In a society afraid of growing old (well, at least afraid of looking like they’re growing old), it’s no wonder that a vast amount of natural anti-aging supplements have spilled out into the market. But the real question is, do they really work? And if so, how? What’s in these magic little pills that keep us looking forever young? Have scientists really tapped into the waters trickling from the fountain of youth? What are we really putting, ever so haphazardly, into our bodies? Are there risks, side-effects not worth maintaining an ageless beauty?
It seems to go without saying that the best, and most inexpensive, way of staying healthy and feeling young is a strict routine of eating the right foods, getting plenty of exercise, and making sure to get an adequate amount of sleep. If you do feel the urge to try any anti-aging supplement, make sure you inform your physician and seek their advice in filtering out the hoaxes from the tried and true fixes.
The mitochondria in our bodies cells are the sole proprietors of aging. They produce and use the energy they need to function, and as time progresses, they eventually become damaged, and as they do, we begin to age. Mitochondria cannot function without the coenzyme Q10, commonly referred to as CoQ10, and as we age, our bodies aren’t able to produce a sufficient enough amount of the coenzyme to keep our mitochondria from becoming damaged. The most effective anti-aging supplements contain the CoQ10 needed that our bodies naturally become unable to produce. Taking these supplements replenishes our bodies supply of the coenzyme and refurbishes our slowly damaging mitochondria, gradually slowing the external impact of aging.
Similarly, mitochondria also derive the energy needed to function from the amino acid acetyl-L carnitine, which basically helps the mitochondria produce the energy it uses. Some natural anti-aging supplements contain this amino acid, which, like the coenzyme, replenishes our mitochondrial energy and slows the visual effects of aging.
Dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA, is another effective and popular component of working anti-aging supplements. DHEA is a hormone that our bodies use to fashion other hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone that our bodies naturally lose the ability to produce as we age. Taking supplements with DHEA provides our body with the necessary levels of hormones needed to maintain a youthful appearance, which, again, we naturally lose the ability to do as we get older.
Because our bodies are complicated, complexly layered machines, it’s almost impossible to entirely stop the process of aging. It’s not one process or one thing that causes us to age. Even though we may be able to provide our bodies with the energy and hormones it needs and can no longer naturally produce, there is no real hard evidence to argue against or for the effectiveness of anti-aging supplements. Nonetheless, it’s all relative. What works for you will not work for the person next to you. But supplying your aging body with the supplements it needs, but can no longer produce itself, to maintain energy levels and keep functioning will undoubtedly keep you feeling healthy, which might just translate into you beginning to feel slightly younger at heart.
Sarah Neilson is a writer for Medical Coding where you can browse medical coding schools and jobs.
