Lost Age of Youth
Where have the (real) old people gone and what the heck are Telomeres?
There are many who claim to have found certain secrets to rejuvenation, but when you ask them to turn a gray hair black or make a new hair grow (in the right places of course), they mostly become silent.
Perhaps the definition of age itself over time has gradually changed, too. When traditionally it has been quite physical (with a focus on our bodily biology), it is now challenged to become more of a technological mind kind of thing.
However, I would still argue that as human beings we would need to consider our biological age as one of the key criteria when measuring human life and human age as such. With that in mind, I’m asking myself “where did old age” go?
Contrary to our public beliefs, we might have actually become a weaker and more sick species — or when was the last time you heard of a 200 years old woman or man?
Meet Li Qing-Yuen
Allegedly born in 1677 and died in 1933, Li Ching-Yuen1 was a master of martial arts, collected medicinal herbs for the first 100 years of his life and for the last 156 bought them from others and traded them.
He outlived many loved ones, was married 23 times, and became a father about 200 times over 11 generations. Qing-Yuen was a vegetarian, he never drank alcohol, never smoked, and ate only at set times. He went to bed early and got up early. He liked to play cards.
Old grandfathers recalled that he was old when their grandfathers were young.
All this may seem like a hoax if one is unaware of Chinese Taoist traditions and the many legends of immortal Taoists who live in the mountains.
But the article "Tortoise-Pigeon-Dog"2 from the 15 May 1933 issue of Time reports on his history, and includes Qing-Yuen's answer to the secret of a long life3:
“Keep a quiet heart, sit like a tortoise, walk sprightly like a pigeon and sleep like a dog.”
— Li Ching-Yuen
Today’s Perception of “Old” Age
Researchers from Boston University and Tufts Medical Center found4 that people who live to be 100 years old or older (so-called “centenarians”) could have a unique composition of immune cells that’s highly protective against illnesses.
“Our data support the hypothesis that centenarians have protective factors that enable (them) to recover from disease and reach extreme old ages,” said lead author Tanya Karagiannis, a senior bioinformatician at the Center for Quantitative Methods and Data Science, and Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies at Tufts Medical Center.
What did Qing-Yuen know compared to our modern scientists? Perhaps his strong principles, deep knowledge about natural medicines and access to rare herbs were his secret?
I don’t know, but I would argue that aging healthy has become very difficult in a world full of toxins, especially with micro (or nano) plastics being found everywhere from so-called medicines, food and even normal drinking water:
Microplastic Filters
Maybe that’s why a global tech elite is racing to conquer death5, but would you trust their premise of “living forever”6 (which is a philosophical challenge in its own right) — especially when we know that it could exacerbate all the kinds of existing inequalities that we already have in the world today?7
The concept of living forever in the form of a digital afterlife8 isn’t very appealing either:
The Marshall Island Reports
A former UN Executive Director who was tasked with many official reports covering the Marshall Islands9 late last year opened up about the real life expectancy of most humans who used to live in this most beautiful part of the world before nuclear tests were conducted10:
It’s yet another indicator that perhaps we shouldn’t aim for a particular age or health regime governed by doctors, but instead focus on living a harmonious and fulfilled life, based on certain universal principles of humanity.
For me I include a yearly water fast as part of my personal principles, as it greatly helps to refocus and realign our balance and perspectives while strongly supporting autophagy and stem cell production for our body’s own rejuvenation processes.
What are Telomeres and what’s Telomerase?
Throughout history, brilliant minds have tried to figure out the secret behind living longer. Much of the research has credited diet and exercise, but a group of scientists expanded on previous data to suggest another theory.
This brings me to one of the cornerstone elements and key building block of any modern anti-aging, rejuvenation and life-prolonging research approach — the “Telomeres”:
Telomeres play a major role in our aging process as in their extension lies the secret to turning back the aging clock11. So essentially, you could combat aging by increasing (lengthening) your telomeres.
There are many techniques ranging from nutrition, supplements, technology, wellness treatments and medical procedures which can lengthen telomeres, some which I will cover at the end of the article.
However it doesn’t have to be complicated. The above video is well worth your time and superbly narrated, it also clearly demonstrates how we affect each other’s telomeres in how we’re treating each other and most importantly: how we handle ourselves during difficult situations in daily life. Particularly those under permanent stress or living in fear and with great uncertainties, constantly worrying about something (even if it’s well beyond their control) tend to have shorter telomeres.
On the other hand, those who treat “life’s question marks” as challenges, tend to lengthen and protect their telomeres, just by having a different “mind set”. Attitude clearly matters. The research also revealed that meditation has the power to strengthen your telomeres, and, even after having been shortened, can thereby lengthen again.
The meaning of “Mind over Matter” (in the context of extending one’s life span) thereby gets a whole new dimension. Perhaps that’s why ancient Rishis and Sages considered the development of Consciousness a prerequisite prior to increasing the duration of life by e.g. using Rasayanas12, etc.
Best Ways to Live Longer
As already mentioned, finding the right meditation13 is key to lengthening telomeres safely, as without conscious evolution, extension of life could be futile. It also helps to understand when we act vs. when we react whilst mastering our emotions and not the other way around. These factors are what I think many people often miss out on when embarking on a life-long life-extension journey!
Having said this, here are some pointers to hopefully help you live longer:
Live 16 Years Longer By Walking Fast: Researchers from the University of Leicester established a correlation between a person’s walking speed and their age. They discovered that a faster walking pace throughout life could result in a person being 16 years younger biologically by the time they reach midlife, according to an analysis of nearly 400,000 British people from the UK Biobank. So longer telomeres are the result of a lifetime of brisk walking.
Ageing process has been biologically reversed: Giving pure oxygen to older people while in a hyperbaric chamber increased the length of their telomeres by 20 per cent.
Fasting, Breathing, inducing Artificial Fevers and using Laser Light Therapy are excellent ways to (scientifically proven) strengthen and lengthen your telomeres, thereby reducing your biological age.
Enjoy the Cold: Cold is beneficial for healthy aging and has been associated with longevity for more than a hundred years (Loeb, J., & Northrop, J. H. — 1916). The longevity response to warm temperature is neurally controlled via the regulation of collagen genes. Is there a temperature coefficient for the duration of life?
Live in Harmonic Resonance, with the right Frequencies: Longitudinal magnetic waves trigger higher ATP-levels and extend the aging process of plants. What does it mean for humans constantly exposed to WiFi, Bluetooth, 4G, 5G, 6G…?
Looking at my own suggestions here, I wonder whether the real old age of human beings started to vanish when “modern” times were born?
Live long and prosper!
Toby
P.S.: For all my Premium Members, here are some additional techniques to enhance your telomeres:
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