Book Review: The Immortality Edge

Dr. Joseph S. Maresca, Basil & Spice
Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

12-14-10

Dec. 13--This is an important book that has the potential to impact medicine far into the future. The author describes how lengthier telomeres are associated with longer life. In addition, they keep chromosomes intact. Telomeres are known to shorten with age. The major aging markers are oxidation, inflammation and sugar. The 2009 Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded for telomere research.

The 2009 Nobel Prize in Medicine was shared by grantees of the National Institutes of Health:

Elizabeth H. Blackburn, Ph.D, of University of California, San Francisco; Carol W. Greider, Ph.D, of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and Jack W. Szostak, Ph.D, of Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

"The question of how cellular aging relates to abnormal cell division, such as cancer, and the aging of organisms continues to be the focus of rigorous study, thanks to the insights of Drs. Greider, Blackburn and Szostak, " said NIH Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D.

Modern medicine, pharmacology, nutrition and exercise are known to extend life. Examples of life extension products and processes are antibiotics, antioxidants, diet, gum hygiene, blood pressure medications, clean water, hazardous chemical cleanup, air purification, refrigeration, nutrition, exercise and reduced smoking.

20 telomere foods are described. These foods have a strong association with longer life. Examples are blueberries, grapefruit, almonds, avocado, cabbage, veggies, beets, arame, wakame, tomato, tea (white, green, black), salmon, garlic and broccoli . These foods are also seen in the Paleolithic Diet.

There are blood tests which provide telomere length.

i.e. TA-65/PCR

The author provides a very exhaustive checklist which is associated with longevity. The checklist includes items which detract from telomere length for such things as:

o smoking

o drinking

o less than 5 hours a night sleep

o high blood pressure

o untreated diabetes

o over 30 pounds overweight and lack of exercise

o high cholesterol

o memory loss

o stress

Diet, exercise, Coenzyme Q 10 and a list of many other items are associated with a higher telomere length. The items (both good and bad) are netted. A score of 8001 and above is associated with a higher telomere length or longer lifespan without the blood test which costs about $350.00.

A list of super vitamins is provided by the author. The list includes Vitamins C, E, D, A, B-complex, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Selenium, K and choline.

An immortality edge is supported further by Omega 3, Acetyl L- Carnitine and NAC according to the author.

The Immortality Edge (Wiley/2011) by Michael Fossel et al, is reasonably priced for the value of the medical information described. This work has tremendous implications for reducing medical costs using naturally based foods, vitamins, stress reduction, exercise and other non-medicinal modalities like getting over 5 hours sleep per night. The presentation is easy to understand. This book will be appreciated by readers everywhere.

Joseph S. Maresca Ph.D., CPA, CISA, MBA: His significant writings include over 10 copyrights in the name of the author (Joseph S. Maresca) and a patent in the earthquake sciences. He holds membership in the prestigious Delta Mu Delta National Honor Society and Sigma Beta Delta International Honor Society. In addition, he blogs and reviews many books for Basil & Spice. Visit the Joseph S. Maresca Writer's Page.

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