Tips for Telonauts

Tip #1

TA-65 may be the only bona fide and tested immune booster. Tests conducted by TA Sciences have proven it strengthens immune system in both lymphocyte and granulocyte lines as well as suppressing NK cells. While specific tests on flu have not been done, a stronger immune system is sure to give you a better chance at fighting off this and other infections.

Tip #2

Three other supplements listed below have been shown to contain active neuraminidase inhibitors and have been shown to be effective against flu viruses, including H1N1 swine flu. These are elderberry, black currant, and Rhodiola Rosea. For more on these supplements, see the following: Instant Endurance – Immune Booster – Winter Flu Fighter Pack

Tip #3

“New study at Albert Einstein U ties longevity of Ashkenazi centenarians to ‘variant’ telomerase activity. The higher than normal levels of telomerase in this group of people was directly linked to their longevity. Their telomeres were longer than they ’should’ have been at their age because of this. And they had to have had a decrease in the incidence of cancer or they would not have lived so long! While this study does not prove telomerase activation is the key to longevity, it sure pushes the thoughts of the scientific community in that direction.”

Tip #4

A brand new study in CIRCULATION points out the benefits of LONG TERM exercise (masters athletes). Their telomeres are longer than age-matched non-exercising controls. The study concludes that exercise contributes to longevity and this can be measured directly by telomere length. The RBC are measured so it still raises the question of what is happening in the telomeres of muscle and bone. Also the telomeres are not lengthening, just not getting shorter as fast as normal. TA-65 is still the only way to lengthen telemeres that is proven. Dr Dave Woynarowski and Dr Fred Vagnini are both licensed to distribute TA-65.

Tip #5

World famous author and telonaut, Mike Fossel a.k.a. “Professor Telomere”, has a new article published stating unequivocally that telomeres are the true cellular time clock and that telomerase is the key to lengthening telomeres. TA-65 turns on telomerase!

Tip #6

Why should you keep your telomeres long? Every single day I get new news on telomere length. More and more I am able to silence critics who say that telomeres are only markers for disease and not causative factors. I am personally convinced that they are directly linked to many of the diseases we see in the aging population, if not all of them.

Just this week there were articles on bone marrow failure, AML pulmonary fibrosis, liver failure and perhaps the most interesting of all, perceived age in twins.

The summary is as follows: Twins were graded by their age by experts and followed for 7 years. In the twin pairs, where there was the most perceived difference, the “older twin” statistically tended to die younger. The perceived appearance was also noted. The ones who lived longer and looked younger had long telomeres. While some might argue that this is coincidental and not causative, I have the advantage of a “forest” view, not a “tree” view.

Taken as a whole I am certain we will continue to directly link telomeres to disease including heart attack, heart failure, numerous forms of non-inherited cancers and many more.

Also remember diabetes and obesity cause telomeres to shorten faster as well.

So do everything you can to keep your telomeres longer. See my article on TA-65 if you are interested.

Tip #7

Why does meditation reduce telomere loss? The answer has to do with cortisol and the susceptibility of the telomeres to oxidation. Oxidation, simply put, is the damage that happens when inflammation is too high in our body. Telomeres have a DNA base called guanine, which is particularly susceptible to oxidation. While cortisol is normally an anti-inflammatory, the chronic elevation of cortisol in a stress-filled life can do the opposite and damage DNA, including telomeres, and facilitates mutations and oxidations, which often keep company with each other.So stress management is key to keeping those telomeres long!

Tip #8

A lot of people including scientists refuse to associate telomere length with actual disease processes.  They feel that telomeres are merely markers for disease and aging not causative.

I beg to differ!  On one study it was shown that “telomere overhang” protects vital genes.The telomere loops over on itself and provides a kind of genetic umbrella for some genes.  As it turns out, those genes often have base pair sequences that are easily oxidized, thus making them especially susceptible to the ravages of life!

When the telomere gets short or shortens prematurely, bad things happen as a direct result. For example 70% of sudden cardiac death (mean age 27) was associated with very short telomeres that were no longer protecting vital genes associated with salt (sodium potassium and calcium) channels in the cells.  Other studies have linked bone marrow failure immune weakness directly with telomere length through this and other mechanisms. Short telomeres are a cause of disease and aging.  My opinion, but you’ll see how clairvoyant this is in a year or two!

Tip #9

The word “mitochondria” is in the news lately. On the simplest terms the mitochondria live inside our cells as a “sub cellular organelle” In English that means they are teeny tiny little things inside the cell that serve a specific function.

The function they serve is pretty doggone important! They let us burn oxygen and fat to make 98% of the fuel that we run on!!! Without them we’d never be more than a couple of cells at most but because of them we can breathe the air and use it to make energy.

Now from the telomere standpoint, the mitochondria don’t seem to have much to say at first glimpse. They have their own separate DNA that comes only from Mom (none from Dad) and it’s circular so it doesn’t even have telomeres!

But they have a huge part to play in how may oxidants or free radicals are released into the cell. Since telomeres are very sensitive to oxidation by free radicals the health of the mitochondria is critical not only for energy generation but to keep those free radicals at bay and to prevent them from damaging any of the DNA – including the telomeres.

This has been proven in lab experiments, as poor control of free radicals rapidly shortens telomeres.

The supplement Co Q 10 is the main one you can take for the mitochondria, though it is not the only one.

I make something called Regenerizer available at www.drdavesbest.com that is specifically designed to help the mitochondria, so check it out.

But no matter what you do, make sure you consider some form of Co Q for your supplementation.

Tip #10

The role of green tea in longevity and telomere length.

Green tea has probably run its course as a ‘du jour’ supplement but that does not make it any less important in your daily life.  Here are some benefits of green tea consumption.

1)    Various studies have linked green tea consumption to reduced amounts of cancer in the populations that drink it.  These cancers include lung (both in smokers and non smokers) where one cup a day reduced the risk by 5 fold, colon, and breast cancers are also benefited by green tea consumption.

2)    Green tea consumption has been linked to successful weight loss and lower body weight in numerous studies.

3)    Green tea appears to protect from depression in the elderly

4)    Green tea appears to help control blood sugar in diabetics as well.
As for the telomeres: green tea (mainly but there was some overlap in tea types including oolong) appeared to tack on a full 5 years of telomere length in elderly Chinese men who drank 3 or more cups a day.

The active ingredient in green tea is EGCG epigallocatechingallate which is a “polyphenol”.  Polyphenols are common in plants and often associated with high anti-oxidant activity.  Some other examples of polyphenols are the red wine polyphenols that contain resveratrol, berry derived anthocyanidins ala my Cardio and immune Boosters (Black currant chokeberry and elderberry).
I use ECGC in my Monster Multi with minerals to avoid the need to drink all those cups of green tea.  I personally also go through times when I drink a fair amount of green tea just because I enjoy it but the Multi is a daily ritual.

How does green tea “lengthen” telomeres?

Well, the only way we know to lengthen them is through telomerase activation and the only known telomerase activator is Ta-65 which I am licensed to distribute as well.

Green tea doesn’t ‘increase” telomere length and we always have to be careful about interpreting studies.  Its potent anti-oxidant activity probably slows down the loss of telomeres which results in longer telomerase later in life.

Hey 5 years ain’t a bad payback for a couple of pills or a few cups of tea!
What about coffee? Probably no effect although it was not studied separately.  It was looked at in relation to other foods and not surprisingly processed meat ( do not read that as red meat processed meat is smoked canned treated or canned etc. but can include turkey and chicken as well as fish so again do not read this as red meat is bad for you!).

As the world slowly tumbles to the importance of telomere length we can look forward to an explosion of more and very important information on what we should be eating!

And as an insider I will tell you this: It’s all in our book which will be out via John Wiley publishers by the end of the year!

Tip #11

On a recent Telonauts radio show, when I was asked what my number one recommendation for a supplement,  I said of course “fish oil”.  Less than 24 hours later the Journal of the American Medical Association notorious for panning all supplements including fish oil released an article relating telomere length in heart disease to the “fish oil” levels in the blood stream of patients.

There was significant slowing of telomere loss and longer telomeres in the people with higher Omega 3 fish oil levels in their blood.  This is really not news as another versions of this called “the fish oil ratio” which measures Omega 3 fatty acids ( anti-inflammatory) to Omega 6 fatty acids  (inflammatory) is correlated directly with heart disease and overall longevity.

Now we know why!

It was also interesting how JAMA and the American Heart Association have been changing their tune lately after years of absolutely blatant ignorance about fish oil’s benefits (which I think was a deliberate attempt to protect Big Pharma interests).  Now all of a sudden they are fish oil fans.

They referred to telomere length as a “novel measurement of aging”.  For the record I want to state this is nonsense.  There is nothing novel about it -  it’s been around for a while and should be measured as commonly or more so than cholesterol levels.

I am sure in time we’ll be reading as a matter of fact statements in JAMA stating this was their position all along  Fortunately they put everything in writing so it’s easy to track what is really being said.

Bottom line: telomeres are exploding onto the public and general medical scene.  Be glad you are reading this; you’re way ahead of the curve!

Tip #12

Down’s syndrome and telomere loss

As we “look through” the glass of telomere length at everything under the sun we find more and more association between diseases and telomere length.  Please understand that not everyone agrees or understands the association between aging and telomere length, let alone disease and health.

In spite of the critics, more and more information aggregates to show that telomeres are the real deal.  Here is one more issue that appears to be telomere related: Down’s syndrome.

Mothers in the age range for Down’s (over 40) that actually have down’s babies appear to have ‘Older than normal” chromosomes in their eggs, suggesting that there is a defect in the telomerase enzyme that is supposed to keep eggs and sperm young.

If you don’t know what I am talking about here is a little clarification. If eggs and sperm aged the same as the rest of the body we’d have babies that were the same age as we were when we had them. So a 25 year old mother would have a baby that was genetically at least already 25 years old.  As a species we would not last long this way since each successive generation would get older and older.

The enzyme telomerase lengthens the telomeres of our germ (sperm and egg) cell to keep them ‘eternally young” so we have babies that are actually newborns with a full shot at life.

In Down’s syndrome in the high risk age (over 40) mothers there appears to be a problem with this maintenance.

Now there are other ways for mothers to give rise to Down’s syndrome babies and young mothers that have them have a different problem.  But as you might guess, the down’s kids who universally die younger than normal have shorter than normal telomeres.  No one to my knowledge has tried telomerase therapy in these people but they have tried CO Q 10 to reduce the oxidative damage that is rampant in Down’s and it works well.

I’ll keep you posted as we find out more about this and other diseases but keep this in mind.

You want long telomeres!