Category: Diet

  • Astaxanthin as an Anti-Aging Agent

    Astaxanthin, a carotenoid belonging to the xanthophyll subclass, possesses numerous clinical benefits due to its unique cell membrane effects. It neutralizes free radicals and oxidants by accepting or donating electrons without becoming a prooxidant. Its linear structure and polar-nonpolar-polar layout allow it to be precisely inserted into cell membranes, with its polar structure scavenging free radicals in aqueous environments, and its nonpolar segment providing oxidation resistance and electron delocalization.

    Clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of astaxanthin. In double-blind, randomized controlled trials, it reduced oxidative stress and improved biomarkers of inflammation and immunity. It also decreased triglycerides, increased HDL cholesterol, and improved blood flow in microcirculation models. In a small clinical trial, astaxanthin improved cognition and neural stem cell differentiation and proliferation. It has also been shown to improve vision and eye adaptation in several studies.

    Astaxanthin has been shown to have a positive impact on fertility and sperm function. In a clinical trial, men receiving 16 mg of astaxanthin daily for three months had increased sperm linear velocity and decreased sperm oxygen-free radical production, resulting in a significantly higher pregnancy rate compared to the placebo group.

    In another trial, astaxanthin was evaluated for its effect on functional dyspepsia. While it did not significantly reduce overall symptoms, the higher dose of 40 mg/day did reduce acid reflux-related symptoms and improve well-being in quality of life questionnaires.

    Astaxanthin is mainly obtained through the diet, with seafood being the primary source. It is also used as a feed additive for farmed seafood to enhance its color. Natural astaxanthin is mainly derived from the algae Haematococcus pluvialis, while synthetic astaxanthin is also available. Natural and synthetic astaxanthin differ in chemical composition, bioavailability, purity, and sensory quality.

    Clinical studies have shown that natural astaxanthin has a good safety profile, with no serious adverse effects observed even at high doses. In one study, subjects experienced red-colored stools and increased bowel frequency at a dose of 30 mg, but no significant changes were observed in liver parameters at doses of 8 to 12 mg daily.

    In Closing

    Astaxanthin has been shown to have various benefits for human longevity due to its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It helps protect cells from oxidative stress, reduces inflammation, and improves immune function. Additionally, astaxanthin has been linked to improved cardiovascular health, cognitive function, and sperm quality, which are all important factors for overall longevity.

  • Longevity and financial provision go hand in hand

    Retirement provision is the term we usually use to describe the financial provision we make to secure our standard of living in retirement. Financial provision for old age includes various measures aimed at saving income or assets to be financially secure in old age.

    From health consumer to health investor

    BIOCOACH applies this financial concept to our health: we don’t just want to be financially secure in old age, we want to enjoy the best possible health – for as long as possible! As we humans are much more familiar with the concept of financial retirement planning than making our health “age-proof”, BIOCOACH offers a 1:1 transfer: we show our users how they can apply individual aspects from the financial sector that have been proven to work to their health.

    Let’s take a look at the key aspects of financial provision for old age and derive appropriate measures to maximize our longevity and healthspan – in other words, to live as long and healthy a life as possible:

    Finance
    Private pension insurance/pension funds/investment funds

    Individuals make regular contributions over a certain period or invest part of their income to receive a lifelong pension or income in return when they retire. The key point is the regularity of manageable investments in the future.  The compound interest effect ensures a significant increase in assets here, far beyond selective individual investments.

    Longevity 
    Regular health activities

    The lifelong pension in our case is called longevity, or maximum healthspan: as long as we live, and for as long as possible, we want to stay healthy and active. Regular contributions can take very different forms – the important thing is that they are made regularly, started as early as possible, and implemented consistently and continuously. The BIOCOACH subscription is such a health investment: with regular, manageable expenditure. Daily physical activities of all kinds, a well-thought-out diet, and attention to various sensible lifestyle factors ensure a daily dose of health with a compound interest effect: as our body renews itself daily through cell division and the aging process, including various age-related signs of wear and tear, is primarily due to errors in cell division, daily investment in longevity slows down the aging process and maximizes our healthspan.

    Finance
    A balanced portfolio

    Financial retirement provision is a combination of several measures to build up a balanced portfolio and protect against various risks. In addition to the pension insurance policies, pension funds, and investment funds mentioned so far, this includes real estate, shares, and other private savings and financial investments. We all have different expectations of the future and start from different positions.

    Longevity
    It’s all in the mix

    It’s the same with our health: our DNA, which is responsible for around 15-20% of our long-term health, makes us unique individuals. This is why the same health recipe does not apply to everyone – even if some pseudo-scientific advice suggests this. Each of us is entitled to an individual assessment of our health situation and corresponding recommendations on longevity and Healthspan. Starting with our BIOCOACH BC1 pilot phase, we are developing a longevity algorithm that will enable individual, personalized longevity recommendations. The longevity algorithm is modified during the BIOCOACH subscription in the same way that investment behavior within financial retirement planning should be adjusted over time: the longevity recommendations are dynamically adjusted depending on the biomarkers analyzed by regular diagnostics.

    Finance
    Unforeseen expenses 

    In old age, unexpected expenses can arise, be it for medical treatment, the need for care or other emergencies. A solid retirement plan can help cover such costs without having to rely on support from family members or government assistance programs.

    Longevity
    Unforeseen accidents and illnesses

    This is where the financial sector and our health are directly intertwined: the older we get, the weaker our immune system, our bone structure, our perception, etc. become. This regularly leads to accidents or illnesses that we could have easily avoided, remedied, or cured when we were younger, but which develop into serious problems as we get older. For people with a weak musculoskeletal system and bone structure, the result of minor falls can mean a lengthy stay in hospital with operations, which in turn further weaken their health. The same applies to our digestive system and our cardiovascular system – as we get older, we slow down. Prevention is therefore the means of choice: regular muscle training, a diet geared towards a healthy skeleton, and endurance training are indispensable components of a good longevity plan: in this way, unforeseen accidents or illnesses become less of a threat.

    Old-age provision done right: From health consumer to health investor

    Overall, adequate financial provision for old age and a good longevity plan is therefore crucial to ensure both financial security and longevity as well as maximum healthspan. If you envision a fulfilling, high-quality life as you age and are interested in a solid plan to maximize your healthspan and become a health investor instead of a health consumer, get on the waiting list for our BIOCOACH BC1 pilot phase!

  • What To Eat And When For Longevity?

    In this episode, Harvard professor Dr. David Sinclair and co-host Matthew LaPlante discuss how frequently we should eat, what food we should avoid, and what food we should pursue. They discuss the science behind how a “low energy state,” which can be induced by a period of fasting, combats aging and promotes health. They also walk through research that points to the benefits of a mostly plant-based diet for slowing aging and offer key insights into when to eat and what to eat to maximize longevity.

    Links:

    Dietary restriction extends lifespan in dogs – https://bit.ly/3FlDo4y
    Intermittent fasting in patients with metabolic syndrome – https://go.nature.com/3FggKKZ
    Alternate day fasting in healthy, non-obese humans – https://bit.ly/3HXGptH
    Time-restricted feeding in humans with prediabetes – https://bit.ly/3ffZWct
    A 24-hour fast reduces inflammasome activation in humans – https://bit.ly/3fwDc8t
    Fasting and diabetes – https://bit.ly/3rdtRHQ
    Intermittent energy restriction and multiple sclerosis – https://bit.ly/3HV7i1o
    A fasting-mimicking diet in patients with breast cancer – https://go.nature.com/3flcbV2
    Mouse genetics influence how diet affects lifespan – https://bit.ly/3qiBc9R
    Vegetarian dietary patterns and human mortality – https://bit.ly/31OCtMq
    A Mediterranean diet slows biological aging – https://bit.ly/3I1rcbd
    Plant polyphenols regulate lifespan in yeast – https://go.nature.com/3HWWGiB
    A Mediterranean diet is linked to reduced mortality – https://bit.ly/3fdDPDx