Dr. Mercola Explains How Whey Protein Can Help Slow Down Aging

It has been one of man’s fervent wishes to find a way to slow down aging and increase longevity. Emperors and kings have searched for the fountain of youth throughout the centuries. Nowadays, doctors and scientists are continuing the quest in the laboratory, looking for the most effective methods to reverse the aging process.

Late last year, Dr. Joseph Mercola attended the 2009 Longevity Summit, which drew some of the world’s top anti-aging biologists and experts, including Sierra Sciences CEO Bill Andrews, PhD. Andrews gave a lecture on telomeres and their potential role in altering the aging process.

According to one theory, you age as your cells age and if you can find a way to delay the aging of your cells, you’ll be able to control your aging.

All cells contain a nucleus, which house the chromosomes that contain your genes. A chromosome has two “arms,” with each arm containing a single molecule DNA, which is composed of units called bases. A typical DNA molecule is approximately 100 million bases long. Telomeres are bundles of DNA located at the tip of each chromosome arm, and are similar to the plastic tips on shoelaces that keep them from unraveling.

A telomere is about 15,000 bases long at the moment of conception in the womb. Immediately after conception, your cells start dividing and your telomeres shorten each time cell division occurs. Once your telomeres are reduced to about 5,000 bases, you essentially die of old age (note: DNA molecules are about 100 million bases long).

Biologists have discovered that reproductive cells do not age and do experience the shortening of the telomere like somatic cells (all of the other cells in your body). This is because reproductive cells produce the enzyme telomerase.

Somatic cells do not produce telomerase but they do contain the gene for the production of telomerase. This gene is turned off, which causes the telomere shortening process and cell aging.

Whey Protein for Way Longer Life?

Sierra Sciences has screened more than 160,000 different chemicals, looking at their ability to turn on the telomerase gene and is closely studying 33 possible components of what is envisioned to be the first true anti-aging drug, which might be available within the next two decades.

Majority of the research in this field focuses on proprietary chemicals to stop telomere shortening but Dr. Mercola has discovered that there are studies in progress showing that increasing the levels of glutathione (GSH) – your body’s main antioxidant – can provide similar results.

Mercola explains that you cannot directly ingest glutathione because it is produced from inside your cells by its precursor amino acids: glycine, glutamate and cystine. But you don’t necessarily have to take expensive glutathione supplements. Scientists at the Longevity Summit confirmed that you can increase your glutathione levels by modifying your diet.

The best way to increase and maintain your GSH levels is by eating food which are high in the sulfur amino acids your cells need to synthesize glutathione. Consuming whey protein is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to do this.

Whey protein is one of Mercola’s favorite health products and superfoods because it provides many health benefits, including boosting your energy and helping promote your optimal intake of carbohydrates, essential fats and vitamins and minerals.

Just keep in mind that not all whey products are created equal. Your best bet would be to consume high quality whey protein from grass-fed cows, which also has to be carefully processed to preserve the glutathione precursors.