Advancements in various fields of medicine and science, such as genetics, allow us to assess, with increasing precision, our internal state, what deficiencies we need to address, and even what we are predisposed to suffer from if we don’t adopt the necessary measures. A good anti-aging treatment (literally anti-aging) starts with this foundation: it teaches the patient about their internal state, uncovers what their body needs, and encourages them to take control of their own body by adopting healthy habits that will help them live more years and with a higher quality of life. “Anti-aging is a new branch of medicine that helps us age more healthily. We cannot stop time, but we can reduce its effects on people.”
It is important to emphasize that the benefits of anti-aging medicine go beyond curing specific ailments because a good anti-aging treatment teaches the person to take care of themselves in order to live longer and in better conditions. It’s not just about undergoing medical checkups, but also learning things like washing fruit before eating it to avoid possible pesticide residues or avoiding aluminum cookware, which can end up contaminating food, among other small tips.
Is it right for me?
Anyone who is over 35 years old and is concerned about their health, intellectual activity, physical appearance, and sexual performance is a good candidate for anti-aging treatment. However, the first thing that should be determined is whether their chronological age—meaning the number of years they’ve lived—matches the degree of wear and tear on their body and each of their organs. The actual state of the person, which is calculated through a complex series of measurements, is called “biological age.” To calculate a person’s biological age, a good anti-aging treatment will perform various tests and take a series of samples from the patient. These indicators, called “biomarkers,” will allow the medical team to assess how much the person has aged and what capacity their body still has to repair the damage caused by the passage of time. Once this data is known, the anti-aging team can design a personalized treatment that guarantees the person will age with optimal physical and mental performance and a lower risk of developing diseases.
Anti-aging Guidelines
Each anti-aging treatment is strictly personalized. Various deficiencies—whether vitamin-related or hormonal—of one individual may not be the same, or even similar, to another person’s. However, there are a number of general guidelines and recommendations provided by medical authorities and common sense, which are often difficult to reconcile with the hectic pace of modern life. These basic anti-aging rules include a balanced diet, regular physical exercise, good sleep, and avoiding stress at all costs, among others. A good diet, for example, involves providing the body with the elements it needs in a balanced, healthy, and enjoyable way. Eating well is more about eating less but better, than about stuffing ourselves with certain foods. “In general, we eat more than we need. Eating less, but better, with a balanced diet and regular exercise is much healthier,” experts emphasize. As for meal distribution, take note: experts recommend an excellent breakfast, a good lunch, and a light dinner, along with a brief snack in the mid-morning and mid-afternoon.
Another pillar of a good anti-aging treatment is regular physical exercise. If possible, daily, moderate but constant, and preferably in the mornings. Walking briskly for an hour is a good option. Mental gymnastics should also not be neglected: certain exercises can help enhance brain functions that the anti-aging team deems necessary. Various relaxation techniques, for example, can be highly beneficial for avoiding stress, while some exercises can stimulate memory. Sleep is a fundamental need for the body. An adult should sleep between 7 and 8 hours, approximately, a duration that reduces to 5 or 6 hours in older individuals, to whom it’s advisable to add one or two short naps during the day, around 15 to 20 minutes each. To sleep well, it is recommended to maintain consistent sleep schedules and avoid heavy meals, alcoholic drinks, and stimulants before bed.
Anticipating the Future
Anti-aging medicine is, at the same time, a preventive, predictive, and regenerative discipline. It is preventive because it examines the body’s functioning to prevent disease. It is also predictive because, through the analysis of genetic polymorphisms, characteristics, and medical history, it can identify the main pathologies that a person is at risk of contracting. And it is regenerative in that it aims not only to prevent future damage but also to repair the damage that has already occurred. Stem cell research, for example, is one of the fields that holds great promise in the near future in the fight against the effects of aging.
During the treatment, the patient learns to live more healthily, and regular check-ups (usually once a year) are sufficient to make any adjustments to the exercises or supplements the patient should take. Anti-aging experts emphasize that a good anti-aging treatment is only the beginning of a new lifestyle.
