Have you heard of “Telomerase?” If you attended (or watched) my Anti-Aging Summit in May, 2018, you should be extremely familiar with this recently discovered enzyme. It’s the enzyme that lengthens and repairs your telomeres (the small, repeating sequences at the tips of your DNA). Your telomere length is directly proportional to your aging process: Short Telomeres = Fast Aging (i.e., short life span); Long Telomeres = Slower Aging (i.e., long life span).
Because this enzyme is found in every single one of your cells, Big Pharma has been hunting it for years now. The enzyme was initially discovered in 1973, but only this past month (April of 2018) have scientists mapped its entire structure – which itself ismassive. Most enzymes are protein chains bent over themselves in such a configuration that they provide a biological response – i.e., amylase is a single protein chain enzyme found in saliva that converts starch into simpler sugars (glucose), thus making it a pre-digestive enzyme. P.S. this enzyme is why starch (grains) raises your blood sugar.
Telomerase is unique in that it is a cluster of more than 15 individual enzymes. Its primary function is to replace the short bits and pieces of the telomere that was damaged or misplaced when the cell in question replicated or copied itself. If the telomerase enzyme lies dormant, unactivated, the cell will divide at a particular rate and repetition until it reaches its maximum lifespan (i.e., no more telomeres on the DNA ,aka the Hayflick limit). When the telomerase enzymes is activated, the cell rate and repetition of copying slows and the telomeres lengthen – thus prolonging the cellular life and slowing or inhibiting the Hayflick limit.
TRANSLATION: This enzyme is the fountain of youth!
All enzymes are unique in that they cannot do anything by themselves. They require a substrate. Using Amylase as an example, the enzyme sits dormant in your saliva waiting until starch is present. They also require co-factors (vitamins and minerals to activate or enhance their function) or coenzymes (other enzymes to be present or paired to activate or enhance function).
Telomerase is known to have the following co-factors: Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, B6, B12 and Folate . Deficiency in any one or all of these leads to a deactivation or deficiency in telomerase function.
TRANSLATION: A fountain of youth that isn’t flowing.
Telomerase is know to have the following organic enhancers: N-Acetyl-Cysteine, Glutathione, Turmeric, Astragalus, Rhodiola Rosea and Purslane. As with co-factors, any deficiency or lack in these enhances decreases the enzyme’s ability to turn on your fountain of youth.
BigPharma has had their eye on Telomerase ever since it was announced, hoping to be able to generate a “telomerase activator” pill, i.e. A Fountain Of Youth Pill. But all previous attempts had been limited due to lack of knowledge over the enzyme’s size and shape.
The challenge with a Telomerase Medication
As I am sure you are aware, prescription pills always come with side effects. In fact, a recent article published at the University of California, Berkeley entitled “Long-sought structure of telomerase paves way for drugs for aging and cancer” caught my eye recently. Dr. Kathleen Collins, a UC Berkeley Cellular-Molecular biologist, who has been studying the enzyme for the last 26 years, predicts the drug could be the next Lipitor or Viagra.
Animal studies do in fact show that telomerase can be “stimulated” via external chemicals, but with a significant byproduct: activation of the mTOR pathway. If you have never heard of the mTOR pathway, don’t feel bad – most medical professionals haven’t either (possibly including your MD). mTOR stands for Mammalian Target of Rapamycin, and is a complex pathway that controls all cell growth and metabolism in response to nutrients, growth factors, energy, medications and stress. Because its connected with nearly all aspects of cellular function, you want to keep mTOR limited – i.e., the lower the better.
Are you feeling lost reading this? Lets see if I can help you land this “nerdy science airplane”:
- We know that a TELOMERE is the end of your DNA and that they get shorter as you age.
- We know there is an enzyme called TELOMERASE that can lengthen your DNA – thus “anti-aging” you.
- We know the TELOMERASE enzyme is often silent or functioning at a very low rate in most mammals (science will say they don’t know why but I will tell you its because of a deficiency in co-factors and co-enzymes).
- We know that TELOMERASE is connected to the mTOR pathway, and that high mTOR results in more disease and faster aging.
- We NOW know the shape and size of the enzyme and “could” make a drug to turn on TELOMERASE.
PROBLEM?! Initial animal studies show that when a chemical (i.e., a drug) is used to turn on telomerase also turns on mTOR – in other words – you get younger, but you get sicker. While you may say “Gee doc… but that won’t work” – remember the mission of Big Pharma: Get as many people to take our drugs for as long as they can.
To them, THIS IS THE HOLY GRAIL !!! They could, “in theory” make you age slower, or anti-age you so you live longer, but at the same time (via side effects of other meds and even the new Telomerase Drug) make you sicker thanks to stimulated mTOR. Do you see it? Isn’t this INSANE?? You then become their ideal client for even a longer term than before.
How to Naturally Activate Telomerase while Turning Off mTOR At The Same Time
As mentioned earlier, telomerase has specific co-factors and and co-enzymes that are required for it to work. So the best way to “turn on” your telomerase is make sure you have ample supply of the following:
Vitamin D, C & E
Most likely you already know about these powerhouse antioxidants. Vitamin D is produced naturally by your body when your skin is exposed to the sun. Ideal levels are 80-100 ng/dl in your blood and often supplementation is required to achieve these levels. C and E are the two most important vitamins when activating telomerase. The suggested dose is 3,000mg of Vitamin C daily and 800 IU of Vitamin E daily.
These B vitamins are not only needed for telomerase function, but proper function of all biochemical pathways in the body. My guess is you may be unfamiliar with 5-MTHF – aka Levomefolic acid (LA). LA is the primary biologically active form of folate used at the cellular level for DNA reproduction, the cysteine cycle and the regulation of homocysteine (a marker indicative of inflammation). Foods high in 5-MTHF include asparagus, chickpeas, fava beans, lentils, spinach and sprouts (micro-greens). You can get B6 and B12 in wild caught small fish (anchovies, sardines), grass-fed meats, eggs and clean organs (liver for example).
N-Acetyl-Cysteine (Glutathione)
N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) is a compound already found in your body and it is converted directly into Glutathione – one of your master antioxidants and detoxifiers. If NAC is low, your glutathione levels lower and your detoxification efforts suffer. Glutathione is sold in its whole component as a supplement, but research (and common sense) confirms it’s best to give your body the precursor (NAC) and let it be made naturally into glutathione. Both of these are required for activation of telomerase. Foods high in NAC include brussel sprouts (highest concentration) along with cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, bok choy, cress, turnips, etc.
Flowering Plants (Astragalus, Rhodiola Rosea and Purslane)
Chances are you are not eating these on a regular basis. Astragalus is a flowering Chinese plant and is one of the 50 foundational herbs used in Chinese medicine. Typically your consumption of astragalus would be through supplemental form, unless your lucky enough to have some growing. Rhoidola (aka, golden root) is an adaptogenic herb, which means it helps with biochemical stress responses. Like astragalus, it’s also mostly consumed in supplemental form. Purslane is a common weed that has a fleshy succulent leaf and stem with yellow flowers. They look like baby jade plants and the stems lay flat on the ground and they radiate from a signal root base. Purslane is very common and is probably even in your back yard or garden right now!
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