We all think about the ravages of aging after a certain age. In an effort to slow down the unrelenting deterioration of our body we may fall pray to questionable marketing of potentially harmful products. Chief among them are hormones. So-called Anti-Aging practitioners will happily prescribe them by interpreting their tests so that ALL their patients get a prescription. Why do the tests, then? To convince patients that they are getting necessary therapy, but one has to wonder about the profit motive. True, some patients do need hormonal therapy, but, a regular doctor will readily prescribe them IF truly needed. He/she is likely to do it prudently to avoid harmful overprescribing.
Anti-Aging practitioners are likely to start prescribing the diabetic drug Metformin. It has been shown to slow down the aging process. But, why is this so? Because each Twinkie you put in your mouth is like a nail in your coffin, a fact that tells us why we age poorly—processed foods bereft of good nutrients. Add anxiety, depression, loneliness, stress, and polluted environments and we are sliding down the last slope much faster.
So, the best way to age well is a healthy lifestyle. It requires a shift in our perception of LIFE and DEATH. Given our country’s adolescent preoccupation with aging, this change in attitude is not easy. In my opinion, it must start with an examination of what drives our vanity. Often, we will find childhood issues that have firmly cemented our ego as the master of our soul. Once we become aware of the futility of the ego’s efforts to be in control, we stand a better chance to be at peace with who we are, and what the world around us is like.
May you age gracefully, healthy, and at peace.
References
“Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging,” Journal Cell Metabolism 2016;23:1060–1065
