7 Super Rich Foods To Stay Young and Healthy

Superfood #1: Chlorella - The World's Greatest Healthy Aging Food!

 Chlorella is a single-celled, water-grown algae that contains more health-enhancing chlorophyll per gram than any other plant. It is extremely rich in vitamins, minerals, amino acids, essential fatty acids and many other nutrients that are beneficial to your health. Chlorella also has an abundance of nucleic acids, which have powerful rejuvenating properties that regulate the aging process, supports youthful looking and wrinkle-free skin, and helps you have a longer potential lifespan. Dr. Benjamin S. Frank, author of The No-Aging Diet and Nucleic Acid Therapy in Aging and Degenerative Disease, offered his patients with foods rich in nucleic acids, and reported that such a diet helped his patient's look and feel 6 to 12 years younger than their chronological age, and their overall health dramatically improved. They also experienced a substantial fading of the look and feel of lines and wrinkles, and developed healthier, younger-looking skin after only 2 months. The raw and organic chlorella in Mega-Nutrition Organic Superfood is "broken cell wall chlorella"—the most beneficial kind of chlorella. This means that the cellulose cell walls of chlorella have been pulverized or broken down, thereby making it bioavailable... or able to be easily absorbed and used by the body... giving it the power to deliver superior health benefits.

Superfood #2: Moringa - The "Miracle Tree" of Cell Rejuvenation and The Enemy of Abnormal Cell Growth The moringa is a genus of trees indigenous to Southern India and Northern Africa, and now cultivated in Central and South America, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and the Philippines.


 The leaves of the species called moringa oleifera, have become recognized in recent years as being highly beneficial to human health. Moringa leaves are a healthy aging powerhouse because they contain several thousand times more of the powerful nutrient zeatin than any other known plant. A study published in Rejuvenation Research shows the undeniable youth-preserving effects of zeatin are due to its ability to regulate cell division and growth, and delay cell aging. With the zeatin contained in moringa, new skin cells grow at a faster rate than old skin cells die. This results in a marked reduction of look and feel of wrinkles on the face and other parts of the body, and a more youthful skin appearance. Moringa leaves also have 90 essential nutrients and 2 compounds that have been shown to regulate abnormal cell growth (or a retardation of their growth). This has earned moringa the reputation of being a plant that supports health. India's traditional natural Ayurvedic medicine currently uses moringa leaves to in the care of over 300 diseases. A Bureau of Plant Industry report states that, gram per gram, moringa leaves contain: twice the protein content of 8 ounces of milk (and 4 times the calcium); the Vitamin C equivalent of 7 oranges; the potassium content of 3 bananas; 3 times the iron of spinach; and 4 times the Vitamin A of carrots.

Superfood #3: Maca - The Sacred Plant More Precious Than Gold! Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is a hearty root vegetable that grows in the high Andean plateaus of Peru.


 It is full of essential nutrients drawn from the mineral rich soil of the high Andes and the ancient Inca worshipped it as a sacred plant. Maca was so highly prized by the ancient Inca that Conquistadors often asked to be paid their tributes in maca rather than gold! Maca has gained the reputation of being a super herb in recent years, but it has actually been traditionally used for over 2,000 years to address a variety of health conditions. In 1960, Gloria Chacon de Popovici, Ph.D., a Peruvian biologist, isolated the 4 alkaloids responsible for maca's reputed positive support for hormonal issues such as hot flashes, fatigue, mood swings, memory loss—and even male impotence. Maca's reputation for restoring physical strength and libido has been remarked upon by many South Americans. Maca is not only a powerful libido enhancer, but it also... promotes reproductive health enhances fertility in both men and women alleviates minor discomforts symptoms of menopause and PMS supports normal bone retention during menopause boosts energy levels and aids in athletic performance helps strengthen the body's immune system promotes mental clarity increases the body's resistance to stress, trauma, anxiety and fatigue has a high iron content helps maintain normal cholesterol levels

Superfood #4: Spirulina - The Most Nutrient- Dense Food on the Planet! Spirulina is a blue green algae, considered to be the most nutrient dense food on the planet.


Because spirulina's nutrient profile is more potent than that of any other food, plant, grain or herb, it is considered a superior whole food alternative to isolated vitamin supplements. In addition to its contribution to the body's nutritional needs, it has been shown to support beneficial outcomes when concerned about: cancer (abnormal cell growth) allergies high cholesterol anemia elevated blood sugar viral infections cardiovascular diseases (heart concerns) liver damage (problems) inflammatory conditions and immunodeficiency diseases (immune concerns). Of course, no food, including spirulina, can treat any of these conditions, but good nutrition can offer support for good health and healing. Spirulina is the best source of vegetable protein, containing about 65% protein — higher than any other natural food — far more than animal flesh (20%), eggs (12%), whole milk (3%), soybeans (35%), peanuts (25%) or grains (8 to 14%). It is considered a complete protein because it contains all the essential amino acids, which are the amino acids the body cannot make, but must ingest. Spirulina also contains extraordinary concentrations of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, such as beta carotene (10 times more concentrated than that of carrots), iron, potassium, magnesium, copper, calcium, chromium, manganese, phosphorus, selenium, zinc, essential trace minerals, and gamma-linolenic acid. It is also the most abundant source of Vitamin B-12, and is also rich in phytonutrients and functional nutrients that have a demonstrably positive effect on health.

 Superfood #5: Cacao - The No. 1 Longevity Food Cacao comes from raw cacao seeds, the product of a fruit grown on the cacao tree (theobroma cacao), which grow naturally in the shade of tropical rainforests in South America and the West Indies. Cocoa, a component of chocolate, is derived from cacao, which many researchers dub as "one of nature's most fantastic superfoods."


 Here are just a few of cacao's far-reaching health benefits: Increases blood flow to the brain and enhances brain function Cacao is the No. 1 source of magnesium of any food. Magnesium balances brain chemistry... builds strong bones... helps regulate heartbeat and blood pressure... helps prevent constipation and even eases minor menstrual cramps. Cacao beans contain certain compounds that can trigger weight loss, make you feel good and improve your mood considerably. Cacao has more antioxidant flavonoids than any food tested so far—more than blueberries, red wine, and black and green teas. Serotonin - Cacao raises the level of serotonin in the brain; thus acts to regulate mood, help with PMS discomfort, and promote a sense of well-being. Endorphins - Cacao stimulates the secretion of endorphins, producing a pleasurable sensation similar to the "runner's high" a jogger feels after running several miles. Sulfur - Cacao is high in the beauty mineral sulfur. Sulfur builds strong nails and hair, promotes beautiful skin, detoxifies the liver, and supports healthy pancreas functioning. The key to gaining the most benefit from the world's No. 1 longevity food is to choose cacao that is organic, raw, and cold-processed, such as the cacao contained in the Mega-Nutrition Organic Superfood blend.

Superfood #6: Wheatgrass - The Absolute Best Superfood for the Rejuvenation of Aging Cells Wheatgrass is the young grass of the common wheat plant, triticum aestivum.


Its leaves are juiced or dried into powder for human consumption. In The Wheatgrass Book, Ann Wigmore suggests that consuming wheatgrass juice promotes a healthy aging process because it cleanses the blood, thereby helping to rejuvenate aging cells and helping to tighten loose and sagging skin. The high chlorophyll content of wheatgrass, as well as the amino acids, minerals, vitamins and enzymes it contains enable wheatgrass to provide a wide range of health benefits, as follows: Regulates normal cell growth: Studies show that wheatgrass juice has a powerful ability to regulate cell growth. Powerful detoxifier: Wheatgrass protects the liver and the blood, and neutralizes toxic substances like cadmium, nicotine, strontium, mercury, and polyvinyl chloride. Blood builder: The chlorophyll in wheatgrass is almost identical in chemical composition to hemoglobin, the compound that carries oxygen in the blood.

Superfood #7: Camu-Camu - The Superfruit with 600 Times More Vitamin C Than Oranges!

 Camu camu is a bush that grows in the black water rivers of the South American Amazon rainforest. Its purplish red berries are a rich source of antioxidants and powerful phytochemicals that support and enhance health. Camu camu berries contain the highest amount of Vitamin C of any botanical source—30 to 60 times more than a fresh orange. But when they are dried and reduced to powder form (as they are in Mega-Nutrition Organic Superfood blend), they deliver 600 times more Vitamin C than oranges! This amount of Vitamin C provides extraordinary immune system support and enhances mental health. The berries also contain beneficial phytochemicals, such as leucine, serine and valine, as well as significant levels of beta carotene, calcium, iron, potassium, niacin, phosphorus, riboflavin and thiamine—all of which provide these nutritional and therapeutic benefits: Regulates soreness considerably Supports healthy respiratory function (helps keep your lungs healthy) Maintains healthy skin, hair and nails Helps support vibrant eyesight Strengthens tendons and ligaments Helps to keep organs such as the eyes, brain, heart, skin and liver in good working condition Dr. James Duke, Ph.D., the retired chief botanist for 30 years with the USDA (and author of several books on botanical medicine, including The Green Pharmacy) conducted an extensive study of hundreds of botanicals. He concluded that camu camu is one of the most outstanding natural mood support nutrients, and ranked it the No. 1 Natural Remedy for many traditional ailments.

Big Pharma plans to tap healthy ageing business

via http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Big-Pharma-plans-to-tap-healthy-ageing-business/articleshow/17550603.cms

 by Rupali Mukherjee

MUMBAI: Faced with shrinking pipelines and few blockbuster drugs, companies are drawing up fresh strategies to tap new segments and grow revenues. Big Pharma is now chasing research and development to fulfill unmet medical needs and tackle diseases of particular demographics, in terms of age or gender, as against channelizing it into specific therapy areas. The next big healthcare challenge is to identify and support age-related diseases and their prevention.

While Sanofi recently set up a separate division that is driving research on drugs meant for the elderly, Pfizer has readied a pipeline specifically catering to 'healthy ageing', or ageing well.

These efforts may be particularly relevant for countries like India and China, which are projected to have the world's largest elderly population over the next few years. Asia-Pacific is already home to 55% of the world's elderly population, which is expected to rise to 62% by 2050. Also, by 2050, the number of people in Asia above 60 years is expected to be 1.2 billion, according to theAsian Development Bank. 

While greater longevity is good news, the process of ageing creates new needs and expectations about "ageing well". Says  Ranjit Shahani, VC and MD, Novartis India, "The ageing population presents a new frontier for pharmaceutical research... An integrated approach has to be followed to address the needs of the fastest growing demographics".

Therapeutic approaches have to change with age, shifting from a disease-centric focus to a more comprehensive strategy involving vaccines, nutrition and appropriate screening programmes. Companies are thus exploring a comprehensive 360-degree approach through research, studies, products and services to support "ageing well". "The 'Ageing' division is focusing on chronic disease areas such as Alzheimer's disease, osteoarthritis, Parkinson's disease and stroke. Additionally, there is significant interest in pursuing 'quality of life' challenges, specifically sarcopenia and frailty. The division is also addressing age-related syndromes, such as pain and over-active bladder," says a Sanofi group official.

Companies are increasingly going beyond diseases in trying to address needs of the ageing population.

"Eye-related degeneration, depression and hair loss are some major concerns of the elderly population which companies are looking at," says Sujay Shetty, life sciences leader, PwC India.

Certain drugs specifically catering to the ageing population are already in the country, right from crucial vaccines, key anti-depressants to nutrition supplements. India presents a huge opportunity. By 2030, India is projected to have the world's second largest elderly population - 198 million, almost twice the current figure of 100 million.

"The demographic dividend, of which India is proud of, will dwindle after the next few decades to be replaced by the demographic tax. Without healthy ageing models, rising health challenges can lead to potential fiscal nightmares," says a Pfizer official.

Pfizer has a growing basket of products in cardio-vascular, neuroscience, cancer and other age-related diseases. "We have products for problems associated with menopause, arthritis, glaucoma, cancers, osteoporosis, dementia, Parkinson's disease and depression, among others. We have Prevnar 13 vaccine, which prevents pneumococcal disease," the official added.

Video: Twin Babies Fight In Womb

Sibling Rivalry starts very early?

How to Benefit From Cash Only DOCS

Boutique Medical Care, Cash Only Doctors

Dealing With Doctors Who Take Only Cash

The New York Times

| 26 Nov 2012 | 08:23 AM ET

Cash Only

A few weeks ago, my wife and I were at our wits’ end: our 4-month-old daughter wouldn’t sleep for more than an hour at a time at night. We had consulted books and seen our pediatrician, but nothing was working. So my wife called a pediatrician who specializes in babies who struggle with sleep problems.

The next day, he drove an hour from Brooklyn to our house. He then spent an hour and a half talking to us and examining our daughter in her nursery. He prescribed some medicine for her and suggested some changes to my wife’s diet. Within two days, our baby was sleeping through the night and we were all feeling better.

The only catch was this pediatrician did not accept insurance. He had taken our credit card information before his visit and given us a form to submit to our insurance company as he left, saying insurance usually paid a portion of his fee, which was $650.

A couple of weeks later, our insurance company said it wouldn’t pay anything. Here’s how the company figured it: First, it said a fair price for our doctor’s fee was $285, about 60 percent less, because that was the going rate for our town. Then, it said the lower fee was not enough to meet our out-of-network deductible.

While we were none too happy with the insurance company, we remained impressed by the doctor: he had made our baby better and was compensated for it, all the while avoiding the hassle of dealing with insurance.

Last year, I wrote about doctors who catered only to the richest of the rich and charged accordingly. But after my experience, I became interested in doctors for the average person who take only cash. What pushes a doctor to go this route, often called concierge medicine? And how hard is it to make a living?

As to why doctors decide to switch to a concierge practice, the answer is almost always frustration.

“About four years ago, one insurance company was driving me crazy saying I had to fax documents to show I had done a visit,” said Stanford Owen, an internal medical doctor in Gulfport, Miss. “At 2 a.m., I woke up and said, ‘This is it.’ ”

Dr. Owen stopped accepting all insurance and now charges his 1,000 patients $38 a month.

“When I decided to abandon insurance, I didn’t want to lose my patient base and make it unaffordable,” he said. “I have everything from waitresses and shrimpers to international businessmen. It’s a concierge model, but it’s also the personal doctor model.”

Dr. Owen, who once had three nurses and 10 examining rooms, said it was now just him and a receptionist. He has become obsessed with keeping overhead low, but he said that, for the first time since the 1990s, his income was going up.

At the other end of the spectrum is David Edelson, who runs a practice called HealthBridge in Great Neck, N.Y. In addition to five doctors, the practice has a full fitness center and provides the services of a personal trainer, nutritionist, acupuncturist, sleep expert and stress-management consultant.

“The current model for primary care is broken,” Dr. Edelson told me. “Either I can go down with the ship, sell my practice to a hospital or take my practice in the wrong direction. Or I can develop a better mousetrap, which is more time dealing with patients and their care.”

Dr. Edelson has reduced his own practice to 300 patients, from more than 3,000. Of those, 250 pay $1,800 a year for concierge services and 50 others receive scholarships. He estimated that from the combination of the membership fee for the extra services and what gets billed to insurance for typical care, he will make $600,000, and more of that will end up in his pocket.

“We’re bringing in the same fees but we’re reducing our overhead,” he said. Fewer patients means fewer medical assistants, receptionists and staff members to deal with insurance.

But of the five doctors in the practice, he is the only one to go fully concierge. Another, William Klein, is testing the model, with 15 percent of his patients in the concierge program. Dr. Klein said he was hedging his bets because he was not sure what the new federal health care law would mean for primary care physicians.

Weren’t some patients getting shortchanged by this hybrid model? He said he saw no difference in care.

“It’s like paying for first class and not coach,” Dr. Klein said. “Everyone is getting to the same destination, but some people have a better seat.”

This approach to medicine is not without risks for the doctors and downsides for patients.

The biggest concern for a doctor is running afoul of insurance regulations that prevent doctors from billing twice for the same service — for the care, which is submitted to the insurance company, and for the concierge fee, if the fee doesn’t cover something extra. Some insurance companies also bar doctors from offering concierge services.

David Hilgers, chairman of the law firm Brown McCarroll, said the risk to a doctor with a practice dependent on Medicare reimbursements was particularly acute.

“Medicare will not allow you to charge a patient in addition to what the government pays,” Mr. Hilgers said. “There is a risk of losing your practice and your license and being penalized by the federal government for doing so.”

He said a doctor in the past could justify the concierge fees by saying he was charging for an annual physical, which Medicare did not cover. But now, annual physicals are covered, so concierge doctors have be careful how they word contracts with patients if they plan to bill Medicare, he said. Any fee would have to be for services Medicare does not cover — unless the doctor opted out of all insurance.

Dr. Edelson said he was aware of this. He said the concierge fee and the insurance reimbursements were two different streams of income, one for membership in HealthBridge and the other for traditional medical services.

The other issue is quality of care. All the doctors I spoke with said that they had switched to a fee-for-service model for three reasons: to preserve their incomes, to avoid the administrative hassles of insurance and to provide better care.

Harry Greenspun, a medical doctor and a senior adviser at the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions, said that while the concierge model was certainly heavy on service, there was no correlation between that and the quality of care. “In a lot of these concierge practices where you’re getting all these services, we may find out that the quality of care isn’t higher,” he said. “It could be the emperor has no clothes.”

As a former chief medical officer for Dell and Northrop Grumman , Dr. Greenspun said he had had several “executive physicals,” the long and intense exams many of these concierge practices promote. “As a physician, I know the quality of care is not better,” he said. “It’s the bathrobe and slippers. I know I’ve received a whole lot of unnecessary tests.”

And, of course, going the concierge route just is not an option for many doctors.

Robert Lahita, chairman of medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, said he understood why primary care physicians and internists would consider switching to a concierge practice: their reimbursement rates are the lowest among doctors, and the time it takes them to handle administrative work is essentially uncompensated.

But Dr. Lahita, who specializes in treating rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and other autoimmune diseases, said the concierge model was not right for specialists, who charge substantially higher fees.

“The vast majority of patients I see have very little money and are very, very sick,” he said. “It would be unconscionable for me to take cash. I’d limit my practice, and it wouldn’t be wise.”

He said frustrated primary care physicians have other options, like becoming a doctor in a hospital or selling their practice to a larger group that will handle the administrative issues.

Other health care experts suggested that the benefits of concierge medicine had been romanticized. “It may not be the panacea a physician is looking for,” said Steven M. Harris, a partner at the law firm McDonald Hopkins. “Certain physicians are attracted to the retainer payments and perhaps lose sight of the responsibilities that go hand and hand with a concierge practice. There are significant demands on the physicians’ time.”

Dr. Owen says he is happy and feels that he is practicing family medicine the way his father and grandfather did. “Primary care is the least pay, the most work and the most responsibility,” he said. “Under this model, you can make a good living. You won’t get rich, but neither did the doctors in the 1960s.”

This story originally appeared in The New York Times

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Welcome to Elder Living Options!

Our goal is to provide the most comprehensive website to help you explore options for yourself or your loved one. We are constantly building and expanding our information and resources.

Aging Gracefully                          

Isn't it everyone's goal to live as long as we can in a healthy, independent state? Prevention is the key. Whether you are reading this at the age of 70 or the age of 40, there are some fairly easy things you can do to increase your current state of health. Of course, the earlier your start the better, but research is showing that the aging process can be slowed, or even reversed to some degree, at any time. All preventative steps should be reviewed by your doctor for appropriateness.

  Maintaining Your Independence

There are a multitude of ways to maintain your independence, in your own home, even as health issue become an issue. Home Healthcare is an increasing industry with a full spectrum of services to provide for the individual that needs just a little extra help all the way up to full-time private nurse. Full-time nursing can become costly, but there are many part-time options, at a much more manageable level. Some companies offer services in increments as short as two hours, assisting with food preparation, cleaning, bathing or just going on a walk with the individual. As a family care giver for your elderly loved one, imagine the relief of having someone help your loved one on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 6-8 in the evening. In this scenario, the cost is well worth the peace of mind.

Additionally, with technology continuously increasing, the monitoring ability is becoming phenomenal. Everything from the classic, “I've fallen and can't get up,” button to extensive video and moment to moment statistical readings are now available through an increasing number of medical device companies. As medical costs continue to rise, we are realizing that these technologies are the true gateway to enabling patients to stay in their homes rather than experience costly hospitalization and nursing facilities prematurely.

When Skilled Care in Needed         

First of all, it is wise to utilize an independent care analysis evaluation before being sold on moving into any assisted living facility. When you talk directly to a facility, understand that their goal is to fill their beds. There are an increasing number of professional elder care advocates that independently assist individuals and families with finding the best care option available for them.

Proximity to family is important. Ask any nurse or aide in a nursing home about the most dangerous aspect of placing a family member in a nurse home, one could reasonably venture to say that family abandonment is most detrimental to the patient. Proximity should not be the only thing you consider, but without a doubt you want the facility to be close enough to where visits are not too much of a strain on your schedule. If the drive to see grandma takes more than 30 minutes, this becomes a true limitation to your visits and your loved one's spirits are lifted highest when then know that you have not forgotten about them. Any nurse will tell you that for the largest percentage of patients, they do their best on days that their family is coming to see them. It gives them something to look forward to and breaks the monotony of their everyday happenings. Research the facilities to ensure that they are the best fit for your loved one considering specialized services provided as well as coverage through insurance.