The Power of Hormones

We are full of energy, our mood is great, we are well rested, balanced and can cope with our everyday lives effortlessly.

A fantastic scenario that we wish  for the rest of our lives. The score for this is based on good physical condition.
Our hormones play the music: Adrenaline, Cortisol, Serotonin, Dopamine, Endorphins and numerous other great substances.
Not to forget the powerful sex hormone trio of Estrogen, Progesterone and Testosterone. The source of hormones bubbles up at a young age. However, as we get older it starts to fade.
Can we do something about it to keep it bubbling forever?
Lifestyle definitely plays a big role here. Anyone who does sports, about 2.5 hours a week with endurance and strength training, ensures a regular endorphin shot.
The king of excitement and adventure is adrenaline. Small challenges every now and then play in his cards.
Cortisol is an unpopular hormone because it is mainly involved in stress. However, in small doses it is useful because it curbs an overly aggressive immune system.
Dopamine is a relationship hormone. Every compliment we can receive ensures its output.
A true solar hormone is serotonin. It ensures a good mood and a bright mind. We get it when we experience a sunrise, are outside a lot and look at the sun. In the evening, melatonin is formed from serotonin. It allows us to fall asleep and stay asleep easily.

What about the important sex hormones – the most sensitive divas of the hormone landscape: Estrogen, Progesteron, Testoseron?

Here nature is not squeamish and simply wants to take it away from us when time seems to have run out. This hits women particularly hard.
First, the corpus luteum hormone progesterone withdraws when the eggs run out. After that, estrogen becomes rare. At some point, testosterone levels out at a low level in both cases women and men.
Many women then experience unpleasant side effects of deficiency, even though they are in the prime of their life. Some more, others less. This is very unfortunate because women’s ability to have sexual experiences remains unchanged throughout their lives. Live out your sexuality
This is where human intelligence comes into play! 
What research and pharmaceutical production has achieved here in the last few decades is phenomenal, with the aim of helping women in their time of need. Like the extraction of hormones from the urine of pregnant mares, which after 50 years is now fortunately a thing of the past.
The modern substances are now produced from plants. They are rich in phytoestrogens and closely replicate human estrogen and progesterone. They are therefore referred to as bioidentical and compensate for hormone deficits, meaning they have almost no side effects
Worth mentioning is the wonderful book “Woman on Fire” by the German-American gynecologist and scientist Dr. Sheila de Liz. She has shed light on this topic and taken away the fear of HRT for many women. http://Wikipedia, Dr. Sheila de Liz
A widespread hormonal plague is hypothyroidism due to a deficiency in the thyroid hormone thyroxine, which is responsible for metabolism. Women over 50 are most commonly affected. Here too, treatment consists of increasing the missing amount of hormones.
The trio of estrogen, progesterone and thyroxine ultimately makes the music that keeps the female body healthy and beautiful – well into old age.
Here are my tips for optimal hormone balance:
1. Exercise to have endorphins (and other hormones) on a regular basis.
2. Spend at least 1 hour outside every day to have enough serotonin during the day and melatonin in the evening
3. Maintain good friendships and relationships with family, which provide dopamine
4. Take on challenges to give yourself a shot of adrenaline
5. Check the levels of thyroxine and sex hormones in order to adjust them with appropriate preparations, if there are deficiencies.

 

Voilà!

Bio-Age with Biohacking

Oh, the age… Most people dread the thought of getting older, gradually becoming frail and possibly needing help.

The image of dwindling fullness of life, limited mobility, chronic pain and possibly impending
loneliness is just buzzing in the mind. How old can we actually get? The science of epigenetics says
it can last up to 150 years. The reality looks different.

Most people want to stay healthy and productive for as long as possible. What resources are available for this, what is possible?
A network of people has been formed who are trying to answer these questions with their own experiences. They use the latest findings in medicine and science, experiment with themselves, and are a global community.

They call themselves biohackers and are constantly exchanging ideas. Biohacking means physical and
mental self-optimization by exploiting your existing potential. Biohacking: optimize yourself!

The key to success lies in the big magic five: S- E- R- E- S:
– Sports
– Eating (Food)
– Relaxation, which includes sleep and sex
– Environment
– Supplements
In the harmonious interaction of these areas, the biological age (bio-age) can be significantly influenced.
This can differ significantly from the calendar (chronological) age stated in the ID card. The findings on these basic building blocks are not new at all, but it is their conceptual synergistic composition and their routine application that make them so effective.
Two questions arise:
1. How old do you feel?
2. How old are you really?
Do you know people who are over 65 years old, full of energy and healthy, going through life with vigor? Have you met her before? These people have often unconsciously adhered to rules similar to those of biohacking throughout their lives.
Without a doubt, it takes effort and time to integrate these principles into daily operations. But it’s worth it!
I was infected by it a few years ago and feel like I belong to the scene. I would like to share with you my favorite daily routines that I have maintained to this day:
In the Morning:
1. 10 minutes of stretching and yoga elements immediately after waking up
2. Take a 30 second hot/cold shower
3. 10 minutes of Tai Chi outside, balcony/terrace
4. Late breakfast, from 10:30 a.m. (intermittent fasting for at least 16 hours)
Midday:
1. Lunch from 2:30 p.m. or skip it
2. 30 minute walk
3. 10 minutes of meditation and breathing exercises according to Wim Hof
4. 15 minute nap (be creative with how you do it)
At Evening:
1. A sports session for 45 min, dancing or yoga, as early as possible
2. Dinner no later than 6:30 p.m. or earlier if there was no lunch
3. A hot bath/shower
4. Relaxation before going to bed (around 11 p.m.): listen to podcasts/music, read a book or Netflix etc., always with blue light blocker glasses!

You can find out more about my nutrition My Anti-Aging Recipes — Fast and Healthy   supplementation Nutritional Supplements—a smart addition! and other details in my ealier posts.

 Voila!

 

 

 

The Amino Acids-Revolution

“The Amino Revolution” – that’s the name of the latest book by probably the best-known internist and molecular medicine specialist in Germany – Dr. Ulrich Strunz.  http://www.strunz.com

Until recently he had a private practice in Roth. His successful program “forever-young” and the concept of “happy-medicine” are just a few milestones in his moving and varied life.

When I read the book, I was truly “revolutionized”. His thesis: many diseases, even the aging processes, can be traced back to the content and utilization of amino acids in our bodies. I was astonished and at the same time hopefull for good solutions in the future.

The fact that amino acids are the building blocks for proteins, which mainly our bodies consist, is not really new knowledge. But what happens when we don’t get enough of certain amino acids? Can targeted administration of amino acids cure diseases and even slow down aging?

These exciting questions Dr. Ulrich Strunz dedicated his everyday practice for several years.

Based on the study from the Max Planck Institute listed in his book, 14 crucial laboratory blood values ​​of a person show whether they are healthy and how long they would live. Among these 14 values ​​are 5, which belong to the most important amino acids. The “Amino-Status”.

“Health needs the right building material” – is the title of a chapter in his book.

In addition to the amino acids, our body needs also 47 vital substances: 13 vitamins, 22 minerals and 12 micro-elements. If you don’t want to spend too much time dealing with the matter and still want to practice good prevention, you should follow a few rules.

The main message: eat lots of protein! We need at least 1 gram per kg/weight of it every day. 1.2 grams is better. Too many amino acids – it does not exist!

I can’t say enough: sports and a balanced food are of the utmost importance for a long healthy life. Sports and protein, i.e. amino acids, allow muscles to grow and fat to melt. This is the health formula!

“What you eat is about what you think” – is another maxim of Dr. Ulrich Strunz!

Here’s my 5-point plan for a healthy amino status:

1. Calculate your daily protein requirement (1-1.2 grams/kg weight) and try to cover it. Animal based protein is better utilized by the body.

2. Prepare a drink from amino acid powder after each sports session, make sure you choose a trustworthy provider.

3. If a meal is low in protein – add a tablespoon of collagen powder: it tastes neutral and provides 9 grams of protein.

4. Take extra vitamins, minerals and micro-elements – they are not sufficiently available in our depleted soils. Nutritional Supplements—a smart addition!

5. Check your amino acid status in the blood from time to time and compensate the deficits by taking certain amino acid preparations. This is offered by designated doctors.

Voila!

 

Grow older – stay young!

“Forever young”—it’s a dream we all share.

Staying fit and healthy forever, moving painlessly, being mentally fit and capable of enjoying every aspect of life long into old age is what everyone wants.

But when it comes to aging, the question is whether we can influence the laws of nature—and if so, how much? And above all, how can we do it?

When I observe people over 70 from time to time, I notice some profound differences.

Some have plenty of energy and seem upbeat. For others, every step is a struggle against invisible obstacles.

When I speak with them, it’s obvious that they have very different attitudes about life.

The fit and healthy ones believe they have the power to influence the aging process. The skeptics say: “I’m too old for this and that, and I’ve just got to accept it. What can I do about it?” So they do nothing.

But there’s plenty of science to support those who refuse to resign themselves to the effects of aging, who want to attempt the impossible in order to achieve what’s possible.

Nowadays we have the opportunity to maximize our lifelong potential in ways that people couldn’t have imagined 40 or 50 years ago. Not to mention the improvements we can make to our quality of life along the way.

The magic word here is epigenetics, a term that describes how our lifestyles can affect our genes, including the ones that impact life expectancy.

There are plenty of examples of how older people can transform the challenges of aging into opportunities. Every year new methods and products come onto the market to help people optimize their health as they age. I’ve written a few posts on this topic, including How to stay young longer and How to lower your biological age.

In the meantime, here are 15 of my best tips for staying (biologically) young:
  1. Get 7 ½ to 9 hours of sleep per night (For hints on how to improve your sleep, see This is how to sleep well).
  2. For an energetic start to your day, do 10 minutes of movement/exercise after waking up in the morning.
  3. Take a 30-second cold shower every day.
  4. Try to leave a 16-hour interval between dinner and breakfast (See my post about the benefits of interval fasting).
  5. Do 5 minutes of movement per 1 hour of sitting.
  6. Nutrition: minimal amounts of sugar and simple carbs; lots of vegetables, fish, fowl, beans, and fruit in moderation. Red meat once a week. 2 to 2 ½ liters of water or unsweetened tea daily. My anti-aging recipes
  7. Allow 3-4 hours between meals—and avoid snacks! Eat dinner before 7pm.
  8. Take the nutritional supplements that are right for you. Nutritional supplements: a smart addition
  9. Walk for 30 minutes a day (at least); do your favorite sport/workout 2-3 times per week.
  10. Do 10 minutes of stretching or yoga every other day.
  11. Practice 15 minutes of meditation per day.
  12. Have sex regularly (at least twice a week). Live out your sexuality
  13. Maintain your social contacts.
  14. Before going to bed: read a book or listen to relaxing music. When watching TV, use blue light-blocking glasses.
  15. Go to bed before 11pm.

Set your sights on a long, healthy, fulfilling life!

Voilà!

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Nutritional Supplements—a smart addition!

Staying young as you grow old doesn’t happen just like that. You have to work at it. But when you put in the effort, you can lower your biological age to the point where it’s well below the age written in your passport.

Along with a regular fitness routine, a healthy diet and getting enough rest, there’s another key component to lowering your biological age: taking nutritional supplements. In the biohacking world, supplements are a definite must!

Nutritional supplements don’t just support the body’s functional and regenerative capabilities. They can also help counteract the effects of aging. And some—like vitamin D in the winter—are indispensable.

Nutritional supplements include everything from multivitamins and skin-supporting substances like hyaluronic acid and collagen (which are naturally produced in the human body, but diminish with age) to newfangled plant extracts like fisetin and quercetin.

The range of supplements on the market nowadays is as wide-ranging as it is confusing. Determining which ones are effective (and which aren’t) depends on your reasons for taking them.

When it comes to taking supplements and lowering your biological age, it’s important to focus on the following health goals:

  1. Preserving vein elasticity and cardiac performance
  2. Strengthening the bones and maintaining the functionality of the joints
  3. Counteracting micro-inflammations and rapidly disposing of bodily waste
Here’s a list of nutritional supplements I’ve had good experiences with—and noticeable positive results:

Daily:

  • Spermidine (6mg)
  • Selenium (50mg)
  • Magnesium (400mg before going to sleep)

In alternating 4-week cycles:

  • Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids
  • Vitamin B, C, and E complex
  • Glucosamine and chondroitin capsules
  • Reishi mushroom capsules
  • Ashwagandha capsules
  • Quercetin capsules
  • Amino Acids or Nucleotides

Once a month over 2 days:

  • Fisetin (1500mg)

In the winter months, from November to May:

  • Vitamin D (20mg per day), ideally in combination with vitamin K and calcium

Besides the supplements I’ve mentioned above, collagen is especially important, since it contains valuable components for skin, tendon and joint health. Due to its high protein content (9g per tablespoon of powder), collagen can be a healthy way to increase your daily protein intake: mix 1 – 2 tablespoons into soups or drinks as needed.

The same goes for CBD oil (a derivative of the cannabis plant that doesn’t contain any intoxicating chemicals), which is full of healthy vital substances and has a relaxing effect on the body. Take it as needed!

Voilà.

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