DNA Health & Wellness Clinics

The Vital Importance of Annual Health Screenings: A Comprehensive Guide

DNA Health — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 05:38:20 +0000

In today’s fast-paced world, maintaining optimal health has become a paramount concern for many individuals. Amidst our busy schedules, it’s easy to overlook the significance of regular health check-ups, yet they play a crucial role in ensuring a long and healthy life. Annual health screenings are a proactive approach to healthcare, offering a myriad of benefits that cannot be underestimated.

Early Detection Saves Lives

One of the primary advantages of annual health screenings is the early detection of diseases. Conditions like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease can often be identified in their initial stages when treatment is most effective. Our practice emphasizes the importance of catching diseases early, significantly increasing the chances of successful treatment and reducing the risk of serious complications. Regular screenings can spot warning signs before symptoms even arise, offering a critical window for early intervention.

Tailored Health Strategies

Health screenings are not a one-size-fits-all process; they can be tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual. Factors such as age, gender, family history, and lifestyle play a significant role in determining the types of screenings one should undergo. At DNA Health we highlights the importance of personalized health strategies, ensuring that screenings are relevant and effective for each person’s specific health profile.

Preventative Care

Preventive care is at the heart of annual health screenings. By regularly checking the body’s vital signs, blood values, and organ functions, healthcare providers can recommend lifestyle adjustments or treatments to prevent diseases from developing. This proactive approach not only preserves health but also avoids the need for more complex treatments down the line.

Mental Health and Well-being

It’s important to remember that health screenings encompass more than just physical health; they also include mental health assessments. Given the increasing awareness of mental health issues, annual check-ups often incorporate screenings for depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. We acknowledge the profound impact of mental well-being on overall health, advocating for comprehensive screenings that address the mind as well as the body.

Cost-Effectiveness

Investing in annual health screenings can save money in the long run. Early detection and prevention of diseases can significantly reduce healthcare costs by avoiding expensive treatments required for advanced conditions. At DNA Health we underline the cost-effectiveness of regular screenings, illustrating how they can prevent financial strain caused by unforeseen medical expenses. In this way, annual health screenings are not only an investment in your health but also in your financial future.

Building a Health History

Regular check-ups contribute to the creation of a detailed health history, invaluable for tracking changes and patterns over time. This historical health data can be crucial for diagnosing conditions that develop gradually and assessing risk factors for hereditary diseases.

Peace of Mind

Finally, annual health screenings provide individuals with peace of mind. Knowing that you have taken proactive steps to ensure your health can relieve anxiety about potential health issues. Our practice highlights the psychological benefits of regular check-ups, including increased awareness and empowerment over one’s health. This peace of mind is invaluable, promoting a more positive outlook and a proactive stance towards maintaining health.

The importance of annual health screenings cannot be overstated. They are a fundamental aspect of preventive healthcare, designed to detect potential health issues before they become serious problems. By providing early detection, tailored health strategies, and comprehensive assessments, these screenings play a critical role in maintaining both physical and mental health. Incorporating annual health screenings into your healthcare routine is a wise and effective way to ensure a healthier, more vibrant life. Remember, taking care of your health is not just about living longer—it’s about living better.

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Exercise: the best predictor of longevity ?

DNA Health — Sat, 02 Mar 2024 10:33:26 +0000

DNA Health & Wellness

Longevity Monthly

March issue

Exercise: the best predictor of longevity ?

You would be hard pushed to argue against the health protective effects of exercise and most people would comfortably support the statement ‘exercise extends longevity’ with equal voracity….but how does it exhert this longevity effect and through what mechanism?

Whilst exercise is not a complete vaccine, the overall protective effects are quite large, in terms of what it does on a multi-system level – cardiometabolic and neurodegenerative risk – and also its influence on the nine cellular hallmarks of ageing.

The epidemiology is as impressive as it is overwhelming. Particularly when you look at a field like nutrition and compare the hazard- ratios – the change in rate of death per unit time for a particular intervention.

When it comes to nutrition, the hazard ratios are so small – in the order of a few % points – and also so inconsistent that it becomes almost impossible to assign a mortality benefit to almost anything you can eat.

In contrast, a 2018 paper in JAMA demonstrates a compelling and clear association between high VO2 max and longevity, and conversely, an association between low VO2 max and mortality

Hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause mortality compared with low performers. Image credit: JAMA Network Open 2018

The figure above shows hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause mortality of varying fitness compared to low performers. In this study people are grouped by fitness:

– Inactive (bottom 25th %)

– 25 – 50%

– 50 – 75%

– 75 – 97.5%

– The elite fitness group (top 2.5%)

Not only is the overall trend of effect directionally lower for all-cause mortality for increased fitness, the risk reduction at all levels is just as impressive. Going up one level from the lowest quartile (least fittest) to below average de-risks death by 50% (HR 2.0), and going all the way up to elite level reduces your risk of death by just over 5x (HR 5.09) over a 10-year period.

Hazard Ratios(HR): Comparing V02 max to co-morbidities

Let us turn our focus to how exercise stacks up against other variables such as smoking, diabetes, hypertension etc. If we rank ordered in terms of how well do they predict the probability you’re going to die this year…Coronary artery disease, 29% (increased risk), Smoking 41%, Diabetes, 40%, High blood pressure, 21%…..the very top of that list is VO2 max (low-to-elite fitness), 504%

‘VO2 max is arguably the single greatest predictor of lifespan outside of genetics’

For me, the strongest takeaways here are two-fold. If you are inactive and just trying to improve your health, move more– just doing something like brisk walking has substantial health benefits, even more so than stopping smoking and controlling blood pressure. And finally, for those who are recreationally active, keeping increasing the intensity reaps larger longevity benefits beyond any other incremental changes in your lifestyle regimen.

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‘Spotlight on Anti-aging’ drugs; Dr Nas’ top picks

DNA Health — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 05:40:08 +0000

DNA Health & Wellness

Longevity Monthly

February issue

‘Spotlight on Anti-aging’ drugs; Dr Nas’ top picks

In the longevity world we are all in a perennial search for the fountain of youth—a mythical elixir that grants long life and youthful vitality. Unfortunately, no such cocktail to reverse the aging process has been discovered to date.

However, there is good news for all those longevity enthusiasts out there: lifespan science is revealing a set of compounds that have shown great promise in combatting the aging process. Naturally, as a longevity clinic, we have had the privilege of applying the most cutting-edge compounds to help our patients live healthier and longer.

Continue reading for our top four compounds for slowing the effects of ageing…..

Our top three compounds come in the Interventions Testing Program (ITP), an initiative established by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) to investigate the potential of compounds to promote healthy aging, having now tested 100+ candidates over a 20-year period.

‘The ITP has found four blockbuster hits; those that have given more than a 10% increase in lifespan. There have also been some notable failures, such as with resveratrol, fisetin, nicotinamide riboside and metformin.’

Dr Nas’ Regimen

Rapamycin 6mg once week
Acarbose 50mg with lunch and dinner
Astaxanthin 12mg once daily
Glycine & NAC (3.6 grams & 3.6 grams) once daily

1. Rapamycin

Rapamycin is a drug that is believed to have anti-aging effects through the suppression of mTOR, or mechanistic target of rapamycin, a protein that plays a role in cell growth and metabolism. When mTOR signalling is suppressed, it can lead to reduced cell growth and a slower rate of aging.

Our golden child and the first compound to demonstrate a life extension effect of nearly 15%, which has since been replicated in multiple other independent studies. To put that inperspective, if you had a drug that abolished heart attacks or cancer in over-50s, the median lifespan of humans would go up by 3%.

Rapamycin really seems to broadly enhance function across many different tissues and organs. What is even better, it seems to work well even when given later in life.

Our dosing of Rapamycin

After detailed consultations, we currently recommend the once weekly dosing (5-to-6mg) based on the original proof-of-concept human studies, the observation that once weekly dosing with everolimus (rapamycin-analog) seemed to give similar efficacy with very low potential side-effect risk.

At these doses in our practice, we have cases of improved cognition, reduced aches & pains, more energy and improved body composition, to name just a few.

2. Acarbose

Acarbose is a repurposed out-of-favour type-2 diabetes medication which works by blocking an enzyme, which helps digest and absorb carbohydrates in the small intestine. This slows down the digestion and absorption of carbs, which can help regulate blood sugar levels and prevent spikes in blood glucose. Interesting the benefits seem to be sex-specific, with a 22% increase in median lifespan vs 5% in females.

Mechanistically, acarbose has been suggested to influence the human lifespan by modulating the gut microbiota and controlling insulin levels, leading to a number of favourable sequelae such as reduced inflammation, improve mitochondrial function and lengthening of telomeres..

We see great improvements in markers of metabolic health, particularly in real-time CGM (Continuous glucose monitor) readings.

Our dosing of Acarbose

After detailed consultations, we currently recommend a dose of 50mg-to-100mg with each meal, dosing at the higher-end for particularly carbohydrate-heavy meals.

‘When Rapamycin was administered with Acarbose, ITP researchers found increases in medium lifespan of female and males by 28% and 34%’

3. Astaxanthin

Astaxanthin is a naturally occurring antioxidant and inflammation modulator. It belongs to the carotenoid family of molecules and gives salmon its pink color. Algae are the original source, and the astaxanthin they contain is passed up the food chain.

Astaxanthin has also been shown to increase lifespan in several non-mammalian model organisms (yeast, roundworms, fruit flies), and the ITP has now extended this finding to mammals, with a 12% increase in males, but yet to be seen in females.

Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation may play an important role in aging and age-related diseases and that astaxanthin is a promising longevity candidate due to its “potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity

Our dosing of Astaxanthin

Astaxanthin is the first agent in the ITP’s 20-year history to demonstrate a greater than 10% increase in lifespan that is also broadly accessible as a dietary supplement, which, should it be suitable for the patient, recommend using as a 12mg daily dose.

4. Gly-Nac

GlyNAC is a combination of two commonly available amino acids, Glycine and N-Acetyl-Cysteine. It’s beneficial mechanism of action is thought to be through optimising mitochondrial function, reducing oxidative stress via glutathione production, and limiting gene damage & toxicity.

One research study notes that glutathione production increased by up to 231% when senior adults were administered supplemental glycine and cysteine.

According to another study from Nutrients, the proprietary GlyNAC supplement was shown to extend lifespan, albeit in mice, by 24 percent.

Furthermore, a randomized, double-blind human clinical trial Published in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, showed that older humans taking GlyNAC for 16-weeks improved many characteristic defects of aging.

This is great news that these studies provide proof-of-concept that another over-the-counter supplement could have important implications for promoting healthy aging and improving both healthspan and lifespan in humans. In our patients so far, we have certainly seen improvements in cellular glutathione levels and reductions in oxidative stress.

Our dosing of GlyNAC

Glycine and N-Acetyl-cysteine are widely available as separate supplements. However our favourite combination is from Pure Encapsulations taken as 2-scoops once daily.

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Why Most Diets Fail….

DNA Health — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

DNA Health & Wellness

Longevity Monthly

January issue

Why Most Diets Fail....

The invisible process that’s KEY to your brain, your hormones, detoxification and much much more….

With the festive season drawing to a close, the start of the new year serves as an opportunity for many to set new goals and commit to better habits. But what happens when the energy and excitement wears off; and how many New Year’s weight loss resolutions fail to come in to fruition.

In the distorted world of weight loss, people assume that there is only one problem that needs fixing, and it’s the same for everyone. However, If your problem is sleep deprivation, intermittent fasting and turning to a low-carb diet isn’t going to help, and if anything, it will likely make the problem worse.

The number one misdiagnosis we see in our DNA Weight Loss programs is chronic stress and over-production of cortisol. We see many people who’ve tried all the dietary fads and been through a dozen gym memberships and trainers, yet they still cannot lose weight. It always becomes clear that some non-dietary factor is responsible for the weight gain. Sleep deprivation or unsociably long and psychologically demanding working-hours are classic examples.

In such circumstance, it is not surprising that the usual dietary changes failed to make any difference, as diet was not the issue to start with.

Whilst we help the vast majority of our patients which a sustainable lifestyle change, the unfortunate truth is that these problems are much harder to fix. There are time tested ways of reducing stress and cortisol levels, but some patients simply find it too difficult to implement and execute mindfulness/meditation/prayer/yoga/acupuncture/massage. They end up coming to a diet clinic and get given advice to meditate…why is this? There is good evidence that practices such as mindfulness meditation can have an effect on weight loss.

The important thing to know is that meditation does not change the actual stressor. For example, suppose your boss is driving you crazy. You will be under a lot of stress. Meditation won’t change that one bit. What it will change is your body’s response to the stress. Which, in the end, that is what is important. By decreasing the cortisol response, there is a decrease in abdominal fat.

Another common cause for the dreaded cortisol-induced weight loss plateau is under-eating (and over-training). Not only is such an approach highly stressful on the body, therefore resulting in elevation of cortisol and the retention of abdominal fat, the long-term caloric restriction results in two key adaptation that stymie further weight loss 1) decreased metabolic rate 2) increased hunger.

When we lose weight through calorie restriction, basal metabolic rate (BMR) usually falls too. It is partially this drop that ultimately dooms weight loss efforts. We hope that over time that the BMR will go back up towards normal but unfortunately studies show that it does not.

This is perfectly demonstrated by the contestants from The Biggest Loser, Season 8. Slowing of metabolic rate starts almost immediately after caloric reduction BUT persists for years after. In Danny Cahill’s case, he was burning 800 calories less per day even 6-years after the contest.

Figure 2 ‘The Biggest Loser, Season 8 (2009).

Source: New York TImes (2017)

The multi-billion dollar elephant in the room….

You would be forgiven for thinking ‘well, all this doesn’t matter now because we have the GLP-1 injections….’ [Namely: Ozempic (Semaglutide) , Wegovy (Semaglutide) and Mounjaro (Trizepatide)]

Let’s take a closer look.

If you actually take the data from the trial that led to the FDA approval for Semaglutide to be used as a weight-loss drug, the results are a tail of two stories.

It is clear that on average, during the 68-week treatment phase, subjects lost 17% of their body weight. Amazing by anyone’s standards. However, if you look at the trial extension, which followed up the participants for 52-weeks after stopping the medication, the results are startling to say the least.

Figure 3 Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide: STEP 1 trial extension. Wilding et al. Diabetes Obes Metab. May 2022

The participants who lost less than 5% of their body weight during the treatment phase, ended up heavier than baseline. Those who lost 5-15% ended up back at their baseline, and the only people who sustained any weight loss were those participants who lost more than 20% of their body weight during treatment (27% on average). Albeit, only 12% after the 52-weeks off-treatment phase. The smarter people in the room would argue that simple extrapolation of data over a longer off-treatment period may have indeed led to a greater rebound in that last group. Highly probable. Anyhow, the point is made, and with the worrying tread of people with normal BMIs using these methods to hack the system, we are possibly causing more harm than good.

Is ALL weight loss doomed to failure?

Obesity is not a single nor a simple problem. There is no single nor simple solution. I have questioned and probed this conundrum for nearly 20 years. That’s why at DNA Health, having appreciated the many nuances to weight loss, to date we have had over 600 patients through our personalised programs, all thoughtfully created to tackle the root cause of the problem in each individual. Afterall, losing weight is hard enough for many. Sustaining that weight loss is even harder.

More blogs

The Newest Hollywood Nutrition Cleanse Arrives In The UAE

How to Eat Your Way to Healthy Looking Skin

What is a food allergy

Food allergy vs. Food intolerance

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Navigating Methylation – MTHFR

DNA Health — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 06:40:51 +0000

DNA Health & Wellness

Longevity Monthly

December issue

Navigating Methylation - MTHFR

The invisible process that’s KEY to your brain, your hormones, detoxification and much much more….

Latest Development

There have been a number of health and wellness gurus pushing methylation recently, none more so than Gary Brecka, human biologist, whom we had the pleasure of welcoming to our Marina Branch last month. As the only specialised longevity clinic in the region, we’ve had many people reaching out asking for methylation genetic tests or testing for a genetic SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) called MTHFR.

Let’s first of all cover some basics about methylation, what it is and why you should care about it.

Why’s it important

Methylation is a vital metabolic process that happens in every cell and every organ of our body. Life would simply not exist without it. It takes place more than a billion times per second in the body.

The process of methylation captures raw materials in the body and turns them into usable compounds. When methylation is functioning properly, a methyl group (consisting of four atoms — one carbon and three hydrogens), will transfer from one molecule to another.

It’s like turning on a light switch in the body. When methylation is turned on, this process can optimize heart health, sleep, maintain DNA, manage inflammation, hormones, gut health, mental health, and so much more. When methylation is turned off, many processes of the body will struggle to function at the highest level.

…and those are just a few of the benefits of optimal methylation.

How do I know if I have a problem…

Mutations in certain genes that code for enzymes in the methylation process, can lead to decreased activity of those enzymes and, thus, decreased activity of methylation in general.  The most important enzymes in that cycle are MTHFR – that’s probably the one that’s best known; it stands for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase. Two different genes (C677T and A1298C) are usually measured when a MTHFR test is ordered; either through a simple blood or swab test. According to studies, the majority of the population will carry some sort of functional mutation in either gene.

The really key thing to understand is that MTHFR genes do not work in isolation, but rather in tandem with many other genes, such as CBS, COMT, VDR, MTR, and MTRR that are involved at different parts of the same cycle. Therefore, if you have a mutation in a single gene, you may have a predisposing factor that could potentially lead you to having problems with methylation, but it is not guaranteed. In the same way that changes in the environment may determine whether someone is indeed affected or symptomatic. This is why we recommend looking more broadly at genetic SNPs, like our DNA Health panel, for a complete actionable insight.

A homocysteine level can also be measured in the blood and when elevated can suggest a mutated SNP in methylation genetics; however, the gold standard would be to test for the SNPs directly.

If you find out you’re a carrier of MTHFR, don’t panic. It’s possible you might not exhibit any symptoms. If you do, those symptoms are manageable and there are a number of nutrients, supplements, and interventions available. 

How can we support methylation…

Food and nutrients have the ability to impact how our genes are expressed.

The process of methylation produces the most active form of folate in your body known as methyl-folate. Therefore, one vitamin we know does a lot of good for poor methylation patients is folate. Especially if you suspect MTHFR, the optimized forms of folate (methylfolate, folinic acid) should be on your list of essential daily supplements. 

Additionally, at each step in the cycle, the different enzymes (CBS, COMT, VDR, MTR, and MTRR) have other important cofactors that they rely on to function properly and continue on to the next step. These cofactors are critical to the enzymes functioning properly, including choline and the active forms of B-vitamins such as vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin), and vitamin B6 (pyridoxyl-5-phosphate). 

Half of methylation is supported by folate and B12, half by choline or betaine.

Image credit: Chris Masterjohn

Key takeaway

Methylation genetics are very common and there is a high probability to either you or a family member is a carrier. However, a methylation diagnosis isn’t the end of your physical health — it’s simply a clue that helps you approach treatment and healing.

To find out more or if you would like to book a consultation with one of our doctors, please contact us on 04 573 6500.

More blogs

Impact of Light on Sleep

How to Reduce the Risk of Cancer in Modern Life – Goodness

The Stress Factor: Why It’s Not as Simple as Calories in vs. Calories Out

How to stay healthy and fit during middle age

A Functional Medicine Doctor on How to Manage Stress and Anxiety

How do I know if I have a food intolerance?

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A new paradigm in cancer screening

DNA Health — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 07:48:24 +0000

DNA Health & Wellness

Longevity Monthly

November issue

A new paradigm in cancer screening

“70% of cancer-related deaths are caused by cancers without a current recommended screening program“

Latest Development

There’s something about cancer that’s particularly damning, which is when you look at the other two chronic diseases that are huge killers, which are cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative disease, they increase in their severity exponentially as you age. They don’t really become a dominant source of mortality until people are in the seventh and eighth decade of life, and that’s not true for cancer. There is no other disease that always ranks in the top three cause of death for every age.

In fact, for people between the ages of 45-to-65, cancer is the leading cause of death killing more people than heart disease, liver disease and stroke combined.

Why is screening an important pillar?

Beyond prevention, early detection is the only truly effective approach for reducing mortality from cancer. Cancer that is caught earlier is easier to treat than a cancer that is caught later.

Take breast cancer – if you catch it early and it’s a local cancer and it hasn’t metastasised, the five-year survival rates are 92%. But for a metastatic cancer, the five-year survival is about 28%.

Re-thinking screening

We currently only have five recommended screening programs: breast, prostate, cervical, colon and lung(smokers). 70% of cancer-related deaths are caused by cancers not covered by current screening.

This does not have to be the case. Hypothetically, if we screen often, we screen early and we screen aggressively, we can reduce the death rates to a close to zero as practically possible.

This is why we have introduced multiple new cutting-edge screening modalities, that can be layered on top of traditional testing to dramatically improve the chances of early detection

Circulating tumor cells (Liquid biopsy)

The Trucheck blood test is a type of liquid biopsy, aimed to detect whether or not a person has cancer somewhere in the body when there are still very few cancer cells. Liquid biopsies have been around for a number of years and have generated a lot of excitement. The test uses something called circulating tumor cells (CTCs) to detect over 70 types of cancer to an 88.0% sensitivity and determine the tumor organ of origin to a 96% accuracy. To find out more about the Trucheck Liquid Biopsy please contact us and we will be happy to assist you.

Latest imaging technology now available at DNA health – “Full body MRIs are now becoming routine screenings as part of annual health check-ups“

We are pleased to announce that we have further enhanced our health screening packages by now offering our patients access to the latest screening technology, including full body MRI with diffusion-weighted imaging, giving the best resolution available and greatest chance of detecting early-stage cancer.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is non-invasive and does not emit the radiation found in X-ray or CT imaging. Additionally, by scanning the entire body head to toe, we can identify over 500 common and rare conditions. Beyond cancer, this includes aneurysms and any organ abnormalities. If these conditions are identified before symptoms emerge, we can treat them more effectively.

Are our mobile phones killing us?

Chlamydia: What Is It and How Is It Treated?

How to stay healthy and fit during middle age

What are the most common symptoms?

The one ingredient that isn’t healthy in your healthy food

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Re-thinking Metformin as longevity pill

DNA Health — Sun, 01 Oct 2023 13:53:22 +0000

Re-thinking Metformin as longevity pill

A retrospective study was published in 2014, seeding the hype for metformin – a first-line therapy for type II diabetes – to be regarded as a potential “anti-ageing” drug for the general population. The authors of the study reported that diabetic patients on metformin monotherapy were found to have lower mortality than non-diabetic controls, despite the obvious health bias favouring the control group. In other words – counterintuitive – Metformin was turning diabetics into even healthier people than non-diabetics.

This remarkable finding suggests that this drug has benefits for lifespan beyond management of diabetes – benefits which could improve longevity for anyone, diabetic or not. The results subsequently led to ageing-scientist, Dr. Nir Barzilai convincing the FDA to accept an innovative design for the TAME trial (2019), securing a big chunk of the funding he would need from the American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR). Regardless of the study’s merits, this was an important milestone, as the medical conquest of aging has traditionally been held back by the fact that the US FDA and other regulators don’t recognize aging as a disease, despite ageing itself being the strongest risk factor for nine out of the top ten causes of death (*the outlier being suicides).

A recent 2022 study shed more light on the question of whether metformin should be used for longevity purposes in non-diabetics. This was undoubtably a better designed study, with findings contradicting that of the original 2014 study; suggesting no survival advantage for diabetics on metformin. Based on the biology, this appears not only to be in line with independent ITP studies, but absolutely in-line with intuition and our expectation.

What does this mean for in our practice?

We still use metformin quite liberally in people who are pre-diabetic in whom we are getting the diabetes benefit or the pre-diabetes or insulin resistance benefit. I do not believe the current evidence justifies a role for metformin beyond this group, until more data to the contrary comes out from the TAME trial.

However, I must say, we are more excited about the newer SGLT-2 inhibitors Invokana, Farxiga, Jardiance and their promising repurposed anti-ageing potential !

Latest Development

Do you know how fast you are aging?

For the last 2-years we’ve been using a cool test, based upon the latest aging science, that can tell you how quickly you’re ageing, all from a simple pinprick of blood. Up until now, it has been hard to precisely manage our ageing, because we haven’t had a metric geared specifically to this requirement.

My results from last month marked my pace of ageing 0.79; having reduced from 0.84 in July 2022 (12 months earlier). Generally speaking, this means that for every 365 days, I age 288 days. This is great news because even just being slightly above an aging rate of 1 biological year/chronological year can increase your risk of death by 56% in the next 7 years and increase your risk of a chronic disease diagnosis by 54% over the next 7 years.

So what impacted my results?

I cannot say for certain, buthaving kept my – already relatively healthy – lifestyle consistent, notablementions must given to the introduction of more peptide protocols and theconsistent use of Rapamcyin.

Naturally, I would like to see myrate of ageing to keep slowing, and my plan for the up-coming 12-months is to leveragecold therapy & sauna, as these modalities have shown promise in the data,yet I’ve never consistently integrated these consistently in my routine.

Biological Ageing Just got better

What’s even better, our biological ageing clocks – developed by TruDiagnostic in association with Harvard University – will be available to our clients by October 2023.

The precision and ability to capture biological risk of disease and aging, is better than any previous clock. Now we can not only tell you your biological age, but also what is most likely contributing to an age acceleration!

New Report and Insights

TruAgewill continue to include a Pace of Ageing report and many other health offerings; including new insights on patient’s physical fitness, risk of death and disease, protein, metabolite, and clinical biomarkers, immune cell concentrations, and inflammatory markers.

For a deeper look at the science from researchers, you can watch the introductory webinar. This webinar includes presentations from Dr. Jessica Lasky- Su from Harvard University, as well as Dr.Varun Dwaraka and Ryan Smith from TruDiagnostic.

(LINK) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTlr7vZVVIQ

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The one ingredient that isn’t healthy in your healthy food

DNA Health — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 07:47:59 +0000

The one ingredient that isn’t healthy in your healthy food

Growing up in a Mediterranean household no meal was complete without a large glug of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), be it drizzled on a salad or to lightly fry fish or meat. It’s how my parents and grandparents explained their youthful glow. But then, in the early 1990s British TV chef Anthony Worrall Thompson seemingly started us believing that cooking with olive oil was dangerous. As such, along with most households, we made the shift to cooking with sunflower oil. Fast forward another decade or two and the oil debate continues, only now there are new enemies on the scene. Today, growing suspicion falls on highly-processed seed oils. But do they really deserve all the negative press? Let’s take a look.

What are seed oils?

You’ll recognize the most common seed oils in your grocery store or home pantry: canola, corn, cottonseed, soybean, sunflower, safflower, grapeseed, and rice bran. Dubbed the hateful eight, they have recently emerged as a source of concern despite years of popularity.

Thanks to clever marketing, these highly-processed oils initially became household names in the early 1900s. Manufacturers, like Procter & Gamble with Crisco, promoted the oils as healthy alternatives to the saturated animal fats used at the time such as butter, lard or tallow. They were affordable and easy to store and a cooking trend blossomed. Over the years more refined oils were developed.

However, mass production and popular consumption is not an indicator of what’s actually good for us.

“Seed and vegetable oils sound so ‘natural’ but there’s nothing natural about the refining process,” explains Suzan Terzian, an Abu Dhabi-based clinical nutritionist and holistic health coach. “They undergo heating, oxidation, and processing with a petroleum-based solvent. Then they’re coated with more chemicals to mask their scent.”

“They are not healthy foods,” agrees Sinead Kelly, nutritionist and naturopath, who points out that the industrial seed oils were originally used in the soap-making process. “So why should these industrial oils be on our food and plates?”

Are seed oils toxic?

Despite many experts highlighting the alleged dangers of seed oils, there is still a lot of confusion and over-simplification of the subject. In fact, according to a consumer report there is still insufficient research to accurately claim that the oils are toxic.

“Much like carbohydrates and fats, not all seed oils are created equally,” explains Dr Nasr Al-Jafari, medical director at DNA Health Corp. “Therefore, to taint all of them all as toxic is erroneous. Similarly, to say all seed oils are safe is problematic.”

There is an argument that seed oils have some health benefits as they contain two polyunsaturated fatty acids – linoleic acid (an omega-6 fat) and alpha-linolenic acid (an omega-3 fat) – that are essential nutrients. They are called ‘essential’ because they must be obtained through diet as our bodies do not naturally produce them.

“Every cell in the body needs essential fatty acids (EFAs) for proper structure and function. EFAs promote healthy nerve activity, help produce hormones, and play a role in inflammation,” explains Dr Al-Jafari.

The key, however, is in getting the right balance. “The established adequate intake for an adult suggests a higher ratio of omega-6s to omega-3s, although some research suggests that ratios 4:1 and lower may reduce inflammation and lower the risk of chronic disease.”

As ever with diets, moderation is key – an over consumption of seed oils can lead to an unhealthy imbalance, playing a significant role in chronic inflammatory diseases. Kelly explains, “A diet high in omega-6 from industrial seed oils promotes chronic inflammation. And, inflammation is a silent killer that is a catalyst to many ailments, including asthma, osteoarthritis, heart disease, infertility, IBS and IBD, macular degeneration, diabetes, obesity and autoimmune disease, as well as cognition and mental health issues.”

However, as omega-6s are essential, instead of cutting back, seek out healthier, alternative sources.

“If our overall goal is optimal health, then we must remove industrial seed oils from our diet,” Kelly explains. “Instead, get your omega-6s from whole food sources such as nuts and poultry and balance with omega-3 fatty acids from shellfish, seafood and fish oil.”

Seed oil smoke points

When oils like soybean, corn, canola, sunflower and safflower are heated they produce high levels of free radicals. According to Dr Al-Jafari, these free radicals can cause damage to “fatty tissue, DNA and proteins in the body, which can lead to vast diseases over time”.

That’s why it’s imperative to understand an oil’s smoke point. This refers to the point in which the oil starts to burn when heated. A high smoking point means the oil can withstand high heat. The more refined the oil, the higher the temperature it can take in cooking, which is why seed oils are so popular in fast food restaurants and deep frying.

So what should you cook with? “Saturated fats like grass fed butter, grass-fed ghee and coconut oil are the most stable when heated,” explains Terzian. “They are the safest for our bodies. Olive oil is high in monounsaturated fat, which is also heat-stable; it is also loaded with antioxidants which protects against any oxidation [harmful compounds] that can take place. You don’t want fragile oils like sunflower oil and canola oil, loaded with polyunsaturated fats, that are going to be chemically altered under heat and become unhealthy.”

At Sweet Greens restaurant in Abu Dhabi, the chefs only cook with EVOO and Extra virgin coconut oil (EVCO).

“We use one of these depending on what the recipe calls for, based on the rest of the ingredients,” explains Nikhil Hemnani, CEO of Sweet Greens.

As for old misconceptions that it’s better to cook with seed oil than EVOO, Hemnani explains: “On a nutritional label, both these oils have a lot of similarities from calories to total fat per tablespoon. But the main difference is that olive oil has polyphenols [antioxidants] that protects the human body from aging and other diseases.”

Kelly and Terzian warn against overheating olive oil. Terzian claims doing so causes it to lose some of the beneficial nutrients, while Kelly cautions: “heated at too high a heat point it can become carcinogenic. So, it should only be used on low to medium heat.”

Luckily, smoke point is not an issue at Sweet Greens, with the chefs favoring a low to medium heat approach to preserve the nutrients of their meals, and no seed oils because they are highly reactive and unstable.

“We use premium ingredients only and seed oils sold in this region are highly processed,” said Hemnani. “The more processed or refined the oil, the lower the nutrient content of the oil and that doesn’t align with our ethos.”

Seed oil alternatives

Ultimately, to determine which oil is best it depends on the type of cooking you’re doing and the oil’s smoke point – heat it too high and you lose flavor, nutrients, and release harmful molecules. Kelly shares her top picks:

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Always choose ‘extra virgin’ which means that the oil is unrefined and has more nutrients, antioxidants, and heart-healthy fats. It is also rich in the antioxidant vitamin E and polyphenols, which have a wide range of health-promoting properties, including cardioprotective and anti-diabetic properties. Compared to other oils, olive has a low smoke point, so it’s best used for medium to low-heat cooking, baking, or as dressings on salads.

Avocado Oil

It doesn’t have much flavor, so it will never overpower your cooking. However, it’s full of vitamin E and boasts a lot of the same benefits as extra virgin olive oil, but with a higher smoking point, making it great for sauteing or pan frying.

Coconut Oil

It is a superfood with many health-promoting properties. It can help improve cholesterol, kill harmful bacteria, and boost metabolism. Coconut oil contains 90% saturated fat, which makes it very heat stable. Also coconut oil has a high smoke point, meaning it can be heated to a high temperature.

Butter & Ghee

Butter and ghee from grass-fed animals contain conjugated linoleic acid, a type of fatty acid with anti-cancer and metabolic health-promoting properties. While butter may contain traces of milk proteins, ghee is usually a safe option even for dairy-sensitive people because all milk constituents are removed in its creation. Both have a high smoke point.

Duck Fat

It has a delicate flavor and similar fatty acid profile to olive oil. It has a high smoke point, making it great for high-heat cooking.

The conclusion — for now

While the studies are still ongoing, for optimal health the majority of experts seem to agree on avoiding heavily-refined oils and over-heating oils with a low smoking point.

“Preferable oil choices are minimally refined, cold-pressed, organic, non-GMO fats and liquid oils as these are of the best quality,” says Dr Al-Jafari, adding, “Fats and liquid oils break down in heat, light, and oxygen, so the quality and storage of these oils is also important. Keep oils in dark glass, not plastic, containers and discard if they smell rancid.”

Another key lesson here is to be wary of 1990s TV chefs, do your research and enjoy high quality EVOO.

Article contribution by Dr. Nasr Al Jafari for livehealthymag.com

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What Is Gonorrhea and How Do You Treat It?

DNA Health — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 22:54:24 +0000

Gonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD), especially among those between the ages of 15 and 24. Gonorrhea can infect the genitals, rectum, or throat and is spread by having oral, vaginal, or anal sex with someone who is already infected. Additionally, gonorrhea can be spread from a mother to their baby during childbirth.

Symptoms of Gonorrhea

In most cases, gonorrhea does not have any symptoms, which contributes to how common it is. This is because if no symptoms are present, it is difficult to know that you have an infection and should be taking extra precautions. Additionally, if symptoms are present, they are often mistaken as a bladder infection.

Women with gonorrhea may experience symptoms such as:

Increased vaginal discharge
Pain or burning when peeing
Vaginal bleeding between periods

Men may experience symptoms such as:

A yellow, white, or green discharge from the penis
Burning when peeing
Swollen or painful testicles

If gonorrhea has infected the rectum, it may display similar symptoms in both genders that include:

Anal itching
Discharge
Bleeding
Soreness
Painful bowel movements

If you experience any of the above symptoms and are in the UAE, DNA Health & Wellness Dubai can help you screen for gonorrhea and other STDs with our STD test packages. Receiving a diagnosis is a critical first step in treating the infection.

How To Treat Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is typically diagnosed using a urine sample. However, a swab may be used to collect samples from the rectum or throat if you have had anal or oral sex, respectively.

Once gonorrhea is diagnosed, it is easy to start its treatment. However, following the treatment as prescribed is essential to cure the infection.

There are some drug-resistant strains of gonorrhea that are starting to increase in frequency, which can make it harder to treat the disease. If your symptoms continue for a few days after beginning treatment, visit your doctor again to inquire about a different medication.

What Happens If Gonorrhea Is Left Untreated?

While medication is available to treat the gonorrhea infection, it cannot reverse any damage that the disease has already caused, and when left untreated, gonorrhea can cause some serious health problems.

Women can develop pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can cause complications such as:

Ectopic pregnancies
Scar tissue that blocks fallopian tubes
Long-term pelvic or abdominal pain
Infertility

Men with untreated gonorrhea can experience severe pain in the tubes attached to the testicles. In rare cases, this can then lead to infertility.

Untreated gonorrhea may also spread to the joints or blood. This is rare, but it can be life-threatening when it occurs.

Pregnant women with gonorrhea can also put their baby at risk of contracting the disease if it is left untreated. If you are pregnant, it is recommended to receive an STD screening to ensure that any STDs are treated and managed to prevent the risk of passing them on to your baby.

Protect Yourself from Gonorrhea

It is recommended for those who are sexually active to be tested for gonorrhea annually to ensure that they are not infected. If you do have a gonorrhea infection, detecting it early allows for treatment to occur before permanent damage is sustained.

At DNA Health & Wellness Dubai, you can schedule a discreet and convenient STD test in Dubai. We offer many STD test packages, so you can choose one that checks for as many STDs as you want while still at a reasonable price.

The post What Is Gonorrhea and How Do You Treat It? appeared first on DNA Health & Wellness Clinics.

What is Herpes Simplex Virus and How Do You Treat It?

DNA Health — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 22:33:49 +0000

Genital herpes is a common STD that results from an infection of the herpes simplex virus (HSV). It can infect the genitals, anus, or mouth when spread through vaginal, oral, or anal sex.

HSV can appear as two strains: HSV-1 and HSV-2.

In general, HSV-1 infects the mouth and HSV-2 infects the genitals. However, someone can contract a genital HSV-1 infection if they receive oral sex from someone infected with HSV-1. Similarly, someone can become infected with HSV-2 in their mouth if they give oral sex to someone with genital herpes.

Symptoms of Herpes

Herpes often presents with no symptoms or very mild symptoms that can often be mistaken for a pimple or ingrown hair.

One of the symptoms of herpes is a herpes sore, which appears as one or more blisters. These blisters then break and leave behind painful sores that can take a week or more to heal.

During the first outbreak of herpes, someone may also experience flu-like symptoms such as body aches, fever, or swollen glands.

Treatment for Herpes

There is no cure for herpes. When the initial outbreak fades, HSV moves into your nerve cells where it remains for the rest of your life. However, just because you are infected with it for life does not mean that you consistently experience an active infection.

Herpes typically lies dormant and may only awaken in certain circumstances, such as when you are under stress or pregnant. Outbreaks become less frequent and severe the longer that you have had herpes.

Despite there being no cure, medication is still available to help with your infection. There is antiviral medication that can be taken during an outbreak to lessen its severity and duration. There is also long-term suppressive treatment that helps to prevent the transmission of herpes to a sexual partner.

Protect Yourself from Herpes

Not treating herpes can lead to a more severe outbreak that lasts longer. Additionally, it makes it more likely for you to pass herpes on to someone else.

Pregnant women are at an especially high risk of passing along herpes if they refrain from treatment. Not only can they pass herpes to their child before birth (although less common) they can also pass along herpes to their baby during the birthing process. Because of this, it is often recommended to take herpes medication toward the end of the pregnancy and undergo an examination before giving birth to check for herpes sores.

What Happens If HSV Is Left Untreated?

It is recommended for anyone who is sexually active to receive an annual STD screening. However, it is also best to receive a screening at any point that you think you may have come into contact with an STD or when pregnant.

For those looking for an STD test in Dubai, DNA Health & Wellness Dubai has many different STD test packages that test a range of STDs. Gain peace of mind by receiving an STD screening that checks for herpes and various other STDs, ranging in prices from AED 1,000 to AED 1,400 based on how many STDs the test screens for.

The post What is Herpes Simplex Virus and How Do You Treat It? appeared first on DNA Health & Wellness Clinics.