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We know that to date the only scientifically known method of extending maximum lifespan is through caloric restriction without malnutrition.

What's interesting is that a landmark study has shown that supplementing with resveratrol (grapeseeds extract) has a very similar gene expression with caloric restriction.  In the experiment, calorie restriction reduced 90% of the gage-related alteration s in gene expression, and resveratrol mitigated 92% of such changes.  

This result means that we should be very serious about supplementing with resveratrol as a regular daily supplementation.

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During the last annual physical, I was shocked to test high in trans fat. I eat super healthy.

Upon investigation, I finally zoomed to a few boxes of very delicious oil-free, salt-free walnuts that a friend of mine sent to me. Once I get started with these walnuts, I could not stop. They are delicious and crispy. It would not take much time for me to consume a box. I knew I should not eat too much nuts at one time because its calories. However, my excuse was at least it's healthily cooked.

Well, as I dig deeper, I wondered why I am not so addicted to the home roasted raw walnuts. It does not taste that great. The meat is more oily (non-crispy) and bitter. I suddenly realized that to make the delicious nuts crispy, the manufacturer has to put the nuts through high temperature drying process. Oils, especially polyunsaturated oils may oxidize and hydrogenate under really high temperatures.

So be careful about oils (such as nuts) under high temperature.

Indeed, nature makes foods that naturally limit your appetite. Human learned to process delicious unhealthy foods that can greatly increase your appetite.

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One feature in YBM Life! Coach, our new online expert system to help you implement anti-aging program, is the hundreds of advices and videos teaching you how to's.  To get a taste of such videos, take a look at Dr. Ping's shopping list video.

To access the full content and get an online coach 24x7, sign up YBM Life! Coach here.

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Many of us spend significant amount of time sitting in front of computers, meetings, and airplanes.  This has really bad effect on the lumber spine.  When you sit for a long day, our back muscle becomes so tired that it simply gives up and we settle in a position that all the stress of the weight is on our vertebral discs.

A good device is this simple cushion.  Simply put it on your seat, it will keep your muscles engaged, thus protecting your disc.

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Leading authorities are advocating red yeast rice as an effective way to lower cholesterol (e.g., this article on WebMD), despite the fact that the primary ingredient in these red yeast rice supplements, lovastatin, is also the active pharmaceutical ingredient in prescription drugs for high cholesterol such as Mevacor, Lipitor, Zocor, and Statins. In fact, lovastatin was originally derived from another type of red yeast called Monascus ruber (read this article). For these prescription drugs, there have been many known side effects such as liver damage during long term use. For extensive drug side effect, review this article. Therefore, 1. Don't take "expert" advice for granted. Make your own research because in the end, it's your body which takes these drug or natural supplements in, not the experts'. 2. "Natural" does not mean "food". 3. Always take the lifestyle change approach to fix your issues if you can. Go to drugs or potent natural supplements when you have to, knowing the side effects.

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There have been confusing studies about cellphone use in relation to brain tumor. A new warning from Dr. Ronald B. Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, is contrary to numerous studies that don't find a link between cancer and cell phone use, and a public lack of worry by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. As the cellphone signals getting stronger and stronger, from 2G to 2.5G, and to 3G, as well as the added signal of WiFi, Bluetooth, radio, etc., it's prudent for us to take the precaution - so that we won't regret too late in the future.
The best way is to put it away from the brain when we talk, by using an old fashioned WIRED earphone, rather than a bluetooth.

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Remember that the modern technologies and investment created a huge processed food industry in the developed nations. This food industry was supposed to produce a lot of "easy to digest" (e.g., refined), "nutrients enhanced" (e.g., vitamin D enforced), tasty, and convenient (e.g., fast foods) processed foods. The result of this modern industrial de-naturing has produced generations of metabolic syndrome related diseases.   I wonder if the modern technology of dietary supplement industry will turn out to be similar. For example, eating tofu or other whole soybean products is a thousand year tradition in Asia, and proven to be healthy. Usually, raw soybeans contain between two and four milligrams of total isoflavones/gram.  This is about 0.2-0.4% of isoflavones in raw whole soybean (read more here).  As we know, isoflavones is a phytoestrogen, and has been singled out to be the really beneficial active component of soybeans.   Now there are many soy extracts in the market as soy supplements.  For example, the Ultra Soy Extract  of Life Extension contains as high as 40% isoflavones!   Yes, modern technologies can do wonders.  But if you're not careful, and thinking that you can just take supplements for the nutrition of really good whole foods, you may be wrong!

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I was talking to a client. He is a perfectionist in his health, fitness, and look. "I'm scared of tofu. I've stopped eating tofu," said he. "Why?" "My doctor told me it contains phytoestrogen, which can make man woman."

"Well, phytoestrogen is contained in many natural plant foods, oilseeds (such as flaxseeds, sunflower, sesame, olive, etc.), legumes (such as alfalfa, clover, peas, beans, lentils, lupins, and peanuts), grains (e.g. wheat, oats, barley, rice), fruits (e.g. berries, apples), vegetables (e.g. carrots), herbs (e.g. ginseng), alcohol (e.g. beer). Are you going to avoid all of these?" asked I.

In fact, moderate consumption of whole foods containing phytoestrogen is not only safe, but also beneficial for men. See my earlier article about tofu. 

The trick is not to casually eat any phytoestrogen which is extracted artificially from foods.  For example, there're products in the market for lignans extracted from flaxseeds.  These man-made "natural" products become more potent or concentrated.  When taking these products, it must be in conjunction with a hormone program, which
requires careful monitoring and balancing.  Read more on the article on male hormone replacement, as well as YBM Hormone.

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