The LifeCo Blog

The LifeCo attended the annual anti-aging congress organized by Dr. Mithat Yilmazturk (author of the book “Anti-Aging” and chairman of the Istanbul Anti-Aging Society) with a stand of products and the Well-Aging team from Akatlar. Although none of us lectured in our areas of expertise this year, we listened to pharmacists, doctors and professors of medicine lecture on topics ranging from nutrition and sports to genetics, happiness, cancer, heavy metal toxicity, free radicals, hormones, stem cells and sex.

The speakers were all specialized in their own individual areas. While being able to offer explanations and mechanisms of the latest discoveries, they did at times lose sight of the necessary perspective when dealing with health and human beings. For example, one expert explained how important it is to get a daily dose of sun in order to produce vitamin D which is now known to prevent cancer. Another expert urged everyone to wear sunscreen every day to protect our skin from the harmful rays of the sun that cause cancer. Their frames of reference did not include “balance” or “everything in moderation”.

One piece of news that truly made me happy, however, was the fact that main stream science and medicine now seem to have come to embrace the fact that it is possible and important to prevent not only cardiovascular disease, but cancer also. We’ve been saying it for years and now the word ‘prevention’ can and will be used with cancer as well.

When it comes to extending life-span, experts have agreed on another point: calorie restriction. People from different parts of the world who live to be more than 100 years old seem to have two important things in common. 1- They’re all thin. There is not one chubby or obese person among them. Fat tissue produces hormones that create a state of low-grade chronic inflammation that shaves years off our lives. 2- They are able to disassociate themselves from stress and problems by being positive and slightly indifferent/accepting.

It is possible to restrict caloric intake during a detox week from time to time but it should become a lifestyle to consume fewer calories and more micro and phytonutrients. Just like the food we serve at our Saf restaurants:

• Since the items on our menu do not contain the harmful whites (flour, sugar, rice) and because they are raw, they contain the maximum amount of nutrients per calorie.
• Since they are organic, they contain the minimum amount of toxins, and
• Since we combine superfoods (proven effects against, for example, cancer and free radicals) like tofu, cabbage and broccoli in one plate, we are truly one of a kind.

There are three additional things that need doing in order to prevent disease and to live longer. They are a) stressing less and not letting problems affect us b) not smoking and c) exercising.

I’m putting the topics of smoking, stress and worries aside for now. So how often do we need to exercise? The answer is a minimum of 5 times a week for 30 minutes at an intensity that raises your pulse and makes you sweat. In addition to this, 60 minutes of walking per day. Does that sound like a lot? Well our genes and consequently our bodies are designed for this and there’s no compromising or making excuses not to do it.

The leading companies and experts in the field of anti-aging came together at this congress. It made me realize, yet again, that there’s no other company or organization that does anti-aging as thoroughly and as properly as The LifeCo.

The small decisions that we all make every day shape our lifestyle, lives and our futures. Starting with the lunch you’ll be choosing today, I hope you make an effort to make more healthy choices and, as a part of The LifeCo community, that you can benefit more from us.

Best regards,
Burcak Gomuc

Filed under: Uncategorized on October 30th, 2008