What if I told you that I know of a little white pill that can add years to your life and its dirt cheap would you be interested? It reminds me of the psychiatrist who has about twenty diplomas in his office waiting room and in bold letters it says: “IT’S AMAZING WHAT I DON’T KNOW.” Who knew?
Today they have cults who are trying to live one hundred seventy years and any number of snake-oil salesman claiming they have a cure for this and that, but as research gathers steam there is a cure for everything including living longer.
In Japan there is one town that has more people living over the age of one hundred than anywhere in the world. Some of the things that contribute to this are a close knit society with many friends, a diet consisting of fresh fish and vegetables and daily exercise.
What if there is a break-thru study by accident that discovered this small white pill can add years to your life and it truly is a miracle drug with no known side effects. This sounds like its strait out of Orsen Wells book 1984 or a playbook from outer-space.
Since curiosity nearly killed the cat and you are still with me… the little white pill which you can take daily is called METFORMIN. Hey wait a blooming minute isn’t that a drug to treat diabetes? The answer is yes and when they experimented with animal studies those who took this pill lived significantly longer. Martin-Montalvo A. et al. Metformin improves healthspan and lifespan in mice. Nat. Commun. 4:2192 doi: 10.1038/3192 (2013).
Metformin is a drug commonly prescribed to treat patients with type 2 diabetes. Here we show that long-term treatment with metformin (0.1% w/w in diet) starting at middle age extends healthspan and lifespan in male mice. Treatment with metformin mimics some of the benefits of calorie restriction, such as improved physical performance, increased insulin sensitivity, and reduced low-density lipoprotein and cholesterol levels without a decrease in caloric intake.
At a molecular level, metformin increases AMP-activated protein kinase activity and increases antioxidant protection, resulting in reductions in both oxidative damage accumulation and chronic inflammation. Our results indicate that these actions may contribute to the beneficial effects of metformin on health and lifespan. These findings are in agreement with current epidemiological data and raise the possibility of metformin-based interventions to promote healthy aging.
So there you have it… if this drug Metformin increases the longevity of mice and helps with other crippling diseases this might be the answer people have been seeking since the dawn of civilization… including: Ponce de Leon searching for the fountain of youth.
Disclaimer: This website is simply the writers views and is not an attempt to practice medicine or provide specific medical or health advice and should not be used to make a diagnosis or to replace or overrule a qualified health care provider’s judgment. None of the statements on Zentraveler are to be understood as a recommendation on how to treat any disease or health related condition. If you require medical or other assistance Zentraveler strongly encourages users to consult with a qualified health care professional.
QUOTE:“You know what I think prolongs life?” Harry has said. “Art and Music. Beyond that, it is to have a heart full of love, That is the most important thing”.” -Neenah Ellis
THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW:
“There is increasing interest in exploring how drugs for one use might be repurposed for another. It is exciting to discover that a drug already known to be safe and effective in humans might be further studied for a possible, alternate use for healthy aging.”
THINGS YOU MAY WANT TO SAVE: Mankind
ZENTRAVELER SAYS: Metformin might add years to your life. The grasshopper says his prayers, lives a healthy lifestyle, and takes a Metformin daily. After giving him a mirror and taking some selfies he definitely looks and acts younger and even has an extra hop in his step.
From here to Infinity is a relatively short ride! The next leg takes eons and eons as you fly through the Barycentric Dynamical Time Zone! …and on and on and on. Follow the Zentraveler Blog often for Travel, Health and Zen-like stories and such. Where else can you get a three in one blog for the price of free?
zentraveler 