Want to enhance your longevity and vitality? While the market is brimming with claims of everlasting youth in pill form, one expert asserts that three essential supplements can support not just graceful aging but optimal health.
#1: Antioxidants
“Aging begins at the cellular level; as cells deteriorate, they lose functionality, leading to various chronic conditions and visible signs of aging,” explains Dr. Erin Barrett, PhD, a nutritional biochemist and Director of Product Innovation at Shaklee. “Supporting our cellular health is crucial for overall well-being.”
Specifically, antioxidants play a vital role in combating cellular aging.
“You can obtain antioxidants from colorful foods like fruits and vegetables, particularly those rich in vitamins A and C,” she notes, “but supplementation is also an option.”
Barrett highlights the benefits of muscadine grapes due to their antioxidant properties. Known as a “super fruit,” these grapes are packed with polyphenols—such as anthocyanins, quercetin, and ellagic acid—that can lessen inflammation and oxidative stress.
Interestingly, these properties may also enhance your skin’s appearance. Research has shown that women who consumed two glasses of nonalcoholic muscadine wine daily exhibited better skin elasticity and hydration compared to those who took a placebo.
#2: Protein
Protein is a fundamental macronutrient essential for muscle development, offering numerous health benefits. It helps us fend off infections, provides energy, aids in wound healing, and is crucial for maintaining or building muscle mass.
This muscle maintenance becomes increasingly important as we age, particularly since, around 40, our bodies start to become less effective at utilizing protein for tissue repair.
“With age comes muscle loss, which can lead to reduced independence and declining health,” Barrett warns.
This gradual loss of muscle and strength due to aging is known as sarcopenia, affecting an estimated 10% to 16% of the older population globally.
According to Barrett, supplementary protein—like Shaklee’s Life Shake Plant Protein or Sparkling Protein drink—can mitigate sarcopenia and assist individuals in preserving their muscle mass.
“Even maintaining muscle—ideally, building it—is essential for retaining independence, which is crucial,” she emphasizes.
Experts recommend a daily intake of 1 to 1.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, spread evenly across meals to enhance muscle protein synthesis. A recent study found that individuals who consumed 100 grams of protein experienced an improved anabolic response and enhanced protein synthesis.
Creatine
“I’m particularly enthusiastic about creatine,” Barrett confesses. “I believe it’s becoming a crucial supplement for longevity.”
Creatine is an amino acid found naturally in muscles, effective in enhancing muscle performance and recovery when supplemented. However, its benefits extend beyond just athletes.
Research indicates that creatine may positively influence cognitive function and brain health, showing improvements in cognitive tests among older adults.
As we age, Barrett explains, “Tasks that once were simple, like standing from a seated position, require more energy. Our energy production diminishes, and our mitochondria become less efficient, leading to poorer creatine storage.”
“Every effort made to optimize energy production and usage in our bodies is crucial,” she adds.
Barrett identifies creatine as vital for cellular optimization.
“Creatine provides the rapid energy burst necessary for your cells,” she notes. “Any tissue with high energy demands, like the brain, heart, and immune system, will greatly benefit from creatine.”
“The brain consumes 20% of our total body energy. Immune cells require substantial energy during infections, while the heart’s demands increase under stress,” she elaborates.
“When instant energy is necessary, you need a system capable of delivering it swiftly, and that’s the role creatine plays—benefiting tissues with high energy needs.”
