One of the most popular areas of medicine today is anti-aging medicine or functional medicine. Anti-aging/functional medicine attempts to keep individuals healthy and functioning regardless of their age. Most of us want to live as long as we possibly can. However, do we want to add years to our life or life to our years? Life is an accumulation of thousands of events and decisions. The small decisions that we make every hour of every day can impact the quality of our life for years to come. As Americans, we plan for so many occurrences in life. But few of us plan for our inevitable aging.

So how do we assess how well we are aging? Many researchers are looking at the length of our telomeres, the strands at the end of chromosomes, to correlate our chronological age with our biological age. Others are looking at our genetics and the role our genes play in our aging. Still, others are looking at how well our bodies function metabolically in such areas as methylation. Finally, we also look at our levels of wear and tear, commonly referred to as “oxidative stress.” Formulations of nutrients known as antioxidants, like Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA), can help to protect against oxidative stress and slow down aging.

ALA is unique among biological antioxidants because it is soluble in both water and fats. This allows ALA to neutralize free radicals both inside and outside the cells. Because ALA is involved in so many different functions in the body, it has been called the “universal scavenger.” Besides being a powerful antioxidant in its own right, ALA can also recharge other essential antioxidant systems throughout the body. ALA provides tremendous value as a daily supplement.

The overall goal of any anti-aging supplement is the prevention of disease and the maintenance of overall health. In this regard, Berberine would be an excellent choice. Two of the challenges that face us as we age are high blood sugar and elevated blood lipids. High blood sugar is known to bring about diabetes. And the elevated insulin levels produced in response to high blood sugar are thought to have an influence on the development of Alzheimer’s Disease. Berberine has been shown to help lower blood glucose levels for better blood sugar management.

Studies have shown that Berberine can also help with the management of blood lipids. And Berberine provides a relaxation role in the blood vessels, thus lowering elevated blood pressure. But always remember when optimal aging is the goal, a healthy diet, adequate exercise, and a healthy lifestyle are the best way to maintain your body function for years to come.

Learn More: Healthy Aging: Body, Mind, and Spirit