CONQUER AGING & AGING-RELATED PROBLEMS

Launched in California in 2018, BalanceGenics, also known as How100™, started out as a solution to our own needs. Our team consists of health experts, doctors, scientists, and innovators with a common interest in defeating aging and aging diseases.

At BalanceGenics, we are passionate about finding revolutionary, safe, and effective solutions to live longer but stay younger.

We combine the latest findings from global leading longevity scientists to develop products and services. We also introduce world-class anti-aging solutions through acquisitions, partnerships, and licensing agreements.

《Longevity and Healthy Aging White Paper - BalanceGenics》was published by BalanceGenics Longevity Research Team.   

Its content structure is as follows:

       Preface: The Relationship Between Aging and Health

1. Longevity Diet
2. Longevity Exercise
3. Sleep and Longevity 
4. Skin Longevity
5. Teeth Longevity
6. Hair Longevity
7. Eye Health and Longevity
8. Balance Your Hormones

 

 

 

Preface: The Relationship Between Aging and Diseases

Longevity scientists have largely reached a consensus that aging is a disease that is at the root of all other chronic diseases associated with aging. Longevity medicine aims to treat the root causes of aging, thereby addressing all these aging-related diseases without directly treating the disease.

This is what anti-aging is all about! Slowing down aging is the healthiest biological approach involving all dietary and lifestyle and pharmacologic interventions for anti-aging that not only improves metabolism, but also addresses the underlying causes of all aging-related diseases, including weight control and maintenance of muscle and bone health.

More importantly, when we take anti-aging as a way of life, our positive state of health and vitality can influence and infect the people around us, so that we can have the opportunity to create a healthier and longer life for ourselves and our family members, and realize the concept of "one person's anti-aging, the whole family benefits".

1. Understanding Aging (a): Aging and Chronic Disease

If I asked you what the biggest risk factor for death is, you'd probably say heart disease or cancer - the two diseases that seem to kill the most people. However, if we completely eradicate heart disease and cancer from the face of the earth, human life expectancy would only increase by five to seven years, a long way from the goal of living to 100 or 120 years old (but only in good health). You might say that smoking and obesity are the biggest causes of chronic disease and death, and you might be partially right. But if you compare a 30-year-old smoker to a 70-year-old nonsmoker, who has a greater risk of cancer, heart disease, and death? Smoking may increase your risk of cancer by five times. Aging increases it fifty-fold.

Most importantly, aging itself accelerates the risk of chronic disease.

Why? Because aging is a disease.

Even if you eat real, natural foods and exercise regularly, you may notice changes as you age that you can't seem to control - fatigue, lack of energy, poorer health, poor quality sleep, aches and pains, low libido, loss of muscle, deterioration of vision and hearing, digestive problems, memory loss. These are all early warning signs of aging itself as a disease.

 

They are not an inevitable consequence of chronological aging, but they are signs of biological aging.

Every system in our bodies is affected by biological aging: our microbiome, immune system, hormones, metabolism and energy production, detoxification systems, circulatory and lymphatic systems, and our structural systems.

The following are diseases that burden most people as they age. They lead to early disability, functional decline and premature death:

uPre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes

uVascular disease (heart attack, stroke, heart failure and high blood pressure)

uDiabetes

uCognitive decline and dementia

uRenal failure

uHormonal imbalances (thyroid, adrenal, sex hormones, growth hormones)

uSarcopenia (muscle loss)

uOsteoporosis (bone loss)

uAutoimmunity

uMacular degeneration and cataracts

uLung disease (mainly from smoking)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 80% of people over the age of 65 have one or more of these problems. They may seem like a "normal" part of aging. But they're not. They are signs of abnormal aging, a sign of accelerated damage and dysfunction that leads to aging.

Longevity medicine then aims to treat the root causes of aging, thus addressing all these diseases without directly treating them. Prolonging youthfulness and attaining a physiological age that is significantly lower than one's actual age*.

This is what anti-aging is all about! Slowing down aging is the healthiest biological approach involving all dietary and lifestyle and pharmacologic interventions for anti-aging that not only improves metabolism, but also addresses the underlying causes of all aging-related diseases, including weight control and maintenance of muscle and bone health.

This is also the mission of BalanceGenics, we are building the world's leading one-stop anti-aging platform, dedicated to providing comprehensive anti-aging solutions for individuals who aspire to live a positive life from the three aspects of physiology + psychology + wealth, so that some of them can be young first.

 

2. Recognizing Aging (b): 12 Hallmarks of Aging

12 Hallmarks of Aging

Scientists have mapped out the ways in which problems arise as we age. They've identified twelve hallmarks of aging, as well as changes in our biology that are upstream of the diseases they cause:

1)      Genomic instability: our DNA is subject to various types of damage, such as sun exposure and pollution, which can accumulate and lead to cellular malfunction, which in turn triggers aging.

2)      Telomere attrition: Telomeres are little caps that protect the ends of chromosomes. Each time a cell divides, the telomeres get shorter, and when they get too short, the cell can no longer divide, leading to senescence.

3)      Epigenetic alterations: these are chemical modifications that affect gene expression. As we age, these modifications change, affecting the normal functioning of the genes and leading to aging.

4)      Loss of proteostasis: Cells need to maintain a balance of proteins. When this balance is disrupted, proteins in the cell may form harmful aggregates that impair cellular function.

5)      Disabled Macroautophagy: Macroautophagy is the process by which cells clean up waste. As we age, this process becomes less effective, leading to the accumulation of harmful substances within the cell.

6)      Nutrient Sensing Dysregulation: Cells need to sense and respond to nutrients. As we age, this sensing ability declines, leading to metabolic problems and aging.

7)      Mitochondrial dysfunction: Mitochondria are the energy factories of the cell. As we age, mitochondrial function declines, leading to energy deficiency and cellular damage.

8)      Cellular senescence: Cellular senescence is a state in which cells stop dividing. These "aged" cells accumulate in the body and affect the functioning of healthy tissues and organs.

9)      Stem Cell exhaustion: Stem cells are responsible for generating new cells to replace damaged or dead cells. As we age, the number and function of stem cells decline, affecting the body's ability to repair itself.

10)   Altered cellular communication: Cells need to communicate with each other to function properly. As we age, this communication becomes less effective, leading to inflammation and other health problems.

11)   Chronic Inflammation: As we age, the body's inflammatory response becomes persistent and low-grade, and this chronic inflammation can damage tissues and organs and promote aging.

12)   Microbiome Dysbiosis: This refers to an imbalance in the microbiota (e.g. gut flora) in the body. A healthy microbiota is important for maintaining good health, and imbalances can lead to immune system problems and other health issues.

 

Solutions

The good news is that we know how to address these traits through simple lifestyle and behavioral changes* and the science of functional medicine. Simply put: remove the bad and add the good.

We must eliminate and avoid the things that jeopardize our health, including poor diet, stress, sedentary lifestyles, toxins, allergens and bad microbes;

And add healthy ingredients including real healthy food, nutrients, the right balance of hormones, clean water and air, light, sleep, exercise, rest, community, love, meaning and purpose (the good stuff).

It sounds so simple, and the good news is that it is. When we avoid and eliminate the negative inputs that damage our biology and cause disease, and add the healing factors, nutrients and substances that allow our bodies to function optimally, we can heal and reverse abnormal aging.

And more importantly, by doing so, we have the opportunity to control our "genetic switches"!

(*Notes from BalanceGenics: In the Diet, Exercise, and Sleep sections, we've introduced behavioral science approaches to help you develop healthy habits, so stay tuned for the later sections.)

3. Taking Control of Aging (a): Controlling Your "Genetic Switches"

Introduction to Epigenetics

Epigenetics is the field of science that studies the regulation of gene expression without involving changes to the DNA sequence. It studies how chemical modifications (e.g., DNA methylation, histone modifications, non-coding RNAs, etc.) regulate the switching of genes to affect gene expression. These modifications can be influenced by environmental factors and lifestyle, and in some cases can be passed on to offspring.

Authoritative studies have shown that lifestyle and environmental factors such as diet, exercise, and psychological stress can influence health and the aging process by modulating gene switches through alterations in DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA expression. These epigenetic changes not only regulate the expression of metabolic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory genes, but also promote overall health and slow aging by reversing adverse epigenetic marks.

In other words, genetics is not your destiny!

How Lifestyle and Environment Affect Our Epigenetics

1. Diet and nutrition

• Folic acid, vitamin B12, choline, methionine: these nutrients are methyl donors and can affect DNA methylation, thus regulating gene expression.

▪     Folic Acid: Folic acid, found in green leafy vegetables, legumes and fortified grains, is essential for DNA synthesis and repair. It provides methyl for DNA methylation, which affects gene expression.

▪     Vitamin B12: B12 is found in animal products such as meat, dairy, and eggs, and is necessary to regenerate methionine from homocysteine, thereby supporting DNA methylation.

▪     Choline: Choline is found in eggs, liver and peanuts and is a direct source of methyl groups for DNA methylation.

• Polyphenolic compounds (e.g. EGCG in green tea): have been shown to influence histone modification and hence gene expression.
• Antioxidants: such as vitamins C and E, can affect epigenetic markers by reducing oxidative stress.
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Found in fatty fish and flaxseed, Omega-3s regulate histone acetylation and DNA methylation, influence inflammatory pathways, and may reduce the risk of chronic disease.

2.  Exercise

Regular exercise has been shown to alter DNA methylation patterns in genes associated with energy metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and inflammation; exercise can affect histone acetylation and methylation, and thus the accessibility of transcription factors to DNA. For example, exercise-induced histone acetylation increases BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) expression, which is critical for neuroplasticity and cognitive function. Exercise also regulates the expression of microRNA, which in turn regulate post-transcriptional gene expression. For example, miR-21, which is involved in the inflammatory response, can be downregulated by regular physical activity.

• Aerobic exercise: can increase the expression of certain genes that are involved in energy metabolism, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory responses. Exercise achieves these effects by altering histone modifications and DNA methylation.
• Strength training: also affects epigenetic markers and promotes the expression of genes involved in muscle growth.

3.  Psychological stress

Psychological stress may lead to unfavorable epigenetic changes, but effective stress management techniques can mitigate these effects.

• Chronic Stress: Chronic stress can alter the methylation of genes associated with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which can affect the stress response. For example, increased methylation of the promoter of the NR3C1 ((glucocorticoid receptor) gene decreases its expression in response to chronic stress, potentially leading to dysregulation of cortisol levels and increased susceptibility to stress-related diseases.

Stress affects histone modifications that influence the expression of genes involved in mood regulation and neurodevelopment. Chronic stress decreases histone acetylation at the BDNF (Brain-derived neurotrophic factor) gene locus, thereby reducing its expression and negatively affecting brain function.

• Meditation and Positive Thinking: These relaxation techniques have been shown to reverse certain stress-induced epigenetic changes and help restore normal gene expression.

Positive thinking meditation increases telomerase activity, which is associated with longer telomeres and improved cellular senescence; meditation also reduces the expression of pro-inflammatory genes by modulating histone modifications and DNA methylation patterns.

Epigenetics reveals how environment and lifestyle affect our health and aging process by regulating gene expression. By optimizing diet, maintaining regular exercise and effectively managing stress, epigenetic markers can be positively influenced to slow down aging.

Feel free to read on as BalanceGenics list detailed dietary nutrition and a series of lifestyle recommendations about these that can influence our epigenetics in the later sections of this white paper. If you are curious about what follows, you are welcome to return to the Table of Contents at any time to get a head start on these through our summaries at the front of each section.

4. Managing Aging (b): Intervening in Controllable Aging Factors through Longevity Medicine and Functional Medicine

Medicine today makes a diagnosis by evaluating signs and symptoms and sometimes performing some laboratory tests and imaging studies. We are very good at describing disease based on symptoms, but not at addressing the underlying causes of disease. Our current models are especially good for acute care, such as a broken bone or heart attack. However, it is less useful for chronic lifestyle diseases that result from aging.

The current health care model (actually the disease care model) focuses on naming diseases and suppressing symptoms. Some can be cured by surgery, others by medication, but they are the exceptions.

Functional medicine is a convenient and proven preventive medicine approach to anti-aging (intervention) that also focuses on systems biology and addressing root causes of health problems.

It has a comprehensive testing and evaluation system and intervention methods from shallow to deep, which are not only applicable to individualized diagnosis and treatment, but also applicable to individual's independent anti-aging intervention. In Europe and the United States, the concept of functional medicine has penetrated deeply into the health industry, influencing the development of many functional foods and health care products, and is the theoretical basis for many personalized health intervention programs (most of these programs are paid for by insurance and employers). In contrast, in the Chinese market, Functional Medicine currently serves a small elite group.

 Dr. Mark Hyman, a renowned expert in functional medicine and a well-known anti-aging expert, talks about it in his new book, Forever Young:

Over the past 30 years, functional medicine has incorporated advances in systems biology and network medicine into a practical clinical model for reversing disease and creating optimal health. It has largely been on the fringes of medicine, but in 2014, Cleveland Clinic's legendary CEO, Toby Cosgrove, brought the model to the forefront of healthcare by inviting renowned functional medicine physician, Mark Hyman, to found the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine.

That's why we at BalanceGenics are guided by functional medicine in our anti-aging interventions. BalanceGenics are committed to introducing the world's leading anti-aging concepts and methods for those who want to regain their youthfulness (eternal youthfulness and vitality), so that the anti-aging pioneers can enjoy the most advanced scientific and technological achievements and the most cutting-edge methodological concepts in tandem with the world's top tycoons.

Functional Medicine

Functional medicine is a patient-centered, systems biology-based approach. It aims to find and address the underlying causes of disease, not just relieve symptoms. Functional medicine uses a detailed history, lifestyle assessment, and advanced laboratory testing to understand each patient's unique situation and develop a personalized treatment plan.

According to Functional Medicine, maintaining the balance of the functions of each system is the only way to slow down the aging process. By adjusting the four factors, we can change the seven physiological processes of the human body, thus promoting health.

 

How do imbalances come about? Environment and behavior send messages to the body in a variety of ways - through diet, surroundings (air, housing, terrain), exercise or inactivity, stress and trauma - and the messages are further processed by individual-specific genetic traits. Somewhere in this chain of interactions, there may be a malfunction.

①　Absorption and Excretion (Digestion, Absorption, Microbiome): The various functions associated with digestion, absorption, use of nutrients and elimination of wastes form a complex physiological process. Any imbalance in this process can lead to serious diseases. For example, the relationship between "intestinal microecological imbalance" and systemic inflammation and neurological disorders is now a hot topic of research, and as mentioned earlier, imbalance in the microbiome system is also a sign of aging.

②　Detoxification: Our bodies are equipped with complex detoxification and cleansing systems - liver, kidneys, lungs, skin, digestive system and lymphatic system. Among these, the liver carries out an important function. The liver has a number of detoxification mechanisms that convert toxic substances into non-toxic by-products, which are then excreted through the kidneys and the large and small intestines. However, the toxic burden of the 21st century often overwhelms our body's detoxification system and leads to disease. This can shorten our healthy lifespan and our entire lifespan. Although the medical literature confirms the link between toxins and most chronic diseases, most physicians do not address this issue. The good news is that functional medicine is very good at identifying the body's toxic burden and up-regulating the detoxification system.

③　Immunity and Inflammation: Immunity is a variety of physiological processes that protect the body from infection and cellular damage, and the elimination of old cells is also a job of the immune system. With the accumulation of senescent zombie-like cells, these cells inflame healthy cells and are also an influencing factor in aging. A variety of environmental chemicals, some food ingredients, specific gastrointestinal bacteria, and some medications, as well as chronic stress, can all contribute to chronic inflammation.

④　Cellular communication (hormones, neurotransmitters, cell signaling molecules): these messengers include hormones, neurotransmitters, peptides (messenger proteins that control many of our biological functions) and many other cell signaling molecules. As we age, predictable and mostly avoidable (and reversible) changes occur - insulin resistance or pre-diabetes, hypothyroidism, elevated stress hormones such as cortisol, lowered adrenal hormones such as DHEA, lowered growth hormone and testosterone in men as well as estrogen and progesterone in women and our neurotransmitter changes. All hormonal systems deteriorate as we age, but not inevitably. Both female menopause and male menopause are real phenomena, but their effects are magnified by our lifestyle and environment. When our hormones are out of balance, they can cause great suffering and accelerate aging. The good news is that there are natural ways we can intervene in it, including diet, exercise, stress reduction, phytochemicals and herbs, and bio-identical hormone therapy for men and women when needed.

⑤　Cellular Transportation (Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Systems): Metabolic wastes can be removed from tissues and sent to the liver and kidneys for removal through our transportation systems, the circulatory system (blood vessels and heart) and the lymphatic system. However, these blood vessels are not just inert conduits carrying blood; they are also immune and hormone organs that require proper nutrition to function optimally. The inner lining of the blood vessels is called the endothelium. When endothelial function is impaired, it becomes stiff, which can lead to hypertension, and it may deposit dysfunctional cholesterol, causing atherosclerosis. The result is the world's number one killer—cardiovascular disease. Many key features of aging, including inflammation, protein damage, and altered nutrient sensing (insulin resistance), damage blood vessels and are at the root of heart disease. It turns out that heart disease is an inflammatory and hormonal disease. What causes the worst inflammation and hormonal chaos (a direct downstream effect of insulin resistance)? Our diet. While environmental toxins, stress, the microbiome, and genetics all play a role, our diet is the biggest driver of cardiovascular disease.

The heart pumps blood around our blood vessels, but your lymph vessels need movement (muscle activity and breathing) to pump waste fluids for detoxification through the liver and kidneys. There are many ways to improve lymphatic circulation, including exercise, lymphatic massage, hot and cold showers, steam and sauna, lots of hydration and deep breathing. And, of course, what you eat is important.

⑥　Energy (Energy Regulation and Mitochondrial Function): The body's energy is made by the mitochondria within the cells, and without energy, every cellular function goes awry, as you'll learn in Signs of Aging 7 Mitochondrial Dysfunction. Learning how to clean, repair, protect, increase mitochondrial numbers and optimize mitochondrial function is the key to healthy aging. Many advances in the science of longevity, such as calorie restriction; time-restricted diets; fasting; exercise; NAD+ therapies, rapamycin, metformin, and a variety of phytochemicals such as resveratrol, fexofenone, and quercetin; cold therapy; and hyperbaric oxygen, work by improving mitochondrial numbers and function, no matter how large they are.

⑦　Structural health and imbalances (from muscle and bone to cells and tissues): Muscle loss (sarcopenia) and bone loss (osteopenia/osteoporosis) are important factors in aging and age-related diseases. But it's not just muscle and bone that determine age, it's also the health of your cells. Each cell membrane is a docking station for thousands of chemical messengers that communicate with the cell. Each membrane is made of fat, so you need the highest quality fats to build your cell membranes.

In Forever Young , Mark Hyman talks about how the characteristics of aging identified by previous longevity researchers - such as mitochondrial dysfunction, microbiota imbalance, inflammation, nutrient sensing dysfunction, and hormonal changes that occur with aging - -actually describe the fundamental biological networks that must be attended to and optimized in functional medicine. ...... Too much or too little of the factors that cause imbalances in our body's seven physiological systems can lead to the characteristics of aging and the diseases caused by these repairable dysfunctions. For example, what do Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and even some infertility and depression have in common? All of these can be caused by blood sugar imbalances and insulin resistance. As we will see, this problem is at the root of many aging processes.

Functional medicine is therefore a convenient approach for autonomous anti-aging in individuals.

However, due to space constraints, optimization support for the seven body system functions talked about in Functional Medicine will not be covered in this version of BalanceGenics’ white paper. We will consider this in subsequent releases, so keep checking back with us!

 

Longevity Medicine

In addition to functional medicine, the increasingly progressive science of longevity and longevity medicine are powerful weapons in our fight against aging.

Longevity Medicine (LM) is a branch of medicine that focuses on extending healthy lifespan, preventing aging-related diseases, and improving quality of life. It integrates the latest research findings from a variety of scientific and medical fields to understand and intervene in the aging process in order to slow down the aging process, reduce the risk of disease, and optimize one's health.

 

Core concepts of Longevity Medicine

①　Personalized Health Management: Personalized health management plan through genetic testing, detailed medical history analysis and advanced biomarker testing.

②　Prevention: early detection and preventive measures are emphasized, and chronic diseases are prevented through lifestyle modification, nutritional interventions and appropriate medication.

③　Optimizing Physiological Function: Enhance overall physiological function by optimizing metabolism, improving cardiovascular health, boosting immune function, and maintaining a healthy nervous system.

④　Slowing down the aging process: Using anti-aging techniques and treatments such as stem cell therapy, gene editing, antioxidant supplementation and hormone balancing to slow down the aging process.

 

Approaches and Strategies for Longevity Medicine

①　Genomic medicine: Identification and repair of genetic mutations associated with aging and disease through genetic testing and gene therapy.

②　Nutritional and dietary interventions: Development of individualized nutritional plans that emphasize antioxidants, anti-inflammatory foods, and appropriate nutritional supplementation to optimize cellular function and prevent chronic disease.

③　Exercise and Physical Fitness: Emphasizes regular aerobic exercise, strength training, and flexibility training to enhance cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, and overall fitness.

④　Mental Health and Stress Reduction: Managing Stress and Enhancing Mental Health through Mind-Body Therapy, Meditation, Yoga and Counseling.

⑤　Innovative medical technologies: Applying cutting-edge medical technologies such as stem cell therapy, gene editing, regenerative medicine and nanotechnology to repair and regenerate aging tissues and organs.

⑥　Drugs and supplements: Use of anti-aging drugs and supplements such as rapamycin, NAD+ precursors, metformin, spermidine, etc. to slow aging and prevent aging-related diseases.

 

Goals of Longevity Medicine

In addition to innovative medical technologies and individualized treatments and interventions in longevity clinics, BalanceGenics aims to provide a full range of tools and products based on the concepts and methodologies of functional medicine, and to leverage the findings of longevity medicine to help individuals develop a lifelong, healthy, and long-life lifestyle.

The breakthrough development of AI+longevity technology will bring about radical changes to the entire human society, including the democratization of longevity. BalanceGenics is composed of a group of people who are passionate about longevity technology and anti-aging, including health professionals, anti-aging hackers, doctors, professors, scientists, dietitians, entrepreneurs, etc. We are a community based on a common belief (anti-aging), and BalanceGenics will lead the community to embrace the development of new technologies, so that longevity is no longer the exclusive domain of a few rich people, but more people who desire to live a long and healthy life will be able to fully enjoy the well-being of longevity science and technology advances.

 

5. Measuring Aging

On biological age

Physiological age, also known as biological age or body age, is the age at which a person's physiological functioning and state of health manifests itself. Biological age reflects the degree of aging and health of a person's body, and it can differ from actual age (your natural age).

Biological age is commonly measured by a DNA methylation clock (via genetic testing), and there are also blood biomarker-based (and cheaper) biological age tests.

DNA methylation clock

The DNA methylation clock is a method of estimating physiological age by analyzing the pattern of DNA methylation, an epigenetic mechanism for the regulation of gene expression that changes with age. It has been found that the biological age of an individual can be accurately predicted from specific DNA methylation markers. This method, known as the "epigenetic clock" or "DNA methylation clock", is one of the mainstay methods for assessing biological age.

Blood-based biological age test

Blood-based biologic age testing assesses physiologic age by detecting biomarkers in the blood. These biomarkers can include inflammatory markers, metabolites, cytokines, and more. By analyzing the levels and combinations of these markers, an individual's biological age can be deduced. This method is also widely used in the assessment of physiologic age and is easy to follow in the short term to assess anti-aging effects.

Organ age

Organ age is often used as a measure of the rate at which organs are aging. Organ age, also known as organ biological age, is the age of a particular organ or body system as expressed by its state of health and level of function. Similar to biological age, organ age reflects the degree of aging and health of an organ, which can differ from its actual age.

For example, the degree of aging of blood vessels can be assessed by atherosclerosis index (e.g., pulse wave velocity), vascular elasticity, etc.; the health status of the brain can be assessed by cognitive function tests, electroencephalograms, MRIs, and other imaging tests; the health status of the kidneys can be assessed by renal function tests (e.g., serum creatinine and urea nitrogen levels), and by imaging tests; and the health status of skin can be assessed by indicators such as skin elasticity, wrinkles, and pigmentation, etc. The health status of the skin is assessed by skin elasticity, wrinkles and pigmentation.

On the Healthy Functioning of the Body's Functional Systems

Physiological age and organ age, as in a physical examination, measure the results of our aging.

As mentioned earlier in our introduction to the Functional Medicine approach, Functional Medicine also provides us with a range of methods (from questionnaires to laboratory assessments) to measure "imbalances" in the functioning of the seven systems of the body, which we can intervene in ways that affect our "Physiological age" and "organ age".

In the book "The Functional Medicine Bible - Overcoming Chronic Disease in a Holistic Way", Dr. Jeffrey Brand, the father of Functional Medicine, provides a self-assessment questionnaire to measure imbalances in the body's systems, which can be used as a tool for personal self-health management. For example, we can use the following simple questionnaire to assess the imbalance of our body's detoxification system:

1. Are you sensitive to smells or odors?
2. Are you sensitive to certain foods?
3. Are you sensitive to certain medications?
4. Are you sensitive to alcohol?
5. Does the glutamic acid (MSG) in food make you uncomfortable?
6. Are you sensitive to caffeine?
7. Do you feel uncomfortable when exposed to chemicals?
8. Do you feel uncomfortable when exposed to fumes?
9. Are you sensitive to fog or poor air quality?
10. Have you ever felt as if you were "drugged" or "intoxicated" by something (headache or dizziness)?
11. Do you often have inexplicable rashes or eczema?
12. Do you frequently experience unexplained headaches?
13. Do you often feel numbness or tingling in your hands and feet?
14. Do you often feel tired?
15. Do you often experience unexplained muscle pain?

This questionnaire is designed to understand if your environmental sensitivity level is related to symptoms of detoxification imbalance. Internal and external accumulated toxins can burden your immune, nervous, and endocrine systems, which is why detoxification imbalance is often perceived as these chronic symptoms. Additionally, higher body fat percentage increases the likelihood of fat-soluble toxin accumulation.

Judgment: If you answer "yes" to five or more questions, it indicates that your detoxification process may be in an imbalanced state.

BalanceGenics will explore separately how to achieve anti-aging by balancing the seven physiological processes of our body with the systematic approach of functional medicine, so stay tuned!

Other Test Methods

There are many other simple tests and assessment questionnaires that can help you dig out the risk factors in your aging process and provide you with personalized advice. We are not going to list them all here, but BalanceGenics will follow up by making these tests and questionnaires into special tools, so stay tuned!

 

 

BalanceGenics:  Personalized One-Stop Longevity Platform

Launched in California in 2018, BalanceGenics ("How100") started out as a solution to our own needs. Our team consists of seasoned health experts, doctors, and entrepreneurs with a common interest in anti-aging.

We use the latest findings from global leading longevity scientists to develop products and services.

BalanceGenics' Mission is to  create personalized solutions to live longer but stay younger. 

Build Your Personalized Anti-aging & Longevity Plan.

 

 

References:

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2. Choi, S. W., & Friso, S. (2010). Epigenetics: A New Bridge between Nutrition and Health. Advances in Nutrition, 1(1), 8-16. DOI: 10.3945/an.110.1004

3.Ling, C., & Rönn, T. (2014). Epigenetic adaptation to regular exercise in humans. Drug Discovery Today, 19(7), 1015-1018. DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2014.02.008

4.Denham, J., O’Brien, B. J., & Charchar, F. J. (2015). Telomere length maintenance and cardio-metabolic disease prevention through exercise training. Sports Medicine, 46(9), 1213-1237. DOI: 10.1007/s40279-015-0373-2

5.Epel, E. S., & Lithgow, G. J. (2014). Stress biology and aging mechanisms: Toward understanding the deep connection between adaptation to stress and longevity. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, 69(Suppl 1), S10-S16. DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glu055

6. Black, D. S., & Slavich, G. M. (2016). Mindfulness meditation and the immune system: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1373(1), 13-24. DOI: 10.1111/nyas.12998