New Study Says Low Carb Diet Better Than Low Fat Diet

[Reub]

True that they are not the same thing however a low carb diet and caloric restriction including intermittent fasting both appear to be methods to achieve weight loss, better blood sugar levels,  and increased longevity.

[Reub]

Speaking of berberine, an AMPK enzyme activator:

9/9/2014

Biologists: Gene Can Slow Aging Process

"Biologists say they have identified a gene that can slow the body's aging process when activated remotely in key organ systems.

Working with fruit flies, researchers at UCLA used the gene, called AMPK, to increase  lifespans by about 30 percent, the university announced Monday.

The research showed that triggering AMPK sped the process of getting rid of "cellular garbage," the scientists say, noting that many neurodegenerative diseases are associated with the buildup of protein aggregates, a type of cellular garbage, in the brain.

"Instead of studying the diseases of aging — Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, stroke, cardiovascular disease, diabetes — one by one, we believe it may be possible to intervene in the aging process and delay the onset of many of these diseases," said David Walker, an associate professor of integrative biology and physiology at UCLA and senior author of the research."

http://www.newsmax.com/SciTech/UCLA-bio ... id/593605/

Metformin, which appears to be a wonder drug that may be for more than just those with blood sugar issues, is also an AMPK activator.

[Mountaineer]

I decided to ask you guys whether my picture would look better as an avatar, or in a post.  I've been trying to minimize carbs for 2 or 3 hours; looks like I'm getting rapid results.  What is the verdict?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1g9gsfejw6u0dxa/buff.jpg?dl=0


... Mountaineer

[iwealth]

Speaking of berberine, an AMPK enzyme activator:

Metformin, which appears to be a wonder drug that may be for more than just those with blood sugar issues, is also an AMPK activator.

Why not just use metformin? I also suffer from slightly elevated fasting blood sugars (90-105) but relatively good control otherwise; however, I do spike higher than a true non-diabetic given the right meal. And I'm a thin male in my 30s. Love them genetics.

Metformin truly does look like a wonderdrug. Cardioprotective, anti-cancer, and anti-aging on top of the anti-diabetic properties. There are side effects of course. Mostly gastic distress but also possible lower testosterone and a B-vitamin deficiency easily solved with a multivitamin. Recently I've started a low-dose metformin regimen. I picked up some 250mg tablets from as reputable a source as I could find w/ no prescription. Initially I tried jumping in at 1250mg/day spread out over 5 doses but the all-day nausea and fatigue ended that experiment quickly. So instead I'm working up from 250mg/day to whatever I can handle.

If it works, I'll take the results to my doc and hopefully get a real rx. Ironically a years supply of this stuff from a friendly overseas pharmacy costs as much as my insurance co-pay to see an endocrinologist (who I have seen in the past and was provided the expected non-existent advice).

As far as berberine goes, do a few searches on "berberine toxicity" and make sure you are comfortable.

[Benko]

There are other activators of AMPK e.g. exercise, curcumin and if you google AMPK you'll likely find more.  ANd of course there is this:

"The findings, reported in the April 10, 2013 issue of the journal Neuron, show that brain damage in Alzheimer's disease is linked to the overactivation of an enzyme called AMPK. When the scientists blocked this enzyme in mouse models of the disease, neurons were protected from loss of synapses -- neuron-to-neuron connection points -- typical of the early phase of Alzheimer's disease."

From a forum post on a longevity board. No idea if this panned out, or anyonw knows, but the body is made of many many itneracting systems and nudging one intermediate substance to improve/help with certain aspects, could easily produce adverse effects  in other areas. 

[Reub]

Speaking of berberine, an AMPK enzyme activator:

Metformin, which appears to be a wonder drug that may be for more than just those with blood sugar issues, is also an AMPK activator.

Why not just use metformin? I also suffer from slightly elevated fasting blood sugars (90-105) but relatively good control otherwise; however, I do spike higher than a true non-diabetic given the right meal. And I'm a thin male in my 30s. Love them genetics.

Metformin truly does look like a wonderdrug. Cardioprotective, anti-cancer, and anti-aging on top of the anti-diabetic properties. There are side effects of course. Mostly gastic distress but also possible lower testosterone and a B-vitamin deficiency easily solved with a multivitamin. Recently I've started a low-dose metformin regimen. I picked up some 250mg tablets from as reputable a source as I could find w/ no prescription. Initially I tried jumping in at 1250mg/day spread out over 5 doses but the all-day nausea and fatigue ended that experiment quickly. So instead I'm working up from 250mg/day to whatever I can handle.

If it works, I'll take the results to my doc and hopefully get a real rx. Ironically a years supply of this stuff from a friendly overseas pharmacy costs as much as my insurance co-pay to see an endocrinologist (who I have seen in the past and was provided the expected non-existent advice).

As far as berberine goes, do a few searches on "berberine toxicity" and make sure you are comfortable.

Metformin depletes Nad+. It may cause lactic acid buildup. It raises home cysteine.  It does not reduce cholesterol like berberine does. It may or may not be a better regulator of blood glucose.  Btw, where did you find Metformin without a prescription?