Dear Healthy Friend,

It's the stuff legends are made of. The fountain of youth. One sip and you're restored to health - young and spry forever. But, like I said, it's just in legends. Here in the real world, ageing is just a fact of life, and that's it. And we all accept this. But should we?

Christine O'Brien reveals some interesting research involving some scientists, a few mice and a handful of supplements...

In the name of good health,

Taryn Strugnell
Managing Editor of Nutrition & Healing

P.S. In the UK there is something called "SAD Syndrome" (Seasonal Affective Disorder). It's a depressive disorder that people tend to suffer from due to the lack of sunlight... fortunately in Sunny SA we don't really have to worry about this... But with winter knocking on our back doors, I thought I'd share what Dr Wright has to say about depression...

Can these vitamins extend lifespan by 10%?
Christine O'Brien
Contributor, Nutrition & Healing

We might not be able to achieve eternal youth - but scientists are one step closer to extending our lives and keeping us active and healthy for a good long time.

In fact, in this latest study, conducted at McMaster University in Canada, they extended the lifespan of mice by an impressive 10%. 30 carefully chosen vitamins, minerals and herbs, based on recommended human dosages adjusted for body size, went into the cocktail.

The researchers used declining physical movement as a biomarker of ageing and mortality risk.

The mice that received the daily supplement cocktail retained youthful movement well into old age, while the mice on a regular diet showed a 50% daily decline in movement.

Those mice also showed decline in the activity of a brain chemical that's essential to memory and learning. Mice dipping into the fountain of youth showed no such decline.

Of course, this was a mouse study and there's still work to be done when it comes to trials applying the concept to human ageing, but why wait years for the clinical studies to catch up to something we "believers" already know.

No matter how much the mainstream decries vitamins and minerals, we know the truth - they keep us young and keep us healthy. The right combination of anti-ageing remedies can be a downright wonder.

So what was the combination that kept these mice so young? The cocktail contained vitamins B1, B3 (niacin), B6, B12, C, D, E, folic acid, beta-carotene, CoQ10, rutin, bioflavonoids, ginko biloba, ginseng, green tea extract, ginger root extract, garlic, L-Glutathione, magnesium, selenium, potassium, manganese, chromium picolinate, acetyl L-carnitine, melatonin, alpha-lipoic acid, N-acetyl cysteine, acetylsalicylic acid, cod liver oil and flax seed oil.

There's a lot of familiar friends in this list. Like I said, why wait for numerous drawn-out trials to confirm what we already know? These are all supplements you could start taking NOW. Elimate wrinkles and the ageing effect today!

Natural help for depression

Q: Have you ever seen a patient experience a complete remission from a long-term bout of depression, anxiety or serious mental condition by using "alternative" therapies?

Dr. Wright: In over 30 years of practice, I've found that depression can almost always be cleared up with an individualised amino-acid supplement programme.

Most patented antidepressants "work" by boosting the levels of mood-regulating neurotransmitters in the brain. Amino acids do the same thing - but without the unpleasant side effects like nausea, sleeplessness and decreased libido. And since I've found that most depressed patients have low levels of amino acids, it's always made more sense to me to put back what they're missing, rather than give them an artificial "band-aid" solution.

Usually, when my patients add the specific combination of amino acids determined by their personal test results to their supplement programme, they start feeling better in just a few weeks. And once their depression has cleared up, it usually stays away for good.

You can have your fasting essential amino acids checked with a blood test. If your levels are low, make sure to use a blend of all eight essential amino acids (including tryptophan) individualised for you. And, just as importantly, make sure to look for the cause of your low levels. It probably won't surprise you to learn that, quite often, that cause turns out to be hypochlorhydria, or low stomach acid.

If that's the case, then add injections of vitamin B12 with folic acid to your programme: These are always a good idea for anyone with low stomach acid. Individualised amino acids along with these injections can frequently help your depression clear up over a few weeks to a few months time. If this isn't effective enough, you may want to consider adding the mineral rubidium.

As you can tell, all of this may be a little complicated, so it's best to work with a doctor skilled and knowledgeable in nutritional and natural medicine to help you coordinate it all. Contact The South African Society of Integrated Medicine on (021) 887-5364 or lucia@integrativemedicine.co.za.