Matching DNA W Medical Records To Crack Disease & Aging on NPR

Protecting your DNA is 1 of the 18 Secrets For A Healthier Life as shown on WebMD's slideshow. For example, as we age, the ends of our chromosomes, called telomeres, become shorter. This makes people more vulnerable to disease, and it may be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Click here to view the slideshow.

In fact, regarding telomeres, Shaklee partnered with 2009 Nobel Prize winner Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn, Professor of Biology and Physiology in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of California, San Francisco, and they are doing a Telomere Research Study involving people who use Shaklee supplements. It will be called the Landmark Study II. Dr. Blackburn's speciality is in the study of telomeres, which is important because it is a marker of longevity. She discovered how chromosomes are protected by telomeres and the enzyme telomerase. They are studying the benefits of taking Omega 3's and multivitamins on telomeres. This study began on 1-21-11 using 107 Shaklee participants who had used Shaklee's supplements for 5 years or more, and the tests were conducted in San Francisco. More information will be coming in the future when this clinical study is completed.

Dr. Jamie McManus, Shaklee's Chair of Medical Affairs, Health Sciences and Education, recommends that we take the Vitalizer and OmegaGuard, which they expect could be very good for our telomeres. In addition, Dr. Jamie recommends we focus on prevention instead of waiting till we are sick. As she says, "Why wait for things to go wrong with your health?" Therefore, to keep our bodies as healthy as possible, she recommends we eat a healthy, balanced diet, get to and maintain a healthy weight, exercise, and take high-quality nutritional supplements. Dr. Jamie's suggestions to put us on the path to health and wellness include taking the Rx for a Healthier Life every day. The Rx for a Healthier Life includes Vivix (it contains resveratrol and a phytonutrient blend including muscadine grapes, which helps to slow aging at the cellular level in 4 ways: cell defense, cell energy, cell repair & cell performance), Vitalizer (this is the most advanced multi-nutrient pack in the marketplace today, and it contains 80 bio-optimized nutrients clinically proven to create a foundation for a longer, healthier life), the Shaklee 180 Smoothee (gives you 24 grams of non-GMO soy protein; clinically proven, it helps you preserve your muscle mass while losing weight), and NutriFeron (this provides immune support right at the cellular level).

In addition, for recent information about Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn's telomere research, read/listen to the article Matching DNA With Medical Records To Crack Disease And Aging just written November 19, 2012.

This massive research project in California is beginning to show how genes, health habits and the environment can interact to cause diseases. And it's all possible because 100,000 people agreed to contribute some saliva in the name of science.

The project's goal is to find new ways to identify people at risk before they develop problems like heart disease, cancer and diabetes. This month, researchers reported on some early successes involving cholesterol and a genetic marker of aging at the American Society of Human Genetics meeting in San Francisco.

In addition, look at the remarks written on the image shown with this article: A light micrograph image of telomeres, shown in yellow, at the end of human chromosomes. Women tend to have longer telomeres than men and tend to outlive men, according to new research matching genetic information with medical records. (Visuals Unlimited/Corbis). Read/listen to the article to find out more information on telomeres and aging.

Thanks to Judy D. for helping to write this up.