Natural herbs and herbal anti-aging supplements or products are among the most popular natural therapies used today.
Recent studies have shown that a primary factor in reducing aging is maintaining kidney and liver health. In addition, optimal cellular health is vital to longevity and is directly linked to nutrition.
Herbal Supplements for anti-aging should aim in protecting the body from harmful aspects of the environment and often exhibit a protective role on a cellular level.
Medicinal herbs for anti-aging treatments help to eliminate toxins in the body such as heavy metals and chemicals and support optimum performance of our body in a holistic manner.
From a nutritional perspective, reducing free radical consumption and increasing our antioxidant intake is vital to good health and longevity.
Essentially, we are what we eat, and the added effects of environmental pollution and everyday stress can be reduced through herbal and nutritional supplements.
Natural Herbs for Anti-Aging
St. Mary’s Thistle
(Silybum marianum)
The fruit of this herb contains silybin. Silybin (100 mg/kg/day) has shown to lessen iron-induced liver toxicity in rats. Simultaneously, treatment with silybin also reduced oxidative damage/lipid peroxidation, which plays a role in many chronic diseases including arthritis and cancer.
St. Mary’s thistle also acts as a liver protector due to its strong ability to chelate iron and has shown in another study to prevent an increase in chelatable iron which increases liver damage through oxidation.
When used in a combination with vitamin C (10 mg/kg), silymarin reduced the lead toxicity on the liver of rats and was also of benefit in lead and cadmium poisoning. The use of St Mary’s thistle assists in preventing oxidative stress, making it an effective anti-aging herb.
Garlic (Allium sativum)
Garlic is a herb that for thousands of years has been used to prevent a variety of diseases and treat infections.
Research in more recent times has proved that garlic has a multifaceted role in disease prevention. Allicin, a sulfur compound, builds immunity, prevents infections and reduces the risk of heart disease.
Garlic has also been indicated as a preventative factor in colon, oesophageal and stomach cancers.
Green Tea(Camellia sinensis)
Green tea contains powerful antioxidants called polyphenols (catechins) and flavonols which make it one of the best herbal supplements for anti-aging there is.
The antioxidant activity of green tea may contribute to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Small population studies revealed a significant reduction of DNA damage after consuming green tea.
Several catechins are present in green tea and account for the herb’s antioxidant activity. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the most powerful of these catechins and is 25-100 times more potent than vitamins C and E.
A daily intake of four decaffeinated cups of green tea daily can be beneficial for protecting the body from oxidative damage due to free radicals.
Sirtuins
While sirtuins are not a herb, these enzymes are known to slow the aging process and are activated when they are exposed to resveratrol, a plant product found in red wine also known to extend lifespan.
High levels of sirtuins have proven to slow degeneration in damaged nerve cells, and the enzymes affect aspects of metabolism that regulate insulin secretion.
The best way to increase sirtuins levels is probably a glass of red wine a day and a calorie controlled diet. Both methods have been shown to directly stimulate the production of these amazing enzymes.
Other natural herbs that have been used for anti-aging.
- Turmeric – (Curcuma longa)
- Elderberry (Sambucus nigra)
- Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon)
- Ginkgo Biloba (Ginkgo Biloba)
The Use of Herbal Supplements For Anti-Aging
Green leafy vegetables, berries, good fats such as fish oil, plenty of water and rest, and minimal alcohol use are vital to prevent aging. Major factors in aging are smoking, stress, and poor dietary habits that result in high levels of free radicals.
Free radicals are atoms or molecules containing one or more unpaired electrons: they are unstable and strive to restore balance or oxidation. Herbal Supplements for anti-aging are designed to reduce the effect of free radicals.
Essentially we are only as old as our cells and to reduce the aging process, on a cellular level there are two approaches that can help. Firstly, to protect the cells damage and secondly, to increase our antioxidant levels.
Herbal anti-aging products will often contain vitamins and minerals that increase antioxidants while herbs act to protect our body from the inevitable effects of our modern lifestyle.
Popular herbs for anti-aging treatments are varied and it is important to research which herbs would suit your individual requirements.
Nutritionally, Zinc, Selenium, Vitamins A, C, E, and B, as part of an overall approach to good health can dramatically reduce the effects of aging in a busy world.
Thordur Sturluson
Latest posts by Thordur Sturluson (see all)
- What is the Difference Between Hemp and Marijuana? - June 3, 2019
Leave a Reply