Unlock the secret to better living by activating your “longevity gene”

Have you ever wondered how some people effortlessly advance to 80 or 90 years of age with a clean bill of health and a spring in their step?

What’s their secret to longevity? Exercise? Diet? Pure luck?

Obviously, a lot of factors play into thriving in old age. But only recently has one very powerful factor been pinpointed by scientists.

It’s a gene with an unusual name: FOXO3. And it’s packed with longevity potential. And while everyone has this gene, there is a catch…

Researchers estimate that only a small percentage of people carry a variant of FOXO3 that actually activates its longevity potential.

So if other members of your family tree have lived a long, healthy life, there’s a chance that you’ve also been graced with this life-extending gene variant.

But why leave it to chance if you don’t have to?

Especially since research shows that even if you don’t have this gene variant, it’s possible to “switch on” the longevity extending powers of your FOXO3 gene. All you need is a little-known but astoundingly powerful antioxidant, which I’ll tell you all about in just a moment.

Anti-aging on the cellular level

The mysteries behind longevity are finally being solved, thanks in part to researchers at the University of Hawaii (UH) School of Medicine.

Four years ago, the UH team reported on an expansive overview of FOXO3, noting that this remarkable gene is a key player in a wide range of critical functions, including:

  • Energy metabolism
  • Immunity
  • Inflammation
  • Metabolic processes
  • Stem cell maintenance

It’s a very busy gene! Additionally, FOXO3 plays a “pivotal” role in the healthy aging of your cells.

As an added bonus, researchers have found that certain natural compounds can stimulate FOXO3’s effect on genes necessary for cellular health — helping to reduce the development of diseases associated with aging.

As I alluded to earlier, one of these longevity boosting compounds is astaxanthin — a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant superstar.

In fact, astaxanthin’s antioxidant power is estimated to be 800 times greater than Coenzyme Q10 (also known as CoQ10 or ubiquinone), and a stunning 6,000 times more powerful than vitamin C!

So it’s no surprise that two years later, the UH team was back with yet another report highlighting the effects of astaxanthin on FOXO3.

After comparing mice that were given supplemental astaxanthin with mice who weren’t, the researchers concluded: “By activating the FOXO3 gene common in all humans, we can make it act like the ‘longevity’ version [of the gene]. Through this research, we have shown that astaxanthin ‘activates’ the FOXO3 gene.”

What’s even more impressive is that the mice who were given astaxanthin experienced a nearly 90 percent boost in FOXO3 activation!

Delivering benefits directly to your brain

Fortunately, the UH researchers are continuing their astaxanthin research with a new trial featuring patients who have been diagnosed with early dementia.

That trial is likely to produce encouraging results because, as Dr. Marc Micozzi’s points out in his Insider’s Ultimate Guide to Outsmarting “Old Age protocol, astaxanthin has the unique ability to cross the blood brain barrier (the membrane that filters what does and does not reach the brain) to protect neurons from oxidative damage.

But that’s just one accomplishment of this versatile nutrient. Dr. Micozzi offers an impressive list of additional astaxanthin benefits:

  • It helps keep muscles strong by bonding with muscle tissue
  • It prevents DNA damage
  • It protects both the water- and lipid-soluble parts of a cell
  • It shields mitochondria — the “energy factories” that power each cell

“All these factors,” Dr. Micozzi says, “make astaxanthin a critical nutrient for anyone looking to combat the harmful effects of aging.”

Combine dietary sources with a supplement for best results

To start putting astaxanthin’s life-extending benefits to work, the best place to start is with your diet.

Dr. Micozzi notes that since astaxanthin is an antioxidant carotenoid, meaning it’s a natural pigment found in food, so you can easily incorporate it into your life through strategic meal choices.

Rich food sources of astaxanthin include kelp, fish, shrimp, and other crustaceans. But you’ll also find it in the grocery produce section among leafy green vegetables, sweet potatoes, and turmeric (the curry spice).

Unfortunately, it’s very hard to reach therapeutic doses of astaxanthin through diet alone. As Dr. Micozzi points out, you would need to eat an entire pound of salmon every day to reach the level he considers the minimum necessary intake.

That’s why Dr. Micozzi also highly recommends taking an astaxanthin supplement. He says, “Most of the research on astaxanthin has used doses ranging from 4 to 16 mg per day. I recommend starting at the low end of that spectrum (4 mg), and also including natural food sources of this nutrient in your regular diet.”

But he also offers this warning: “As demand for this carotenoid has increased, the supply from natural marine sources has not kept up. A lot of synthetic versions have flooded the market, but natural sources are still available.”

Dr. Micozzi recommends an astaxanthin supplement brand called AstaReal®. You can find more information about this supplement and the best way to take it in the Resource Directory of his Insider’s Ultimate Guide to Outsmarting “Old Age.”

This protocol is designed to help you make every year of your life the best one yet. Click here to explore a full overview of this unique online learning tool, or to get started on your journey to better living today.

SOURCES

“FOXO3 – A Major Gene for Human Longevity” Gerontology 2015; 61(6): 515-525. doi: 10.1159/000375235

“Astaxanthin compound found to switch on the FOX03 ‘Longevity Gene’ in mice” Science Daily, 3/28/17. (sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170328092428.htm)