Tips & Techniques

The EcoMed Anti-aging Program
by Dr. Stefan Kuprowsky

Part II: The Diet

Part III: Anti-aging

Part I: Internal Balance

Most of the disabilities we associate with aging- loss of mobility, vitality and memory- actually are the beginnings of chronic disease. I believe the biggest problem is not aging per se, but premature aging which takes the form of chronic disease. The prevention of premature aging is seen as the key to an anti-aging strategy. I have identified six key causes as to why people age prematurely. In this article, I will discuss these six causes as well as some of the key components of an anti-aging program that I have developed for my clients at the EcoMed Natural Health Spa.

What is really unique about this approach is that the same lifestyle program that prevents premature aging is the same method used to reverse chronic disease. This program works because anti-aging is the prevention of chronic disease. It works so effectively because we now know what makes us sick and causes us to age on a cellular level. If we can reverse the cellular changes that lead to premature aging and chronic disease, we can live longer and healthier free of chronic disease.

REVERSAL OF AGING = CONTROLLING THE 6 CAUSES OF AGING

1. CONTROL EXCESS INSULIN = DIET AND EXERCISE
2. CONTROL BLOOD SUGAR = DIET AND EXERCISE
3. CONTROL FREE RADICALS = DIET AND SUPPLEMENTS
4. CONTROL CORTISOL = STRESS MANAGEMENT
5. CONTROL ACIDITY = DIET, STRESS MANAGEMENT
6. ENHANCE MINERAL BALANCE = DIET, WATER AND SUPPLEMENTS

The key to controlling insulin and blood sugar levels is through diet and exercise.  As we saw in the last article, excessive insulin and blood sugar levels plays havoc with our health.  It is the number one cause of premature aging.  It is also one of the easiest causes to control.  The key is to avoid carbohydrates like sugar, white flour and all convenience foods and to emphasize vegetables, limit starchy veggies like potatoes and carrots, use whole grains and to make sure that healthy protein is consumed at every meal. 

This new way of eating has been popularized in recent books such as Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution, The Zone, Protein Power and The Carbohydrate Addict Diet.  All these diets recommend you limit your carbohydrate intake while at the same time ensuring adequate protein intake.  This dietary approach controls the amount of insulin released from the pancreas and therefore avoids the many problems associated with high insulin and blood sugar levels.  However, many people end up substituting large amounts of unhealthy chemical laden meats and dairy products.  Although you control insulin levels and lose weight on these diets, you add to your toxicity and free radical burden.  This adds to further aging and chronic disease which is what wee are trying to avoid in the first place.

A much healthier and more scientific approach to the selection of an effective anti-aging disease reversing diet is the Alkaline Diet.   An Alkaline Diet is used to counter the excesses of too much acidity in the body, which is one of the key causes of premature aging and chronic disease.

Acids are the normal result of the metabolism of many foods such as sugar, grains and proteins, all processed foods, coffee, alcohol, all drugs, any vigorous exercise and of course stress of any type.  Excess acids are normally excreted through the kidneys, liver and your skin.  When these organs are sluggish, excessive acidity buildups in the body. 

When your body becomes too acidic, many negative health states ensue as described in the following diagram.

WHEN YOUR BODY IS TOO ACIDIC

• excess free radicals are produced
• vitamins and minerals are poorly absorbed
• dysbiosis which is the loss of friendly bacteria and buildup of candida yeast and harmful bacteria
• weakened connective tissue causing skin, nails and hair to lose tone and texture
• sleep patterns are disturbed
• more colds, flus and headaches as toxicity increases
• physical and mental fatigue
• loss of oxygen available to the body’s cells
• an increase in lactic acid and ammonia causing painful joints and muscles

Therefore excess acidity is associated with premature aging,  the onset of chronic disease and a loss of  energy and vitality.   Alkaline balance in the body results in healthy aging, the reversal of chronic disease and an increase in energy and well being.    Your acid alkaline balance can be checked with litmus paper strips testing both urine and saliva.Your urine and saliva first thing in the morning should be in the range of 6.5 to 6.8. A much more accurate method of determining your acid-alkaline balance, as well as your free radical status and mineral balance is a lab test called the Biological Terrain Analysis (BTA) . This is a specialized test performed by only a limited number of alternative and complementary physicians. The test uses the blood, urine and saliva to test the acidity-alkalinity, free radical status and mineral status in the body.  A computer produces a number of interesting graphs as well as predicts your biological age-, which is  a more true measure of how fast or slow your body cells are aging. 

To correct an overly acidic body  and to prevent premature aging an alkaline diet  is recommended that contain 75 % alkaline foods with 25% acidic foods.  This is really the most scientific approach to constructing a healthy diet for life.  The most alkaline foods are the green foods such as spirulina or wheat grass, sprouts,  nuts and seeds that have been soaked in water, sea vegetables such as seaweeds and dulse and vegetable juices.  Other foods that are also alkaline include all  vegetables and fruits including citrus fruits and tomatoes.  The acidity in  citrus and tomatoes, gets converted into alkalinity by the body’s metabolism.  

A diet that combines the  best of the alkaline  and protein diets is the Salad and Salmon Diet.

See Part II for more details.

Dr. Stefan Kuprowsky is a Naturopathic Physician   with offices in Vancouver and Gabriola.  He operates monthly Healing Intensives from his Gabriola Island Health Retreat.  He can be reached at 1-866-326-6331 or info@ecomed.ca.

« Back to Tips & Techniques Introduction