that she was not going to be a burden to her family. She has completely transformed not only her body (she looks better at 66 than she did 20-years ago) but also her finances as well. She is certainly an inspiration to me.
Figure 4. My mother before (left) and after (right) following the Daniel Plan.
The Fourth Step – You and Your Office Must Model the Message
This step is simple – if you do not follow and live by your own message, you will usually be very ineffective at convincing others to follow it. You and your office must model the message.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
It is possible to heal the mind and body with food if we make the right choices. Eliminating junk food, sugar, grains, and dairy from the diet can have a dramatic effect on health. Following the 4 steps of the Daniel Plan can help you to transform your own life as well as the lives of your patients.
REFERENCES
1.Pelsser LM1, Frankena K, Toorman J, Savelkoul HF, Dubois AE, Pereira RR, Haagen TA, Rommelse NN, Buitelaar JK. Effects of a restricted elimination diet on the behaviour of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (INCA study): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2011;377:494-503.
2.Pelsser LM1, Frankena K, Toorman J, Savelkoul HF, Pereira RR, Buitelaar JK. A randomised controlled trial into the effects of food on ADHD. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2009;18:12-19.
3.Moreira PI. High-sugar diets, type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2013;16:440-445.
4.Grandison RC, Piper MD, Partridge L. Amino-acid imbalance explains extension of lifespan by dietary restriction in Drosophila. Nature. 2009;462:1061-1064.
5.Roberts RO, Roberts LA, Geda YE, Cha RH, Pankratz VS, O'Connor HM, Knopman DS, Petersen RC. Relative intake of macronutrients impacts risk of mild cognitive impairment or dementia. J Alzheimers Dis. 2012;32:329-339.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Starting her career as a neurosurgical ICU nurse at Loma Linda University Medical Center, Tana Amen, BSN, RN, presently serves as Executive Vice-President of the Amen Clinics. She teaches practical lifestyle application programs, using food to heal the mind and body.
Chapter 3
Arterial Inflammation, Autophagy, and Senescence: Relationship to Aging and Cardiovascular Disease
Bradley Field Bale, M.D.
ABSTRACT
The aim of this paper is to offer an introduction to arterial inflammation, autophagy, and senescence, and their relationship with aging and cardiovascular disease. Methods of preventing and reducing arterial inflammation, enhancing autophagy, and avoiding premature senescence will be discussed.
INTRODUCTION
The goal of a comprehensive anti-aging program is longevity. Arterial inflammation, autophagy, and senescence all play key roles in both aging and cardiovascular disease. The aim of this paper is to discuss these roles and to consider ways in which we can help our patients to prevent and reduce arterial inflammation, enhance autophagy, and avoid premature senescence.
RELATIONSHIP TO AGING AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
Arterial Inflammation
Living long and living well is dependent on a healthy vascular system. Vascular health is vital because our micro and macro health requires an adequate supply of nutrients, and without arterial support our cells and organs perish quickly. Thus, an essential element of anti-aging is maintaining the wellness of the 60,000 miles of vessels that deliver nutrients to our cells and our organs to keep them healthy.
In order to know how to keep the vascular system healthy, we need to know what leads to damage. Inflammation has long been thought to play a key role in the development and progression of arterial disease.1 This hypothesis is supported by observational and experimental studies in humans and animals, however until the publication of 2 landmark studies in 20122,3 causality had not been established. These 2 studies demonstrated that inflammation is responsible for the inception of cardiovascular disease, the progression of cardiovascular disease, and the eventual cardiovascular event. Both of these studies were concerned with interleukin-6 receptors (IL6R), which are found in the membrane of hepatocytes and leukocytes. If the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) attaches to an IL6R a pro-inflammatory cascade of events is triggered, including increased levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, and other acute phase reactants.
The meta-analysis led by the IL6R Genetics Consortium Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration2 investigated Asp358Ala (rs2228145), a genetic variant that reduces IL6R membrane-bound numbers. The researchers hypothesized that if inflammation is causal of arterial disease, there should be a direct relationship between the Asp358Ala variant and heart attack risk – possession of 1 or 2 Asp358Ala alleles should reduce heart attack risk as the number of membrane-bound IL6R should be lower. Analysis of 51,441 heart attack victims and 136,226 controls revealed that for each allele for Asp358Ala carried there was indeed a significant 3.4% reduced risk of heart attack. Thus, people who are homozygous for Asp 358Ala (meaning that they carry 2 Asp358Ala alleles) have a 6.8% reduced risk of heart attack.
The second study, led by the Interleukin-6 Receptor Mendelian Randomisation Analysis (IL6R MR) Consortiumm,3 adds further support to the theory that inflammation is the root cause of arterial disease. In this study researchers investigated IL6R SNP (rs7529229), another genetic variant that decreases IL6R numbers. Data from a total of 25,458 heart attack victims and 100,740 controls was analyzed, and results showed that IL6R SNP was associated with a 5% decreased risk of heart attack per allele. So, if you are lucky enough to have inherited 2 copies of the allele, your risk of heart attack is 10% lower than that of someone who has not inherited any copies of the IL6R SNP variant. Together, these studies provide extremely strong evidence that inflammation is the cause of arterial disease.
Figure 1 illustrates the relationship between inflammation and arterial disease. The trunk of the tree is inflamed, and that is what generates the atherosclerosis on the tree limbs. Numerous pathologies can drive arterial inflammation. So, in order to put out the inflammatory flames that fuel arterial disease it is vital to adopt a holistic approach. Conventional medicine has focused all of its attention on lipids. Yes, hyperlipidemia is certainly one of the root potential causes of arterial inflammation, but it is only one of many. Obstructive sleep apnea will generate inflammation, and so will periodontal disease, psychosocial issues, rheumatoid arthritis, infectious disease, nicotine, and many other factors. All of these are extremely important, and if you want to prevent the development or progression of arterial disease you have got to address all of these issues in order to make sure that you put the inflammatory fire out.
Figure 1. Extinguishing arterial ‘fire’ requires a holistic approach.
There are 2 very important factors missing from Figure 1: autophagy and senescence. If we are to live a long and healthy life it is very important
