Free radicals?
Four Pillars of Aging
Aging can be defined as the general deterioration of the body over time.
Aging can be broken down into four pillars; however, they are not equal. The greatest deterioration of the body occurs with excess insulin.
The four pillars of aging are interrelated to food and when combined represent a powerful force to accelerate aging.
Eating too many calories causes excess free radicals; eating too many calories (especially too many carbohydrates) causes an increase in insulin and blood glucose levels; increased insulin inhibits glucagon and forces the body to produce more cortisol; and cortisol decreases eicosanoid synthesis.
The four pillars of aging are:
Excess Insulin
Aging is a consequence of excess insulin which can lead to Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, elevated cholesterol and obesity. Keep in mind that one does not have to be obese to experience elevated cholesterol. High carbohydrate, low fat diets are one of the prime causes of excess insulin and elevated lipid profiles. I can attest to the fact that this is exactly what happened to me even though I thought I ate a healthy diet, controlled my weight and exercised daily.
Free Radicals
Aging is a consequence of an overproduction of excess free radicals. Free radicals are formed when one consumes excess calories at a meal, especially over 500 calories at one sitting. Free oxygen radicals are produced in vast amounts as your body strives to process and store the excess energy.
Free radical is simply the name for a molecule that has an unpaired electron. Nature rates unpaired electrons, and any that are not used in chemical reactions will steal another electron from some other molecule to make itself whole again.
Any excess radical not quenched by anti-oxidants (ie Vitamins C and E which the body cannot produce), will ricochet off other circulatory and cellular components leading to oxidation of serum fats and damaged cells.
Just think of how much damage you can do by eating at a fast food restaurant and consuming a Big Mac, fries, milkshake and sundae. Not only will you be consuming more than 500 calories in one meal, but this meal is basically devoid of any anti-oxidants.
Excess Blood Glucose
Aging is a consequence of excess blood glucose which increases AGE formation.
AGE = advanced glycosylated end products which are cross linked products of carbohydrates and protein. An example of AGE is when one adds a glaze (carbohydrate rich) to ham (protein) and the end result is a rich golden crust. The same effect takes place in one’s body if too much glucose is floating in the bloodstream. Glucose adheres to the surface of arteries and capillaries and leads to artherosclerosis, blindness, impotence and kidney disease. High levels of AGEs are found in diabetics.
Cortisol
Aging is a consequence of excess cortisol. Cortisol is released from the adrenal glands in response to stress or low blood glucose. If one has consumed a meal that has insufficient glucagon (protein), cortisol acts as a back up system to try and increase glucose to the brain.
Cortisol’s primary mode of action in times of stress is to shut down eicosanoid synthesis.
Over prolonged periods of time if one suffers from chronic stress the adrenal glands can burn out ie constant fatigue.
There are two types of stress; one being eurostress, which is good stress and the other being distress, which is bad stress (the fight or flight response).
As you can see from above, food is a powerful drug and can cause hormonal miscommunication! Conversely, with the correct ratios and quantities of macronutrients one can actually decrease hormonal miscommunication, thus slowing the rate of aging and reversing earlier periods of accelerated aging.
(Ref: Chap. 5, Mechanisms of Aging, The Age-Free Zone)
