SEARCH:
Sign in | Join | Help
search Mercola.com
 
FREE Subscription 
The World’s Most Popular Natural Health Newsletter
POSTED BY:

Dr. Mercola
November 13 2007

View in Podcast
66,810 views


ARTICLE TOOLS:
Current Newsletter Current Newsletter
Share Your Comment Share Your Comment
Print this Page Print this Page
Submit My StorySubmit My Story
Newsletter FeedNewsletter Feed
Health Blog FeedHealth Blog Feed
TRANSLATE THIS PAGE:
Arabic Translation Chinese Translation Dutch Translation French Translation German Translation
Korean Translation Japanese Translation Portugese Translation Russian Translation Spanish Translation

Email this article to a friend
Bookmark & Share
Previous Article
Next Article
Mouse Studies Confirm the Key to Longevity

Mice lacking the insulin receptor substrate are more resistant to aging than normal mice, according to University College London researchers.

The finding further confirms the link between insulin signaling pathways and aging, and may have implications on aging in humans.

In the study, mice were engineered to lack either insulin receptor substrate IRS-1 or IRS-2, both proteins that are activated by the hormone insulin, which regulates glucose and fat metabolism. Compared with normal mice, the mice lacking IRS-1 had:

  • A 20 percent increase in their average lifespan (30 percent for female mice)

  • Better health as they aged
In contrast, mice lacking IRS-2 had shorter lives than normal mice, and developed signs of obesity and type 2 diabetes. 

Sources:



Dr. Mercola''s Comments Dr. Mercola's Comments:

It is now a well-known fact that insulin speeds up aging. Eating sugar and grains will increase your insulin level, and that is the equivalent of slamming your foot on your aging accelerator. Folks, there are only a few other ways to accelerate aging faster than eating sugar and grains.

However, insulin may not be the most important hormone when it comes to chronic diseases that are typically associated with the aging process.

Relatively recent research has uncovered that leptin -- a hormone produced by fat that tells your body whether it needs more energy (and thereby controls your appetite) and what to do with the energy it does have -- may get the top billing.

The above study lends more evidence to the importance of the signaling pathways of your hormones. This is an intricate system that needs to be kept precisely balanced so that your body can function properly.

Leptin, for instance, largely influences, if not controls, the functions of the hypothalamus in your brain, which impacts your:
  • Reproduction
  • Thyroid function
  • Adrenal function
  • Sympathetic nervous system
Like your insulin levels, if your leptin levels become elevated, your body systems will develop a resistance to this hormone, which will wreak havoc in your body.

Ron Rosedale, MD, who is one of the leading experts on leptin and the author of The Rosedale Diet, does an excellent job of explaining what happens when your leptin signaling runs amok:

“As the appetite control centers in your hypothalamus become leptin-resistant and cannot hear the message from leptin to curb hunger and stop storing fat, it believes that you do not have enough fat stores to live through a potential famine and you must eat more and make more fat.

Also lost is the knowledge of where to put that fat, and there is a preponderance stored in your abdomen, including your abdominal organs such as your liver, disrupting your liver's ability to listen to other signals such as those from insulin. This causes your liver to manufacture too much sugar from protein contributing to diabetes, and contributes importantly to the breakdown of your muscle and bone causing weakness and osteoporosis.

The communication and knowledge of where to put calcium is also disrupted. Calcium is deposited in your blood vessels instead of your bone, which contributes to osteoporosis while calcifying and hardening your arteries.”

These disruptions have been linked to many of the diseases of “aging,” including:
  • Diabetes
  • Elevated blood pressure
  • Increases in blood coagulation
  • Heart disease
  • Increased inflammation
What can you do to increase your own longevity and keep your hormones in balance? You can start that process by dipping into that "fountain of youth" already available to you: eating a healthy diet.

The other variable that may be even more of an influence on your lifespan than even insulin and leptin is your emotional health. Emotional trauma, and particularly negative emotions that stay with you for long periods of time, will accelerate aging, plain and simple.

My full plan for longevity is detailed in Take Control of Your Health, but the 10 steps that all of you can start working on right now to enjoy a happier, healthier, longer life are as follows:
  1. Have your emotional traumas addressed (try using an energy psychology process such as the psychological acupressure in Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) to do this)

  2. Get enough sunlight exposure to safely optimize your vitamin D levels, and have good options which contain vitamin D, such as cod liver oil, in the winter months.

  3. Drink pure water

  4. Avoid toxins

  5. Eat the right fats

  6. Eat right for your Nutritional Type

  7. Eat raw foods

  8. Control your insulin and leptin levels

  9. Exercise

  10. Sleep properly


Related Links:

  Could You Live Longer Than 140 Years?

  Insulin Gene May Affect Longevity

  The Chinese Secret to Long Life




Comment on This Article
Comment on This Article Community Comments (25)
 
 
Posted On Oct 25, 2007
As a result of these findings, all mice are to stop taking sugar in their tea and will henceforth only consume artificial sweetners...and HFCS, of course, in order to prevent the premature proliference of crochety, grey haired mice;)

ReplyReply
Mark As Spam  Mark as Spam
Positive Points Negative Points   21 Points
 
david
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 8/2006
david  
Send Message  Send Message
Add as Friend  Add as Friend
Replied

Russ Bianchi
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 9/2006
Russ Bianchi  
Send Message  Send Message
Add as Friend  Add as Friend
 
Posted On Oct 25, 2007
On Behalf Of Mighty Mouse, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Jerry the Mouse, Chuck E. Cheese, Church Mice, Sneezer the Mouse, Steward Little, The 3 Blind Mice, Steinbeckian Mice, The Elephants Love Mice Association,  Pied Piper & Hamelin Enterprises, Lab Rats & White Coats Anonymous,  All Hand Held Electronic Or Mechanical Computer Enabling Devices, Mouseketeers & The House of Mouse, Aesopian Mice, and Mouseanistas Everywhere:

"Hand Over The Organic Raw Cheese & No One Gets Hurt!"

;-)

Uncle Russ

Mark As Spam   Mark as Spam
Positive Points Negative Points   12 Points

Bridestein
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 12/2006
Bridestein  
Send Message  Send Message
Add as Friend  Add as Friend
 
Posted On Oct 25, 2007
Russ - you forgot Speedy Gonzales ;-)
Oooh, and what about Miss Bianca and Bernard?

Mark As Spam   Mark as Spam
Positive Points Negative Points   7 Points

Russ Bianchi
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 9/2006
Russ Bianchi  
Send Message  Send Message
Add as Friend  Add as Friend
 
Posted On Oct 25, 2007
How could I forget Senior Speedy?! 

I feel like some "Cheese....and Speedy is a friend of evreebodiees seeester!" 

Mark As Spam   Mark as Spam
Positive Points Negative Points   6 Points

JJReed
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 6/2006
JJReed  
Send Message  Send Message
Add as Friend  Add as Friend
 
Posted On Oct 26, 2007
Implications for the prevalence of diabetes? My 20-yr old son just read me the scary statistic that about 65% of his college classmates are affected by diabetes to a greater or lesser degree. These are mostly otherwise "healthy" young adults.
 
This is at a very intense entertainment industry school (computer design, animation, gaming, film, music, etc) where students stay in labs sometimes 2-3 days at a time to complete projects.  Healthier food in vending machines (ban the soda and candy they're living on)!? Maybe I should hook them up with Dr. Mercola for Whey Protein Shakes and Cocoa Casava bars and watch those numbers drastically decline. Hmmm....

Mark As Spam   Mark as Spam
Positive Points Negative Points   4 Points

LoriSm
Novice User Novice User Joined On 8/2007
LoriSm  
Send Message  Send Message
Add as Friend  Add as Friend
 
Posted On Nov 13, 2007

Russ and David,

Thanks for the laugh!!! You both have a great sense of humor!

Lori

Mark As Spam   Mark as Spam
Positive Points Negative Points   0 Points
 
 
 
Posted On Oct 25, 2007
When are they going to put warning labels on soda cans in the same way they do on cigarette packages?

ReplyReply
Mark As Spam  Mark as Spam
Positive Points Negative Points   15 Points
 
foxtroter_203
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 9/2006
foxtroter_203  
Send Message  Send Message
Add as Friend  Add as Friend
Replied

Russ Bianchi
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 9/2006
Russ Bianchi  
Send Message  Send Message
Add as Friend  Add as Friend
 
Posted On Oct 25, 2007
Not in your or my life time, the HFCS will have killed those stupid enough to drink this soda poison anyway...

Mark As Spam   Mark as Spam
Positive Points Negative Points   0 Points

Katee Roux
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 7/2007
Katee Roux  
Send Message  Send Message
Add as Friend  Add as Friend
 
Posted On Oct 26, 2007
I don't know, Russ.  About 7 years ago i read that a scientist believed the two biggest dangers (his choice not mine, i'd include GM/GE) were transfats & HFCS. 

The public is now being made aware of transfats, even tho they are still in some items, & the food industry is playing hard & fast with reporting them ("0 grams transfats").  Still, more folks are aware of this than ever before. 

Maybe, with a push, it will happen with HFCS, as well.

Mark As Spam   Mark as Spam
Positive Points Negative Points   0 Points

katz
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 11/2006
katz  
Send Message  Send Message
Add as Friend  Add as Friend
 
Posted On Oct 29, 2007
Yes , they need to put label's on  both the regular and diet soda's !
WHY, do the kid's need to stuff  on junk in school anyway ? Why don't school's ban the vending machines because of the $$. I never was allowed to eat or drink in school and I was able to learn and survive , If they must eat something maby, have some health type in the vending machines and don't allow teachers a fridge in their room with sodas and candy for sale to the kid's , Fat up's the Insulin and most of us could stand to loose some fat, I know I could and I don't drink soda's.

Mark As Spam   Mark as Spam
Positive Points Negative Points   0 Points
 
 
 
Posted On Oct 25, 2007
Do humans have the same insulin receptors and do they function the same way in humans.  I would like the answer to those questions also.  The only way they would eliminate HFCS from processed foods is if they found something that would be even less costly and more addictive.

Mary

ReplyReply
Mark As Spam  Mark as Spam
Positive Points Negative Points   7 Points
 
mmc88121
Moderator User Moderator User, Joined On 11/2006
mmc88121  
Send Message  Send Message
Add as Friend  Add as Friend
 
 
 
Posted On Oct 26, 2007
A big hurray to Ron Rosedale !!!!!!!... He and others been saying this for eons but only a few actual listens.....I imagine one day when it's officially confirmed the PRIZE  would go to some newby scientist who would have been in diapers since Ron's discovery.... Nontheless it's welcome news for us...

ReplyReply
Mark As Spam  Mark as Spam
Positive Points Negative Points   5 Points
 
seg
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 11/2006
seg  
Send Message  Send Message
Add as Friend  Add as Friend
 
 
 
Posted On Oct 27, 2007
OK- insulin has potent aging implications.   But why hasn't there been more research into the most potent macronutrient ratios for optimal longevity.  Too much protein seems to speed aging outside of any insulin response.  So we need to optimize fat and carbohydrate ratios!

ReplyReply
Mark As Spam  Mark as Spam
Positive Points Negative Points   3 Points
 
HaloTeK
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 1/2007
HaloTeK  
Send Message  Send Message
Add as Friend  Add as Friend
 
123
 
Email this article to a friend
Bookmark & Share
Previous Article
Next Article
 
Privacy Policy   |   Terms of Use   |   Contact Us   |   Testimonials   |  Subscribe Newsletters RSS Feed Subscribe Blog RSS Feed
 
© Copyright 2009 Dr. Joseph Mercola. All Rights Reserved. If you want to use this article on your site please click here. This content may be copied in full, with copyright, contact, creation and information intact, without specific permission, when used only in a not-for-profit format. If any other use is desired, permission in writing from Dr. Mercola is required.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using this product.