D.E.S.S.E.R.T Extends Life!
Following Doctor Frame's D.E.S.S.E.R.T. health plan can extend your life expectancy and increase your quality of life. No, it is not a steady diet of chocolate fudge sundaes! The D.E.S.S.E.R.T. health plan is an acronymn to help you remember the plan outline: Diet, Exercise, Sleep, Supplements, Early Disease Detection, Risk Behaviour Reduction, and Treatment of hormone deficiencies. The D.E.S.S.E.R.T. plan not only provides general health benefits, it also addresses age-related dysfunctions and diseases and their negative impact on your health.
For a D.E.S.S.E.R.T. plan tailored to you and based upon a personal health assessment, contact us today.
- Diet
- Exercise
- Sleep
- Supplements
- Early disease detection
- Risk behaviour reduction
- Treat hormone deficiencies
Contact us for a complete anti-aging evaluation and we will create a personal D.E.S.S.E.R.T plan tailored for optimal health.
D: Diet
* Top 9 Heart Foods
- Fish
- Fruits, vegetables and low fat products
- Nuts
- Whole grains
- Legumes
- Soy
- Alcohol: in moderation
- Garlic
- Tea
* Courtesy of Jiri Frohlich, Academic Director, Healthy Heart ProgramSt. Paul’s Hospital/UBC
E: Exercise
Both Aerobic and weight bearing exercise will help increase your life expectancy. A Participation in regular exercise promotes physical and mental health.
S: Sleep
Your body and mind both require sleep to function optimally. Lack of restorative sleep can have grave consequences to our health, including:
- Disease
Sleep deprivation alters immune function, including the activity of the body’s killer cells. Keeping up with sleep may also help fight cancer. - Impaired learning and memory
- Impaired metabolism and weight
- Physical safety during waking hours from fatigue related accidents
- Mood
- Cardiovascular health
sleep disorders have been linked to hypertension, increased stress hormone levels, and irregular heartbeat
How much sleep you need varies from person to person. On average, 8 hours is a good guide. Some people need a little more, some a little less. What is important is whether you feel refreshed upon waking. If not, short naps of less than 30 minutes will help you beat the drowsies, napping for longer periods may upset your natural sleep rhythms and contribute to insomnia.
Read more about the importance of sleep.
The following links open a new window.
- Sleep 101 at WebMD
- SleepEducation.com
S: Supplements
The following supplements are important to longevity and overall health
- anti-oxidants
- ASA
- immune stimulants
- brain boosters ALA, phosphatidyl serine
- calcium, magnesium, vitamin D
- Omega-3 fatty acids (fish, flax seed, borage oil)
- flavonoids (wine, tea, soy, fruits & vegetables)
E: Early Disease Detection
35% of cancer deaths are avoidable through dietary modification. Avoid the following:
- red meats
- fried foods
- more than 2 alcoholic drinks per day
Your life expectancy can be increased by periodic physicals to check for common killer diseases. Periodic physicals should assess the following:
- heart, stroke, and vascular problems
complete history & physical, lipids, homocysteine, hs-CRP, treadmill stress test, ultrafast CT - osteoporosis
bone densitometry - cancer
rectal exam, PSA, colonoscopy, electron beam CT, MRI, PET scan - diabetes
glucose tolerance test, insulin resistance
R: Risk Behaviour Reduction
Avoid unprotected:
- sex
- sun
- driving
- sports
- travel
- toxin exposure ((inhaled, ingested and injected)
T: Treat Hormone Deficiencies
As humans age, the production of Human Growth Hormone (HGH) declines, the results of this decline are have many effects, including reduction of lean body mass, aerobic capacity, physical strength, heart function, and immune system stability. Hormone deficiencies. Many consumer-grade HGH products are sold but their efficacy is unproven
The 1990 Rudman HGH study indicated that human growth hormone replacement therapy provided many benefits, including:
- Increased lean body mass
- Decrease in fat mass
- Improved skin thickness
- Improved libido
- Improved quality of life
* A National Institute on Aging Study showed increases in:
- Muscle Mass/Lean Body Mass
- Aerobic Capacity
- Strength
- Cardiovascular Function
- Immune Markers
- Quality of Life
- Skin Thickness
Contact us about hormone optimization
*Harman, M et al, presented to the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, Scientific Congress, Dec 1999., partly published in J Amer Med Assn, vol, 288 no. 18, Nov. 13, 2002