Anti-Aging Lifestyle - Longevity, Aesthetics, Health, and Beauty

In episode 36 of the Anti-Aging Lifestyle I do a deep dive on coconut and it’s many forms. I go over the pros and cons of coconut oil, coconut milk, and whole coconut flakes.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review for me on Apple Podcasts or follow me on your favorite podcast listening platform. Spotify, Pandora, Overcast, Stitcher… the list of popular platforms continues to grow. They all really help me grow the show and spread my message! I appreciate you!

Some highlights from the episode:

Background: The rise, fall, and return of coconut products. The place of coconuts and coconut trees in our culture.

Nutrition: High in fat, moderate in carbs and protein. Primarily saturated fat. But do coconuts really have high amounts of MCTs? Does raising your HDL levels really benefit you?

Pros:

Antioxidants and Fiber: Coconuts are packed with several antioxidants to protect from free radical damage, and is high in insoluble fiber.

Blood Sugar: Coconuts are beneficial for stable blood sugar levels, due to its high fat, high fiber, and high arginine content.

Immune System: Coconuts may give you an immune boost with the combination of manganese and antioxidants.

Coconut Water: Can be used as an IV in emergency situations. High in potassium, low in sodium, but no better than water in terms of hydration benefits.

Other Uses:

Skin Protection: Coconut oil provides a natural SPF of 5-7, and helps soothe skin rashes and inflammation.

No Mosquitos: Coconut oil has been shown to be an effective natural mosquito repellant.

Deodorant: Coconut oil has natural antibacterial properties that make it a popular ingredient in natural deodorants.

Oil Pulling: Coconut oil may be beneficial for your oral hygiene. Helping to reduce mouth bacteria, dental plaque, and gum inflammation.

Cons:

No Processed: Stay away from processed and sweetened coconut products.

High Cholesterol: Coconut raises cholesterol levels across the board, which increases your risk of harmful cardiovascular effects.

Island Life: Why many of the indigenous population studies on coconuts don’t apply to the general population.

MCT Fallacy: Only 10% of the saturated fat in coconuts is in the form of MCTs. Also, just because MCTs get burned off a bit easier…. it doesn’t mean they are healthy for you.

Whole Coconut: Why consuming whole coconut is so much different than consuming only the processed oil from a coconut.

HDL Cholesterol: Why the boost in HDL doesn’t necessarily mean a boost in your health.

Summary: Whole coconut seems neutral or even slightly beneficial to your health. But I recommend avoiding coconut oil and coconut milk if you want to minimize your risk of developing heart disease. Aside from eating coconut products, there are many other uses of coconut that provide natural solutions to our every day problems.

I finish the episode with Tomko Tip #36 where I explain why discipline is the root of all good qualities.

In episode 35 of the Anti-Aging Lifestyle I do a deep dive on the many benefits and few risks associated with sauna use!

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review for me on Apple Podcasts or follow me on your favorite podcast listening platform. Spotify, Pandora, Overcast, Stitcher… the list of popular platforms continues to grow. They all really help me grow the show and spread my message! I appreciate you!

Some highlights from the episode:

Sauna Background: Used for thousands of years by the Mayans, Finns, Koreans, and many other cultures around the world.

Sauna Differences: How do traditional saunas compare to steam rooms and infrared saunas?

Hot Yoga: How does hot yoga compare to sauna temperatures and humidity?

Improved Longevity: Substantial reduction in all-cause mortality, specifically heart disease and issues related to Alzheimers and brain function.

Increased Circulation: Dilated blood vessels mean increased healing of body tissues, internally and externally.

Toxin Flushing: Deep sweating can help remove toxins and impurity’s from your body.

Brain Focus: Saunas can help increased your ability to focus, maybe an effective treatment for ADHD.

Anxiety/Depression: Saunas can also help boost new brain cell creation, protect existing neurons, and overall help reduce anxiety and depression.

Feel Good: Release of endorphins and serotonin, along with a reduction in cortisol means less stress and more good vibes.

Improved Sleep: Saunas help boost hormones and body temperature, which then lead to deeper sleep later in the night as your body re-regulates.

Fighting Illness: Potential boost to your immune system and white blood cell count.

Clean Skin: Deep sweating can help rinse bacteria from the epidermal layer of your skin and clean out your sweat ducts.

Workout Boost: Saunas can help you burn more calories, boost your recovery, and help prevent muscle breakdown to maximize your efforts in the gym.

No Shortcuts: Saunas however, do not lead to rapid fat loss as some tend to believe looking at numbers on the scale alone.

Social Benefits: Spending time with friends at a sauna or bathhouse can be fun and rewarding.

Risks: Stay hydrated, and check with a doctor before using saunas if you are at risk of a cardiac event, deal with high/low blood pressure, or have issues with your kidneys.

I finish the episode with Tomko Tip #35 where I talk about the power of visualization to help you achieve your goals in life.

In episode 34 of the Anti-Aging Lifestyle I do a deep dive into the pros and cons of the most popular smoking options, which is best, which is worse?

Some highlights from the episode:

Smoking Background: Why I chose to do this episode.

Cigarettes: How popular they are now compared to their prime. The few benefits I could find, and the longest list of cons I have ever seen from a single bad habit!

E-Cigs and Vaping: How do they differ? Why is vaping so popular with the younger generation? Are either of these safer than traditional cigarettes?

Cigars: Why they are the cleanest option on the list, but also why it’s hard to quantify just how much less damaging they are compared to other methods of smoking.

Hookah: Why do we continue to see hookah lounges pop up all over America? Why are they so popular? Are they healthier?

I finish the episode with Tomko Tip #34 where I go over the many types of relationships most people have with food. To me it’s all about awareness and keeping that relationship healthy!

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review for me on Apple Podcasts or follow me on your favorite podcast listening platform. Both of those really help me grow the show and spread my message! I appreciate you!

In episode 33 of the Anti-Aging Lifestyle I breakdown the benefits of using a super smoothie to obtain high quality nutrition while saving precious time.

Some highlights from the episode:

Healthy Desire: Most people want to be healthy, other than the ignorant, uneducated, lazy, or YOLO crowds.

Lack of Time: Most people are short on time. With technology constantly taking our attention in a million different directions, life can sometimes feel hectic. Extra time each day is a blessing.

Constant Feedings: One thing I learned is that I did not need to constantly feed myself all day long like I used to when I was a competitive bodybuilder.

Smoothie Benefits: Smoothies save you time, less prep and clean up. They are easy to customize for your preferences and can provide a ton of easy to consume nutrition.

My Smoothies: I always include some mixture of vegetables, fruits, nuts, plant-based protein, and herbs/spices. I breakdown my favorites!

Jin Li Tang: My mother makes a beast of a smoothie with 30-40 ingredients that she learned from a Taiwanese/Chinese doctor. I will have to save that for another day.

Blender Options: What is the best blender? How does it stack up against competition? What about price points?

Conclusion: Look at your goals in life, if including smoothies into your daily diet can increase your health and time efficiency, give it a shot!

I finish the episode with Tomko Tip #33 where I talk about the huge potential power and dangers of your daily self talk.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review for me on Apple Podcasts or follow me on your favorite podcast listening platform. Spotify, Pandora, Overcast, Stitcher… the list of popular platforms continues to grow. They all really help me grow the show and spread my message! I appreciate you!

Does Minimalism Lead to a Longer Life?

In episode 32 of the Anti-Aging Lifestyle I go over the concept of minimalism and how we can apply those concepts to improve the quality of our life.

Some highlights from the episode:

Minimalism Defined: Living with the essentials, learning to let go of material desires.

Societal Pressures: Why almost everywhere we look, we see signs of materialism in our society.

Minimalism Benefits:

More Free Time: Less shopping and focus on the material means more free time for the things that really matter in life.

More Money: You will have more money to save, invest, and use to improve the quality of your life and your skillsets.

Cleaning: With less things, you will suddenly find it much easier to keep the house clean and tidy.

Lower Stress: When you get out of the wheel of materialism, you will find less stress and lower cortisol levels that will overall make you healthier, and your life more enjoyable.

Better Eating: A more organized life most likely means a higher quality nutritional intake.

Less Decision Fatigue: Less options and mental waste means more time and energy to focus on important things.

3 Biggest Stresses in Life:

Financial Stress: Like we mentioned earlier, the lower your expenses the lower your stress. The more you are able to invest in yourself.

Job Satisfaction Stress: When you eliminate your need to constantly spend money, you become more free to spend your time on what you love, instead of what brings in more money.

Relationship Stress: When you’re not worried about your finances, you are more able to enjoy spending quality time building real connection with someone.

Potential “Warnings”

Declutter Anxiety: You may find that giving things away, selling things, and/or throwing things out, is an incredible challenging process in itself.

Empty Space: When you simplify your life, you will suddenly find a lot more physical and mental space that you didn’t previously have. This can sometimes be daunting. Don’t be afraid. Face the silence, ask the hard questions, and become more.

I finish the episode with Tomko Tip #32 where I give you my best first step in beginning your decluttering process. I talk about my biggest take away from Marie Kondo’s book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.”

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review for me on Apple Podcasts or follow me on your favorite podcast listening platform. Both of those really help me grow the show and spread my message! I appreciate you!

In episode 30 of the Anti-Aging Lifestyle I go over what’s fact and fiction with info from the top doctors on the front line ICU in NYC!

Some highlights from the episode:

COVID-19 Defined: What exactly is a coronavirus and what makes this one different?

Signs of Infection: What are the common symptoms of people who are becoming sick?

Prevent Spread: What are the best ways to avoid getting the coronavirus and keeping your family safe?

Treatment Options: What does the treatment process look like for someone who has the coronavirus and someone that has a bad case that needs to go to the hospital?

Vulnerable Populations: What populations are most vulnerable to this coronavirus?

Self-Isolation: How do you properly self-isolate to keep your family safe if you are sick at home?

Hospital Trip: How do you know whether or not you need to go to the hospital or if you can safely recover from home?

Dr. David Price Q&A: Top doctor from New York City’s front line hospital ICU breaks down the most common questions he receives on a daily basis.

I finish the episode with Tomko Tip #30 where I talk about how to use any extra coronavirus free time you may have to your benefit.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review for me on Apple Podcasts or follow me on Spotify. Both of those really help me grow the show and spread my message! I appreciate you!

In episode 29 of the Anti-Aging Lifestyle I go over the pros and cons of running in regards to its potential to age your body.

Some highlights from the episode:

Intro: Running is a part of our childhood, culture, and evolution.

PROs:

Myriad of Health Benefits: Increased telomere length, improved blood circulation, improved VO2 max, brain function, heart health, body composition, mood, and overall health.

Low Cost: Compared to other forms of exercise, running is relatively low cost and convenient to perform at any time.

Fresh Air: The potential to run outside in the fresh air with nature is a huge health boost.

Bone Density: The impact nature of running can help increase bone mass and bone density, helping to prevent osteoporosis.

Immune Boost: Helps boost your immune function so you get sick less often.

Social Benefits: Running is normally associated with social activities which are beneficial to overall wellbeing.

CONs:

Overuse: There are many common overuse injuries associated with running from the repetitive motion especially when someone ramps up intensity too quickly.

Bad Form: Poor running form can exacerbate poor body mechanics.

Dehydration: Especially when running outdoors in the summer heat, heat exhaustion and dehydration are common.

Breathing toxins: Depending where you live, the outside air may not be suitable to outdoor exercise and heavy breathing.

Osteoarthritis: Running can damage previous joint injuries and contribute to further misalignment and inflammation.

Breast Sagging: The dynamic impact nature of running can cause unsupported breasts to sag substantially over time. 

Skin Cancer: Over exposure from running outside can lead to skin related damage and diseases.

Free radicals: Running, when taken to excess and without proper recovery, can age the body faster through excess levels of oxidation created.

SOLUTIONs:

Avoid Hard Surfaces: Run on soft, forgiving surfaces when possible.

Wear Protection: Good shoes, protective and supportive clothing.

Work Up Slowly: Increase your running intensity over time to reduce your risk of injury.

Indoors: Stay indoors when you exercise if dealing with low quality air.

Good Diet: Follow a diet high in antioxidants to help negate the oxidative stress from exercise.

HIIT: Try to build toward intervals for maximal health benefits.

Non-Impact: Remember, running isn’t magical, there are many other non-impact options that will give you most, if not more of the same benefits as running.

I finish the episode with Tomko Tip #29 where I talk about the connection between progress and happiness.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review for me on Apple Podcasts or follow me on Spotify. Both of those really help me grow the show and spread my message! I appreciate you!

In episode 28 of the Anti-Aging Lifestyle I give you a rundown of the pros and cons of sun exposure. How do we get the benefits without the damage?

Some highlights from the episode:

Background: All the advice on sun exposure can be confusing, where there are arguments for both sides.

Benefits:

Sleep Regulation: Sun light shuts of melatonin production in the morning, reduces drowsiness and boosts energy. And also tells your body when to boost melatonin production the following night.

Hormone Booster: Naturally boosts your testosterone and serotonin levels to make you strong and healthy.

Lowers BP: Regular sun exposure has been linked to lower blood pressure levels. Perhaps because of lower stress levels and or because those outside are also being active.

Vitamin D: AKA the sunshine vitamin. So important for your bone density and overall health. Low levels of Vit D have been linked to higher levels of cancer and disease.

Mood Boost: Helps you feel better, boosts serotonin levels and overall mood. Incredibly strong natural anti-depressant.

Negatives:

Wrinkles/Aging: Damages collagen and elastic tissue in the skin making it saggy and more fragile.

Moles/Sun spots: As the sun damages surface cells, your body will create more moles, sun spots, and blotches.

Sun Burn: Over exposure will lead to redness, peeling, blisters, a weaker immune system and DNA damage.

Skin Cancer: Increases your risk of 3 types of skin cancer. Especially as cumulative heavy exposure compounds.

Eye Damage: Unprotected UV light can damage your retina and lead to early cataracts.

Solutions:

Natural Light: Get some natural light every day, ideally in the morning, for a healthy circadian rhythm and deeper sleep.

Limit Sun: Avoid the sun when it’s at it’s strongest. Avoid too much direct sun light. Use physical blockers, sun protective clothing and UV sun glasses.

Vit D3: Take 5000IU each day so you aren’t reliant on sun exposure for health levels.

Avoid Indoor Tanning: Avoid this method of “slow suicide” than is strongly linked to skin cancer.

Natural Color: Eating foods high in carotene and lycopene can provide a natural skin color boost and UV protection.

I finish the episode with Tomko Tip #28 where I give you a new perspective of beauty. What does it mean to be beautiful?

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review for me on Apple Podcasts or follow me on Spotify. Both of those really help me grow the show and spread my message! I appreciate you!

In episode 27 of the Anti-Aging Lifestyle I go over my best tips for keeping your eyes healthy and your vision clear as you go through your life.

Some highlights from the episode:

Introduction: Why vision is the most powerful of all senses.

Safety: First and foremost, protecting your eyes from physical harm should always be a priority.

Nutrition: What are the best sources of lutein and zeaxanthin in the diet? How do antioxidants and Omega-3’s play a role in eye health?

Sunglasses: Why its so important to protect your eyes from UVA/UVB radiation.

Eye Strain: What are some tips to help minimize strain and wear on your eyes in this day and age of technology?

Proper Glasses: What are the pros and cons of wearing glasses.

Contact Lenses: What are the best type of contact lenses to wear? What are the pros and cons of dailies, versus weekly and monthly contacts?

Blood Flow: Why its so important to maintain healthy blood flow to the eyes for their health.

Eye Exams: Why should we get our eyes checked? What are those ophthalmologists and optometrists looking at?

Eye Bacteria: Why rubbing your eyes and even using things like mascara and liner pencils around your eyes can lead to infections via your eyes.

I finish the episode with Tomko Tip #27 where I go over the potential benefits and also the dangers associated with your peer group as you go through life.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review for me on Apple Podcasts or follow me on Spotify. Both of those really help me grow the show and spread my message! I appreciate you!