from approxim ately 500 to 1200 mg per day. C h rom iu m C hrom ium is an im portant m icronutrient that has been reported capable of dramatically increasing the life span of rodents. In h u ­ m ans, chrom ium is most noted for its beneficial effects in patients suffering from diabetes. One review article of fifteen controlled

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

161

studies on the relationship betw een supplem ental chrom ium com ­ pounds and im paired glucose tolerance found a p attern of improve­ m e n t in efficiency of insulin or the blood lipid profile of subjects treated w ith chrom ium . A nother study concluded th at the adm inistration of 200 m icro­ grams of chrom ium in healthy subjects significantly reduced ninetym in u te glucose concentrations an d fasting glucose concentrations. Doses of 200 micrograms of chrom ium alleviated hypoglycemic symptom s and significantly increased m in im u m serum glucose lev­ els seen two to four hours after a glucose load in female hypoglyce­ mic patients. Significant im provem ents in insulin binding to red blood cells and insulin receptor n u m b er were seen as well. In elderly patients, oral glucose tolerance curves decreased from 60 to 120 m inutes w ith the 60-m inute values being significantly reduced following supplem entation over a period of twelve weeks. Patients w ith clinical symptoms of hypoglycemia have show n a reduced negative part of the glucose tolerance curve and im prove­ m en ts in chilliness, trembling, em otional instability, and disorienta­ tion following treatm en t w ith 125 micrograms of chrom ium per day for three m onths. Supplem ental chrom ium picolinate adm inistered for two m o n th s produced a significant reduction in serum triglycerides in patients suffering from n o ninsulin dependent diabetes. Chrom ium has exhibited similar antidiabetic acivity in studies involving rats. Heart disease is another area w here chrom ium has show n posi­ tive effects. Results of one double-blind, placebo-controlled study showed th a t atherosclerosis patients treated w ith 250 micrograms of chrom ium for seven to sixteen m o n th s experienced lower serum triglycerides relative to controls. Supplem entation w ith 600 meg per day of chrom ium over a period of two m o n th s has produced benefi­ cial increases in HDL cholesterol levels am ong m e n on beta-blockers. Doses of 200 micrograms of chrom ium chloride and 100 m g of nicotinic acid per day over a period of several m o n th s can reduce serum cholesterol levels. Treatm ent of Turner's syndrome patients w ith 30 g of brewer's yeast containing 50 micgrograms of chrom ium per day for eight weeks produced a reduction in cholesterol and/or triglyceride levels and an increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol as well.

162

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

C itrus B io fla v o n o id s Studies indicate th at citrus bioflavonoids such as nobiletin and tangeretin are likely involved in cancer chem oprevention. Cod Liver Oil N um erous studies have pointed to the benefits of cod liver oil in the prevention of heart disease. In one Norwegian trial, healthy m en w h o received 20 ml per day for three w eeks exhibited beneficial ef­ fects w ith respect to serum lipids and platelets, w hich can decrease the tendency to thrombosis. A nother study found th a t the daily adm inistration of 25 ml of cod liver oil for eight weeks in healthy subjects significantly reduced m ean throm boxane B2 levels in both m en and w om en. Cod liver oil adm inistered over a period of six weeks has also been show n to significantly reduce neutrophil chem otaxis toward both ch em oattractants and m onocyte chem otaxis tow ard N-FMLP in healthy m en. In addition to its benefits concerning the heart, supplem ental cod liver oil m ay help alleviate m usculoskeletal pain in patients suffering from m usculoskeletal disease as well. C o en zy m e Q 10 Coenzyme Q10 is an im p o rtan t part of the m etabolic process. It is involved in the energy process and can be synthesized in the body. Studies show th at CoQ]0 holds m ajor promise in the treatm en t of a wide variety of degenerative diseases, including AIDS, diabetes, stroke, cancer, and especially heart disease. One study exam ined the effects of 150 mg per of CoQ10 for four weeks on exercise perform ance in middle-aged, stable angina pecto­ ris patients. Results indicated CoQ10 to be an effective and safe treat­ m ent. A nother study determ ined th at 30-60 mg per day of CoQ10 adm inistered orally for six days preoperatively significantly in ­ creased heart tolerance to ischemia during aortic clamping. Elective coronary artery bypass patients pretreated w ith 150 mg per day of CoQ10 for seven days prior to surgery showed a signifi­ cantly lower incidence of ventricular arrhythm ias during the recov­ ery period th an controls. Patients pretreated w ith CoQ10 in another study had less left arterial pressure, a decreased incidence of low cardiac output, a wider pulse pressure, and a better preserved right and left ventricular myocardial ultrastructure relative to controls.

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

163

One patient w ith m itochondrial encephalom yopathy and cytochrome-c oxidase deficiency w ho took high doses of CoQ10 for two years experienced a decrease in abnorm al elevation of the serum lactate per pyruvate ratio and the increased concentration of serum lactate plus pyruvate induced by exercise. Results also showed that CoQ10 improved im paired central and peripheral nerve conductivi­ ties. Pretreatm ent w ith 5 mg/kg adm inistered intravenously of CoQ10 was effective in the prevention of left ventricular depression in early reperfusion and in m inim izing myocardial cellular injury during coronary artery bypass grafting followed by reperfusion. Patients suffering from symptoms commonly preceding conges­ tive heart failure showed th at the adm inistration of CoQi0 led to im provem ent in all patients, high blood pressure reduction in 80 percent, improved diastolic function in all; reduction in myocardial thickness in 53 percent of hypertensives and 36 percent of the com ­ bined prolapse an d fatigue syndrom e groups; and reduction in frac­ tional shortening in those high at control and an increase in those initially low. Intake of 2 mg/kg per day of CoQ10 coupled w ith conventional therapy in chronic congestive heart failure patients significantly d e ­ creased hospitalization rates for heart failure w orsening and compli­ cation incidence. The adm inistration of 50 mg per day of CoQ10 for four weeks com bined w ith conventional therapy led to im prove­ m ents in dyspnea at rest, exertional dyspnea, palpitation, cyanosis, hepatomegaly, pulm onary rates, ankle edema, heart rate, and b o th systolic and diastolic blood pressure in patients w ith chronic heart failure. CoQ10 adm inistered in doses of 60 m g per day for two m o n th s reduced blood viscosity in patients w ith ischemic heart disease. A nother study exam ined the effects of 100 m g per day of CoQ10 for two m onths on dilated cardiomyopathy patients and found th a t CoQio deficiency could be reversed through supplem entation, and th a t CoQ10 treatm en t m ay be effective w h e n coupled w ith conven­ tional treatm ent in patients w ith chronic cardiac failure. Doses of 100 mg of CoQi0 per day adm inistered orally can be an effective treatm ent for chronic cardiomyopathy and advanced chronic heart failure. W hen CoQ10 was adm inistered to nineteen chronic myocardial disease patients, results showed that eighteen experienced improved activity tolerance w ith replacem ent therapy

164

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

and also found significant im provem ents am ong patients in stroke volume m easured by im pedance cardiography, and ejection fractions calculated from systolic time intervals. The adm inistration of 3.0-3.4 mg per day (average) of CoQ10 was effective against cardiac dysfunction in patients w ith mitral valve prolapse and improved stress-induced cardiac dysfunction. Results of m any anim al studies support the role of CoQ10 in the prevention and treatm en t of heart disease. In the case of cancer, one review article has noted 390 mg per day of CoQ10 proved effective in three breast cancer patients m o n i­ tored over a three- to five-year period. A nother study of breast c an ­ cer patients treated w ith 90 mg of CoQi0, in addition to other antioxidants and fatty acids, showed partial tum or regression. CoQ,0 adm inistered intravenously at doses of 1 mg/kg per day have pre­ vented adriamycin and dauborubicin-induced side effects in m alig­ n a n t lym phom a patients, including alopecia, fever, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and stomatitis. Results from anim al studies point to the anticancer effects of CoQ10 as well. In addition to the conditions already noted, CoQI0 can boost im ­ m u n e response w h e n adm inistered alone or in com bination w ith vitam in B6. The adm inistration of 120 to 150 m g of CoQ]0 per day has led to an im provem ent in abnorm al m etabolism of pyruvate and NADH oxidation in the skeletal muscle of Kearns-Sayre Syndrome patients. CoQ10 also decreased the concentration of CSF protein and CSF lactate/pyruvate ratio, while im provem ents w ere seen in n eu ro ­ logic sym ptom s and ECG abnorm alities as well. Pretreatm ent w ith CoQ10 can inhibit liver dam age in mice. Chronic lung disease patients have experienced positive results following the oral adm inistration of 90 mg per day of CoQI0 for eight weeks. Animal studies also indicate CoQ,0 can be effective in the treatm en t of hearing loss and m uscle injury.

C o n ju g a ted L in o leic A cid Studies indicate th at linoleic acid may hold promise for patients suffering from multiple sclerosis. The anticancer activity of conju­ gated linoleic acid has been well established both in vitro and from results of anim al studies involving rats and mice. In addition, it has significantly reduced LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels in rabbits.

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

165

D ep ren y l Deprenyl works on the brain by enhancing activity in the d opa­ m ine-rich region k n o w n as the substantia nigra. The drug was first introduced by a H ungarian researcher as an alternative to L-dopa treatm en t for Parkinson's due to the debilitating side effects som e­ times associated w ith L-dopa. Following years of positive study re­ sults, recent large-scale British research, however, has raised serious questions about the efficacy and safety of deprenyl itself w h e n com ­ bined w ith L-dopa. The earlier w ork on deprenyl and Parkinson's did find the drug to be effective in m an y cases. For example, the intake of 10 m g per day of deprenyl delayed the onset of disability associated w ith early, u n treated Parkinson's disease in study. In another, the same dose prolonged the beneficial effects of levodopa and w as effective against mild "on-off" disabilities in p a ­ tients suffering from idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Twelve m o n th s of treatm ent w ith 10 m g per day by patients suffering from mild stages of Parkinson's disease cut the risk of further progression to a stage requiring L-dopa therapy by half. The adm inistration of 5 mg per day of deprenyl for a period of four weeks reduced dependence on levodopa in Parkinson's patients. A study involving forty-eight patients w ith Parkinson's disease found that the addition of deprenyl to previous levodopa plus decar boxylase-inhibitor therapy proved beneficial w ith respect to mild on-off ph en o m en a and end-of-dose akinesia. The adm inistration of 5-10 mg of deprenyl over a period of one to three m o n th s signifi­ cantly decreased L-dopa-induced fluctuations in disease severity in twenty-six of forty-five Parkinson's patients studied. Early ad m in is­ tration of 10 m g per day of deprenyl delayed the need for L-dopa therapy and disease progression in patients suffering from P arkin­ son's disease. The adm inistration of 5 mg b.i.d of deprenyl over a period of six weeks exhibited m oderately beneficial effects in Par­ kinson's patients w ith sym ptom s fluctuations. Doses of 5 to 10 mg of deprenyl cut the need for levedopa by 20-50 percent in patients suffering from Parkinson's disease. Doses of 20 mg per day had sig­ nificant beneficial effects in patients suffering from idiopathic Par­ kinson's disease and reduced their dependence on L-dopa by an average of 30 percent. The addition of deprenyl to norm al M adopar therapy led to im provem ents of disability, prolongation of life expec-

166

Gary N ull's U ltim ate A nti-A ging Program __________________ ^ ----

------

tancy, and a reduction of M adopar-induced side effects in patients suffering from Parkinson's disease. While opinion is now mixed in light of the new findings from m ore long-term follow-up trials, m any researchers still believe deprenyl can be an effective therapy for Parkinson's, but at m uch lower doses, perhaps no higher th a n 10 mg per w eek rather th a n per day, and alone rath er th a n in com bi­ n ation w ith L-dopa. In addition to its use w ith Parkinson's patients, deprenyl has been the subject of a fair am o u n t of studies in other areas related to aging as well. Results have indicated that it can significantly prolong the life span, enhance cognitive function, prevent oxidative damage, and reduce the expression of some m icroantom ical changes of the brain in aging rats. It can also improve spatial m em ory in aged dogs. Deprenyl has exhibited good results in studies on Alzheimer's dis­ ease. Results of one indicated th a t the addition of 5 mg b.i.d of oral 1deprenyl to the norm al treatm en t of Alzheimer's patients taking tacrine or physostigm ine over a period of four weeks led to signifi­ cant im provem ent. A nother found th a t the adm inistration of 1-deprenyl over a period of six m o n th s led to significant im provem ents of m em ory and learning skills in patients suffering from Alzhei­ mer's. Doses of 10 mg per day of 1-deprenyl over a period of six m o n th s led to significant im provem ents of cognitive function in p a ­ tients suffering from dem entia of the Alzheimer's type. Three to six m o n th s treatm en t w ith (-)deprenyl produced significant im prove­ m ents in elderly females patients suffering from senile dem entia of Alzheimer type. Intake of 10 mg per day significantly improved epi­ sodic memory, sustained consciousness, and perform ance on co m ­ plex learning tasks in patients also suffering from dem entia of the Alzheimer's type. Deprenyl exhibited long-lasting aphrodisiac ef­ fects on male rats. It can also significantly reduce the incidence of m am m ary and pituitary tum ors in rats. The adm inistration of 20 mg per day of 1-deprenyl or greater over a period of six weeks had beneficial effects in patients suffering from atypical depression. Doses of 30 mg per day or more of (-)-deprenyl for a m in im u m of six weeks exhibited superior antidepressant ef­ fects in depressed outpatients relative to controls. The com bination of 5-10 mg per day of 1-deprenyl and 250 mg per day of 1-phenylal­ anine adm inistered either orally or intravenously to patients suffer­

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

167

ing from unipolar depression showed beneficial antidepressive effects in 90 percent of outpatients and 80.5 percent of inpatients. L-deprenyl exhibited anticonvulsant effects against different kinds of seizure in mice, suggesting it m ay be effective in the treatm en t of epilepsy. The combined adm inistration of fluoxetine and l-deprenyl proved effective in the case of a nineteen-year-old female H u n tin g ­ ton's disease patient w ho experienced significant affective, behav­ ioral, and motoric im provem ents following treatm ent. L-deprenyl is useful as a prophylactic treatm en t for brain tissue in rats w h e n adm inistered prior to hypoxia/ischemia. An average daily dose of 8.1 m g of deprenyl taken over a period of approximately seven m o n th s was an effective, side-effect-free treatm en t for attention deficit asso­ ciated w ith Tourette's syndrome in children ranging in age from sixto eighteen-years old. The intraperitoneal and intracerebroventricular adm inistration of l-deprenyl also significantly attenuated re­ straint stress-induced gastric ulcers in rats. Suggested dosage for deprenyl varies according to age, b u t the approxim ate range fall betw een 5 to 10 mg per day.

D H EA DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is a steroid horm one produced by the adrenal glands th a t has been linked directly to the aging process, as well as num erous conditions associated w ith it. The a m o u n t of DHEA in the body steadily declines over time, w hich has prom pted m any researchers to suggest th at DHEA levels should be considered a biom arker for aging. Studies involving older individuals indicate th at DHEA p o s­ sesses beneficial effects w ith respect to muscle strength, im m u n e function, and overall quality of life. One placebo-controlled cross­ over trial gave nightly doses of DHEA at 50 mg to thirteen m en and seventeen w om en betw een forty and seventy years of age over a sixm o n th period. DHEA and DHEA sulfate serum levels were restored to those found in young adults w ith in two weeks of the DHEA re­ placem ent and were sustained throughout the three m onths of the study. There was a two-fold increase in serum levels of androgens (androstenedione, testosterone, and dehydrotestosterone) w ith only a small rise in adrostenedione in m en. Insulinlike grow th factor-1 decreased significantly, and insulin grow th factor binding p ro tein -1 decreased significantly for both genders. This was associated w ith a

168

Gary N ull's U ltim ate Anti-A ging P ro g ram v

rem arkable increase in physical and psychological well-being for the majority of m en and w om en w ith change in libido. Significantly lower levels of serum DHEA-S have been found in elderly Japanese patients suffering from Alzheimer's and/or cerebrovascular d e m e n ­ tia relative to age-m atched healthy controls. DHEA can be effective against am nesia associated w ith dem entia, and in m aintaining the function of neuronal cells th a t m ay reduce progress toward Alzheimer's. Results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled study exam ining the effects of a 500-mg oral dose of DHEA on the sleep stages, sleep stage-specific electroencephalogram (EEG) power spectra, and con­ current horm one secretion in ten healthy young male subjects showed th at DHEA significantly increased REM sleep relative to controls, w ith no changes seen in the other sleep variables. Previous studies have show n REM sleep to be involved in m em ory storage; thus these findings point to a benefit of DHEA in age-related d e ­ m entia. The adm inistration of 30-90 mg of DHEA per day over a period of four weeks led to significant im provem ents in m iddle-aged and elderly patients suffering from sym ptom s of depression and im ­ paired m em ory performance. A nother study showed a positive correlation betw een DHEA lev­ els and im provem ents in depressive sym ptom s am ong patients suf­ fering from unipolar depression. DHEA has also improved m em ory in mice. Inverse associations have been noted betw een DHEA levels and death from any cause, particularly death from cardiovascular disease in m en over age fifty. DHEA has exhibited anticancer activity in rats and mice. High doses have show n m odest reductions on viral load in patients infected w ith HIV. An inverse association betw een DHEA levels and increased HIV progression was seen in a study of patients w ith CD4 counts below 300. Supplem ental DHEA to levels greater th a n 400 mg/dl increased survival in such patients. The ad m in istra­ tion of DHEA at doses of 300-600 mg p.o. b.i.d. for tw enty-eight days, following a thirty-day w ashout period of antivirals, signifi­ cantly decreased viral load in HIV-positive patients w ith CD4 counts above 50 and below 300. An average oral dose of 75 mg qd of DHEA coupled w ith standard antiviral treatm ent given to patients infected w ith HIV led to significant increases in CD4 and CD8 counts. DHEA can inhibit in vitro HIV replication, and it has been show n that high-

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

169

risk hom osexual males w ho w ere HIV-negative had significantly higher DHEA levels th a n age-m atched HIV-positive males. DHEA reduced the n u m b e r of lupus flares in a study of fifty patients w h e n taken over a three-tw elve m o n th period. DHEA h a d therapeutic ef­ fects on diabetic mice by producing a rapid remission of hyperglyce­ mia, a preservation of beta-cell structure and function, and an increased insulin sensitivity as m easured by glucose tolerance tests. Treatm ent w ith DHEA effectively countered defects in influenza im ­ m u n ity associated w ith aging in older mice. DHEA has exhibited anti-obesity effects in mice, and can modify food selection in rats leading th em to consum e diets low in fat. DHEA taken four times daily led to a substantially m ean body fat reduction of 31 percent after tw enty-eight days. No changes oc­ curred in overall weight, and LDL levels also fell by 7.5 percent. DHEA can stim ulate the activity of T-cells, B-cells, and m acro­ phages, thus strengthening the im m u n e system. In a study of mice infected w ith encephalitis, DHEA was able to significantly slow the rate of disease onset and mortality. Topical use of DHEA has proven effective in restoring im m u n e function in b u rned mice. DHEA can significantly reduced the risk of atherosclerosis in rabbits. Low DHEA levels have been associated w ith the risk of acute heart a t­ tacks, coronary heart disease, and myocardial infarction. DHEA has been found to benefit sym ptom s associated w ith m enopause and lupus, and enhance the efficacy of vaccination against influenza in the elderly as well. Com m on DHEA doses range from 50 to 2500 m g per day. Con­ traindications include prostate cancer and benign prostatic hypertrophy.

F olic A cid Folic acid (vitam in B4) deficiency is a com m on vitam in defi­ ciency around the world and has been linked to osteoporosis. W hen adm inistered at weekly doses of either 5 mg or 27.5 m g folic acid can protect against m ethotrexate toxicity in rheum atoid arthritis p a ­ tients w ith o u t effecting the efficacy of the drug. Studies also in d i­ cate folic acid at daily doses of either 2.5 m g or 10 mg over a sixw eek period can reduce norm al and increase plasm a homocysteine concentrations in myocardial infarction patients. The ad m in istra­ tion of 250 m g per day of vitam in B6 and 5 mg of folic acid for six

170

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

weeks normalized hom ocysteine m etabolism in young patients w ith arterial occlusive disease. Reductions in the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients w ith chronic renal insufficiency have been re­ ported following the adm inistration of 5 mg of folic acid per day for an average of fifteen days. Dialysis patients adm inistered 300 mg of pyridoxine and 5 mg of folic acid per day have experienced a red uc­ tion in the risk of cardiovascular disease as well. Supplem ental folic acid has also produced positive results in patients suffering m yelop­ athy associated w ith macrotic anem ia, in cervical dysplasia patients w h en taken at 10 mg per day for three m onths, in patients suffering from gingivital inflam m ations at doses of 4 mg per day for one m onth, those w ith chronic renal failure at 10 mg per day for three m onths, and in multiple sclerosis patients at doses of 200-300 meg per day. Doses of 400 meg every other day for sixteen weeks had positive effects on zinc hom eostasis in m en. Animal studies suggest folic acid may also be beneficial in the fight against cancer. Daily intake of 6400 m icrograms of folate plus 20 micrograms cobalam in over a period of two m o n th s has produced beneficial ef­ fects in patients w ith idiopathic osteoarthritis. W hen combined w ith vitam in B12, folate has been show n to reduce cellular atypia sq u a ­ m ous m etaplasia in heavy smokers over a period of one year. O ther studies indicate supplem ental folate m ay be helpful in the tre a tm en t of various behavioral disorders associated w ith aging. Fo­ late levels in the brain are believed to decrease w ith time, leading researchers to suggest that folate therapy could reverse symptoms related to declining cognitive perform ance and mood status. A ddi­ tionally, an inverse correlation betw een serum folate levels and the risk of fatal coronary heart disease has been docum ented in studies involving both m en and w om en.

G lu ta th io n e G lutathione is m ade up of glutamic acid, glycine, and cysteine— all three am ino acids. Significant positive associations have been show n betw een blood glutathione levels and a host of biomedical/ psychological traits am ong the elderly, including fewer illnesses, higher levels of self-rated health, lower cholesterol lower body mass index, and lower blood pressures. Those suffering from arthritis, diabetes, or heart disease showed significantly lower glutathione levels than those w ithout disease.

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

171

Authors of another study exam ining blood glutathione levels have concluded th at physical health an d longevity are closely related. Re­ sults of population-based, case-control study found an inverse corre­ lation betw een dietary glutathione intake and the relative risk of oral cancer. Supplemental glutathione at doses of 1.5 g/m2 in 100 mL of n o r­ m al saline solution over a fifteen-m inute period imm ediately prior to cisplatin exposure and at a dose of 600 m g by intram uscular injec­ tion on days two to five has proven to be effective in the prevention of cisplatin-induced neuropathy w ith o u t reducing the efficacy of chem otherapeutic drugs in patients w ith advanced gastric cancer. W h en a dose of 3 g/m2 of glutathione was added to treatm en t w ith 100 mg/m2 of cisplatin every tw enty-one days, ovarian cancer p a ­ tients were able to w ith sta n d m ore cisplatin cycles and their overall quality of life was improved, including sym ptom s of depression, emesis, and neurotoxicity. The intravenous adm inistration of 2.5-5 g in 100-200 ml of norm al saline of glutathione over fifteen m inutes prior to cisplatin treatm en t has been show n to be an effective m eans of enhancing the drugs efficacy in patients w ith ovarian cancer. G lu­ tathione adm inistered at 5 g per day to patients suffering from h e p a ­ tocellular carcinoma h ad beneficial effects in w om en, bu t not in m en. Results from anim al studies support the use of glutathione as a cancer therapy. In addition to its direct anti-aging and chemopreventive effects, studies show glutathione can be useful in the tre a tm en t of a host of other conditions. One is liver damage. G lutathione is central to the protection against oxygen radical injury following brief periods of total hepatic ischemia in rats. Intravenous adm inistration of high doses of glutathione for two weeks has led to significant im prove­ m ents of the enzyme patterns in the livers of chronic alcoholics, and has significantly improved the rate of various hepatic tests in p a ­ tients w ith chronic steatosic liver disease. In m e n suffering from infertility, 600 m g per day of glutathione taken for two m on th s sig­ nificantly improved sperm motility patterns. G lutathione has also inhibited the replication of HIV-1 and H erpes-1 in vitro. Intravenous injection of 1.5 g/kg of glutathione reduced decreases in local cere­ bral glucose utilization in rats induced by a neurotoxic and blocked neuronal loss in hippocam pal CA1 and CA3 regions and prevented the development of hippocam pal edema. G lutathione has reduced

172

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

and/or dim inished the severity of sugar cataractogenesis in the rat lens, offered protection against oxidative injury in the h u m a n retinal pigm ent epithelium , reduced and/or prevented shock-induced b e ­ havioral depression in mice, prevented diabetic n europathy in d ia­ betic rats, protected against oxidative inactivation of alveolar inflam m atory cells in a n in vitro m odel of em physem a due to sm ok­ ing, reduced cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity/neuropathy in rats, protected against gastric m ucosal injury both in h u m a n s and in rats, protected rats from radiation injury of the parotid glands, signifi­ cantly delayed the appearance of scurvy in ascorbate-deficient guinea pigs, and enhanced T-cell activity in vitro. Anim al studies also indicate glutathione can produce cardioprotective and antioxidant effects.

H e sp e r id in Hesperidin is a citrus bioflavonoid found in orange peel. Anim al studies point to the efficacy of hesperidin as both a chem opreventive agent and a prom ising treatm en t for high blood pressure and cho­ lesterol. Results of one double-blind, placebo-controlled study in ­ volving h u m a n patients w ith sym ptom atic capillary fragility showed significant im provem ent following intake of a veno-active flavonoid fraction consisting of 90 percent micronized diosm in and 10 percent hesperidin for six weeks. Hesperidin has also been show n to possess signficant analgesic and anti-inflam m atory effects. H u m a n G ro w th H o rm o n e Results of one double-blind, placebo-controlled study showed th at the adm inistration of recom binant h u m a n grow th horm one over a period of twenty-six weeks at doses of 0.013-0.026 U/kg per day taken at bedtim e to patients w ith adult-onset grow th horm one deficiency led to im provem ents in body composition, fat distribu­ tion, bone and m ineral metabolism , and psychiatric symptoms. A n­ other study of tw enty patients w ith adult-onset grow th horm one deficiency w ho received doses of IU/m2 per day over a period of one year produced similar results. Studies have show n th at grow th horm one therapy at doses of 0.6 and 1.2 IU per day can increased serum insulinlike grow th factors-I to norm al ranges following twelve weeks of treatm en t in

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

173

grow th-horm one-deficient adults. Low-dose, long-term GH therapy can prolong life expectancy in mice.

I n o sito l Inositol niacinate adm inistered at doses of 1.2 g three times per day over a period of four to six w eeks has produced beneficial results in patients suffering from ischemic ulcers due to chronic arterial occlusion. Inositol hexasulfate taken intravenously can produce a n ­ ticoagulant effects. Depressed patients have experienced significant im provem ents following 12 g per day of inositol over a period of one m o n th . Three m o n th s' w o rth of supplem ental inositol at 6 g per day has proven effective against diabetic polyneuropathy. Results from num erous anim al studies indicate inositol possesses strong a n tic a n ­ cer properties as well. Io d in e The best sources of dietary iodine, an essential mineral, can be found in seafood and iodized salt. M any people experience sym p­ tom s of thyroid dysfunction as they age, such as w eight gain, lack of energy, poor mood, etc. Iodine has been show n to inhibit thyroid cell grow th in vitro and in anim al models. W hen applied in the form of a topical cream, povidone-iodine's antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral effects have been well established in the scientific litera­ ture. Topical iodine has also been show n to be a useful treatm en t for w ou n d healing. Iron Doses of 105 mg per day of supplem ental iron taken orally over a period of six weeks has been show n to be effective in the tre a t­ m en t of elderly patients suffering from iron deficiency anemia. A host of additional studies support the use of supplem ental iron for anemia. Intravenous iron adm inistration over a period of four m o n ths has proven effective against erythropoiesses in h em o d i­ alysis patients as well. L -d op a One of the m ost docum ented changes in the body associated w ith aging is the loss of dopam ine levels in the brain. L-dopa is an am ino acid n u trien t available by prescription th at is converted into

174

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

dopam ine in the brain. L-dopa's prim ary use has been in the tre a t­ m e n t of Parkinson's disease. One double-blind study concluded th a t the adm inistration of levodopa alone or coupled w ith a stable dose of am an tad in e h ad a beneficial effects in Parkinson's patients lasting three years or more. The visual contrast sensitivity of Parkinson's patients improved to near n orm al levels following tre a tm en t w ith L-dopa. Low doses of levodopa adm inistered on alternate days proved beneficial in p a ­ tients w ith early Parkinson's disease and produced fewer side effects th a n w h e n tak en daily. Parkinson's patients adm inistered daily doses of levodopa begin­ ning at a m e a n of 662.5 m g five times per w eek and th e n changing to a m e a n of 800 mg three times a w eek after the first year of tre a t­ m e n t experienced improved m easures of rigidity, tremor, and bradykinesia. The oral adm inistration of levodopa led to im provem ents in swallowing abnorm alities am ong patients suffering from Parkinson's. Parkinson's patients receiving intravenous levodopa experienced reductions in anxiety an d elevated mood. Results of an o th er study found th a t the adm inistration of L-dopa to Parkinson's patients p ro ­ vided its greatest level of benefit after a treatm en t period of three years. Intake of 100 m g of L-dopa plus decarboxylase inhibitor had blood pressure lowering effects on patients w ith Parkinson's dis­ ease. Intravenous L-dopa significantly im proved cerebral blood flow problems in patients w ith idiopathic Parkinson's disease. L-dopa can also significantly improve color discrim ination in Parkinson's p a ­ tients. While only approved by the FDA for use against Parkinson's, research suggests L-dopa m ay have a far broader range of th e ra p eu ­ tic effects. Clinical and experim ental studies have show n a high therapeutic activity of L-dopa in com bination w ith m ore conven­ tional therapies in the treatm en t of myocardial infarction patients. Combining L-dopa to m ore conventional therapies had positive ef­ fects on heart patients suffering from severe dysfunction of the left ventricle w h e n adm inistered over a period of three m onths. The a d ­ m inistration of 250 mg per day of L-dopa over a period of six m onths proved to be a useful treatm en t in patients suffering from early stages of presenile dem entia. One gram per day of L-dopa reduced the intensity of involuntary m ovem ents in patients suffering from

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

175

tardive dyskinesia. Treatm ent w ith low-dose L-dopa had signifi­ cantly beneficial effects over a period of five years w ith respect to dystonia and insom nia w ith o u t dyskinesia. L-dopa can be effective in controlling periodic m ovem ents in sleep in patients suffering from narcolepsy. Two weeks of L-dopa treatm en t improved vigilance levels in patients suffering from narcolepsy. L-dopa has had benefi­ cial effects in patients suffering from craniocerebral traum a. It can be of benefit in patients suffering from bipolar affective disorders. In a study of twenty-five patients w ith pathological laughing and/or crying, treatm en t w ith either levodopa or am an tad in e hy d ro ­ chloride treatm en t produced significant im provem ents in ten p a ­ tients. L-dopa improved sym ptom s of extrapyram idal dysfunction, including rigidity, stiffness, am bulation difficulties, shuffling gait, dysarthria, drooling, swallowing dysfunction, hypomimetic, in e x ­ pressive faces, and bradykinesia in children betw een the ages of four through thirteen years infected w ith HIV-1. The short-term adm inistration of L-dopa h ad positive effects on w om en suffering from am enorrhea-galactorrhea syndrome. The a d ­ m inistration of 500 m g of L-dopa per day leading up to 500 m g three times per day over a period of six m o n th s accelerated the rate of healing in patients suffering from long bone fractures. One case re­ port of a thiry-year-old w o m an w ith acute hepatic failure in the fifth m o n th of pregnancy showed a significant im provem ent in levels of b o th consciousness and electroencephalogram following L-dopa therapy. A week of daily levodopa adm inistration improved visual acuity in 70 percent of the amblyopia patients exam ined. One study revealed a significant im provem ent in visual acuity due to visual loss from nonarteritic anterior ischemic n europathy am ong patients receiving low-dose levodopa and carbidopa over a period of twelve weeks. The adm inistration of L-dopa significantly improved the d eath rate of patients suffering from measles encephalitis. L-dopa adm inistered in doses ranging betw een 500 mg to 750 mg per day for two m o n th s exhibited stim ulatory effects on spermatogenesis in males suffering from primary sterility. L-dopa treatm en t exhibited beneficial effects in patients suffering from duodenal ulcer, and in those experiencing restless leg syndrome. The adm inistration of up to 1250 m g per day of L-dopa over a period of six weeks produced significant im provem ents in patients suffering from schizophrenia. One study showed that treatm en t w ith L-dopa produced an im ­

176

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

m ediate significant im provem ent in an eight-year-old boy suffering from w alking difficulties caused by Segawa-syndrom e-related dys­ tonia. L-dopa has proven useful in patients suffering from torsion dystonia. In mice, L-dopa has been show n capable of extending the life span as m uch as 50 percent.

L y co p en e Lycopene is a carotenoid and powerful antioxidant (stronger th an beta carotene) that gives tom atoes as well other fruits such as w aterm elon, pink grapefruit, papaya, and guava their red color. While lycopene is the m ost a b u n d a n t carotenoid in the h u m a n blood and tissues, it is not produced naturally in the body and thus m ust be obtained through dietary sources. Recent studies point to the growing interest in lycopene and its potential for prom oting health, particularly w ith respect to heart disease and cancer. A six-year study of 48,000 male health profes­ sionals conducted by Harvard Medical School found that the con­ sum ption of tom ato products m ore th an twice per w eek reduced prostate cancer risk by 35 percent. Results of a large h u m a n casecontrol study found th at the consum ption of foods containing lyco­ pene, found primarily in tom atoes and tom ato products, m ay con­ tribute to a reduced risk of myocardial infarction. A nother study showed dietary supplem entation w ith lycopene can lower concen­ trations of plasm a LDL cholesterol. Lycopene has exhibited an tic a n ­ cer effects both in vitro and in studies involving animals. M EA The first experim ents of D enham H arm an, previously noted as the father of the free radical theory of aging, tested the ability of several drugs, including BHT and MEA (2-m ercaptoethylam ine), to extend lifespan in mice. Such experim ents produced an extension of approxim ately 20 percent. Future studies involving MEA produced extensions as high as 30 to 50 percent. MEA, a synthetic antioxidant and sulfur containing radiation protector, has been show n to in ­ crease the lifespan of WI-38 cells in vitro by 6.5 percent. Results from additional studies indicate MEA m ay be capable of inhibiting the replication of HIV in vitro as well. Consistent w ith the free radical theory of aging, MEA's most noted activity is that of protecting DNA against the harm ful effects of irradiation associated w ith cancer treatm ents.

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

177

M e la to n in The pineal horm one m elatonin is best know n for its role in p ro ­ m oting sleep. While the nu m b er of studies continue to increase con­ cerning its potential in this area, n ew research also suggests it m ay have a m u ch w ider array of potential benefits. The aging process is one such area, w ith data indicating that m elatonin m ay delay the effects of aging by atten u atin g negative effects associated w ith free radical-induced neuronal damage. M el­ atonin has been show n to be a potent free radical scavenger th a t acts as a primary nonenzym atic antioxidative defense against the destruction caused by hydroxyl free radicals. Hence, m elatonin can slow the rate of aging and the tim e of onset of age-related diseases. Animal studies support such findings. M elatonin m ay also act directly against some of the key degen­ erative diseases associated w ith aging, m ost notably cancer. One study found th at 10 mg per day of oral m elatonin adm inistered to patients w ith m etastatic non-sm all cell lung cancer at 8 p .m . p ro ­ duced beneficial effects and was well tolerated w h e n coupled w ith neuroim m unotherapeutic therapy. Doses of 20 m g per day of m e la ­ tonin combined w ith tam oxifen induced objective tum or regressions in m etastatic breast cancer patients. Low dose IL-2 coupled w ith 50 mg of m elatonin per day beginning seven days prior to IL-2 therapy proved to be an effective treatm en t for advanced digestive tract t u ­ mors. In another study, 22 renal cell carcinoma patients were m o n i­ tored for the effect of a tw elve-m onth regimen of three mega units of intram uscular h u m a n lymphoblastoid interferon three times weekly and 10 mg per day of oral m elatonin. Results showed seven remissions and disease stablizations. M elatonin can improve quality of life and survival time in brain m etastases patients. Treatm ent w ith 20 mg per day of intram uscular m elatonin in cancer patients w ith m etastatic bold tum or followed up w ith 10 oral m g per day in patients experiencing remission in d i­ cated that m elatonin had beneficial effects in such patients w ith respect to PS and quality of life. Doses of 20 m g per day of oral m elatonin m ay be a factor involved in the treatm en t of ch em o th er­ apy-induced myelodysplatic syndrome in cancer patients. M elatonin offers protection against interleukin-2, and the two agents synergize in their anti-cancer effects. In forty advanced m elanom a patients treated w ith daily doses of oral m elatonin ranging from 5 mg/m2 to

178

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

700 mg/m2, results showed partial responses in six patients and sta ­ ble disease in six others after five weeks of follow-up. Results from anim al studies indicate m elatonin has cardiopro­ tective, anti-diabetic, anti-glucocorticoid, anti-convulsant, a n ti­ cataract, and im m u n o enh an cin g effects; improves adrenal function; can reduce the severity of colitis, seizures, brain injury, and gastric lesions; delayed disease onset and death due to viral encephalitis. M elatonin has also exhibited cytoprotective and antioxidant activity in vitro. The ideal dose of m elatonin varies widely across individuals, but experts believe 3 to 10 mg taken at night will produce positive ef­ fects in m ost people.

M o ly b d en u m M olybdenum is an essential trace mineral required for the activ­ ity of several enzymes that is obtained through dietary sources such as legumes, dark green leafy vegetables, buckw heat, barley, oats, and sunflower seeds. The highest concentrations in the body can be found in the liver, kidneys, adrenal gland, skin, and bones. Esti­ m ates of the m in im u m dietary requirem ent range betw een 25mg and 75 mg per day. Animal studies indicate that m olybdenum can significantly re­ duce the incidence of tum ors associated w ith esophageal, m a m ­ mary, and forestom ach cancer. Similar results have been seen in vitro. Findings from one Japanese study showed an inverse correla­ tion betw een m olybdenum levels and rates of rectal cancer m ortality in w om en. M agnesium m olybdate adm inistered in doses of 0 .0 6 0.2 g Mo has been used as a treatm ent against anem ia and appetite booster. Epidemiological studies in the Europe and U.S. suggest m o ­ lybdenum may have cariostatic effects. NAC N-acetyl-l-cystcine is a proven cancer fighter in anim al studies and in vitro, and has show n great promise across a n u m b er of other degenerative conditions. Heart disease is one w here studies support the use of NAC. The adm inistration of 150 m g /k g -1 of NAC has sig­ nificantly increased cardiac o u tp ut and reduced systemic vascular resistance in patients requiring hem odynam ic m onitoring due to sepsis syndrome. Results of an o th er study found that the intrave­

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

179

nous adm inistration of 2 g of NAC over fifteen m inutes followed by 5 mg/kg/hr coupled w ith intravenous isosorbide denitrate led to p a r­ tial prevention of anti-anginal effect tolerance often associated w ith isosorbide treatm ent alone in anginal patients. The intravenous adm inistration of 100 mg/kg of NAC p o ten ti­ ated nitroglycerin-induced vasodilater effects in patients u n d e r­ going cardiac catheterization for chest pain investigation. Acute myocardial infarction patients w h o were treated w ith 15 g of in tra ­ venous NAC over a tw enty-four-hour period coupled w ith intrave­ nous nitroglycerin showed significant reductions in levels of oxidative controls relative to controls. Results also showed a trend toward improved preservation of the left ventricular function as well as m ore rapid reperfusion. Pre­ treatm en t of cardiac risk patients w ith the 150 mg/kg NAC onV02 showed th at NAC worked to preserve V02, oxygen delivery, Cl, LVSWI, and PvaC02 during brief hyperoxia and prevented clinical signs of myocardial ischemia. The com bination of intravenous NAC (5g six hourly) and nitroglycerine in unstable angina pectoris p a ­ tients augm ents nitroglycerine's clinical benefits primarily by d e­ creased acute myocardial infarction incidence. Large doses of NAC increased exercise capacity in isosorbide-5-m ononitrate-treated a n ­ gina pectoris patients. A bolus of 100 mg/kg of NAC followed by a continuos infusion of 20mg/kg in the bypass circuit on oxidative response of neutrophils during cardiopulm onary bypass in adult p a ­ tients showed significantly lower levels of oxidative burst response of neutrophils am ong those receiving the NAC th a n controls th roughout the bypass. Diabetes is another disease th a t can both accelerate the aging process and result from it, w here studies suggest NAC m ay be of value. AIDS is a disease involving im m u n e system failure th at also causes the body to age prem aturely and where NAC can help counter such effects. Studies indicate NAC m ay also produce positive effects on such problems as adult respiratory distress syndrome, chronic bronchitis, middle ear infections, gallstones, hepatitis, liver damage, lung damage, muscle fatigue, stroke, Sjogren's syndrome, brain in ­ jury, COPD, cutaneous inflam m ation, and glutathione deficiency.

O live Oil Olive oil has been show n to be effective against arthritis, cancer, and heart disease; three of the m ost com m on conditions associated

180

Gary N ull's U ltim ate A nti-A ging P rogram v

w ith aging. W ith respect to cancer, one study dem onstrated a sig­ nificant inverse association betw een olive oil and the risk of breast cancer in a large trial of Greek w om en. Results of another recog­ nized a similar pattern w ith w om en in Italy. The sam e correlation has also been seen in Spanish w om en. Supplem entation w ith 50 g per day of olive oil over a period of two weeks has proven capable of modifying LDL lipid composition and enriching the lipoprotein w ith oleic acid and sitosterol in healthy males. A nother study indicated th at natural antioxidants found in the extra-virgin olive oil prevalent in M editerranean diets are involved in inhibiting the form ation of cytotoxic products and delaying atherosclerotic damage.

O m eg a F a tty A cid s Omega fatty acids are found in m any kinds of fish and various oils, including flaxseed oil, linseed oil, and evening primrose oil. N u ­ m erous studies have show n clinical benefits following ingestion of n-3 fatty acids in patients suffering from rheum atoid arthritis. One found that the oral intake of 2.6 g per day of omega-3 fatty acids by rheum atoid arthritis patients over a period of twelve m o n th s led to significant im provem ents in sym ptom s associated w ith the disease. Omega fatty acids m ay also be useful in the treatm en t and preven­ tion of cancer. S upplem entation w ith arginine, RNA, and omega-3 fatty acids in the early postoperative time period have improved postoperative imm unologic responses in patients undergoing surgery for gastroinestinal cancer. Daily supplem entation w ith omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil containing 4 g of eicosapentaenoic acid and 3.6 g of docosahexaenoic acid) over a period of twelve weeks had chemopreventive effects in patients suffering from sporadic adenom atous colorectal polyps. The consum ption of 18 g of fish oil per day over a period of forty days significantly increased T-helper/T-suppresser cell ratio in cancer patients w ith solid tum ors. Heart disease is an o th er area w here omega fatty acid supple­ m en tatio n has produced positive effects. One study showed that small doses of oral omega-3 fatty acids had significant positive ef­ fects on platelet activity w h e n adm inistered over a period of six weeks in hyperlipidemic patients w ith preexisting, established atherothrom botic disorders. The consum ption of a fish oil diet con­

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

181

taining 24 g of omega-3 fatty acids per day for gout weekly by healthy subjects reduced LDL plasm a levels relative to controls. The oral adm inistration of high levels of omega-3 fatty acids d ram ati­ cally reduced VLDL triglyceride levels associated w ith a high-carbohydrate diet in healthy subjects. Daily ingestion of low levels of m arine fish oil (900 mg f omega3 fatty acids) over a period of thirty days had positive effects on clotting and lipid profiles in healthy male subjects. Daily supple­ m en tatio n w ith om ega-3 fatty acids over a period of four weeks had antihypertensive and hypotriglyceridaemic effects in hypertensive patients taking either beta blockers or diuretics for the disease. Diabetics have also experienced benefits from omega fatty acids. One study found th at short-term daily supplem entation w ith omega-3 fatty acids (5.4 g eicosapentaenoic acid an d 2.3 g docosahexaenoic acid) over a period of four weeks led to positive changes w ith respect to vascular risk factors com m on to type 1 insulindependent diabetics. Supplem entation w ith 3 g of the omega 3 fatty acids eicosapen­ taenoic and docosahexaenoic acid per day over a period of eight w eeks led to an increase of the m em b ran e phospholipid u n s a tu ra ­ tion and the sphingomyelin content in noninsulin-dependent p a ­ tients. Supplem ental omega-3 fatty acids have also exhibited inhibitory effects against the onset of experim ental diabetic cardio­ m yopathy in diabetic rats.

PABA PABA (Para-Aminobenzoic Acid) is a m em ber of the B vitam in group and part of the folic acid molecule. Dietary sources of PABA include eggs, liver, w heat germ, whole grains, rice, and brewers yeast. PABA is perhaps m ost noted for its protective effects against skin damage, m aking it a widely used ingredient in su n tan lotions. The adm inistration of PABA has been show n to inhibit the develop­ m en t of skin tum ors in mice exposed to ultraviolet light. W hen com ­ bined w ith alcohol an d used in the form of a sunscreen, results from one study also showed PABA reduced the incidence of skin cancer in an eleven-year old patient w ith pigm entosum . PABA is also often used as a blood tonic, antiobiotic, intestinal cleanser, stress reducer, and to reverse gray hair and stim ulate hair growth. It has exhibited anti-herpes in anim al studies as well. There is no current RDA for

182

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

PABA, however. A suggested dose ranges betw een 30 to 100 mg per day.

P a n to th e n ic A cid P antothenic acid (vitam in B5) has dem onstrated significant a n ­ ticancer and cardioprotective effects in vitro. Results of one case study also indicated th at large doses of p a n ­ tothenic acid can improve myocardial grow th and function, n e u tro ­ phil cell count, hypocholesterolaemia and hyperuricaemia. Daily doses of 300 and 600 mg of calcium p an to th e m a te and 90 mg and 180 m g of p an teth ein taken for three to four weeks had positive im m unom odulatory action in hepatitis patients. Pantothenic acid can protect against liver dam age in rats as well. P h o sp h a tid y lse r in e A phospholipid com ponent of brain cell m em branes, p h o sp h ati­ dylserine has exhibited direct anti-aging effects in anim al studies. One has indicated it can improve the release of acetylccholine in aging rats. A nother showed th at the adm inistration of p h o sp h ati­ dylserine balanced age-altered enzym atic functions in rats. Phosphatidylserine adm inistered to aging rats can restore ace­ tylcholine by m aintaining a sufficient level in the cortical slices, and decrease the n u m b er of seizures due to spontaneous EEG bursts by 65 percent and the length of seizure duration by 70 percent. The adm inistration of phosphatidylserine to rats led to a reduction in decreases in acetylcholine release due to age by influencing m e c h a ­ nism of stim ulus-secretion coupling. Alzheimer's disease and senile patients have also experienced benefits following treatm en t w ith phosphatidylserine. Doses of 400 mg per day led to significant, short-term neuropsychological im ­ provem ents in such patients relative to controls. The adm inistration of 300 mg per day for eight weeks led to significant clinical im prove­ m ents in patients w ith mild prim ary degenerative dem entia. In a n ­ other study, Alzheimer's patients received 100 mg per day of bovine cortex phosphatidylserine for twelve weeks. Results showed the treatm en t improved several cognitive m easures relative to controls. Animal trials have produced similar results. Phosphatidylserine has promise for cancer and heart disease as well. Bovine cortex phosphatidylserine has significantly reduced

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

183

experim ental au to im m u n e encephalomyelitis in mice, while not inhibiting effector T-cells. A nother study found th at parental a d ­ m inistration of liposomes containing the am inophospholipids phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolam ine is an efficient m ode to decrease the endotoxin-induced production of tum or necrosis fac­ tor in mice and rabbits. The intravenous adm inistration of 30 to 60 mg of phosphatidyl serine em ulsion has led to a rapid reduction in blood coagulation activity in a dose-dependent m anner. Animal studies indicate phosphatidylserine can have positive im m u n e enhancing effects and reduce the clinical severity and m o r­ tality in allergic neuritis. Schizophrenia and epilepsy patients have benefited from phosphatidylserine. Stress is an o th er condition th at phostphatidylserine can help. The adm inistration of 800 m g per day of phosphatidylserine for ten days on neuroendocrine responses to physical stress in healthy males found it counteracted activation of the hypothalam o-pituitary-adrenal axis induced by stress. Pretreat­ m en t of healthy males w ith doses of 50 and 75 m g per day of brain cortex-derived phosphatidlyserine produced a significant blunting of the ACTH and cortisol responses to physical stress. Phosphatidylserine should not be taken w ith anticoagulant medication. The suggested dose is 100 to 200 m g taken orally twice per day, or 100 to 250 mg per day intravenously.

P o ta s s iu m In additional to its potential benefits for diabetics, supplem ental potassium is widely recognized in the scientific literature as a useful treatm en t for heart disease. One study found th at 80 m m ol per day of potassium led to a decline in systolic and diastolic blood pressure am ong middle-aged African-Americans on a low -potassium diet. M oderate restriction of dietary sodium coupled w ith 60 m m ol per day of supplem ental potassium for two m o n th s led to the reduction of supine blood pressure in patients w ith m oderate to mild essential hypertension. Supplem entation w ith 60 m m ol per day of potassium chloride for six weeks am eliorated diuretic-induced hypokalem ia and led to a decrease in blood pressure in hypertension patients. Potassium supplem entation at 60 m m ol per day showed a significant reduction in the orthostatic fall in systolic blood pressure and supine blood

184

Gary N ull's U ltim ate Anti-A ging P rogram v

pressure and control phases in elderly patients w ith sym ptom atic idiopathic postural hypotension. Potassium has significantly re­ duced systolic blood pressure in healthy, norm otensive children. Doses of 2 mg per day of supplem ental potassium hydrochloride or a com bination of 2 g per day of potassium hydrochloride and 1000 m g per day of m agnesium hydroxide added to tw enty-four weeks of diuretic therapy after the eighth w eek suppressed ventricular ectopic activity in mild hypertensives. A nother study com pared the effects of 64 m m ol per day of su p ­ plem ental potassium w ith 10 mg per day of bendrofulazide in black patients suffering from u n treated hypertension. Results showed the two treatm en ts to be equally effective in reducing diastolic blood pressure over a tw enty-eight-w eek period, w ith those receiving po­ tassium exhibiting fewer side effects. Essential hypertension p a ­ tients w h o received either a low -sodium diet, high-sodium diet, or h igh-sodium diet com bined w ith KC1 supplem entation showed that blood pressure increased during NaCl loading and decreased during KC1 supplem entation. A study of u n treated essential hypertensive patients w h o received 64 m m ol KC1 or placebo during two fourw eek periods found th at by the fourth w eek of the potassium su p ­ p lem entation period, significant reductions w ere seen in diastolic blood pressure. A meta-analysis involving n in eteen clinical trials found th at oral potassium supplem ents significantly lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure, w ith the strongest effects seen in patients w ith high blood pressure. A mild hypotensive effect following high potassium intake (72 mm ol/day) coupled w ith m oderate sodium restriction over a period of six weeks was found in young patients w ith hyper­ tension. Daily supplem entation w ith 65 m m ol of potassium chloride salt over a six-week period significantly reduced systolic and d ia­ stolic blood pressure in hypertensive black females. Potassium chlo­ ride given at doses of 60 m m ol per day reduced tw enty-four-hour am bulatory blood pressure in u n treated elderly hypertensives after a period of four weeks. And 100 m m ol per day of supplem ental potassium adm inistered over a period of ten days can modify noradrenergic blood pressure regulation in hypertensives. Hypertensive patients experienced reductions in blood pressure following long-term bu t not short-term supplem entation w ith po­ tassium. Intravenous potassium chloride adm inistered at doses of

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

185

0.5 meq/kg over a tw o-hour period were effective and w ithout side effects in pediatric postoperative cardiac patients as well.

P ycnogenol Pycnogenol is an extremely powerful antioxidant consisting of the bioflavanoid proanthocyanidin that can be extracted from pine bark and grape seeds. Studied since the 1950s, m an y have suggested pycnogenol m ay be the m ost p otent antioxidant yet discovered, far surpassing even vitam in E and vitam in C in strength. Peer review studies indicate it is indeed a proven free radical scavenger and antioxident that has been show n to exhibit anticancer activity. Supple­ m en tatio n w ith 150 mg per day can have beneficial effects on capillary resistance disorders in h u m a n diabetic and hypertension patients. Results from another h u m a n study showed th at the a d ­ m inistration of 4 tablets containing 50 m g of procyanidolic oligo­ m ers per day for 5 weeks had significant beneficial effects relative to controls w ith respect to various conditions associated w ith light vision. Pycnogenol has been found to protect vascular endothelial cells from oxidant injury in vitro, and exhibited im m u n e enhancing activity in mice. Q u ercetin Several studies have docum ented the anticancer activity of the bioflavonoid quercetin in vitro, while results from anim al trials d e m ­ onstrate cardioprotective and antidiabetic effects as well. Intrave­ nous adm inistration of quercetin and tocopherol acetate for seven days has been found to enhance norm alization of clinical indices and restoration of the im m u n e hom eostasis in patients suffering from Flexner's dysentery. Quercetive taken three hours prior to acute systemic hypoxia combined w ith hypertherm ia at doses of 100 mg/kg prevented drastic activation of lipid peroxidation and arachidonic acid metabolism. Animal studies suggest quercetin can inhibit gastric ulcers. R u tin Results from anim al studies indicate th a t rutin, another biofla­ vonoid, can suppress tum ors associated w ith colon cancer and delay the development of hypercholesterinemia and peroxidation syn­ drome, as well as aortal atherosclerotic affection. Rutin has exhib­

186

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

ited antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity in vitro, and provided protection against gastric injury in rats. Additionally, ru tin improves the absorption of vitam in C, prom otes circulation, and is a popular rem edy for a host of different conditions such as bruises, m uscle pain, high cholesterol, cirrhosis, rheum atic disorders, cata­ racts, hem orrhoids, constipation, and stress. Dietary sources of rutin include the w hite area u n d er the skin of citrus fruits, w hite core of green peppers, rose hips, prunes, cherries, apricots, rhubarb, lemongrass, m int, chamomile, and buckw heat.

S -A d e n o d y lm e th io n in e (S A M e) SAMe (S-Adenosylm ethionine) is a nontoxic, n atu ral metablite of m ethionine, an am ino acid, w hich has received a great deal of recent atten tio n for its potential anti-aging effects. SAMe can be found in m ost tissues of the body and is necessary for the proper utilization of m elatonin. Clinical trials involving more th a n 22,000 osteoarthritis patients betw een the years of 1982 and 1987 support the efficacy and tolerability of SAMe in treating those suffering from the disease. SAMe adm inistered over a period of tw enty-four m o n th s in patients w ith osteoarthritis of the knee, hip, and spine at doses of 600 m g daily for the first two weeks and 400 mg per day thereafter proved clinically effective, and improved feel­ ings of depression often associated w ith the disease as well. A study involving 20,641 patients w ith osteoarthritis of the knee, hip, and spine found adem etionine tablets adm inistered over a period of eight weeks showed good effectiveness in 71 percent of patients, m oderate effectiveness in 21 percent, and poor in 9 per­ cent. Patients w ith osteoarthritis of the knee, hip, and/or spine w ho received either 1,200 mg of S-adenosylm ethionine (SAMe) per day or 1,200 mg of ibuprofen per day or 150 mg of indom ethacin per day over a period of four weeks experienced an alleviating of symptoms, including m orning stiffness, pain at rest, pain on motion, crepitus, swelling, and lim itation of m otion of the affected joints. In a double­ blind, placebo-controlled study, patients w ith unilateral knee osteo­ arthritis received either 1,200 mg of SAMe per day or 20 mg per day of oral piroxicam over a period of eighty-four days. Both treatm ents produced significant im provem ents in total pain scores after being adm inistered for tw enty-eight days. A similar trial involving 734 subjects compared the efficacy of

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

187

1.200 mg per day of SAMe w ith 750 mg per day of naproxen in the treatm en t of osteoarthritis of the hip, knee, spine, and hand, and showed both drugs proved more effective th a n controls. SAMe also was significantly m ore tolerable th a n naproxen. Intram uscular a d ­ m inistration of SAMe had chondoprotective effects in rabbits w ith surgical-induced osteoarthritis. Intake of 30 m g of SAMe intrave­ nously twice a day over a two-w eek period had significant a n ti-in ­ flam m atory effects and no side effects in osteoarthrosis patients. Patients w ith hip and/or knee osteoarthritis w ho received either 1.200 m g of SAMe per day or 1,200 m g of ibuprofen per day over a period of thirty days found SAMe was more effective in alleviating symptoms associated w ith disease th a n ibuprofen. Intram uscular adm inistration of SAMe had protective effects in rabbits w ith exper­ im ental-induced degenerative arthropathy of the knee. Weekly intra-articular doses of SAMe significantly reduced the severity of experimentally induced osteoarthritis in rats. SAMe has been show n to be especially effective against depres­ sion. One study showed seven of nine patients receiving treatm ent w ith SAMe for depression experienced im provem ent or total rem is­ sion of symptoms. A nother found oral adm inistration of SAMe proved to be an effective and quick-acting antidepressant in patients suffering from m ajor depression. W hen compared w ith oral imipram ine, the intravenous adm inistration of SAMe for two weeks was significantly more effective in patients suffering from depression. SAMe has also been show n to be superior to tricylic antidepressants and desipramine. The parental adm inistration of 400 mg of SAMe over a period 15 days rem itted depressive sym ptoms in patients suf­ fering from depression. The oral adm inistration of 1,600 m g per day of SAMe over a m o n th period significantly improved depressive symptoms in postm enopausal female patients suffering from m ajor depression. SAMe has been show n to be an effective treatm ent for m an ag em en t of primary fibromyalgia m ainly due to its ability to improve the patient's depressive state and reduce the n u m b e r of trigger points. Oral doses of 800 mg per day of SAMe led to improve­ m ents w ith respect to pain, fatigue, m orning stiffness, and m ood in patients suffering from primary fibromyalgia. Num erous studies point to the ability of SAMe to counter the effects of liver damage. The adm inistration of 30 mg of SAMe six times per day coupled w ith 6000 gam m a per day of vitam in B12 pro­

188

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

duced significant im provem ents of biochemical param eters in p a ­ tients w ith hepatic cirrhosis or various chronic hepatites. In another study, patients suffering from hepatic cirrhosis w ere intravenously treated for a period of thirty days w ith 150 m g per day SAMe and 2000 gam m a per day of vitam in B12, or w ith vitam in B12 alone. Re­ sults showed significant im provem ents in the groups of patients re­ ceiving the combined treatm en t only. The intravenous adm inistration of two daily doses of 15 mg of SAMe over a period of tw enty days led to significant im provem ent in patients hospitalized for chronic hepatitis. Four daily doses of 15 mg adm inistered over a m o n th had significant beneficial effects in hepatitic cirrhosis patients. Intravenous doses of 30-45 m g per day of SAMe over a period of 30-60 days led to significant im provem ents in patients suffering from cirrhosis of the liver and other chronic hepatites. The short-term adm inistration of 1600 m g per day of SAMe had significant clinical benefits in patients suffering from intrahepatic cholestasis relative to controls. P regnant w om en suffering from intrahepatic cholestasis w h o re­ ceived SAMe at intravenous doses of 800 mg per day exhibited sig­ nificantly lower levels of total bile acids, serum conjugated bilirubin, and am inotransferases th a n controls. Such patients showed signifi­ cant decreases in pruritus as well. Oral intake of 30 mg of SAMe four to five times per day had significant beneficial effects on liver function in nine brothers suffering from Wilson's Disease. Several studies have indicated th at SAMe can prevent the developm ent of liver cancer in rats. SAMe has exerted anti-inflam m atory activity in the inhibiting of oedem a and pleurisy in rats. The adm inistration of SAMe protected against energy failure in cerebral ischemia of rats while also increas­ ing recovery time. SAMe adm inistered at daily doses of betw een 800 and 1200 mg has proven to be equally as effective as naproxen in the treatm en t of patients suffering from activated gonarthrosis, w ith both drugs showing significant im provem ent across all p a ra m ­ eters studied. SAMe has been determ ined to be effective in counter­ ing lead poisoning in both rodent and h u m a n studies. Intake of 800 mg per day of SAMe over a period of three m o n th s increased basal mobility of spermatozoa in six out of ten male infertility cases treated. SAMe adm inistered at doses of 800 mg per day worked as a physiological antidote against estrogen hepatobiliary toxicity in

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

189

w o m en w ith prior intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. SAMe can also alleviate pain in patients suffering from migraines. The suggested dose for SAMe falls betw een the range of 800 and 1600 mg per day.

S e le n iu m Selenium is an essential trace m ineral and im portant antioxi­ d an t that has been found to w ork synergistically w ith vitam in E. One study has determ ined th a t supplem ental beta-carotene and se­ lenium enhanced the im m u n e function am ong a group of healthy elderly subjects. Supplem ental selenium has also restored cell prolif­ eration defects associated w ith aging in mice by increasing the n u m ­ ber of high-affinity IL-2 receptors. Results of dozens of anim al and in vitro studies have pointed to the role of selenium in helping to prevent and treat cancer. A nother showed an inverse association betw een selenium status and the risk of lung cancer in a large-scale, three-year trial of Dutch m en and w o m en betw een the ages of fiftyfive and sixty-nine. One review article has cited num erous epidemiological studies indicating a significant inverse association betw een selenium intake and the risk of cancer in hum ans. Selenium m ay also play a role in preventing heart disease and diabetes. One study showed th at w h e n sodium selenite was added to the drinking w ater of rats for four weeks, they experienced p ro ­ tective effects against experim entally induced cardiac ischemia and reperfusion. Selenium and vitam in E adm inistered together p ro ­ tected rabbits against heart m uscle changes associated w ith a highfat diet. Selenium supplem entation reduced adriam ycin-induced cardiotoxicity in isolated rat hearts undergoing a sequence of is­ chemia/reperfusion. Combined supplem entation w ith selenium and vitam in E has protected the kidneys from glum erular lesions in d ia­ betic rats. Supplem ental selenium has exhibited insulinlike effects in diabetic mice. It has decreased elevated serum glucose levels in experimentally induced diabetic rats as well. Im m u n e function can also be improved by selenium. One study found th at three m o n th s of selenium supplem entation at thrice weekly doses of 500 micrograms followed by three m o n th s at 200 micrograms improved T-cell response to phytohaem oagglution and significant progressive increase in delayed-type hypersensitivity in

190

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

haemodialysis patients. A nother showed th at supplem entation w ith 200 micrograms of selenium per day for two to four m o n th s led to enhanced im m u n e response in patients suffering from short-bowel syndrome. Other conditions selenium has show n to benefit include Keshan disease, kidney damage, lupus, poor mood, myotonic dys­ trophy, ulcers, and dental cavities.

S u p er o x id e D is m u ta s e (SO D ) Superoxide dism utase is an antioxidant enzyme th at can counter dam aging free-radical effects at the cellular level. Research indicates SOD can also be useful against m an y specific conditions directly. One study has show n th at recom binant h u m a n superoxide dism utase exhibited inhibitory effects on the articular cartilage tis­ sue dam age associated w ith osteoarthritis. Others have show n that superoxide dism utase produced significant benefits for those suffer­ ing from osteoarthritis as well. Results of an o th er study showed that treatm en t w ith CuZn superoxide dism utase significantly improved clinical sym ptom s associated w ith Behcet's syndrome. Superoxide radicals have inhibited vasogenic brain edem a onset following brain injury. The adm inistration of SOD reduced the se­ verity of bronchopulm onary dysplasia in infants suffering from respiratory distress syndrome. Superoxide dism utase was effective in reducing radio-induced cystitis in patients suffering from bladder cancer. P retreatm ent w ith SOD or allopurinol a tte n u a ted ischemia and reperfusion-induced cochlear dam age in rats. Fanconi anaem ia patients w h o received 25 mg/kg per day of h u m a n SOD for two weeks experienced a reduction of lymphocyte chrom osom al aberra­ tions induced by diepoxybutane. Mice treated w ith SOD at the late period of influenza infection increased survival rates by betw een 30 and 50 percent. The intravenous adm inistration of SOD normalized systemic cir­ culation and vascular permeability of gastric m ucosa while also p re­ venting stress-induced gastric injury in rats. Superoxide dism utase enhanced the life span of rats exposed to hem orrhagic shock. Treat­ m en t w ith SOD reduced m otor dysfunction and spinal infarcts a w eek following ischemia in rabbits. Superoxide dism utase has ex ­ hibited significant protective effects against kidney dam age induced by ischemia and reperfusion in dogs and rats. Glycosulated SOD derivates, galactosylated and m annosylated, prevented ischem ia/re­

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

191

perfusion-induced liver dam age in rats. Superoxide dism utase has protected against lung damage in num erous anim al trials. The a d ­ m inistration of 3000 mg per day of intravenous recom binant h u m a n SOD adm inistered over a period of five days following multiple injuries atten u ated multiple organ failure w ith respect to cardiovas­ cular and pulm onary functions in h u m a n patients. Superoxide dis­ m utase protected against muscle and neuronal injury induced by ischemia/reperfusion in rats. Superoxide dism utase exhibited b e n e ­ ficial effects in patients suffering from plastic penile induration. A single intratracheal dose of recom binant h u m a n SOD h ad protective effects against lung injury in preterm infants suffering from respira­ tory distress syndrome. Topical superoxide dism utase is an effective treatm en t against burn-induced skin lesions in h u m a n patients. The adm inistration of h u m a n recom binant SOD protected against is­ chemic neuronal dam age in gerbils. Intra-articular injection of su ­ peroxide dism utase was an effective treatm en t for TMJ patients not responsive to traditional therapy. Superoxide dism utase has exhibited protective effects against intestinal ulcers in rats and bladder ulcers in female patients. The intravenous adm inistration of 1000 units per kg of polyethylene gly­ col-conjugated SOD w ithin six hours of injury was an effective tre a t­ m e n t for patients suffering from burns. It has exhibited b u rn healing effects in anim al trials. A host of anim al studies also point to the potential of SOD in the prevention and treatm en t of heart disease.

T rim eth y lg ly cin e Results from several Russian studies have show n th at trim ethyl­ glycine can protect against experim entally induced atherosclerosis in rabbits. V ita m in A /B e ta -c a r o te n e Vitamin A and beta-carotene, a precursor to vitam in A, are po w ­ erful antioxidants intim ately involved in the aging process and con­ ditions associated w ith it. Both are a b u n d a n t in green leafy vegetables and other fruits and vegetables, including carrots, sweet potatoes, yams, apricots, and melons. Beta-carotene adm inistered by itself and in com bination w ith selenium has been show n to e n ­ hance natural killer activity in elderly subjects. Results of another

192

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

study found that the m edian life span of the com m on housefly could be increased by up to 17.5 percent following an increase in dietary vitam in A to adequate from inadequate levels during the various stages of development. Beta-carotene supplem entation at doses of 30 mg per day or more for two m o n th s significantly enhanced im m u n e reaction in elderly volunteers. Alzheimer's patients have been found to have significantly lower plasm a levels of vitam in E and vitam in A th an controls. Inverse associations have also been noted betw een serum concentrations and dietary levels of beta-carotene and the risk of developm ent of cataracts. Rats w ith experim entally induced a rth ri­ tis experienced a toxicity-free decrease in clinical disease following the oral adm inistration of retinoids, suggesting retinoids should be considered as possible therapeutic agents in treating rheum atoid a r­ thritis. Combined supplem entation w ith 2.4 m g of retinol and 60 mg of elem ental iron has been show n to reverse anem ia in pregnant w om en. High doses of vitam in A and vitam in E have halted the progression of sym ptom s associated w ith abetalipoproteinem ia. T reatm ent of thirty acne vulgaris patients w ith 0.025 percent vitam in A acid in gel form for twelve weeks reduced the a m o u n t of papules, pustules, and com edones in twenty-five of the patients. Retinol, in doses of 300,000 IU and 400,000 IU in w o m en and men, respectively, has been found to be a safe and effective treatm en t for acne as well. Vitamin injections have been effective in children w ith chronic cholestasis. Three m o n th s of oral beta-carotene supplem entation ef­ fectively normalized excess lipid peroxidation in vitam in A deficient cystic fibrosis patients. Darier's disease patients receiving 1 X 10 (6) IU of oral vitam in A daily for fourteen days experienced a 50 percent to 80 percent im provem ent in skin lesions. Supplem ental betacarotene combined w ith other antioxidants has exhibited antidiabetic effects in rats. Among erythropoietic protoporphyria patients, 84 percent treated w ith 180 mg/day of oral beta-carotene showed a threefold increase in their ability to tolerate sunlight. Similar effects were seen in mice. Treatm ent w ith either a 100,000 IU or 200,000 IU dose of vitam in A was effective against Bitot's spots in Indonesian children. Long-term oral therapy w ith daily doses of 18,000 IE retinol, 70 mg

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

193

L-cystine, and 700 m g gelatin led to an im provem ent of diffuse hair loss relative to controls. Treatm ent w ith vitam ins A and E for 2 8 -4 8 days improved symptoms in forty m iddle-aged to elderly patients affected by p res­ bycusis (hearing loss). Topical treatm en t of prim ary herpetic k erati­ tis w ith 0.25 percent of retinoic acid significantly reduced the severity of epithelial lesions in rabbits. Topical instillation of retinoic acid into the eyes of rabbits at the same dose also reduced the rate of incorporation of thym ide into DNA by 27 percent. Patients w ith congenital ichthyosiform erythroderm a have benefited from tre a t­ m e n t w ith oral retinoic acid. Vitamin A supplem entation for two weeks had positive effects on experim entally induced intestinal anastom osis in rabbits. Megadoses of oral vitam in A have proven effective against lesions associated w ith Kyrle's disease. Systemic lupus erythem atosus patients treated w ith 100,000 IU daily of vita­ m in A for two weeks experienced an en h an cem en t of antibody-de­ p en d en t cell-mediated cytotoxicity, n atu ral killer cell activity and blastogenic response to plant mitogens and interleukin-2. Mortality rates were significantly reduced in children aged four to tw enty-four m o n th s hospitalized from measles following supple­ m en tatio n w ith vitam in A. A nother study showed th a t oral supple­ m en tatio n w ith 400,000 IU vitam in A led to a reduction or morbidity and mortality in children hospitalized w ith measles. Data showed th a t children taking vitam in A had significantly faster recovery times w ith respect to pneum onia and diarrhea, they h ad less croup, spent less time in the hospital, an d had a d eath rate during hospital­ ization of half th a t of controls. Mortality and susceptibility to infec­ tion and diarrhea have been show n to be greater in vitam in A deficient children, particularly w ith respect to measles. Studies have show n vitam in A -su p p lem en tatio n reduced mortality and complica­ tions resulting from measles, and th a t supplem entation w ith vita­ m in A could reduce the rate of childhood m ortality by a m ean of 35 percent and the rate of childhood mortality from measles specifically by a m in im u m of 50 percent, w ith researchers estim ating th at vita­ m in A supplem entation of deficient children could prevent as m any as 1-3-million death each year worldwide. Vitamin A can be effec­ tive in the treatm en t of m enorrhagia. It has been successful as a topical agent am ong patients suffer­ ing from plantar warts, and against papllomas in rabbits. High doses

194

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

of corticosteroids and vitam in A have produced clinical recovery in patients suffering from pneum onia. Supplem entation w ith 15,000 IU per day of vitam in A proved to have beneficial effects on the course of retinitis pigem entosa. Oral vitam in A adm inistered to mice prevents stress-induced immunological disorders: depression of antibody-form ing cell production, decrease in n atu ral killer cell ac­ tivity, and T-lymphocyte mitogenic response. Data have also d e m o n ­ strated th a t vitam in A prevents the developm ent of thym us atrophy, lym phopenia and depression of phagocytic activity of peritoneal m acrophages. Vitamin A has significantly reduced the incidence and size of stress-induced ulcer form ation in rats and duodenal ulcers in h u m a n patients. A decrease in beta-carotene levels along w ith other antioxidants can alter the local im m u n e response in w om en, creat­ ing disturbances in vaginal flora, Candida overgrowth, and vaginal candidiasis development. Patients w ith prim ary biliary cirrhosis w h o received supplem entation w ith 25,000 to 50,000 IU of vitam in A per day for four to twelve weeks experienced norm alization of serum vitam in A levels and subsequent significant im provem ents in dark adaptation. Vitamin A has protected against liver dam age in anim als as well. Vitamin A was an effective agent for reversing the inhibition of cell-mediated im m unity in burned mice. Rabbits w ith corneal epithelial w ounds treated w ith 0.1 percent alltransretinoic acid three times per day experienced a 21 percent increase in the healing rate relative to controls. Treatm ent five times a day resulted in an increase of 35 percent. Supplem ental retinyl acetate, betacarotene, or in some cases all-trans-retinoic acid effectively e n ­ hanced w o und healing in rats. Additional studies point to the w ound healing effects of vitam in A as well. Supplem ental vitam in A has been show n to benefit patients suffering from xeropthalm ia, and children and adults suffering from varying degrees of blindness. Vitamin A supplem entation has led to a reduction in the incidence of both diarrhea and respiratory disease in children. Vitamin A intake has reduced childhood mortality rates in d e­ veloping countries as well, including children born to m others in ­ fected w ith HIV. Vitamin A deficiency has been linked to suppressed im m unologic status and clinical outcom es in patients infected with HIV, and an increased rate of m other-to-child transm ission of HIV. Supplem entation w ith 180 mg per day of beta-carotene for four weeks significantly increased CD4 counts in HIV-infected patients.

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

195

Supplem entation w ith 60 m g of beta-carotene per day increased im ­ m u n e status in AIDS patients. In one pilot study, ten patients in ­ fected w ith HIV w h o had just discontinued use of either AZT or DDI received one session of whole body hypertherm ia w ith a noninvasive procedure at forty-two degrees Celsius core tem perature for one hour, and subsequently supplem ented w ith 120 m g per day of betacarotene. Results showed the treatm ent was tolerated well by all patients aside from one w ho died w ith in four m onths. The re m a in ­ ing nine experienced an HIV b u rd en dim inution, clinical im prove­ m en t and am elioration of laboratory data, and reported subjective im provem ents in overall quality of life. A nother study exam ined the effects of 30 m g per day of beta-carotene for four m onths on the lymphocytes of eleven AIDS patients. Results showed significant in ­ creases in the n u m b e r of cells w ith NK m arkers and m arkers of activation after three m onths. High-dietary vitam in A was associ­ ated w ith a retarded d eath rate in mice infected w ith LP-BM5 m u ­ rine leukemia, an AIDS-like condition, relative to controls. ARC patients supplem ented w ith beta-carotene experienced a decrease in the progress toward AIDS, as well as recoveries from asthenia, fever, nocturnal sweating, diarrhea, and w eight loss. Num erous studies have show n an inverse association betw een vitam in A and/or beta carotene levels and the risk of cancer. Others have noted that supplem ental vitam in A and beta-carotene can also produce positive results. One showed that 60 m g of vitam in A a w eek for six m o n th s produced a total remission of leukoplakias in 57 percent of the betal quid tobacco chewing fisherm en from India examined. A reduction of m icronucleated cells was seen in 96 p er­ cent of the subjects. Doses of 2.2 m m ol per w eek of beta-carotene produced remission of leukoplakia in 14.8 percent and a reduction of micronucleated cells in 98 percent. The form ation of new leuko­ plakia was completely suppressed by vitam in A and repressed by 50 percent as a result of beta-carotene w ith six m onths. W ithdraw al of either beta-carotene or vitam in A supplem entation resulted in the reappearance of leukoplakias and an increase in the frequency of micronuclei in oral mucosa. Lower doses of both agents prolonged the effect of the original treatm en t by a m in im u m of eight addi­ tional m onths. A nother study reported results of a large trial of lo­ cally applied beta-trans retinoic acid that showed it to be an effective

196

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

agent in reversing m oderate cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Presupplem entation w ith beta-carotene (30 m g per day) can prevent beta-carotene depletion in the skin caused by ultraviolet ra ­ diation and in tu rn extend the prevention of free radical dam age due to such radiation. High intake of beta-carotene m ay protect w om en against developing ovarian cancer. Patients undergoing endoscopic removal of polyps w h o received a com bination of 30,000 U of vita­ m in A, 70 mg of vitam in E, and 1 g of vitam in C daily showed a significantly lower level of polyp reappearance relative to those re ­ ceiving 2 0 -4 0 g per day of lactulose or no treatm en t at all. Betacarotene has proved to be an im portant dietary variable in improving survival in breast cancer patients. Supplem entation w ith the effects of 30 mg of oral beta-carotene per day for six m o n th s on tw enty male patients w ho had previously undergone resection of colonic adenocarcinom a inhibited mucosal ornithine decarboxylase activity by 44 percent after two weeks of beta-carotene adm inistration and 57 percent after nine weeks, rem aining low for up to six m onths following discontinuation of this protocol. Smokeless tobacco use, and oral lesion patients w ho received 30 mg per day of beta-carotene experienced a dram atic im provem ent of the oral mucosa. More th a n half of patients w ith prem alignant lesions of the oral cavity w h o were given daily doses of 30 mg of beta-carotene, 1000 mg of ascorbic acid, and 800 IU of alpha tocoph­ erol for nine m o n th s experienced either partial or complete clinical resolution of their oral lesion. The adm inistration of beta-carotene in doses of 30 mg per day had m arked protective activity against oral premalignancy. Daily oral adm inistration of 300,000 IU of vitam in A for twelve m o n th s significantly reduced the n u m b e r of tobacco related new primary tum ors in lung cancer patients relative to controls. Supplem entation w ith vitam ins A, C, and E in patients w ith co­ lorectal adenom as six m o n th s after complete polypectomy lead to a reduction in abnorm alities in cell kinetics that may indicate a precancerous condition. In the cases of two cutaneous m etastatic m elanom a patients w ho were treated topically w ith beta-all-transretinoic acid, one experienced a complete regression of the treated lesions, while the other experienced partial regression. Three m o n th s' w orth of supplem enting the diet of 40 rural Filipino betel

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

197

chewers w ith sealed capsules of retinol (100 000 IU/week) and betacarotene (300 000 IU/week) w as associated w ith a threefold d e­ crease in the m ean proportion of cells w ith micronuclei inside the cheek pouch. Male patients w ith m etastastic unresectable squam ous cell car­ cinom a of the lung w ho were treated w ith up to seven treatm en t courses of either 13-cis vitam in A acid or vitam in A palm itate over a period of sixty w eeks experienced significant im m u n e potentiating effects. Supplem entation w ith beta-carotene-rich foods can c o u n ­ teract the cancer causing-effects of smoke from cigarettes by m a in ­ taining vitam in A levels in smokers. Doses of 100,000 IU per day of vitam in A for two weeks produced an en h an cem en t of antibodydependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, n atu ral killer cell activity and blastogenic response to plant m itogens in patients w ith chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Retinoic acid has been show n to be an effective treatm en t for chemically induced tum ors. In one particular study, its use resulted in either complete or partial bladder papilloma regression in thirtythree patients. Daily supplem entation of gastric m ucosa patients w ith 20 mg of beta-carotene for three weeks produced a significant decrease of ornithine decarboxylase activity, w hich has been associ­ ated w ith cell proliferation and tu m o r prom otion. Supplem entation w ith 180 m g per w eek of beta-carotene and beta-carotene combined w ith 100,000 IU of vitam in A per week led to the remission and inhibition of new oral leukoplakia in subjects w h o chewed tobaccocontaining betel quids on a daily basis. Beta-carotene supplem entation (180 mg/week, given twice weekly in six capsules of 30 mg each) proved to be an efficient in h ib ­ itor of exfoliated cells w ith micronuclei in the oral m ucosa of sm oke­ less tobacco chewers not already deficient in vitam in A. Vitamin A has exhibited protective effects against lung cancer in males and bladder cancer in both sexes. Local application of vitam in A acid had beneficial effects on w om en w ith m oderate cervical dysplasia. Benign breast disease patients orally adm inistered 150,000 IU of vitam in A per day experienced complete or partial remissions and m arked pain reductions. Animal studies point to the anti-cancer ef­ fects of vitam in A and beta-carotene. Similar results have been seen in vitro. As w ith cancer, studies show an inverse association betw een

198

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

plasm a levels of vitam ins A and beta-carotene and the risk of heart disease. S upplem entation has also produced direct results. In one study, patients undergoing carotid endarterectom y w ho were pre­ treated w ith low-dose, oral beta-carotene experienced a fifty-fold increase in their plaque beta-carotene level, and the plaque from b eta-carotene-treated patients h ad higher carotenoid levels and higher absorption com pared w ith controls. The adm inistration of 2 microM of beta-carotene proved m ore potent th a n 40 microM of alpha-tocopherol in inhibiting LDL oxidation and thus could be a key factor in atherosclerosis prevention. Anim al trials support such findings.

V ita m in B x Vitamin B, (thiam ine) is a powerful antioxidant. S upplem enta­ tion w ith 100 mg per day of vitam in B, over a twelve-week period has been show n to elicit positive effects in patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Vitamin B, is also a proven fatigue fighter. Re­ sults of one double-blind, placebo-controlled study exam ining the effects of 10 mg of thiam in per day on healthy elderly Irish w om en showed th at the w om en receiving th iam in had significant increases in energy intake, appetite, body weight, and general well-being. Fatigue and daytime sleep w ere also decreased by su p p lem en ta­ tion. Daily supplem entation w ith 200 mg of vitam in B, has been show n to improve left ventricular function in congestive heart fail­ ure patients. Patients suffering from pulm onary and myocardial in ­ sufficiency have benefited from postoperative vitam in B, injections (50 mg/kg). Results of an o th er study dem onstrated a single dose of th iam in produced significant protective effects in patients w ith ischemic heart damage. Dogs adm inistered high doses of vitam in B, have experienced significant cardiovascular protection as well. Thiam ine has exhibited anti-HIV activity in vitro. In epileptics, it has produced im provem ents in neuropsychological functions, in ­ cluding visuo-spatial analysis, visuo-m otor speed, and verbal a b ­ stracting ability. It has had cholinom im em etic effects on the central nervous system of healthy young adults. A nother study involving two middle-aged patients w ho developed severe metabolic acidosis following abdom inal surgery found that two 400 mg doses of th ia ­ m ine imm ediately elim inated the lactic acidosis in both patients. Thiam ine adm inistered in doses of 50 mg per capita per day for

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

199

thirty days significantly reduced blood glucose levels in patients w ith liver cirrhosis. Supplem entation w ith 200 m g per day of th ia ­ m ine over a one-w eek period restored levels of thiam ine pyrophos­ phate, an essential co-factor in interm ediary metabolism, to norm al levels in chronic liver disease patients. Vitamin Bj can improve con­ ditions of seasonal ataxia. Thiamine adm inistration following su r­ gery prevented decreased blood corticosteroid levels during the postoperative period in patients subjected to herniotom y or a p p en ­ dectomy u n d er local anesthesia.

V ita m in B2 Results from anim al and in vitro studies point to the efficacy of vitam in B2 (riboflavin) in inhibiting the risk of cancer and heart disease. Supplem ental vitam in B2 has also been show n to be useful in the treatm ent of geriatric depression. Vitamin B2 has exhibited antibacterial effects in mice and antistroke potential in rats. Two review articles have noted its antioxidant activity. Migraine patients receiving 40 m g of riboflavin in a single oral dose for at least three m o n th s have show n significant im provem ent following treatm ent. Riboflavin deficiency is k n ow n to induce cataract form ation in animals. V ita m in B6 Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is central to the body's m anufacture of neurotransm itters, w hich are crucial to proper m en tal functioning. Vitamin B6 supplem entation has improved m em ory in healthy el­ derly m en w h e n adm inistered in doses of 20 mg pyridoxine HCL per day for three m onths. The norm alization of vitam in B6 levels in HIVinfected patients suffering from a deficiency led to significant im ­ provem ents in CD4 cell nu m b er as well as other functional p a ra m e ­ ters of immunity. Oral adm inistration of vitam in B6 at doses of 180 m g per day coupled w ith 40 m g of iron for tw enty weeks led to significant im provem ents in hemodialysis patients. The ad m in istra­ tion of 200 mg per day of pyridoxine for five m o n th s led to signifi­ cant im provem ent in children suffering from bronchial asthm a. Vitamin B6 treatm ent has proven effective in the treatm ent of a u tis­ tic children. High vitam in B6 intake suppressed the developm ent of experimentally induced tum ors in mice by regulating PLP grow th or by im m u n e enhancem ent.

200

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

Pyridoxine can regulate h u m a n m elanom a cells in vitro. Tumor necrosis factor coupled w ith pyridoxine m ay be a m ore effective c a n ­ cer treatm en t th an the adm inistration of tum or necrosis factor by itself. Vitamin B6 can kill hepatom a cells in vitro and m ay be an effective antineoplastic agent. Six w eeks' w orth of treatm en t w ith 250 mg of vitam in B6 and 5 mg of folic acid in patients w ith mild hyperhom ocystinem ia and cardiovascular disease normalized p o st­ load hom ocysteine concentration in 92 percent of patients, and fast­ ing hom oscyteim enia was normalized in 91 percent. Patients taking vitam in B6 for carpal tunnel syndrom e and other degenerative diseases exhibited a risk of developing acute cardiac chest pain or myocardial infarction, w hich was less th a n patients w ho had not taken vitam in B6. Results also showed a life span eight years longer am ong elderly patients w h o died from myocardial in ­ farction relative to those w h o had not taken vitam in B6. Vitamin B6 has also been highly useful against carpal tu n n el syndrom e itself. S upplem entation w ith 100 mg of vitam in B6 per day corrected defi­ ciencies in patients suffering from carpal tu n n el syndrom e as well as produced im provem ents in sym ptom s associated w ith the condi­ tion. A twelve-year study found that 68 percent of a group of 494 patients treated w ith 100 mg per day of vitam in B6 experienced im ­ provem ent in sym ptom s associated w ith carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tu n n el syndrome patients have experienced benefits from treatm en t w ith 150 mg of pyridoxine per day for three m onths, d e ­ spite having no initial deficiencies in the vitam in. A twelve-week treatm en t w ith vitam in B6 proved to be effective in four patients suffering from carpal tu n n el syndrome. Cariogenic diets supplem ented w ith vitam in B6 and zinc led to a reduction in the n u m b er of dental carries in rats relative to controls. Gestational diabetes can be caused by increased xanthurenic-acid synthesis during pregnancy and vitam in B6 supplem entation can normalize the production of xanthurenic-acid by restoring trypto­ p h an m etabolism and thus improve oral glucose tolerance in such patients. Pyridoxine and m ethlyphenidate were more effective than controls in reducing sym ptom s associated w ith hyperkinesis in six patients. Male patients undergoing hemodialysis w ho received su p ­ plem ental pyridoxine hydrochloride at doses of 50 mg per over a three- to five-week period experienced im provem ent in num erous param eters of im m une function following the treatm ent. Vitamin

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

201

B6 has also improved symptoms associated w ith PMS, pregnancyinduce nausea and vomiting, and primary hyperoxaluria.

V ita m in B 12 Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) has been show n to exhibit a n ti­ tum or effects and enhance cognitive perform ance in mice. In vitro studies point to its im m une-enhancing activity on h u m a n T-cells. Vitamin B12 also appears to be useful in the treatm en t of patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Supplem entation w ith 250 meg/ ml has signicantly improved cognitive function in HIV-infected p a ­ tients. It can produce benefits in pernicious anem ia patients. Two elderly patients deficient in vitam in B12 and suffering low im m unoglubulin levels experienced a retu rn to norm al of such levels follow­ ing supplem entation w ith vitam in B12. Results of another study found th at supplem entation w ith vitam in B12 led to m arked im ­ provem ents in outpatients suffering from recurrent aphthous in i­ tially deficient in vitam in B12. Smokers of tw enty years or more w ith m etaplasia on one or more sp u tn am samples were given 10 m g of folate coupled w ith 500 micrograms of vitam in B12 for four m onths, w hich led to significant reductions of atypia. Vitamin B12 supple­ m ents have the potential to reverse some of the negative effects of chronic exposure to nitro oxide inhalation com m on to dental set­ tings. Subjects w ith norm al vitam in B12 levels w h o received supple­ m ents via injection scored better on the MMPI relative to subjects not receiving the supplem ents. Supplem ental B12 has produced posi­ tive effects in hepatitis patients. Chronic m ultiple sclerosis patients taking 600 meg of vitam in B12 every day for six m onths showed im provem ent in both abnormalities of the visual and brainstem auditory evoked potentials relative to controls. Vitamin B12 supple­ m en tatio n at doses of 3 m g per day m ay advance h u m a n circadian rhythm s by increasing circadian clock light sensitivity in healthy subjects. Additional studies highlight the ability of vitam in BI2 to improve sleep, as well. V ita m in C Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a water-soluble vitam in and essen­ tial antioxidant found in m any fruits and vegetables. An insufficient intake of antioxidants has been linked to a higher risk of cancer and m any other forms of degenerative diseases. One large study has

202

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

d em onstrated a significant relationship betw een low vitam in C in ­ take and higher risks of heart disease m ortality and overall m ortality over the following ten-year time period. Additional studies have noted connections betw een vitam in C and other antioxidants and cataracts. Vitamin C has also been show n to be essential as a scaven­ ger of free radicals, w hich is im p o rtan t in collagen formation, and horm one and n eu ro tran sm itter synthesis. Additional research has exam ined the effects of ascorbic acid on cell proliferation and collagen expression in derm al fibroblasts from young children (ages th ree-eig h t) and the elderly (ages seventyeight-ninety-three). The presence of ascorbic acid in both age groups resulted in a faster rate of cell proliferation and reached higher densities th a n controls. Collagen biosynthesis was found to be inversely related to age, w hile the stim ulation by ascorbic acid appeared to be age independent. Beta-carotene (15-30 mg/day), vi­ tam in E (15 mg/day), and vitam in C (30 mg/day) have all been show n to produce an increase of singlet oxygen protection of ery th ­ rocytes of subjects after ju st fifteen days of treatm ent. Significant positive correlations have been found betw een dietary ascorbic acid and HDLC, the intake of carbohydrates and protein and total fat in subjects over sixty-five. Significant negative correlations w ere found betw een dietary ascorbic acid and LDLC and LDLC/HDLC, suggest­ ing a preventive role of ascorbic acid in atherogenic diseases. A n ­ other study has found th at high vitam in C serum concentrations have resulted in lower blood glucose response in subjects of all ages. A similar relationship was found betw een vitam in E consum ption and serum. Daily ingestion of less th a n 100 m g of ascorbic acid resulted in the highest n u m b er of nonspecific clinical signs and symptoms. Daily ingestion of 200 mg or m ore of ascorbic acid resulted in the least for all ages. Those w ho ingested the m ost vitam in C (fifty years of age or older) were clinically similar to the forty-year-olds w ho ingested the least. Elderly lymphocytes cultured in the presence of 10 m icrograms/ml of vitam in C and pre-incubated overnight, re­ sulted in m itogen-stim ulated lymphocyte proliferation, w hich was similar to that from younger controls w ith o u t vitam in C in culture. Oral ingestion of 2 g of vitam in C daily on certain in vitro and in vivo im m unologic param eters in the elderly has also been exam ined and proved to be beneficial. These results coupled w ith related findings

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

203

in the study point to vitam in C as a potentially effective agent in enhancing im m u n e functions in the elderly. Patients w ith agerelated diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, vascular disease and h y ­ pertension have experienced positive results following treatm ent w ith m etal chelator EDTA and antioxidants such as vitam in C, E, beta-carotene, selenium, zinc, and chromium. Arthritis patients have benefited from supplem ental vitam in C, w ith anim al models supporting such findings. Patients suffering from cataracts have also found relief from treatm en t w ith vitam in C. Low vitam in C intake and consum ing less th a n 3.5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day were found to be associated w ith an increased risk of cortical cataracts. Ascorbate significantly prevented selenite-induced cataracts in rats as well. Vitamin C m ay also be related to asthm a. Studies show th a t vitam in C intake in the general population correlates w ith the incidence of asthm a. A sthm a sym p­ tom s in adults have been show n to decrease following vitam in C supplem entation. Standard a n ti-asth m a chemoprophylaxis (SAC) supplem ented w ith 1 g of ascorbic acid (Redoxon) daily experienced less severe and fewer asthm a attacks w h e n g ascorbic acid (Re­ doxon) given as a single daily dose for a six-m onth period signifi­ cantly improved polym orphonuclear leucocyte (PMNL) motility and decreased antistreptolysin O (ASO) levels in children w ith bronchial asthm a. A nother study of 124 patients w ith bronchial asth m a found th at 96.8 percent were deficient in ascorbic acid. T reatm ent th at did not include vitam in C was ineffective. A dm inistering doses of 275-300 mg of vitam in C, in com bination w ith other vitamins, over m any days proved m ore successful. Approximately 35 percent of reproductive-age w om en in the United States consum e less th a n 30 mg of vitam in C, while 68 p er­ cent consum e less th a n 88 mg. Vitamin C is an independent risk factor for cervical dysplasia w h e n other variables such as age and sexual activity are controlled. Research indicates vitam in C can d e ­ crease the length and duration of the com m on cold. Increasing v ita­ m in C intake can benefit patients w ith active or inactive Crohn's disease, and improve adrenal function. A 10 percent ascorbic acid solution can improve dermatitis. Syn­ thetic ascorbic acid solution decreased symptoms in 74 percent of patients suffering from perennial allergic rhinitis. Another study

204

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

found th at 2 g of vitam in C adm inistered to patients w ith allergic rhinititis produced significant positive effects one h our after treat­ m ent. Ascorbic acid can counter the effects of alcohol toxicity. Oral adm inistration of 1 g per day of ascorbic acid for three days has produced an tihistam ine effects. Doses of 2 g per day had similar results in smokers. Ascorbic acid can also induce antipsychotic ef­ fects. Doses of 8 g/70 kg/day of ascorbic acid added to autistic tre a t­ m en t over a thirty-week period led to a reduction in sym ptom severity. The adm inistration of ascorbic acid and alphatocopherol significantly improved neutrophil (PMN) locomotroy defect in p a ­ tients suffering from blunt traum a. Ascorbic acid has exhibited anticandida activity in vitro. A study of m e n betw een tw enty and thirty-five years old found th at heavy smokers w h o consum ed more th a n 200 m g/d of supplem ental ascorbic acid experienced im prove­ m ents in sperm quality relative to fertility. Additional research supports such findings w ith respect to the role of vitam in C in prom oting fertility. Studies indicate vitam in C m ay be effective against hepatitis, herpes, fatigue liver disease, M enkes disease, neutrophil dysfunction, obesity, ocular in flam m a­ tion, opiate addiction, Paget's disease, pancreatitis, schizophrenia, sickle cell anemia, stress, stroke, sunburn, tetanus, glaucoma, g lu ta­ thione deficiency, HTLV-I associated myelopathy, respiratory infec­ tions, cognitive im pairm ent, retinal light damage, and sym ptom s associated w ith m enopause. Research also indicates ascorbic acid aerosol in a dose of approxim ately 1 mg a puff up to a m ax im u m of 300 mg/day could be an effective and novel way to stop smoking. Gingival bleeding has been linked to vitam in C deficiencies. Parkinson's disease is an o th er age-related condition that can be helped by vitamin C. The same is true of diabetes. One study found th at 2 g per day of ascorbic acid taken for two weeks delayed the insulin response to a glucose challenge in nonglycemic adults and subsequently prolonged the postprandial hyperglycemia. Supple­ m ents of 100-600 mg per day of vitam in C daily taken for fifty-eight days were effective in decreasing the accum ulation of sorbitol 2 in the erythrocytes of young insulin-dependent diabetics. Vitamin C has also been show n to be beneficial in the healing of various w ounds. Doses betw een 500 to 3,000 mg a day have produced re­ sults in patients recovering from surgery, decubital ulcers, leg ulcers, and other unspecified injuries.

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

205

The im m u n e system is another area w here vitam in C plays a central role. Normal adult volunteers w ho ingested 2 to 3 g of ascorbate daily experienced enhanced neutrophil motility to a chemotactic stimulus of endotoxin-activated authologous serum. Stimulation of lymphocyte transform ation to phytohaem agglutinin and concanavalin A was also detected in volunteers after the ingestion of 2 and 3 g of daily ascorbate. Dietary supplem entation w ith vitamins A, C, and E resulted in improved cell-mediated im m u n e function indicated by significant increases in the total n u m b er of T-cells, T4 subsets, T4 to T8 ratio, and the proliferation of lymphocytes in response to phytohaem agagglutinin. Ascorbate acid inhibits h u m a n natural killer cell activity in a dose-dependent m a n n e r while not effecting effector/target cell binding or interferon or interlekin-2-induced increases of NK activ­ ity. AIDS is a disease of im m u n e failure. Vitamin C has proven capa­ ble of combating its deadly effects on several fronts, including the suppression of HIV directly. Researchers have argued th at doses as large as 50-200 g per tw enty-four hours of ascorbate can suppress AIDS symptoms and reduce secondary infections. No two areas have received as m uch attention in the scientific literature concerning vitam in C as its relations to cancer and heart disease. W ith respect to cancer, the evidence suggests deficiencies in vitam in C can be a risk factor for developing it, while vitam in C supplem entation m ay be a useful therapy against the disease. Well over one h u n d red studies have been done on the role of vitam in C in cancer prevention, w ith m ost finding statistically significant effects. Protective effects have been show n for cancers of the pancreas, oral cavity, stomach, esophagus, cervix, rectum, breast, and lung. Results of one Latin American study found that vitam in C significantly d e ­ creased the risk of invasive cervical cancer, as was the case w ith beta-carotene and other carotenoids. Vitamin C supplem ent use was show n to be inversely related to bladder and colon cancer in w om en in an eight-year follow-up study beginning in 1981 of 11,580 resi­ dents of a retirem ent com m unity initially free from cancer. Doses of 3 g per day have reduced polyp area in the treatm en t of patients suffering from large bowel adenom as over a n in e-m o n th period. One study involving patients w ith acute nonlymphocytic leukemia found that the num bers of leukemic bone m arrow cell colonies grown in culture were decreased 21 percent of control in 7/28 p a ­

206

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

tients by adding 0.3 mg of L-ascorbic acid to the culture m edium . Concentrations of L-ascorbic acid as low as 0.1 milliM were capable of suppressing the leukemic cell colony in cultures of both leukemic and norm al m arrow cells. In an o th er study, eighty-one patients w ith prem alignant lesions of the oral cavity were given 30 mg of betacarotene, 1000 mg of ascorbic acid, and 800 IU of alphatocopherol daily for nine m onths. The test concluded that 55.6 percent experi­ enced either complete or partial clinical resolution of their lesions. Plasma vitam in C has been found to reduce the risk of cancer by 60 percent in a trial of 117 cervical cancer patients. Patients w ith oral leukoplakia w ho were adm inistered 30 mg of beta-carotene, 1000 mg of ascorbic acid, and 800 IU of alphatocopherol per day for nine m o n th s experienced either partial or complete clinical resolu­ tion of their oral lesions. Lung cancer and bladder cancer patients treated w ith doses of 5 g per day of ascorbic acid experienced a correction in low haem atic levels of vitam in C and an increase in defense reactions against these types of cancer. Vitamin C supple­ m en tatio n decreased gastric mucosal DNA dam age in cancer p a ­ tients, w hich suggests that it m ay provide a protective role against the onset of gastric cancer. T reatm ent of sixty-two high-risk patients for gastric cancer w ith 1 g of ascorbic acid taken four times a day for four weeks found th at ascorbic acid given in high doses can reduce the intragastric form ation of nitrite and N-nitroso com pounds. Two sets of Japanese clinical trials involving the use of supplem ental ascorbate to treat term inal cancer patients showed the average su r­ vival time of high ascorbate patients was 246 days, compared to 43 days for low ascorbate patients in the first trial, and high ascorbate patients surviving an average of 115 days compared to 48 days for those in the low ascorbate group in the second trial. A comparative study of norm al and m alignant conditions in h u m a n s and in mice found that serum levels of vitam in C were lower in all h u m a n m alig­ n ant cases relative to controls. W ith respect to mice, results showed that vitam in C and vitam in A supplem entation adm inistered at the start of tum or development reduced both tum or take and rate of grow th and prolonged host survival relative to controls. A nother trial compared 294 incurable patients treated w ith su p ­ plem ental ascorbate w ith 1532 untreated patients w ho served as controls over a 4.5-year period. The m edian survival time of the ascorbate group was 343 days, compared to 180 days for the con­

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

207

trols. Postoperative treatm ent of ninety-five stom ach cancer patients w ith vitamins C, E, and A has led to a decreased rate of postopera­ tive complications from 30.9 percent to 1.9 percent. Results from anim al studies support the anti-cancer effects of vitam in C. In vitro experim ents do as well. On the heart disease front, vitam in C is increasingly being recog­ nized for its potential benefits. M en possessing low antioxidant status supplem ented w ith 600 mg of ascorbic acid, 300 mg of alphatocopherol, 27 m g of beta-carotene, and 75 m g of selenium daily experienced reductions in lipid peroxidation, platelet aggregation, platelet production of throm boxone A2, and platelet activation in vivo. A nother study showed th at six weeks of ascorbic acid supple­ m en tatio n lowered pulse and systolic pressure in patients suffering from borderline hypertension. A random ized trial of eighty-one patients w ith coronary artery disease determ ined th at both unstable patients as well as patients w ith stable coronary artery disease requiring coronary artery bypass grafting benefited from treatm en t w ith vitam in E, vitam in C, and perioperative allopurinol. The treatm en t of idopathic throm bocyto­ penic purpura w ith ascorbate was successful in seven out of eleven patients, improving both the intravascular survival of platelets as well as platelet count. Vitamin C and vitam in E supplem entation for ten days prior to donating blood resulted in a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation in stored red cells in bo th irradiated and n o n ­ irradiated samples relative to controls. Research shows th at LDL is protected against atherogenic m o d i­ fication by vitam in C due to ascorbic acid's free scavenging, w hich keeps aqueous oxidants from oxidizing LDL, an d th at stable m o d i­ fication of LDL by DHA or decomposition products thereof im parts increased resistance to m etal ion-dependent oxidation. Intravenous infusion of 2 g of ascorbic acid in ten healthy volunteers resulted in a reduction of m alondialdehyde concentrations and platelet aggre­ gation inhibition. Patients w ith a history of myocardial infarction th a t were treated w ith 2 g of vitam in C daily experienced an increase of approximately 96 percent in serum ascorbate acid, while their fibrinolytic activity increased by 45 percent and platelet adhesive index decreased by 27 percent. A 12 percent drop was seen in their serum cholesterol level, beta lipoproteins were reduced significantly, and an increase occurred in the alpha fraction.

208

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

Similar results were seen in a second placebo-controlled group of acute myocardial infarction patients given 2 g daily of vitam in C for tw enty days. Fibrinolytic activity rose 62.5 percent and serum ascorbic acid 94 percent after forty days. Doses of 1 g of vitam in C were show n to prevent platelet adhesiveness and platelet aggrega­ tion induced by feeding healthy males 75 g of butter. The ad m in is­ tration of 1 g of vitam in C every eight hours over ten days in coronary artery disease patients significantly reduced platelet a d h e ­ siveness and platelet aggregation as well. Systolic blood pressure has been inversely associated w ith serum ascorbic acid levels in healthy adults betw een the ages of thirty and thirty-nine. Increases in ascorbic acid levels decreased the prevalence of hypertension. Sub­ jects given 500 mg per day of vitam in C experienced significant re­ ductions in body fat, systolic blood pressure, and pulse, and a significant increase in high density lipoprotein relative to controls. Healthy young people random ly adm inistered 1 g of ascorbic acid experienced a subsequent significant 16 percent fall in serum cholesterol w ithin two m onths. A group of healthy older people re­ corded a 14 percent fall following a similar supplem ent w ithin 6-12. Patients undergoing cardiopulm onary bypass w ho received 250 m g/ kg of ascorbic acid experienced a decrease of lipid peroxidation in the cell m em brane and protected the m yocardium from ischem ia-repurfusion injury during and after the operation by removing radicals.

V ita m in D Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitam in that stim ulates calcium a b ­ sorption, and the efficacy of vitam in D in preventing bone loss is well established. Results of n um erous studies indicate that doses ranging from 400 to 15,000 IU of vitam in D per day can significantly reduce the rate of bone loss and bone fracture in w om en. Doses of 1 microgram per day of vitam in D have been show n to reduce blood pressure in hypercalcemic patients. Vitamin D m ay also be effective against cancer. Results of one nineteen-year long study of 1954 Chi­ cago m en w hich showed that an intake of greater th an 3.75 micro­ grams per day of vitam in D was associated w ith a 50 percent reduction of colorectal cancer. A nother large study found that m o d ­ erately elevated concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D ranging in dosage from 65-100 nmol/L showed even stronger association w ith

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

209

reduction in incidence of the disease am ong a population of 25,620 individuals. Vitamin D has been noted as a potential treatm ent for prostate cancer. Additional findings support the anti-cancer activity of vitam in D both in vitro and in anim al models. Supplem entation w ith 1000 IU per day of vitam in D over a p e ­ riod of one year prevented bone loss in Crohn's disease patients. It has produced dram atic im provem ents in postm enopausal w om en suffering from severe migraines. Low levels of vitam in D in patients w ith nephrotic syndrome were norm alized following long-term su p ­ plem entation w ith daily doses of 25 micrograms of vitam in D3 per os. Two review articles have cited studies showing the efficacy of vitam in D3 analogs in providing significant im provem ents of psori­ atic lesions. Vitamin D has also produced healing in patients suffer­ ing from rickets.

V ita m in E Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) can be found in eggs, w heat germ, green leafy vegetables, and various oils. Like vitam in C, vitam in E is a powerful antioxidant central to com bating the aging process at both the cellular level and in the context of preventing and treating m an y degenerative conditions associated w ith it. Vitamin E is an essential nutrient, in th at it is not synthesized in the body, and p ro ­ tects cells m em branes from free-radical reactions. One study of m e n older th a n fifty-five showed th at supplem en­ tal vitam in E at doses of 800 IU over a period of forty-eight days protected against oxidative stress produced by vigorous exercise. Re­ sults of similar studies support such findings. A trial involving thirty-tw o healthy subjects over the age of sixty has show n th at the adm inistration of 800 mg per day of vitam in E for one m o n th e n ­ hanced im m u n e function relative to controls. Rats fed a diet e n ­ riched w ith sodium selenite an d alphatocopherol experienced a reduction in the production of lipid peroxides in the serum and liver, thus inhibiting the aging process. Vitamin E in com bination w ith m anntiol, and dexam ethasone have exhibited significant cerebral protective effects in dogs. Vitamin E -enriched lipoproteins have been show n to increase neuron longevity in vitro. Vitamin E inhibits amyloid beta protein induced cell death, a key factor in Alzheimer's disease; and has been show n to protect against oxidative dam age caused by gene coding of superoxide dis-

210

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

m u tase on chrom osom e 21 resulting in excess activity of the e n ­ zyme, again suggesting its potential as a preventive approach to Alzheimer's. Levels of vitam in E have been reported to be twice as high in the m idbrain of Alzheimer's patients and Alzheimer's p a ­ tients w ith signs of Parkinson's disease relative to controls. Animal studies have also exhibited promise for the treatm en t of Alzheimer's disease. Inverse associations have been noted in the literature be­ tween serum levels of vitam in E and the risk of rheum atoid arthritis. Several studies involving rats suggest th at supplem ental vitam in E m ay work directly to lesson the severity of the disease. Osteoarthritis patients treated w ith 400 IE per day of d-alphatocopherylacetate for six weeks experienced more pain relief and m ore im provem ent in mobility th a n controls. Those receiving doses of 600 mg per day for ten days showed significant positive effects com pared to patients given placebos. Similar studies have produced like results. A ntioxidants such as vitam in E, vitam in C, and pyruvate can thw art the cataractogenic effect of oxyradicals and may be effec­ tive in cataract treatm ent or prevention. Adults w ith high levels of two or m ore of either vitam in E, C, or carotenoids have a decreased risk of cataracts compared to those w ith low levels of one or more. N um erous in vitro and en vivo studies in different anim als species have show n that vitam ins E and C offer protective effects against light-induced cataracts as well as sugar and steroid cataracts. Intram uscular injections of vitam in E have been show n to p ar­ tially correct deficits in cystic fibrosis patients suffering from severe vitam in E deficiency and neurologic disease. Cystic fibrosis patients and patients w ith biliary atresia require supplem entation w ith vita­ m in E to m aintain a norm al integrity of axons related to the gracile and possibly other sensory nuclei. Early supplem entation w ith vita­ m in E m ay help to prevent neurologic dysfunction in cystic fibrosis patients w ith pancreatic insufficiency. Results of another study showed th at serum concentrations of vitamin E were all but u n d e ­ tectable in four patients w ith chronic steatorrhoe, two of w hom had cystic fibrosis and two chronic cirrhosis of childhood. In one patient, substantial im provem ent was seen following the restoration of n o r­ mal vitam in E levels by parenteral therapy. Acne patients treated w ith 0.2 mg of selenium and 10 mg of tocopheryl succinate twice daily for six to twelve weeks experienced positive results. Several studies indicate vitam in E supplem entation

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

211

m ay be useful in the treatm ent of patients suffering from neurologi­ cal complications associated w ith abetalipoproteinemia. Studies suggest vitam in E to be an effective treatm ent for alcohol-related im m unosuppression. Vitamin E supplem entation m ay be useful in reversing anem ia by reducing the fragility of red blood cells in reg u ­ lar dialysis patients. Alpha-tocopherol could be an effective m eans of protecting the brain against anoxic dam age due to its antioxidant effects, and halting or improving neurological disorders associated w ith progressive ataxia. Vitamin E therapy has been show n to im ­ prove cerebellar symptoms of adult-onset celiac disease. Children suffering from cholestasis have benefited following treatm en t w ith supplem ental vitam in E at varying doses. Two m o n th s of treatm en t w ith either 150, 300, or 600 IU of vitam in E per day in w om en w ith benign breast cancer improved severe PMS symptoms. W om en treated daily w ith 400 IU of alpha-tocopherol for three cycles also experienced significant im provem ents in certain affective and physical symptoms of PMS. The adm inistration of 2 x 200 m g of vitam in E for ten weeks to high-altitude m o u n ta in clim b­ ers enhanced physical perform ance and cell protection. Supplem en­ tation w ith 900 IU of vitam in E for six weeks exhibited beneficial effects on the respiratory health of smokers. Six weeks of treatm ent w ith vitam in E improved the clinical status and norm alized the p ro ­ portion of OKT + 4 T-lymphocytes and the ratio of OKT + 4 to OKT + 8 cells in the peripheral blood of children suffering from respiratory tract infections. In new borns, supplem ental vitam in E has offered protection against intraventricular hem orrhage, in tra ­ cranial hem orrhage, retinopathy of prematurity, and retrolental fibroplasis. Several studies indicate tardive dyskinesia patients m ay benefit from supplem ental vitam in E, w ith doses averaging 1600 IU per day over a period of six to twelve weeks. Supplem entation w ith 1200 mg daily of vitam in E for fourteen days prior to exhaustive ru nning prevented exercise-induced DNA dam age in h u m an s re­ sulting from oxidative stress. Animal trials have dem onstrated the stress fighting activity of vitam in E as well. Studies indicate vitam in E m ay provide protection against the harm ful effects of smoking as a result of its antioxidant activity. Studies have linked vitam in E intake w ith an increased th e ra ­ peutic efficiency of drugs such as AZT. Vitamin E supplem entation has also been show n to result in a decrease in the progression of

212

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

disease to AIDS. The incubation of h u m a n Ju rk at T-cells w ith vita­ m in E acetate or alpha-tocopheryl succinate (10 microM to Im M ) exhibited a concentration dependent inhibition of NF-kappa B acti­ vation. Such findings support the possible use of vitam in E deriva­ tives as a treatm en t for AIDS. A nother study showed th at the addition of d-alpha-tocopherol acid succinate (ATS) (doses of 5 to 15 microgram s/m l) to MT4 cells and m urine hem otopoietic progeni­ tor cells treated w ith AZT resulted in increased anti-HIV activity rel­ ative to the use of AZT alone. Data have show n that 1-100 mumol/1 of vitam in E significantly increased the grow th BFU-E and colonyforming units granulocyte m onocyte from patients infected w ith HIV, as did 5-10 U/ml of EPO. Compared to healthy controls, to ­ copherol equally am eliorated the grow th of BFU-E and CFU-GM from the HIV-positive subjects in the presence of AZT. A study on the effects of vitam in E in a m u rin e AIDS m odel m ade the following observations: A fifteen-fold increase in vitam in E (160 IU/1) m o d u ­ lated the production of interleukin-2 (IL) in bo th uninfected mice and retrovirus-infected mice. Vitamin E significantly reduced the level of IL-4 secretion in the uninfected mice at four and eight weeks. Vitamin E significantly reduced IL-4 production, elevated by retrovirus infection, and significantly reduced IL-6. Vitamin E sig­ nificantly increased thymic and serum vitam in E concentration pre­ viously reduced by retrovirus infection. Additional anim al studies have produced similar findings. Diabetes is another degenerative disease in w hich vitam in E plays an im portant role. S upplem entation w ith 1 g of vitam in E per day for 35 days dim inished ADP-induced platelet aggregation in type I diabetics. Doses of 900 mg per day of vitam in E for four m o n ths reduced oxidative stress and improved insulin action in noninsulin dependent diabetics. T reatm ent w ith d-alpha-tocopherol can prevent diabetes-induced abnorm alities in rat retinal blood flow. In a study of m iddle-aged Finnish m en, results showed that a low lipid standardized plasm a vitam in E concentration was associated w ith a 3.9-fold risk of diabetes. For every decrem ent of 1 mumol/1 of uncategorized unstandardized vitam in E concentration, there was an increm ent of 22 percent in diabetes risk. Low platelet vitam in E levels m ight play a role in the increased throm boxane synthesis dem onstrated by platelets in type I diabetics. Four m o n th s' w orth of vitam in E supplem entation resulted in a significant im provem ent in

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

213

glucose utilization and hepatic response to insulin in both norm al subjects as well as diabetics. Daily doses of 1000 mg of vitam in E inhibited platelet activity in type 1 diabetics. Treatm ent w ith 8 micrograms/kg a day of vitam in E for two weeks improved pulm onary hem odynam ics, lipid metabolism, and lipid peroxidation in patients w ith diabetic nephroangiopathy. The use of alpha-tocopherol acetate significantly decreased lipid peroxi­ dation activity in m iddle-aged patients w ith insulin independent d i­ abetes. The adm inistration of vitam in E in daily doses ranging betw een 600 and 1200 mg to type II diabetics stim ulated pancreatic insulin-producing function and w as conducive to norm alization of lipid peroxidation. Supplem entation w ith doses of 300 m g per day of alpha-tocopherol acetate normalized processes of lipid peroxida­ tion in red cell m em branes and blood plasm a lipid content, reduced the blood plasm a level of lipid peroxidation products and the con­ tent of total lipids in red cell m em branes in diabetics. Liver function in diabetics can be positively effected by the adm inistration of v ita­ m in E. Decreased platelet vitam in E levels have been associated w ith increased aggregation, and vitam in E appears to regulate arachidonic acid m etabolism in platelets. Studies have show n th at platelet vitam in E levels in diabetics have a tendency to be reduced w ith platelet aggregation increases. Supplem entation w ith several h u n ­ dred IU of vitam in E has been show n to significantly reduce lipid peroxidation and platelet aggregation in insulin and noninsulin d e ­ p en d en t diabetics. In nondiabetics, low doses of vitam in E (200 IU) have been seen to significantly decrease platelet adhesion and in ­ hibit the form ation of protruding pseudopods. Research indicates vitamin E to be capable of protecting against tum or growth and carcinogenesis. Studies have also suggested vita­ m in E can reduce the toxicity of several anti-cancer therapies. Re­ sults of long-term follow-up studies of alpha-tocopherol serum concentrations in large trials of Finnish adults have show n a greater risk of cancer in those w ith low alpha-tocopherol levels compared to those w ith higher levels. Additional large population-based trials and case control studies have show n similar patterns across a variety of different types of cancer, including breast, colon, lung, etc. Supple­ m entation w ith vitam in E has also been show n capable of limiting the course of disease as well as preventing it. One study exam ined the efficacy of vitam in E in the treatm ent of chemotherapy-induced

214

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

mucositis in malignancy patients and found a total resolution of oral lesions in six of nine patients w ho took vitam in E. By contrast, eight of nine patients receiving a placebo showed no resolution of lesions. A review of results from eight clinical trials have show n betacarotene and vitam in E produced regression of oral leukoplakia and th at all available evidence points to a major role for antioxidant n u ­ trients in the prevention of oral cancer. Among m am m ary dysplasia patients given 600 units per day of alpha-tocopherol, 88 percent re­ sponded clinically and the progesterone to estradiol ratio, abnorm al in m am m ary dysplasia patients, increased from 30 ± 7 (S.E.) to 53 ± 11 in patients after alpha-tocopherol therapy. In a study of oral leukoplakia patients given a daily antioxidant com bination including 30 mg of beta-carotene, 1000 mg of ascorbic acid, 800 IU of alphatocopherol for nine m onths, 55.6 percent of the eighty-one patients w ho completed the protocol experienced partial or complete clinical resolution of their oral lesions. Results also showed that the antioxi­ dant supplem entation was most effective in those w ho abstained from the use of alcohol and tobacco during the study. The adm inis­ tration of 400 IU of alpha-tocopherol to oral leukoplakia patients resulted in a significant reduction in micronuclei frequencies in spec­ imens from visible lesions and norm al-appearing mucosa. High-risk breast cancer patients were given a com bination of antioxidants that included 2500 IU of vitam in E, 32.5 IU of beta-carotene, 2,850 mg of vitam in C, 387 micrograms of selenium, 90 mg of CoQ10, 1.2 g of gam m a linolenic acid, 3.5 g n-3 fatty acids, and a host of secondary vitamins and minerals, experienced positive results, including partial remission in some. The topical application of 400 mg/ml of vitamin E in oil form applied to lesions for one w eek in patients receiving chem otherapy for oral musositis proved to be significantly effective relative to controls. The adm inistration of alpha-tocopherol in an es­ calating dose schedule of 800, 1200, 1600, and 2000 IU per day for each subsequent four-week cycle until disease progression or u n a c ­ ceptable toxicity occurred reduced the level of major toxicities of high-dose 13-cRA in patients suffering from skin, head and neck, or lung cancer. The rate of postoperative complications in a group of gastric cancer patients taking a complex adm inistration of vitamin C, E, and A preoperatively dropped from 30.9 percent to 1.9 percent. A study of twenty-eight liver cancer patients found that treatm ent w ith 600 mg of alpha-tocopherol, 100,000 MU of retinol, and 1.5 g

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

215

of ascorbic acid for seven days prior to surgery was show n to signifi­ cantly reduce the level of dialdehyde in the liver and increase the level of catalase. Following antioxidant treatm ent, purulent and septic complica­ tions were 1.6 times less, as well. Animal trials also point to the promise of vitam in E as a cancer therapy; In vitro experim ents have produced similar findings. M uch has been m ade of the so-called “ European Paradox," w hich involves the paradoxically low rates of coronary heart disease in several European countries w here the diet includes a relatively high intake of saturated fatty acids. Results of one large scale, longi­ tudinal study of coronary heart disease mortality am ong m en in sev­ en teen w estern European countries found th at vitam in E intake specifically rather th a n the consum ption of w ine is m ost likely the best explanation. A large body of research exists supporting this idea and the use of vitam in E in the prevention and treatm en t of heart disease. One study exam ined the effects on platelet function in low a n ti­ oxidant m en of supplem entation w ith 600 mg ascorbic acid, 300 mg alpha-tocopherol, 27 mg beta-carotene, and 75 micrograms of selenium in yeast daily for five m onths. Results showed th at relative to controls, m e n taking the antioxidants experienced 20 percent re ­ ductions in serum lipid peroxides, 24 percent reductions in ADPinduced platelet aggregation, 42 percent reductions in the rate of ATP release during aggregation, 51 percent reductions in serum throm boxane B2, and 29 percent reductions in plasm a betathrom boglobulin concentration. The consum ption of one palmvitee capsule per day (containing approximately 18 m g of tocopherols, 42 mg of tocotrienols, and 240 mg of palm olein) for thirty days lowered both total serum cholesterol (ranging from 5 percent to 35.9 percent) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (ranging from 0.9 percent to 37 percent ) concentrations in h u m a n subjects. The intake of 900 mg of vitam in E per day for four m onths of vitam in E by elderly insulin-resistant nondiabetics has been found to be a useful therapy for coronary heart disease. Another study showed significant reductions in the indexes of oxida­ tive stress in both smokers and nonsmokers, as well as reductions in serum platelet num bers following the intake of 280 mg per day for ten weeks of dl-alpha-tocopherol acetate. Alpha-tocopherol has spe-

216

Gary N ull's U ltim ate A nti-A ging P rogram v.

cifically inhibited aorta sm ooth muscle cell proliferation and protein kinase C activity, findings that m ay be relevant to the development of atherosclerosis and related diseases. A study of one hu n d red patients w ith transient ischemic attacks, m inor strokes, or residual ischemic neurologic deficits compared the effects of aspirin plus 400 IU per day of vitam in E w ith aspirin alone (325 mg) for up to two years. Results showed patients in the vitamin E plus aspirin group experienced a significant reduction in the rate of ischemic events relative to patients taking just the aspirin. Significant reductions were also seen in platelet adhesiveness in patients taking the vitamin E plus aspirin. Based on these findings, the authors con­ cluded that vitamin E plus aspirin is an effective preventive therapy for transient ischemic attacks and related cerebrovascular disorders. The combined adm inistration of vitam in E and seventeen betaestradiol provides protection for LDL against oxidation in postm eno­ pausal wom en. Patients receiving supplem entation w ith vitam in E and C either im m ediately before or after coronary artery bypass suffered fewer ischemic electrocardiographic events and needed less dopam ine perioperatively relative to controls. The ingestion of 1,000 IU per day of dl-alpha-tocopheral acetate for seven days by six nonsm oking subjects increased plasm a and LDL levels of alpha-tocopherol 3.0 and 2.4 fold, respectively. The rate of oxidation showed significant decreases of 19 percent and significant elevations of LDL oxidation resistance by 41 percent. Platelet adherence decreased an average of 75 percent after two weeks of supplem entation of 200 IU of vitam in E per day in norm al individuals. An 82 percent reduction occurred following two weeks of supplem entation w ith 400 IU per day. S upplem entation w ith 800 IU per day of alpha-tocopherol, 1 g per day of ascorbate, and 30 mg per day of carotene over a th re e -m o n th period produced a twofold prolongation of the lag phased and reduced the oxidation rate by 40 percent in the twelve m en studied. Healthy volunteers adm inistered 30 ml/day of either fish oils supplem ented w ith 0.3 IU/g or 1.5 IU/g for three weeks experienced a 48 percent decrease in serum triglycerides and an 11 percent d e ­ crease in fibrinogen. Male atherosclerosis patients taking 100 IU per day or more of vitam in E had less coronary artery lesion progression th an those

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

217

taking less th a n this am ount, and such benefits were seen in all lesions. Intake of 60 IU per day of vitam in E has been associated w ith a reduced risk of coronary heart disease am ong middle-aged m en. Similar associations have been seen in middle-aged w om en. Studies have show n th at doses as low as 50-100 microM of vitam in E, w h e n combined w ith an inhibitor of the arachidonate pathway, inhibit cyclooxygenase-independent platelet aggregation. High doses of vitam in E (200 IU/kg per day) has improved myocardial tolerance to ischemia and reperfusion by decreasing myocardial in ­ farct size significantly. Doses of 400 IU per day of vitam in E can inhibit platelet adhesion to a variety of adhesive proteins by more th a n 75 percent. Supplem entation w ith 500 IU per day of vitam in E for three m o nth s proved effective in hyperlipoproteinemia and m ay be considered a useful agent for combating the risk of coronary heart disease. The adm inistration of vitam in E alone (400 IU to 1200 IU) over six weeks or in com bination w ith aspirin had positive ef­ fects in patients w ith arterial thromboembolic diseases. Other conditions w here treatm en t w ith vitam in E has show n promise include dissem inated granulom a anulare, endotoxem ia, e n ­ teritis, epilepsy, gastric mucosal injury and gastrointestinal disease, pneum onia, male infertility, flu, keloids, K eshan disease, kidney damage, lead intoxication, leg cramps, liver damage, muscle d a m ­ age, spinal injury, spondylosis, steatorrhoea, stroke, thalassaem ia, thym us damage, thyroid dysfunction, tuberculosis, ulcerative colitis, ulcers, uveitis, veno-occlusive disease, vitiligo, brain injury, vision problems, retinal degeneration, glomeruslerosis, hearing loss, h e p a ­ titis, yellow nail syndrome, sickle cell anemia, UV-induced skin damage, hyperlipidemia, periodontal health, Parkinson's disease, sexual dysfunction, short bowel syndrome, burns, w ound healing, hemolysis, lung damage, and neurological dysfunction. In addition to its use in fighting specific problems, vitam in E has also been show n capable of enhancing the workings of the im m u n e system in general. Supplem entation w ith 800 mg of vitam in E for thirty days improved im m u n e responsiveness in older healthy adults. Repletion of vitam in E deficiency has been show n capable of dramatically im ­ proving T-cell function and improving neuropathy in patients w ith intestinal malabsorptive disorders. The adm inistration of 25 mg/kg daily of d-alpha-tocopheryl-polyethylene-glycol-1000 succinate to enhance absorption of cyclosporin could be an effective m eans of

218

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

decreasing the high cost of im m unosuppression in recipients of p e­ diatric liver transplants. Healthy older adults taking 800 mg of vita­ m in E for thirty days experienced an im provem ent in some in vivo and in vitro param eters of the im m u n e function relative to controls. Supplem entation w ith vitam ins A, C, and E in elderly long-stay p a ­ tients can improve the aspects of cell-mediated im m u n e function. Patients given 40 mg/kg of vitam in E 3.5 hours prior to open heart surgery experienced a decreased rate of im m unodepression in the postoperative period.

V ita m in K Vitamin K is a fat soluble vitam in bo th m ade in the body and found in nature. It consists of three related substances: phylloquinone (K l), found in foods; m en aq u in o n e (K2), produced in the in ­ testinal bacteria; and m enadione (K3), a synthetic com pound of the first two. Vitamin K is found in green leafy vegetables such as al­ falfa, broccoli, and spinach; in polyunsaturated oils; and in anim al products like eggs, fish oils, milk, yogurt, and liver. Vitamin K is m ost noted for its central role in proper blood clotting. Studies have show n it also capable of inhibiting tu m o r grow th and m ay be im por­ tan t for the prevention of osteoporosis, and tooth decay. Deficiencies of vitam in I< are rare; there is presently no RDA. An optimal dietary intake per day is approxim ately 300 meg. Zinc An essential trace elem ent in the body, zinc is involved in m any biological functions including cell division and differentiation, pro­ gram m ed cell death, gene transcription, biom em brane functioning, and countless enzymatic activities th at m ake it central to the aging process itself. Zinc has been show n to protect against the deteriorat­ ing vision associated w ith age-related m acular degeneration. W hen taken as a supplem ent, zinc can improve cell-mediated im m unity in the elderly. Zinc has also produced benefits in patients suffering from arthritis. In one study, 220 mg of zinc sulphate was ad m in is­ tered thrice daily over a period of twelve weeks to patients suffering from chronic, refractory rheum atoid arthritis. Results showed sig­ nificant im provem ents in patients taking the zinc w ith respect to joint swelling, m orning stiffness, walking time, and subjective p a ­ tient reports of ow n conditions.

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

219

Arthritic patients in another study received 600 mg per day of oral zinc sulphate for six m onths, w hich was followed by significant reductions in the n u m b er of swollen and tender joints, the need for nosteroidal anti-inflam m atory drugs, and erythrocyte sed im en ta­ tion rate relative to controls. The adm inistration of oral zinc doses at either 50 or 75 mg per day over a twelve-week period significantly reduced serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in young adult males. Oral doses of zinc sulphate of 200 mg taken three times per day significantly reduced serum cholesterol and beta-lipoproteins and significantly increased alpha-lipoproteins in stablized is­ chemic heart disease patients. Cancer patients have experienced enhanced im m u n e activity after taking 250 m g per day of oral zinc gluconate over a period of three weeks. Animal studies indicate zinc can also protect against stroke and ameliorate the effects of chronic stress in mice. Num erous studies point to the efficacy of zinc in treating skin disorders such as acne, herpes, and eczema. AIDS patients have ex ­ perienced beneficial effects on the im m u n e system from supplem en­ tal zinc therapy. Doses of 200 mg per day of zinc sulfate improved responsiveness to delayed hypersensitivity skin tests in patients suf­ fering from alcoholic cirrhosis. M any elderly people experience symptoms of anorexia and thus fail to obtain the nutrients they need through a norm al diet. Doses of zinc ranging from 40 to 90 mg per day have h ad positive effects on weight gain in anorexic patients. Intake of zinc has led to im provem ents in patients suffering from cerebral palsy, in flam m a­ tory bowel disease, leprosy, sickle cell anem ia, and Wilson's disease. W hen taken in the form of zinc gluconate lozenges, zinc has show n consistent beneficial effects against the com m on cold. Doses of 50 mg three times per week of elem ental zinc over a period of six m o n th s have show n significant increases in plasm a zinc, serum tes­ tosterone, sperm count, libido, and frequency of intercourse in p a ­ tients undergoing hemodialysis. Supplem ental zinc adm inistered im mediately after injury was associated w ith more rapid neurologic recovery and visceral protein concentrations in severe closed head injury patients relative to controls. Zinc has show n promise in the treatm en t of male infertility. Obese patients have experienced sig­ nificant weight loss following eight weeks of supplem entation w ith 600 m g per day of zinc sulfate. Zinc has been found useful in the

220

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

treatm en t of gastric ulcers (zinc sulphate), ulcerative stomatitis (zinc sulphate), and venous leg ulcers am ong the elderly (topical zinc oxide). It is an im p o rtan t part of treating periodontal disease in elderly patients. Zinc can also reduce enlarged prostate size in m en.

HERBS

A lo e Aloe has been considered a miracle plant by cultures the world over for thousands of years. It is approxim ately 96 percent water, w ith the balance of its active contents consisting of essential oil, am ino acids, vitam in, m inerals, and enzymes. Aloe's prim ary strength as a healing agent lies in the fact of it being able to regener­ ate dam aged tissues. Such actions have long m ade it a powerful therapy for w ounds such as burns, cuts, and bruises. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. A traditional rem edy for diabetes in the Arabian peninsula, sev­ eral peer review studies indicate aloe m ay indeed be an effective treatm en t for sym ptom s associated w ith the disease. In one, results showed the intake of half a teaspoon of aloe daily for four to four­ teen weeks significantly reduced the fasting serum glucose level in all patients. Fasting plasm a glucose w as significantly reduced in diabetic mice by glibenclamide and aloes after three days as well. A nother study found th at five nonin su lin dependent diabetics expe­ rienced a m ean reduction in fasting blood sugar of 273 to 151 mg/dl following fourteen weeks of taking a half teaspoon 4 times daily of aloe. In a five year trial of 5000 atherom atous heart disease patients, results showed th at dietary intake of Husk of Isabgol and aloe vera to the diet led to a m arked reduction in total serum cholesterol, serum trigylcerides, fasting, and post prandial blood sugar level in diabetic patients. Clinical profiles showed decreased frequency of anginal attacks and gradually, the drugs, like verapamil, nifedipine, beta-blockers and nitrates, w ere tapered. Animal experim ents su p ­ port such findings w ith respect to the potential of aloe as a valuable therapy for diabetes, and have d em onstrated its anticancer proper­

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

221

ties and ability to inhibit arthritis in rats. A host of studies indicate aloe can produce strong anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and w ound healing effects. Aloe has also been used successfully as a laxative, m ay be effective for ulcers, and can protect against skin dam age w h en used topically. Current research points to aloe's p o ­ tential as an effective im m u n e system booster and possible tre a t­ m e n t against AIDS.

A m e r ic a n C reo so te B u sh One year of treatm en t solely w ith an aqueous extract of Am eri­ can creosote bush has been reported to have produced a dram atic tum o r regression in an eighty-five-year-old male suffering from a m alignant m elanom a in his right cheek w ith a larger cervical m e ta s ­ tasis. An extensive review article on the herb has also noted th at its active constituent, NDGA, has been the subject of n um erous studies on its efficacy as a n antioxidant, anti-inflam m atory, anti-carcinogen, anti-microbial agent, etc.; m an y of w hich have produced find­ ings supporting its use and calling for the need for additional research into the overall health benefits of the plant in general. A n g e lic a Angelica has been found to possess potent a n ti-tu m o r proper­ ties, and to protect against arthythm ia in rats during myocardial inschem ia and against myocardial dysfunction and injury in rabbits. Angelica has exhibited antibacterial, anit-inflamm atory, and seda­ tive acitivity. It has proven safe an d effective in the treatm en t of patients suffering from psoriasis. One review article has cited results from num erous studies supporting the use of Angelica sinensis as an effective treatm en t for a variety of conditions, including PMS, dysm enorrhea, am enorrhea, cardiac arthymia, high blood pressure, anem ia, and acute icteric hepatitis. A str a g a lu s Astragalus root is popularly used throughout the world as an im m u n e enhancer and general body tonic. Indeed, studies have dem onstrated its direct positive effects on the im m u n e system in anim al models and have pointed to its antimicrobial activity in vitro. In patients suffering from leucopenia, 10 ml equaled to 15 g of a s­ tragalus twice per day for eight weeks led to an 82.76 percent rate

222

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

of effectiveness. Patients receiving 10 ml equaled to 5 g of astragalus over the sam e schedule experienced a 47.3 percent rate of effective­ ness. Astragalus m ay benefit the digestive system, protect against liver injury, boost the im m u n e system of lupus patients, counter alcohol-induced m em ory loss, improve sperm motility, and help heal b u rn injuries. The astragalus fraction, F3, has exhibited significant im m unorestorative effects on m o n on u cleu r cells taken from cancer patients. Similar results w ere seen in vivo using a rodent model. The a n ti-tu m o r activity of LAK cells w as greatly enhanced by the action of S hengm aisan w ith astragalus m em b ran aceu s at concentrations of 100 micrograms/ml. In a study of n in eteen congestive heart failure patients, tre a t­ m e n t w ith astragalus m em branceus ingredient, the astragaloside IV (XGA) produced a relief in chest distress and dispnea in fifteen p a ­ tients after two weeks of treatm en t. Im provem ents were also seen w ith respect to left ventricular m odeling, left ventricular enddiastolic volum e and left ventricular end-systolic volum e and heart rate. The ad m inistration of astragalus m em branaceus decreased the ratio of pre-ejection period/left ventricular ejection time, increased superoxide dism utase activity of red blood cells, and reduced the lipid peroxidation content of plasm a in acute myocardial infarction patients. Astragalus m em branaceus is a successful therapy for is­ chemic heart disease patients, proving m ore effective th a n Nifedi­ pine and Tab. Anim al studies point to the efficacy of astragalus as a heart disease therapy as well.

B ee P ro p o lis A pitherapy refers to the practice of using products obtained from bees such as honey, pollen, beeswax, royal jelly, and propolis for m edicinal purposes. Peer review studies have show n that api­ therapy is far more th an just an ancient folk remedy. Several have d em o n strated its antibacterial, anti-inflam m atory, and antioxidant activity. Ethanol extracts of propolis can increase the rate of ossifi­ cation in cases of artificially induced bone tissue loss. Bee propolis has exhibited anti-cancer effects both in anim al trials and in vitro. It has produced cardioprotective and anti-flu effects in rats. Women suffering from acute cervicitis experienced significant positive re­ sults from 5 percent propolis dressings applied to vaginal dressings

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

223

for ten days. Doses of propolis ranging in concentration strength from 10 percent to 30 percent are an effective treatm en t for patients suffering from giardiasis. One study found that ocular medical propolis films applied b e ­ hin d the lower eyelids before bed over a period of ten to fifteen days cut recovery tim e in half in patients w ith postherpetic trophic keratitis and/or postherpetic nebula. The propolis constituent, 3m ethyl-but-2-enyl caffeate, reduced the viral titer of herpes simplex virus 1 by 3 log 110 and reduced viral DNA synthesis thirty-twofold. Rats treated w ith 100 mg/kg of Cuban red propolis extract ex ­ perienced hepatoprotective effects against CC14-induced liver d a m ­ age. Propolis also exhibited beneficial antioxidative properties in rats suffering from toxic liver dam age and acute hepatic ischemia. Apitherapy has proven to be a useful treatm en t in patients suffering from ischemic insults, pulm onary tuberculosis, rheum atic disorders, panaritium , abscesses, phlegm ons, and infectious w ounds. Clinical an d X-ray exam s point to the efficacy of a 4 percent alcohol solution of bee glue added to root-canal fillings in severe cases of periodon­ titis. A nother study showed th a t a n ethanol extract of propolis stim ­ ulated the regenerative process on dam aged dental pulp and led to a decrease in circulatory system disorders and degenerative processes. Anim al and in vitro studies have produced similar findings.

B ilberry A nim al studies indicate bilberry contains effective prom oters and enhancers of arteriolar rhythm ic diam eter th a t also have been show n to reduce ischaem ia reperfusion injury-induced microvascular im pairm ents. Bilberry has exhibited significat vasoprotective and antioedem a effects in anim al trials as well. B la ck C o h o sh Black cohosh in tincture can be useful in the treatm en t of d e ­ pression. The herb has also been show n to have beneficial effects in w om en suffering from m enopausal symptoms. Black cohosh can be a useful therapy during the early stages of measles, and additional studies have found it to be effective in influenza, m um ps, measles complicated w ith pneum onia, congenital syphilis, and tonsilitis as well.

224

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

B lack W aln u t Black w aln u t is a rich dietary source of protein, iodine, chro­ m ium , potassium , m anganese, vitam in A, and vitam in C w hich has been used to relieve sym ptom s of constipation and poor digestion going all the way back to the time of ancient Greece. It is a widely recognized blood cleanser and oxygenizer, blood sugar stabilizer, and is often used topically to treat bruises, rashes, herpes, fungal infections, boils, canker sores, and gum disease. Studies have show n the consum ption of 84 g per day of black w alnuts can significantly lower serum cholesterol levels in healthy m en. Results of anim al trials point to the cardiovascular benefits and anti-cancer properties of black w alnut as well. Carrot A carrot-only diet over a course of several days a week has been found to significantly delay death by cancer in rats. Properties from carrots have also exhibited strong antimicrobial activity in vitro, and can protect against liver dam age in mice. C o m m o n P la n ta in Results of one study involving twenty-five chronic bronchitis p a ­ tients treated w ith com m on plantain for a period of betw een twenty-five and thirty days found a quick effect on subjective co m ­ plaints and objective benefits in as m any as 80 percent of the p a ­ tients w ith no toxic effects. Com m on plantain has been show n to inhibit the onset of tum ors and lower blood pressure in anim al tri­ als. W hen adm inistered in ointm ent form, com m on plantain has exhibited anti-inflam m atory action on the skin. C ranberry Results from num erous studies have show n that consum ption of cranberry juice is an effective treatm en t against bladder and uri­ nary tract infections. Animal experim ents indicate that com ponents of cranberry can lower blood pressure as well. D a n d e lio n A popular liver remedy, dandelion is an herb loaded with vita­ mins, m inerals, protein, etc. Dandelion extracts have exhibited a n ti­ tum or and hypoglycemic activity in anim al studies. Evidence indi­

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

225

cates th at it m ay also be effective in treating additional conditions, including liver problems, hepatitis, gallstones, kidney trouble, and w eight loss.

E ch in a cea A com m on rem edy for colds and general im m u n e enhancer, echinacea is a plant native to America's Great Plains and long used by Native Americans. Echinacea has exhibited anti-cancer activity in vitro and been show n to enhance im m u n e function, protect against skin damage, and exhibit anti-inflam m atory activity in mice. E v en in g P rim ro se Oil Evening primrose oil adm inistered at doses of 6 g per day in one study and 20 ml in another has been show n to produce beneficial effects in patients suffering from rheum atoid arthritis. It also holds promise for diabetics. Animal studies point to its ability to lower systolic blood pressure and total cholesterol levels and potential for treating skin conditions such as dermatitis. F ev e rfew Feverfew has exhibited evidence of anti-throm botic potential and inhibits platelet aggregation in vitro. Feverfew extract has exhib­ ited anti-candida activity in vitro. Daily consum ption of fresh fever­ few leaves can also prevent migraines. F la x se e d Oil Results of anim al studies point to the an ti-tu m o r activity of flaxseed w ith respect to colon and breast cancer. The consum ption of 40 g per day of flaxseed oil over a period of tw enty-three days has also been show n to have cardioprotective effects in healthy young m en. Daily intake of 30 g of flaxseed has proven useful in the tre a t­ m e n t of patients suffering from lupus. One study found th at the consum ption of 50 g per day of flax­ seed for four weeks increased bowel m ovem ents by 30 percent and reduced LDL cholesterol by as m u ch as 8 percent in healthy young adults. Dietary flaxseed and flax oil have a tten u ated renal function decline and reduced glomerular injury w ith favorable effects on blood pressure, plasm a lipids, and urinary prostaglandins in rats.

226

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

Garlic A popular herb for centuries the world over, garlic is available in varying forms such as raw, oil, powder, dried, or in a host of differ­ ent commercial products. Studies have show n that garlic can extend the life span and improve cognitive deterioration in mice, and has exhibited anti-aging effects on h u m a n fibroblasts in vitro. Garlic has also been of benefit to patients suffering from AIDS. HIV-positive patients receiving 5 g per day of aged garlic extract over a period of six weeks followed by six weeks of 10 g per day produced significant im provem ents in im m u n e param eters and opportunistic infections. Garlic extracts have inhibited the grow th of Candida and cytom ega­ lovirus, in vitro, as well as exhibited a broad spectrum of antim icro­ bial and antioxidant activity. Results of one case study showed that large doses of powdered garlic produced partial palliation of sym p­ toms in a patient w ith severe hepatopulm onary syndrome. Garlic and onion com pounds can protect against liver dam age in rats. The intravenous adm inistration of garlic extracts exhibited antiCryptococcous neoform ans effects in patients suffering from cryptococcal m eningitis. Several anim al studies have dem onstrated the antidiabetic effects of garlic. Large population-based studies have found strong inverse asso­ ciations betw een the consum ption of garlic as well as onions and the risk of cancer. Results from in vitro and anim al studies also point to the powerful anti-cancer activity of garlic. Even more impressive th a n these findings is the growing body of literature suggesting that garlic may be highly beneficial for the prevention and treatm en t of heart disease. One study exam ined the effect of raw garlic on serum choles­ terol, fibrinolytic activity, and clotting time in fifty medical students. Students were given 10 g of raw garlic per day following breakfast for two m onths. Results showed a significant decrease in serum cho­ lesterol and an increase in clotting time and fibrinolytic activity rela­ tive to controls. Healthy volunteers fed garlic for six m onths followed by two m o n ths w ithout garlic experienced significantly lower serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels. A group of sixty-two coronary heart disease patients w ith high serum cholesterol fed garlic for ten m o n th s experienced a significant decrease in serum cholesterol levels relative to controls. In another study, forty-two healthy middle-aged adults w ith a total serum cho­

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

227

lesterol level of greater th a n or equal to 220 mg/dl received 300 mg three times a day of standardized garlic powder in tablet form. Re­ sults found th at the garlic treatm en t significantly reduced serum total cholesterol levels. A m eta-analysis of five placebo-controlled studies exam ined the effects of garlic on total serum cholesterol lev­ els in subjects w ith cholesterol levels greater th a n 5.17 mmol/L (200 mg/dL) and showed that garlic was effective in reducing total cho­ lesterol levels and is best used at doses ranging from one half to one clove per day. Hypercholesterolaemic outpatients taking 900 mg of garlic powder per day for four m o n th s dem onstrated significantly lower total cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure levels th a n controls. Results showed a significant decrease in supine diastolic blood pressure and significant reductions in serum cholesterol and triglyc­ eride levels in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of mild h y ­ pertension patients w ho received a garlic pow der preparation for twelve weeks. A popular garlic preparation containing 1.3 percent allicin at a 2400 mg dose taken by nine severe hypertension patients reduced sitting blood pressure approximately five hours after the dose, w ith a significant decrease in diastolic blood pressure from five to fourteen hours following the dose. Eating one fresh clove of garlic per day for sixteen weeks re ­ duced serum cholesterol by 20 percent and serum throm boxane by 80 percent in middle-aged m en. The daily ingestion of 800 mg of powdered garlic over four weeks led to a significant inhibition of the pathologically increased ratio of circulating platelet aggregates and of spontaneous platelet aggregation in juvenile subjects w ith cere­ brovascular risk factors. A m eta-analysis of eight trials on the effects of 600-900 m g per day of dried garlic powder adm inistered for twelve weeks on blood pressure found th a t it was of benefit in some patients w ith hypertension.

G in k go B ilob a Ginkgo trees have existed on earth for m ore th a n 200 million years. Their leaves have been used for medicinal purposes for c e n tu ­ ries, particularly in China. In recent years, ginkgo biloba in the form of various extracts has been cham pioned as one of the growing nu m b er of so called “ sm art drugs" that directly attack the aging process and can potentially reverse it.

228

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

Ginkgo is perhaps best k n ow n of late for its restorative effects on the brain. Results of one study showed that ginkgo biloba extract exerts a specific effect on the noradrenergic system and on betareceptors, w hich suggest central effects of a drug acting on cerebral aging, connected specifically to reactivation of the noradrenergic system in the cerebral cortex. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study found th at elderly sub­ jects w ith age-related m em ory im pairm ent experienced significant im provem ent in the speed of inform ation processing following treatm en t w ith either 320 or 600 mg of ginkgo biloba extract one hour prior to performing a dual-code test. A nother showed that p a ­ tients over age fifty w ith some level of m em ory im pairm ent w ho received treatm en t w ith oral doses of 120 mg of ginkgo biloba per day experienced significant beneficial effects on cognitive function at both twelve and tw enty-four weeks. Ginkgo biloba extract significantly improved m em ory after six weeks of treatm ent and learning rate after tw enty-four weeks in cerebral insufficiency outpatients. A study of cerebral insufficiency in patients w ith depressive moods noted as a leading sym ptom found that those treated w ith 160 mg per day of ginkgo biloba ex­ tract experienced a significantly greater degree of clinical im prove­ m en t th a n controls. Ginkgo biloba extract and dihydroergotoxine treatm en t for six weeks led to im provem ents in elderly patients w ith cerebrovascular disease. Healthy female subjects given ginkgo biloba extract in doses 600 mg per day experienced significant im provem ents in memory. Ginkgo biloba extract adm inistered to patients suffering from senile m acular degeneration showed significant im provem ents in lost dis­ tance visual acuity. Patients w ith classical sym ptom s of organic syn­ drom e were tested for the therapeutic effects of ginkgo biloba extract adm inistered in doses of 120 mg per day for eight weeks. Results showed a significant im provem ent after four and eight weeks of therapy. A m eta-analysis involving seven double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials found ginkgo biloba extract (m ean dose of 150 mg per day) significantly effective in reducing clinical sym ptom s associated w ith cerebrovascular insufficiency in old age. The adm inistration of 120 mg per day of ginkgo biloba extract led to clear im provem ent in vigilance am ong geriatric patients with cere­

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

229

bral insufficiency. A ginkgo extract adm inistered over a period of eighteen weeks enhanced m em ory processes in mice. The scientific literature increasingly points to the positive effects ginkgo can also have on the heart. Results of one placebo-controlled study found ginkgo biloba extract significantly decreased erythro­ cyte aggregation and increased blood flow in the nail-fold capillaries of healthy subjects. Patients suffering from peripheral arteriopathy experienced significant im provem ents in the degree of pain-free walking distance, m ax im u m w alking distance, and plethylsmography recordings relative to controls following treatm en t w ith ginkgo biloba extract. The adm inistration of ginkgo biloba extract for four­ teen days led to significant im provem ents in hypoxic hypoxia fixa­ tion time of saccadic eye m ovem ents and complex choice reaction time in healthy m ale subjects. Supplem ental ginkgo biloba taken for twelve weeks at doses of 240 mg per day led to significant im provem ent in fibrinogen levels and hemorrheological properties in patients w ith a history of ele­ vated fibrinogen levels and plasm a viscosity, as well as a host of different underlying diseases. A single injection of ginkgo biloba e x ­ tract at doses of either 50, 100, 150, or 200 mg h a d positive effects on whole blood visco-elasticity and microcirculation in patients w ith pathological visco-elasticity values. In a study of fifteen patients w ith arteriosclerotic lesions in the extracranial brain w ho received an infusion of 250 ml physiological NaCl and 25 ml ginkgo biloba extract, results showed significant increases in perfusion relative to controls. Ginkgo biloba extract improved contractile function fol­ lowing global ischemia in the isolated w orking heart of rats due its ability to inhibit the form ation of oxygen radicals. The a d m in istra­ tion of ginkgo biloba extract over a period of three m o n th s provided protective effects on the hypoxic m yocardium in rats. Ginkgo can protect against cardiac ischemia reperfusion injury in rats, and early ventricular tachycardia by coronary reperfusion in dogs. Arthritis patients receiving a ginkgo biloba extract for sixty-five weeks experienced significantly m ore pain relief and walking toler­ ance after six m o n th s th a n did patients taking a placebo. Ginkgo has also produced benefits in hepatitis, tinnitus, and Parkinson's patients. Visual field dam age caused by a chronic lack of blood flow in elderly patients can be reversed by treatm ent w ith ginkgo biloba extract at doses of 160 mg per day for four weeks. The ad m in istra­

230

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

tion of ginkgo biloba leaves at doses of 120 mg per day for two m o n th s reduced plasm a clastogenic activity to control levels w h en m easured on the first day following treatm en t in workers exposed to high levels of radiation from the Chernobyl accident. Such positive effects lasted for a m in im u m of seven m onths. Three m o n th s' w orth of gingko biloba extract at the same dose led to im provem ents in some cognitive functions in elderly patients w ith m oderate arterial insufficiency. Diabetics suffering from early d ia­ betic retinopathy showed statistical im provem ent following tre a t­ m e n t w ith ginkgo biloba. Diabetic rats treated w ith gingko biloba experienced a significantly greater am plitude in electoretinograms th a n controls. The treatm en t of w om en suffering from idiopathic cyclic oedem a w ith ginkgo biloba extract led to complete correction of the biological anom aly in ten cases receiving oral and five receiv­ ing intravenous adm inistration. Ginkgo has prom oted hair regrow th in rats. Results of a study of patients w ith idiopathic sudden hearing loss existing no longer th a n ten days w ho were given treatm en t w ith either ginkgo EGb 761 (Tebonin) 4- HAES or Naftidrofuryl (Dusodril) + HAES showed that, after one w eek of observation, 40 percent of the p a ­ tients in both treatm en t groups experienced a complete remission of hearing loss. A nother study show ed th at treatm en t w ith ginkgo biloba extract led to significant recovery in patients w ith acute co­ chlear deafness caused by ischemia, ginkgo can protect the in testi­ nal m ucosa of rats against ischemic dam age th rough the reduction of lipid peroxidation and neutrophil infiltration. A study of ten n e u ­ ropathy patients w ith an autonom ic disregulation of skin w ho were intravenously adm inistered a com bination of 87.5 mg of ginkgo bi­ loba extract standardized to 21.0 mg Flavonglycosids and 3 mg folic acid over a period of four days experienced significant im prove­ m ents in nerve function following treatm ent. Ginkgo has proven effective in relieving sym ptom s associated w ith PMS. Both in vitro and in vivo studies showed th at sesquiterpene bilobalide, extracted from ginkgo biloba leaves, m ight be useful for therapy of and pro­ phylaxis against P. carinii infections in h u m an s. Ginkgo has exhib­ ited protective effects against spinal cord injury in rats due to its antioxidant activities. Ginkgo has dem onstrated anti-stress activity in rats and mice. Several studies have dem onstrated ginkgo's antioxidant effects. The

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

231

use of ginkgo biloba has show n promise in the treatm en t of hypoxia/ ischemia, seizure activity, and peripheral nerve damage. Ginkgo bi­ loba extract had a significant protective effect against experim ental retinal dam age in rabbits. Ginkgo biloba extract had excitatory ef­ fects on the lateral vestibular nuclei neurons in guinea pigs. Vertigi­ nous patients treated w ith ginkgo biloba extract over three m o n th s experienced a significant im provem ent in the intensity, frequency, and duration of their condition relative to controls. The intravenous adm inistration of ginkgo biloba extract resulted in dram atic recovery in severe cases of hypovolaemic shock related to monoclonal. Experim ental models of ischemia, oedema, and h y p ­ oxia have show n th at ginkgo biloba extract reduced vascular, tissu­ lar, and metabolic disturbances, along w ith neurological and behavioral consequences associated w ith them .

G in sen g Ginseng is a potent adaptogenic herb th at has been used the world over th roughout history. There are several different types of ginseng, all adaptogens, including Korean, Chinese, Siberian, and American. Adaptogenic herbs primarily act as stress fighters by re­ storing homeostasis. A growing body of peer review literature su p ­ ports such actions. One review article exam ining over 300 studies on ginseng published in China since 1982 found ginseng to possess a large variety of therapeutic effects on the body, including benefits to the central nervous system, cardiovascular system and endocrine secretion, im m u n e function, stress, aging, etc. Chinese ginseng preparations have exhibited protective effects against experim en­ tally induced stress in mice. A nother study found th at Vietnamese ginseng crude saponin suppressed the effects of psychological stress in mice. Ginseng therapy restored the thyroid and adrenal functions inhibited by dexam ethasone treatm en t in rats. In a study exam ining the anti-aging activities of American ginseng in those over sixty, results showed th a t symptoms of Kidney-Yang deficiency improved and subjects experienced a decrease in functional m onths of age from 751.77 ± 5.215 to 743.53 ± 5.144, the effective rate being 68.57 percent. The intake of 50 mg tablets of Ginseng-Rhizome taken three times a day for two m o n ths exhibited anti-senility effects and led to the relief of age-related symptoms in a group of middleaged and elderly subjects. In addition to these findings, the tre a t­ m en t had significant benefits w ith respect to coronary heart disease.

232

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

Ginseng has also exhibited direct anti-aging effects on rats. Ko­ rean red ginseng has exhibited positive effects on im m u n e m arkers in subjects infected w ith HIV. Panax ginseng adm inistered at doses of 100 mg capsules of either an aqueous or standardized extracts led to significant en h a n c em e n t of cell-m ediated im m u n e functions in h ealthy volunteers. Anim al and in vitro studies have pointed to the benefits of ginseng on the im m u n e system as well. Cancer and heart disease are two other areas w h ere ginseng has proven useful. Results of one Korean case-control study show ed an inverse association betw een oral intake of different types of ginseng and the risk of various cancers in h u m a n s, including lip, oral cavity, pharynx, esophageal, stom ach, colon-rectal, liver, pancreatic, laryn­ geal, lung, and ovarian. A large-scale trial by the sam e authors found a significant inverse association betw een the consum ption of ginseng and risk of gastric and lung cancer in adults over the age of forty. An earlier study also revealed an inverse association betw een a history of ginseng intake and the risk of cancer. Ginseng extract and pow der proved m ore effective th a n fresh sliced ginseng, the juice, or tea in reducing cancer risk. Results from anim al and in vitro studies support such findings. As to heart disease, one study found th a t red ginseng was a safe and effective treatm en t in patients suffering from congestive heart failure and proved to be synergistic w ith digoxin in exhibiting even stronger im provem ent of hem odynam ical and biological indexes. Total ginsenoside and ginsenoside Rb have been show n to pro­ tect against myocardiac ischemic and reperfusion injuries in open heart surgery patients. Injections of ginseng principles (fraction 4) can reduce elevated plasm a levels of cholesterol and triglyceride. Panax ginseng delayed experim entally induced im pairm ent of rat heart m itochondria and muscle contraction deterioration. Ginsenosides have a tten u ated ischemic m yocardium and protected against reperfusion injury of m yocardium in dogs. Wisconsin ginseng root pow der added to the diet was effective in lowering total serum ch o ­ lesterol levels of chickens. N um erous anim al studies have pointed to the possible benefits of using ginseng to improve cognitive function, particularly m em ory and learning. The same is true for diabetes. In a study of newly diagnosed noninsulin dependent diabetics, intake of 100-200 mg

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

233

per day of ginseng for eight weeks elevated mood, improved psycho­ physical performance, and reduced fasting glucose and body weight. The 200 mg dose improved glycated hemoglobin, serum PIIINP, and physical activity. Other conditions ginseng m ay benefit include stroke, sleepwalking disturbances, ulcers, kidney damage, and n a r ­ cotic addiction. In addition, Panax ginseng has been show n to be capable of enhancing the rate of blood alcohol clearance in healthy m en. The consum ption of tw o capsules containing a preparation of ginseng extract, dim ethylam inoethanol bitartrate, vitam ins, minerals, and trace elem ents per day for six weeks increased w ork capacity due to improved m uscular oxygen utilization in h ealthy male sports teach ­ ers. The adm inistration of Korean red ginseng h ad significant posi­ tive effects w ith respect to penile rigidity and girth, libido and subjective reports of satisfaction relative to controls in m en suffering from erectile dysfunction.

G o ld e n se a l An herb native to the eastern United States, goldenseal has ex­ hibited antimicrobial activity in vitro, and has been show n to be an effective therapy against diarrhea in adults caused by E-coli. Gold­ enseal is also a powerful im m u n e enhancer and liver cleanser. Re­ sults of anim al studies have indicated isolates of goldenseal can produce anti-cancer and cardioprotective effects in mice and dogs, respectively. G rape In addition to possessing strong antioxidant potential, grape ex­ tracts have show n anti-cancer and anti-inflam m atory effects in mice, reduced the risk of colon cancer in monkeys, and exhibited cardioprotective effects in vitro. G reen T ea The cancer-fighting effects of green tea on anim als and in vitro are well docum ented in the scientific literature. H u m an studies also point to its potential benefits in this regard. In one case-control study, smoking, alcohol, and green tea were exam ined as potential stom ach cancer risk factors in patients al­ ready diagnosed w ith the disease. Results showed smoking of ciga­

234

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

rettes and the consum ption of alcohol were associated w ith an increased risk of stom ach cancer, while an inverse association was found betw een the consum ption of green tea and stom ach cancer. A nother study exam ined the effects of green tea consum ption on the risk of esophageal cancer in a group of 902 esophageal cancer patients betw een the ages of thirty and seventy-four. Results showed green tea consum ption had a significant, dose-dependent protective effect against esophageal cancer in w om en and signifi­ cant protective effects in male and female smokers. A population-based, case-controlled inquiry into the effects of drinking green tea on the risk of stom ach cancer in subjects u n d er the age of eighty showed an inverse association betw een the two variables. Regular consum ption of green tea m ay counteract the ill effects of m utagens and/or carcinogens produced in m eat cooked u nder high tem perature. Green tea extract inhibits gastrointestinal m alignant tum ors in h um ans. Green tea may also be effective against heart disease. In a study of 1371 Japanese m en over forty, results showed an inverse associa­ tion betw een the daily consum ption of green tea and serum choles­ terol levels. C onsum ption of m ore th a n ten cups per day was correlated to a reduced concentration of hepatological m arkers in serum, aspartate am inotransferase, alanine transferase, and ferritin. A study of 1306 Japanese males found total serum cholesterol levels to be inversely related to the consum ption of green tea. Dental health is an o th er area w here green tea has show n promise. Japanese green tea's polyphenolic com pounds can inhibit the attach m en t of Streptococcus m u tan s strain JC-2 to saliva-coated hydroxyapatide discs. Rats infected w ith S m u ta n s JC-2 (c) and fed a cariogenic diet and/or drinking w ater containing green tea polyphenols have exhibited fewer carriers th an did controls. Chinese green tea poly­ phenols are effective preventive agents against dental carries. Fluo­ ride in green tea may increase the cariostatic action in com bination w ith other properties in the tea. Extracts of green tea has also exhib­ ited antibacterial action against tw enty-four bacterial strains iso­ lated from root canal infections. Green tea may also help prevent stroke. Results of a four-year, follow-up study of 5910 Japanese w om en w ho neither smoked nor drank alcohol showed that the rate of stroke and cerebral was at least twice as high as those consum ing less th a n five cups or green tea daily compared to those c o n su m ­

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

235

ing five or more cups per day. In a cohort study aimed to evaluate the effect of drinking green tea on longevity involving 3380 female practitioners of chanoyu (Japanese tea ceremony) living in Tokyo, standardized m ortality ratios w ere estim ated 0.55 w h e n all Japanese w o m en was used as standard population and 0.57 w h e n w om en living in Tokyo were used, indicating the possibility th at green tea is a protective factor for several fatal diseases. Both green and black tea exhibited antioxidant effects on tissue lipid peroxidation in rats. Other conditions green tea can benefit include liver damage, pan cre­ atitis, and diarrhea.

H a w th o r n H aw thorn leaves, berries, and blossoms have all been show n to have healing properties and been used in China and Europe for h u n ­ dreds of years. H aw thorn extract adm inistered at a dose of 600 mg per day over a period of eight weeks has been found to significantly reduce the blood pressure and heart rate in m iddle-aged patients suffering from chronic heart failure. Doses of 100 mg per day of H aw thorn leaves adm inistered to angina patients over a four-week period led to an efficacy rate of 84.8 percent. Anim al studies have show n similar results w ith respect to the cardioprotective effects of haw thorn. H ib iscu s Hibiscus is a com m on o rn am ental plant, the flowers of w hich have historically been believed to contain anti-fertility properties, particularly in w om en. The herb is also popularly taken for its sooth­ ing effects on the m ucous m em branes that line the digestive and respiratory tracts. Both anim al and in vitro studies indicate th a t ex­ tracts from hibiscus possess anti-cancer and cardioprotective effects. Hibiscus has exhibited antioxidant effects in vitro as well. L icorice Low doses of the licorice extract, glycyrrhizinehave (150 m g per day) have been show n to be effective against hyperkalem ia in p a ­ tients suffering from diabetes. Similar results have also been seen in studies involving diabetic rats. Licorice has exhibited antiviral ef­ fects in vitro, including an ability to inhibit the grow th of herpes virus.

236

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

Licorice has also been used in the treatm en t of cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis, ulcers, and hepatitis.

L ovage Studies have found lingusticum chuanxiong in tablet form to be a significantly effective treatm en t in patients suffering from angina pectoris and high blood pressure, as well as those suffering from ischemic cerebrovascular disease. W hen taken at doses of 3 to 9 g daily as an oral decoction, extract, or tincture, it m ay also be of b en e­ fit for headache, vertigo, and prolonged p ostpartum lochia. Lovage has also exhibited anti-inflam m atory and sedative effects in rats. M arig o ld Marigold extracts have exhibited anti-cancer activity against m am m ary tum ors in mice, and against leukem ia and lung cancer in vitro. Flavanoids from marigold leaves have also exhibited a n tim i­ crobial activity against Gram positive and Gram negative m icroor­ ganism s in vitro. Marigold extracts produced anti-odem atous activity in mice as well. M is tle to e M istletoe has been found to be beneficial against high blood pressure and is a w ell-docum ented treatm en t for cancer. Results of one study involving thirty-six w om en w ith breast cancer found that subcutaneous injections of the optim al im m u n o m o d u latin g m istle­ toe extract dosage (ln g /k g body weight, twice a week) for twelve weeks induced a significant increase of beta-endorphin plasma lev­ els, a reduced decrease of defined peripheral blood lym phatic su b ­ sets after standard chem otherapy, and an evidently increased in vitro cytokine release by m ononuclear im m u n e cells after adequate stim ­ ulation. In an o th er study exam ining the cellular aspects of the im ­ m unom odulating activity of propriety m istletoe extract in 20 m am m ary cancer patients, results showed that subcutaneous injec­ tions of the different dosages (0.5 and 1.0 ng ML-1/kg body weight, twice a week, for five weeks) led to statistically significant increases of defined peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets (helper T-cells, n a t­ ural killer cells), w hich are generally believed to be involved in a n ti­ tum or activity. The m istletoe preparation T mali has produced posi­ tive effects in oral cancer patients. Postoperative treatm ent of breast

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

237

cancer patients w ith Iscador (Viscum album ) significantly increased survival rate relative to controls. Subcutaneous injections of 1 mg/kg per body w eight of galactoside-specific lectin from mistletoe (M L-1) twice a w eek for four weeks significantly increased helper T-lymphocytes and natural killer cells and enhanced the expression of interleukin (II)-2 receptors on lym phatic cells in breast cancer patients. Iscador has significantly enhanced phagocytic activity of granulocytes, natural killer cell and antibody-dependent cellm ediated cytoxicity activities in patients w ith breast cancer as well. A nother study of breast cancer patients found th a t a single intrave­ nous infusion of Iscador significantly increased natural killer cell an d antibody dependent cell m ediated activity w ith in 24 hours of adm inistration. Advance breast cancer patients have also show en significantly higher w hite blood cell counts and leukocyte levels relative to con­ trols after chem otherapy w h e n treated w ith a mistletoe preparation. Num erous in vitro and anim al studies also point to the anticancer effects of mistletoe.

M o th e rw o rt M otherw ort extracts have been show n to suppress the incidence and grow th of m am m ary tum ors in mice. Results of one study on the effects of the herb on blood hyperviscosity in 105 patients found th at intravenous doses of 10 ml in 250 mil of 5 percent glucose over a period of fifteen days produced clinical benefits w ith respect to reduced blood m am m ary viscosity and in fibrinogen volume as well as an increase in the deformability of Rbc, decreased time of Rbc electrophoresis, and enhanced anti-platelet aggregation. P u m p k in S eed Patients suffering from benign prostatic hyperlasia have experi­ enced significant improvem ents in urinary flow and other symptoms as result of taking a combined preparation of p u m p k in seeds and dw arf palm plants. Pum pkin seeds adm inistered at doses of 80 g three times daily for one have proven highly effective against sym p­ toms associated w ith acute schistosomiasis, including fever, a n ­ orexia, and liver tenderness. R ed Clover Red clover is a purple flower found across the United States w hich is high in protein, phosphorus, and calcium. Daily supple­

238

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

m en tatio n of 100 mg of red clover has been show n to be effective in the treatm en t of patients suffering from m etastatic renal cell cancer. Studies indicate red clover can also inhibit the grow th of prostate tum ors in rats, and exhibits chem opreventive activity in vitro. More traditional uses of red clover have been as a rem edy for childhood skin problems, and also for psoriasis in adults. It is a popular herbal treatm en t for throat conditions such bronchitis and w hooping cough, and is often used as a blood, kidney, and liver cleanser.

R hubarb Rhubarb isolates have been show n to inhibit the grow th of h u m a n breast carcinoma cells and en hance im m u n e response in vitro. Processed rhubarb can significantly inhibit pregnancy-induced hypertension in w om en and has exhibited cathartic effects in rats. R hubarb has also exhibited strong antibacterial effects in vitro, been effective against hem orrhagic pancreatitis in rabbits, and helped al­ leviate suffering in patients w ith chronic renal failure. R o sem a ry Rosemary is a popular herb w hich is k now n for the soothing effects of its leaves and twigs w h e n used as an oil on the nervous and digestive systems. O ther com m on uses of the herb include tre a t­ m en t against headache, depression, muscle pain, flatulent dyspep­ sia, fatigue, gum disease, anxiety, warts, high blood pressure, and hair loss. Rosemary has exhibited anti-cancer activity in num erous anim al studies and been show n to inhibit the initiation of carcino­ genesis in h u m a n bronchial epithelial cells in vitro. S aw P a lm e tto Saw Palm etto is a small, fruit-bearing palm tree native to Flor­ ida. Results from nu m ero u s studies point to the effectiveness of saw palm etto extracts in the treatm en t of benign prostatic hyperplasia. In one trial, 88 percent of 505 patients suffering from the disorder experienced significant im provem ent following three m o n th s of twice daily doses of a 160 mg extract. St. J o h n 's W ort While widely used in Europe for decades, St. John's Wort (Hyp­ ericum perforatum ) has received a lot of attention in the U.S. of late as a promising new treatm en t in the fight against depression, and for good reason. St. John's wort contains hypericin which inhibits

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

239

m onoam ine oxiadase, a chemical th a t is associated w ith depression. Results from dozens of studies indicate th a t the herb is an effective alternative to m ore conventional pharm aceutical approaches th at often are accompanied by serious side effects. Dosages in such stu d ­ ies have generally ranged betw een 100 to 900 m g per day. As users of the herb have k n o w n for centuries, St. John's Wort is, however, far m ore th a n simply a rem edy for depression. Studies have show n it can reduce the intensity level of enzymatic and nonenzymatic processes of lipid peroxidation of rat liver microsomes in vitro and in vivo. It has dem onstrated anti-herpes in vitro. C ontem po­ rary research points to the herb's promise as an effective therapy for cancer, AIDS, alcoholism, hepatitis, and isomnia. St. John's Wort has been used historically against symptoms associated w ith PMS an d as an reliable treatm en t for w ounds and burns. It can be taken as a tincture, tea, decotion, oil, or capsule.

S tin g in g N e ttle Several studies point to the benefits of stinging nettle extracts in the treatm en t of benign prostatic hyperplasia. In one, patients w h o received capsules containing either 300 m g of the root com ­ bined w ith 25 m g of Pygeum africanum bark extract or two capsules w ith half this dose twice a day over a period of eight weeks experi­ enced significant reductions in sym ptom s related to the condition. Similar results have been noted in other trials. S u n flo w er The intake of a linoleic acid-rich diet, applying 12 percent s u n ­ flower seed oil in rat food pellet for four weeks, has been show n to reduce the occurrence of life-threatening arrhthym ias in rats. P a­ tients suffering from scaly derm atitis have experienced benefits from the cutaneous application of sunflower seed oil on the skin for two weeks. T u rm eric/C u rcu m in Turmeric is a com m on spice also know n as Indian saffron. Re­ sults of m ore th a n a dozen studies indicate turm eric exhibits pow er­ ful anti-cancer activity in anim al models. Turmeric has been show n to inhibit tum ors of the skin, colon, forestomach, duodenum , and breast. In vitro experim ents support such findings, as do those in ­

240

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

volving h u m a n subjects. In one, turm eric proved to be an effective a n ti-m u tag en in smokers. A nother showed that patients w ith exter­ nal cancerous lesions experienced significant relief following tre a t­ m en t w ith an ethanol turm eric extract and a curcum in ointm ent. The adm inistration of 500 mg per day of curcum in for seven days has been show n to significantly reduce the level of serum lipid per­ oxides, increase HDL cholesterol, and decrease total serum choles­ terol in healthy h u m a n subjects. Oral curcum in (turm eric) significantly reduced increased lipid peroxidation in different m ouse organs including the brain, liver, lung, and kidney; and significantly reduced serum and tissue cho­ lesterol levels in mice as well. C urcum in and quinidine has also p re­ vented ischem ia-induced changes in cat hearts; and inhibited arachidonate, adrenaline, and collagen-induced platelet aggregation in h u m a n blood. In vitro, curcum in has provided protection against lipid peroxidation-induced cataractogenesis in rat lenses. Dietary curcum in adm inistered over an eight-w eek period led to an enhanced metabolic status across nu m ero u s diabetic conditions in rats. Curcum in has decreased the incidence of gallstone form a­ tion in mice, reduced liver dam age in rats, and exhibited anti-HIV, anti-fungal, anti-inflam m atory, antioxidant effects as well.

V alerian Valerian root has been used as a sleep aid for thousands of years and is presently the m ost widely used sedative in Europe. It is a perennial plant found in N orth America, Europe, and Asia. Valeri­ an's active ingredient is valerenic acid and it is com m only taken either as a tea, powder, tincture or in capsule form. In addition to its sleep prom oting effects, valerian is used across a large variety conditions, including digestive disorders, anxiety, muscle spasms, high blood pressure, and fever. Peer review studies have show n ex ­ tracts of valerian root can produce antidepressant effects in mice, and can have beneficial effects on sleep. Results of one study found th at an aqueous extract of valerian root adm inistered at doses of both 450 mg and 900 mg had reduced perceived sleep latency in healthy young adults. Y oh im b in e Yohimbine is best know n for its effects on sexual performance, w ith a host of studies pointing to its therapeutic potential in this

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

241

regard. One showed yohim bine to be beneficial for sexual side ef­ fects brought on by serotonin reuptake blockers in psychiatric p a ­ tients. A nother found th at yohim bine hydrochloride adm inistered at a m ax im u m dose of 42 mg per day over a period of one m o n th produced significant im provem ents in patients suffering from im p o ­ tence. Supplem ental doses of 18 m g per day over a ten-w eek period produced a 46 percent overall im provem ent rate in patients w ith psychogenic impotence. Psychogenic im potence patience have also experienced major im provem ents following tream en t w ith 15 mg per day of oral yohim bine coupled w ith 50 m g per day of trazodone over two eight-w eek periods. In addition to enhancing sexual performance, studies show yo­ him bine can also protect against heart disease. The daily a d m in istra­ tion of yohim bine at a m in im u m dose of 8 mg significantly inhibited epinephrine-induced platelet in healthy subjects. Intake of 5 m of oral yohim bine produced significant increases in m e a n systolic and diastolic blood pressure and m ean heart rate in patients w ith a u to ­ nom ic failure characterized by orthostatic hypotension. In d e ­ pression patients suffering from clom ipram ine-induced o rth o ­ static hypotension, 4 mg/t.i.d. of yohim bine significantly increased blood pressure. Anim al studies also indicate yohim bine m ay hold promise for the treatm en t of diabetes. Yohimbine has exhibited a n ti­ convulsant effects in rats and significant weight-loss effects in obese mice. Doses of 8 mg/kg per day of yohim bine proved effective in m aintaining subjective wakefulness for eight consecutive w orking hours in narcolepsy patients as well.

THERAPEUTIC AMINO ACIDS

A la n in e Supplemental alanine and terbutaline have led to sustained glu­ cose recovery from hypoglycemia in patients suffering from insulindependent diabetes. Alanine has also alleviated diarrhea symptoms associated w ith E-coli in male patients and exhibited beneficial ef­ fects on liver dam age in rats.

242

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

A r g in in e A therapeutic (or non-essential) am ino acid, arginine is a p re­ cursor of nitric oxide. Since nitric oxide helps relax the walls of the arteries, supplem ental arginine m ay help to prom ote blood flow th ro u g h o u t the body w h ich can lead to a w ide range of beneficial effects, including everything from stroke prevention to increased erection. Results from a n u m b e r of studies point to the efficacy of arginine in the tre a tm en t of patients suffering from a host of heart condi­ tions. One double-blind, placebo-controlled trial found th at oral in ­ take of L-arginine at doses of 5.6 to 12.6 g per day over a period of six weeks h ad positive effects in heart failure patients. A nother study show ed th at 20 g of intravenous L-arginine sig­ nificantly increased stroke volum e and cardiac o u tp u t while signifi­ cantly reducing m e a n arterial blood pressure and systemic vascular resistance in congestive heart failure patients associated w ith coro­ nary artery disease. The ad m in istratio n of 7 g of L-arginine three times per day over a period of four weeks has led to significant im ­ provem ents in en d o th eliu m -d ep en d en t dilation in hypercholesterolemic young adults. Exogenous L-arginine has exhibited vasodilatory effects in patients suffering from various forms of hypertension. T reatm ent w ith 12 mg/kg of NG-m ethyl-L-arginine followed by 4 mg/kg every four hours reversed IL-2-induced hypotensive effects in three patients w ith m etastatic renal cell carcinoma. Infants w ith persistent pulm onary hypertension have also experienced benefits following infusion w ith a 500 mg/kg dose of L-arginine over a period of thirty m inutes. Anim al studies have dem o n strated the cardiopro­ tective effects of arginine as well. Cancer is an o th er area w here studies indicate arginine m ay be useful. Breast cancer patients taking 30 g per day of L-arginine for four days experienced a significant e n h a n c em e n t of host defenses. The anti-cancer activity of arginine has also been dem onstrated in mice. Additional anim al studies suggest arginine can help prevent stroke, reduce kidney collage accum ulation associated w ith aging, and protect against stress. One study showed that supplem ental a r ­ ginine at levels totaling 2 percent of nutritional energy significantly enhanced the T lymphocyte response to PHA, CD4 phenotype ex­ pression, CD4/CD8 ratio, IL-2 production, and IL-2 receptor expres­ sion in b urn patients relative to controls. Argine has been show n to have beneficial effects against burns in guinea pigs. Intravenous adm inistration of a 10 percent solution, 300 ml (30 g)/patient

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

243

L-arginine over a sixty-seventy-m inute period produced significant analgesiac effects in patients suffering from different types of pain. Arginine adm inistration can protect against liver injury and u l­ cers in rats. Intragastric adm inistration of 32.5-300 mg/kg per day of L-arginine accelerated the healing of acetic acid-induced gastric ulcers in h u m a n patients as well. In infertile m en, the a d m in istra­ tion of 80 ml of 10 percent L-arginine HCL daily per os over a sixm o n th period improved sperm motility. Supplem ental arginine tidiacicate tablets containing 400 m g has also h ad positive effects in patients w ith chronic persistent hepatitis.

A sp a rtic A cid Aspartic acid is a non-essential am ino acid found in high levels in the brain and thro u g h o u t the body. It is involved in m any bodily functions, including the form ation as well as disposal of am m onia an d urea. Peer review studies have show n aspartic acid to exhibit cardioprotective, antitum or, and liver protective effects in animals. A dditional research suggests it m ay also increase resistance to fa­ tigue, be useful against depression, and could play a role in over­ coming sym ptom s associated w ith opiate w ithdraw al. Suggested supplem ental dose is no m ore th a n 1.5 g per day. C y stein e Cysteine has exhibited preventive effects against leukopenic complications associated w ith radiotherapy in cancer patients. Hy­ postatic leg ulceration patients treated w ith a topical cream c o n tain ­ ing 1-cysteine, glycine, and dl-threonin three times per week over a period of twelve w eeks experienced a significantly increased rate of healing relative to patients being treated w ith cream base alone. Cysteine has also been effective against allergic-contact derm atitis in guinea pigs. G lu tam ic A cid Glutamic acid holds promise as a treatm ent for three of the lead ­ ing causes of d eath am ong the elderly: cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Anti-cancer activity has been docum ented in anim al studies, and in one trial of patients w ho received a 4 g swish of Lglutam ine twice a day at the start of chem otherapy th a t lasted for tw enty-eight days. The adm inistration of glutam ate coupled w ith high-dose glucose-insulin-potassium is an effective and safe tre a t­ m en t in patients w ith reversible cardiac failure. Glutamic acid has

244

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

been show n to have cardioprotective effects in rabbits, rats, and dogs as well. Additional anim al studies have docum ented its p o te n ­ tial in the fight against diabetes, to improve adrenal function, and prom ote healing from burn injury. Bronchial asthm a patients treated w ith aevit and glutam ic acid experienced clinical im provem ents. Athletes consum ing drinks con­ taining glutam ine im m ediately and two hours after exercise experi­ enced a lower incidence of infections seven days after exercise than controls. The adm inistration of large doses of gam m a-ethylester of glutam ic acid to patients suffering from liver failure produced sig­ nificantly positive effects w ith respect to such sym ptom s as tremors, confusion, restlessness, and reductions in blood am m onia levels. Results of an o th er study found th at a protocol involving growth horm one, glutam ine, and a high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet proved effective in treating surgical patients suffering from short-bowel syndrom e or related problems of the GI tract. Intravenous ad m in is­ tration of glutam ic acid and glutam ic acid diethylester worked to suppress certain forms of tinnitus in h u m a n patients relative to con­ trols. Early glutam ine supplem entation can prevent stress ulcer problems associated w ith severe therm al injury in m ajor burn p a ­ tients as well.

G lycine Hypostatic leg ulceration patients treated w ith a topical cream containing 1-cysteine, glycine, and dl-threonin three times per week over a period of twelve weeks have experienced a significantly in ­ creased rate of healing relative to patients being treated w ith the cream base alone. Supplem ental glycine has also been found to be useful in the treatm ent of schizophrenia, and in preventing stressinduced dam age to the heart. H istid in e Histidine is a lesser know n am ino acid that changes from an essential am ino acid to a non-essential acid w ith age. A precursor to histam ine, it can be obtained through most vegetable and anim al proteins and is particularly im portant in blood cell production. Histi­ dine is som etimes used against sym ptom s associated w ith rh e u m a ­ toid arthritis and may be effective in the treatm ent of high blood pressure due to its calming effects on the nervous system. Research indicates that histidine may enhance T-cell function, which may in

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

245

part explain its use against rheum atoid arthritis, and can also act as a m etal chelator. Additional studies have show n the adm inistration of histidine can exhibit protective effects on cardiac and brain fu n c­ tion during cerebral thrombosis in rats. Suggested supplem ental dose is approxim ately 1.5 g per day.

O rn ith in e Results of one double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that 10 g per day of ornithine oxoglutarate adm inistered for two m onths to am bulatory elderly patients recovering from acute illnesses led to significant im provem ents in appetite, body weight, quality of life, medical cost, and m easures of independence. O rnithine has also ex ­ hibited anti-cancer effects in b o th h u m a n and anim al studies as well as in vitro. The oral adm inistration of 34 m m ol per day of ornithine salts of branched-chain ketoacids over a period of seven to ten days signifi­ cantly improved electroencephalographic abnormalities and clinical grade of encephalopathy in patients suffering from chronic portalsystemic encephalopathy. Studies have show n th a t ornithine decar­ boxylase is a key factor in the repair process and restoration of small intestine mucosal function in rats following ischemia-reperfusion. O rnithine alpha-ketoglutarate has also exhibited im m u n o m o ­ dulatory effects in rats w ith severe b u rn injuries. T yrosin e The oral adm inistration of 3,200 m g of tyrosine per day has proven effective in the treatm en t of patients suffering from d opa­ m ine-dependent depression. Doses of 100 mg/kg can significantly reduce stress sym ptom s associated w ith 4.5 hours of exposure to cold and hypoxia. Tyrosine has also been show n capable of increas­ ing blood pressure in hypotensive rats, and protecting against v e n ­ tricular arrhythm ias in dogs.

ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS

Iso le u c in e Patients suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis w ho re­ ceived daily oral adm inistration of a mix of 12 g of L-leucine, 8 g of

246

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

L-isoleucine, and 6.4 g of L-valine experienced significant im prove­ m en ts in m uscle strength an d w alking ability.

L y sin e Patients suffering from various rh eu m atic disorders have been show n to benefit from ketoprofen lysine adm inistered in doses of 320 m g per day. The adm in istratio n of 1,000 m g of oral 1-lysine per day over a period of twelve m o n th s led to significant reductions in lesion frequency in patients suffering from recurrent herpes simplex labialis. Doses of 1,248 m g of oral 1-lysine m onohydrochloride per day decreased the recurrence rate of herpes simplex attacks in nonim m uno-com prom ised hosts. A nother study show ed th a t 1,000 m g tablets of oral 1-lysine m o ­ nohydrochloride tak en three times per day over a period of six m o n th s decreased the recurrence rate of herpes simplex attacks. W h e n taking an average dose of 936 m g of lysine per day a d m in is­ tered over a six-m onth period, patients experienced a reduction of frequency of herpes infection from cold sores, canker sores, and g e n ­ ital herpes. M igraine patients have benefitted from oral lysine acetylsalicylate com bined w ith m etroclopram ide. The intravenous a d m in istra ­ tion of acetylsalicylate of lysine to obstetrical and gynecological surgery patients exhibited beneficial effects w ith respect to postop­ erative pain in 77.4 percent of the patients exam ined. M e th io n in e Supplem ental m eth io n in e can prevent the induction of hepatocarcinogenesis in rats. Reports also point to its usefulness in the tre a tm en t of severe m yeloneuropathy and macrocytic anem ia asso­ ciated w ith a low vitam in B12 serum levels, and hepatitis. P h e n y la la n in e The adm inistration of phenylalanine in doses ranging betw een 75 to 250 mg per day has produced beneficial results in patients suffering from depression. Doses of 250 mg three times per day over a period of fifteen days have been show n to prevent pain in cancer patients. Phenylalanine has also exhibited anti-cancer activity and prevented stress and ulcers in rats.

Is It Possible to Reverse Aging?

247

T ry p to p h a n Tryptophan has been show n to exhibit anti-cancer and cardio­ protective effects in mice and rats. Patients suffering from depres­ sion have also experienced benefits after taking trypotphan, w ith one study showing doses of 8 g per day over a period of four weeks being effective in those m oderately depressed. Doses of 150-450 m g per day can ameloriate paranoid h allucina­ tions and m otor complications associated w ith L-dopa treatm en t in Parkinson's disease patients. Tardive dyskinesia is an o th er condition for w h ich supplem ental L-tryptophan has produced positive effects, as is schizophrenia. Tryptophan has also proved effective as a pain reliever and and a good rem edy for problems associated w ith sleep.

I

HOW TO LIVE FOREVER

7 THE ULTIMATE ANTI-AGING PROGRAM

can't repeat it often enough: The earlier you start anti-aging, the easier your job will be in the long run. Most of the people w ho w ind up in nursing hom es are there, for the m ost part, because they did not maintain high levels of physical, m ental, and emotional health throughout their lifetimes. Sadly, once they are unable to care for themselves— or be cared for in their own hom es— their bodies are so w eakened th at they are unable to survive for long, even w ith m anaged care. The current h ealth status of m any of the individuals living in nursing hom es is directly related to their nutritional intake. N u m er­ ous studies have concluded th at these individuals suffer from m u lti­ ple nutritional deficiencies. From the Clinton A dm inistration Report on the Quality of Nursing Homes: "The report concludes th at the private Joint Commission on accreditation of Healthcare Organiza­ tions (JCAHO) survey process was not effective in protecting the h ealth and safety of nursing hom e residents." Also, the office of the Health Care Financing A dm inistration stated that "Five and a half years seems a long time for Clinton to discover th at hundreds of people are still dying from m alnutrition, dehydration, sepsis from bedsores and even physical abuse while in nursing hom es." The problems of m alnutrition and dehydration are due in partic­ ular to the institutional food provided by vendors w ho have used RDA's th at have been show n to be both insufficient and grossly in ­

1

251

252

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

adequate for people w ho have com prom ised im m u n e systems and m ultiple nutritional deficiencies. This proposal carefully exam ines the scientific literature th at cites the actual therapeutic dosages in relation to the category of illnesses th a t the majority of people in nursing hom es fall into. After reviewing th o u san d s of scientific articles and using data from test groups of 300 individuals, m ost of w h o m are in seniorcitizen age groups, w e concluded th a t n u tritio n and exercise, as pre­ sented in this proposed protocol, played a key role in the h ealth and w ell-being of the senior citizens.

THE REVERS1MG-THE-AG1MG-PR0CESS STUDY In January 1997 I enrolled 300 people into a “ Reversing the Aging Process Study" th at w ould last eighteen m onths. At the end of this period, sixty-five people h ad completed the study— 235 people b e ­ came controls. This w as not a double-blind study. It was an observa­ tion of changes in their blood chemistry, weight, physical dimensions, physical appearance, memory, energy levels, sleep p a t­ terns, bowel m ovem ents, night-tim e urination, m uscle strength, di­ gestion, olfactory senses, visual senses, tactile senses, skin texture, and stress levels. This was a lifestyle modification study: • 52 percent of participants h ad lower cholesterol and tryglyceride levels. • 68 percent h ad increased DHEA levels. • 78 percent h ad a significant im provem ent in their fat muscle ratio. • 90 percent h ad an increase in bowel m ovem ents. • 92 percent h ad a decreased need for sleep. • 95 percent had increased energy levels. • Stress levels w ere lowered by 97 percent. In addition, num erical diaries had been kept by the participants reflecting subjective data. This data cited im provem ents th at af­ fected the participants in their overall quality of life. We can also conclude th a t this protocol w ould benefit the vast majority of people in nursing hom es and hospices. The following is not a theoretical model; it is an actual model.

How to Live Forever

253

Harry Biele, a ninety-year-old m a n w ho just ten years ago had chronic sinusitis, asthm a, arthritis, enlarged prostate, a precancer ous lower bowel, and m ain coronary artery blockage, is now a m a ra ­ thoner living life to its fullest. His cardiologist has taken away all m edication like beta blockers, and his general practitioner has taken away his inhalers for asthm a. He is not an exception. Harry is an example of someone w h o has taken positive action tow ard his ow n health. He improved his n u tritio n by applying a protocol similar to this one. Exercise became part of Harry's dialy ritual. He now a p ­ pears to be closer to seventy th a n ninety. Anyone— be he/she a senior citizen or a baby boom er— can im ­ prove his/her health. This is the scientific literature th at justifies the use of recom m ended supplem ents in this protocol. Applying this protocol can play a n im portant role in anyone's life.

THE PROTOCOL FOR LASTING YOUTH The following is a breakdow n to the protocol developed in the course of m y Reversing the Aging Process Study.

P h y sica l E x ercise The results of our study have also helped to conclude, by process of interviews, th at m ost of the participants— and 100 percent of the controls in the study—were not exercising properly. In general, they were not doing enough exercise, nor were they exercising w ith enough intensity. We have modified the recom m ended exercise protocol for senior citizens; however, I suggest you forget your calendar age and work at a rate suited to your physical and mental capacities. • Build up gradually to forty-five m inutes of aerobic activity per day. • Take your pulse during the w orkout to m ake sure you are n e i­ ther under- nor overexerting yourself. A heart rate m onitor is very useful and can be purchased at any sports store. Generally, the target heart rate is determ ined by taking 200, subtracting your age (this is the m axim al heart rate) and th en multiplying the result by 50 to 60 percent. So, an eighty-

254

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program one-year-old person w ould have a rate of 220 m inus 81 times 50-60 percent, or, seventy-eighty-three beats per m inute. After a few m o n th s of training, you can increase to 70 percent of the m axim al heart rate. • As well as aerobic exercise, do w eight training three times per week.

It is no secret anym ore. Exercise is an essential elem ent in the overall h ealth of people at any age. As we age our tendons shrink and our m uscle mass decreases. In order to keep the body as y o u th ­ ful as possible, muscle m ass needs to be retained, and if possible increased. Tendons need to be stretched. As we get older, we actually need m ore exercise and longer stretching. All forms of exercise should be preceded w ith a thorough stretching routine. Stretching will elongate and stren g th en the tendons and get the muscles w arm ed up and ready for m ovem ent. Senior citizens in general will take a longer time to w a rm up. Some exercises th a t are recom m ended for senior citizens are: fast walking, low-im pact aerobics, w eight lifting, yoga for stretch ­ ing; T'ai Chi or Chi Gong for treadmill and the stair-climbing m a ­ chine. All exercises th at are not too im pacting on the joints are beneficial. More detailed inform ation regarding aging is included in Part V. The purpose of this protocol is to improve the health of the n u r s ­ ing hom e population w ith an intervention based on diet and b eh av ­ ior modification, the intake of whole foods, exercise, and vitamin, nutrient, and herbal supplem entation. We suggest the following: (1) Intake of anim al protein be reduced ( lx week) and con­ sum ption of cold-water fish be increased (5x week). (2) Additional protein should be derived from whole grains, le­ gumes, and seeds. If needed, a protein pow der supplem ent m ay be used. (3) The diet should provide forty-fifty grams of fiber a day. (4) At least one (preferably three) servings of a cruciferous veg­ etable should be provided daily: Brussel sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, or cauliflower.

How to Live Forever

255

(5) 2 - 4 glasses of dark green leafy vegetable juices/day. The juice should also include one-inch-length of ginger, aloe concentrate, and protein pow der (optional). (6) O ne-half-one gallon of w ater and juices ingested daily. (7) Caffeine, soda, w hite sugar, and refined w hite flour p ro d ­ ucts should be reduced to a m inim um . For optim al results, they should be elim inated com pletely (8) Olive oil should be used for cooking purposes. (9) Supplem ents should be tak en w ith meals in divided doses w here noted. At the end of this book there will be a detailed list of peer review journal articles of h u m a n studies and trials dem onstrating the effi­ cacy and doses of vitamins, nutrients, and herbs. In addition to the h u m a n studies represented here, we refer you to The Clinician's Hand­ book of Natural Healing by Gary Null, Ph.D., for additional detailed animal, in vitro, an d in vivo studies th a t further support the efficacy of vitamin, n utrient, and herbal supplem entation.

Vitamins, Nutrients & Herbal Supplements

B Complex b6

Folic Acid B)2 Choline Vitamin E L-Methionine Vitamin C Silybum Marianum Garlic Evening Primrose Oil Fish oil lipids Ginkgo Biloba Lecithin N-Acetyl Cysteine DHEA DMAE Phosphatidyl serine Acetyle L-Carnitine

Suggested Dosages

50 mg 25-75 mg 400 meg 100 meg 500 mg 400-800 IU 500 mg 2,000-15,000 mg 50 mg 500 mg 4xday 500 mg 2xday 1,000 mg 60-120 mg 5 gm 500-1,000 mg 5-25 mg 100 mg 200 mg 3xday 500 mg 2xday

Dosaged Based on PeerReview Journal Articles*

10-200 mg 50-200 mg 2.5-35 mg 1,000 mcg-3 mg 500 m g-16,000 mg 30-4,800 mg 2,000-10,000 mg 30-17,000 mg 140-600 mg 3,000-10,000 mg 3,000-6,000 mg 2,600-24,000 mg 50-600 mg 0.500 gm -16 gm 300 m g-42,000 mg 30-500 mg 50-800 mg 1,000-3,000 mg

256

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program Vitamins, Nutrients & Herbal Supplements

Co-enzyme Q-10 Calcium/Magnesium

Suggested Dosages 100-300 mg 800-1,400 mg

Niacin Glutathione Curcumine Alpha Lipoic Acid Melatonin Pregnenolone

100-500 mg 500-1,000 mg 250 mg 200 mg 3 mg 10 mg

Dosaged Based on PeerReview Journal Articles*

30-390 mg 1,000-1,400 mg (Ca + + ) 500-1,000 mg 2,500-5,000 mg 500 mg 100-600 mg 0.3-10 mg 70 mg (based on 70 kg male)

PRECURSORS TO GROWTH HORMONE Arginine Ornithine Glutamine TMG-Betaine Linoleic acid (Conjugated FA)

1,000 mg 1,000 mg 1,000 mg 500 mg 500 mg

4,000-20,000 mg 10,000-18,000 mg 1,500-4,000 mg 6,000-10,000 mg

HERBS FOR CLEANSING Apple pectin Bee Pollen Burdock root Chrysanthemum Dandelion root Hibiscus Kelp Oregon Peppermint

25-50 25-50 25-50 25-50 25-50 25-50 25-50 25-50 25-50

Psyllim Red clover

25-50 mg 25-50 mg

mg mg mg mg mg mg mg mg mg

8,500-20,000 mg

Enteric-coated capsules 3,400-15,000 mg 100 mg (Coumarin)

‘ Therapeutic doses are based on Peer-Review Journals with a focus on human trials and stud These articles are cited within the propsal. Please refer to reference section for details.

257

How to Live Forever

VITAMIN AND MINERAL INDEXES Nutrients

Vitamin A Vitamin D Vitamin E Vitamin C Thiamin (B l) Riboflavin (B2) Niacin (B3) (nicotinamide) Pyridoxine (B6) Folacin Biotin Pantothenic acid (B5) Calcium Phosphorus Magnesium Iron Zinc Copper Iodine Selenium

Recommended Adult Intake

5,000 IU 400 IU 400 IU 1,00015,000 mg 50 mg 50 mg 100 mg 50 mg 400 mg 2.0 mg 200 mg 1,200 mg 50 mg 1,200 mg 15 mg 50 mg 2 mg 300 mg 200 mg

Source of Recommended Intake

Therapeutic Intake Range based on Peer-Review Journals**

USRDA** USRDA 400 30-2,800m g USRDA 30 RDA** 60mg 30-17,000mg USRDA 1.5mg USRDA 1.7 USRDA 20mg RDA USRDA USRDA USRDA RDA RDA USRDA USRDA USRDA ESAADDI** USRDA ESAADDI

10-200m g 10-400m g 500-3,OOOmg 50-200m g .02mg-35mg Folic acid 1,000-1,400mg

**RDA-Recommended Dietary Allowances; USRDA-United States Recommended Daily Allow­ ances; ESAADDI-Estimated Safe and Adequate Daily Dietary Intakes. Shils, et al. 1994. Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, Eighth Edition Volume 2. Lea & Febiger, p. 1582.

V

8 DETOXIFICATION: THE FIRST STEP TOWARD HEALING

efore w e can begin any program to rejuvenate and heal, w e m ust clean up our act— literally as well as figuratively. You see, one of the prim ary reasons w e are aging prem aturely and are, across the board, so u n h ealth y is the accum ulations of toxins in our environ­ m en ts and in our bodies. Poisons enter our bodies and become stored in adipose (fat) and nerve tissue. The 'Tittle bit" of lead an d other toxic m etals and bac­ teria in the w ater th a t comes th ro u g h the tap into our kitchens, w here we use it in cooking, joins w ith the airborne pollutants— from carbon m onoxide to industrial w astes— an d the pesticides used to m ake fruits and vegetables picture perfect and larger th a n life, and the antibiotics and grow th horm ones adm inistered to m ake chick­ ens lay m ore eggs, cows give m ore milk, and livestock of every sort, from poultry and pig to sheep and steer, grow huge, to invade our bodies w ith amazingly u n h e a lth y regularity. The cum m ulative effect of these toxins, as well as from the preservatives in packaged foods, antibiotics, and other medications, and all sorts of other substances im pair im m u n e function and reproductive capacity over time. It's an u n fo rtu n ate fact of life in the m odern world: Toxic su b ­ stances routinely pervade our food, water, and air. More th a n 100,000 toxic chemicals are com m only found in our environm ent, and those are just the ones we know about. Even socalled "good chem icals"— such as antibiotic and antiviral m edica­

B

258

How to Live Forever

259

tions, cleaning agents, cosmetics, etc.— have repeatedly been found to do trem endous dam age to our bodies. M ost of our w ater sources are polluted. Our w ater systems are full of chlorine and flouride, w h ich are k n o w n to impair thyroid function. We are swimm ing in a sea of toxins. If we cannot elim inate or lessen the body's b u rd en of these poi­ sons, it becomes irrevelant how m an y vitamins, herbs, or juices we p u t into our systems. We constantly u n d o the positive effects of these nutritional forces w ith our intense exposures to negative forces. It w ould be m u ch like having someone h u g you once a w eek and th en scream at you every other m in u te for the next week u ntil the next hug. That's w h a t it m eans to be in a toxic environm ent and th en try to do som ething to neutralize some of the toxins. You can never get enough of the positive to overcome the negatives. M uch disease results from toxic congestion. We eat too m uch, drink too m uch, and d o n 't get enough quality sleep. In time, the cum m ulative effect of these factors catch up w ith us. Even if you are particularly aware and concerned about your health, there are so m an y pollutants in our environm ent that, unless you detoxify, you will become sick. Surely you will never achieve your m a x im u m physical potential.

THE CLEAN-UP BEGINS Because of these toxic forces, any successful protocol m ust begin w ith a thorough cleansing: of the body, m ind, and spirit; of the envi­ ronm ents of the home, work, and com m unity; as well as of family, friends, and all other people w ithin these environm ents. W hen you look at the causes of aging and disease, you m u st look at heavy metals. These include mercury, cadm ium , and lead. Your brain, kidneys, and im m u n e system are particularly vulnerable to these toxins, yet millions of people knowingly put m ore of these poisons in their bodies every day. W hen you look in the m o u th of the average person, you see a lot of silver am algam fillings. These fillings are leaching mercury into the body, w hich then goes to the brain. That can affect neurological changes. Mercury also can go to the liver and kidneys, w hich can affect renal function and the

260

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

synthesizing of essential n u trien ts in the liver. It's not a m atter of "Do these m ercury vapors cause problem s?" Undisputedly, they do. But in each person it can be a different type of problem. W hen individuals w ith multiple sclerosis have had their mercury fillings taken out, there have been substantial im provem ents in their condi­ tions. The sam e has been found to be true for other medical prob­ lems. We've seen people w ith neurological damage, including Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dem entia, improve. People w ho have suffered from chronic fatigue syndrom e for m any years have show n m arked im provem ent after the removal of m ercury am algam fillings from their teeth. Then, we have a lu m in u m from antacids and cookware. Long suspected to be a contributing factor to Alzheimer's disease and se­ nile dem entia, a lu m in u m cookware and alu m in u m foil continue to be used every day. And while antacid tablets are touted as great forms of calcium, little is said about the potentially toxic effect of this poisonous heavy m etal on our brains. It is estim ated th at one h u n d red million Americans are chroni­ cally ill. That m eans that they are on the prescription bandw agon. Com m on tho u g h t has it that the older you get, the m ore drugs you take. The average senior citizen in a nursing hom e could be taking upw ards of fifteen different prescribed medications, m any of which are very likely to have contra-indications to each other. That's why the third leading cause of d eath in the United States is iatrogenic or medically induced d eath from misprescribed and overprescribed medications. This is not to suggest that we don't need m edication and drugs. We do. They can be life-saving, even essential. It would be irrespon­ sible to suggest otherwise. But it is equally irresponsible to suggest that people be given broad-spectrum antibiotics every time they come dow n w ith a cold. Colds stem from viral infection, not bacte­ ria. Antibiotics work specifically on bacteria, not viruses. Yet the av­ erage person w ho consults a conventional alopathic physician w ith a cold will be given antibiotics. Frequent use of antibiotics lowers the im m u ne system and promotes imbalances and pathogens throughout the intestinal tract. Here in the West, w e're given antibiotics for almost every physi­ cal ailm ent. And we're given way too m any drugs. In fact, drugs are

How to Live Forever

261

the first order of business w h e n you come out of a doctor's office. I've heard doctors say th a t patients actually feel cheated if they d o n 't get a prescription. They feel th a t they're n o t getting som ething for their m oney an d time. We m ay be accustom ed to getting drugs, yet none of these drugs have m ade m ajor changes in restoring our health. At best, they can stop some of the effects th a t are rapidly escalating, taking away some of the inflam m ation. Generally speaking, m ost m edications m ask symptoms, w hich m ake th em h arder to diagnose. For example, you take som ething for pain. This m edication m ay bring relief, b u t it does not stop it at its source— it simply inhibits or blocks the w ay th e brain perceives the pain. Therefore, you still have pain; you're ju st not feeling it. The condition is unchanged. In fact, you m ay be setting yourself up for m ore— and m ore serious— injury by m aking it possible for you to do things, such as w alk on a sprained ankle, th a t pain w ould have prohibited. So, by being a n overly m edicated society, w e have become a toxic society. It is estim ated th a t over 1 million people are sick and just not aware of it. Look at it this way: Beta blockers, channel blockers, calcium blockers— all these can interfere w ith phosphatidylcholine, a neces­ sary n eu ro tran sm itter going from the brain to the penis to allow an electrical charge th a t helps the m ale to get an erection. W h en it is no longer present, it becomes very difficult to have an erection. That is one of the m ain causes of impotence. We th e n take Viagra, w hich gives us nitric oxide as a gas for sm ooth m uscle contractibility, so th a t w e can engorge the penis w ith blood, instead of using arginine an d phosphatidylcholine, w h ich would do it naturally. W ith m edications, w e're not looking at n atu ral approaches to these conditions, w e're looking at proprietary approaches. If proprie­ tary approaches were nontoxic, th a t w ould be great. But there are serious side effects in each of these m edications. And the m ore drugs you take, the m ore side effects you have. W hat is never taken into account is the fact th at there is never a model in w hich a drug is given in a test w here all other drugs that the person could be exposed to are also given in a test to see w hat the effects are. It's a purely m athem atical theoretical model th a t if you take this drug and th at drug you m ight have this reaction. In

262

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

real life, it doesn't w ork th a t way— everyone's body composition is different. So again, we are toxic w ith medications. Alcohol, even in small am ounts, will destroy folic acid, B6, and B12. That, in turn, m akes you m ore susceptible to homocysteine, w hich is a greater predictor of h eart disease th a n cholesterol levels. We k n o w th a t hom ocysteine leads to the pathogenesis of the aging of the heart. We are now telling people to take alcohol for their heart w h e n there's no evidence th a t drinking helps. This belief was never based u p o n a real study. It was based u p o n a m athem atical model th at said th at because a small group of individuals w h o d ran k had less h eart disease or less of a specific type of heart disease, therefore they were protected by the alcohol. In point of fact, I read the sam e study and saw th a t it was not the alcohol, b u t rather the grapes themselves th a t gave the protec­ tion. It is the proanthasedicines, the bioflavonoids, the quercitin, and the antioxidants th a t protect the tissue from oxidative stress. Oxidative stress comes from norm al living, exercise, environ­ m en tal pollutants, foods, alcohol, smoking, low-level radiation, and electrom agnetic pulses. This oxidative stress proliferates free rad i­ cals and is the n u m b er-o n e cause of aging and disease. It, therefore, predisposes you to having an u n h e a lth y body. A lthough it m ay seem th a t way, ill h ealth doesn't h ap p en over­ night, an d th a t's the problem. The body has an am azing capacity to rejuvenate itself. You're experiencing a constant, tw enty-four-houra-day barrage of free radicals hitting your cells. And if the inside of the artery is getting m ultiple hits, you're creating an oxidative stress th a t leads to tiny lesions. These lesions are th e n healed, and part of the healing process involves the form ation of scabs. W hen this process occurs internally, such things as cholesterol, fats, and different types of lipids collect onto the scabbed areas, adhering and building plaque or scaling. This is frequently the initiation of the plaque, but instead of being reasonable and looking deeper at the problem, we look at w h a t was in the plaque. Then we say th at cholesterol is a prim ary ingredient in the plaque, i.e., cholesterol is the cause of atherosclerosis, a th in ­ ning of the passageway in the artery th rough m ajor occlusion. In truth, it is the lesion in the arterial wall and the original cause of th at lesion th at cause the problem.

How to Live Forever

263

Homocysteine can precipitate all that, and cholesterol is only one of the factors. In fact, free radicals are the prim ary cause. Alcohol consum ption causes free radicals. So, the very thing the so-called experts are saying will help us will not. W hat the research­ ers fail to m e n tio n is th at the incidence of cancer in those people in one area of France w h o said they were protected from heart disease w as actually higher. It's m u ch like telling a w o m a n to take Tomoxifin to prevent breast cancer, w h e n it's associated w ith a higher inci­ dence of endom etrial cancer. That's not a good trade-off, b u t th at's the reality. So, w e have to look at oxidative stress as our prim ary cause of disease, our n u m ber-one cause of prem ature aging. We have to do this every day. As I've already said, few people have a problem eating fifty french fries or three scoops of ice cream, b u t ask th e m to take three vitamins, and you w ould th in k they h ad been asked to tear out their hearts. "I've got to take all these? I w o n 't have any time to live." People will be ultraconservative about w h a t they do for their health, b u t extremely liberal— have no boundaries— in w h a t they do th a t prom otes disease and aging. It's insane. It should be just the opposite, but th at's not how we live. We're accustom ed to having all the things th a t are bad for us— the fried foods, red m eats, caffeine, carbonated drinks, highly processed foods— in our diets. We d o n 't w a n t to change. In fact, we use any excuse n o t to change, as if it's too m u ch effort to save our ow n lives. But it's not too m u ch effort to do things th a t are harm ful. I had to build into the protocol som ething th a t helps address th a t ques­ tion; hence, behavior modification is the backbone of this program. Through the early study groups, I found that, if you just gave a diet to people, they w o u ld n 't stick w ith it. If you just give antioxidents, they'll take th e m once in the m orning and forget to take th em the rest of the day. If you ju st give juices, w h e n you're enriching the body w ith chlorophyl and enzymes, maybe they'll juice occasionally, b u t they'll do anything to try to get out of it. "I don't have a juicer. I don't have organic products." Always an excuse. So, I'm showing you w h a t to do, and how effective it has been for the thousands of people w ho have participated in the studies th a t generated this protocol.

264

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

WHAT TO CUT DOWN ON The first step we m ust do is to become extremely aware of every­ thing around us. The vast assault on our systems is overwhelm ing and is getting worse every day, so it behooves us to develop a h e ig h t­ ened sensitivity to the environm ent. Increase your aw areness of no t only your health but the health of the planet. Some of the prim ary causes of aging th a t surround us— solvents (such as those in our cleaning products), form alde­ hyde (a chief preservative in cigarettes), the pesticides and herbi­ cides, the chemical additives and the bacteria in our foods all play a huge role in our overall well-being. There are endotoxins and yeasts and parasites in the m ost u n ­ likely places. W hen you drink tap water, you are allowing a stew of poison into your body— from the lead and other heavy metals leached from pipes and w ater m ains to bacteria and decay from or­ ganic m atter in the water. A nything th at is toxic th at goes into the body creates a body threshold. In other words, there is a limit as to ho w m u ch your body can accept of a toxic substance before som ething finally gives way. How m an y parasites can you take in? Parasites can live forever in your gut. Millions can be teem ing inside your intestines w ith o u t your being aware of them . Parasites d o n 't pass through the body. They latch on, eating into the mucosal lining of the stom ach and intestinal tract, and they set up house there. Everything th at's alive creates w aste products. The w aste m a tte r produced by parasites, like giardia lamblia, can get into the bloodstream, go to the brain, and cause w h at we call brain fatigue. I believe that the reason that m any people are so fatigued today is because they're so toxic. Their bodies have become overwhelmed by these toxic products. In addition, there are a lot of bacteria in the atm osphere. People are very cavalier. They'll pick up a piece of fruit, wipe it on their pants, and take a bite of it. W hen you ju st wipe any fruit or vegeta­ ble, all you do is sm ear any contam inants on the surface even more uniformly. You never clean anything by wiping it; you have to disin­ fect it, w ash it in a natural solvent that will remove bacteria, pesti­ cides, and other contam inants. Even organic produce should be cleaned, perhaps even more

How to Live Forever

265

th a n nonorganic foods, because organic fruits and vegetables are grow n in fertilizer m ade from m anure. Hence, coliform bacteria are present. W hen the rain hits the fertilized ground, these bacteria bounce up onto the produce. Someone harvests it and puts it in a box. That person has bacteria on his hands. Dozens of h a n d s— each w ith their ow n bacterial "gloves”— could touch that produce before you eat it. So, you m ay th in k it's “ safe” because a food is organic and n e ­ glect to w ash it. This is not good. Everything you eat should be w ashed, even sprouts. Everything you drink should be w ashed b e ­ fore it is juiced— zero exceptions. While there are several commercially m an u factu red vegetable w ashing liquids, you d o n 't have to h o u n d your health-food store or superm arket for them . This recipe, m ade from things you already have in your hom e, can be used to remove bacteria and other toxic m atter from fruits and vegetables.

SIMPLE SOLVENT 1 gallon filtered water lk cup hydrogen peroxide lk cup apple cider vinegar

Combine ingredients in a sink or basin. Soak fruits or vegetables in this solution for four to five m inutes to dissolve m aterial adhering to the plant surface. Agitate vigorously to lift the particles off the surface. Discard this solvent solution, th e n rinse vegetables in fil­ tered water.

WATCH—AND WASH—YOUR HANDS We think w e're being diligent, b u t w e're not. We handle doorknobs and m oney and hangers in subways. And we shake people's hands. Ju st spend an ho u r in traffic w atching how m an y orifices people can stick a finger into on their way to work. Then realize th at they're going to be touching doorknobs th a t you will be touching; handling m oney th at you're going to handle; shaking h an d s w ith you. And you're going to use the telephone or ATM they touched— th at stuff

266

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

doesn't just go away. Bacteria can live for long periods of times o u t­ side the h u m a n body, as can viruses and parasites. W hen I give a lecture to h u n d red s of people in an auditorium , I tell th em this story: If I put a petri dish on every seat in the au d ito ­ rium and, after spraying a nonpathogenic bacteria into my m outh, talk at a norm al conversational velocity while standing in front of the room, by tom orrow every single petri dish would be co n tam i­ nated. W hat you cannot see is that every time we talk, we each create a high velocity spray of saliva, w ith thousands upon th o u ­ sands of w ater molecules coming out of our m ouths. These microbecontam inated molecules can w aft around in the air for hours. You come into the space and inhale them . They go into your eyes, n o s­ trils, and m outh, thus getting into your system. If you are strong, if your im m u n e system has been very diligent and you have fed it the right nutrients, you can trap them and d e ­ stroy them before they m ake you ill. But w hat if you're the average person w ho's sick to begin with? You don't have a diligent im m u n e system. Now you come into an area w here a lot of people are talking. Think of all the different microbes floating around in the air. Think of being in an airplane w here they d o n 't have recycled air. The same air circulates through the plane's cabin, and you're breathing it the entire time you're on board. W hat if there is a passenger w ho has tuberculosis? It has been show n th at TB can be dispersed in an airplane. But, rem em ber, anything else that can be breathed can be dispersed as well. Once it's dispersed, it wafts around in the air. Now you've got that in your system. The problem is that we d o n 't take any of this into account. We think it's not im portant. After all, real m en don't get sick. Well, real m en die every day. Bacteria are a real factor to be reckoned with. You don't have to be obsessive-compulsive to have clean hands. Wash them often, or use a disinfectant h and rub th roughout the day. Simply put some in your palms and rub it around to cover your entire hands and fingers. It's not as m uch trouble as one would think. W henever you go into a b athroom — even at hom e— touch every­ thing, from doors to toilet handle to taps, w ith a paper towel. If this seems too bothersom e, just think about the other people w ho have used this facility. Someone walks over to the tap after having just used the toilet. They turn on the tap, w ash their hands, and turn off

How to Live Forever

267

the tap. Well, w ho was the person before th em w ho turned the tap on and off? W hen you turned on the tap, you contam inated it, too. Turning it off doesn't decontam inate it just because you w ashed your hands. It escapes me w h y we use so little com m on sense in this area. If you doubt me, take a culture off any of the faucets in any bathroom in America. Instead, use a paper towel to tu rn the faucet on and off, and open the door w ith it to further minimize your exposure to bacteria and other contam inants. We cannot be paranoid because we m u st co-exist, bu t we can take precautions. I'm just asking for a healthy caution to minimize the cum m ulative contam ination of the body, because, ultimately, bacteria will bring you down. Bacteria are pleomorphic, changeable. Bacteria from your gut can migrate to your lungs, your brain, and your liver. Parasites can migrate into the blood system, and they can be there for a very long time, doing harm , before you realize they are there. All the while, your body is creating local, focal infections. These infections tax the im m u n e system so th a t all the nutrients you consum e go to repair w here the body is damaged. In effect, they are used to extinguish these local brushfires th roughout your body. If you live like the average person w ith a deficient diet— full of excess fats, anim al proteins, sugars, bacteria, viruses, parasites— have m ercury fillings, and are exposed to pollutants from the air and water, th e n you have a whole body filled w ith these contam i­ n an ts that are m ore th a n the body's im m u n e system can handle. Then you start to show it externally w here before it only showed up internally. A gene th at is predisposed to balding, thinning, or gray­ ing is going to do exactly th at because there's nothing there in a b u n ­ dance to change the gene. It has exceeded the genetic threshold. Our processed diet is filled w ith food additives and preservatives. Never eat anything th at w o n 't go bad. That should tell you som e­ thing. W hat do you th in k those chemicals are doing to your system? There is no evolutionary m echanism to deal w ith food preservatives and additives, emulsifiers, plasticizers, foaming and antifoam ing agents, and texturizers. We have nothing it can be used for in our bodies— it is purely and simply a toxin. A small am o u n t of a toxin doesn't m ean th a t it isn't a toxin. And w h e n it joins up w ith the little bits of toxin from other sources, the result can be staggering. There's som ething called a pigmy rattlesnake. It's a tiny snake

268

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

w ith a tiny bite, b u t it has tons of toxins in its venom. It w o n 't necessarily kill you, as a larger rattlesnake could, bu t get bitten a few times and you will die. So, every time you have th at piece of processed w hite bread th a t you d id n 't th in k anything of, it's no big deal. But you are building up toxins. It's cumulative, because w hat the body can't use it tries to store and protect you from. U nfortu ­ nately, the body has only so m u ch storage room. One of the areas in w hich the body stores toxins is fat. Hence, the fatter you are, the m ore toxic you will be. I d o n 't care about your w eight per se, because being overweight in itself is not a primary indicator of aging, bu t since toxins are stored in fat, every m o m en t th at you're burning fat for fuel or dieting, you're actually flooding your body w ith herbicides, pesticides, and grow th-stim ulating h o r­ m ones stored in your fat tissue. It's like you have become a toxic d u m p site. As a rule, the leaner you are, the healthier you are. Ideally, w o m an should be about 12 to 14 percent body fat; m en, 7 to 10 percent body fat. If everyone had th a t kind of lean: fat ratio, w e'd be an enorm ously h ealthy nation.

OTHER FACTORS ASSAULTING OUR HV11V1UNE SYSTEMS If pesticides and pollutants w ere the only culprits wrecking your im m u n e system, that w ould be bad enough. However, no m atter how m u ch you detox your life, it will do you no good unless you also take positive and aggressive m easures to elim inate the huge influx of stress in your life. Stress is equal in its capacity to h a rm you as seriously as any environm ental pollutant w ith w hich we normally come into contact. It creates a cascade of powerful horm ones, including cortisol, epinephrine, and adrenaline. These are im portant factors necessary to a fight-or-flight response; however, they can be harm ful if not abated. The body cannot distinguish betw een merely having a bad day or being argum entative, thinking negative thoughts, and having negative em otions from an authentic, fight-or-flight situation, w hen

How to Live Forever

269

you are in danger. Your body cannot differentiate betw een the actual and the im agined in this regard, so it will respond as if it was being threatened. If you start a whole p u sh of these horm ones, you can be in this state all day. To put it an o th er way, as long as you are u n d er any anxiety, depression, fear, or anger, your body is in the death mode. You are prom oting horm ones that can destroy you. Think of how n e g a ­ tive, or angry, the average person often is. Any negative em otion creates negative horm ones. And it's instantaneous. That's w hy our thoughts are a very powerful part of the healing— or agereversal— proces s. Our thoughts are never neutral. Thoughts have power because you can only feel w h a t your thoughts create. You can only be happy if you th in k happy thoughts; sad if you th in k sad thoughts; angry if you th in k angry thoughts. Remember, the th o u g h t always precedes the emotion, bu t the process can be so fast th at you don't have time to stop and th in k about it. It is an autom atic, defensive, reactionary energy that comes right out like an emotional minefield ready to detonate. Someone steps on it and th e n boom—it explodes. Then you look around for justification. It was their fault; they m ade m e angry; I'm upset. But th at's not w h a t it's all about. So, if you w a n t to age, to kill yourself, if you w a n t to get cancer, arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, go ahead: Keep being negative. You're gambling on disease, and you'll get it. You will always w in an d get your disease if you're u n d e r continuous stress. It's not a m atter of if you'll get sick, it's a m atter of when. Under these conditions, u n d er w hich most of us operate every waking m o m en t of every day, you will absolutely, unequivocally, definitely, get sick. It's w hen, and to w h a t degree, it will m anifest th at is the question.

WHAT TO ACCENTUATE Let's start w ith som ething positive— let's start w ith w h at you can do about it. Start by becoming aware th at nothing should go into your body that doesn't heal or nourish it. Those are the only two reasons you should be eating or drinking anything: for nou rish m en t

270

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

and healing. Often we eat because w e're sad or anxious or because of a social event. While th at's not an excuse for eating foods th at are not nourishing, th at's exactly w h a t we do, and then m ake excuses for it. So, instead of excuses, let's m ake decisions. First, we w a n t to change the quality of our protein. We w an t protein from n o n an im al sources. Anim al sources are putrefying and disease-prom oting. Get your protein from nonflesh sources— grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes. Protein— especially from anim al sources— at every m eal is a m yth. We routinely eat far too m u ch protein. Unless we are very active or have a disease, we should consum e about 60 to 70 grams of protein— from any source— per day. The average person eats closer to 120 grams. The h u m a n body is not able to store protein, so it converts pro­ tein into fat. This process dehydrates the body and overtaxes the kidneys and the liver, m aking this an expensive and toxic w ay to get the fat the body needs for proper m etabolism . We should be eating things such as millet, buckw heat, brow n rice, spelt, rye, quinoa, raw vegetables and fruits of all types, tempeh, tofu, nuts, tubers— yams, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and crucif­ erous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower. And the only oil we should use in cooking is m acadam ia oil, because it's the only one th a t is heat stable. Canola oil, from n ew inform ation published recently, is not stable. As a result, it is potentially d an g er­ ous to your health. Use canola oil only in salad dressings, not in cooking. Virgin olive oil and flax seed oil should be used in salads or at the very end of cooking, w h e n the heat is down. In addition, you should have at least four glasses of mixed vege­ table juice per day and two glasses of fresh fruit juice per day, all organic. There are a lot of different vegetables and fruits to choose from. The heart of this anti-aging program is cleansing w ith juices. I found th at w h en I was taking all the right foods and supplem ents and exercising, my health still d id n 't improve. W hen I started juic­ ing, I noticed a difference. And w h e n I concentrated the juices with extra chlorophyll, that m ade the biggest difference . . . especially in my hair, which I found to be an indicator of my health and youth. Once w h en I was out on a tour in the M idwest and knew I

How to Live Forever

271

w o u ld n 't be able to get the healthy, organic foods I usually eat, I took several gallons of a vegetable powder th a t I had m ade at my ran ch in Texas. I had taken all m y fall harvest of vegetables and juiced them . I k n ew this guy w ho had a little apparatus th a t could dry this pow er­ ful liquid into a powder in a vacuum chamber. So th at's w h a t I did. While I was on the road, I d rank vegetable juice laced w ith this pow der th ro u g ho u t the day. Generally, it was carrot mixed w ith other fruits or vegetables. I kept throw ing a scoop of this pow der into some water. That's all I h ad for about twenty-five days. This som ew hat unorthodox diet gave m e enorm ous energy, and I felt really great. I was lecturing and doing m edia w ork nonstop day after day, traveling from city to city. Instead of being fatigued and w orn out, I was always raring to go. In fact, the day I returned hom e, I ran a 50k national cham pionship in Central Park. Over the n ext twelve weeks, I ran — and com pleted— five m a ra ­ thons. That's the kind of energy I had. I kept on taking this pow der in w ater several times a day, every day. Over the next fifty-seven weeks, I ran fifty-seven races and w o n every one. I was at the top of m y health. About four weeks after this, while sitting at m y desk and ru b ­ bing my forehead, I felt little bristles. Looking in the mirror, I n o ­ ticed new hair growth. Little dark brow n stubs were all over my head. This startled (and pleased!) me, and I started looking through m y hair. I realized th a t the gray, w hich I'd h ad since I was a te e n ­ ager, was no longer completely gray. The root, the tiny little base n ear the scalp, w as brown. I analyzed m y situation and realized th at the only thing th a t I had changed was th a t I w as adding the juice w ith the chlorophyll to m y diet. That's w h e n I realized th a t the key to detoxification was to flood the body w ith chlorophyll. Eating vegetables w a sn 't enough, b e ­ cause every time you eat a vegetable, only a relatively small a m o u n t of th a t chlorophyll gets into the body. M ost of it is indigestible fiber th a t goes in the stom ach and the intestines. Only the organic w ater th at's inside gets to come out and get into the blood. W hen you juice that, you get the full am ount, an d w h e n you increase its potency it by adding extra chlorophyll powder, you really concentrate the nutrients. I did an analysis, and I was eating the equivalent of one h u n d red

272

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

pounds of vegetables a day, but in juice and powder form. Then I started looking at different phytochem icals that prevent cancer, that repair DNA, th at help fight bacteria and viruses and fungi. I saw th at every single vegetable is loaded w ith anyw here from 75 to 200 phytochemicals. I pored through the literature and found out which phytochemicals do w hat. Then I realized that if these phytochem icals can repair DNA, they can not only clean the body but also help to stall aging. I started loading up on the phytochem icals from the vegetables and fruits that were specific for DNA repair. As a result, w rinkles th at I ac­ quired from sun exposure w ere gone. My skin became sm ooth, and my nails were very pink and growing very fast. Then I started m easuring my hair. It had slowed dow n its growth, from about three inches per m o n th to about a quarter inch per m onth. However, w ithin eight m o n th s I had a whole new head of hair. M ind you, I did everything else the same. I exercised, did stress m an ag em en t, had air and w ater purifiers in my apartm ent, had hardw ood floors and natural cotton sheets. All that I've been doing for years. The only thing th a t had changed was the addition of th at powder. So w h en people ask m e how I am able to work tw enty-tw o hours a day, I tell th em it's because I'm "no n to x ed ." That's the m ost crucial part. If you're emotionally toxic, you're going to be tired. You're going to require m ore sleep, more rest ju st to live. And if you're physically toxic, too, you're going to be even more tired. If you're emotionally and physically toxic, you have a real body burden, and an emotional burden that you have to unload first. W hen you get that all cleaned up so you're not worrying about your previous obsessions, you have cleared the way for exuberance and glowing health. It's like an alba­ tross that's been lifted from around your neck— you can really feel the lightness of your life, and always rem em ber, health is light. You can breathe, you can move, you can glow. And the juices are w hat does it. About ten years ago, a lot of Americans began buying juice ex ­ tractors, but they didn't use them . The pattern was, they'd use them once and then thought it was w ay too m uch work. They'd put their juicers away, after promising themselves that they'd just buy a gal­ lon of juice once a week and th at'd do the trick. However, they soon found themselves right back in their old patterns, and nothing su b ­

How to Live Forever

273

stantive h ad changed. It's like we get on these little health jags and th en go off of them . If you stick w ith the juicing, th at's just the beginning. But if you d o n't juice, n othing else will help, because it w o n 't be as effective. In fact, you w o n 't have beg u n the process of cleansing. You'll get the bacteria and parasites out of your body b e ­ cause the phytochemicals— especially from the m u stard family— are also antiparasitic. And once they go in, they start repairing the DNA. Say you drank at one point, and your liver is damaged. Juicing will definitely help to repair that. I've worked w ith a lot of recover­ ing alcoholics and helped th em repair their dam aged livers. Regular, organic juicing and antioxidants th roughout the day is the real epi­ center of the program. It's a n atu ral process of purification all the time. Ju st being around happy people m akes you feel good, and being around negative people brings you down. One makes you feel drained and tired, while the other m akes you feel good and en er­ gized. It's the same w ith food. You have a cup of coffee, and you get a tem porary boost before you crash. In contrast, you have juice, and it glides right up and keeps you up. You have to realize th at the average American has tons of toxins in his intestines. They are loaded w ith pounds and pounds of debris th a t shouldn't be there in the first place— it's putrefying. And if you th in k it's bad w h e n th at quarter pound or half pound of w aste comes out of you, imagine how bad it is w h e n it's still in you. That's w h a t's cleaned out w ith the juicing. You clean your intestines m ore th a n you ever th o u g h t possible. Added to the juice, we should take aloe vera. Aloe vera is the single m ost healing of all the herbs. It's anti-cancer, anti-parasistic, an d it repairs DNA. It protects us from viruses and bacteria. Every tim e I take juice, I take aloe, and it m akes a big difference. You should drink at least a gallon of purified w ater a day. Most of us drink only at m ealtim e an d w h e n w e're noticibly thirsty. Wrong. You can develop a habit of not drinking w ater and walk around being 66 or 67 percent water, instead of 74 percent, w hich is w h a t your body needs. W hen you d o n 't have the w ater in you, you w o n 't ever have the energy you need. The very first thing I do to get people's energy up is to increase the am o u n t of w ater in their diet. Immediately, their energy goes up.

274

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

W hen som eone has dem entia, the first thing I do is give them lots of cold w ater all day, every day. About three weeks later, I start to sec their dem entia dissipate because they have rehydrated their brains. Unfortunately, your brain actually shrinks as you dehydrate. By drinking lots of pure water, you get better neuron activity and better cellular chemistry, and you're able to detoxify the cells with water. A rem inder: I am recom m ending that you drink w ater in addition to the fruit and vegetable juices suggested as part of this protocol. You th en need to increase the nutrients, like B complex, vitam in B12, and vitam in C. The am o u n t of vitam in C needed will be different for each person. If you go out in the sun, you need more vitam in C because the sun causes free radical dam age. W hen you've been in a stressful situation, you need m ore vitam in C, w hich is very im por­ tant, as is alhpalipeic acid. Evening primrose oil nourishes joints and the im m u n e system. Garlic is a great detoxifier, especially w h e n taken at bedtime. About 2,000 mg is needed, and will work overnight to lower blood pres­ sure, lower cholesterol, and cleanse parasites as well as harm ful Can­ dida and bacteria out of the intestines. Ginkgo biloba feeds the brain by increasing circulation to the brain and scalp. Then you have acetyl carnitine, and phosphytidyl serine for the brain; DHEA, our m aster horm one, and glutathione, w hich protects cells, especially the eyes and the brain cells. There are really only two antioxidants in the brain— m elatonin and glutathione. Both are crucial to help the brain stay fit. Other im portant nutrients include calcium /m agncsium from ci­ trate; curcum in, w hich is from tumeric; green tea; potassium; licopene, from vegetables; bee propolis, which is a natural antibiotic; acidophilus; astragalus; boron for your bones; brom aline for diges­ tion; genostine to protect against cancer; quercitin for bruising, cap­ illary strength, lowering cholesterol, helping your heart, and declogging your arteries; DMAE at 100 mg; NAC; and cleansing herbs, like apple pectin, burdock root, dandelion root, hibiscus, gotu kola, chrysanthem um , pepperm int, licorice, Oregon grape root, red clover, and fo-ti. One thing you have to do is to completely avoid all refined sug­ ars, except for raw honey. In addition, do not eat foods containing yeast, MSG, dairy, caffeine, or chocolate. Stay away from w heat,

How to Live Forever

275

m eat, chicken, fried foods, food additives, preservatives, coloring agents, artificial sweeteners, and artificial flavors. M agnetic therapy can also be used to help. I've seen four th o u ­ sand Gauss m agnets placed at the base of the head to not only stim ­ ulate hair growth, but to help balance m ood swings as well. More m elatonin is produced because the m agnets pulsate into the pineal gland, allowing the brain to produce m ore m elatonin. The m elatonin helps fight cancer and depression and protects the brain. That's just some of w h a t it does. Leave the m agnet in place for about an h o u r and it will do the job. In addition, exercise aerobically for at least forty-five m inutes to one hour each day, six days a week, to increase circulation and re ­ move toxins from your musculoskeletal system. Try power walking, stair-climbing, jum ping rope, jogging, or heavy biking— m eaning in heavy, not light, gear— anything, as long as it's fun. Weight training will further tone your body and cleanse your system. The last m ajor com ponent in detoxifying the body, m ind, and spirit is behavior modification. It doesn't do a whole lot of good to get healthy if you d o n 't know w h o you are, or if you continue in the same toxic, or negative, behavior patterns. You need to u n d erstan d how to honor your life and feel good about it. This is not the same as w orking hard at feeling good. You shou ld n 't have to w ork hard to feel good; th a t should come as a n atu ral process of honoring w h o you are. And if you have to work on honoring w h o you are, th e n w h a t you're honoring is not w ho you really are, because the process shouldn't be forced. So, we work on th at and we have a whole protocol for behavior modification, a protocol for stress m anagem ent, a protocol for exer­ cise, and a protocol for eating.

DEALING WITH THOSE WHO TRY TO SUBVERT YOU Ju st as we m u st flesh the poisons from our physical bodies, it is also essential that we purge the toxic people, places, and things from our lives if we are to be. Think of people in relationships. Like the w o m an in one of my

276

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

health support groups was in an abusive relationship. Her identity, her very being, was tied up in this grueling, toxic relationship. In fact, she confessed to the group, this was only the most recent in a long line of toxic m en into her life for the past ten years. That p re­ vents her from getting on w ith her life. Think of how m any times yaw have m ade an excuse for someone else's toxic, negative behavior. No doubt you felt you were redeem ­ ing yourself through suffering by acting as caregiver, know ing that the other person would then create a co-dependent relationship w ith you. A toxic co-dependency never becomes positive. You're only going to get hurt. And the o ther person's not going to change if you're going to be responsible for them . If you're going to cook their food and give them a free hom e and free clothing, then w hy should they change? You m ust choose to m ake the break. In short, you m ust choose to detox your life and elim inate the poisonous relationships in your life. Granted, there are some people— parents and siblings, for op en ­ ers— w ho cannot be completely removed from your life. It's up to you, however, to limit your contact w ith these people, both in fre­ quency and duration. It's not as difficult as you might imagine, once you put your m ind to it.

DETOXING YOUR HOME As you've no doubt gathered, detoxification involves far more than ridding your body of as m any poisons as possible and elim inating the toxic relationships in your life. T w entieth-century en v iro n m en ­ tal toxins are an unavoidable reality, especially for those w ho live in densely populated urban areas. No one will consciously drink w ater from a polluted river. Nor will they willingly expose themselves to asbestos or lead-based paint or chemical fumes w ithout taking ha/.ardous-materuils precautions. The obvious pollutants are easily avoided. It is, however, the chronic, day-in, day-out exposure to small toxins that do us in. In the process of protecting ourselves from the insidious pres­ ence of dangerous m aterials around us, we m ust be rigorous in m o n ­ itoring the toxins that surround us in less obvious ways.

How to Live Forever

277

The "sick building"— or "sick ho u se "— is a relatively recent con­ cept. Building materials and m ethods used in construction have changed considerably since World War II. Energy-efficient hom es an d office buildings built during the energy crisis of the seventies have heavy insulation and m in im u m ventilation to the outside. Air is recycled th ro u g h heating and air conditioning systems th a t are rarely infused w ith fresh air, m eaning w e are breathing the same germ-filled air day after day after day. Ironically, if th a t heating an d air conditioning system goes on the blink, there is no w ay to open w indow s and let in fresh air. Back in the early seventies, a friend of m ine worked on the thirty-fifth floor of a b ran d -n ew office tower in m idtow n M an h attan . In late April, tem peratures rose into the high seventies, m aking indoor tem peratures close to unbearable. The heating and air conditioning system of the building h ad not yet been converted to sum m er mode, so it could not be used for cooling. My friend's employer threatened to throw his desk chair th rou g h the wall of glass th at provided his office w ith a glorious view of Central Park if the building's engineer d id n 't rectify the problem. Not surprisingly, a w eek later the b uild­ ing owner sent around a m em o offering to install "portholes" in the exterior walls to allow "in d ep en d en t ventilation." Materials used in construction, as well as the furnishings— carpeting, fabrics, furniture— are often m ore convenient, cheaper, lighter, m an -m ad e com ponents u n h e a rd of in pre-w ar buildings. Particle board, w hich is so useful in m o d e m construction and fu rn i­ ture, is a silent tim e bomb, giving off invisible, odorless—but no less dangerous—vapors m an y years after it is installed. Form aldehyde is a m ajor culprit in the m odern hom e or office building. Particle board; n ew synthetic carpets, draperies, and u p ­ holstery fabrics; insulation; m an y interior paints and even perm anent-press fabrics can give off this invisible gas. In its gas form, form aldehyde— the very same com pound th at preserved those earthw orks and other specimens you dissected in high school biol­ ogy— is invisible and, unless in high concentrations, odorless. Its vapors can cause burning eyes, headaches, and even m ore serious sym ptom s such as asth m a and depression. Combustion heating appliances, using n atu ral gas, oil, coal, k er­ osene, and even wood, create by-products th a t are potentially toxic. While expensive, electrical heat and air conditioning are safest.

278

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

While moving or completely rebuilding your hom e or changing your place of em ploym ent m ay not be possible, you can still take steps to detoxify your surroundings. • Remove all gasoline, pesticides, fungicides, herbicides and fer­ tilizers, paints and thinners . . . everything th at w ould vapor­ ize and seep into your house . . . from your attached garage or basem ent. • Seal off any ducts or vents betw een your garage and house. • W hen working in your garden or lawn, remove your shoes before coming indoors. • If you're working w ith chemicals, im m ediately w ash your w ork clothes so th at the co n tam inents are not carried into your home. • Seal off exterior walls and do everything possible to minim ize m oisture in your basem ent. This dam pness is enough to su p ­ port a healthy grow th of m old that can perm eate your home. A forced-air heating system can carry spores th ro u g h o u t your hom e. • Be aware of ferm ented foods, including m ushroom s, th at can cross-react w ith air-borne mold spores th at can trigger allergic reactions. • Take care th at your kitchen is thoroughly vented to prevent build-up of gas burn-off from stoves and pilot lights. • M ake sure your microwave oven is not leaking; a defective microwave creates u n h ealth y conditions w ith in eight feet. • M ake sure there are no freon leaks from your fridge. • Discard all alum inum -based cookware. • Do not use alu m in u m foil in cooking; it can oxidize m icro­ scopic am ounts of the m etal into your food. Foil is safe to use w h en storing cooked foods. • Do not use Teflon or other nonstick cookware; it can easily get into your food and body. • Discard all am m onia-based cleansers. It's very toxic. • Invest in a negative ionizer to elim inate airborne toxins— mold spores, dust, cigarette smoke, hydrocarbons, pet hair and dander, positive ions— in your home. • Use distilled w ater in your humidifier; otherwise m ineral d e ­ posits from the w ater will end up on your carpet, floor, and furniture.

How to Live Forever

279

• Use plants— especially leafy green, nonflowering varieties th at d o n 't produce pollen— to improve air quality in your home. They're natural air purifiers! • Use full-spectrum lightbulbs in your hom e to provide the same quality of light as n atu ral sunlight. This nurtures and improves the condition of the hypothalam us in the brain. • Have your hom e heating system inspected and repaired if nec­ essary, to m ake certain there are no leaks of fuel and fumes. • Clean up the clutter in your life— the garage, the kitchen, your closets and dressers, your car, your office. Dust mites thrive in a paper- and clutter-filled environm ent. So do disease-carry­ ing insects like cockroaches and rodents. Terry C., w ho lives on Long Island, one of the participants in the studies th a t gave rise to this protocol, confided th a t detoxifying all aspects of her life was not w ith o u t obstacles. "The next obstacle [after dealing w ith caring for her elderly m o th er and expanding the ways th at she cared for her ow n body] was to not let people ru n m y life and m ake m e do w h a t I d o n 't care to do. I k n o w it sounds sim ­ ple, bu t I ju st say no. It's just as simple as that, and it m akes a world of difference. In the past, negative com m ents by others w ould always lower w h a t I tho u g h t of myself (feeling th a t I was not good enough or w orthy enough). By exam ining the conditioned beliefs about myself and n o w know ing th a t the com m ents come from their fears and not m ine, the arrows of em otional h u rt do not hit their target. This has contributed to m y staying m ore on an even course of being happy during the day. "The clutter obstacle is a tough one. I keep picking at it and, bit by bit, things have changed. I threw out all the carpeting— I am allergic to dust, mites, and m old— and I now have bare wood floors. The basem ent is alm ost em pty and the garage is next. While typing this, I am sitting n ext to bags of blankets I am giving to a personal aide to the m other of a friend w ho is poor. I am treating this cleanup like a m arathon, and I know th at I cannot stop until all of this useless stuff is gone." Terry continues: "H ow do I see myself now ? I see myself as a person w ho w ants to continue to help other people but w ith o u t h a v ­ ing me, as a person, become suffocated by it. I w a n t helping others to be a part of my life, not all of it. I w a n t to experience as m uch as I can and enjoy the excitem ent of the world, to learn new things, and to be healthy and continue to grow."

YOU’RE AS YOUNG AS YOU MOVE

V

9 THE BENEFITS OF EXERCISE

ou m ay eat the m ost nutritious foods, swear off cigarettes and alcohol, and th in k only positive thoughts, bu t if you d o n 't exer­ cise, I guarantee th at you will never reach the state of optim um health you seek. Exercise does not promise you eternal youth, b u t if your body is not moving, you are not alive. Quality of life is an im portant issue to m any people as they get older. W hat w e enjoyed in our youth no longer interests us— staying up all night listening to loud rock music is just not exciting anymore. But unless we m ake a conscious effort to choose and improve the quality of our experiences, we have a tendency to fall into predictable ruts th a t dull our senses and put our brains on autom atic pilot. We become complacent, and bored . . . and a bored person is boring, especially to ourselves. One way out of this predicam ent is to increase our body awareness and viability. The only way to do this is to exercise.

Y

THOW EXERCISE HELPS YOU RIGHT NOW Fitness is a lifelong com m itm ent. The physical benefits of getting fit and staying th at way are num erous. Exercise firms muscles, strengthens the heart and lungs, improves blood circulation, builds strength and endurance, burns off excess calories, strengthens

283

284

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

bones, limbers up the joints, improves digestion, and relieves consti­ pation. If you are starting on a program to lose weight, all this may not be as im portant as being able to deflate th a t spare tire. It's easy to think of exercise as merely a way to control one's flab. While th a t is im portant, it doesn't get to the essence of w hy you w a n t to change your life th ro u g h exercise. M ake no m istake about it: Regular exercise will dramatically alter you in ways you m ight not im agine w h e n you do those first few push-ups or ru n th a t first mile. In the beginning, simply m aking a co m m itm ent and sticking to it is an incredible accom plishm ent for m an y people. The act of, say, jogging three times a week, is an intense adjustm ent to make. M a k ­ ing th at promise to yourself to jog, th e n getting up and actually doing it and keeping your promise, is a w onderful thing. If exercise did nothing else, it w ould confirm your sense of self-worth by this alone. But this viewing of exercise as a strictly m echanical act is at the heart of w hy m ost exercise program s fail after a few m onths. In setting up m y program, I found th a t w h e n people saw exer­ cise as a strictly physical p h e n o m o n e n w ith no m en tal or spiritual com ponent, they were unwilling to continue their exercise program after their initial reasons for doing it in the first place h ad been met. If you've doing aerobics to lose weight, and th e n you lose the weight, th at's great. However, unless you are willing and able to change your whole paradigm of ho w you view yourself and your universe, it is unlikely th a t you will keep up any exercise program for m ore th a n a few m onths.

HOW EXERCISE HELPS YOU OVER THE LONG HAUL: THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL BENEFITS Even if you have not been able to do an exercise program before, you know the benefits of m aking a co m m itm ent and sticking to it. In doing so, you feel good about yourself, you feel em powered, and you feel th at you have control over your life to a degree th at you m ay not have had before. These things are adm irable goals, and certainly can be accomplished th rough the practice of regular exer­ cise.

You're as Young as You Move

285

Physically, regular exercise will increase your body's im m u n e system, so you will be ill less often. Over tim e your sleeping habits will improve. You will feel m ore rested w ith less sleep, because the rest you get will be deeper. You will have more energy and be less susceptibile to injury. In addition, you will have a lower risk of some degenerative diseases such as heart disease, colon cancer, and breast cancer. Stronger bones— a particular need for w o m en to fend off osterporosis—will occur. And your heart and lungs will be m u ch m ore efficient. Stress will be more effectively m anaged, and you will have m uch less anxiety. All this is wonderful, and if exercise just did these things alone, it w ould be w o rth it. However, the m ain benefits as I see th em are to your spirit and self-image. How m any of us are living the lives we really w a n t to live? Doing w h a t we really w a n t to do, w ith our whole heart, our whole m ind? The discipline of exercise gives us internal rew ards that go far b e ­ yond the ability to ru n a mile in five m inutes. In our exercise programs, we learn to differentiate betw een w h a t others expect of us and w h a t we expect of ourselves. W hen we ru n or swim or skate merely to look good to others, w e are only skim ­ m ing the surface of how truly transform ing our program s can be for our spiritual growth. W hen we do the same things for ourselves, because we learn about w h o we are and w h a t our place is in the universe, we reap rewards far beyond breaking records or w inning trophys. We connect w ith our deepest selves, tuning in to both the positive and the negative aspects of w ho we truly are. As you do your exercises, ask yourself: W ho am I doing this for? And w hy? I think you will find th at a host of false images will first come to m ind. Maybe you're doing an activity to lose weight, to gain m u s ­ cles, or to increase your aerobic capacity. Great. That in itself is a d ­ mirable. But w h a t if you changed your perspective of w hy you exercise? It has been said th at a novice sets goals to attain goals, but a m aster sets goals to illum inate his way along the p ath of life. In exercise, it truly is the journey, not the destination, that counts. W hen we dig deeper into ourselves, we come to realize th at all life is connected, and th at we simply do not have to be anything other th a n w ho we are. That in itself is a source of illumination. How m any things do you find yourself doing to please others' false expec­

286

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

tations of you? I th in k if you were to add them all up, you'd have a pretty long list. W ith a truly intergrated exercise program, you set goals to expe­ rience levels of achievem ent, to be sure. But the real achievem ents are always of the spirit. W hen you love w h a t you're doing, there is no separation betw een w h o you are and w ho you say you are. A good exercise program th at feeds your spirit as well as your muscles will give you that, and more. Consider w h a t K rishnam urti said: "Real life is doing som ething you love to do w ith your whole being." W hen you do that, there will be no contradiction betw een w h a t you are doing and w h at you w a n t to be doing.

AEROBICS, AN AEROBICS, AND OTHER “ ICS” : WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? Simply put, aerobic exercise increases your heart rate. This in turn increases your blood circulation, w hich brings m ore oxygen to your muscles. Exercises th a t involve steady, rhythm ic m otions of your major muscle groups and b u rn oxygen for m ore th a n a brief spurt are considered aerobic because they force your heart and lungs to work at anyw here from 60 to 85 percent of their capacity. Running is a good exam ple of an aerobic exercise. An anaerobic exercise isolates the m ovem ent of muscles but doesn't add any extra oxygen to the blood. Isometrics or weight lifting are good examples of anaerobic exercises. They were designed to increase muscle size and strength, but not to necessarily to help oxygenate your blood.

10 WARMING IIP AND COOLING DOWN

EASE INTO YOUR WORKOUT No m atter w h at your chosen sport, no exercise program should begin w ith o u t a w arm -up. Ju st a few m inutes of light activity gets your muscles loosened and, m ost importantly, w arm ed up so th at you m ay exercise m ore vigourously w ith o u t fear of injury. By doing this, your body does w arm up in the truest sense of the w ord— increased activity starts the blood flowing to the muscles and your body begins to feel bo th m ore alive and m ore relaxed. Most sports authorities agree: a good w arm -up, one th at lasts at least ten m inutes, does help prevent injuries. One w ay to do this is to do som ething th a t will m ake you sweat, bu t not tire you out— after all, this is ju st the w arm up, not the whole program! You can take a brisk walk, ride a stationary bike, do push-ups, or sit-ups— anything th a t will m ake you break a light sweat. Then, follow this w ith stretches and, after that, ten m inutes of any easy perform ance of the activity in question. As you get into better and better shape, it is tem pting to think th a t you no longer need to do any w arm -u p activities. After all, you've been w orking out a while no w and feel confident about y our­ self. While confidence is vital as a m ental construct for success, it will not replace the actual activity of w arm ing up. W h en you do your beginning w arm -u p exercises, the muscles are saturated w ith blood, and this increases their elasticity. In this way, the muscles, tendons, and ligaments can take a m ore intense level of strain w ithout injury. 287

288

Gary Null's yltimate Anti-Aging Program

In addition, quite a few im p o rtan t changes occur during the w arm -u p process. As you w arm up the muscles and flex the joints, the strength and speed of muscle contractions improve, w hich allows th em to perform to their full range of motion. In addition, you also conserve energy, and therefore can exercise longer because it takes less energy to produce the necessary m ovem ents. Your blood becomes th in n er and flows m ore easily. This m eans th at it can get n u trien ts to the muscles m ore quickly, and therefore the removal of w aste products such as lactic acid th a t m ay cause cram ping are also removed m ore quickly. Here are some stretches to get you started. Take your time, and relax. It is im portant to do these prelim inary exercises slowly. Re­ m em ber, your muscles are going to be tighter w arm ing up th a n they will be in the cool-down phase of the program . Stretching should take five to ten m inutes. 1. To stretch your arms: hold one arm straight out from your side, keeping it level w ith your shoulder. M ake a circle by lifting your arm straight up, th e n lowering it to your side. Then hold your arm out again. Swing it across your chest as far as you can, b u t not to the point of being uncomfortable. Hold your arm straight out in front of you, bending your elbow in a right angle w ith the palm toward the floor. W ith ­ out moving your upper arm, move your forearm straight up in the air and th e n straight dow n again. Do this three times in a row; th e n do it on the other side. 2. To stretch your back: Stand w ith your legs apart about two feet. Raise your arm s straight above your head, keeping th em even. Gently and slowly lean your head back approxim ately four inches, or to your comfort level. Reach for the sky, stretching your shoulder muscles as m uch as possible. Hold for at least five seconds, longer, if possible. Keep your b re a th ­ ing slow and steadily w hile doing this. Relax, lower your arms, then repeat the process two to five times. 3. To stretch your legs: Stand up straight and balance yourself w ith your h an d against a wall or a chair. Bend one knee, grasp the ankle, and gently pull the leg up and back. Hold for five seconds or longer. Release and relax. Repeat on the other side.

You're as Young as You Move

289

It is im portant to breathe norm ally during these w arm -ups. Never hold your b reath w h e n you stretch. Do these exercises slowly, gently, and gradually. Never bounce— a strong, fluid m otion is your goal. Stretch fully, but always well w ith in your comfort level. You m ay stretch to the point w here you can feel some resistance, but not pain. If you feel any pain or discomfort, stop immediately.

THE LOW-DOWN ON COOL-DOWNS M ost experts agree th at a cool-down is even m ore im portant th a n a w arm -up. Even th o u g h you m ay th in k you d o n 't need it, but you do, and here's why: A five-minute cool-down: 1. Allows the heart rate to slow dow n gradually. It is very d a n ­ gerous to suddenly stop after vigorous exercise like jogging. Deaths involving joggers are rare, bu t w h e n it happens, you usually find that the ru n n e r didn't do a lengthy cool-down and th e n w e n t into cardiac arrest. 2. It significantly reduces th e build-up of lactic acid, w hich causes cramps, sore muscles, and pain. Even if you feel okay at the time, your body still has not gotten rid of all the waste products produced by exercising, such as lactic acid. That's w h y you frequently feel so sore the day after vigorous exer­ cise— the lactic acid is still in your muscles. 3. It prevents blood from pooling in the legs. Again, joggers come to m ind. After a h ard run, you have so m u ch blood pooling in your legs, combined w ith great am ounts of a d re n a ­ line coursing through your body. This affects the heart, som e­ times fatally. The easiest solution is to simply keep moving for about five to ten m inutes. Nothing strenous; just walk around for a bit. That will do the trick.

V

11 THE POWER OF AEROBICS

n constructing a n exercise program, you m u st ascertain the opti­ m u m heart-rate levels you w a n t to reach during the exercise p e ­ riod. I recom m end th at aerobic exercises be perform ed three to five days per week. During a fifteen- to sixty-m inute exercise period, a healthy p er­ son's heart rate (the n u m b e r of beats per m in u te) should equal 60 to 90 percent of his or her m a x im u m rate. This rate depends on his or her age. To determ ine this m a x im u m rate, simply subtract your age from the n u m b e r 220. The result is the m ost n u m b e r of times th a t your heart should ever beat per m inute. Highly conditioned athletes m ay add an o th er 10 percent. For the purposes of aerobic w orkouts, however, you m u st establish a 60 to 90 percent "target range" of this m a x im u m rate— and then stay w ith in that range. Anything less th a n 60 percent will not tax the heart enough to produce results; anything in excess of 90 percent could prove too strenuous. A healthy forty-year-old, for example, w ould calculate his or her m ax im u m rate and target range as follows:

I

Maximum rate:

220 - 40 = 180 Low target:

60 percent of 180 = 180 =

X

60

100

= 108 290

You're as Young as You Move

291

High target:

75 (MAX) percent of 180 = 180 =

X

90

100

= 162

YA GOTTA HAVE HEART During the course of exercising, use your pulse count to determ ine w h e th e r your heart rate is w ith in the target range. Your wrist or tem ple will provide the m ost accurate pulse reading. Do not use the carotid artery in your neck because the rate m ay slow dow n w h e n you press on this artery. If your pulse rate is a bit high during the exercise period, either do the exercises m ore slowly or use less vigor­ ous m otions to lessen your energy output; if your pulse is too low, exercise a little h arder to increase it. By exercising regularly, you will decrease your resting rate b e ­ cause the heart begins to operate m ore efficiently, pum ping more blood w ith fewer strokes. The average resting pulse rate for m e n is 80; for w om en, 72. For those in good condition, the resting rate is often m uch lower. As your conditioning improves and your resting rate lowers, you will have to exercise harder to reach your target range. After you stop exercising, the a m o u n t of time it takes your heart to return to its resting rate provides a good indication of fitness. Take your pulse as soon as you stop and every few m inutes after that. Then judge your recovery rate according to these guidelines: six to eight m inutes indicates good condition; eight to ten m inutes indicates fair condition; m ore th a n ten m inutes indicates poor con­ dition. Eventually, it should take less time to recover, providing you w ith m easurable evidence of fitness improvements. The cardiovascular benefits of aerobic w ork are greatest during the first tw enty to thirty m inutes of exercise. Beyond that, you still benefit, but to a lesser degree. Therefore, the best approach is to m ain tain a regular schedule th at gets your heart rate into the target area for thirty m inutes at least three times a week. Realize that skip­ ping a few days of running w o n 't disrupt the program, but skipping a couple of weeks will. You get a great deal of energy by exercising the first thing in the

292

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

m orning. To determ ine ho w energetically you should exercise on any given m orning, take your pulse before you get out of bed and com pare it to your average aw akening rate. (This can be determ ined by taking your pulse im m ediately upon aw akening each m orning for a w eek and th en dividing the total by seven.) Go easy if the rate is two to three beats faster per m in u te th a t day; avoid aerobic exer­ cise totally if the rate is five to six beats faster. W hen the rate ex ­ ceeds the n o rm by th a t am o u n t, it m eans the body is already stressed.

BREEZING THROUGH BREATHING Aerobic exercise prom otes a series of events in the body th a t deliver large am o u n ts of oxygen to the muscles. This process begins w ith the respiratory system, w hich delivers oxygen to the blood as you move. The blood th en carries oxygen and fuel to millions of body cells. As your muscles b u rn this oxygen and release energy, they alternately tense and relax. For the muscles to receive this oxygen, the respiratory and circu­ latory systems m u st be able to deliver it to the blood. This process th e n works in reverse to elim inate such w aste gases as carbon diox­ ide. First the gases move from the muscles to the blood, and th en to the lungs, w here they are released from the body. W hen you do aerobic exercises on a regular basis, this process operates m ore effi­ ciently, w hich in tu rn helps your heart operate at its m ax im u m performance. One of the first things to do in this process is to visualize. That m ay not sound im portant, but m an y professional athletes have a t­ tributed their w inning perform ances to this. As you breathe, im ag ­ ine your lungs filling slowly w ith light. Inhale to the m ax im u m and th e n release the air while seeing all your stress and cares leave you w ith each exhalation.

JUMPING RIGHT IN—TEN FUN AEROBIC CHOICES Not every aerobic w orkout has to be in a mirror-filled gym w ith a hyperactive instructor w ho looks like an anim ated Barbie doll or an

You're as Young as You Move

293

intense dancing athlete. Here are ten forms of exercise th a t provide aerobic benefits w ith little need for equipm ent or, in some cases, special skills. Best of all, they're fun, w hich m akes it more likely th a t you'll do them . After all, thinking about going for a long run, or planning to go for a bicycle ride, does not tone muscles, get your blood flowing, an d provide the benefits of the ru n or the ride. W A L K IN G

One of the m ain benefits of w alking is its mobility. Other th a n a good pair of shoes, you need no equipm ent, and it can be done a n y ­ w here you are. This is particularly good for those w hose jobs include a great deal of travel and are concerned about disrupting their exer­ cise routine. A gentle form of cardiovascular exercise, people of all ages and all levels of conditioning can do it. It does take some tim e to get the greatest cardiovascular results. It w ould take ninety m inutes of w alking to achieve the same aerobic benefits offered by a thirtym in u te run. However, the stress on your joints is m u ch lower, and the chances of injury are minimized. It is im p o rtan t to realize th a t exercise places m arked dem ands on the body's metabolism. The heart rate increases as you begin. This in tu rn increases the circulation of blood, oxygen, and nu trien ts to all of the body tissues. As your muscles contract and relax, you utilize minerals, such as m agnesium , calcium, and potassium. The longer you exercise, the greater a m o u n t of oxygen is deliv­ ered to the tissues, and the m ore you depend on oxygen for energy production. This explains why, if you've been exercising regularly and you miss a few days, you'll feel tired. Your body has gotten used to operating at peak efficiency an d is depleted from the lack of oxy­ gen it has been used to. Before you start, be sure to take your pulse. W hen you walk, use a rhythm ic gait th a t takes the foot from heel to toe and allows your arm s to swing naturally. Don't shove your h an d s dow n into your pockets or press your elbows close to your sides. Let th em swing freely. It is im portant not to carry anything th at will unbalance your body or add extra weight. Walk tw enty to thirty m inutes on three to five days a w eek for the first couple of weeks. Every two or three weeks after that, in ­

294

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

crease the tim e by 10 percent until you have reached ninety m in ­ utes. Each tim e you w alk gradually build up to your target heart rate and th e n hold your pace. Check your pulse every ten m in u tes or so. Be sure to slow down if you feel tired, or even stop and rest; th e n slowly build back up to your norm al pace. Of course, the best place to walk is in the country. N ature is the m ost effective tranquilizer going. However, if you can't do that, go to your local park and walk. Always choose grass or even bare dirt over concrete. If the w eath er is bad, you can walk in the hallways of your ap a rtm en t building or inside your house.

R U N N IN G

The benefits of ru n n in g are trem endous. Runners seldom have pro b ­ lems keeping their w eight down, as it is a highly effective form of aerobic exercise. In addition, the h eart's h ealth is vastly increased by the influx of oxygen-rich blood due to increased circulation. Your im m u n e system is improved, and your m usculoskeletal system is strengthened. R unning helps flush toxins from the system, and the benefits to the body from th at can n o t be overstated. Also, ru n n in g is incredible for reducing stress, w hich m an y feel is at the basis of all illness. Best of all, ru n n in g requires little investm ent in equipm ent, w ith the exception of good ru n n in g shoes, w hich are m ost im portant.

B IK IN G

Biking is another versatile exercise. You can bike outdoors during good w eather, and you can also use an indoor exercise bicycle during inclem ent w eather. This form of exercise strengthens the anterior muscles in the front of the legs, thereby helping to prevent injuries to the rear leg muscles and the knees. Bicycling also puts less stress on the joints and muscles, w h ich m akes it perfect for those recover­ ing from arthritis. To get the best cardiovascular results from this aerobic activity, you m u st develop a steady pace th a t puts your heart rate into the m iddle of your target range. The cardiovascular conditioning th at you w a n t will take a m u ch longer tim e to achieve if the pace is too slow. An overly fast, sprinting pace will lessen the training effect.

You're as Young as You Move

295

So, m oderation is the key. D on't ride so hard th a t you continuously exceed 80 percent of your m ax im u m rate. Instead, use w h a t is called "interval training" to achieve opti­ m u m results. Interval training improves speed an d stam ina, w hich improves your aerobic conditioning. Here's how you do it: First, sprint for thirty seconds and th e n ride m ore slowly at your norm al rate for thirty seconds. Repeat the sequence three to five times in a row. Before starting a bicycling program, get a good quality pair of bicycling shoes. They will protect your feet from the force of pedal­ ing. If you cannot do that, the second best choice is to w ear good ru n n in g or w alking shoes. Either way, use foot clips to keep your feet on the pedals. It is very im portant, especially for w om en, to get a bike th a t is the correct height. M ake sure it's constructed solidly and feels right to you. Get a seat th at's comfortable and durable. W hen buying your bicycle, realize th a t at the correct seat height, your knee will be slightly bent w h e n the pedal hits its lowest point. Pant clips or ru b ­ ber bands will keep your pants from getting caught in the chain. If you ride outdoors after dark, be sure to w ear light-colored or reflec­ tive clothing, and use a red light on your bike. There is very little difference in riding a stationary bike. You can alleviate the strain on your lower back and improve your body align­ m e n t by straightening up the handlebars from the racing-style posi­ tion. The attitude you bring to this is the same as w ith an outdoor bicycle— if you are reading a book while you are riding, you're not w orking hard enough. If you can 't carry on a conversation while riding, you're w orking too hard. Generally speaking, getting a m ore advanced bike— one w ith a com puterized counter and screen—will keep your atten tio n and lessen the chances of boredom.

DANCING Dancing is by far the m ost social way to get your aerobic training. It lifts your spirits, increases your vitality, and you get to move w ith your feelings, so it becomes an expressive exercise as well as an aerobic one. You can work at your ow n pace, and there are m any different kinds of dancing you can do. You can stretch, isolate, and

296

Gary Null's yltimate Anti-Aging Program

work individual muscles groups, and it can be as aerobic as the mood and the music inspires you.

S W IM M IN G

Sw im m ing is a gentle yet incredibly effective way to exercise. Be­ cause of the w ater's buoyancy, your body's “ real'' w eight is m in i­ mized, thus m aking it easier to move. This is w hy so m an y sports doctors are recom m ending sw im m ing for those are recovering from injuries. By exercising in the water, you can increase your flexibility while building incredibly powerful arm, shoulder, and rear leg m u s ­ cles. Nonsvvimmers can start out by simply w alking in the water. After taking your pulse, simply walk slowly from one side of the pool to the other in w ater th a t's about waist deep. Build up the intensity and duration slowly until you have reached your target heart rate and can sustain it for tw enty to sixty m inutes. W hen you feel stronger, you can vary this by deep-w ater “ r u n ­ ning.” This consists of w earing a special life vest and ru n n in g as one w ould on land. The effects are the sam e as w ith regular running, but the stress on your body is m u ch less. Start slowly. At first, you may only be able to sustain the m otion for one or two m inutes. However, as you keep on, you will find it m u ch easier to reach your target goal, w hich is sustaining the ru n n in g for tw enty to sixty m in ­ utes. Any style of ru n n in g is fine, w ith speed and range of m otion as the variables. If you know how to swim, you can develop a program that re­ sembles the ru n n in g routine— tw enty to thirty m inutes of aerobic work done three to five days per week. Start w ith an easy stroke, such as the sidestroke or free-style stroke, and gradually work up to your target heart rate. If necessary, vary your sw im m ing technique to get to the tw enty-m inute mark. Ju st as w ith any other exercise program, skip a day or two a week to allow muscles to recover from the stress of swim m ing. You can also use interval training w ith sw im m ing to increase your speed and cardiovascular endurance. Sprint for up to thirty seconds and then return to your norm al pace for thirty seconds. Repeat the se­ quence three to five times consecutively. It is im portant to stretch your leg muscles after you swim.

You're as Young as You Move

297

Swimming is versatile and less injury-inducing th a n m any other aerobic activities. Be sure to w ear a bathing cap or ear plugs to p ro ­ tect your ears. Good-quality goggles add im m easurably to your sw im m ing comfort.

ROWING Rowing is good for the heart because it increases the aerobic activity. It is considered one of the ultim ate aerobic exercises, and increases coordination as well. W hen you row, you are fully stretching and contracting your muscles, w h ich improves your m uscle tone, espe­ cially in the upper body. While you need special equipm ent (i.e., a boat), in the w inter you can w ork on the rowing m achines in your health club, and th u s still reap th e benefits of the sport.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING In addition to being out in nature, this exercise provides even more benefits th a n any other exercise, according to some experts. It re­ quires you to use the muscles in your upper and lower body to their u tm o st capacity, w hich in tu rn increases the aerobic effect. You can ski outdoors during the season or use indoor cross-country skiing m achines year-round.

JUMPING ROPE This aerobic exercise is perfect for those w hose goal includes losing weight. Jum ping rope will b u rn m ore calories per m in u te th a n m any other aerobic exercises. It m ay look easy, but, in fact, it is a tough cardiovascular w orkout. You m u st begin very slowly and build up your tolerance over a long period of time. If you w ork out too stre n u ­ ously at the beginning, you could seriously injure your lower back and legs. At first, just ju m p for two to four m inutes. If you are heavier or really have not exercised in quite a while, do even less. Begin by walking or ru nning in place, picking up speed until your feet are coming off the ground at a fast pace. Be careful to ju m p on a surface th a t "gives," such as a w ooden floor or carpet. Try not to pound into the floor heavily; be as light-footed as possible. Then, ju m p on both

298

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

feet at the same time for ten to thirty seconds, w ith or w itho u t a rope. Rest by w alking or jogging in place for a few m inutes until you can breathe easily again. Repeat the process until you have jum ped for no m ore th a n four m inutes. The total w orkout tim e is tw enty m inutes for beginners. As w ith other forms of aerobic training, do not overstress the body by ju m p in g every day. Every two or three weeks, boost your jum ping time by 10 percent. Eventually, you will be ju m p in g for tw enty to thirty m inutes per w orkout, using interval training if d e ­ sired. It is im portant to do this gradually, as it will allow your bones and muscles to adapt to the stress. Doing too m uch too quickly could dam age your lower back and calves and even lead to stress fractures of the leg and foot bones. One of the m ain advantages to ju m p in g rope is its mobility. You d o n 't need a lot of space or special equipm ent. You can do it alm ost anyw here— the yard, the b asem en t of your hom e, or inside the house if your ceilings are high enough. This is especially good for people w ho travel frequently. A ju m p rope takes up very little room in your luggage, and you can do it w herever you are.

SKATING W hether on sidewalks or ice, skating is a marvelous way to get lowimpact aerobic activity. Figure skating does m uch the sam e things for your body as dancing, and is just as social. Racing is m uch like running, w ith its increased aerobic activity. It helps your coordina­ tion and is a low-impact w ay to get your heart rate up. While you need special equipm ent and a specific place to ice skate, you can also purchase rollerblades and keep up your training w h e n you are away from the rink.

GETTING INTO INTERVAL TRAINING This is a great com bination of aerobic and anaerobic exercising, w hich improves both speed and endurance. The sequence is as fol­ lows: During your aerobic w orkout, get as close as possible to your m ax im u m heart rate for thirty to sixty seconds and then ease up for

You're as Young as You Move

299

thirty seconds at about 70 percent of the m a x im u m rate. Remember th at if your heart rate drops below 60 percent during the “resting period," the aerobic effects will be lost. Repeat the sequence three to five m ore times. These general principles can be applied to any type of aerobic activity, including running, walking, bicycling, and swimming. Once you become accustomed to this, you can vary the pace by increasing the nu m ber of sequences, increasing the intensity of the sprinting, or even increasing the length of the sprinting period. The length of the "rest period" can be reduced as well.

12 KEEP MOVING! THERE’S EVEN MORE

V either the need n o r the ability to exercise and rem ain fit doesn't \l cease once we reach a certain age. Here's w h a t some of the older athletes w h o follow this powerful protocol to rem ain young and vital, well past w h a t the calendar says is youth. Sid, a g e f if ty - n in e "Even th o u g h I had been an athlete in high school, ru n n in g track, from the ages of seventeen to thirtynine I did noth in g physical but work. In the eleventh grade, I failed wood shop and m a th and w a sn 't eligible ru n track anymore. So a m o n th later, I quit school and joined the Air Force. I ended up w eighing 156 after four years. I had no clue about nutrition. I ate everything and anything, and I especially loved extra-sw eet drinks. "Before I m et Gary, m y m otivation to change my diet was purely visual— I ju st w an ted to look better. I really d id n 't care about my health. Gary was m y first step to evolution. The first thing I did w as stop drinking coffee w ith creamer, drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and taking drugs. I started eating only chicken and fish, th e n gradually w eaned myself off them . All the time I was evolving, I kept in m ind w h at Gary had said about positive thinking. 'W h a t­ ever you say, you become.' "I started feeling so good about myself and my health was co n ­ sistently improving, so I quit eating dairy products altogether— even cheese. In the m iddle of all this, I was always reading and thinking. I realized th at they w ere all connected, th at you couldn't be a vege­

300

You're as Young as You Move

301

tarian and in peace and harm ony w ith the earth, and th e n go hom e and curse out your wife. It's all the same thing; it's all connected. This is a w ay of life th at m ust be practiced every day, in all phases of my life. “ I am a highly competitive runner, and am ranked first in the U.S. in the half-mile indoor race. I have more th a n eighteen national titles; last year I ranked fourth in the world in the South Africa 800. I have been U.S. cham p in both the 800-mile and the 1500-mile races. I ru n six days a week, five to six days w h e n in training. W hen racing, I m ay ru n three to four days a week. I am ru nning at the bottom of the fifty to fifty-nine age group. I finished fifth in my age group in the Trum p Fifth Avenue run. “ I'm really looking forward to turning sixty. R unning is the only sport w here athletes w an t to get older, because it puts you a new age level. I just got m y bachelor's degree in social work at age fiftynine. I never w ould have had the stam ina to do this w ith o u t m y diet and exercise routine. “ I eat one big m eal a day, usually around midday. I have fruit and juice in the m orning, and at night I have fresh organic juices, such as carrot, celery, fresh ginger, apple, and garlic. This is the m ost incredible power drink I have ever had. “At fifty-two, I ran a 4.43 mile, and was one of three m en to break the record. I have worked hard, gone to school, and taken care of my wife during her long illness. If I were to give advice to anyone w anting to change their life, I w ould say th at w e m u st honor the earth and all its com ponents."

Joan R., age sev en ty -tw o “ Heart disease is endem ic on both sides of m y family, bu t it took m y m other's heart attack to get me to change my eating habits. At th at time, I became a vegetarian. However, I did no exercise w hatsoever until 1975, w h en I joined a h ealth club. “Then I took a one-day course in racewalking, and entered my first race the next day. M uch to m y delight, I won! That exhilarating experience totally changed my life. I began training in earnest, and to date have w on over forty racewalking competitions. “ I think the m ost powerful thing I've learned from Gary is the im portance of attitude. In fact, th a t is w h a t governs one's em otional and physical state. I th in k it would be impossible to m ain tain your health w ithout a clear, focused, and positive attitude.

302

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

"This thinking is w h a t has gotten m e th rough m y life. I have survived the death of four of my children, w h o were diagnosed as neurologically dam aged. I have survived living w ith an alcoholic, abusive husband. I have survived and overcome m y childhood, w hich was one of co nstant stress, as m y sister is a violent schizo­ phrenic. "T hrough positive and focused thinking, I have m ade a good life for myself, and have joy and peace in m y life. I have been a m usician and conductor and have ow ned an art gallery. My love of life was definitely enhanced by Gary's program. In that, I took from his w h at w as m ost applicapible, such as dietary and exercise suggestions, and added it to my already rich storehouse of know ledge." D olly, s ix ty - e ig h t, a n d E d, s e v e n ty - s ix Dolly and Ed have, as they say, always been in "p retty good shape," alth o u g h Dolly, a teacher for h om e h ealth aids in private h ealth care, says, "I always h ad three or four colds a year." Ed, w h o is a retired insurance broker and real estate investor, has been a ru n n e r for twenty-five years, logging five to six miles a day. Dolly joined him on the course two years later— "to keep w arm ," she laughs, recalling how cold she'd get sitting in the car grading papers while her h u sb a n d trained during the w inter m onths. Ed says th at in 1990 he was diagnosed w ith a carotid artery w ith m ore th a n 90 percent blockage. W hen he refused a surgical procedure to treat the condition, his cardiologist— and his son-inlaw and daughter, w h o are b o th physicians— tried to intim idate him by saying th at he was a "w alking time bom b." "We listened to Gary on the radio and were im pressed," Ed ex ­ plains. "At the time we ate a conventional diet of processed food, m eat, dairy . . . but no simple sugars and no coffee." "The hardest thing for us," Dolly adds, "w as m aking the com ­ m itm e n t to becoming vegetarian— organic vegetarian. Changing w a sn 't hard; m aking the decision to change w as." Today, the only anim al food they eat is an occasional piece of cold-water fish, such as salmon. The couple w ent to Gary's lectures and then joined the Reversing the Aging Process Study Group. "We have actualized everything he had lectured about. We bought his books, videos, and supplem ents,

You're as Young as You Move

303

an d we juiced every d a y /' Dolly interjects. "We really followed the protocol 100 percent." “The juicing— raw juicing— is really im portant. We drink juices m orning, noon, and twice at n ig h t," Ed adds. The couple also brings their ow n vegetables to family functions because they have not yet "convinced th em th a t organic really is im portant." In addition to their rigorous adherence to the diet recom m ended by the protocol, the couple m aintains a strong physical training schedule. Ed runs about five miles every other day, and on the days he doesn't run, he walks everywhere— to the bank, the library. Dolly gets up at five a .m . every day, runs every other day. They usually race on the weekends. "O ne mile, 5-K, five miles, 10-K, even half m arath o n s," Ed notes. " I'm leading in m y age group— seventy-plus— in long distance ru n n in g in the M etropolitan Athletic Congress Grand Prix." This is a series of tw enty races around the M etropolitan New York-New Jersey-Connecticut area. Dolly's leading in her group of w om en betw een the ages of sixty and sixty-nine. "Every year Dolly is n o m in ated by the New York Roadrunners Club for h er age group," Ed boasts. Dolly had four silver am algam s [fillings] in her teeth, w hich m e a n t th at her body was toxic w ith mercury. After having th em removed, she took extensive steps to detoxify the m ercury from her cells by having intensive intravenous vitam in C and ozone tre a t­ m ents at Gary Null's healing center. Dolly also credits the positive thinking techniques Gary Null a d ­ vocates w ith m aking their progress possible. "The biggest tip I'd give anyone w anting to reverse aging is to th in k positive," she states.

EATING TO LIVE

13 WHAT’S FOOD GOT TO DO WITH IT?

W

h at's food got to do w ith health and wellness? Can it slow or even reverse aging? Will the quality of your life be that m uch improved simply by changing w h a t you eat? If you partake of a tra ­ ditional W estern diet— the answ er is no. If you look to the centuriesold tradition of the Chinese— the answ er is a resounding yes. We m ay think the concept of "holistic eating" is new, bu t the Chinese idea of considering everyday food as medicine goes back nearly five thou san d years. It was first started by the Emperor Shen Nong, w ho introduced agriculture to the Chinese people in the three th o u sa n d th century b . c . According to legend, Shen Nong was in ­ trigued by the vast num bers and varieties of plants around h im and began to experim ent w ith th em in search of food sources for his people. He and his disciples tested millions of these plants— tasting them, cooking them , and m aking teas and meals from them. In the process of their dedicated study, they observed th at m any of these plants not only tasted good and satisfied hunger, but they also enabled people to stay vigorous and strong. Some induced sleep, while others kept people awake; still others removed pain or helped people recover quickly from even the m ost serious illnesses. They found that some plants and herbs would m ake the skin soft and beautiful, while others enhanced youth. Despite the thousands of years this philosophy of food-based medicine— and the millions of Chinese w ho have practiced it through the ages— traditional Chinese medicine and accompanying

307

308

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

practices such as acupuncture, Chi Gong, and other exercise tech­ niques that incorporate breathing and m ovem ent as well as co n ­ centrated thought, are not considered "scientifically proven" by W estern medical practitioners. Consequently, m any Americans are denied this knowledge, or are at least discouraged from practicing these principles. In recent years, m an y people have become discouraged with their health and their health-care practitioners. They have been reading about foods and alternate diets, and have been actively re­ vam ping their nutritional programs. In the forefront of this are the so-called "baby boom ers," w ho are not willing to surrender their active lives for ones of immobility and senility. Searching for new er ways of living fully, they are investigating alternative practices of health care. One result of this aw areness is the preponderance of organic food stores and vitam in shops. Thankfully, organic, w hole­ some foods are being stocked by ordinary superm arkets in every community.

GOOD FOOD KEEPS US G01MG! Staying youthful is synonym ous w ith staying healthy. And staying healthy is controlled, to a large degree, by daily habits of eating. If your eating habits have become just a habit, w ith little thought put into them , you will find th at your diet will not only be calorically imbalanced, but nutritionally imbalanced. This, in turn, will m ake sure that you are not on an even keel either. Intention makes design, as the philosopher said, so it w ould be good for both your body and spirit to take some time out to consider w hat you are putting into your body, and why. Are you eating from boredom ? Are you eating because it's noon and time to eat, rather th an listening to your body tell you w h en it is hungry? Are you eating to fill an inner em ptiness that food will never fill? All these things and more can change if you alter your thought patterns. Going from mindless noshing to deliberate, consecrated eating takes some effort but is w orth it. One thing you can do is to m ake each meal a ritual of sacred nourishm ent. Standing in front of the fridge mindlessly shoveling dow n tofu is as useless as eating half a cow. Remember, thought always precedes action. Especially if you live alone, you may be

Eating to Live

309

tem pted to eat on the run, and not take time to properly prepare a meal, or to judiciously and consciously observe w h a t you are doing. Take each m eal as an opportunity to treat yourself to the highest good you can. By sitting at a table, set w ith your best plates and silverware, and ritualizing the meal, you have the power to con­ sciously be there, at one w ith your self, your food, and your spirit. In th at way, you will automatically take m ore care in preparing good, nourishing meals th a t satisfy all your senses. The smell of freshly cooked onions sizzling in the pan, the arom a of freshly steam ed vegetables, the spark of raw garlic— all these things speak to us as sensual, living beings. Contrast th a t w ith standing at the sink ch ew ­ ing on a raw carrot before ru n n in g out the door! The quality of life starts at the n o u rish m en t level. Keep this in m in d in incorporating any new dietary concept, and the rew ards will be m u ch greater. A nother thing to consider while restructuring your eating pro­ gram is to keep a diary. Nothing elaborate; ju st a few notes to y our­ self on w h a t you ate, w h a t you felt as you ate it, an d how your body reacted after eating it. In this way, you m ay catch any food allergies and/or adverse reactions to your eating patterns, as well as noting w h a t foods in particular gave you a lot of energy. In this diary, you can also keep notes on the n u ts and bolts of your eating program. Dr. Hans Kugler, president an d founder of the International Academy of Alternative Medicine and author of Trip­ ping the Clock: A Practical Guide to Anti-Aging and Rejuvenation, offers these dietary guidelines th at you can incorporate into your notes:

K now your daily caloric m a in ten a n ce level Be aware of the a m o u n t of calories you need to m ain tain your ideal weight. Then you can easily m ake adjustm ents for w eight gain or weight loss, as needed. Vary th e am o u n t o f food you ea t according to th e tim e o f day Eat like a king at breakfast, a prince at lunch, and a pauper at dinner. R educe overall fat and sugar in ta k e Experts say th at total fat intake should be no more th a n 30 percent of your weekly total calories. Eliminate refined carbohydrates from your diet and substi­ tute complex carbohydrates that have lots of fiber, such as oats, b a r­ ley, bran, beans, soy products, apples, cranberries, currants, and gooseberries.

310

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

Eat a variety o f carbohydrates, v eg eta b les, and w h o le grains These foods are the building blocks of good health. Include such foods as fruits, vegetables, w hole-grain breads, cereals, wholegrain pastas, starchy vegetables, and beans. H ave lea n or n o n fa t p rotein at every m eal Though im por­ tant, we now know that m ore is not better. We do not need vast am o u n ts of protein as we once thought. Rather, we should distrib­ ute small am ounts of protein throughout the day. This will keep our energy levels high and elim inate th a t "sinking feeling" th at som e­ times occurs in the late afternoon. Include organically grow n food s in your d iet Chemically laden foods are a b urden to the body. Even small am o u n ts of toxins accum ulate and eventually w ear it down. Be kind to your body by keeping your diet as pure as possible. Organic produce is now more commercially viable, so that even in the smallest tow ns there will be at least one health-food store. Patronize it!

DIETARY DOWNFALLS Forty years ago, roughly a third of every grocer's inventory was n a t­ ural, fresh produce. Today, it's a different story altogether. Fresh fruits and vegetables barely fill an aisle in m ost m odern su p erm ar­ kets, and even that is likely to be altered. Fruits and vegetables are routinely grown w ith artificial fertilizers, sprayed w ith pesticides, and treated w ith horm ones and chemicals to control ripening and facilitate m echanical harvesting. They are dyed, sprayed w ith c h e m ­ icals to prevent ripening during shipping and to induce ripening once delivered, or they are coated w ith waxes to give them a glossy appearance. Once know n as "th e staff of life," m ost m odern bread is virtually w ithout nutritive value. W heat and other whole grains provide a rich source of n u trien ts— complex carbohydrates, protein, oils, and roughage, as well as an excellent balance of vitam ins and minerals. Grinding w heat w ith stone rollers blends these ingredients together, providing a product so nutritionally rich th at it is quick to spoil. It is also susceptible to attack by verm in and fungi if not used im m ed i­ ately. As bakers endeavored to m ake a product th at could be trucked

Eating to Live

311

over long distances and stored for weeks, not days, processing was increased and preservatives added, and w hite flour— and a product rendered incapable of sustaining life—was born. W hite flour begins w ith steel rather th an stone rollers, flattening and separating nutrient-rich bran and germ from a chalklike dust. While bran and germ are routinely sold as anim al feeds, the rem ain ­ ing powder are further bleached w ith chlorine gases, and processed to m ake a spoilage-resistant flour. This product is th e n “ enriched" w ith synthetic versions of some of the vitamins removed through earlier processing. Not coincidentally, vitamins considered necessary for this enrichm ent are those m ost easily synthesized— barley malt, ferrous sulfate, niacin, th aim in m ononitrite, riboflavin, corn syrup, partially hydrogenated vegetable shortening, yeast, salt, calcium sulfate, sodium stearoyl lactylate, m ono- and diglycerides, whey, d i­ calcium phosphate, calcium propionate, and potassium bromate. One of the m ost com m on additives in processed foods is sugar. As a result the average American eats 160 pounds of sugar yearly. After processing, m an y foods are so lacking in taste th a t there would be no taste at all w ith o u t the addition of large quantities of sugar and salt. Both are preservatives and b o th are inexpensive. Both are also addictive. M any processed foods— even those you d o n 't expect to contain sugar and salt— contain large am ounts of one or the other, if not both. Ju st read the labels. You m ay be in for a surprise! You m ay picture farms being like those we see on television or that we rem em ber from our childhood, b u t those farms exist only in the collective im agination. In reality, instead of fertile fields alive w ith lush crops and chirping chickens and oinking pigs roam ing around a farmyard, w e have huge agribusiness complexes th a t have nothing to do w ith w h a t we m ay fondly recall as farming. Instead of bucolic fields w ith contentedly grazing herds of cattle, commercially grown livestock are kept in conditions th at cannot by any stretch of the im agination be considered hu m ane. Kept in cages w here they cannot move, chickens are raised by the thousands in huge buildings w here they will go from birth to d eath and never see the sky. A conveyor belt brings th em food and w ater and carries away their waste. A chicken m ay spend its entire short lifetime w ith o u t ever even walking a step, and certainly w ith o u t touching the ground. Some m odern breeds grow so fast, their legs cannot support their weight.

312

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

Today, a steer is born, taken from its m other, and put on a diet of powdered milk, synthetic vitamins, m inerals, and antibiotics. Drugs in its food reduce its activities, thus saving on feed. Next it is actually allowed to eat pasture grass, tho u g h this is supplem ented w ith processed feed, premixed w ith antibiotics and g row th-prom ot­ ing drugs. At six m onths, this anim al weighs five h u n d red pounds and is ready for the feed lot. Here it is doused w ith pesticides and placed in a pen th at is lit around the clock to alter natural sleep patterns and encourage continuous feeding. Commonly feed con­ sists of rendered dead anim als including diseased dogs, cats, cows, pigs, chickens and sheep, along w ith ground up corn husks, urea, carbohydrates and sewer sludge. After four m o n th s in the feed lot, the steer weighs twelve h u n d red pounds. Plant crops are similarly m anipulated. Hybrid varieties of com ­ m o n fruits and vegetables are grown in nutrient-depleted soil and treated w ith poisonous chemicals, w hich are k n ow n and proven to be carcinogenic. These chemicals are absorbed into the plants and cannot ever be w ashed away, as they are in the cellular structure of the stem s and leaves. No am o u n t of rinsing or cooking can destroy these chemicals, and they are passed along to us as we eat the foods. It is small w onder that so m an y of us are sick. M odern agribusiness is a huge conglomerate, w ith ann u al sales well over $200 billion per year. Every single year well over $500 million w o rth of poisonous chemicals are added to our foods, and this is a conservative estimate. The industry of agribusiness fosters a way of eating and living that disconnects us from the n atu ral processes of life. That is w hy it be­ hooves us to think before we buy our foods, and realize that all life is interconnected. The toxins that are in the ground today will be in your bone m arrow tomorrow. Fortunately, we have ways to com bat this. One of these is the practice of vegetarianism. And not simply vegetarianism, but organic vegetarianism.

VIRTUES OF VEGETARIANISM Is it possible to eat w ithout filling our bodies w ith the poisons perpe­ trated by commercial farming? Yes, it is. A natural food diet, which is filled w ith nutritious fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains,

Eating to Live

313

legumes, seeds, and nuts, and avoids u n n a tu ra l additives is a major step in the right direction. Cutting dow n on your m eat intake or, ideally, cutting it out altogether, is even closer to optim um healthy eating. There is irrefutable scientific evidence th a t proves the a d e­ quacy—indeed, the superiority— of a vegetarian diet. Medical litera­ ture is filled w ith testimonials and fact-laden studies th a t show th at the com m on degenerative diseases we think of as inevitable are linked w ith a diet th at is high in m eat, sugar, fat, and chemical residues. Being a vegetarian offers m any dietary benefits, not the least of w hich is a supple, youthful body and a sharp, clear m ind. Eating healthy foods rejuvenates the life force by supplying the body w ith m ultiple anti-aging nutrients. They also help to resist the onset of disease— m ost cancer is diet-related— and m ay even reverse chronic conditions. Dolores Riccio, author of Superfoods for Life, says the best foods are those given to us in nature, such as:

Fruits and V egetab les M ost fruits and vegetables contain valuable nutrients for anti-aging. Especially notew orthy are the cru ­ ciferous vegetables— broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, ra d ­ ishes, and w atercress— for their anti-cancer properties. M elatonin, for im m unity-boosting and better sleep, is found in bananas, corn, a n d tomatoes. Chrom ium helps regulate insulin and can be found in apples, broccoli, grapes, raisins, m ushroom s, and potatoes. M ag­ nesium defends against asth m a and heart disease, and is also a m em ory booster. Good fruit and vegetable sources include avocados, bananas, and dark green vegetables. Vitamin E's helper, selenium, is found in onions, shallots, m ushroom s, and garlic. These foods help the heart and keep the skin elastic. Intense color and flavor indicate health-giving properties. Dark green and orange vegetables, for example, are high in carotene, w hich protects against cancer. And bitter greens help the liver. Cit­ rus fruits, such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruits, help rid the body of free radicals, keep the skin looking young, and accelerate healing. Grains and L egum es These fiber-rich foods keep our diges­ tive tracts healthy. They are high in B vitamins, w hich work to su p ­ port the brain, and rich sources of vitam in E, m aking th em good for the heart and skin. In addition, whole grain fibers, such as brow n

314

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

rice, contain zinc, for n o u rish m en t of the male reproductive system and repair of the body. Oils Contrary to com m on trends, we all need some fat in our diets. A teaspoon a day of m o n o u n sa tu ra te d fats is essential for keeping the brain and heart functioning properly, for protecting our appearance, for raising HDL (good) cholesterol and lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol, and for keeping our hair and skin from becoming dry. Good sources of m o n o u n satu rated fats are olive oil and canola Avoid saturated fats— those found in potato chips, meats, cheeses, coconut and palm oil. Polyunsaturated fats, like those found in flaxseed oil and fish, are precursors for omega-3's, such as DHA and EPA, w hich prevent clotting of blood and stickiness of platelets. Research shows th at these fats can get into the blood vessels and stabilize plaque. People w h o eat one fish meal a w eek have a 50 percent reduction of sudden deaths compared w ith people w h o don't. Healthy sources of fish are deep-w ater m igratory fish, like salmon, halibut, and cod. T h e B e n e f its o f Soy Soybeans and soybean products are sta­ ples of Japanese diets, and for good reason. Scientific research has identified healing agents in soybeans, called glycosides. Glycosides contain substances th a t protect the cell from oxidation from the low density lipoproteins found in "b a d " cholesterol. Rather th a n relying on ham burgers, pork, dairy, chicken, and pork for protein— these foods are high in saturated fats th a t dam age tissues—we should use high-protein soy products often. Soy products have also been found to figure prom inently in the diets of w o m en w h o do not get breast cancer.

IS THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH REALLY A WATER FOUNTAIN? For years we have been told that we need to drink at least eightounce glasses of w ater every day in order to rem ain healthy. Some­ how, however, the word "w a te r" has been overshadowed by other liquids— coffee, tea, sodas, milk, even juices. As far as I am con­ cerned, coffee, tea, sodas, and anything else th at contains caffeine

Eating to Live

315

are toxic and should never be consum ed. Milk and other dairy p ro d ­ ucts should also be avoided— especially by adults—because they are high in fat. They are also extrem ely m ucous-form ing and have a high potential for allergic reactions. As we age, we do not have the enzymes necessary to break dow n the milk sugars. Therefore we m ay experience gas, bloating, nausea, diarrhea, and, often, gall b lad­ der distress. It is imperative th at we have a consistently clean supply of w ater for drinking, cooking, and bathing. W ithout this, we are allowing ourselves to consum e inordinate am ounts of pollutants. One of the best ways to ensure removal of toxins in our h om e w ater supplies is to buy good w ater filters— not only for the kitchen sink b u t for the tub and shower as well— because m ost of the nation's w ater supply is contam inated by agricultural run-off, m anufacturing waste, fluo­ ride, chlorine and other chemicals and chemical by-products. All of these materials affect people adversely w ith o u t their ever suspecting it. W h en your w ater supply is contam inated and you drink it, the toxic chemicals in the w ater go right into your bone marrow, fat, and internal organs, w here they increase the chemical overload th a t is tearing dow n your system. Every tissue in your body is affected by these toxins. No w onder so m an y people are getting sick. One of the problems w ith this kind of pollution is th at the sym p­ toms of this kind of poisoning m ay m asquerade as som ething else, n o t readily tracable to polluted food and, especially, polluted water. M any food allergies are traced directly to the m ultitude of poisons in w h a t we eat and drink. Water has to be pure, free from fluoride, chlorine, and chemicals, w hich is w hy I recom m end distilled water. To achieve optim um health, I recom m end th at you drink a half gallon to one full gallon per day. Caffeine, soda, and w h ite sugar should be reduced to a m in ­ im um ; for optim al results, they should be elim inated entirely.

V

14 MEAL PLANNING MADE EASY

hile I d o n 't insist th a t participants in th e program s I conduct become vegetarian, I do recom m end th a t they consider the possibility, and at least restrict their an im al protein to cold-water fish. It is possible to eat w ith o u t partaking of the poisoned fruits of technology by adopting a natural-food diet. This p a th relies on unrefined grains, legumes, seeds, nuts, and fresh fruits and vegeta­ bles, steering clear of u n n a tu ra l additives, including sugar and salt. A balanced diet th a t cuts dow n or elim inates m eat is even closer to an unadulterated, h ealthful idea! The degree to w h ich you become vegetarian is determ ined by the specific w ay you eat. Pollovegetarians eat no red m eats b u t do eat chicken in conjunc­ tion w ith plant sources. Pescovegetarians include fish in their plant-based diet. In Asia, h u n d red s of millions of people follow this type of diet, living on staples of rice and fish. Lacto-ovo-vegetarians consum e milk and m ilk products and eggs in their fruit- and vegetable-based diet. This is basically a nonflesh diet. Lacto-vegetarians eat milk and milk products in addition to fruit an d vegetable foods. Vegans, the strictest of all vegetarians, thrive solely on plant foods—vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, grains, and legumes. This reg­ im en excludes all anim al foods— including honey and gelatin.

W

316

Eating to Live

317

Time after time, we are w arned against the nutritional deficien­ cies of “ ill-planned vegetarian diets." This is not a danger, provided sufficient care is taken in planning a nutritionally balanced diet. In truth, any ill-planned food plan should be avoided, no m atter w h a t foods are eaten. Care m u st be taken in planning and preparing all meals— vegetarian and nonvegetarian alike. No one food is indispensable or magical. Anim al flesh, for in ­ stance, is nearly void of carbohydrates, has little or no fiber, and is a poor source of calcium and vitam in C. It is high in saturated fats and cholesterol. M eat eaters get their complex carbohydrates, di­ etary fiber, and other nutrients from exactly the same sources as vegetarians— fruits, vegetables, grains, seeds, an d nuts. By om itting m eat from your diet, you sacrifice all the harm fu l ingredients it has, w hile still being able to acquire the protein necessary for health and youth from plant sources. A nonflesh diet— or one like m y Reversing the Aging Process Protocol, w hich limits anim al protein intake to once a w eek and consum ption of cold-water fish to small servings three times a w eek—will, in the long run, lower your risk of developing m any diseases and raise your chances of m aintaining good health. Every­ one, regardless of age, can probably benefit from such a diet.

EVE HAD THE RIGHT IDEA: THE FANTASTIC FRUITS Fruit should be the m ain source of sweetness in your diet. Instead of robbing your body of its vital, essential n u trien ts as w hite sugar does, whole, fresh fruit is filled w ith vitam in C. Linus Pauling did ground-breaking w ork in the field of vitam in research, and his s tu d ­ ies and others confirm the necessity of adding large quantities of vitam in C to your diet. This can be taken in supplem ents, to be sure, b u t rem em ber th a t fruit is chock-full of it. Few things beat the taste of an organically grown apple fresh from the tree, or the first new strawberries of the season. M ost of us just eat fruit because it tastes good, bu t it is im portant to rem em ber th at fruits do m u ch more for your body th a n ju st keep you regular. It has been found that vitam in C m ay keep your heart healthy, help

318

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

prevent athlerosclerosis, an d cut your cholesterol levels. And there's growing evidence th at it reduces triglycerides, w h ich are the blood fats now considered to be as im p o rtan t as high cholesterol in the developm ent of heart disease. All fruits have some effect on this; however, scientists have found th a t the pectin-rich fruits, such as apples, grapefruit, an d oranges, are particularly good at reducing your blood cholesterol levels. As always, fresh fruit is the best, and organic fresh fruit is the best of all. Certain fruits, such as strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries, should n o t be consum ed unless they are certified o r­ ganic, as the chemicals used in producing th e m are especially toxic. W h en buying fruits, select those th a t look fresh and feel firm. D on't buy produce th a t's soft or bruised, an d d o n 't buy m ore th a n you can reasonably use in a few days. Rem ember, it's a fresh p ro d ­ uct, not one filled w ith chemicals, and thus will spoil in a few days. Refrigerate the fruits you buy as quickly as possible. W hen choosing citrus fruits and pineapples, pick ones th at feel heavy for their size. W ash all fruits carefully in a w ashing solution of water, hydrogen peroxide and cider vinegar. Ju st because it's organic doesn't m e a n it doesn't need w ashing. W h en preparing, pat the produce dry after w ashing to prolong freshness. Don't cut fruits u ntil just prior to eating them ; exposure to the air destroys vitam in C. You should eat at least three servings of fruit every day. Whole fruits are low in calories, have lots of fiber, are filling, and thus satisfying.

GRAINS: THINK WHOLE FOR HEALTH Major sources of fiber and complex carbohydrates, real whole grains— not those pasty w h ite flours and rice m ost often seen on Am erican tables— are also rich in vitam ins and m inerals, w hich we need to prevent heart disease and cancer. This superiority m akes th e m essential to our nutritional pharmacy. Whole grains of any variety are m ore nutritionally complete th a n w hite or partially processed grains, such as couscous and cracked w h eat berries, w hich are, in turn, better for us th a n the m ore processed flours, breads, and noodles. Needless to say, whole

Eating to Live

319

grain products are always preferable to "refined" foods such as w h ite breads and pastas.

A GLOSSARY OF GRAINS

A m aranth Ancient Aztecs believed th a t A m aran th gave th em supernatural strength, and in addition to eating vast quantities of the grain—w hich they called "The Golden G rain"— they used it in religious ceremonies. Cortez, w h o led the Spanish conquistadors in their quest to destroy the Aztec civilization, no t only killed the Aztec Em peror M ontezum a but also ordered his troops to b urn all a m a ­ ra n th fields and, as if th at w a sn 't enough, ordered th em to cut off th e h an d s of anyone w ith even a single seed in his possession. The nam e A m aran th comes from a Greek word for "im m o r­ ta l"—m ost appropriate since, in the mid-1980s, a han dfu l of seeds found in a thousand-year-old Aztec ruin were planted and sprouted roots on a farm in Pennsylvania. A pseudo-cereal grain th at comes from a broad-leafed plant ra th e r th a n a grass, A m aran th is a tiny grain— only slightly larger th a n a poppy seed— bu t it's powerpacked w ith nutrients. A m aran th outstrips all o ther com m on grains as a source of protein— 16 percent as opposed to 10 or 12— an d as it is extremely rich in lysine, the am ino acid th a t controls protein absorption, and M ethionine, an am ino acid m issing from m ost beans, it is more complete th a n m ost other vegetable proteins. Jane Brody, in her Good Food Book, says th a t the quality of a m a ­ ra n th protein is so good th a t it exceeds cow's milk in its ability to sustain life, containing as m u c h as 30 percent protein. A m aranth can be either popped dry in an ungreased skillet, one tablespoon at a time, or cooked in liquid and used for pilaf, in soups, or as hot cereal. For this m ethod, use 2 l/i cups w ater to 1 cup am aran th . Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat. Cook over m edium -low tem p era­ ture for tw enty to twenty-five m inutes, stirring occasionally. Barley A nother historical grain, barley has been around since the Stone Age. Archaeologists have found traces of cakes m ade of w h eat and barley baked in the sun. A wholesome, low-gluten grain, barley has been grow n on all continents, by alm ost every culture, for eons. Three layers of skin protect each barley kernel: two inedible

320

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

husks th a t cover the em bryo or germ and a delicate, protein-rich core called the aleurone. In the center is the starchy endosperm . In processing barley for h u m a n consum ption, these outer layers are alm ost always removed, leaving a product called “ pearled" barley. M ost of the nutritional value of barley is lost in this process since valuable protein, fiber, and B vitam ins are in the aleurone. T here­ fore, the most nutritionally valuable form of barley is simply hulled, leaving m ost of the aleurone layer intact. Despite the low vitam in count in pearled barley, a substance k n o w n to inhibit cholesterol production in the blood has been found in the nonfibrous portion of the grain. To cook, use 3 cups w ater to 1 cup pearl barley. Cook for thirty-five to forty-five m inutes. To cut cooking time, presoak grain at least five hours and cook for fifteen m inutes. Hulled barley m ust be soaked overnight and requires one h o u r cooking time. Cook covered; add liquid as required. Hulled k e r­ nels can be sprouted for salads.

Bran This isn't a kind of grain. Bran is the fibrous seed coating of any cereal grain— w heat, oats, barley, etc.— that is separated from flour or grain by sifting or bolting. It is m ade of primarily noncaloric dietary fiber, notably vitam ins B, B6, niacin, p an tothenic acid, ribo­ flavin, and thiam ine. Processed and unprocessed bran, used in cook­ ing, is k n ow n to relieve constipation and prevent diverticular diseases of the intestines, as well as regulate serum cholesterol and lower blood sugar levels for diabetics. B u ck w h ea t Not a grain at all, buckw heat is a distant cousin of the rhubarb. However, it is the buckw heat's three-cornered seed rather th a n its stem that is of value. The shell, w hen dried and split, reveals a pale kernel or groat. W hen roasted, buckw heat groats are know n as k a sh a . Buckwheat has more th a n 90 percent of the pro­ tein value of milk solids, and m ore than 80 percent of eggs. A pound of buckw heat provides protein equivalent to a half-pound of beef. A nother plus: buckw heat also contains high am o u n ts of all eight am ino acids— lysine, leucine, isoleucine, m ethionine, tryptophan, threonine, phenylalanine, and valine— w hich the body does not pro­ duce on its own. In short, buckw heat is closer to being a complete protein th an any o ther plant source, including soy beans. Whole buckw heat is hulled groats and stone ground "cream of b uck­ w h eat." Buckwheat groats and kasha are available whole and

Eating to Live

321

ground (coarse, m edium , and fine). Cooking times vary w ith the type of buckw heat you're using.

Corn Corn is a Native American grain that, transported to E u ­ rope by Columbus, is one of the few complex carbohydrates w ith the potential to feed the entire world. It is this nation's top agricultural commodity, grow n on one of every four acres of cropland, in every state, as well as th roughout the world. (Only w h eat occupies m ore acreage.) The sweet corn th at stars on our sum m er and fall tables is a relative newcomer, not developed until the 1700s. Our forefathers ate very little fresh corn. M ost of it was dried and ground into m eal or flour to be used in bread a n d cake. While a cup of cornm eal is high in complex carbohydrates and contains .44 milligrams of th ia ­ mine, .26 milligrams of riboflavin, and 3.52 milligrams of niacin, as well as significant am ounts of m ag n esiu m and potassium , it is not considered a "w hole food" because it lacks two essential am ino acids, lysine and tryptophan. W hen buying cornmeal, look for stone-ground meal. However, because of its high oil content, cornm eal has a relatively brief shelf life. Store it in the refrigerator in airtight containers for up to three m onths, or twice th at long in th e freezer. There is a downside to this. While cool tem peratures prevent the m eal from turning rancid an d inhibit insect infestation, vitam ins are lost. In addition to cornmeal, corn is found as h o m in y (hulled corn kernels), as well as grits, hulled corn th at has been ground into a meal. To cook, gradually add 1 cup of grits to 4 cups boiling water. Stir until boiling; lower heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for tw enty-three to thirty m inutes, stirring occasionally. In case you d id n 't know, p o len ta is the Italian version of grits. M illet While m ost of us th in k of millet as birdseed, th at h a s n 't always been so. Millet has been traced to the Neolithic Age. Look for this tiny sandlike grain in natural- or health-food stores, w here it is, as a rule, sold in bulk. (The kind you find in the pet shop is, for the m ost part, unhu lled and, consequently, inedible.) Millet is comparable to other cereal grains, w ith m ore protein th a n rice, sorghum , corn, and oats. A good source of B vitamins, phosphorous, m anganese, iron, and copper, it is very low in gluten, m aking it especially attractive to anyone w ith a gluten intolerance.

322

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

To cook, toast 1 cup hulled millet groats in a heavy skillet for five m inutes. Slowly add 1 cup toasted millet to 2 cups boiling w ater for tw enty to thirty m inutes.

O ats/oatm eal W hole-grain oats are rich w ith seven B vita­ m ins, Vitamin E, and n ine minerals, including iron and calcium. They are reasonably high in protein, in a form that is higher in q u a l­ ity th a n the protein in w heat. Most importantly, oats are high in soluble fiber, w hich helps to lower serum cholesterol levels. Unlike m ost grains, only the inedible hull is removed by the milling process, w ith the bran and germ left intact on the edible kernel. W h eth er you're cooking steel-cut oats (also k n o w n as Scotch or Irish oats) or rolled oats (the more traditional American oatm eal), you'll use 2 cups w ater to 1 cup oats for about 2 xk cups cooked hot cereal. W hen adding oats to breads and cookies, soak in w ater or juice first to soften. Q uinoa A m ini-grain that, uncooked, looks like golden caviar, quinoa was first cultivated in the Andes by the Incas. Like a m a ­ ran th , it is packed w ith lysine and other am ino acids, m aking it a complete protein. A cup of the cooked grain has the calcium content of a quart of milk. It is also a rich source of iron, phosphorus, various B vitam ins, and Vitamin E. Toast quinoa, a little at a time, in a dry skillet before cooking to enrich its flavor. Rinse 1 cup quinoa u n d e r cold ru n n in g water; drain, and add to 2 cups w ater or vegetable stock. Heat to boiling, stir, cover, and reduce heat. Cook until liquid is absorbed, ten to fifteen m inutes. Yields 3 cups. Cooked quinoa is transparent. R ice Rooted in history, rice has been cultivated on almost every continent, and while it is not the m ost nutritious grain in the world, it is probably the most often consum ed. Statistically, rice supplies 55 percent of m a n 's daily food requirem ents, and one pound of rice has four times the food energy of the sam e am o u n t of potatoes. There are more th a n seventy varieties of rice grown around the world, yet most Americans eat two kinds, long-grain and m edium grain white. Brown rice also can be either long or m edium grain. Remember: All rice begins as brown rice. It becomes w hite w hen it is stripped of its husk, bran, and germ . . . and, consequently, most of its nutrients. W hat's left is almost pure starch.

Eating to Live

323

The milling process for rice is extremely wasteful, as only 55 percent of the original w eight rem ains. The hulls m u st be removed for rice to be edible, however, the bran and germ, left intact in brow n rice, contain thiam ine, the B vitamins, and iron. Cover and sim m er 1 cup brow n rice (we'll ignore the w hite kind) in 2 cups w ater for thirty to forty-five m inutes over m ed iu m heat. Yield is approximately 3 cups.

Rye M ost Americans have only eaten rye in breads— rye breads, pum pernickel, and other dark loaves. While whole rye con­ tains m ore protein, minerals, an d B vitamins th a n whole w heat, whole rye flour an d food products are difficult to find, even in health-food stores! Most often, rye flour is com bined w ith w h eat flour in baking. Compared to processed rye, whole grain rye is power-packed w ith twice the protein, three times the phosphorous and calcium, four times the riboflavin, five times the iron and thiam ine, six times the niacin, and seven times the potassium . Whole rye berries or rye groats can be cooked in liquid and served as a porridge or side dish or sprouted for use in salads, soups, an d on sandwiches. Cracked berries can be ground and cooked into a hot cereal som ew hat like grits or ground into a m eal to be used in com bination w ith other flours. Rye flakes can be cooked into a hot breakfast cereal m u ch like oatmeal. The nutritional content of rye flours can be spotted by the color. Light and m ed iu m flour has been sifted to remove m u ch of the n u ­ tritious bran. Dark rye flour is unbolted (not sifted) and is m ore nutritious. Triticale A relative new com er to the grain field, triticale is a rye-w heat hybrid first reported in 1876 to the E dinburgh Botanical Society. Like w heat, it is a high-yielding grain w ith superior baking qualities, and it has the hardiness and protein quality of rye. Triti­ cale is 16 percent protein, higher th a n either of its genetic parents, and has twice as m u ch lysine as w heat. Triticale berries can be soaked and cooked, like w heat berries, while cracked berries can be added to bread dough for crunchiness and increased nutrition. Flakes can be cooked into a porridge or hot cereal; triticale flour can be used in baking. A word of caution: Triticale flour, at first tho u g h t to be low in

324

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

gluten like rye, does contain gluten; however, it's very delicate and m u st be handled w ith care. Knead for only a few m inutes. Soak triticale groats overnight and boil 1 cup grain in 3 to V h cups w ater for forty to fifty m inutes. W h e a t Unfortunately, too m any people have become allergic to w heat because they have consum ed too m uch refined w heat flour in breads, cakes, pastas, and packaged, processed foods. There are m ore th a n 300 different varieties of w heat, belonging to fourteen basic species. Ninety-five percent of the crop grown and consum ed in the United States is Triticum aestivum, or com m on w heat. Agronomists break w h eat dow n into two strains— "w in ter w h e a t" or "spring w h e a t" — depending upon the time of year the seed is planted. W heat also comes in two botanical categories, "h a rd " and "soft," indicating the volum e of gluten in the grain's cellular stru c­ ture. Hard common wheat has approxim ately 12 percent protein co n ­ tent. Kernels are tough to mill, while soft common wheat, which is from 6 to 10 percent protein, is starchier and significantly easier to process. The high gluten content of hard w heats such as hard durum wheat or semolina, w ith its ability to absorb liquid, is considered ideal for bread baking. On the other hand, soft w heat, w hich is relatively low in gluten, is regarded as best for pastries. B u lg u r is w h eat— specifically, w h eat berries— that has been cracked by parboiling and th en dried. It is an "old" food— traces of sun-dried w heat grains were found in ancient ruins in m any areas, including Etruscan urns and Hun saddlebags. Used in such Middle Eastern dishes as tabbouleh, bulgur comes w h e n w heat is steamed, th en dried before being crushed into the desired grind. A quarter pound of bulgur contains as m any n u trien ts as a whole loaf of w hole-w heat bread: 11.2 grams protein; 75.7 grams carbohydrates, 338 milligrams of phosphorus, and 229 milligrams of potassium, as well as am ple doses of niacin, riboflavin, thaim ine, calcium, and iron. The a m o u nt of w ater you'll need to prepare 1 cup bulgur d e ­ pends on how you plan to prepare it. Easiest is to place 1 cup bulgur into a heat-safe bowl and then pour 3 to 4 cups of boiling, lightly salted w ater over the bulgur. Let stand forty m inutes, then pour into a colander lined w ith cheesecloth. Place in the sink and let drain. Then gather cheesecloth around bulgur and squeeze out all m ois­

Eating to Live

325

ture. The bulgur needs no further cooking. Simply combine w ith spices. C ouscous could, quite realistically, be called "W heat Grits." In reality, it is finely cracked w heat (or, in come cases, millet) th a t has been steamed, dried, and refined. The best w ay to cook couscous is to steam 1 cup of the grain over sim m ering hot w ater for 20 m inute; th e n put in a bowl and add l/i to 3A cup cold water. Break up lumps w ith a fork and retu rn to the steam er and continue steam ing for tw enty to forty m inutes longer, depending u p o n the recipe you're using. Fluff w ith a fork before serving.

W ild R ice This gourm et grain is no t really rice. It is the seed of an aquatic grass, native to N orth America, w here it grows wild around the n o rth e rn Great Lakes, mostly in M innesota, where, u n d e r Federal law, it is harvested by Native Americans. After the seeds are harvested, they are cured over smoke fires. Then, according to tradition, b u t probably not pragm atic today, the cured seeds are spread on the ground, w here th e young m en of the tribe dance on the cooling seeds to loosen the hulls. Finally the rice is sifted through blankets to w in n o w out the chaff, leaving the b u rn t brow nish-black kernels to be graded for packaging— giant (longgrain), fancy or m edium grain, and select or short grain. The rarity of the grass and the complicated harvesting an d cleaning process m ake wild rice the "caviar of grains"! While a hearty hybrid has been developed and is now in limited production, this is an obvious a ttem p t to cut costs since auth en tic wild rice is inordinately high. While it can be harvested by m echanical threshers and processed by m echanical parchers and w innow ers, this tam e version is not m u ch less costly and is substantially less p u n g en t and tasty. Nutritionally

Pointers • Store grains, including rice and cereals, in airtight containers in the refrigerator, especially in summer. • Exposure to light will destroy the riboflavin in grains, so use either opaque or dark glass containers. • When buying loose grains, buy from a store that sells a lot of grain. And don't buy more than you need.

326

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

speaking, while rice is a quality high-carbohydrate grain— about 73 m g per cup— th a t is high in phosphorus, m agnesium , potassium , and zinc, not to m en tio n thaim ine, riboflavin, and niacin, plus all of the B vitam ins. A cup of cooked wild rice contains a m ere 130 calories. to c o o k : Use 3 cups w ater to 1 cup wild rice to yield approxi­ m ately 3 7 2 cups cooked rice. A short-grained variety can be cooked in as little as 35 m inutes; long grains can take as long as an hour.

LET THERE BE LEGUMES Legumes, w hich includes anything th at grows in a pod, have been an im portant part of the h u m a n diet around the world for at least four th o u san d years. Immature legumes, such as green peas and garden peas, are m ost familiar to American tables; however, the nutritive power of these foods increases considerably w h e n they are allowed to m atu re and dry on the vine. Dry beans and peas have a higher protein value per dollar th a n any other food source, m aking th e m the least expensive w ay possible to m eet your body's protein n eeds— cheaper by far th a n cheese, eggs and poultry. Bean protein has also been show n to reduce the body's serum cholesterol level, the exact opposite effect of anim al protein sources. While some B vitam ins, w hich are water-soluble, are lost in cooking, a single serving of cooked dry beans can supply as m u ch as 40 percent of the body's recom m ended daily requirem ents for th ia ­ m in and B6. Iron is also high on the nutritional list. For example, a one-cup serving of lentils provides 42 percent of the RDA for iron for an adult male, and 23 percent for an adult female. Serve w ith foods rich in vitam in C— tomatoes, broccoli, green or red peppers, citrus fruits— to increase the body's ability to absorb iron from le­ gumes. W ith the exception of soybeans, legumes are also naturally low in fat. Unless you add anim al fat in the cooking process, w h at fat there is is polyunsaturated, providing protection against cardiovas­ cular disease. Additionally, legumes are low in sodium, w hich raises blood pressure, and high in potassium , w hich acts to lower blood pressure.

Eating to Live

327

Beans and peas are powerful complex carbohydrates, full of di­ etary fiber, starches, and complex sugars. They supply the body w ith m ore roughage th a n almost anything except cereal bran. Legumes are also am azing insulin regulators. Because beans and peas produce such slow rises in blood sugar, the body needs to re ­ lease very little insulin to control glucose. Beans, along w ith other foods high in pectins and gums, actually cause the creation of m ore insulin-receptor sites on cells, giving insulin m ore places to enter the individual cells rather th a n circulating in the system. The only negative side to the consum ption of legumes is th at they have the potential to cause flatulence— th at's gas, indigestion, bloat, etc. This is caused by complex sugars th a t are not broken dow n by the digestive enzymes and begin to ferm ent w h e n they come in contact w ith bacteria in the large intestine. This problem can be curbed in the cooking process, besides, the gas will subside as your body becomes accustom ed to regular consum ption of these astounding foods.

A GLOSSARY OF LEGUMES

A duki B ean s/A d zu k i B eans From Japan, these small, shiny, dark red beans provide a high quality protein th a t is easily digested. Because of this, it is considered a healing food, served to the sick and elderly. In addition to being used as beans in soups and entrees, adukis is also processed into a slightly sw eet-tasting paste th a t is used in everything from soups to desserts. Dry beans are readily available in health-food stores. One cup of adukis alm ost triple in volume w h e n cooked in 3 cups of water. Black B eans Small, shiny black ovals, these rich-flavored beans are also k n o w n as Turtle Beans. A staple in the cuisines of their native South and Central America as well as Cuba, they are also grown in the Southeastern United States. Use in soups, either whole or pureed, and w ith rice an d spices for protein-rich entrees. Dry beans are available in m ost grocery stores and Spanish m arkets. Cook 1 x/i cups of beans in 4 cups of w ater for 2 cups of cooked beans. B lack-eyed P eas Also called Cowpeas, these quick-cooking beans are small, oval, and creamy w hite w ith either a black or dark yellow spot. (The yellow ones are, naturally, called Yellow-Eyed

328

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

Peas.) A hearty hallm ark of Southern Soul Food, black eyed peas are mixed w ith rice and onions . . . and assorted traditional spices . . . for Hoppin' John, that traditional New Year's dish that generates good luck in the year ahead. Widely available, dried, frozen; and even canned, 1 cup of dry black-eyed peas doubles in volume w h e n cooked in 3 cups of water.

Broad B eans Depending on their color and origin, this cate­ gory of large legumes is k n o w n as fava beans, English or W indsor beans, even horse beans. They range in color from a rich, dark brow n to waxy w hite and can be purchased fresh, dried or canned. Cooking tim e and resulting volum e for dry beans depends upon the individ­ ual bean. C hickpeas Called by m an y n am es— Garbanzos (Spanish); Ceci (Italian)— chickpeas are round, tan, and very hard. Widely used in M editerranean and M iddle Eastern cuisines, chickpeas roll into soups, stews, salads, and sandwiches. Mixed w ith tahini (crushed sesame seeds) and spices, m ashed chickpeas become h u m m u s; p a r­ boiled and ground, they can be fried or grilled to become falafel. M ost often sold precooked in cans, dry chickpeas are readily avail­ able. Cook 3 cups peas in 4 cups w ater for 4 cups of cooked beans. F lageolets These luxury legumes come from France, w here they are a m ain ingredient of th a t cold-w eather classic cassoulet and alongside the m ost delicate entrees. Either w hite or green, these small kidney-shaped beans are available dried, flash frozen, and canned. Cooked in 3 cups of water, 1 cup of dry flageolets yields approxim ately 2 cups cooked beans. K idney B eans Probably the most popularly used legume in this country, these large beans are nam ed for their kidney shape and deep red color. Best k now n in chili— w ith and w ithout m eat— they also find their way into soups, salads, and casseroles. Available dry or canned, l ‘/2 cups of dry kidney beans cooked in 3 cups of w ater yields two cups cooked beans. L entils Small, flat red or brow n seeds that look like tiny b u t­ tons, lentils can be found in alm ost all of the world's cuisines. Easily digested and quick to cook since they need no soaking, lentils form a protein-rich base for soups and purees, hot or cold salads, casse­

Eating to Live

329

roles, or simply combined w ith rice and vegetables for a satisfying meal. One cup of dry lentils cooked in 3 cups of w ater yields 2 xk cups cooked beans.

Lima B eans Small fresh beans are often called Fordhooks or, dow n South, butterbeans, w ith the lima label going m ost often to the dry version. However, small or large, fresh or dry, these flavorful beans add variety to your m enu. Mixed w ith whole kernel corn, fresh limas emerge as succotash, while dried beans add body to soups, stews, an d casseroles. Large limas have a stronger taste th a n their smaller counterparts, and some cooks say they should be skinned before using th em in soups or purees. Two cups dried limas cooked in 2 lk cups w ater yields approximately 2 cups cooked beans. P eas Look in your m arket for a variety of fresh peas. W hether they are whole garden or shell peas or the two delicious edible pod varieties— the flat snow peas and plum per sugar snap peas— they definitely belong on your table. Delicate in flavor and sweeter tasting w h e n fresh or fresh frozen, peas— both green an d yellow— are also sold dried. Exceptionally well endow ed w ith soluble fiber— about 2.7 grams per half cup—whole peas can be added to a healthy diet to help lower cholesterol, control blood sugar, and even lower blood pressure. One cup of whole dry peas cooked in 3 cups of w ater d o u ­ bles in volume. P in to B eans, P in k B eans an d R ed B eans Pintos are b ro w n ­ ish pink spotted w ith brow n while pink beans are solid brown-rose. Red beans, on the other hand, are solid brow nish red. All three vari­ eties look like m iniature kidney beans and are similar in taste. Therefore all can be used interchangeably in recipes. Cooked in 3 cups of water, 2 cups of dry pintos, pinks, or reds will yield an equal portion of cooked beans. Soybeans Quite possibly the m ost im portant, not to m ention versatile, food on this planet, soybeans and the wide spectrum of products m ade from soy have been found to promote health in n u ­ m erous ways: lowering blood cholesterol and unclogging arteries; preventing and/or dissolving gallstones; reducing triglycerides; reg­ ulating blood sugar; regulating the bowels and relieving constipa­ tion; decreasing cancer risk, an d even replacing estrogen levels in postm enopausal wom en. Eating soy foods of any type six times a

330

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

How To Cook Legumes Like grains, dried beans and peas expand greatly when cooked. One cup dried beans— approximately V2 pound—renders between 2 V2 and 372 cups cooked beans. Pick through your dried beans and remove any pebbles and debris, as well as any shriveled beans that may have found their way through the packaging process. Then wash in cold water and drain. • Soak your dried legumes. All dry beans and peas, except split peas, lentils, and black-eyed peas, should be soaked before cooking. This next step is not essential if you have sufficient cooking time; however, it generally produces a better product because it leaches out some of the indigestible sugars and serves to improve the flavor and texture as well as the appearance of the beans. • Traditional soaking method: In a large pot, cover dry beans or peas with 6 cups cold water per pound of beans. Cover loosely with a lid or plastic wrap. Let soak at room temperature for six to eight hours or overnight. Drain, rinse, and cook. (If soaking for longer than overnight, refrigerate beans.) • Quick soak method: Cover washed beans in 6 to 8 cups hot water per pound of dry beans. Heat water to rolling boil, stir, and cook beans for two minutes. Cover pot and turn off heat. Let beans stand for an hour. Drain thoroughly, rinse, and cook. • Basic cooking: Put soaked beans into a large pot or Dutch oven. Add 6 cups fresh water per pound of beans. Add seasoning spices (but not salt—it'll keep beans from softening) and vege­ tables at this point. Also add 1 teaspoon cooking oil to prevent foaming. Bring liquid to a boil; cover loosely to vent top and allow steam to escape; reduce heat and simmer beans between and two or more hours until beans are tender. (Cooking time depends upon size and dryness of the beans, hardness of the water, and the altitude.) You can add a pinch of baking soda to the cooking water to speed up hard water cooking time. An­ other hint: Avoid adding acidic ingredients such as vinegar, to­ matoes, or lemon juice to the cooking water until the beans are almost cooked as the acid deters softening.

Eating to Live

331

• Special cooking methods: Beans and peas can be cooked in the pressure cooker, following manufacturer's instructions. Cooking time will be from ten to forty minutes. You can also use a slow cooker, in which case beans will take ten to twelve hours at low heat; five to six at high heat. Follow manufacturer's instruc­ tions.

w eek has been proved to reduce abnormally high blood cholesterol by as m u ch as 20 percent. Because the beans themselves require a very long cooking time, soybeans are m ost often consum ed as a processed food— flour, tofu, miso paste, milk, and even ferm ented as soy sauce. If you w a n t to cook dry soybeans to use in soups or stews, 2 cups beans, cooked in 2 cups water, yields approximately P /2 cups cooked soybeans.

Split P eas Very small and flat on one side, split peas require no soaking and cook very quickly. (Don't use your pressure cooker or you'll have a mess on your hands!) M ost often, green split peas are used as the basis of a hearty soup or puree enriched w ith p o ta ­ toes, carrots, onions, and leeks . . . plus assorted herbs and spices. Yellow split peas are the pease in British Pease Porridge and Indian dhal. Both varieties have a soft, grainy texture m arked w ith a dis­ tinct, rich flavor. One cup dried split peas, cooked in 3 cups water, yields 2 !A cups cooked split peas. W hite B eans You can find several varieties of w hite beans in any grocery store: Great Northern, cannellini, navy or Yankee beans, m arrow beans and pea beans or pigeon peas. Smaller navy or pea beans are favored in traditional Boston baked bean dishes, while Great N orthern are easily substituted for flageolets in cassoulets and casseroles. Cannellini, w hich are also called w hite kidney beans, are popular in Italian foods. The yield varies w ith the size of the individ­ ual beans, averaging 2 cups cooked beans per IV2 cups dry beans cooked in 3 cups water.

THE POWER OF PROTEINS We Americans eat vast quantities of anim al proteins, far more th a n could ever be considered healthy. We have been brainw ashed into

332

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

thinking th at not only do we get adequate nuitrition from this, but th a t m eat and fish are the only good, not to m ention complete, sources of protein available. This is patently untrue! Grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and green leafy vegetables are a b ­ solutely packed w ith protein. It would be alm ost impossible to eat a two thousand-calorie vegetable-based diet th a t includes all six cate­ gories of vegetarian foods w ith o u t ingesting fifty gram s of complete protein. We have been told that we need forty to fifty gram s of p ro ­ tein per meal, w hen in fact our bodies require a m ere forty to fifty gram s of protein per day. Protein provides th e body w ith the building blocks that m ake muscles, blood, horm ones, and new tissue. While it is a vital and necessary com ponent of one's diet, the m ost recent research shows th at m ost Americans consum e as m u ch as five times m ore protein th a n is necessary to m eet their actual m etabolic needs. Research has show n th at too m u ch protein is not healthy, and has been actively connected to tissue-breakdow n diseases such as arthritis. The protein found in anim al m uscle tissue is far more concen­ trated th an the plant protein found in w hole grains, dark green veg­ etables, and legumes. W hen you eat a meal heavily laden w ith anim al proteins, it overloads the body. Concentrated protein has been proven not only to leach calcium from the bones, w hich leads -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------

Potent Vegetable Sources o f Protein Whole Grains: millet, corn, barley, brown rice, quinoa, amaranth, triticale, etc. Legumes: lentils, chick peas, alfalfa sprouts, aduki beans, lima beans, soy and soy-based products, etc. Dark Green Vegetables: kale, collards, broccoli, spinach, etc. Nuts and Seeds: almonds, cashews, walnuts, pecans, pistachios, macadamias, and nut butters made from them.

Eating to Live

333

to osteoporosis, b u t it also dam ages the kidneys by clogging th e fil­ ters. This has been k now n to lead to kidney failure. In contrast, a balanced vegetarian diet supplies the body's p ro ­ tein needs w ith o u t dealing a dam aging blow to th e system. The false idea prom ulgated by the m eat in d u stry th a t p lan t protein is incom ­ plete and lacking some vital am ino acids is a com plete m yth. N ature simply cannot m ake a soybean, potato, or grain of w h eat w ith o u t using all the sam e am ino acids (the “building blocks" of protein) required by the m etabolism of hum an s. Vegetable proteins, eaten th ro u g h o u t the day in a w ell-balanced vegetarian diet, are each “ com plete" in their ow n w ay and will be m etabolized quite completely, finding their w ay to the liver and o th er tissues w here they will be used as needed. A nother selling point for a vegetarian diet: com bining proteinrich vegetable dishes increases protein absorption by approxim ately 30 percent.

FATS FOR FITNESS In the average A m erican diet, w e receive nearly h alf— th a t's 45 p er­ cent— of our total calories from fat. This has tak en its toll in m aking A m ericans some of the least nourished and m ost overw eight people in the w orld. W hile w e should n o t avoid fat completely, num erous studies have confirm ed th a t a high percentage of fat intake is a huge contributing factor in all kinds of diseases, from breast cancer to h eart disease. That said, it is im portant to differentiate betw een the kinds of fats, and w h a t they each will do to the body. Omega-3 fatty acids, w hich are found in some fish, have been show n to be good for the h eart. The essential fatty acids in sesam e seeds, sunflow er seeds, safflower seeds, and soy beans are vital for the m ain ten an ce of health, grow th, horm one production, and o th er im p o rtan t fu n c­ tions. W hile it is im portant to have a variety of fats in the diet in sm all am ounts, it is not necessary to add tablespoons of fat in the form of oil w h en grains, legum es, fish, seeds, and n u ts are plentiful in your diet. All fats are n o t created equal. There are tw o kinds— saturated

334

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

an d u n satu rated . S aturated fats are found in anim al food sources such as m eat and dairy products. U n satu rated fats are m ainly found in grains, legum es, seeds, n u ts, and the oils derived from them , in ­ cluding corn oil, safflower oil, sunflow er oil, and soy oil. These fats are far b etter for you because they provide certain essential fatty acids. These fatty acids help control high blood pressure and re g u ­ late the ability of substances to en ter and leave cells. Your daily consum ption of calories from fat probably should be lim ited to 15 percent of your total caloires, an d these should be from your regular consum ption of grain, legum es, n u ts, and seeds.

15 WEIGHTY MATTERS

ot surprisingly, m ost of the people w ho en ter any healthoriented program have w eight issues. M any of th e participants in the study groups leading up to the developm ent of this protocol w ere m u ch like M onique J., w ho told me: I had reached a point where I refused to buy any more clothing until I lost weight. The clothes that I used to wear did not look good on me any longer, and on two occasions, I had to buy cloth­ ing two sizes bigger just to have something to wear. In addition, climbing staircases and sometimes walking fast had become a painful, stressful experience, particularly during the winter, when I had to wear a heavy coat and boots. Although I had taken part in many exercise classes and did some exercise on occasion at home, I felt that I could and should be doing better. I felt that I was stuck and needed to do something to give me a push, some kind of discipline in my life. I never seemed to find enough time to attend to all the tasks that I assigned myself for the week, in particular household tasks. There were times when I wanted to accomplish some tasks, but I did not have the energy to do so. In the course of the protocol, I have lost fifteen pounds, almost without effort, just by eliminating meat and dairy products, wheat, chicken, turkey, and by drinking the green juice daily and eating

335

336

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program only organic food. The nutritional supplements have also been helpful. The exercise program has also helped. I could have done even better, if it was not for some interruptions in the exercise and time spent outside of New York on two occasions when I could not apply the protocol. The heaviness that I used to experience before the program when climbing stairs or trying to walk fast has greatly diminished.

A participant in th e study group com posed of people w ith sig­ nificant w eight issues, Carol J. also had a lot to say about w eight. In addition to obesity, Carol w as also plagued by arth ritis in her legs, knees, and neck th a t h ad her in alm ost co n stan t pain. I was significantly overweight at 215 pounds and five-feet, five and a half inches tall. It embarrassed me to be that heavy. I felt as though I was saying to the world that I had problems I could not or would not deal with—and that was correct. I felt lonely most of the time. I was surprised to find that, after only a month of sticking rigidly to the dietary part of the program, all the aches and pains were gone. I didn't need pain killers after that first month. Feeling better physically helped me feel better emotionally. The immediate success gave me the motivation to stick with the program. I started losing weight and have slowly but steadily lost in the past year. I had never been able to lose more than thirty pounds and never kept it off for more than a year. At this point, I have lost fifty-five pounds and I am still losing, rather than regain­ ing, as I would have in the past. Before you begin any w eight m an ag em en t program , you need to know, first of all, w h at your ideal w eight is . . . and how to reach th a t w eight.

EXACTLY HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU WEIGH? Forget about those in su rance-in d u stry height and w eight charts. There's a sim ple form ula th at is used to calculate the m ost desirable w eight for your body.

Eating to Live

337

For w om en, allow one h u n d red pounds for the first five-feet of height and add five pounds for each additional inch. For m en, start w ith 106 pounds for the initial five feet and add six pounds per ad d i­ tional inch. For exam ple, a w om an w ho is five-foot, six-inches tall should w eigh 130 pounds; for a six-foot m an, the ideal w eight is 178 pounds. Once you know w h at your best w eight is, it's quite sim ple to com pute the num ber of calories— actually, kilocalories— your body will need to m ain tain this ideal w eight. If you w eigh m ore th a n your ideal, you are obviously, consum ing m ore calories th a n are necessary to m ain tain this w eight. To do this, create a baseline th a t equals ten calories of ideal body w eight. Then add three calories per pound for a sedentary person; five calories per pound for one w ho is m oderately active, and ten calories per pound for one w ho regularly exercises at a strenuous level. I hate to break the new s to you: unless you are an Olympic a th ­ lete or, possibly, the m o th er of three preschoolers, you are probably only m oderately active at best. M ost ad u lts— and, sadly, m ost young people, too— are sedentary, if tru th be told. Using this form ula, our five-foot, six-inch w om an, w hose ideal w eight is 130 pounds, w ould need approxim ately 1690 calories per day to m ain tain th a t w eight level. If she w eighs more th a n 130, she is no doubt consum ing m ore th a n 1690 calories per day to stay th a t way. Our six-foot m an w hose perfect w eight is 178 pounds is a com ­ petitive ru n n er w ho trains intensely th ro u g h o u t the year and runs in approxim ately thirty-five races per year. He w ould need 3560 cal­ ories per day to m ain tain th a t body w eight w hile training; 2670 calo­ ries per day w h en not training. By determ ining your ideal w eight and the calories you need to m ain tain th a t w eight, you will be able to divide your nu tritio n al needs in the proper proportions for optim al health.

CHOOSE TO LOSE-BUT DON’T DIET Diet is crucial. Eat less. Elim inate saturated fats and excess protein, w hich creates toxicity in our body, in our liver, w hile m aking us feel sluggish. These fats and protein create both edem a or w ater re te n ­

338

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

tion and dehydration. I also recom m end going vegetarian and organic. Because body w eight obeys the fu n d am en tal laws of th erm o d y ­ nam ics— calories tak en in vs. calories b u rn e d —w eight loss occurs w h en th e body burns m ore calories th a n it consum es. Therefore, a 155-pound w om an w hose ideal body w eight is 130 pounds should effectively lose w eight on a 1690-calorie food plan plus m oderate exercise. As I've already explained, carbohydrates— especially the com ­ plex carbohydrates found in w hole grains, fruits, and vegetables, for exam ple, rath e r th a n the sim ple carbohydrates found in w hite breads, pastas, cakes and cookies, ice cream s, candies, and soft d rinks— and proteins— especially from vegetable sources— are p ref­ erable to fats. You can have a huge bow l of rice and sauteed vegeta­ bles and feel totally satiated for far few er calories th a n are in a fastfood cheeseburger w ith extra m ayo and a side of fries. I recom m end eating six small m eals per day ra th e r th a n the tra ­ ditional th ree squares. In this way, you will m ain tain a balance in your blood sugar and th e level of n u trie n ts in your body. Eat for h ealth an d strength , co ncentrating on the n u tritio n al value of your foods in the am o u n ts you have d eterm ined will m a in ­ tain your ideal body w eight, and w eight loss will follow.

INSIDE MOVES

V

16 MENTAL GYMNASTICS

L taying young is an inside job. J This is not to say th a t age is only a state of m ind. Still, despite the physical aspects, such as diet and exercise, self-em pow erm ent and behavior m odification have proven to be essential to th e success of this program . M ost of us eagerly begin som ething new — such as m y Reversing the Aging Process protocol—w ith great en th u siasm and every in te n ­ tion to succeed. However, as tim e goes on w e begin to lose our focus; the energy, the joy th a t called us forth dissipates. We retu rn to the plodding, lifeless pace th a t had governed us before w e began this project. The self-im pow erm ent/behavior m odification com ponent of the Reversing the Aging Process protocol has proven extrem ely im por­ tant. Before it w as added, there w ere dropouts/incom pletions in vir­ tually every study group Before we can truly m ake a m ajor change in our lives, we m u st m odify our outlook and gain deeper u n d erstan d in g of our Selves. We m u st first learn to have a sense of Self and also a love of our Self. To identify this, I recom m end starting w ith the Self-Im pow erm ent questions, and m oving from there. Once w e have questioned our value systems, th en and only th en can w e affect change. The protocol th en becom es easy to follow and adopt as a w ay of life. W hen we look at how the body ages, we cannot overlook the

341

342

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

trem endous im pact our th ough ts, beliefs, an d values have on th e acceleration as well as the slowing dow n of the overall aging proc­ ess. W hile fueling th e body w ith n u trie n ts a n d supplem ents is vital, as is exercise and daily introspection an d reflection, there is a grow ­ ing body of evidence th a t points to the am azing affect our th o u g h ts have on our biochem istry an d our im m u n e system . Chronic negative em otions such as anger, guilt, resen tm en t, frustration, worry, sa d ­ ness, and depression elevate the adren al gland's production of c a te ­ cholam ines and cortisol, w hich, in consistently h ig h levels, suppress our im m u n e system an d accelerate th e aging of our organs. Look at how our belief system s an d th o u g h ts, em otions, beh av ­ iors, and relationships affect and determ in e our levels of happiness and, in turn , our overall health. These questions enable you to ex a m ­ ine your beliefs. Set aside a period of quality tim e for yourself to carefully co n ­ sider each question an d how it affects your life. A ddress only one or tw o questions each day . . . taking care th a t you answ er each co n ­ sciously and completely. In this way, you w ill be sure to identify your strengths and w eaknesses an d th e areas in your life th a t bear atten tio n .

SLOW YOUR MIND TO THE SPEED OF LIFE LIVING IN CONSCIOUS ATTENTION 1. Are our goals more important than our

lives?

2. To create a new reality— step back and look—at the facts— what are they? How do they affect me or others? How should I feel about them? Do they match or challenge my preconceived view? What will happen if I accept them as is? Why and how can I rearrange and then reinterpret the data to correspond to my previous input? Do the facts invalidate my beliefs? Can I tolerate being wrong? What will change? 3. Wisdom is not a reaction but an awareness of the truth of the present moment. 4. What inspires your curiosity?

Inside Moves

343

5. What comes from a mind that is: a. b. c. d. e.

Overly critical and judgmental Always analyzing Distressed Serious Always trying to control everyone and everything

6. What comes from a mind that (is): a. Uncontaminated by toxic thoughts? b. Innocent? c. Curious? d. Positive? e. Passionate? f. Accepting? g. Gentle? h. Lets everything go? i. Loves suprises? j. Is up to adventure? k. Can feel comfort in the moment? 7. Can you experience anything without first thinking about it? 8. Where is the center of your experience? 9. When are our experiences effortless? 10. Clear your mind and bliss will follow. 11. What makes you feel comfort and discomfort? 12. With any conflict, we use appropriate verses inappropriate tools? 13. Do we approach problems when we feel good or bad? 14. How do high or low moods alter our approach to problems? 15. What happens when you face a problem from a troubled state of mind? 16. In a happy, relaxed state of mind— how much time do you focus in: a. The past? b. The present? c. The future? 17. Do you overprepare for the past catching up or the future closing in? 18. How do we make a hidden problem or fear or insecurity visible? We become conscious.

344

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

19. To what do we listen with full attention? 20. If the superficial issues scare us, then we panic at the prospect of a fardeeper and closer attention. 21. What would we see if we just observed and took no sides? 22. If we keep ourselves so constantly busy, then we limit what we feel. 23. What in your life is impermanent? 24. How do you deal with finite things? 25. When we suffer from being honest and true, we suffer in innocence. 26. When we suffer from being wrong, we do so in shame and guilt. 27. If you don't face the problem, you can't create a solution. 28. All good things are earned in part by being patient. 29. Silence, stillness, surrender to the moment is not the same as doing nothing. 30. We are impatient for answers? 31. When any problem can not be fully addressed by knowledge and intellectual effort, then faith is the next step. 32. Do we feel more alive and confident: emotionally, physically, spiritually, awake? asleep? 33. What pleasures do we allow—why— how often? 34. What pleasure do we deny ourselves— why? 35. Do we only allow pleasure when we feel we've earned it? 36. What if we applied the same work ethic to the principles of pleasure? 37. Do you allow unstructured time, play, fun, pleasure— how often? 38. If you have succeeded at surviving one crisis after the next, what does this tell you? 39. Where do we feel safe, comfortable— sanctity for quiet moments, free from re­ sponsibility? 40. How do you deal with really finding the right door, but are you using the wrong key? 41. The problem (Reaction)

The solution (Transformation)

42. What boundaries have we accepted from others as if they were our own?

345

Inside Moves

43. Positive EFFORTS =

Negative EFFORTS =

44. Do you find happiness in what you do or negativity in

what youdon't have?

45. List your peak experiences. How do you achieve them? 46. Are you motivated by anticipated need or joy? 47. Do we try to perform tasks and obligations for acceptance or because these things give us pleasures and feel right. 48. Some self-detrimental behaviors are the only pleasures an individual allows one­ self. 49. What pleasures do we oppose? 50. Do we experience life or merely perform life? 51. Material gains generally equal social and personal and professional validation. 52. If you could self-actualize your natural needs, what would be different? 53. Do you try to prove your faith, love, friendship, rather than feel

it?

54. To show a life well lived, must we suffer? 55. Because you have suffered, this should not allow you to feel a moral superiority. 56. How do we make good people feel bad? 57. Do we control through reward/punishment or unconditional encouragement? 58. To what are we enthusiastic? 59. How can we turn low-grade pain into high-level pleasure? 60. Is your life a: a. Drama? b. Comedy? c. Adventure? d. Horror? e. Satire? f. Tragedy? g. Musical? 61. Pleasure expands.

Pain constricts.

62. Every step forward is challenged. How do we respond? 63. How do we become more responsible to the world around us? 64. Why do we have pets?

346

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

65. Learning is a challenge but necessary to our growth. 66. Freedom requires being vulnerable. 67. Do we have pleasure— fear? 68. Our "health efforts" could contribute to our stress. 69. Our beliefs predetermine our future actions. 70. Facts remain— Beliefs change. 71. Our highly repetitive life and beliefs convince us something is right. 72. What happens when, like the Buddha, we become wakeful and detached? 73. What are we attached to? 74. When, where, why do you feel empty? 75. Why don't we make easy decisions? 76. Do you humor and share or fear and hide your uniqueness? 77. Do you feel that your happiness and completeness depends on others? 78. Why can't we make up our minds? 79. Society rewards personal relationships and not autonomy? 80. Are you self-directed or do you seek others' approval? 81. We only appreciate challenges if the effort is difficult and requires sacrifice.

TRANSFORMING YOUR CRISIS 1. How do we live and experience an integral life? 2. What or who creates or influences our beliefs? 3. How do your thoughts, experiences, decisions, feelings, and needs affect your beliefs? 4. With every honest effort to change there is a corresponding urge to resist. 5. Are we born gifted or do we develop these special qualities? If so, at what costs and rewards? 6. Are we willing to begin a new chapter in our lives? Write it out. If we are not willing to begin a new chapter, what in our previous chapter draws us back? 7. Experiement with your life. Do so both in and out of the context of social acceptability.

Inside Moves

347

8. In order to grow we must surrender. What have we refused or not refused to surrender? 9. Lasting growth requires commitment to consistent quality effort; within this growth there are peaks, plateaus and valleys. 10. When you look at what you want to transform, is it in the context of the part or whole of your life? 11. How adaptable are you? a. Feelings. b. Perceptions 12. What is the purpose of self-control— social control—family control— religious control— educational control— medical-health-scientific-historic-geo-political con­ trol? 13. Do we expect to be taught— healed— helped in a specific manner? What if it doesn't happen? 14. What occurs when we are rigid and inflexible? How do you handle a difficult situation? a. b. c. d.

Complain Blame others Seek help from others Take control and seek solutions

16. How do you view people with opposite qualities from yourself? 17. If you were to carefully examine the people in your life who you've given control and power to, what qualities would they possess? 18. Do these people share common bonds? 19. Look at every problem that caused you grief. Whot were the lessons of cause and effect? Did you observe any early signs that something or someone was not going well? What was your response? 20. List the little and big lessons, and how they were learned. Preventative or after the fact? 21. How often do you become defensive? What does this do to your options? 22. Do you try your best—when—why—why not. 23. How often do you offer honest opinions? 24. If something doesn't make sense, how do you deal with it?

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

348

25. How often do you say exactly what you a. b. c. d.

Feel Believe Expect Need

26. Which daily habits do you use that create harmony or conflict? 27. Which resolutions do you keep— why not and why? 28. What positive words do you offer to yourself and others? 29. How can you make your life simpler? 30. When and why do you challenge authority? 31. Describe what no longer works for you. 32. What do you want to learn? Why? 33. Describe all the little things that give you joy. 34. What do you like or not like about your work? 35. Which dreams have you tried to make happen? 36. Describe what anyone else does that bothers you? What have you done about it? 37. Which responsibilities would you rather not have? 38. Which of your expectations of others are not being met? How does this affect you? 39. Stop before you commit yourself to a reaction. What other choices do you have? 40. Which pressures or stresses do you allow that you shouldn't? 41. What would you do with more free time? 42. Do you work too little/ too much? At what affect? 43. Would you feel better if you worked for yourself? 44. How many things do you leave undone? Why? Do you begin something else and not finish that as well? 45. What do you do with a problem? a. b. c. d.

Talk it to death Deny its importance Give it over to someone else Look for positive solutions

Inside Moves

349

46. Would your changing be accepted, tolerated, or rejected by others? 47. Do you trust in the wrong people and purposes? 48. Who else would you prefer to be? Why? 49. What can you afford or not afford? How does this affect your life— health— happiness? 50. What sacrifices have you made because of the choices you've made? a. Gains b. Losses 51. Whose opinions do you value the most? Why?

WHO ARE YOU REALLY? 1. What determines our choices? a. Certainty b. Doubt 2. With certainty there is no doubt. 3. We learn so well, we don't have doubts, and we don't reflect on what we do. 4. No doubts. No choices. 5. An absolute belief— unshakable; does not mean it is correct. Nor is the phenom­ enon stable. 6. How does each Life Energy accept or not accept their lives? a. Emotional— boredom— jealousy—fear—frustration— apathy. b. Body— depression— overweight— no energy— sickly— indigestion— insom­ nia— constipated. c. Acting out— no risks— procrastination— passive— blaming— never sure— denial. 7.

Which energy has talent?

8. What do others have that you do not? 9. Only when you know who you really are will you then know how to live. 10. Dreams can only come true when our vision is

focusedand clear.

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

350

11. Who or what clouded or blocked your vision? a. b. c. d.

Parents Teachers Friends Society

12. Who saw no value in it? a. b. c. d.

Parents Teachers Friends Society

13. Crises will frequently allow us an opportunity to bring suppressed qualities into this moment. 14. Change the name of your crisis and alter its significance. 15. How does each life energy end and begin things? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BREAK THE RULES BE A REBEL FOR A CHANGE! 1. Prepare a detailed survey of where you are versus where you need to be. a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k. I. m. n. o. p. q. r.

View of self View of life Your age— emotional / biological / spiritual / physical Your career Your friends Your family Your sex life Your assertiveness Your anger / anxiety / depression / boredom / joy / passion Your health Your creative self Your security Your compulsions / addictions Your education Your responsibilities / social / worldly / personal / work / friends Your spiritual self Your hobbies Your connection to the past

Inside Moves

351

s. Your fantasies t. Your stuff u. Your adventurer/explorer self Your communication V. w . Your quality time 2. Which is more significant: a. Success in work b. Success in society c. Living in peace and balance with life 3. Should you diminish the moment for what you yearn for? 4. By changing your words you change your actions a. b. c. d. e. f. 9h. i.

1can't 1don't know I'm no expert I'm stupid I'm not creative I'm unlucky I'm unloved I'm not sure I'm no hero

Which is real: a. The thought b. The feeling c. The emotion 6. To what do we consciously and unconsciously submit? 7. When we listen nonjudgementally we hear everything. 8. Everything we attract we mirror consciously or unconsciously, we just don't al­ ways like the consequences. 9. If you have experienced love and still need love, what then are you seeking? 10. Success gives you . . . Failure gives you . . . Where will each take you? 11. How many right choices did you make today? 12. How do we affirm ourselves? a. Quietly b. Meekly

v.

352

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

c. Apologetically d. Affirmatively e. Demandingly 13. How well do you do everything? What determines the quality of your efforts? 14. We frequently don't make changes or take appropriate risks because we don't know how we are supposed to accomplish the task. 15. Don't ask how— rather, affirm when you will engage in a transformational process. 16. Break the rules— Do it Differently. 17. What purpose have you created for your life and legacy? 18. When are you ready to learn? 19. What keeps us within the circle of the known? a. b. c. d. e.

Celebrity Nutrition Power Science Success f. Medicine g- School h. Religion i. Politics i- Business k. History 20. What determines how and what you think about? 21. Which is more relevant, the circumstances or your view of them? 22. What you are seeking is what you should think of. 23. Do we support Social Psychosis? Are we fervent? rigid? a. Cold War b. War and crime c. Sexual liberation 24. Who or what manufactures your thoughts? 25. How much do you need to achieve harmony? 26. A frequent dual exists— Intelligence vs. Action 27. We hide or run from what? It doesn't matter.

Inside Moves

353

28. What is more important, the event or our response to it? 29. What happens when you don't want anything from anybody? 30. Do we give exclusively in order to receive exclusively? 31. Affirm "yes" and stand by it— don't hesitate or equivocate. 32. Do we honor our individual capacity for experience? 33. Don't overly glamorize someone or something that cannot live up to your ideas or fantasies. 34. Our lives are illuminating and dark. Which do you create— indirectly or directly? 35. Negative energy vibrates the darker side. 36. Positive energy vibrates health and healing and happiness. 37. What are you willing to connect with? Why?

V.

17 MAKING CONSCIOUS CHOICES

1 m agine th a t you're driving tw o h u n d re d m iles in a sparsely popuI lated m idw estern state, such as K ansas. The land is flat. The sce­ nery, th o u g h pretty, is m on o to n o u s— m ostly cornfields. There a re n 't m any o ther drivers on th e long, level highw ay, and those you e n ­ counter are courteous. A fter aw hile you feel you know w h a t to ex ­ pect; You sense th e road is going to contin u e along in the sam e w ay th a t it has. So you becom e a very com fortable, com placent driver. You p u t on cruise control. You becom e a little less alert. A nd as long as you d o n 't fall asleep, this is probably okay. Now im agine th a t you're driving tw o h u n d re d m iles in a n o rth ­ eastern state, such as New Jersey. Road conditions are going to be changing m uch m ore rapidly and dram atically here. You'll be in ­ volved in som e heavy traffic in the m etro p o litan New York and P hil­ adelphia areas. You'll be traveling on congested highw ays w ith confusing intersections, and you'll have to contend w ith som e crazy drivers, the kind w ho insult you for no reason and cut you off w ith ­ out notice. Since New Jersey is a com pact state w ith diverse geogra­ phy, you'll also be going th ro u g h su b u rb an and rural areas, and you'll see a variety of views, including in d u strial blight, shopping m alls, lushly landscaped suburbia, and bucolic countryside. Some of th e road will be flat, b u t you'll also h it ups an d dow ns. In short, in this region, you're always going to be som ew hat u n su re about w h at or w ho is com ing up next. You'll have to be alert every m inute, ta k ­ ing in the changing scene, anticipating w h a t's up ahead.

354

Inside Moves

355

Here's m y point: We should all be going th ro u g h life as if w e're driving through New Jersey. But m any of us are acting as if w e're on the road in Kansas. We've p u t on cruise control. We th in k w e know w h a t's up ahead. The problem is, to echo Dorothy in The Wiz­ ard of Oz, w e're not in Kansas anym ore. Like it or not, you have to adm it— life today is getting m ore and m ore like a trip through New Jersey. It's filled w ith the good, the bad, and the ugly, w ith the beautiful, th e bew ildering, and some rude surprises; the only constant is th a t the road's changing all the tim e. U nfortunately, this constant change m ay be h ard to come to grips w ith. It's only n atu ral to assum e th a t our w orld will continue to look and function as it has. After all, w h en w e're toddlers first finding out about the world, w e learn from past experience. If we learn on M onday th a t pots on the stove are too hot to touch, on Tuesday w e assum e th a t they'll still be too ho t to touch. M om m y never likes us to ru n into the street, and she always likes us to say "please" and "th a n k you." Those early, basic things w e learn about the world d o n 't change, w hich is good, because th a t's how w e're able to grow up in one piece. W hole societies used to be as u n changing as the personal w orld of toddlers. A grarian cultures existed for h u n d red s of years doing things exactly the sam e way century after century. But as history w ent on, and especially in the past three h u n d red years, the pace of cultural change picked up. Now, as Alvin Toffler describes in his book Future Shock, th a t pace is continually accelerating. (By the way, this book m akes interesting reading, no t only because it describes accelerating change, b u t because it illustrates it: Published in 1970, it's filled w ith details about technology and social trends th a t are now totally passe. This brilliant book em bodies its ow n point about the ru sh of the future by being, in certain respects, as dated as a dinosaur!)

WHERE WE ARE NOW? Today our w orld is changing so fast, it seem s alm ost im possible to keep up. As I w rite this, in m id -1998, a movie is being m ade called You've Got Mail. It's a rom antic com edy in w hich E-m ail plays a cen­ tral role in uniting the protagonists. The interesting thing is th a t the

356

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

director, Nora Ephron, is quoted in th e new spaper as saying th a t the movie has to come out “ in the nex t five m in u tes," because E-m ail will soon becom e a dated technology, to be replaced by a new com ­ m unications m ode w ith a video com ponent. It seem s as if our social an d cultural environm ent is evolving so quickly th a t a year is like a decade used to be. Let's take all this dow n to the personal level. If w e m ake the m istake of assum ing th a t the w orld's unchan g in g , w h at happens? Well, first of all, w e m ay find ourselves unem ployed. This has h a p ­ pened to m illions of people. They d id n 't both er to learn the new skills, m ostly com puted-related, th a t are needed by w orkers today. Or they w ere living w ith th e job w orld paradigm s of the past. For instance, they still h ad th a t old idea about com pany loyalty, and assum ed th a t if a com pany hired you and you did a good job, they'd keep you on for life. That one w en t out years ago, b u t these people d id n 't notice. Or right now, m any people are still assum ing th a t the place consum ers buy things is a store. That assu m p tio n w as a re a ­ sonable one yesterday, b u t it's no t going to be tom orrow , because th e so-called “ e-econom y,'' w ith people buying things on-line, is taking hold. Jobwise, if a person's not on his or her toes and ready to m ove w ith the changes, he's likely to find him self unem ployed. Then th e person w inds u p sitting at hom e, blam ing the system , and w ondering w h at happened. W hat happened w as th a t th a t individual m ade the m istake of assum ing th a t the w orld w as going to co n tin u e in the sam e way, and it d id n 't. We can m ake th at m istake in th e relationship area as well. People change. W hat if your spouse grows in certain ways th at you d o n 't acknow ledge? Your m arriage will founder. You can 't a s­ sum e th a t your relationship is going to stay the sam e as it was on your w edding day. And yet if you're a baby boom er w ho w as brought up w ith the set of rom antic notions prevalent in the fifties, you m ay be assum ing exactly that. Think about it, baby boom ers. R em em ber fairy tales? This g en er­ ation— at least the older part of it—w as the last to w hich fairy tales w ere told w ith o u t a sense of cynicism or irony. They w ere still an accepted form of children's en tertain m en t, and society w as not m aking fun of them yet. Consider w h at h appens in fairy tales. Peo­ ple have trials and tribulations, but they always end up together, living happily ever after. And you can probably th in k back to w hat

Inside Moves

357

“ happily ever after" m ean t to you as a child. It m ean t th a t the rela­ tionships of Cinderella and Prince C harm ing, Sleeping Beauty and h er prince, Jack and the B eanstalk and his m other, and the three little pigs, w ere going to continue along unchanging and blissful for m any, many, m any years. These people w ere going to get real old and probably die before they had a bad day together! Needless to say, if you're unconsciously using this tem plate for your relatio n ­ ships, you're m aking a big m istake. On th e deepest level, you can m ake the m istake of not acknow l­ edging the changes in your ow n self. We age, and w e m ay no t w an t to see that. But look, aging isn 't all bad. W hen I talk about reversing the aging process, I'm talking about u ndoing unnecessary dam age w e've inflicted on our cells and organ system s, because I believe th at suffering from prem ature degenerative disease is bad. But aging as a concept has its good aspects. You can be evolving spiritually and emotionally. You can even be im proving physically; I know people w ho are in b etter shape in their seventies th a n they w ere decades earlier, because they w orked at im proving their fitness. You have to w ork w ith change, as opposed to ignoring it. Did you ever see a m iddle-aged person w ho's got the exact sam e hair style, hair color, clothes, eyeglass fram es, and m akeup she h ad w h en she w as eighteen? Did you ever m eet a m atu re baby boom er w ho acts as if it's still the 1960s and w e're in the “ sum m er of love''? There's som ething ridiculous about these people. It's as if they h av en 't bothered to open their eyes in years. People w hose eyes are open are always asking questions: W here am I right now ? W hat's happening out there in the w orld? W hat's ahead, and how do I w an t to fit into it? Or no t fit into it? W hat exactly is m y plan— and why? Here are som e m ore related questions and ideas.

Som e th in g s in life are p erm an en t. M any aren't. Do you ack n o w led g e th is? We like to th in k th a t perm anency is a big part of our lives. We w an t constancy, stability; w e w an t our jobs, love relationships, and friendships to last forever. The trouble is, m ost things in life are not p erm anent. Change is the norm . So if w e try to hold on to som ething, we usually only create stress. There are people and things in our lives th at we m ust

358

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

recognize from the beginning are only tem porary. O ther things can be m ain tain ed on a m ore p e rm a n en t basis. Let's look at som e im p o r­ ta n t parts of life. R e la tio n s h ip s There is no such th in g as a p erm an en t rela­ tionship. A lthough som e people stay w ith us th ro u g h o u t our lives, w e should n o t feel th a t they m ust. As long as w e can enjoy pleasure and beauty in a relationship, w e should m a in ta in it, b u t once th a t is no longer happening, it m ay be tim e to let it go. The fact th a t som eone's been in your life for aw hile does not m ea n you can take th em for granted, an d this applies to friendships as w ell as to m ore in tim ate relationships. Each year on Jan u ary 1, I m ake a list of m y friends. I'll look at each n am e and ask, "A m I really a friend? Do I ho n o r the relationship? W hat do I give th a t m akes the relationship im p o rtan t and alive? A nd w h a t does th e o th er person contribute to the friendship?" If I find th a t I'm no t h o noring the relationship, or th a t it's n o t m u tu al, I sim ply let it go. In the future, th e friendship m ay or m ay n o t revitalize, depending u p o n the needs of both individuals. Here's a key question to ask yourself ab o u t any relationship: What would I do differently if permanency wasn't an assumed part of the relationship? You w ould appreciate every m o m en t together. You w ould hon o r one another. You w ould look for the best and you w ould share it. L ove Love, as a life force, should be p erm an en t, because it is central to life. If love is n o t a p erm an en t factor, everything else b e ­ com es transient. W hen you're filled w ith love, you are in touch w ith your true n ature. You sim ply see things as they are. T hrough love com es reconciliation. Love heals. H e a lth People tend to th in k they're h ealth y if they h av en 't been diagnosed w ith a clinically recognized disease. T hat's a m is­ take, because if you're m aking unw ise lifestyle choices, you could be w ell on your w ay to developing a serious condition th a t ju st h a sn 't reached a crisis stage yet. You're going dow n the w rong road, but you think you're on the right one ju st because there are no obvious signposts saying w r o n g r o a d . Som etim es there a re n 't any u ntil it's too late; w h en it comes to your h ealth you have to be a very savvy traveler.

Inside Moves

359

Security We look for p erm an en t security and th en becom e d e­ p en dent on it. Then w e start dishonoring our true n ature. People w ho assum e the governm ent owes th em a living, or lifelong welfare, people afraid to take risks, w an t p erm an en t security. As a result, they will not challenge their inner dem ons or u n ju st authorities. M aintaining security is m ore im portant. We becom e prisoners w h en w e seek p erm an en t security. Your A p p earan ce The first tim e you look in the m irror and see yourself aging, you d o n 't accept it. You believe the first w rinkle and first gray hair will go away. It's a w ay of denying w h at is happening. Transcending the need to disguise your appearance involves ac­ cepting it and allowing yourself to feel happy w ith w ho and w h at you are at this point in your life. Both m en and w om en suffer angst about their appearance and the aging process. Accept your appear­ ance as temporary. P assion A lthough you need no t feel passionately all the time, it is possible to find passion in everything. You can feel passion as you see som eone's face looking th ro u g h a little bag of belongings, w hich is all they have in the world. Suddenly you sense injustice in the w ay we live; some have so little and others so m uch. In th a t m om ent, you feel hum ility. You realize th a t you've ignored those w ho have nothing, and com plained at no t having enough. The p a s­ sion of the m om ent connects you to w h a t is real and right about life. Passion is an im m ediate bridge betw een the superficiality of our conditioning and the essence of life. Is your n eed for ab solu te security blinding you? If you grow up insecure, th en you are going to look for things th a t are absolute and provide you w ith absolute security. In so doing, you will tend not to look at the contradictions and the lim ita­ tions. Rather, you will accept som ething because it provides you w ith a secure place. Insecurity does not becom e secure because it has found a safe haven. It m erely has a respite before it is confronted w ith additional insecurity. It's better to go th ro u g h the insecurity and at least be free. Then you can grow. People stagnate w h en they hold on to security, even as they go

360

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

th ro u g h the m otions of grow th. They tell m e, for instance, th a t they are going to come to m y lectures and change their lives. Well, they com e to my lectures, but they change nothing. They are so m uch a part of o ther belief system s th a t they can 't let go of them . These individuals are n eith er here nor there. They are in a psy­ chic spasm . They are th e spiritual m aterialists, the people w ho th in k they are grow ing because they experience som ething. Experience, how ever, does not equal know ledge or grow th. You can go to a m il­ lion w orkshops. You can even sit at th e feet of B uddha, Christ, or Confucius. It m eans n o th in g unless it is done w ith an open-ended consciousness. Then th e experience can be used as a w ay of growing. O therw ise, it's ju st an o th er experience.

Are you to o q uick to g en era lize from on e exp erien ce? Som etim es w e m ake our experiences m ore im p o rtan t th a n they should be. Our experiences directly affect our beliefs. Here's how this works: Let's say you go to a vegetarian, m acrobiotic restau ran t. They give you a lum p of brow n rice, some overcooked beans, some toasted sesam e seeds, and soy sauce. You try this and th in k it is tasteless and terrible. From this experience, you form a belief th a t vegetarian food is boring and lim ited. Now you allow your experi­ ence to affect your beliefs. But th a t w as ju st a one-tim e experience. Or you go out w ith a w om an, assum ing th e tw o of you are going to have a lot in com m on. Then you find out th a t you and the w om an really have nothing to share. Not only th at, you argue. That night, you think, “ I d o n 't w a n t to go out w ith any other w om en for a long tim e. If this is w hat I'm going to find, I d o n 't need it." You've a l­ lowed one experience w ith one w om an to affect your beliefs about w om en and relationships in general. This is un fair to w om en and to yourself. Think of how m any tim es we m ake ju d g m en ts and form beliefs based on lim ited experience. If I w ere to judge vegetarian eating based on my experience eating in vegetarian restau ran ts, I'd be a m eat-eater. Luckily, I've allowed m yself to discover the potential of hom e-cooked vegetarian m eals, w hich go way beyond restau ran t fare in variety and tastiness. D on't close yourself off to things w ith ­ out exploring all their facets. W hat b eliefs do you a ccep t u n q u estion in gly? We like to think we w ake up each day feeling how we w an t to

Inside Moves

361

feel. This is only partially true. We m ay adhere to a clean, vegetarian diet b u t be around em otionally toxic people. W e're taking in pure food, b u t w e're also ingesting negative th o u g h ts from people. One's going to undo the benefits of the other. One reason w e m ay be taking in negative tho u g h ts is because our belief system has tau g h t us to be tolerant of other people. We ju st accept things as they are instead of questioning them . Think of the rituals you engage in ju st because your m o th er or father did them . There's a classic exam ple: Every tim e a w om an m ade a rum p roast she w ould cut the end of it off before placing it in the roasting p an and into the oven. W hen asked w hy she did th a t she said it w as because her m other and grandm other did it th a t way. One day the grandm other w as over, and the hu sb an d asked her, "W hy did you cut off the end of the rum p roast?” She said, "O ne day I h ad a rum p roast th a t d id n 't fit in the pan, so I had to cut off the end of it." How m any things do w e do th a t really m ake no sense? Realize th a t you've got a choice. Ask yourself, "Is m y old belief system serv­ ing me, or do I create a new reality?" Creating a new reality can be scary. So m ost people rely upon the old belief system and hence the old p a ttern of behavior. If your m o th er w as used to dealing w ith people by ju st turning off, the likelihood is th a t you've learned to tu rn off, too. But you're not going to acknow ledge th a t she w as the reason for this. It will simply be a n a tu ra l p art of your life. It's al­ m ost like a congenital defect. W e're practically born w ith it, so it's n atu ral to us. We d id n 't acquire it th ro u g h a crisis or accident in life. That w ould have been traum atizing. M any of these things w eren 't traum atizing w hile we w ere grow ­ ing up. We w ere simply little kids w atching our m o th er and father. We w atched how they dealt and adapted. We observed a p a tte rn of behavior. And now w e begin as adults to take on the sam e pattern. Of course as adults, we th in k th a t w e've created this and this is norm al. It's not. This behavior, however, will control how you feel. Here's an exam ple: Let's say you used to see th at your m other d id n 't like w aking up early in the m orning; she couldn't get out of bed. So after aw hile you yourself start your days thinking, "M aybe I can stay in bed a few m ore m inutes," and th en you tu rn the alarm on and off ten tim es. Now as an adult you could get out of bed, but you choose to stay in bed as long as possible. It's becom e a norm al part of your existence. You d o n 't feel good if you have to get up

362

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

early. W hen you've got to get up early, you're grum py, and you're late for appointm ents or work. "O h, I hate getting u p ," you say. So now you're starting your days on a negative footing. A nd it all stem s from an inherited belief system . It has n o th in g to do w ith the m o ­ m en t. You could be com pletely rested, bu t you're going to allow an old, unquestioned assu m p tio n to affect your w hole day.

Did you ever w a k e up and realize th a t so m eth in g is still m issin g? You d o n 't know w h at it is. You're eating right, you're exercising, you're trying to do everything right, b u t it ju st d o esn 't feel as if it's com e together. There seem s to be som ething m issing. The question is— w hat? Let's look at th a t big question m ark. W hen we do everything w e w ere ta u g h t we w ere supposed to do to gain acceptance and we still d o n 't feel th a t we are acceptable, th en doing m ore of the sam e is not going to m ake a difference. You've got to start doing it differently or doing som ething different. H ere's a m edical exam ple: Think of all the surgeons out there w ho truly believe th a t w h a t you need is an o th er coronary bypass o p era­ tion. They've seen m any of their p atien ts have their arteries reocclude, or reclog, a year or tw o after a bypass, and so they're given an o th er operation. I know people w ho have h ad three, four, or even five coronary bypass. Not once have they been told, in a really m e a n ­ ingful way, about m ajor lifestyle changes. It's as if th ere's only one w ay to approach the problem . How m any tim es in life have you repeated p attern s of behavior only to find yourself right back w here you started? How in the w orld do you expect som ething to change if the process is never different? If I keep p u ttin g the sam e ingredients into a recipe and it keeps com ing out bad, I've got to change the ingredients. Yet tim e after tim e I see people in bad relationship after bad relationship. They blam e the relationships. It never occurs to them th at m aybe w h at they're doing in the relationships, one after the other, m ight be lead ­ ing to problem s. How m any tim es in interpersonal relationships have you gotten angry, and th en said som ething to the o th er person know ing it w as going to h urt? You knew w h at to do to gel a response. But did you realize th at w hat you w ere doing w as getting the exact kind of re ­ sponse you did not w an t? At som e point you're going to have to

Inside Moves

363

have the courage to stop everything th a t you're doing in life and re ­ evaluate the w hole life process. T hat's not easy for m ost people. Think of w h at w e have com m itted to our life process: our education, our know ledge, our acceptance by peers and family, our acquisi­ tions, our hom es, our position in society, our standing. M en, in p a r­ ticular, live w ith hierarchical order th at is always there from childhood th a t they're always honoring. W hat if you said, "I'm in the w rong program ? I've got to start all over again"?

We can ch o o se to ch an ge, or w e w ill be forced to ch an ge by accid en t, d eath , firing, illn ess, or oth er loss. Change is part of life. W hen w e feel the need for change, we can be in control of it, or w e can w ait and let circum stances force change upon us. An exam ple: You feel the need to get out of your relatio n ­ ship, b u t you don't. The stress results in disease. Or you feel th at you have outgrow n your job b u t rem ain there instead of m oving on. You get fired and are unprepared for a transition. W hen you procrastinate and say, “ I'll m ake a change later," you're saying, in effect, th at you do not w an t to be in control of the changes th a t occur. You are saying th a t you will let th em h ap p en to you. Isn 't it b etter to ju st deal w ith the m om ent? Learn to m ake needed changes. D o you en g a g e in in tegral th in k in g? We have 28 m illion A m ericans living in gated, w ell-m anicured, guarded com m unities. These generally have a lake and a country club. It takes anyw here from $300,000 to $3 m illion to live in them . There's very little crime, b u t there's a lot of dysfunction. There's no less anger inside those com m unities th a n there is in the ghetto. The difference is th a t the environm ent looks different. Now let's take a look at life energies. At least 85 percent of peo­ ple have w h at I call adaptive supportive energy. They w ork in the post office, as sanitation w orkers, and as secretaries. They plow your corn, m ilk your cows, and cut your hair. These people are the su p ­ port system of the world. If they w eren 't doing their jobs consis­ tently, society w ould dissolve into anarchy overnight. Im agine if you d id n 't have som eone to pick up your garbage for a m onth. W hat if no one grew your food? W hat w ould you do? W ould you hire som e­ one? There w ould be no one to hire, because only the adaptive sup-

364

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

portives are going to be able to do it. W hen w e tu rn on th e w ater, w e d o n 't appreciate w h a t it m eans to have it com e out. We have ho t w ater because som eone m akes th e w ater hot. Som eone builds th e elevators w e ride, and som eone m ain tain s them . We can w alk on lighted streets at n ig h t because som eone m ain tain s th em and changes th e light bulbs. These people are n o t being invited into th e gated com m unities. They d o n 't get in because they're no t m aking th e money. You m ay not th in k about this. You m ay assum e th a t anybody can live there. In reality, n o t everyone can live in the gated co m m u ­ nities, or in th e co-ops on F ifth or Park avenues. Not everyone can afford decent housing in m ore m odest locales. Not everyone can afford housing of any sort. I'm not suggesting th a t w e all should feel guilty and m ove back to the in n er cities. W hat I'm suggesting is th a t w e m ay be p e rp e tu a t­ ing a problem by n o t taking a step back to see how w e can be a p art of the solution. I'm suggesting th a t w e p u t our energies into com m itting ourselves to som ething. We should look at one thing th a t needs changing, and th en focus u p o n th at, using our intellect an d resources. I'm n o t saying, "C hange th e w orld." We like to th in k th a t w e can 't help anybody because there are too m any people out there w ho need help. W hy both er at all? But th a t's faulty thinking. If you can help one person, do it. W hat if you w ere th a t person? W hat if th a t person w as your brother, father, or m other? Suddenly th e help becom es im portant. Im agine if every individual w as to help one o ther person. Im agine if people of various life energies got to ­ g ether to go in and m ake the ghetto a safe place to live. G hettos only becom e ghettos w h e n certain life energies ab an d o n them . They d o n 't have dynam ic energies. W ithout dynam ic energies, all system s fail. No business can succeed w ith o u t a dynam ic energy. D on't ju st th in k about yourself. D on't ju st ask, "W h at's in it for m e?" Stop and th ink in a m ore in teg rated way. I'll give you an ex ­ am ple of integral thinking: My radio show is on New York's WBAI w eekdays at noon. At one point, I spoke w ith the statio n m an ag er about program m ing. A lot of death shows had been scheduled right after m ine because my ratings are so high. The idea w as to get m y audience to expand its tim e listening to the station. By doing this, the station m ade m ore m oney in the short term because, at fund-raising tim e, m y audience

Inside Moves

365

began to order prem ium s during other shows. But at the end of the year, the total listening tim e of the audience dropped. Instead, I felt, a com pletely different show should be scheduled n ear m ine, one th a t has its ow n subject and voice. Such a show could bring its ow n audience and still serve the needs of WBAI. By m aking every hour and every prem ium different, I said, you will have a healthier station in the long term , because each hour will build its ow n audience, ju st as I did. W hen I started m y show, no one was listening. I w as on the dead hour. They p u t m e on at noon because no one else w an ted it. So the short-term idea w as to m ake m oney now. Program now for crisis. But there w as no long-term plan to build a stronger, m ore viable station, m eaning th a t you have to sacrifice im m ediately in order to have a strong future. T hat's w h at w e do in alm ost every part of our society. We w an t it now; w e d o n 't w an t to sacrifice. We d o n 't look at long-term planning. Then w e w onder w hy w e're fat, w hy w e get a heart attack or stroke. These things h appen because w e look only at im m ediate satisfaction, at the short term . We keep postponing fu n d am en tal changes to integrate our life, to get away from tem porary, piecem eal solutions th a t d o n 't w ork. It takes sacrifice and com m itm ent to change your life, as well as to change society for the better. It m eans th a t you have to acknow ledge w h at parts are falling away and pull th em back into the integrated w hole.

W hat in flu en ces your b eliefs? In the 1960s and 1970s, A m erican youth seem ed to question everything. The generation th a t cam e of age th e n believed th a t the system w as corrupt and unethical. We believed th a t our m others h ad given away their power. We believed th a t they w ere n o t being treated equally, and they w ere not. We believed th a t our fathers w ere keeping quiet on im portant social issues. They w eren 't speak­ ing out against racism , sexism, and corporate greed. We w ere right about our parents— to an extent. At the sam e tim e, our parents sacrificed everything for us. To give us a future, they gave up a lot of theirs. T hat's an enorm ous thing to do for someone. That kind of sacrifice takes a lot of love and com m itm ent. In contrast, our generation has sacrificed nothing. We've been

366

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

the greediest bunch in history. We w a n t it now, not tom orrow . We have to buy it, charge it, or steal it. We have no ethics. Individuals do, b u t as a group w e have m ade and spent m ore m oney on o u r­ selves th a n any o ther group in history. And we have less to show for it. C ertainly there is less happiness. We have in sta n ta n e o u s pleasure, b u t no sustained joy. Nor is th ere any spiritual grow th. So, w hile our paren ts d id n 't have control over society, they at least h ad som e control over their ow n lives. They lived w ell w ith in th eir m eans, and they knew how to save. Isn 't it ironic th a t the people w h o d id n 't go into debt or b a n k ­ rupt, d id n 't have to give up th eir hom es and th eir A rm ani suits, w ere our parents? Today, m any of th em are living in Florida, Texas, or California, frequently retired on sm all savings and sm all p e n ­ sions. They found their m eaning in sm aller issues th a n w e did. We tackled the big issues. We started our idealistically. We w an ted to share the w ealth and save th e w orld. But w e forgot about th a t w h en w e started getting rich. Then w e d id n 't w a n t to give the w ealth to the poor. We th o u g h t if w e could m ake it, so could they. We forgot about our liberal views and becam e self-absorbed. At first w e had a sense of co m m itm en t to greater ideals, bu t one day w e w oke up and w e d id n 't believe in a w hole lot. We d id n 't know how to use freedom in a responsible way. M any people's idea of freedom w as to get high, be prom iscuous, and drop out of everything for aw hile. We w ould get angry, b u t n o t use our anger constructively. M uch of th e tim e w e tu rn ed it against our ow n parents. Im agine the m isery w e p u t our p aren ts th ro u g h by co n ­ dem ning them . We w ere insensitive and thoughtless. How do you th in k they m u st have felt know ing they did everything they could to raise us by the conventions they respected, only to have us condem n them ? We forget now. The w ound is healed. Our parents are very giving in forgiving us. But I rem em ber clearly th a t m any people co m m u n i­ cated w ith their parents only by denigrating them . T hat's w hy I stopped joining m ovem ents. I found th at people in the h ealth m ove­ m ent, the an ti-w ar m ovem ent, and the vegetarian m ovem ent hated people in o ther groups w ho w eren 't like them . I w ould think, “ W hat's the difference betw een you hating som eone and them h a t­ ing you? None. H ate's h ate." I started to take a look at the w ay we w ere brought up. I took a

Inside Moves

367

respite from everyone and everything by secluding myself. I becam e introspective because I w an ted to u n d erstan d how we ended up in the m ess w e are in. I d id n 't w an t to be a p art of th a t m ess. I d id n 't w an t to be a victim, like m y parents. A nd I d id n 't w a n t to be an tag o ­ nistic, like m y friends. I w an ted to be part of a healing process. So I took a look at all th a t m y family w as: the best th a t it w as and the w orst th a t it w as. A nd I saw th a t w h a t they believed in th a t allowed th em to feel w hole or fragm ented cam e from their families or w h at they had been taught. They believed in some things th a t m ade sense and some th a t did not. But they d id n 't know how to separate w h a t m ade sense from w h a t did n 't. It w as all or nothing. “This is the w ay it is,” they said. "This is the w ay w e eat.” "This is the w ay we live.” So, it w a sn 't as if w e had an a u n t w ho w as a vegetarian w ho said to eat som e vege­ tarian food. It w as m eat and potatoes and th a t w as it. Or if you w en t to church, everybody w en t to church. M aybe you d id n 't w a n t to go to church, b u t everyone w en t to church on Sunday. You sat there and you tried not to be caught falling asleep. T hat's ju st the w ay it w as. T hat's the w ay we lived. We d id n 't allow for relative expression. We w ere tolerant, b u t our tolerance still honored an obedience to society u n til w e broke th ro u g h — and th e n w e w e re n 't obedient to anything. The trouble was, we w eren 't free for som ething greater th a n th a t w hich w e w ere opposing. We w ere m erely in a vacuum . We w ere angry and w e expressed it in different w ays— some color­ ful, some creative, some sadistic. Everybody h ad a different w ay of show ing w h at they w ere against. Very few people h ad a w ay of constructively show ing w h a t they w ere for. Small groups w ere m ore idealistic. You'd find th em in Esalin, Findhorne, or dow n at The Farm in Tennessee, or at some of the first co-op m ovem ents or w om en's h ea lth collectives. These w ere the m ore positive groups th a t took som ething from all the turm oil and built on it. But m ost people d id n 't build som ething new. M ost w en t right back into th a t old belief system. They w en t right back into the old nonintegrated life. Even m any of the people in the so-called alternative m ovem ents of the tim e w eren 't integrated. They w ould eat vegetarian foods and th en do drugs. Nor w ere they a part of the political process. A rela­ tively sm all percentage of Am ericans protest against any political situation. At the height of the V ietnam War, for instance, only half

368

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

a m illion people w ere out there protesting. So w e h ad m an y A m eri­ cans angry but not constructively seeking change. They w ere im ­ m ersed in their ow n lives, and th eir ow n lives w ere all th a t m attered to them . Even m any of those w ho did protest soon w en t right back into the very society they loathed and becam e a part of it. So they d id n 't learn a lot from their experience. They becam e w h at they feared. They becam e their parents, b u t w ith an attitu d e.

W here d o es your anger origin ate? A nger starts at the point w here th e real self gives up its identity and takes on a false identity, th e persona, in order to exist. If your father w ants you to be a tough little athlete, and you take on the m antle, of your fath er's ego, you becom e terrified inside. You deny your terror and your fear. But there is anger behind those. As you get older, you continue to hold on to th a t anger. You are living o ther people's im ages of you and losing touch w ith w ho you really are. That creates anger. A nger does n o t have to be a negative em otion. I feel anger can be dealt w ith constructively, nonviolently, by acknow ledging it. By acknow ledging the anger, you're acknow ledging th a t the repression th at w as there h u rt you. Ju st show your anger, bring it out, nonlethally, in a w ay th a t allows you to acknow ledge, “Yes, I've held this inside. Now I'm th ro u g h w ith it." W hat w as the cause of it? Express the cause and let it go. W hen you can forgive, past anger no longer needs to be a com panion to the present. D en ial h as to en d so m etim e. There comes a tim e w h en you've got to have som e courage, to stand up, to say, “ I d o n 't like w h a t you are. W hat you are is not nice. You're a m urderer, an anti-Sem ite, a racist. You represent everything th a t's deadly and bad about life. The facts th a t you m ow your law n and pay your taxes and go to church d o n 't m ean anything. Hitler petted his dog. So w h at? W hat are you? It's w h at you are and how you m anifest it th a t count." I d o n 't have a lot of respect for people w ho pride them selves on being part of a collective consciousness. "I'm a D em ocrat," they say. "W e vote Dem ocratic every year." W hy? W hy no t vote for w h at is right and w ho is right on each separate occasion? W hy w ould I w an t

Inside Moves

369

the collective m ind controlling m y life, telling m e w h at to believe in? No th a n k you. Do I w a n t to be controlled by a person w ho believes in the basic four food groups and w ho w o n 't go to see an alternative therapist because if the doctor says th ere's no chance, they'd rath er die th an be cured w ith alternative therapies? There are people w ho literally w ould rath er die th a n deviate from w h at is expected by the accepted authorities. "The doctor m ight get m ad if I try a different approach. I d o n 't w an t to alienate the doctor." I see this all the tim e. We live in a lethal tim e and it's becom ing m ore lethal. T hat's all the m ore reason to accelerate your grow th. You need to u n d erstan d the crisis around you so th a t you d o n 't becom e enm eshed in it. It's easy to becom e im m obilized, dem oralized. T hat's w hy I have respect for m any people w ho are self-employed. I d o n 't usually see th em sitting around com plaining about how bad things are. Rather, they go out and do som ething about it. They tru st in them selves and their ow n abilities. You see, I can spend all day blam ing everyone else for w hy som e­ thing doesn't w ork, or I can go out and try to change som ething to m ake it work, and m ake my life w ork. My life w orks because I m ake it. If my life doesn't work, it's because I m ake it not w ork. I can 't live by influencing m yself negatively and expect positive results. If I go into a cham pionship race, I can 't expect to w in if I h av en 't trained as a cham pion. How can I expect to live a healthy life if I continue to eat some things th a t are healthy and others th a t are garbage? W hen I am honoring w h at I do, m y actions becom e con­ gruent w ith m y expectations. W hen w h at you do is also w h at you expect, th e n you have a unity betw een spiritual self and conscious self. I'm integrated w ith all life. Therefore, it w o u ld n 't m atter to me if you w ere a M uslim , or black, or w hite, or old or young, poor or rich, educated or not. U niversalist thinkers are connected to every­ thing. Everyone, everywhere, anyplace, anytim e— they are in b al­ ance. You can 't shake them . They're always in the rh y th m of life. The universalist th in k er is the person w ho doesn 't engage in artifi­ cial conflict and blam e. Ju st rem em ber, w h en you start to blam e, you've already taken the lower position. W hen you give up denial, the only things you've got are positive. Let's look at a person w ho is forty-five years old and in a crisis. He h a sn 't achieved w h at he th o u g h t he should have at this point. Or

370

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

w h at he has achieved in the past. He's now lost. That, by the way, is th e case for a lot of A m ericans. Anyway, this person feels th at at this point, he should be entitled to a hom e, land, a family, or som ething th a t gives him a sense of gratification. So h e's u n h ap p y about w here he is in life. And h e's in denial th a t he created th a t situation. He'd like to blam e everyone else for being a part of his problem . IBM laid him off; they're to blam e. But he should have know n all along th at IBM w as in crisis. And he should have been re-educating yourself, going to n ig h t school, taking extra classes, learning a new vocation. He w as lazy, though. He w ould rath er go hom e, w atch television, and com plain. H e'd ra th e r indulge in his pleasures. He d id n 't w ant to go th ro u g h any m ore of th a t hard stuff. He d id n 't w a n t to w ork th ro u g h his com fort zone. His brain cells h a d n 't been to a class in a long tim e. He found it difficult to even read a book, and he was im p atien t w ith everything. He w as quick to judge, and critical. T hat's all part of the process of denial.

W hen w ill you be ready for a true h ea lth y ch an ge? Ask m ost people if they w an t to get h ealth y and they'll say, “ Sure I do. I d o n 't w an t h eart disease, arthritis, hem orrhoids, d e­ pression, cancer. I d o n 't need th a t.'' Fair enough. But p u ttin g a tim e fram e on w h en they'll begin to m ake th e necessary changes is a n ­ other thing. About 98 percent of the people w ho listen to m y radio show d o n 't actualize w h at I talk about. I ju st finished a y ear-an d -a-h alf hair study to help people grow new h air and reverse graying and th in n in g . Seven people w ho com pleted the protocol now have new, thick hair. In addition, their skin is less w rinkled, and they have overcom e all kinds of illnesses. A lthough 140 enrolled in the study, only seven finished. T hat's only 5 percent. W hat happened to the o th er 95 percent? They w ere unw illing to follow th ro u g h because they w ere not w illing to m ake true changes. W hat you say is im m aterial if it d o esn 't m atch w h at you do. W hat you do tells m e w ho you are. If w hat you do and w h at you say are the sam e, th en you're in balance. But m ost people say they w ant to be healthy, yet they do u n h ealth y things. Well, if you do som e­ thing th a t's im m oral, then you're not m oral. If you do som ething th a t's unhealthy, th en you're not healthy. We've got to stop deceiv­ ing ourselves.

Inside Moves

371

Over one third of the A m erican population is chronically ill. And th a t's an und erstatem en t, because th a t figure is based on the as­ sum ption, w hich w e m entioned earlier, th a t you're only ill after you've been diagnosed w ith a classically defined disease. That figure doesn 't take into account the idea th a t you can be 80 percent unw ell before the first sym ptom s m anifest. It m ay take tw enty years for a person to develop enough tum or cells to show up on an X ray or m am m ogram . At the tim e of the diagnosis, then, you're at the end stage of a healing crisis, not the beginning. Your arteries could be 90 percent occluded before you have sym ptom s of angina or some other condition. It m ight take forty years for an occlusion to get th a t bad. You're told it w as caught early, w hen, in actuality, you got it at the end. So w e've got an other 100 m illion people w alking around w ho are processing disease th a t is not yet diagnosed. In addition, we have an other 50 m illion people—bringing us up to 90 percent of the A m erican population—w ho have the early stages of disease. These are our youth. Take 100 ten-year-olds at random and you will find th at 50 percent of th em already have some developm ent of the diseases of old age. They already have the begin­ nings of coronary heart disease, arthritis, or loss of smell, sound, or taste, due to overstim ulated lives. Think back— readers w ho are baby boom ers and older—you d id n 't grow up exclusively on a junkfood diet. You probably had ju n k foods a couple of tim es a w eek, but no t at every single m eal. And you exercised. M any of today's chil­ dren eat ju n k food at every m eal. M any are alm ost totally sedentary. And they live in an overly excited, toxic environm ent. T hat's w hy their health is so m uch w orse th a n the h ealth of those of us w ho grew up in earlier tim es. To put it in an economic perspective, 90 percent of the A m erican population contributes to a $1.3 trillion disease budget. W e're in ­ creasing our h ealth care costs at alm ost 13 percent per year, and the greatest single increase in our gross n ational product is in m edicine. The trouble is, w e have little to show for it as far as cures go. M ost of the im provem ent in the heart disease situation has been due to lifestyle im provem ents, not m edical ones. The sam e goes for cancer. People are m aking changes in their habits th at are helping th em to prevent the disease. Still, only a sm all percentage of the A m erican population is m a k ­ ing those kinds of changes. Are you part of th at group? If you are,

372

Gary Null's llltimate Anti-Aging Program

you know th a t you have to w ork on h ealth as you have to w ork on disease. They're both processes based upon the choices w e m ake. If you're not, w h en will you change? You'll change w hen you lose it all, w h e n you realize one day th a t you've m ade the w rong choices. Have there already been tim es w h en you changed because you lost everything? Perhaps you had w arning signs along the way th a t w h a t you w ere doing w a sn 't right, b u t you d id n 't pay atten tio n . You had to h it bottom before you w ere forced to change. Then you did so grudgingly. "Okay, I guess I'll change," you said. But there's little energy in that. T hat's n o t th e best m otivation.

A ct. D on 't w a it. A person in m y h ealth support group, w hom I'll call Jim , has changed. He finally started to u n clu tter his life. This cam e after tw enty years of being around me. You can listen and ju st be on inform ation overload and do n o th in g w ith th e inform ation, or you can do som ething about your inten tio n s. I said, "Today you've got to change, Jim . I d o n 't w a n t you here for an o th er tw enty years doing n o th in g ." So, he w en t out and cut his beard and cut his hair. Now Jim looks tw enty years younger. He has started to clean up and organize his ap artm en t and u n c lu tte r his life. He's started acting and stopped w aiting. Breaking old p attern s of behavior takes courage. You have to stop thinking about everything else th a t's a distraction. O therw ise, you have a th o u san d exits along your path . You keep looking for the exits instead of going forw ard. You've got to do som ething, not th in k about it. One evening of Jim m aking actual, physical changes w as w orth m ore th a n tw enty years of com ing to my talks. W e're a society that overthinks. W e're all w aiting for som eone to provide us w ith a perfect answ er instead of looking for adequate answ ers ourselves and th en acting. It's b e t­ ter to act on m any ideas th a t ultim ately d o n 't w ork th a n to w ait and w ait for the one ideal answ er to present itself. Everything is a learn ­ ing process anyway. There is no perfect answ er in life. Perfection does not exist anyw here in the universe; everything is im perfect. For instance, you w an t to be a part of a pastoral scene in the countryside w here people collect wild flowers. Well, they're probably contracting Lyme disease at the sam e tim e. There's always som ething to m ar the picture of perfection w h en we get close enough, but we never

Inside Moves

373

allow ourselves to see that. We intentionally blur the difference b e­ tw een w h at w e need to see and w h at is actually there. Therefore, we can always dream about w h at w e feel is perfect w h en it is not. So Jim is now in the process of changing. He has taken the first step, and th a t gives him confidence to take the second step. Before, he w as stepping in his m ind, but he never actualized it. Now he is. He's m oving forward.

W hen are you ready to learn? W hen is the right tim e to learn? Right now. W hen do m ost peo­ ple learn? Later. W hat happens betw een learning and being w here you're at now ? W hat's in betw een? Sam eness. There's a fam iliarity w ith w h at you know. You d o n 't know how you're going to feel about som ething new. If the new is different enough, you m ay have to m ake so m any changes to accom m odate the new know ledge th at it's going to change everything you feel. There will be no certainty. People spend their w hole lives trying to guard against u n cer­ tainty. We insure ourselves against uncertainty. T hat's w hy w e w ant only certain people in our lives, certain com m unities to live in. We w an t very predictable p atterns of behavior from people. We d o n 't w a n t people saying anything th a t m akes us feel uncom fortable. We exclude anyone w ho challenges us intellectually, em otionally, spiri­ tually, sexually, nutritionally, and ecologically. W e'll give th em a nam e th a t discredits them , and th u s excludes th em from the d ia­ logue. We'll call th em extrem ists or w e'll call th em radicals, or pseudo-scientific. That im m ediately m eans w e no longer have to e n ­ gage w ith them . We can continue to engage only w ith people of a like m ind. But w h at if people of a like m ind have a m ind th a t is locked into beliefs th a t are no longer beneficial to them selves or anyone else? I grew up in a sm all tow n in West Virginia. I rem em ber once going to th e country club a friend's father ow ned. A group of people w ere sitting around playing cards, including local tow n doctors and a judge. I w as sixteen years old, and I w en t over to them . I said to one m an, “ I d o n 't und erstan d som ething. You're all educated. W hy are you still racist?" there w as dead silence. I used to do th a t kind of thing. I w as the only person in my hom e tow n w ho held a strike to protest local corruption. I w alked right around the high school one day w ith a little plaque saying, th is

374

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

I w as told by everyone no t to do this because it w ould em barrass people. But I did it anyhow . None of my friends w ould join in because th eir p aren ts advised th em not to. My dad said, "I hope you d o n 't do it, b u t if you do, th a t's fine, too. But u n d e rsta n d th a t once you do it, no one in this tow n will ever th in k the sam e of you." That did no t seem like a negative to me. I've always been an idealist w ho protested corruption on any level. A fter th a t incident, th a t seem ed to be all people talked about for a year. Som etim es I w onder if any of those people, later in life, said, "Yes, I should have been there, too." The likelihood is, they'll spend their lives hiding behind the protective barriers of their conform ist belief system , w atching corruption, know ing it exists, and denying responsibility. Those people still a re n 't w illing to learn. W hen I w en t back for my high school reunion, I spoke w ith people I'd grow n up w ith. N othing had changed. They w ere still doing the sam e things over and over and over again. They ate the sam e foods, they wore the sam e clothes, they did the sam e things on W ednesday nights. N o th ­ ing had changed. I asked, "W hy n o t?" "W ell," they said, "w e're kind of com fortable. We got w h a t w e w a n t." They're disconnected from everything else. W hen you really begin to learn, you connect w ith everything and everyone else. Suddenly a w hole w indow opens up and you see peo­ ple w hom you never knew. W hen I w as jogging th ro u g h Riverside Park, I saw two people on a bench w ho w ere not quite sitting up; they seem ed to be sleeping. I saw o th er joggers ru n by, oblivious, and I thought, "H ow could they no t at least pay som e a tte n tio n to the fact th a t those are h u m a n beings?" Had they been w hite, upperm iddle-class people sitting there, som eone w ould have stopped and asked th em w h at w as w rong. But these w ere people from South America w ho simply d id n 't have any money. You could tell because their clothes w ere neatly folded and stacked. Their shoes w ere shined, and one of their shoes had a little plastic bag in it w ith a to o th b ru sh and toothpaste. They w ere ju st surviving as best they could. It's very easy in our society not to care about anyone but your­ self. W e're conditioned to do th at. W e're very m oralistic, w hich I'm absolutely opposed to. I've never m et a m oralistic person w ho was a h u m a n e person. M oralistic people are self-righteous, m ean-spirited,

t o w n ' s p o l it ic ia n a r e c o r r u p t .

Inside Moves

375

condescending, judgm ental, and always establishing criteria th a t even Christ, B uddha, or M oham m ed couldn't m eet. Then they con­ dem n you for not m eeting these standards! W hat's lacking is h u ­ m anistic value, com passion, sensitivity, and joy. Have you ever m et a m oralistic person w ho know s how to laugh?

D o you u n d ersta n d th e value o f surrender? We m u st surrender the old in order to let in the new. But m any people are too inflexible to u n d erstan d this. Egotistical people, in particular, d o n 't like to surrender. They use control as a w ay to m e a ­ sure their lives, their values, their w orth, their position, and their power. Look at how m any people in positions of pow er in corporate America and in governm ent refuse to take responsibility for having h arm ed individuals. The Pentagon d o esn 't feel responsible for a n y ­ thing; nor does the W hite House. Nobody takes responsibility for anything in America. You never see a CEO standing up to say, "Yes, we did it w rong." And if they are proven guilty of some conspiracy, they will never come forw ard to apologize. None of th a t allows you to grow. W henever you're not w illing to surrender, you're keeping yourself in th e sam e place. You stay fragm ented. If you're fragm ented you're n o t integrated. If you're not integrated, you're n o t harm onized. W ithout h arm ony you open yourself up to chronic conflict and discontent. We m u st surrender old beliefs and old p attern s of behavior. We need to say, "This is how I used to think, act, and be. I'm letting this go." In effect, this is ta n ta m o u n t to a hero w ho takes a journey, em braces his fear, dies in the process, comes back, and is reborn w ith a new sense of aw areness, a new sense of life. T hat's the proc­ ess of surrender, and it is in the surrender th a t w e gain.

AND 1MCONCLUSION

18 THE VIEW FROM HERE

s I see it, the fight against aging has becom e an in dustry u n to itself, crossing the lines betw een h ea lth and fitness; n u tritio n and exercise; traditional and alternative healing m odalities. In fact, advances in anti-aging technology are being m ade at such a rapid pace that, by th e tim e you read this book, the volum e of new scien­ tific research supporting this process will have doubled. Historically, one of the dilem m as of either physician, n u tritio n ­ ist, or holistic nurse, the prim ary directors of this inform ation and h ealth care in this country, has been the lack of quality, scientific studies th a t could support an alternative healing m odality. O rtho­ dox practitioners w ould note th a t claims th a t vitam in C has an a n ti­ viral effect and ask, "W here's the proof?" In response, people w ith in the h ea lth m ovem ent—w hich, u n til relatively recently, generally m ean t th e health-food store m ovem ent, w ould look to the advice of its leaders, such as Dr. Carlton F reder­ icks, Adele Davis, Paul Bragg, Linda Clark, Gaylord H auser, Pablo Irola, and about fifteen other lesser-know n pioneers in n u tritio n al and other alternative healing m odalities. They used the anecdotal evidence of these h ealth m ovem ent pioneers to validate their claims, to w hich the traditionalist, w ho h ap p en to represent the regulatory agencies controlling the practice and dissem ination of inform ation about these protocols, responded, "W here's your proof? W here're the data on your double-blind studies?" The result of these challenges left the holistic h ealth m ovem ent

A

379

v

380

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

w ith a battle for acceptance, despite m asses of evidence of healing successes. Standards of proof differed on either side of th e healing sciences. W hile holistic or alternative practitioners could point to countless incidences of healing, or at least im proved h e a lth and vi­ tality, orthodox scientists dem an d ed stringent reports from sterile, double-blind/placebo-controlled studies. We m u st rem ind these tra ­ ditional scientists w ho are crying for laboratory reports an d evalua­ tions th a t there w ere no double-blind studies, for exam ple, for coronary by-pass surgery. And look at antibiotics, an d influenza and em physem a. There is no double-blind control evidence th a t antibiotics cure eith er condi­ tion. A nnually, 5 m illion people are given prescriptions for an tib io t­ ics for these diseases w hen, for approxim ately 33 percent of them , these m edications are w orthless. Influenza, for exam ple, is viral in n atu re; antibiotics target bacteria. Dr. Fredericks and his cohorts responded to challenges to their science by saying, "If w e have a large n u m b er of people using a vegetarian diet, w ith lots of fiber and juicing, exercising and taking large am o u n ts of broad-spectrum vitam ins, w hy are w e living longer? W hy do w e have less cancer?" If anecdotal data is invalid, w hy is it th a t every tim e you go into a doctor's office, the first thing the physician asks is how you are feeling? Based on your response, th e p ractitioner adjusts th e m edical procedure or course of treatm en t. In virtually every single case in m edicine, in p u t from th e p atie n t is essential in guiding the doctor in p lanning treatm en t. The practice of m edicine is anecdotal. It is not possible to do a double-blind placebo study on every p atient every tim e you see th a t p atient. A h ealth practitioner m ust tru st th a t every patient know s w h at he or she is feeling. W hen a person sees an alternative physician and the doctor says, "I gave you 400 mg of St. Jo h n 's Wort for depression and b itter m elon for your high titers— hepatitis. How are you feeling?" and the p atien t replies, "I feel m uch better. I d o n 't have so m any m ood swings, and I have lots m ore stam ina . . . " that's anecdotal m edicine. The difference is th a t orthodox W estern m edicine's anecdotes are accepted. The sam e case study, w ith the sam e results an d conclu­ sions, reported by a physician w ho em ployed alternative treatm en t, w ould be rejected. There is clearly a case of double standards. At the risk of sounding flippant, validation of evidence garnered in the

a n d in C onclusion .

381

course of creating viable health-care protocols— including those d i­ rected to reverse aging—boils dow n to w hose anecdotes have the m ost im pact, the m ost credibility. Since 1849, w h en the A m erican M edical A ssociation w rested control of hom eopathy, the prevailing h ealth and healing clim ate has been m edically based. M edical procedures and drug technology have superseded th e pow er of the p atien t to participate in his ow n healing process. There w ould be room for only one voice to ch am ­ pion curing in the circle of know ledge in the tw enty-first century, and th at w ould be the proprietary process fostered by the drug cul­ ture of the m edical technology innovators. N ature, and th e pow er of the individual to create or participate in his or her treatm ent, w as not m erely denied, it w as denigrated. The ridicule heaped upon those w ho sought to prevent disease was based on bias, fear of loss of control, and th e econom ic and political agendas of special-interest groups. Science/m edicine becam e so or­ thodox th at virtually nothing w as offered in the w ay of prevention of disease and the prom otion of wellness. In the m idst of this, we had a new p h en o m en o n — iatrogenic, or drug- and doctor-induced illness and death. The num bers are stag­ gering: m ore th a n half of the drugs prescribed, X-ray or test taken, is defensively m otivated strictly to protect the doctor from m alpractice. Such overtesting, overm edicating, and overdiagnosing has resulted in a cottage industry, accounting for m ore th a n $500 m illion per year. The fraud in m edicine is higher th a n organized crime, m aking doctors, hospitals— the m edical industry— the num ber-one crim i­ nals in America today. U nnecessary procedures and m edications often have side effects, m aking m edical m alpractice the num berone cause of death and disability. W hen patients sought to take control of their healing process, or at least becom e equal partners, doctors w ent ballistic. The argum ent was given in the m edia and at the Food and Drug A dm inistration and the A m erican M edical A ssociation th a t no one can dispense alternative health-care treatm en ts as they are unproven and prevent people from getting proven treatm ent. To this, I— and the new generation of health-care practitioners and consum ers— ask: "W hat, pray tell, can you prove by double­ blind placebo studies about w hich procedures will w ork better th a n a n atu ral approach? You have no controlled studies for pertussis and

382

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Aging Program

tetan u s procedures, or for a n th ra x and botulism vaccines th a t w ere given to our soldiers in th e G ulf War, or in m ost surgeries, or, in fact, m ost of m edicine th a t is traditionally practiced." However, there had been a serious error in th e generations of Dr. Fredericks and his successors. They h ad looked to validate a lte rn a ­ tive healing m odalities by exam ining any w ork done in this field by th e sam e standards em ployed to assess allopathic, or orthodox, m edical procedures. This is an invalid m easure. The tw o approaches are n o t com parable. A lternative m ethods rely on the m in d as the pow er in the h e a l­ ing process. This is backed u p by studies in p sy ch o n eu ro im m u ­ nology. W hat I found w as th a t w e h ad m issed th e m o th er lode. There is incredible, overw helm ing, scientific evidence to support alternative therapies, certainly in regard to n u trie n ts and botanicals. It rests w ith in orthodox science, b u t n o t w ith in orthodox medicine. Therefore, w e have tak en a great deal of effort to collect an d analyze over five th o u sa n d studies— from respected, recognized scientific journals th a t support the safety and efficacy of th e n u trie n ts listed in this book as part of th e anti-aging protocols.

APPENDICES

SPECIFIC APPL1CATIOMS OF VITAMINS, NUTRIENTS, AND HERBS

Dosages are noted where useful and appropriate to the reader. In some instances, the dosage information is so similar to previously noted studies on the same condition and has been left off to avoid repetition. In other instances, the dosage information stated was suited to laboratory condition only and has been left out to avoid confusion. n o te :

ACETYL L-CARNITITSIE A g in g

Cipolli, C. and Chiari, G. 1990. [Effects of L-acetylcarnitine on m ental dete­ rioration in the aged: Initial results]. Clin Ter, 132 (6Suppl), Mar. 31, 479-510. Dose: 1500 mg/day.

Salvioli, G. and Neri, M. 1994. L-acetylcarnitine treatment of m ental de­ cline in the elderly. D rugs E x p Clin Res, 20 (4), 169-176. Dose: 1500 mg/day for 90 days.

Bella, R. et al. 1990. Effect of acetyle-L-carnitine on geriatric patients suf­ fering from dysthymic disorders. I n t J Clin P h a rm a co l Res, 10 (6), 3 5 5 360. Dose: 3 gm/day for 30-60 days.

Passeri, M. et al. 1990. Acetyl-L-camitine in the treatment of mildly de­ m ented elderly patients. I n t J Clin P h a rm a co l Res, 101 (1 -2 ), 75-79. Dose: 2 gm/day for 3 months.

Franceschi, C. et al. 1990. Immunological parameters in aging: Studies on natural im m unom odulatory substances. I n t J Clin P harm acology Res, 10 (1 -2 ), 53-57.

385

386 Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs Alcoholism Tempesta, E. et al. 1990. Role of acetyl-L-cam itine in the treatm ent of cog­ nitive deficit in chronic alcoholism . I n t J C lin P ha rm a co lo g y Res, 10 (1 -2 ), 101-107.

Alzheimer's disease Sano, M. et al. 1992. Double-blind parallel design pilot study of acetyl levocarnitine in patients w ith Alzheimer's disease. A rch N e u r o l 49 (11), Nov., 1137-1141. Dose: 2.5 gm/day for 3 months.

Spagnoli, A. et al. 1991. Long-term acetyl-L-carnitine treatm ent in A lzhei­ mer's disease. N eurology, 41 (11), Nov., 1726-1732. Rai, G. et al. 1990. Double-blind, placebo controlled study of acetyl-L-camitine in patients w ith Alzheimer's dem entia. C u rr M ed Res O pin, 11 (10), 638-647. Dose: 2 gm/day for 24 w eeks.

Pam etti, L. et al. 1992. Pharmacokinetics of IV and oral acetyl-L-cam itine in a m ultiple dose regim en in patients w ith senile dem entia of Alzhei­ mer type. E u ro p ea n J Clin P harm acology, 42 (1), 8 9 -9 3 . Pettegrew, J. W. et al. 1995. Clinical and neurochem ical effects of acetyl-Lcarnitine in Alzheimer's disease. N eu ro b io l A g in g , 16 (1), Jan.-Feb., 1-4.

Amenorrhea Genazzani, A. D. et al. 1991. Acetyl-L-carnitine as possible drug in the treatm ent of hypothalam ic amenorrhea. A cta Obstet G ynecol Scand, 70 (6), 4 8 7 -4 9 2 . Dose: 2 gm/day for 6 months.

Cardiovascular/Coronary heart disease Adembri, C. et al. 1994. Ischem ia-reperfusion of hum an skeletal m uscle during aortoiliac surgery: Effects of acetylcarnitine. H istol H istopathol, 9 (4), Oct., 683-690. Dose: 3 mg/day iv prior to surgery.

Dementia Sinforiani, E. et al. 1990. Neuropsychological changes in dem ented patients treated w ith acetyl-L-carnitine. I n t J Clin P harm acology Res, 10 (1 -2 ), 69 -7 4 .

Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs 387 Bonavita, E. 1986. Study of the efficacy and tolerability of L-acetylcamitine therapy in the senile brain. I n t J Clin P h a rm a co l T her Toxicol, 24 (9), Sept., 511-516. Dose: 1,000 mg/day.

Depression Garzya, G. et al. 1990. Evaluation of the effects of L-acetylcamitine on se­ nile patients suffering from depression. D rugs E x p C lin Res, 16 (2), 101— 1- 6 . Dose: 1,500 mg/day.

Neurological function M ezzina, C. et al. 1992. Idiopathic facial paralysis: N ew therapeutic pros­ pects w ith acetyl-L-carnitine. I n t J Clin P harm acology Res, 12 (5 -6 ), 2 9 9 304. Dose: 3 gm/day for 14 days.

Mazzocchio, R. et al. 1990. Enhancem ent of recurrent inhibition by intrave­ nous administration of L-acetylcarnitine in spastic patients. J N eu ro l N eurosurg Psychiatry, 53 (4), Apr., 321-326.

Parkinson's disease Puca, F. M. et al. 1990. Clinical pharmodynamics of acetyl-L-carnitine in patients w ith Parkinson's disease. I n t J Clin P h a rm a co l Res, 10 (1 -2 ), 139-143. Dose: 1 or 2 gm/day for 7 days.

Stroke Arrigo, A. et al. 1990. Effects of acetyl-L-camitine on reaction times in pa­ tients w ith cerebrovascular insufficiency. I n t J Clin P h a rm a co l Res, 1 0 ( 1 2 ), 133-137. Postiglione, A. et al. 1990. Cerebral blood flow in patients w ith chronic cerebrovascular disease: Effect of acetyl-L-carnitine. I n t J Clin P h a r m a ­ cology Res, 10 (1 -2 ), 129-132. Dose: 1.5 gm iv.

Rosadini, G. et al. 1990. Acute effects of acetyl-L-carnitine on regional cere­ bral blood flow in patients w ith brain ischaem ia. I n t J C lin P h a rm a co l Res, 10 (1 -2 ), 123-128. Dose: 1,500 mg iv.

388 Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs Postiglione, A. et al. 1991. Effect of acute adm inistration of L-acetyl carni­ tine on cerebral blood flow in patients w ith chronic cerebral infarct. P harm acolo g y Res, 23 (3), Apr., 241-246. Dose: 1.5 gm iv.

ALOE Cardiovascular/Coronary Heart Disease Agarwal, O. P. 1985. Prevention of atherom aous heart disease. A ngiology, 36 (8), Aug., 48 5 -4 9 2 .

Constipation Odes, H. A. and Madar, Z. 1991. A double-blind trial of a celandin, Aloe vera and psyllium laxative preparation in adult patients w ith constipa­ tion. D igestion, 49 (2), 65-71.

Diabetes Ghannam , N. et al. 1986. The antidiabetic activity of aloes: Preliminary clinical and experim ental observations. H o rm o n e Res, 24 (4), 288-294. Dose:

lh tsp/day for 4-14 w eeks.

Ghannam , N. et al. 1986. The antidiabetic activity of aloes. H o rm o n e Res, 24, 2 88-294. Dose:

lk tsp 4x/day for 14 w eeks.

Skin Damage Syed, T. A. et al. 1996. M anagem ent of psoriasis w ith aloe vera extract in a hydrophilic cream: A placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Trop M ed I n t H ea lth , 1 (4), Aug., 505-509. Dose: 0.5% aloe vera extract in a hydrophilic cream.

Wound Healing Fulton Jr., J. E. The stim ulation of postdermabrasion w ound healing w ith stabilized aloe vera gel-polyethylene oxide dressing. J D erm a to l S u rg O n ­ cology, 1 6 (5 ), May, 4 6 0 -4 6 7 . Dose: stabilized aloe vera.

Visuthiokosol, V. et al. 1995. Effect of aloe vera gel to healing of burn w ound a clinical and histologic study. J M ed Assoc T h a ila n d , 78 (8), Aug., 4 0 3 -4 0 9 . Dose: aloe vera gel.

Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs 389

ALPHA L1P01C ACID Diabetes Kahler, W. et al. 1993. Diabetes M ellitus-A free radical-associated disease. Results of adjuvant supplem entation. Z. G esante I n n M ed, 48 (5), May, 223-232. Dose: 600 mg/day for 3 months.

Jacob, S. et al. 1995. Enhancem ent of glucose disposal in patients w ith type 2 diabetes by alpha-lipoic acid. A rzn eim ittelfo rsc h u n g , 45 (8), Aug., 872-874. Dose: 1000 mg.

Ziegler, D. et al. 1995. Treatment of symptomatic diabetic peripheral n eu ­ ropathy w ith anti-oxidant alpha-lipoic acid. A 3-w eek multicentre ran­ domized controlled trial. Diabetologia, 38 (12), Dec., 1425-1433. Dose: 600 mg/day over a 3 w eek period.

Klein, W. 1975. [Treatment of diabetic neuropathy w ith oral alpha-lipoic acid]. M M W M u n c h M ed W ochenschr, 117 (22), May 30, 957-958. Dose: 2x50 mg or 2x100 mg/day.

General Barbirolli, B. et al. 1995. Lipoic (thiotic) acid increases brain energy avail­ ability and skeletal m uscle performance as show n by an in vivo 31PMRS in a patient w ith m itochondrial cytopathy. J N eurology, 242 (7), July, 472-477. Dose: 600 mg/day for 1 month.

Glaucoma Filina, A. A. et al. 1995. Lipoic acid as a m eans of m etabolic therapy of open-angle glaucoma. Vestn O ftalm ol, 111 (4), Oct.-Dec., 6 -8 . Dose: 0.15 gm/day for 1 month.

APPLE PECTIN Acute Intestinal Infections Potievskii, E. G. et al. 1994. [Experimental and clinical studies of the effect of pectin on the causative agents of acute intestinal infections]. Z h M ik robiol E p id em io l Im m u n o b io l, Suppl 1 Aug., 106-109 Dose: 5% pectin solution.

390 Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs Diarrhea dc la Mottc, S. et al. 1997. [Double-blind comparison of an apple pectinchamomile extract preparation with placebo in children with diarrhea]. Arzneimittelforschung, 47 (11) Nov., 1247-1249 Dose: apple pectin and chamomille.

Hypercholesterolemia Biesenbach, G. et al. 1993. [The lipid lowering effect of a new guar-pectin fiber mixture in type II diabetic patients with hypercholesterolemia]. Leber Magen Darm, 23 (5) Sept., 204. Dose: 1 package of 17 gm with about 5.9 gm water-soluble fiber) dissolved in 250 ml water for the next 9 weeks: during the first 3 w eeks 2 portions per day, the next 3 w eeks twice 'A portion and the last 3 w eeks one ‘/a portion daily. The fiber mixture had to been consumed 30 m inutes before taking a main meal.

Pirich, C. et al. 1992. [Lowering cholesterol with Anticholest— a high fiber guar-applc pectin drink]. Wien Klin Wochenschr, 104 (11):314—316. Dose: (group 1) at dosages of 1 cup (17 gm) every second day, or (group 2) of 1 cup a day or (group 3) of 2 cups a day.

Hyperlipidemia Grudcva-Popova, J. and Sirakova, I. 1998. Effect of pectin on some electro­ lytes and trace elements in patients with hyperlipoproteinemia. Folia Med (Plovdiv). 40 (1 ):41-45 Dose: 15 gm/day high-esterified pectin for 3 months.

Grudcva-Popova, J. et al. 1997. Application of soluble dietary fibres in treatment of hyperlipoproteinemias. Folia Med (Plovdiv), 39 (1), 39-43.

Satiety Tiwary, C. M. et al. 1997. Effect of pectin on satiety in healthy US Army adults. J Am Coll Nutr. 16 (5) Oct., 423-428 Dose: 5, 10, 15, 20g

ARGININE Cancer Brittcndcn, J. et al. 1994. L-arginine stimulates host defenses in patients with breast cancer. Surgery, 115 (2), Feb., 205-212. Dose: 30 gin/day for 3 days.

Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs 391 Cardiovascuar/Coronary heart disease Rector, T. S. et al. 1996. Randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study of supplemental oral L-arginine in patients with heart failure. Circulation, 93 (12), June 15, 2135-2141. Dose: 5.6 to 12.6 gm/day over 6 weeks.

Koifman, B. et al. 1995. Improvement of cardiac performance by intrave­ nous infusion of L-arginine in patients with moderate congestive heart failure. J Am Coll Cardiol, 26 (5), Nov. 1, 1251-1256. Dose: 20 gm iv.

Clarkson, P. et al. 1996. Oral L-arginine improves endothelium-dependent dilation in hypercholesterolemic young adults. J Clin Investigation, 97 (8), Apr. 15, 1989-1994. Dose: 7 gm 3x/day over 4 w eeks.

McCaffrey, M. J. et al. 1995. Effect of L-arginine infusion on infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension on the newborn. Biol Neonate, 6794), 240-243. Dose: 500 mg/kg infused over 30 minutes.

Hishikawa, K. et al. 1992. L-arginine as a antihypertensive agent. J Cardio­ vascular Pharmacol, 20 (suppl 12), S196-S197. Kilbourn, R. G. et al. 1995. NG-methyl-L-arginine, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, reverses interleukin-2-induced hypotension. Crit Care Med, 23 (6), June, 1018-1024. Dose: 12 mg/kg followed by 4mg/kg every 4 hours.

General Pittari, A. M. et al. 1993. Therapy with arginine chlorohydrate in children with short constitutional stature. Minerva Pediatr, 45 (1-2), Jan.-Feb., 61-65. Dose: 4 gm/day.

Hepatitis Rizzo, S. 1986. Clinical trial with arginine tidiacicate in symptomatic chronic persistent hepatitis. Int J Clin Pharmacol Res, 6 (3), 225-230. Dose: 80 ml of 10% L-arginine HCL daily per os over 6 months.

Pain Harima, A. et al. 1991. Analgesic effect of L-arginine in patients with per­ sistent pain. European Neuropsychopharmacol, 1 (4), Dec., 529-533. Dose: iv 10% solution, 300ml (30g)/patient over a 60-70 m inute period.

392 Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs Wound healimg Lu, S. L. 1993. Effect of arginine supplementation on T-lymphocyte func­ tion in burn patients. Chung Hua Cheng Hsing Shao Shang Wai Ko Tsa Chih, 9 (5), Sept., 368-371.

B-COMPLEX

B, Alzheimer's disease Mimori, Y. et al. 1966. Thiamine therapy in Alzheimer's disease. Metab Brain Disease, 11 (1), Mar., 89-94. Dose: 100 mg/day, 12 w eeks

Cardiovascular/Coronary Heart Disease Shimon, I. et al. 1995. Improved left ventricular function after thiamine supplementation in patients with congestive heart failure receiving long-term Furosemide therapy. Am J Med, 98 (5), 485-490. Dose: 200 mg day

Freye and Hartung, E. 1982. The Potential use of thiamine in patients with cardiac insufficiency. Acta Vitamino Enzymol, 4 (4), 285-290. Dose: 50 mg/kg

Epilepsy Botez, M. I. et al. 1993. Thiamine and folate treatment of chronic epileptic patients: A controlled study with the Wechsler IQ scale. Epilepsy Res, 16 (2), Oct., 157-163.

Fatigue Suzuki, M. and Itokawa, Y. 1996. Effects of thiamine supplementation on exercise-induced fatigue, Metabolic Pr Brain Dis., 11 (1), Mar., 95-106.

Febrile Lymphadenopatliy Lonsdale, D. 1980. Recurrent febrile lymphadenopathy treated with large doses of vitamin B,: Report of two cases. Dev Pharmacol Ther., 1 (4), 254-264.

Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs 393 General Meador, K. J. et al. 1993. Evidence for a clinical cholinergic effect of highdose thiamine. Ann Neurol, 34 (5), Nov., 724-726. Smidt, L. J. et al. 1991. Influence of thiamin supplementation on the health and general well-being of an elderly Irish population with marginal thi­ amin deficiency. J Gereontology, 46 (1), Jan., M16-22. Dose: 10 mg/day

Lactic Acidosis Klein, G. et al. 1990. [Life-threatening lactic acidosis during total paren­ teral nutrition. Successful therapy with thiamine]. Dtsch Med Wochenschr, 115 (7), Feb., 254-256. Dose: 400 mg

Liver Disease Hassan, R. et al. 1991. Effect of thiamine on glucose utilization in hepatic cirrhosis. J Gastroenterology Hepatology, 6(1), Jan.-Feb., 59-60. Dose: 50 mg/day for 30 days

Rossouw, J. E. et al. 1978. Red blood cell transketolase activity and the effect of thiamine supplementation in patients with chronic liver dis­ ease. Scandinavian J Gastroenterology, 13 (2), 133-138. Dose: 200 mg/day

Seasonal Ataxia Adamolekun, B. et al. 1994. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the efficacy of thiamine hydrochloride in a seasonal ataxia in Nigerians. Neurology, 44 (3 Pt 1), Mar., 549-551.

Surgical Stress Vinogradov, V. V. et al. 1981. [Thiamine prevention of the corticosteroid reaction after surgery]. Probl Endokrinol, 27 (3), May-June, 11-16. Dose: IV administration of 0.12 g one day and 1.5-2 hours prior to surgery

Congenital Methaemoglobinaemia Hirano, M. et al. 1981. Congenital methaemoglobinaemia due to NADH methaemoglobin reductase deficiency: Successful treatment with oral riboflavin. British J Haematology, 47 (3), Mar., 353-359. Dose: 120 mg/day

V-

394 Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs Depression Bell, I. R. et al. 1992. Brief communication. Vitamin B,, B2, and B6 augmen­ tation of tricyclic antidepressant treatment in geriatric depression with cognitive dysfunction. J Am Coll Nutr., 11 (2), Apr., 159-163. Dose: 10 mg B„ B2 and B6 each w ith antidepressants

Migraine Schoenen, J. et al. 1994. High-dose riboflavin as a prophylactic treatment of migraine: Results of an open pilot study. Cephalalgia, 14 (5), Oct., 328-329. Dose: 400 mg for at least 3 months

Sickle Cell Disease Ajayi, O. A. et al. 1993. Clinical trial of riboflavin in sickle cell disease. East African Med J, 70 (7), 418-421. Dose: 5 mg 2x/day for 8 w eeks

Anemia Toriyama, T. et al. 1993. Effects of high-dose vitamin B6 therapy on micro­ cytic and hypochromic anemia in hemodialysis patients. Nippon Jinzo Gakkai Shi 35(8), Aug., 975-980. Dose: 180 mg for 20 w eeks

Asthma Collipp, P. J. et al. 1975. Pyridoxine treatment of childhood bronchial asthma. Ann Allergy 35 (2), Aug., 93-97. Dose: 200 mg/day

Cardiovascular/Coronary Heart Disease van den Berg, M. et al. 1994. Combined vitamin B6 plus folic acid therapy in young patients with arteriosclerosis and hyperhomocysteinemia. J Vascular Surg. 20 (6), Dec., 933-940. Dose: 250 mg for 6 weeks

Ellis, J. M. and McCully, K. S. 1995. Prevention of myocardial infarction by vitamin B6. Res Commun Mol Pathol Pharmac 89 (2) Aug., 208-220.

Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs 395 Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Ellis, J. et al. 1979. Clinical results of a cross-over treatment with pyridox­ ine and placebo of the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Am J Clin Nutr 32 (10), Oct., 2040-2046. Dose: 100 mg/day

Kasdan, M. L. and Janes, C. 1987. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and vitamin B6. Plastic Reconstructive Surgery 79 (3), Mar., 456-462. Dose: 100 mg/day

Stransky, M. et al. 1989. Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome with vita­ m in B6: A double-blind study. Southern Med J 82 (7), July, 841-842. Ellis, J. M. 1987. Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome with vitamin B6. Southern Med J 80 (7), July, 882-884. Dose: 100 mg to 200 mg/day for 12 weeks

Guzman, F. J. L. et al. 1989. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and vitamin B6. Klin Wochenschr, 67 (1), Jan. 4, 38-41. Dose: 150 mg/day for 3 months

Ellis, J. et al. 1981. Therapy with vitamin B6 with and without surgery for treatment of patients having the Idiopathic Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Res Commun Pathol Pharmacol 33 (2) Aug., 331-344.

Diabetes Bennink, H. J. and Schreurs, W. H. 1975. Improvement of oral glucose tolerance in gestational diabetes by pyridoxine. Br Med J 3 (5974), 13-15.

Immune Function Casciato, D. A. et al. 1984. Immunologic abnormalities in hemodialysis pa­ tients: Improvement after pyridoxine therapy. Nephron 38 (1), 9-16. Dose: 50 mg/day for 3-5 w eeks

Primary Hyperoxaluria Milliner, D. S. et al. 1994. Results of long-term treatment with orthophos­ phate and pyridoxine in patients with primary hyperoxaluria. NEJM. 331 (23), Dec. 8, 1553-1558.

Anemia Samson, D. et al. 1977. Reversal of ineffective erythropoiesis in pernicious anaemia following vitamin B12 therapy. Br J Haematology 35 (2), Feb., 217-224.

396 Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs Kafetz, K. 1985. Immunoglobulin deficiency responding to vitamin BI2 in two elderly patients with megaloblastic anemia. Postgrad Med J 61 (722), Dec., 1065-1056. Kubota, K. et al. 1987. Restoration of decreased suppressor cells by vitamin B 12 therapy in a patient with pernicious anemia. Am J Hematol 24 (2), Feb., 221-223. Kubota, K. et al. 1992. Restoration of abnormally high CD4/CD8 ratio and low natural killer cell activity by vitamin BI2 therapy in a patient with post-gastrectomy megaloblastic anemia. Internal Med 31 (1), Jan., 125— 126.

Apthae Wray, D. et al. 1975. Recurrent aphthae: Treatment with vitamin B12, folic acid, and iron. British Med J 2 (5969), May 31, 490-493.

Bronchial Squamous Metaplasia Heimburger, D. C. et al. 1988. Improvement in bronchial squamous meta­ plasia in smokers treated with folate and vitamin BI2. Report of a pre­ liminary randomized, double-blind intervention trial. JAMA 259 (10), Mar. 11, 1525-1530. Dose: 500 meg for 4 m onths

Dementia Regland, B. et al. 1991. Vitamin B12-induced reduction of platelet mono­ amine oxidase activity in patients with dementia and pernicious anae­ mia. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 240 (4-5), 288-291.

General Newbold, H. L. 1989. Vitamin B,2: Placebo or neglected therapeutic tool?

Med Hypothesis, 28 (3), May, 155-164. Hepatitis Iwarson, S. and Lindberg, J. 1977. Coenzyme-B12 therapy in acute viral hepatitis. Scandinavian J Infectious Dis 9(2), 157-158. Komar, I. V. 1982. [Use of vitamin B,2 in the combined therapy of viral hepatitis ]. Vopr Pitan (1), Feb., 26-29. Dose: 100 meg every other day

Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs 397 Imerslund-Grasbeck Syndrome Salameh, M. M. et al. 1991. Reversal of severe neurological abnormalities after vitamin B12 replacement in the Imerslund-Grasbeck Syndrome. J Neurology 238 (6), Sept., 349-350.

Methylmalonic Acidemia Gordon, B. A. and Carson, R. A. 1976. Methylmalonic acidemia controlled with oral administration of vitamin B12. Canadian Med Assoc J 115 (3), Aug. 7, 233-236. Dose: Continuous intramuscular supplements in doses of 1 mg on alternate days followed by 15 mg/day taken orally

Multiple Sclerosis Kira, J. et al. 1994. Vitamin B12 metabolism and massive-dose methyl vita­ m in B12 therapy in Japanese patients with multiple sclerosis. Internal Med 33 (2), Feb., 82-86. Dose: 60 mg/day for 6 months

Sleep Honma, K. et al. 1992. Effects of vitamin BJ2 on plasma melatonin rhythm in humans: Increased light sensitivity phase-advances the Circadian Clock? Experentia 48 (4), Aug. 15, 716-720. Dose: 3 mg/day

Ohta, T. et al. 1991. Treatment of persistent sleep-wake schedule disorders in adolescents with methylcobalamin (vitamin Bu ). Sleep 14 (5), Oct., 414-418. Dose: 3,000 mcg/day

Okawa, M. et al. 1990. Vitamin BJ2 treatment for sleep-wake rhythm disor­ ders. Sleep 13 (1), Feb., 15-23. Dose: 1.5 m g/day tid

Vitiligo Montes, L. F. et al. 1992. Folic acid and vitamin B12in vitiligo: A nutritional approach. Cutis 50 (1), July, 39-42.

BEE POLLEN Climacteric Symptoms Szanto, E. et al. 1994. [Placebo-controlled study of melbrosia in treatment of climacteric symptoms]. Wien Med Wochenschr, 144 (7): 130-133.

398 Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs Memory Function Iversen, T. et al. 1997. The effect of Nao Li Su on memory functions and blood chemistry in elderly people. J Ethnopharmacol, 56 (2) Apr., 109116.

Sclerosis Iarosh, A. A. 1990. [Changes in the immunological reactivity of patients with disseminated sclerosis treated by prednisolone and the preparation

Proper-Myl]. Syringomyelia Ludianskii, E. A. 1991. [The use of apiotherapy and radon baths in treating syringomyelia]. Zh Nevropatol Psikhiatr 1m S Korsakova, 91 (3), 102103.

CALCIUM Calcium Pancreatitis Kaur, N. et al. 1996. Chronic calcific pancreatitis associated with osteoma­ lacia and secondary hyperparathyroidism. Indian J Gastroenterology 15 (4) Oct., 147-148.

Calcium absorption Harvey, J. A. et al. 1990. Superior calcium absorption from calcium citrate than calcium carbonate using external forearm counting. J Am Coll Nutr, 9 (6), Dec., 583-587.

Cancer Duris, I. et al. Calcium chemoprevention in colorectal cancer. Hepatogastroenterology, 43 (7), Jan.-Feb., 152-154.

Dental health Gupta, S. K. et al. 1994. Reversal of clinical and dental fluorosis. Indian Pediatr, Apr., 439-443. Dose: 250 mg/day for 44 days.

Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs 399 Hip fracture Meunier, P. 1996. Prevention of hip fractures by correcting calcium and Vitamin D insufficiencies in elderly people. Scand J Rheumatology, 103 (Suppl), 75-78. Dose: 1.2 gm/day for a 3 year study.

Hypertension Wimalawansa, S. J. 1993. Antihypertensive effects of oral calcium supple­ mentation may be mediated through the potent vasodilator CGRP. Am J Hypertension, 6 (12), Dec., 996-1002. Dose: 1.4 gm/day.

Osteoporosis Adachi, J. D. et al. 1996. Vitamin D and calcium in the prevention of corti­ costeroid induced osteoporosis: A 3-year follow-up. J Rheumatology 23 (6), June, 995-1000. Dose: 1000 mg/day.

Leyes-Vence, M. et al. 1996. Transient osteoporosis of the hip. Presentation of a case and literature review. Acta Orthop Belg, 62 (1), Mar., 56-59. Prince, R. et al. 1995. The effects of calcium supplementation (milk powder of tablets) and exercise on bone density in postmodern women. J Bone Mineral Res 10 (7), July, 1068-1075. Dose: 1 gm/night over a period of 2 years.

Haines, C. J. et al. 1995. Calcium supplementation and bone mineral den­ sity in postmenopausal women using estrogen replacement therapy. Bone 16 (5), May, 529-531. Warady, B. D. 1994. Effects of nutritional supplementation and bone m in­ eral status of children with Rheumatic diseases receiving corticosteroid therapy. J Rheumatology, 21 (3), Mar., 530-535.

Vestibulitis Solomons, C. C. et al. 1991. Calcium citrate of vulvar vestibulitis. A case report. J Reproductive Med, 36 (12), Dec., 879-882.

CHOLINE/LECITHIN Head Injury Levin, H. S. 1991. Treatment of postconcussional symptoms with CDP-choline. J Neurol Sci 103 Suppl, July, S39-S42. Dose: 1 gm of CDP-choline

400 Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs Maldonado, V. C. et al. 1991. Effects of CDP-choline on the recovery of patients with head injury. J. Neurol Sci 103 Suppl, July, S15-S18.

Hemiplegia Hazama, T. et al. 1980. Evaluation of the effect of CDP-choline on post­ stroke hemiplegia employing a double-blind controlled trial. Assessed by a rating scale for recovery in hemiplegia, lnt J Neurosci 11 (3), 211215. Dose: ranging from 250-1000 mg over an 8 w eek period

Hepatic Steatosis Buchman, A. L. et al. 1995. Choline deficiency: A cause of hepatic steatosis during parenteral nutrition that can be reversed with intravenous cho­ line supplementation. Hepatology 22 (5), Nov., 1399-1403. Dose: 1-4 g choline chloride over a period of 4 w eeks

Neurological Function Fernandez, R. L. 1983. Efficacy and safety of oral CDP-choline. Drug sur­ veillance study in 2817 cases. Arzeimittelforschung 33 (7A), 1073-1080. Dose: 6 ml/day mean dose of CDP-choline

Seizures McNamara, J. O. et al. 1980. Effects of oral choline on human complex partial seizures. Neurology 30 (12), 1334-1336. Dose: 12-16 g/day

Stroke Tazaki, Y. et al. 1988. Treatment of acute cerebral infarction with a choline precursor in a multicenter double-blind placebo-controlled study. Stroke 19 (2), Feb., 211-216. Dose: 1000 mg iv CDP-choline/day for 14 days

Tardive Dyskinesia Gelenberg, A. J. et al. 1979. Choline and lecithin in the treatment of tardive dyskinesia: Preliminary results from a pilot study. Am J Psychiatry 136 (6), June, 772-776. Growdon, H. et al. 1977. Oral choline administration to patients with tar­ dive dyskinesia. NEJM 297 (10), Sept. 8, 524-527.

Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs 401 Arranz, J. and Ganoza, G. 1983. Treatment of chronic dyskinesia with CDPcholine. Arzneimittelforschung 33 (&a), 1071-1073. Dose: 500-1200 mg CDP-choIine/day

Nasrallah, H. A. et al. 1984. Variable clinical response to choline in tardive dyskinesia. Psychol Med 14 (3), Aug., 697-700.

CHRYSANTHEMUM Yu, X. Y. 1993. [A prospective clinical study on reversion of 200 precancerous patients with hua-sheng-pingl. Chung Kuo Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih 13 (3) Mar., 147-149 Zhou , Y. L. 1987. [Chrysanthemum morifolium in the treatment of hyper­ tension]. Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih, 7(1) Jan., 18-20.

COENZYME Q 10 Cancer Lockwood, K. et al. 1995. Progress therapy on breast cancer with vitamin Q 10 and the regression of metastases. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 212 (1), July 6, 172-177. Dose: 390 mg/day for 3-5 years.

Lockwood, K. et al. 1994. Partial and complete regression of breast cancer in patients in relation to dosage of Coenzyme Q 10, Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 199 (3), Mar. 30, 1504-1508. Dose: 390 mg/day after 1 m onth tumor no longer palpable, after 2 m onths mammagrophy indicated no tumor.

Tsubaki, K. et al. 1984. [Investigation of the preventive effect of CoQI0 against the side-effects of anthracycline antineoplastic agents], Gan To KagakuRyoho, 11 (7) July, 1420-1427. Dose: 1 mg/kg/day iv.

Okuma, K. et al. 1983. [Protective effect of Coenzyme Q 10in cardiotoxicity induced by adriamycin], Gan To Kagaku Ryoho, 11 (3), Mar., 502-508.

Cardiovascular/Coronary heart disease Kamikawa, T. et al. 1985. Effects of Coenzyme Q,0 on exercise tolerance in chronic stable angina pectoris. Am J Cardiology, 56 (4), Aug. 1, 1985, 247-251. Dose: 150 mg/day for 4 weeks.

402 Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs Tanaka, J. et al. 1983. Coenzyme Q 10: The prophylactic effect on low cardiac output following cardiac valve replacement. Annals Thoraci Surg. 33 (2), Feb., 145-151. Dose: 30-60 mg/day orally for 6 days.

Chello, M. et al. 1994. Protection by Coenzyme Q,0 from myocardial reper­ fusion injury during coronary artery bypass grafting. Annals Thoracic

Surg. 58 (5), Nov., 1427-1432. Dose: 150 mg/day for 7 days before surgery.

Chen, Y. F. et al. 1994. Effectiveness of Coenzyme Q,0 in myocardial preser­ vation during hypothermic cardioplegic arrest. J Thoracic Cardiovascular

Surg. 107 (1), Jan., 242-247. Greenberg, S. M. and Frishman, W. H. 1988. Coenzyme Q 10: A new drug for myocardial ischemia? Med Clin North America, 72 (1), Jan., 243-258. Nishikawa, Y. et al. 1989. Long-term Coenzyme Q,0 therapy for a mitochon­ drial encephalomyopathy with cytochrome C oxidase deficiency: A 3IP NMR study. Neurology, 39 (3), Mar., 399-403. Ogasahara, S. et al. 1985. Improvement of abnormal pyruvate metabolism and cardia conduction defect with Coenzyme Q,0 in Kearns-Sayre syn­ drome, Neurology, 35 (3), Mar., 372-373. Dose: 60-120 mg/day for 3 months.

Folkers, K. et al. 1992. Therapy with Coenzyme Q I0 of patients in heart failure who are eligible of ineligible for a transplant. Biochem Biophys Res

Commun, 182 (1) Jan. 15, 247-253. Sunamori, M. et al. 1991. Clinical experience of Coenzyme Q 10 to enhance intraoperative myocardial protection in coronary artery revasculariza­ tion, Cardiovasc Drugs Ther, 5 Suppl 2, Mar., 297-300. Dose: pretreatm ent w ith 5mg/kg iv.

Baggio, E. et al. 1993. Italian multicenter study of the safety and efficacy of Coenzyme Q I0 as adjunctive therapy in heart failure (interim analy­ sis). The CoQI0 drug surveillance investigators. Clin Investigations, 71 (8 Suppl), S145-149. Dose: 50-100 mg/day for 3 months.

Langsjoen, P. H. et al. 1993. Isolated diastolic dysfunction of the myocar­ dium and its response to CoQ,0 treatment. Clin Investigations, 71 (8 Suppl), S140-144.

Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs 403 Morisco, C. et al. 1993. Effect of Coenzyme Q10 therapy in patients with congestive heart failure: A long-term multicenter randomized study. Clin Investigations, 71 (8 Suppl), S134-146. Dose: 2 mg/kg/day for 1 year.

Lampertico, M. and Conis, S. 1993. Italian multicenter study on the efficacy and safety of Coenzyme Q10 as adjuvant therapy in heart failure. Clin Investigations, 71 (8 Suppl), S129-S133. Dose: 50 mg/day for 4 weeks.

Mortensen, S. A. 1993. Perspectives on therapy of cardiovascular diseases with Coenzyme Q10 (Ubiquinonq). Clin Investigations, 71 (8 Suppl), SI 16-S123. Mortensen, S. A. et al. 1985. Long-term Coenzyme Q 10 therapy: A major advance in the management of resistant myocardial failure. Drugs Exp Clin Res, 11 (8), 581-593. Dose: 100 mg/day.

Langsjoen. P. H. et al. 1985. Effective treatment with Coenzyme Q10 of pa­ tients with chronic myocardial disease. Drugs Exp Clin Res, 11 (8), 577579. Oda, T. 1985. Effect of Coenzyme Q10on stress-induced cardiac dysfunction in paediatric patients with mitral valve prolapse: A study by stress echo­ cardiography. Drugs Exp Clin Res, 11 (8), 557-576. Dose: 3-3.4 mg/day.

Suzuki, H. et al. 1984. Cardiac performance and Coenzyme Q10 levels in thyroid disorders. Endocrinol Japan, 31 (6), Dec., 755-761. Kato, T. et al. 1990. Reduction in blood viscosity by treatment with Co­ enzyme Q 10 in patients with ischemic heart disease. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther Toxicol, 28 (3), Mar., 123-126. Dose: 60 mg/day for 2 months.

Manzoli, U. et al. 1990. Coenzyme Q10 in dilated cardiomyopathy. Int J Tis­ sue React 12 (3), 173-178. Dose: 100 mg/day orally.

Langsjoen, P. H. et al. 1990. A six-year clinical study of therapy of cardio­ myopathy with Coenzyme Q 10. Int J Tissue React, 12 (3), 168-171. Langsjoen, P. H. et al. 1990. Pronounced increase of survival of patients with cardiomyopathy when treated with Coenzyme Q10 and conven­ tional therapy. Int J Tissue React, 12 (3), 163-168.

404 Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs Diabetes Suzuki, Y. et al. 1995. A case of Diabetic amyotrophy associated with 3243 mitochondrial tRNA (leu: UUR) Mutation and successful therapy with Coenzyme Q,0, Endocr J, 42 (2), Apr., 141-145.

Immune enhancement Folkers, K. el al. 1993. The activities of Coenzyme Q 10 and vitamin B6 for immune responses. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 193 (1), May 28, 88-92.

Lung disease Fujimoto, S. et al. 1993. Effects of Coenzyme Q 10administration on pulmo­ nary function and exercise performance in patients with chronic lung diseases. Clin Investigations, 71 (8 Suppl), S126—S166. Dose: 90 mg/day for 8 weeks.

Muscular Injury Folkers, K. and Simonsen, R. 1995. Two successful double-blind trials with Coenzyme Q,0 (vitamin Q 10) on muscular dystrophies and neurogenic atrophies. Biochim Biophys Acta, 127 (1), May 24, 281-286.

CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES Cancer Yuan, J. M. et al. 1998. Cruciferous vegetables in relation to renal cell carci­ noma. Int J Cancer, 77 (2) Jul. 17, 211-216. Rosen, C. A. 1998. Preliminary results of the use of indole-3-carbinol for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. Otolaryngol Head Ncck Surg, 118 (6) Jun., 810-815. Dose: oral lndole-3-carbinol and had a minimum follow-up of 8 months and a mean follow-up of 14.6 months.

DeMarini, D. M. et al. 1997. Pilot study of free and conjugated urinary mutagenicity during consumption of pan-fried meats: possible modula­ tion by cruciferous vegetables, glutathione S-transferase-Ml, and Nacetyltransferase-2. Mutat Res, 381 (1) Nov. 19, 83-96. Dose: Ingestion of cruciferous vegetables.

Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs 405 Witte, J. S. et al. 1996. Relation of vegetable, fruit, and grain consumption to colorectal adenomatous polyps. Am J Epidemiol, 144 (11) Dec. 1, 1015-1025. Steinmetz, K. A. and Potter, J. D. 1996. Vegetables, fruit, and cancer pre­ vention: a review. J Am Diet Assoc, 96 (10) Oct, 1027-1039.

General Michnovicz, J. J. et al. 1997. Changes in levels of urinary estrogen metabo­ lites after oral indole-3-carbinol treatment in humans. J Natl Cancer Inst, 89 (10) May 21, 718-723. Dose: Oral ingestion of 13C (6-7 mg/kg/day. Men received for 1 w eek, women received for 2 months.

Chen, L. et al. 1996. Decrease of plasma and urinary oxidative metabolites of acetaminophen after consumption of watercress by human volun­ teers. Clin Pharmacol Ther, 60 (6) Dec., 651-660. Dose: Watercress hom ogenates (50 gm).

Smokers Taioli, E. et al. 1997. Effects of indole-3-carbinol on the metabolism of 4(methylnitrosamino)-l-(3-pyridyl)-l-butanone in smokers. Cancer Epi­ demiol Biomarkers Prev, 6(7) Jul., 517-522. Dose: 400 mg of I3C on 5 consecutive days and maintained constant smoking habits during this period.

CURCUM1NE (TURMERIC) Anti-inflammatory Effects Satoskar, R. R. et al. 1986. Evaluation of anti-inflammatory property of curcumin (Diferuloyl Methane) in patients with postoperative in­ flammation. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther Toxicol, 24 (12), Dec., 651-654.

Cancer Polasa, K. et al. 1992. Effect of turmeric on urinary mutagens in smokers. Mutagenesis, 7 (2), Mar., 107-109. Kuttan, R. et al. 1987. Turmeric and curcumin as topical agents in cancer therapy. Tumori, 73 (1), Feb. 28, 29-31.

406 Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs Cariovascular/Coronary Heart Disease Soni, K. B. and Kuttan, R. 1992. Effect of oral curcumin administration on serum peroxides and cholesterol levels in human volunteers. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol, 36 (4), Oct., 273-275. Dose: 500 mg/day for 7 days.

DANDELION ROOT Chronic Colitis Chakurski, I. et al. 1981. [Treatment of chronic colitis with an herbal com­ bination of Taraxacum officinale, Hipericum perforatum, Melissa officinaliss, Calendula officinalis and Foeniculum vulgare}. Vutr Boles, 20 (6), 51-54.

DHEA Aging Yen, S. S. et al. 1995. Replacement of DHEA in aging men and women. Potential remedial effects. Ann NY Acad Sci, 774, Dec. 29, 128-142.

Alzheimer's disease Yanase, T. et al. 1996. Serum dehyfroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEAsulfate (DHEA-S) in Alzheimer's Disease and in cerebrovascular de­ mentia. EndocrJ, 43 (1), Feb., 119-123.

Cognitive function Friess, E. et al. 1995. DHEA administration increases rapid eye movement sleep and EEG power in the Sigma frequency range. Am J Physiol 268 (1 Pt 1), Jan., E107-13. Dose: 500 mg oral dose.

Depression Wolkowitz, O. M. et al. 1997. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) treatment of depression. Biol Psychiatry, 41 (3), Feb. 1, 311-318. Dose: 30-90 mg/day for 4 w eeks.

Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs 407 General Khorram, O. 1996. DHEA: A hormone with multiple effects. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol 8(5), Oct., 351-354.

Lupus Van Vollenhoven, R. F. and McGuire, J. L. 1996. Studies of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) as a therapeutic agent in systemic lupus erythema­ tosus. Ann Med Interne, 147 (4), 290-296.

DMAE Hemiballismus-hemichorea Jameson, H. D. et al. 1977. Hemiballismus-hemichorea treated with dimethylaminoethanol. Dis Nerv Syst 38 (11) Nov., 931-932

EVENING PRIMROSE OIL Arthritis Jantti, J. et al. 1989. Evening primrose oil in rheumatoid arthritis: Changes in serum lipids and fatty acids. Ann Rheum Disease, 48 (2), Feb., 124-127. Dose: 20 ml evening primrose oil (EPO) containing 9% of gamma-Iinolenic acid for 12 weeks.

Brzeski, M. et al. 1991. Evening primrose oil in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and side-effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Brit­ ish J Rhheumatology, 30 (5), Oct., 370-372. Dose: 6 gm/day

Eczema Schlin-Karrila, M. et al. Evening primrose oil in the treatment of atopic eczema: Effect on clinical status, plasma phospholipid fatty acids and circulating blood prostaglandins. British J Dermatology, 117 (1), July, 11-19. Biagi, P. L. et al. 1988. A long-term study on the use of evening primrose oil (Efamol) in atopic children. Drugs Exp Clin Res, 14 (4), 285-290.

Diabetes Uccella, R. et al. [Action of evening primrose oil on cardiovascular risk factors in insulin-dependent diabetics]. Clin Ter, 129 (5), June 15, 381388. Dose: 3 gm/day.

408 Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs Takahashi, R. et al. 1993. Evening primrose oil and fish oil in non-insulindependent-diabetes. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatt Acids, 49 (2), Aug., 569-571. Dose: 4 gm/day for 4 w eeks.

FOLIC ACID Anemia Rahpael, J. C. et al. 1975. [Myelopathy and macrocytic anemia associated with a folate deficiency. Cure by folic acid]. Ann Med Interne 126 (5), May, 339-348.

Arthritis Morgan, S. L. et al. 1994. Supplementation with folic acid during metho­ trexate therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. A double-blind, placebo-con­ trolled trial. Annals Intern Med 121 (11), Dec. 1, 833-841. Dose: 5 mg or 27.5 mg at w eekly doses

Morgan, S. L. et al. 1990. The effect of folic acid supplementation on the toxicity of lowdose methotrexate in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 33 (1), Jan., 9-18. Dose: 1 mg folic acid/day

Flynn, M. A. et al. 1994. The effect of folate and cobalamin on osteoarthritic hands. J American Colie Nutr 13 (4), Aug., 351-356. Dose: 6400 meg folate/day

Cancer Saito, M. et al. 1994. Chemoprevention effects on bronchial squamous metaplasia by folate and vitamin B12 in heavy smokers. Chest 106 (2), Aug., 496-499. Jennings, E. 1995. Folic acid as a cancer-preventing agent. Med Hypotheses 45 (3), Sept., 297-303.

Cardiovascular/Coronary Heart Disease Landgren, F. et al. 1995. Plasma homocysteine in acute myocardial infarct­ ion: Homocysteine-lowering effect of folic acid. J Intern Med 237 (4), Apr., 381-388. Dose: 2.5 mg or lOmg over a 6 w eek period

Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs 409 van den Berg, M. et al. 1994. Combined vitamin B6 plus folic acid therapy in young patients with arteriosclerosis and hyperhomocysteinemia. J Vascular Surgery 20 (6), Dec., 933-940. Dose: 5 mg folic acid/day

Morrison, H. I. et al. 1996. Serum folate and risk of fatal coronary heart disease. JAMA 275 (24), June 26, 1893-1896. Wilcken, D. E. et al. 1988. Folic acid lowers elevated plasma homocysteine in chronic renal insufficiency: Possible implications for prevention of vascular disease. Metabolism 37 (7), July, 697-701. Dose: 5 mg folic acid/day for average of 15 days

Arnadottir, M. et al. 1993. The effect of high-dose pyridoxine and folic acid supplementation on serum lipid and plasma homocysteine concentra­ tions in dialysis patients. Clinical J Nephrol 40 (4), Oct., 236-240. Dose: 5 mg/day

Cervical Dysplasia Butterworth, Jr. C. E. 1982. Improvement of cervical dysplasia associated with folic acid therapy in users of oral contraceptives. Am J Clin Nutr, 35 (1) Jan., 73-82. Dose: 10 mg folic acid/day for 3 m onths

Fragile X Syndrome Brown, W. T. et al. Folic acid therapy in the Fragile X Syndrome. Am. J Med Genetics 17 (1), Jan., 289-297. Hagerman, R. J. et al. 1986. Oral folic acid versus placebo in the treatment of males with the Fragile X Syndrome. Am. J Med Genetics 23 (1-2), JanFeb., 241-262. Dose: 10 mg/day

Lejeune, J. et al. 1984. [Trial of folic acid treatment in Fragile X Syndrome] Ann Genet 27 (4), 230-232. Dose: 0.5 mg/kg per day of folic acid

Gingival Health Vogel, R. I. et al. 1976. The effect of folic acid on gingival health. J Periodontology 47 (11), Nov., 667-668. Dose: 4 mg/day for 30 days

410 Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs Homocystinuria Takenaka, T. et al. 1993. [Effect of folic acid for treatment of homocystinu­ ria due to 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase deficiency]. Rinsho Shinkeigaku 33 (11), Nov., 1140-1145. Dose: 400 mcg/day of folic acid over approx 70 days

Kidney Damage Chauveau, P. et al. 1996. Long-term folic acid (but not pyridoxine) supple­ mentation lowers elevated plasma homocysteine level in chronic renal failure. Miner Electrolyte Metab 22 (1-3), 106-109. Dose: 10 mg/day folate for 3 m onths

Lithium Prophylaxis Coppen, A. et al. 1986. Folic acid enhances lithium prophylaxis. J Affective Disorders 10 (1), Jan.-Feb., 9-13. Dose: 200 mcg/day folic acid

Multiple Sclerosis Kanevskaia, S. A. et al. 1990. [Folic acid in the combined treatment of patients with disseminated sclerosis and chronic gastritis] Vrach Delo (4), Apr. 96-97. Dose: 200-300 mcg/day

Zinc Absorption Milne, D. B. et al. 1984. Effect of oral folic acid supplements on zinc, cop­ per, and iron absorption and excretion. Am J Clin Nutr 39 (4), Apr., 535-539. Dose: 400 meg folic acid every other day for 16 w eeks

GARLIC Cancer You, W. C. et al. 1989. Allium vegetables and reduced risk of stomach can­ cer. J National Cancer Inst, 81 (2), Jan. 18, 162-164.

Cardiovascular/Coronary Heart Disease Gadkari, J. V. and Joshi, V. D. 1991. Effect of ingestion of raw garlic on serum cholesterol level, clotting time and fibrinolytic activity in normal subjects. J Postgrad Med, 37 (3), July, 128-131. Dose: 10 gm/day for 2 months.

Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs 411 Bordia, A. 1981. Effect of garlic on blood lipids in patients with coronary heart disease. Am J Clin Nutr, 34 (10), Oct., 2100-2103. Jain, A. K. et al. 1993. Can garlic reduce levels of serum lipids? A controlled clinical study. Am J Med, 94 (6), June, 632-635. Dose: 300 mg 3x/day.

Warhafsky, S. et al. 1993. Effect of garlic on total serum cholesterol. A meta-analysis. Annals Int Med, 119 (7 Pt 1), Oct. 1, 599-605. Vorberg, G. and Schneider, B. 1990. Therapy with garlic: Results of a pla­ cebo-controlled, double-blind study. British J Clin Pract Symp Suppl, 69, Aug., 7-11. Dose: 900 mg garlic powder for 4 months.

Auer, W. et al. 1990. Hypertension and hyperlipidaemia: Garlic helps in mild cases. British J Clin Pract Symp Suppl, 69, Aug., 3-6. McMahon, F. G. and Vargas, R. 1993. Can garlic lower blood pressure? A pilot study. Pharmacotherapy, 13 (4), July-Aug., 406-407. Dose: 1.3% allicin at 2400mg.

Ali, M. and Thomson, M. 1995. Consumption of a garlic clove a day could be beneficial in preventing thrombosis. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids, 53 (3), Sept., 211-212. Dose: 1 fresh clove of garlic/day for 16 weeks.

Kieswetter, H. et al. 1993. Effect of garlic on platelet aggregation in patients with increased risk of juvenile ischaemic attack. European J Pharmacol­ ogy, 45 (333-336. Dose: 800 mg powdered garlic over 4 weeks.

Silagy, C. A. and Neil, A. W. 1994. A meta-analysis of this effect of garlic on blood pressure. J Hypertension, 12, 463-468. Dose: 600-900 mg/day of dried garlic powder for 12 weeks.

Hepatopulmonary Syndrome Caldwell, S. H. et al. 1992. Ancient remedies revisited: Does Allium Sati­ vum palliate the hepatopulmonary syndrome? J Clin Gastroenterology, 15 (3), Oct., 248-250.

Meningitis Davis, L. E. et al. 1990. Anitfungal activity in human cerebrospinal fluid and plasma after intravenous administration of Allium Sativum. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 34 (4), Apr., 651-653.

412 Specific Application's of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs

G1NGK0 BILOBA Aging Taillandier, J. et al. 1986. [Treatment of cerebral aging disorders with Ginko Biloba extract. A longitudinal multicenter double-blind drug vs. placebo study]. PresseMed, 15 (31), Sept. 25, 1583-1587. Allard, M. 1986. [Treatment of the disorders of aging with Ginko Biloba extract. From pharmacology to clinical medicine]. Presse Med, 15 (31), Sept. 25, 1540, 1545.

Anti-Clastogenic Effects Emerit, I. et al. 1995. Clastogenic factors in the plasma of Chernobyl acci­ dent recovery workers: Anticlastogenic effect of Gingko Biloba extract. Radiat Res, 144 (2), Nov., 198-205. Dose: 120 mg/day for 2 months.

Brain Function/Injury Hofferberth, B. 1989. [The effect of Ginko Biloba extract on neurophysiological and psychometric measurement results in patients with psy­ chotic organic brain syndrome. A double-blind study against placebo]. Arzneimittelforschung, 39 (8), Aug., 918-922. Dose: 120 mg/day for 8 w eeks.

Hopfenmuller, W. 1994. [Evidence for a therapeutic effect of Ginko Biloba special extract. Meta-analysis of 11 clinical studies in patients with cerebrovascular insufficiency in old age]. Arzneimittelforschung, 44 (9), Sept., 1005-1013. Dose: 150 mg/day.

Gessner, B. et al. 1985. Study of the long-term action of a Ginkgo Biloba extract on vigilance and mental performance as determined by means of quantitative pharmaco-EEg and psychometric measurements. Arznei­ mittelforschung, 35 (9), 1459-1465. Dose: 120 mg/day

Kleijnen, J. and Knipschild, P. 1992. Ginkgo Biloba for cerebral insuffi­ ciency. British J Clin Pharmacology, 34 (4), Oct., 352-358. Dose: 120 mg/day for 4 -6 w eeks.

Allain, H. et al 1993. Effect of two doses of Ginkgo Biloba extract (EGb 761) on the dual coding test in elderly subjects. Clin Ther, 15 (3), May-June, 549-558. Dose: 320 or 600 mg.

Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs 413 Rai, G. S. et al. 1991. A double-blind, placebo controlled study of Gingko Biloba extract ('tanakan') in elderly outpatients with mild to moderate memory impairment. Curr Med Res Opin, 12 ( 6 ), 350-355. Dose: 120 mg/day at 12 and 24 weeks.

Grassel, E. 1992. [Effect of Ginkgo-biloba extract on mental performance: Double-blind study using computerized measurement conditions in pa­ tients with cerebral insufficiency!. FortschrMed, 110 (5), Feb. 20, 73-76. Eckmann, F. 1990. [Cerebral insufficiency-Treatment with Gingko-biloba extract. Time of onset of effect in a double-blind study with 60 inpa­ tients]. Fortschr Med, 108 (29), Oct. 10, 557-560. Dose: 160 mg/day.

Gerhardt, G. et al. 1990. [Drug therapy of disorders of cerebral perform­ ance: Randomized comparative study of dihydroergotoxine and Ginkgo Biloba extract]. Fortschr Med, 108 (19), June 30, 384-388. Subhan, Z. and Hindmarch, 1. 1984. The psychopharmacological effects of Ginkgo Biloba extract in normal healthy volunteers. Int J Clin Pharma­ cology Res, 4 (2), 89-93. Dose: 120, 240, or 600 mg/day.

Raabe, A. et al. 1991. [Therapeutic follow-up using automatic perimetry in chronic cerebroretinal ischemia in elderly patients, prospective double­ blind study with graduated dose Ginkgo Biloba treatment (EGb 761), Klin Monatsbl Augenheilkd, 199 (6), Dec., 432-438. Dose: 160 mg/day for 4 weeks.

Lebuisson, D. A. et al. 1986. [Treatment of senile macular degeneration with Ginkgo Biloba extract. A preliminary double-blind drug vs. placebo study]. PresseMed, 15 (31), Sept. 25, 1556-1558. Funfgeld, E. W. 1989. A natural and broad spectrum nootropic substance for treatment of SDAT-the Ginkgo Biloba extract. Prog Clin Biol Res, 317, 1247-1260.

Cardiovascular/Coronary Heart Disease Schneider, B. 1992. [Ginkgo Biloba extract in peripheral arterial diseases. Meat-analysis of controlled clinical studies]. Arzneimittelforschung, 42 (4), Apr., 428-436. Jung, F. et al. 1990. Effect of Ginkgo Biloba on fluidity of blood and periph­ eral microcirculation in volunteers. Arzneimittelforschung, 40 (5), May, 589-593.

414 Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs Bauer, U. 1984. 6-month double-blind randomised clinical trial of Ginkgo Biloba extract versus placebo in two parallel groups in patients suffering from peripheral arterial insufficiency. Arzneimittelforschung, 34 (6), 716720. Schaffler, K. and Reeh, P. W. 1985. [Double blind study of the hypoxia protective effect of a standardized Ginkgo Biloba preparation after re­ peated administration in healthy subjects]. Arzneimittelforschung, 35 (8), 1283-1286. Witte, S. et al. 1992. [Improvement of hemorheology with Ginkgo Biloba extract. Decreasing a cardiovascular risk factor]. Fortschr Med, 110 (13), May 10m 247-250. Dose: 240 mg/day for 12 w eeks.

Koltringer, P. et al. 1993. [Hemorheologic effects of Ginkgo Biloba extract EFb 671. Dose-dependent effect of EGb 761 on microcirculation and visoelasticity of blood]. Fortschr Med, 111 (10), Apr. 10, 170-172. Dose: single injection of 50, 100, 150, 200 mg.

Bauer, U. 1986. [Ginkgo Biloba extract in the treatment of arteriopathy of the lower extremities. A 65-week trial]. Presse Med, 15 (31), Sept. 25, 1546-1549. Koltringer, P. et al. 1989. [Microcirculation in parenteral Ginkgo Biloba extract therapy]. Wien Klin Wochenschr, 101 (6), Mar. 17, 198-200.

Claudication Erns, E. 1996. [Ginkgo Biloba in treatment of intermittent claudication. A systematic research based on controlled studies in the literature]. Fort­

schr Med, 114 (8), Mar. 20, 85-87. Drabaek, H. et al. 1986. [The effect of Ginkgo Biloba extract in patients with intermittent claudication]. Ugeskr Laeger, 158 (27), July 1, 39283931. Dose: 120 mg/day for 3 months.

Diabetes Lanthony, P. and Cosson, J. P. 1988. [The course of color vision in early diabetic retinopathy treated with Ginkgo Biloba extract. A preliminary' double-blind versus placebo study]. J Fr Ophtalmol, 11 (10), 671-674.

Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs 415 Edema Lagrue, G. et al. [Idiopathic cyclic edema. The role of capillary hyperper­ meability and its correction by Ginkgo Biloba extract]. Presse Med, 15 (31), Sept. 25, 1550-1553.

General Lagrue, G. et al. 1986. [Recurrent shock with monoclonal gammopathy. Treatment in the acute and chronic phases with oral and parenteral Ginkgo Biloba extract]. Presse Med, 15 (31), Sept. 25, 1554-1555.

Hearing Loss Hoffman, F. et al. 1994. [Ginkgo extract EGb 761 (tenobin)/HAES versus Naftidrofuryl (Dusodril)/HAES. A randomized study of therapy of sud­ den deafness]. Laryngorhinootologie, 73 (3), Mar., 149-152. Dubreuil, C. 1986. [Therapeutic trial in acute cochlear deafness. A compar­ ative study of Ginkgo Biloba extract and Nicergoline]. Presse Med, 15 (31), Sept. 25, 1559-1561.

Hepatitis Li, W. et al. [Preliminary study of early fibrosis of chronic hepatitis B treated with Ginkgo Biloba composita]. Chung Kuo Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih, 15 (10) Oct., 593-595.

Neuropathy Koltringer, P. et al. 1989. [Ginkgo Biloba extract and folic acid in the ther­ apy of changes caused by autonomic neuropathy]. Acta Med Austriaca, 16 (2), 35-37. Dose; 87.5 mg for 4 days.

Tinnitus Meyer, B. 1986. [Multicenter randomized double-blind drug vs. placebo study of the treatment of Tinnitus with Ginkgo Biloba extract]. Presse Med, 15 (31), Sept. 25, 1562-1564.

Vertigo Haguenaauer, J. P. et al. 1986. [Treatment of equilibrium disorders with Ginkgo Biloba extract. A multicenter double-blind drug vs. placebo study]. Presse Med, 15 (310), Sept. 25, 1569-1572.

416 Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs

GLUTAMINE Cancer Skubitz, K. M. and Anderson, P. M. 1996. Oral glutamine to prevent che­ motherapy induced stomatitis: A pilot study. J Lab Clin Med, 127 (2), Feb., 223-228. Dose: 4 gm swish and swallow.

Cardiovascuar/Coronary heart disease Svedjeholm, R. et al. 1995. Glutamate and high-dose glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK) in the treatment of severe cardiac failure after cardiac operations. Ann Thirac Surg, 59 (2 Suppl), Feb., S23-S30.

General Castell, L. M. et al. 1996. Does glutamine have a role in reducing infections in athletes? EurJ Appl Physiol, 73 (5), 488-490.

Liver damage Santagati, G. et al. 1978. [Glutamic acid gamma-ethyl ester in high doses in the treatment of high blood ammonia levels in severe hepatic fail­ ure]. Minerva Med, 69 (20), Apr. 28, 1367-1374.

Neurotoxicity Jackson, D. V. et al. 1988. Amelioration of vincristine neurotoxicity by glu­ tamic acid. Am J Med. 84 (6), June, 1016-1022. Dose: 1,500 mg/day.

Short Bowel Syndrome Byrne, T. A. et al. 1995. A new treatment for patients with short-bowel syndrome. Growth hormone, glutamine, and a modified diet. Annals Surg, 222 (3), Sept., 243-254.

Tinnitus Ehrenberger, K. and Brix, R. 1983. Glutamic acid and glutamic acid diethylester in tinnitus treatment. Acta Otolaryngol, 95 (5-6), May-June, 599-605.

Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs 417 Wound injury Yan, R. et al. 1995. Early enteral feeding and supplement of glutamine pre­ vent occurence of stress ulcer following severe thermal injury. Chung Hua Cheng Hsing Shao Shang Wai Ko Tsa Chih, 11 (3), May, 189-192.

GLUTATHIONE Aging Julius, M. et al. 1994. Glutathione and morbidity in a community-based sample of elderly. J Clin Epi, 47 (9), Sept., 1021-1026.

Cancer Flagg, E. W. et al. 1994. Dietary glutathione intake and the risk of oral and pharyngeal cancer. Am J Epi, 139 (5), Mar. 1, 453-465. Cascinu, S. et al. 1995. Neuroprotective effect of reduced glutathione on cisplatin-based chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer: A random­ ized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. J Clin Oncology, 13 (1), Jan., 26-32. Bowman, A. et al. 1994. Effect of adding glutathione (GSH) to cisplatin (CDDP) in the treatment of stage I-IV ovarian cancer. British J Cancer, 71 (Suppl 24), 14. Dose: 3 gm/m2 for 21 days.

Spatti, G. B. et al. 1990. Cisplatin with minimal hydration and glutathione protection in the treatment of ovarian carcinoma. Anticancer Res, 10 (5B), 1425-1456. Dose: 2.5-5 gm in 100-200 ml of normal saline over 15 m inutes iv.

Dalhoff, K. et al. 1992. Glutathione treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver, 12 (5), Oct., 341-343. Dose: 5 gm/day.

Trickier, D. et al. 1993. Inhibition of oral carcinogenesis by glutathione. Nutr Cancer, 20 (2), 139-144. Smyth, J. et al. 1995. Glutathione improves the therapeutic index of cis­ platin and quality of life for patients with ovarian cancer. Proceedings Annual Meeting Am Soc Clin Oncologists, 14, A761.

418 Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs Cataracts Sternberg Jr., P. 1993. Protection of retinal pigment epithelium from oxida­ tive injury by glutathione and precursors. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 34 (13), Dec., 3661-3668.

Gastric injury Loguericio, C. et al. 1953. Glutathione prevents ethanol induced gastric mucosal damage and depletion of sulfydryl compounds in humans. Gut, 34 (2), Feb., 161-165.

Liver damage Nardi, E. A. et al. 1991. [High-dose reduced glutathione in the therapy of alcoholic hepatopathy]. Clin Ter, 136 (1), Jan. 15, 47-51. Dentico, P. et al. 1995. [Glutathione in the treatment of chronic fatty liver diseases], Recenti Prog Med, 86 (7-8), July-Aug., 290-293.

HIBISCUS Renal Stone Disease Kirdpon, S. et al. 1994. Changes in urinary chemical composition in healthy volunteers after consuming roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn.) juice. J Med Assoc Thai, 77 (6) Jun., 314-321. Dose: roselle juice consumption, 16 gm/day.

L-METH10M1NE Hepatitis Windsor, J. A. and Wynne-Jones, G. 1988. Halothane hepatitis and prompt resolution with methionine therapy: Case report. New Zealand Med J 101 (851), Aug. 10, 502-503.

Neuropathy Stacy, C. B. et al. 1992. Methionine in the treatment of nitrous-oxideinduced neuropathy and myeloneuropathy. J Neurol, 239 (7), Aug., 401403.

Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs 419 Paracetamol Poisoning Vale, J. A. et al. 1981. Treatment of acetaminophen poisoning. The use of oral methionine. Arch Intern Med, 141 (3 Spec No), Feb. 23, 394-396. Crome, P. et al. 1976. Oral methionine in the treatment of severe Paraceta­ mol (Acetaminophen) overdose. Lancet, 2 (7990), Oct. 6, 829-830. Dose: 2-5 gm every 4 hours up to a total of lOg beginning w ithin 10 hours of overdose.

Breen, K. J. et al. 1982. Paracetamol self-poisoning: Diagnosis, manage­ ment, and outcome. Med J Australia, 1 (2), Jan. 23, 77-79.

MAGNESIUM Gastrointestinal Problems Sue, Y. J. et al. 1994. Efficacy of magnesium citrate cathartic in pediatric toxic ingestions. Ann Emerg Med, 24 (4), Oct., 709-712.

MELATONIN Cancer Lissoni, P. et al. 1992. Biological and clinical results of a neuroimmunother­ apy with interleukin-2 and the pineal hormone melatonin as a first line treatment in advanced non-small cell lung cancer. British J Cancer, 66 (1), July, 155-158. Dose: 10 mg/day.

Lissoni, P. et al. 1995. Modulation of cancer endocrine therapy by melato­ nin: A phase II study of Taxoifen plus melatonin in metastatic breast cancer patients progressing under Tamoxifen alone. British J Cancer, 71 (4), Apr., 854-856. Dose: 20 mg/day.

Neri, B. et al. 1994. Modulation of human lymphoblastoid interferon activ­ ity by melatonin in metastatic renal cell carcinoma: A phase II study. Cancer, 73 (12), June 15, 3015-3019. Dose: 10 mg/day.

Lissoni, P. et al 1994. A randomized study with the pineal hormone melato­ nin versus supportive care alone in patients with brain metastases due to solid neoplasms. Cancer, 73 (3), Feb 1, 699-701.

420 Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs Lissoni, P. et al. 1989. Endocrine and immune effects of melatonin therapy in metastic cancer patients. European J Cancer Clin Oncol, 25 (5), May, 789-795. Dose: 20 mg/day intramuscular, followed w ith 10 mg/day in patients experienc­ ing remission.

Viviani, S. et al. 1990. Preliminary studies on melatonin in the treatment of Myelodysplastic Syndromes following cancer chemotherapy. J Pineal Res, 8 (4), 347-354. Dose: 20 mg/day.

Gonzalez, R. et al. 1991. Melatonin therapy of advanced human malignant melanoma. Melanoma Res, 1 (4), Nov.-Dee., 237-243. Dose: daily oral dose of 5 mg/m2 to 700 mg/m2 after 5 w eeks.

Lissoni, P. et al. 1991. Clinical results with pineal hormone melatonin in advanced cancer resistant to standard antitumor therapies. Oncology, 48 (6), 448-450. Dose: 20 mg/day followed w ith 10 mg/day orally.

Jet Lag Petri, K. et al. 1989. Effect of melatonin of jet lag after long haul flights. BMJ, 298 (6675), Mar. 18, 705-707. Dose: 5 mg 3 days prior to flight.

Petrie, K. et al. A double-blind trial of melatonin as a treatment for jet lag in internatinal cabin crew. Biological Psychiatry, 33 (7), Apr. 1, 526-530. Dose: 5 mg 3 days prior to flight.

Sleep Palm, L. et al. 1991. Correction of non-24-hour sleep/wake cycle by melato­ nin in a blind retarded boy. Ann Neurol, 29 (3), Mar., 336-339. Zhdanova, I. V. et al. 1995. Sleep-inducing effects of low doses of melatonin ingested in the evening. Clin Pharmacol Therapy, 57 (5), 552-558. Dose: 0.3 or 1.0 mg at 6, 8 or 9PM.

Dahlitz, M. et al. 1991. Delayed sleep phase syndrome response to melato­ nin. Lancet, 337 (8750), May 11, 1121-1124. Dose: 5 mg for 4 w eeks.

Garfinkel, D. et al. 1995. Improvement of sleep quality in elderly people by controlled-release melatonin. Lancet, 346 (8974), Aug. 26, 541-544. Dose: 2 mg/night for 3 weeks.

Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs 421 Etzioni, A. et al. 1996. Melatonin replacement corrects sleep disturbances in a child with pineal tumor. Neurology, 46 (1), Jan, 261-263. Dose: 3 mg/night for 2 weeks.

MacFarlane, J. G. et al. 1991. The effects of exogenous melatonin on the total sleep time and daytime alertness of chronic insomniacs: A prelimi­ nary study. Biological Psychiatry, 30 (4), Aug. 15, 371-376. Dose: 75 mg per os/night.

Folkard, S. et al. 1993. Can melatonin improve shift workers' tolerance of the night shift? Some preliminary findings. Chronobiol Int, 10 (5), Oct., 315-320. Dose: 5 mg/night.

Jan, J. E. et al. 1994. The treatment of sleep disorders with melatonin. Dev Med Child Neurol, 36 (2), Feb., 970107. Dose: 2-10 mg.

Waldhauser, F. et al. 1990. Sleep laboratory investigations on hypnotic properties of melatonin. Psychopharmacology, 100 (2), 222-226. Tzischinsky, O. and Lavie, P. 1994. Melatonin possesses time-dependent hypnotic effects. Sleep, 17 (7), Oct., 638-645. Dose: 5 mg.

Haimov, I. et al. 1995. Melatonin replacement therapy of elderly insom­ niacs. Sleep, 18 (7), Sept., 598-603. Dose: 2 mg/night for 7 consecutive days. 1 mg of sustained-release.

Vision Samples, J. R. et al. 1988. Effect of melatonin on intraocular pressure. Cur­ rent Eye Res 7 (7), July, 649-653.

N-ACETYL-CYSTE1NE Adult respiratory distress syndrome Laurent, T. et al. 1996. Oxidant-antioxidant balance in granulocytes during ARDS. Effect of N-acetylcysteine. Chest, 109 (1), Jan., 163-166. Bernard, G. R. 1990. Potential of N-acetylcysteine as treatment for the Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome. European Resp J Suppl, 11 Oct., 496s-498s.

422 Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs Cardiovascuar/Coronary heart disease Reinhart, K. et al. 1995. N-acetylcysteine preserves oxygen consumption and gastric mucosal pH during hyperoxic ventilation. Am J Resp Critical Care Med, 151 (3 Pt 1), Mar., 773-779. Dose: 150 mg/kg-1.

Boesgaard, S. et al. 1992. Preventive administration of intravenous N-ace­ tylcysteine and development of tolerance to isosorbide dinitrate in pa­ tients with angina pectoris. Circulation, 85 (1), Jan., 143-149. Dose: 2 gm NAC over 15 m inutes iv.

Horowitz, J. D. et al. 1993. Potentiation of the cardiovascular effects of nitroglycerin by N-acetylcysteine. Circulation, 68 (6), Dec., 1247-1253. Dose: 100 mg/kg of NAC iv.

Arstall, M. A. et al. 1995. N-acetylcysteine in combination with nitroglyc­ erin and streptokinase for the treatment of evolving acute myocardial infarction. Safety and biochemical effects. Circulation, 92 (10), Nov. 15, 2855-2862. Dose: 15 gm iv NAC.

Boesgaard, S. et al. 1994. Altered peripheral vasodilator profile of nitroglyc­ erin during long-term infusion of N-acetylcysteine. J Am Coll Cardiology, 23 (1), Jan., 163-169. Dose: 2 gm iv NAC followed by 5 mg/kg per hour on human veins.

Spies, C. et al. 1996. [Effect of prophylactically administered N-acetylcysteine on clinical indicators for tissue oxygenation during hyperoxic ven­ tilation in cardiac risk patients], Anaesthesist, 45 (4), Apr., 343-350. Dose: 150 mg/kg NAC.

Horowitz, J. D. et al. 1990. Nitroglycerine/N-acetylecysteine in the manage­ ment of unstable angina pectoris. European Heart J, 9 (Suppl A) Jan., 95-100. Dose: 5 gm 6 hourly iv.

Svendsen, J. H. et al. 1989. N-acetylcysteine modifies the acute effects of isosorbide-5-mononitrate in angina pectoris patients. Pharmacol, 13 (2), Feb., 320-323. Andersen, L. W. et al. 1995. The role of N-acetylcysteine administration on the oxidative response of neutrophils during cardiopulmonary bypass. Perfusion, 10 (1), 21-26. Dose: bolus of 100 mg/kg of NAC followed by a continuous infusion of 20 mg/kg.

Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs 423 Chronic Bronchitis Rasmussen, J. B. and Glennow, C. 1988. Reduction in days of illness after long-term treatment with N-acetylcysteine controlled-release tablets in patients with chronic bronchitis. European RespirJ, 1 (4), Apr., 351-355. Dose: 300 mg bid.

Gerards, H. H. and Vits, U. 1991. [Therapy of bronchitis. Successful single­ dosage treatment with N-acetylcysteine, results of an administration surveillance study in 3,076 patients]. Fortschr Med, 109 (34), Nov. 30, 707-710. Dose: 600 mg/kg.

Boner, A. L. et al. 1984. A combination of cefuroxine and N-acetyl-cysteine for the treatment of maxillary sinusitis in children with respiratory al­ lergy. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther Toxicol 22 (9), Sept, 511-514. Dose: 15-25 mg/kg/day over a 10 day period.

Santagelo, G. et al. 1985. A combination of Cefuroxime and N-acetyl-cysteine for the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections in children. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther Toxicol 23 (5), May, 279-281.

General Smilkstein, M. J. et al. 1991. Acetaminophen overdose: A 48-hour intrave­ nous N-acetylcysteine treatment protocol. Annals Emergency Med., 20 (10), Oct., 1058-1063. Dose: (12) 70 mg/kg dose every 4 hours and a loading dose of 140 mg/kg.

Lund, M. E. et al. 1984. Treatment of acute methylmercury ingestion by hemodialysis with N-acetylcysteine (Mucomyst) infusion and 2,3-dimercaptopropane sulfonate. J Toxicol Clin Yoxicol, 22 (1), July, 31-49. Jensen, T. et al. 1988. Effect of oral N-acetylcyteine administration on human blood neutrophil and monocyte function. APMIS, 96 (1), Jan., 62-67. Dose: 400 mg oral dose.

De Groote, J. and Van Steenbergen, W. 1995. Paracetamol intoxication and N-acetyl-cysteine treatment. Acta GastroenterolBelg, 58 (3-4), May-Aug., 326-334. Todisco, T. et al. 1985. Effect of N-acetylcysteine in subjects with slow pul­ monary mucociliary clearance. European J Respir Diseases Suppl, 139, 136— 141. Dose: 0.6 gm/day.

424 Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs Beckett, G. J. et al. 1990. Intravenous N-acetylcysteine, hepatoxicity and plasma glutathione S-transferase in patients with Paracetamol overdos­ age. Hum Exp Toxicol 9 (3) May, 183-186. Brahm, J. et al. 1992. [Paracetamol overdose: A new form of suicide in Chile and the value of N-acetylcysteine administration]. Rev Med Chil, 120 (4), Apr., 427-499.

Glutathione deficiency Jan, A. et al. 1994. Effect of ascorbate or N-acetylcysteine treatment in a patient with hereditary glutathione synthetase deficiency. J Pediatrics, 124 (2), Feb., 229-233. Martensson, J. et al. 1989. A therapeutic trial with N-acetylcysteine in sub­ jects with hereditary glutathione synthetase deficiency (5-oxoprolinuria ), J Inherist Metab Dis, 12 (2), 120-130. Dose: 15 mg/kg/day.

Hepatitis Hansen, R. M. et al. 1991. Gold induced hepatitis and pure red cell aplasia. Complete recovery after corticosteroid and N-acetylcysteine therapy. J Pheumatology, 18 (8), Aug., 1251-1253.

Liver damage Bromley, P. N. et al. 1995. Effects of intraoperative N-acetylcysteine on orthotopic liver transplantation. British J Anaesth, 75 (3), Sept., 352354. Oh, T. E. and Shenfield, G. M. 1980. Intravenous N-acetylcysteine for Para­ cetamol poisoning. Med J Australia, 1 (13), June 28, 664-665.

Lung damage Meyer, A. et al. 1995. Intravenous N-acetylcysteine and lung glutathione of patients with pulmonary fibrosis and normals. Am J Respiratory Crit Care Med, 152 (3), Sept., 1055-1060. Dose: 1.8 gm.

Suter, P. M. et al. 1994. N-acetylcysteine enhances recovery from acute lung injury in man. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study. Chest, 105 (1), Jan., 190-194. Dose: 40 mg/kg/day iv over a period of 72 hours.

Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs 425 Eklund, A. et al. 1988. Oral N-acetylcysteine reduces selected humoral markers of inflammatory cell activity in BAL fluid from healthy smok­ ers: Correlation to effects on cellular variables. European Respir J, 1 (9), Oct., 832-838. Dose: 200 mg tid over an 8 w eek period.

Linden, M. et al. 1988. Effects of oral N-acetylecysteine on cell content and macrophage function in bronchoalveolar lavage from healthy smokers. European Respiratory J, 1 (7), July, 645-650. Dose: 200 mg tid over an 8 w eek period.

Muscle fatigue Reid, M. B. et al. 1994. N-acetylcysteine inhibits muscle fatigue in humans. J Clin Investigations, 94 (6), Dec., 2468-2474. Dose: pretreatment w ith 150 mg/kg.

Sjogren's Syndrome Walters, M. T. et al. 1986. A double-blind, cross-over, study of oral N-ace­ tylcysteine in Sjogren's syndrome. Scandanavian J Pheumatol Suppl, 61, 253-258.

NIACIN Chojnowska-Jezierska, J,. and Adamska-Dyniewska, H. 1998. Efficacy and safety of one-year treatment with slow-release nicotinic acid. Monitor­ ing of drug concentration in serum. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther, 36 (6), Jun., 326-332. Dose: 1.5 g/d (2 m onths), and subsequently 2-3 g/d (10 m onths), on average 2.13 g/d. During the treatm ent w ith 2.0 g/d dose.

Hoogerbrugge, N. et al. 1998. The additional effects of acipimox to simvas­ tatin in the treatment of combined hyperlipidaemia. J Intern Med, 243 (5) May, 151-156. Dose: Acipimox in a daily dose of 3 X 250 mg for 12 w eeks.

Brown, B. G. et al. 1998. Lipid altering or antioxidant vitamins for patients with coronary disease and very low HDL cholesterol? The HDL-Atherosclerosis Treatment Study Design. Can J Cardiol, Suppl A, Apr. 14, 6A13A. Chojnowska-Jezierska, J. and Adamska-Dyniewska, H. 1997. [Prolonged treatment with slow release nicotinic acid in patients with type II hyperlipidemia]. Pol Arch Med Wewn, 98 (11) Nov., 391-399 Dose: one-year therapy w ith slow-release nicotinic acid

426 Specific Applications of Vitamins, Nutrients, and Herbs McKenney, J.M. et al. 1998. A randomized trial of the effects of atorvastatin and niacin in patients with combined hyperlipidemia or isolated hypertriglyceridemia. Collaborative Atorvastatin Study Group. Am J Med, 104 (2) Feb., 137-143 Dose: im m ediate-release niacin 1 g 3x/day for 12 weeks

Brown, B. G. et al. 1998. Use of niacin, statins, and resins in patients with combined hyperlipidemia. Am J Cardiol, 81 (4A) Feb. 26, 52B-59B Fagerberg, B. et al. 1998. Mortality rates in treated hypertensive men with additional risk factors are high but can be reduced: a randomized inter­ vention study. Am J Hypertens, 11 (1 Pt 1) Jan., 14-22. Kukharchuk, V. V. et al. 1997. [The effect of long-term Enduracin monoth­ erapy on the clinical and biochemical status of patients with ischemic heart disease]. TerArkh, 69 (9), 41-45 Dose: enduracin in a dose 1500 mg/day.

Brown, B. G. et al. 1997. Moderate dose, three-drug therapy with niacin, lovastatin, and colestipol to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol , 189-90, 203, 214, 313 Self. 38 changes in. 357 love of. 20, 34 1 spiritual conscious, 36‘> Sclf-actu ali/ation . 12 Sclf-em jHnvcrm ent. II. 12. 341

Index Self-im age, exercise and, 3 8 5 -8 6 Senile dem entia, 120 alum inum in, 260 smart drugs in treatm ent of, 146 Sense o f self, 20, 341 Serotonin, 130 Serum cholesterol levels, 128, 320, 326 Sesam e seeds, 333 Shellfish, 6 Shortness of breath, 133 Shoulders, 21 “ Sick building,” 277 Silybum m arianum (m ilk th istle), 432 Silver am algam fillings, 259, 260 Singlet oxygen, 118 Skating, 298 Skin, 21, 127, 133 w rinkles, 4, 119, 133 Sleeping habits, 285 Smart drugs, 143-54, 227 Sm oking, 133 Sodas, 255, 3 1 4 -1 5 Sodium , 326 Solvents, 264 recipe, 265 Soy, 137, 314 Soy oil, 334 Soybeans, 326, 3 2 9 -3 1 , 333 Spirit benefits of exercise to, 2 8 5 -8 6 Spiritual com ponents, 27 Spiritual m aterialists, 360 Split peas, 331 Stair-clim bing, 275 Stair-clim bing m achine, 254 Stinging nettle, 239 Strawberries, 318 Stress, 2 6 8 -6 9 , 274 change and, 357 and free radicals, 119 reduced by exercise, 294 Stress-based m odel of aging, 123 Stress m anagem ent in anti-aging protocol, 7, 8, 10, 12 exercise in, 285 Stress m anagem ent protocol, 275 Stretches/stretching, 254, 287, 2 8 8 -8 9 , 296 Stroke, 4, 128-29, 130 cause o f death, 125, 127 nutrients in treatm ent of, 155, 216 Succotash, 329 Sugar intake, 309 Sugars, 311, 316 com plex, 327

497

refined, 274 sim ple, 6 w hite, 255, 315 Sunflower, 239 Sunflower oil, 334 Sunflower seeds, 333 Superfoods for Life (Riccio), 313 Superoxide anion, 118 Superoxide dism utase (SOD), 119, 190-91 Supplem ents see Nutrient supplem entation Surrender, value of, 375 Sweat glands, 133 Sw im m ing, 2 9 6 -9 7 , 299 Sym ptom s m asked by m edications, 261 Synapses, 131 T-cells, 131 T'ai Chi, 254 Taking stock, 15, 17-20, 27 Tangeretin, 162 Taxol, 137 Tea, 6, 3 1 4 -1 5 "Telomerase and the Aging Cell'' (Fossel), 122 Telomere inhibitors, 123 Telomere theory o f aging, 121-23 Telomeres, 127, 135 Temperature changes, 133 Testosterone, 131 Thiam ine, 1 9 8 -9 9 , 321, 323, 324, 326 Thought patterns, altering, 308 Thoughts effect of, 269, 342 negative, 361 Threonine, 320 Thymus gland, 121, 131 Thyroid horm ones, 131 Tinctures, 31 Toffler, Alvin, 355 Tomoxifin, 263 Toxic w aste, 119 Toxins, 2 5 8 -5 9 , 264, 275, 310 cleaning up, 8, 2 5 9 -6 3 em otional, 272 environm ental, 2 7 6 -7 9 flushed by exercise, 294 in intestines, 273 stored in body, 2 6 7 -6 8 in water, 315 Triglycerides, 318, 329 Trim ethylglycine betaine, 191, 433

498

Index

Tripping the Clock (K ugler), 309

Triticale, 3 2 3 -2 4 Tryptophan, 247, 320, 321 Turmeric/Curcumin, 2 3 9 -4 0 , 274, 402 T w elve-step recovery m ovem ent, 11 Tyrosine, 245 Ulcers, 138 Ultraviolet effects o f sun, 133 Uncertainty, 373 Unsaturated fatty acids (lipid peroxidation), 118 Urination, 132 US DA, 138 Valerian, 240 Valine, 320 Value system s, q u estioning, 341 Values, 342 Vasopressin, 153 Vegans, 316 Vegetable juices, 255, 2 7 0 -7 3 , 274 Vegetable w ash in g liquids, 265 Vegetables, 6, 137, 138, 310, 313, 316, 317 cruciferous, 254, 313 sources o f protein, 332, 333 treated w ith chem icals, 312 Vegetarian diet, 380 in protocol, 6 protein in, 333 Vegetarianism , 3 1 6 -1 7 , 338 virtues of, 3 1 2 -1 4 Viagra, 261 Viloxazine, 150 V incam ine, 153 V inicistine, 137 V inpocetine, 153-54 Viruses, 260, 266 V isualization, 8, 292 Vital statistics, 15 Vitam in A /Beta-carotene, 191-98, 205, 207, 214, 218 aqueous, 9 see also Beta-carotene Vitamin B, 320 Vitamin B, (th iam in e), 1 98-99, 321, 323, 324, 326 Vitam in B2 (riboflavin), 199, 320, 321 in grains, 323, 324, 326 Vitam in B4 (folic acid), 169-70, 262 Vitam in B, (p antothenic acid), 182, 320

Vitam in B6 (pyridoxine), 164, 199-201, 262, 320, 326 Vitam in B12 (cyanocobalam in), 201, 262, 274 Vitam in C (ascorbic acid), 7, 9, 119, 138, 2 0 1 -8 , 210, 214, 215, 216, 218, 274, 3 2 6 ,4 3 3 -4 4 5 in fruit, 3 1 7 -1 8 Vitam in D, 2 0 8 -9 Vitam in E, 119, 138, 157, 189, 193, 202, 203, 205, 207, 2 0 9 -1 8 , 313, 322, 4 4 5 -4 6 1 Vitam in K, 218 Vitam in in d exes, 257 Vitam in regim es, high-dosage, 31 Vitam in supplem entation, 254, 2 5 5 -5 7 Vitam ins, 7 in enriched breads, 311 in grains, 318 W alking, 254, 287, 2 9 3 -9 4 , 299 power, 8, 275 W ashing fruits, 318 hands, 2 6 5 -6 7 Water, 255, 3 1 4 -1 5 am ount needed, 2 7 3 -7 4 contam inated, 258, 259, 267, 315 pure, 6 toxins in, 264 Water filters, 315 W eight ideal, 309, 3 3 6 -3 7 , 338 W eight issues, 3 3 5 -3 8 W eight lifting, 254, 285 W eight loss, 3 3 7 -3 8 W eight training, 4, 8, 254, 275 W heat, 274, 310, 324, 325 W hite beans, 331 W hite blood cells, 118, 129 W hite flour, 311, 318, 323 W hole grains, 6, 310, 312, 3 1 8 -2 6 Wild rice, 3 2 5 -2 6 Workout, easing into, 2 8 7 -8 9 W ound healing, 133 Yankee beans, 331 Yeasts, 264, 274 Yoga, 254 Yohimbine, 2 4 0 -4 1 Youth early developm ent of old age disease, 24, 371 Zinc, 203, 2 1 8 -2 0 , 314, 326

(C o n tin u e d from fro n t flap)

life-transforming guide you need to stay biologically young and in peak performance for all the decades to come.

Gary Null, Ph.D. is the author of over 50 books, including The Encyclopedia of Natural Healing; The Clinician's Handbook or Natural Healing, Healing with Magnets, and Secrets of the Sacred White Buffalo. A marathon goldmedalist, Gary Null is the winner of dozens of awards for his penetrating documentary films that run each week on cable stations across America. He is also the host of the longest-running, nationally syndicated daily health radio program, "Natural Living with Gary Null." A lecturer, educator, environmentalist, and manufacturer of his own bestselling line of vitamins and supplements, Gary Null divides his time between New York and Naples, Florida.

KENSINGTON PUBLISHING CORP. NEW YORK, NEW YORK

Jacket illustration by Sudi McCollum Jacket design by Janice Rossi Schaus Author photo © 1998 Frank White http://www.kensingtonbooks.com

75255002995500409

ISBN

l-575b b -4m -7

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

7

ULTIMATE ANTI-AGING PROGRAM HAS CHANGED LIVES: "I've been in the program for about a year and a half. My vision has remained stable, and without the need for eyeglasses. My hair root color has become speckled brown and black, wnere it was previously white. My wrinkles have lessened, and my stin is softer. My aging process has reversed to pre-menopause. My breasts are fuller. My sexual responses are more intense— at the level I remember fifteen years ago. Thank you, Gary." Marsha, 71 "Since I began the protocol, I've lost 20 lbs. I'm growing new hair faster, and my bald spot has disappeared. The painful lower back pain from sciatica I suffered with for years is gone. Sexually, I am more alive than ever. Greater potency. Greater passion with my partner. It's like I'm seventeen all over again. I now look forward to each new day with joy and happiness instead of anger, pain, ana fear." Joe, 50 "After I started the program, I had more energy than ever. I exercise. My skin is smooth, and I feel voung. I don't get headaches anymore. In the past, I used to wear glasses for reading, now I remove them. My self esteem has been raised. People tell me I look 35 years old." Gilisa, 46