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Dr. Mercola
October 18 2007
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Cut Sugar and Supplements -- and Live 15 Years Longer?

Restricting the simple sugar glucose from your diet, while avoiding vitamin supplements, may extend your lifespan, according to German researchers.

While your body needs glucose, a sugar found in high amounts in sweets, too much of it is harmful.

When the researchers used a chemical to block worms’ ability to process glucose, their lifespan was extended by up to 25 percent, which is equal to 15 human years.

The beneficial effect came from an unlikely source: free radicals. Typically, free radicals are thought to cause damage to your body, and many consume antioxidants and vitamins to fight them.

However, when the worms were unable to use glucose for energy, they increased energy power from other cells -- a process that generated more free radicals than normal.

In response, the worms generated enzymes that fought the free radicals and strengthened their long-term protection against the damaging molecules.

The study also points to a reason why antioxidants may not be beneficial in the long run.

When some of the worms were given antioxidants, the free radicals were neutralized. However, this also prevented the worms from generating the beneficial, long-term defenses.

Cell Metabolism October 2007, Vol 6, 280-293, 03 

Reuters October 2, 2007



Dr. MercolaDr. Mercola's Comments:
Even though this study was conducted on worms, and therefore may not translate directly to people, it still reveals some interesting points to consider.

First, limiting glucose (sugar) in your diet is a well-known key to longevity. In worms, cutting down on this one element increased their lifespan the equivalent of 15 human years, which is a major improvement.

If you avoid glucose in your diet, does this mean that you’ll live for another 15 years? It’s impossible to say, but what I can say is that you may very likely live quite a bit longer.

Your blood glucose levels actually rise slightly every time you eat. This is natural. What is not natural is that, with the average American now eating about 2.5 pounds of sugar every week, your blood glucose levels may very likely become excessively elevated, then stay that way.

It is a well proven fact that sugar increases your insulin and leptin levels and decreases receptor sensitivity for both of these vital hormones. This can lead to:
  • High blood pressure and high cholesterol
  • Heart disease
  • Diabetes
  • Weight gain
  • Premature aging
The problem lies in the vast amounts of processed sweets, such as soda -- which is now the number one source of calories in the United States -- that Americans are now consuming, along with the large amount of refined carbohydrates.

When you eat these low-quality carb foods -- things like white bread, sugar, pasta, pastries, cookies, and candy -- your blood sugar levels rise. This, in turn, causes your insulin and leptin levels to rise as well, which will accelerate the effects of aging.

Avoiding sugar, on the other hand, helps you to control your insulin and leptin levels, which will help you to feel and look younger for longer.

If you’re having trouble with the notion of giving up your favorite sweet treats and refined carbs, The Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is one of the best solutions I know of for this challenge. EFT is an energy psychology tool that includes a marvelous technique called Turbo Tapping, which has helped tens of thousands of people kick the sugar habit.

Also, instead of focusing on what you will be losing (negative focus), it helps to look at all the things you will be gaining, such as increased energy and a lower risk of many diseases. Meanwhile, you can enjoy healthy foods that are in-line with your nutritional type, such as meats, dairy products, fresh veggies, nuts and seeds, and much more.

Are Supplements Healthy or Harmful?

The above study also raised an interesting point about free radicals. Free radicals are highly reactive molecules that steal electrons from the first thing they encounter, such as a cell wall, or a strand of DNA. The loss of an electron, in turn, oxidizes these cells, which makes them unstable and easily breakable.

As this free-radical damage continues, your cells can no longer perform properly, and hence, tissues begin to degrade and disease sets in.

An interesting point to consider is that it is not unusual that in trying to do a good thing, some supplements could actually harm you. Depending on your clinical circumstances, suppression of free radicals may actually be harmful. It all depends on your specific circumstances. So the key here is to realize that fact.

It seems that, once again, your body may have far more intelligence in knowing the appropriate actions to take for you.

No matter what, you still need a certain level of free radicals, as your body uses the chain reaction of the free radicals to turn air and food into chemical energy. They also play a vital role in your immune response, attacking foreign invaders and bacteria.

It is certainly possible that taking some antioxidants may actually prevent some free radicals from doing the job they were designed to do. Playing doctor with using supplements as drugs can clearly cause complications, so don’t play with them lightly or use them willy nilly. You need to have expert counsel or carefully study the literature before you embark on a supplement regimen.

So it turns out that it may not be wise to drastically cut back on these natural free radicals in your body (even breathing produces free radicals).

That said, it’s not wise to let them get out of control, either.

If you eat a lot of junk food and sugar, don’t sleep enough, are stressed, and are exposed to a lot of environmental pollution, your body could easily become overwhelmed by free radicals, and be unable to neutralize them on its own.

Your ticket to keeping free radicals in check, and to leading a long, healthy life, remains leading a balanced lifestyle that includes antioxidants and vitamins from fresh, whole foods, with a minimum of artificial interventions.
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Community Comments ( 60 )
 Comment on this Article
  
  
dozer-man
 [ Joined on 07/07 ] [ Posted on October 18, 2007 ]
15 Points        
   
 
Novice User

Vitamins?  Oh yes, I take plenty of them ever day.  The only prescription med I take is 10 mg of Prednisone, and have for 35 years with no side effects. I will be 80 Halloween and work every day.  Even though I had back surgery that left my left side numb with little control over it, it hasn't stopped me from working, just slowed me down.  My wife is 52 years old and we work side by side.  She cooks only healthy foods for our family.  I drive a bull dozer, backhoe, tractor, and just about anything I can get upon.  Work?  I live to work and really enjoy life here on this 307 acre farm.  I have a sawmill and cut our own lumber for everything we want to build.  My suggestion if you want to live long, eat the right food, work hard, don't sit on your "buttski" and be married to the right woman.  I do take "EpiCor" and "Taurox" which has helped me a lot.  This may not fit in with the "worm" bit, but just wanted to let everyone know, that you don't have to die young.  I have better health than my kids.  2 to 3 beers a day, and can still "cut the mustard"  LOL

and now, I have to get "atterit"  as they say down here.  "Get after it"  Work, that is!   LOL

Good health to everyone and live a long life.  I promised my better half another 20 years of hard work.

love and not hate also helps.

 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
Libreni
 		[ Joined on 05/07 ]  [ Posted on October 18, 2007]
       
   
Novice User
  Mercola

you rock!  Happy 80th!!

Mercola
  
Health 1
 		[ Joined on 03/07 ]  [ Posted on October 18, 2007]
1 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

What a touching testimony of good health dozer-man.  Thank you so much! :)))

God bless you

Dr. Trudy

Mercola
  
WellnessMom
 		[ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on October 18, 2007]
       
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Happy 80th dozer-man! You're a great inspiration to anyone who may think there is nothing to really live for! Here's to many more happy years for you, your wife and your health : )

Mercola
  
kare4u
 		[ Joined on 11/06 ]  [ Posted on October 18, 2007]
       
   
Apprentice User
  Mercola

Happy 80th birthday dozer-man and I wish you many, many more!!!!

Mercola
  
swelpy
 		[ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on October 18, 2007]
       
   
This user is BELOW novice level and all their comments need to be reviewed with great caution.
  Mercola

Better watchout dozer-man I'm only 3 years behind you and catching up fast and may I just reiterate Dr Trudy.

Good onya! Thanks once again.

Oh and have all you good people got around to reading "Anastasia" at the website

"ringingcedarsofrussia"

I think you will see more than a link with the life style of dozer-man.

Alex

Mercola
  
dressagefreak
 		[ Joined on 12/06 ]  [ Posted on October 19, 2007]
1 Points        
   
Apprentice User
  Mercola

I second what "Health 1" said. You are truly an inspiration. I'm only 20, but I hope I'm as active and vibrant as you are when I'm 80+!

  
  
curlilox
 [ Joined on 08/07 ] [ Posted on October 5, 2007 ]
14 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
First, they compare us with monkeys.  Now, they compare us with worms??!  How much lower will they go?
 [ Reply ]
  
  
Russ Bianchi
 [ Joined on 09/06 ] [ Posted on October 3, 2007 ]
14 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
In 1905 (first marginal records kept on the subject in the USA) the average consumption of total sweeteners per capita was about 6 pounds per year (primary cane sugar or molasses if refined, otherwise nature fruit, honey or other naturally occurring sources).

The heavily politically sandbagged number, from USDA, for 2006, is about 152 pounds per year per capita, of total sweeteners consumption per capita per annum in the USA, but the real number is closer to 183 pounds per year per person. 

For those counting, that's, at the very least, a 146 pound per year per person increase in refined saccharide intake in 102 years!!!

Of this massively increase total sweetener number, 84 pounds per year per person in the USA is High Fructose Corn Syrup which is automatically converted to triglycerides or brown adipose tissue (body fat) in metabolization.  HFCS did not exist in the American food or beverage chain until 1971.

Yes, the food and beverage chain in the USA is SATURATED with refined sweetener sources, that are harming health from CAUSING insulin resistance, hyper or hypo insulinism, hypoglycemia, syndrome X, diabetes, cardio vascular disease, many forms of cancer, and obesity, as a direct result of over consumption of refined sweeteners in the typical daily caloric intake in the USA.

Read Dr. Mercola's SWEET DECEPTION, if you have not yet and recommend it to your family, friends and associates.

 [ Reply ]
  
  
GC
 [ Joined on 07/07 ] [ Posted on October 18, 2007 ]
12 Points        
   
 
Novice User

As a European living in England, I can say that sugar intake and obesity levels in this country are just as bad as in the States...It is frightening how many fat people, whether young or middle aged, live here and eat high amounts of junk food and sugar.  As someone who has always eaten my greens, works out regularly, and avoids processed foods, it saddens me to see how they are destroying their health through ignorance and laziness, but...!  

With all the bad things out there, I have to take exception to the fact that Durum Wheat pasta, ie the "ordinary" one, always gets lumped in with the foods one should avoid...

I have eaten pasta all of my life, whether ordinary or whole wheat, have never had insulin or diabetic problems, have a low LDL and very high HDL levels (must be all that red wine at dinner!), am 5"7 and weight 127 pounds, so definitely not overweight, and I've also been known to have a few desserts here and there - All this at the tender age of 40!  

Most of my slim Italian friends eat a lot of pasta as well!  

So, the moral of the story is that there is no one size fits all....We can only do the best we can, eat moderately, try and avoid sugar, don't eat carbohydrates with protein, take a good multivitamin, and keep fit!  

Pasta lovers of the world, unite!  GC

 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
healthnutmom
 		[ Joined on 09/07 ]  [ Posted on October 18, 2007]
5 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

As a third generation Italian my family NEVER had a meal (no matter what it was) without a bowl of pasta, semolina bread with butter and a glass of red wine (even the children).  On the other hand, everyone also ate lots of greens, artichokes, beans - all smothered in garlic and virgin olive oil.  My grandparents are now 98(grandma) and 99(grandpa).  Neither have diabetes or high cholesterol, both are slim and are sharp as tacks.  Nobody believes they are older than 70!  My mom is 65, very slim and looks 40. Both my great-grandparents lived to be over 100 - great-grandpa drove until he was 89.  I always ask myself how this could be.  Is it genes, the food or what?  Does anybody have a theory?  None of them jogged or went to a gym or took a vitamin.  Oh, and every meal ended with coffee and cake and grandpa would not go to bed without his bowl of chocolate ice cream with Bosco chocolate sauce drizzled over it every night.  They all think I am a radical nut because I exercise, don't eat sugar, don't purchase pre-packaged foods, make my own wheat-free bread, etc. They say "look at us, we are very healthy, eat like we do!" Does anybody else have a family like this? I really don't know what is right.  

Mercola
  
Health 1
 		[ Joined on 03/07 ]  [ Posted on October 18, 2007]
3 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

It's been my experience in twenty three years of practice, that Durum and or other wheat is not suitable for everyone, for biochemically, we are all different. Dr. Mercola often speaks of the adverse effects of gluten in one's diet. This has become clear in my work time and time again.

You seem to be an individual who can tolerate pasta made with Durum Wheat and you mention regular pasta as well, which are carbs and will be treated as such by the body... not to mention the often produced mucous up against the intestinal wall, thus potentially disallowing enzymes needed activity for the break down of nutrients to be impaired.

You however are enjoying good health due to avoidance of refined white sugar and work outs etc.and carefully chosen nutrient intake... Good for you.:)))!

Blessings

Dr. Trudy  

Mercola
  
Health 1
 		[ Joined on 03/07 ]  [ Posted on October 18, 2007]
2 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

healthnutmom...I suspect this may well have to do with biochemical individuality. What works for one person may be poison to another. However, there is no such thing as a small amount of poison. The body either utilises the charged and ionised nutrients, or fermention and or putrification takes place, causing free radical acitivty and oxidative stress.

Wonderful that your family is as well as they are with the dietary protocol they are practicing. My husband's mother who is ninety is much like that. Her dietary habits are freightening a times, yet she still drives, exercises and line dances. We are all unique and quite different.

Blessings

Dr. Trudy

Mercola
  
JGC
 		[ Joined on 10/07 ]  [ Posted on October 18, 2007]
1 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

I am third generation Italian, my wife is second generation Italian. In the past we had many many meals without pasta or rice. Our pasta was either stuffed with meat and cheese or with meat sauce. We had some pizza and a lot of fruits as well.

After my former family doctor talked me into going into a low-fat diet I cut down on the meats and stepped up on the pasta, rice and pizza. Soon after that my weight went from 160 to over 180lbs (I am 5'8") and my blood sugar went through the roof. Then I cut off all grains and fruits and within a month my weight went down to 160lbs and blood sugar normalized.

It definitely has something to do each persons metabolism, one size does not fit all.

Mercola
  
kfarias
 		[ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on October 18, 2007]
1 Points        
   
Apprentice User
  Mercola

I would say this has a lot to do with genetics, longevity runs in families.  I know people that eat like that and have heart problems and diabetes. &nb