It helps to be nuts to live longer.

CALL ME "NUTS"

What's a plastic surgeon doing talking about nuts? As a medical doctor, I am interested in anything that contributes to better and longer life.   

A new study shows that eating a handful of nuts may lead to a longer and healthier life.  So, when someone says "nuts to you", they may be wishing you good health.

A study of over 119,000 men and women found that those who at 1.5 oz. of nuts every day were 20% less likely to die over the next 30 years!  

There was a 29% reduction in death from heart disease and 11% decrease in cancer deaths!  

But, let's remember that generally people who eat nuts are less likely to be smokers, more likely to eat fruits/vegetables and be leaner!  Interesting!  

Maybe next time you are on the treadmill – pop a few nuts!

Delayed aging is a better research investment than that into cancer or heart disease

At some point, plastic surgery, restoring the look of youth, may play a role for those who live longer. For now, this story about research into actually slowing aging is interesting.

Top scientists at University of Southern California, Harvard, Columbia, University of Illinois at Chicago and other institutions, concludes investing in aging delay could lead to a 1.25 percent reduction in the likelihood of age-related diseases.  

Slowing aging would have no initial health returns, but it would have significant benefits over the long term. With even modest gains in our understanding of slowing aging, an additional 5 percent of adults over the age of 65 would be healthy rather than disabled every year from 2030 to 2060

The same study showed lower returns from continuing the current research that seeks to treat fatal diseases as they occur, versus understanding aging, which is the cause of frailty and disability.

A reduction in the incidence of cancer by 25 percent in the next few decades would improve the health of the population only slightly versus doing nothing at all, according to the analysis. The same would be true for the leading cause of death worldwide, heart disease. It appears the number of older adults alive but disabled in 2060 would be the same regardless of continuing to try to find cures for heart disease and cancer as separate diseases. Earlier research suggested that curing cancer completely would increase life expectancy by only about three years.

“Even a marginal success in slowing aging is going to have a huge impact on health and quality of life. This is a fundamentally new approach to public health that would attack the underlying risk factors for all fatal and disabling diseases,” said corresponding author S. Jay Olshansky of the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois-Chicago. “We need to begin the research now. We don’t know which mechanisms are going to work to actually delay aging, and there are probably a variety of ways this could be accomplished, but we need to decide now that this is worth pursuing.”The study showed that major advances in the treatment of cancer or heart disease, would lead to a 51-year-old living about one more year. A small improvement in slowing down aging could double this to two additional years; years that would be much more likely to be in relatively good health. 

Ask your doctor - what is DRD4-7R?"

If you ask 1,000 people, "what is DRD4-TR?" You probably would get a variety of different answers, from the a Starwars robot to a lubricant. 

When I read about it, as a Florida plastic surgeon, I had to scratch my head in bewilderment.  

Well, ponder no more, this is a gene variant that links personality and longevity all in one full swoop.  

The research was conducted at Brookhaven Labs in New York and the University of California, Irvine.  This gene is found more commonly in older Americans – hence, it’s association with longevity.  

Also, people with this gene are usually physically more active and less likely to suffer form dementia.  

So when wandering down the aisle of your favorite vitamin store, if you see “Dr. B’s DRD4-7R youth potion", you may want to pause and take home a bottle.  You never know.

Yes, but what kind of a life is it?

We have all heard about the powerful fountain of youth. 

More exercise, more supplements – a better diet.  

We are all looking for the secret.  

I read something very interesting.  Young boys chosen to serve in the palace of the Chosun Dynasty between the 14^th and 20^th centuries were castrated. It was found they live an average of 19 years longer than their peers.  

They were more than 130 times more likely to reach the ripe old age of 100 than people in more developed countries.  It appears male hormones, ie, testosterone, will decrease a male's longevity.  

They believe testosterone weakens the immune system.

PS: As a plastic surgeon in Fort Myers Florida, I am not called upon to perform this procedure.

WE ARE WHAT WE EAT: Dr. Brueck, Plastic Surgeon reflects

This is one in a series of health-related messages from Dr. Robert Brueck, MD, a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon practicing in Fort Myers and Cape Coral, Florida. More of Dr. Brueck's thoughts, especially on cosmetic surgery, may be read at his web site, Beauty-by-Brueck.com

As I sit here in the airport in Knoxville, Tennessee, returning from a trip to see my brother I can’t help but notice the over abundance of bulging thighs, necks and tummies.

We have all been reading about the obesity epidemic. I guess that one look around any public gathering can confirm all of our suspicions. I think that most of us at one time or another has gotten on the treadmill of “weight loss”. I know I have and guess what, I’m still on it. Too bad all of that running isn’t paying big dividends.

It is not just about a few extra pounds or in many cases a lot of extra pounds, it is about longevity; eating the right foods can help us control our plaque buildup, our blood sugar, blood pressure, all of which can have a great beneficial effect on how long we live.

What are some of the foods that promote longevity? Roll the drums, here they are, get ready.

"Double stuff oreo cookies, Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia and extra large fries. NO, NO, that's the wrong list but it would be wishful thinking for many of us."

Here are some of the foods for longevity:

• Fatty fish such as mackerel, tuna and wild salmon provide us with a rich source of omega 3 fatty acids which can reduce the risk of heart disease.

• Whole grains are an excellent source of B complex vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin and niacin. They are essential for optimal energy and metabolism and help us to deal with stress

• Low fat dairy-contain anti-aging nutrients calcium and vitamin D. Vitamin D also provides excellent anti-cancer activity.

• Green leafy vegetables, such as spinach and kale are a derivative source of fiber, calcium and carotenoids. This is also a very potent anti-oxidant.

• Berries such as blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, have anti-oxidants and flavenoids, and help reduce heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

• Green tea contains catechins and theanine. These are great anti-cancer drugs which can reduce a variety of cancers, especially in people that drink 4 to 10 cups of tea. Maybe being a tea drinker isn’t such a bad idea.

• Mangosteen is a small, purplish fruit grown in southeast Asia, which contains compounds known as xanthones. They help with gastrointestinal functioning and can also reduce inflammation such as a reaction to protein.

• Turmeric, curcumin and ginger have been shown to be beneficial in terms of their anti-cancer effects.

• Citrus fruit is a tremendous source of vitamin C. Living here in southwest Florida, and in Florida in general, we have ready sources of citrus. The vitamin C found in tangerines, grapefruits and oranges are a superior source of vitamin C Versus taking tablets.

• Red grapes and red wine contain resveratrol, which is shown to control blood sugar and provide for a greater life span. Many researchers now are conducting significant studies into the anti-aging benefits of resveratrol and this is a compound found in the skin of the red grape. There was a big documentary not too long ago on 60 Minutes.

There are many things we can do to help prolong our lives. Eating the right way can be beneficial and productive.

So, good luck, good eating and good health.

Life is good. How to get more of it - from Dr. Brueck, Fort Myers Plastic Surgeon

[This is one in a series of postings by Dr. Robert J Brueck concerning items of interest in health care. Other aspects of health, related specifically to cosmetic and plastic surgery, are discussed on Dr. Brueck's Web site.]

Now that we’ve learned that coffee can be good for your health, the more and more studies are showing other things are good as well.

We’ve learned in the past that omega 3 fatty acids from fish are great for your heart but new research shows they may also be good for longevity.

Heart patients that take omega3 fatty acids have longer telomeres -these are parts of the DNA molecules - and longer telomeres mean longer life expectancy.

Shorter telomeres are a key part of cellular aging.

I guess the lesson learned is that we should all go out and lengthen our telomeres.

Of course in order to verify this a double blind study would be necessary but it provides food for thought and hope for the future, enjoy.

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