The crowns had been made and they were sitting there fitted to a copy of my jaw.

Removing the temporary crowns from my teeth seem to require a huge amount of pressure to me. But it was not painful, and I suppose the glue used has to be quite strong so they don’t fall out before the patient returns.

Fitting each new one in place was a long job, longer than the job of fitting the temporary crown.

The fit is incredibly precise, and I was glad I was in the hands of a specialist in this area. I suppose the crowns are made slightly oversized, and then the trims them very slightly so that there is a perfect fit. She chopped off bits here and there, drilling off tiny pieces to make my bite absolutely perfect. She then checked it four or five times each side for each of the two crowns.

Eventually, she was happy, and I was happy. The necessary filling was done to a back tooth, and then it was just the extraction of the broken tooth to be done.

For the extraction, I was ready for quite a fight to pull out this broken tooth, only a small piece of which protruded above the gum line. In the event, I felt absolutely nothing.

I was stunned. The dentist fiddled about for about five minutes sticking something down into the gum, then out came the broken root. I felt nothing! I could have sworn that removing it would involve more discomfort than that. She assured me it should not.

Now I had to wait a few months for the bone to heal whether rooted come out. I would then have a visit to a surgeon who would assess how best to apply the titanium pin into the jawbone which would hold the implanted tooth to fit in the space. The ideal time to leave this was between three and six months, to heal up.

I emerged from dentist feeling a little bit number than the previous time, but still not too bad.

I still felt that I was in excellent hands, and did not regret my decision to proceed with this expensive treatment.

Follow Up – Crowns Fitted is a post from: Living To 150

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You will remember I was to have two crowns fitted, a filling, and the removal of a broken root.

One thing you get in Harley Street (at least in this surgery) is a flat-screen TV fitted to the roof above your dental chair, and the remote control in your hand. This was a first for me!

During this first treatment temporary crowns were to be fitted. This dentist is a specialist in this area.

The injections were fairly painless. The dentist worked on the teeth to be capped shaping them to receive the crowns. She would fit temporary crowns to the teeth once they had been shaped so that they were ready to receive the proper crowns once they had been made.

After 2 1/2 hours I emerged with all the shaping work done, and temporary crowns made in the surgery, and fitted. It was noticeable the great amount of care that went into creating the temporary crowns and ensuring that they did not interfere with my bite.

The anaesthetic was not quite as strong as I had feared, indeed it was nothing like as bad.

I headed for the train and the hour-long trip home.

Serious Dentist Treatment is a post from: Living To 150

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At the bottom left I have three teeth all with large fillings which are the ones she is most concerned about. She thinks these are ‘doomed’ to break down sooner rather than later without intervention. So this means three crowns.

Upper left I have a tooth which has crack at the root and fallen out. I knew this would need treatment. She plans to remove the remaining root, let it heal for three months, then have a titanium screw inserted. She has shown me on an xray that there is plenty of bone at this point to put the screw.

This part is no different from the treatment planned by my usual dentist.

Upper right, the back half of the back tooth has previously been mainly filling and a big chunk of this has fallen off. Another crown there.

Lower right a cusp has cracked off a tooth with a big filling. A crown for this – again, as proposed by by usual dentist.

The differences are – this dentist proposed taking much more action immediately as this is, as she calls it, ‘conservative’. I supposed you could say ‘conservational’. In other words, my teeth will last longer. And that is what I want.

I will go ahead with the plan.

Dental Treatment Plan is a post from: Living To 150

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Best of all – it is completely free. David Kekich is doing all he can to publicize anti-aging, so is giving this book away. It’s a chunky tome – and packed full of information.

It tells you 7 steps to take to: “catch the emerging wave of medical breakthroughs…” for a healthy, extended life. I strongly recommend this book to help get you up to speed with the current state of anti-aging knowledge.

Also, follow author David Kekich on twitter @MaxLifeorg .

Free Longevity Book is a post from: Living To 150

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Gosh – I’d like to go to this – the Manhattan Beach Project, Los Angeles. It’s the conference I wanted to go to when I went to Convergence08 last November: because this on is focused specifically on longevity.

The field of longevity research is getting very exciting now. Aubrey de Grey is quoted as thinking there is a 50/50 chance of his living forever.  Now, if a conservative scientist says that, you have to take note.

Unfortunately, I cannot go – I have things booked for November and can’t get away. But it’s in the diary for next year.

Apparently there will be recordings of the speakers which can be watched for free.

“You’ll get to see all of the twenty minute presentations by world-leading researchers. Each one of the fifteen presenters will also answer up to ten minutes of questions.”

Sorry to miss it. The usual suspects – Aubrey de Grey and Ray Kurzweil – will be there (albeit Kurweil will be beamed in). The whole thing is hosted by David A Kekich and Greta Blackburn of Maximum Life Foundation, and sponsored by Life Extension Foundation. Should be very good.

Follow Maximum Life Foundation on Twitter @maxlifeorg .

Longevity Conference, November 2009 is a post from: Living To 150

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The reason I hate to report it, is because many people will be as shocked as I was – or even disbelieving – when first hearing that their morning ‘health’ drink could actually be unhealthy.

But it is true.

The Whole Fruit, Nothing But The Fruit

All fruit juices are similar to sugar water. True, the sugar is not glucose; it’s fructose. But it still spikes up blood sugar after drinking it.

The whole fruit contains fibre which slows sugar absorption down. The juice has most or all of the fibre removed so that the passage of sugar into the blood stream is rapid.

The Path To Diabetes (type II)

The 3-step pattern leading to diabetes can then emerge:

1. Sugar in the blood demands insulin, from the pancreas. Insulin influences ‘receptors’ in the cell walls to allow sugar to pass inside.
2. Over time the cell wall receptors become less responsive to repeated insulin insults. The pancreas has to produce more and more for the same result.
3. The overworked pancreas becomes can’t keep up with the demand for insulin. Blood sugar builds up and diabetes is present.

Avoid Diabetes – And Delay Aging

A feature of diabetes is that sufferers get aging diseases much earlier than the rest of us.

This is why diabetics tend to get problems with heart and arteries, kidneys and eyes at a relatively young age. Control of the diabetes is essential; and for most, perfectly possible.

Control Through Diet

Although input from an experienced practitioner is always helpful, one of the main approaches to dealing with Type II diabetes (also called ‘maturity onset’ diabetes) is through a rigorous diet.

This is the same diet as a ‘healthy aging’ diet, but with more care taken to keep blood sugar low.

This means reducing intake of sugar and starches (mainly potatoes, pasta, rice and bread) dramatically such that your blood sugar remains at a low-normal level – not just a moderate level.

Blood sugar can be monitored through regular blood tests.

A practitioner can advise on supplements to be used. Also see:

• Life Extension Foundation – diabetes for a great article
• Life Extension Magazine August 2008, p67 "Metabolic Disease and Heart Attack, which is very relevant. 
• www.meta-syndrome.com for information on Metabolic Syndrome.

Finally, here is:

• A report of the Orange Juice study

Orange Juice Gives You Diabetes is a post from: Living To 150

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One of the websites I go back to again and again is that of Life Extension Foundation. If you have a health condition and you want to find a treatment protocol for it, you can probably find one on their website.

The treatments recommended include prescription drugs where these are appropriate for consideration as well as recommendations for supplements and herbs. All recommendations have references to studies validating the benefits cited.

A highly recommended site to help you understand how the body works, and how disease processes develop and how you can treat them.

Great Health Research Site is a post from: Living To 150

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It needs to offer a good range of tests – eg including Haemoglobin A1c – as well as the more usual ones; and preferably be a reasonable price.

Any suggestions gratefully received as I not only want them myself, but other people I talk to want them too. Understandably, not everyone is prepared to go to America as I did.

Please leave a comment if you have any ideas.

Where To Get Blood Tests In UK is a post from: Living To 150

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Kidney and liver show no malfunction. There are good to very good signs that cancer, heart disease and arthritic tendencies are not present. Prostate signs are good.

Thyroid indications are good. Vitamins B12 and D are good. Glycation level is good. (If bad, this causes faster aging by speeding up wrinkling of the skin and throughout the body)

Two Areas In Need of Attention

1. Blood glucose is at the beginning of the high range. This is not a great cause for concern; as the insulin tests shows the pancreas is working well; and the are good signs that metabolic syndrome is not present to any degree. However, I would be happier if the level was lower.

2. Both LDL (‘bad’) and HDL (‘good’) cholesterol are high. This means that the ratio between them – which is key – is good. Triclyceride levels – fats in the blood – are good, which lends weight to he view that the fat and cholesterol situation is not dangerous.

However, I would like the LDL to be lower.

Conclusion

LEF say that these two high results could well involve genetic factors. This is strengthened by the fact that my diet is low in carbohydrates and dietary cholesterol, and that no liver malfunction is indicated.

These tests have been extremely useful. I have been able to use some test results to check the implications of others. I feel I have had a very good assessment of my general level of health. Keeping a regular check – say, annual – should help highlight any problems early, for relatively easy treatment.

Tomorrow I will talk about my next steps.

Results Of My Blood Tests For Longevity is a post from: Living To 150

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…we know that the key to beating disease is to respond to early signs of cellular dysfunction, long before the first sign or symptom appears. While full-blown disease is often unstoppable, the cellular mechanisms that begin the disease process are relatively easy to influence. By quenching these tiny sparks, we can prevent the fires from igniting.

The value of blood tests is in the early warning they can give before signs and symptoms turn into diseases.

Interpreting the results might be easier than you think. For example, the results of my first blood test surprisingly identified high cholesterol. The lab made it simple for me by putting the desired range in one column, and writing ‘high’ next to it for me to see clearly.

And now I know it is so, I can do something about it before it produces heart and artery disease.

Why Excellent Blood Tests Are So Important is a post from: Living To 150

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Life Extension Foundation (LEF) in Ft Lauderdale, Florida, offer very reasonable prices for blood tests. In addition, every year they have a sale when prices are even cheaper. LEF can arrange to take your blood all over the USA.

Living in the UK, I searched around for labs who offered a similar analysis, but with little luck. I later heard of one which probably could do; but I have no doubt they would be much more costly. LEF charged me less than £250 ($500) for around 50 tests.

They seemed to take a ton of blood – 6 vials of the stuff; but I didn’t stagger out of the lab, so it obviously was not too much.

While I was in Florida I thought I should allow a few days rest to adjust to the jet lag. I enjoyed the lovely warm weather, the local bars, and learned to scuba dive.

The test results have now arrived by post. And yes – there are some concerns as well as some reassuring signs.

My plan is:

1. Interpret the results as best I can, using books, Internet, and LEF’s free telephone advice service.
2. Devise a treatment plan
3. Retest and re-assess.

When I come across something I cannot improve, or when I have done all I can, I will seek professional help. I am currently leaning towards consulting Philip Miller (author of Life Extension Revolution) in California.

Good Blood Tests are Vital is a post from: Living To 150

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4 of the main ways we are slowly killing ourselves are:

1. By allowing blood homocysteine to be too high
2. Not addressing low level inflammation in the body
3. Having an excess of glycotoxins (these cause wrinkles – inside the body and out), and
4. Too many free radicals (and too few anti-oxidants to mop them up)

All 4 factors produce aging; and they create disease – especially cancer and heart disease. They can all be addressed.

The first 2 are easily measured by appropriate blood tests. They are usually successfully treated with supplements and herbs. A re-test after a few months will show the progress being made.

For numbers 3 and 4 on the list, the treatment is to change lifestyle and diet to prevent additional free radicals and glycotoxins being formed; and to take supplements to reduce the levels which are present.

For example, sun-bathing creates huge numbers of free radicals so should be avoided; bar-b-q cooked meat is high in glycotoxins and similarly should be avoided. A large amount of fruit and veg in the diet always helps; as does a dramatic reduction in the intake of starchy food.

For supplements, common anti-oxidants include vitamins A, C and E; and to counteract glycation, carnosine is a powerful aid.

Longevity: Staying Healthy While Aging Is One Thing; But Living To 150….? is a post from: Living To 150

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He points out that white blood cells are closely involved in arteriosclerosis, cancer, arthritis and Alzheimer’s Disease, for example.

He also has observed that aging takes place in ’spurts’, rather than steadily. He aims to help us to reduce these ’spurts’ to a minimum in his book Ultra-Longevity.

One way to see the level of immune system overactivity is to measure C-reactive protein (CRP) in the blood. This should be at or below 1.5 mg/L for women and 0.6mg/L for men. (Philip Lee Miller, Life Extension Revolution.) If you are having blood tests taken to assess overall health, CRP should certainly be one of them.

Take Liponis’ light-hearted quiz to find out how your immune system scores out of 100.

Immune System – Key to Aging? is a post from: Living To 150

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The response of most people is: "I don’t want to be weak, diseased, frail – AND 100…" (let alone 150).

Fair enough.

But this assumes you CAN’T get to that age and still be vibrant, vigorous and healthy. My aim is to prove that that assumption is wrong.

I aim to:

- Get healthy

- Learn what makes us weak, diseased, frail, and…

- Avoid those things.

I intend to get old – and stay healthy and fit.

Yes, the Living To 150 blog looks at the factors that will help Malc live to 150. And be healthy, happy, and still have all his marbles.

150 years old might sound ridiculous. However, stunning discoveries have been made in longevity in the past 10-20 -30 years, and even more startling discoveries will be made in the next 20 years.

If nothing else, being healthy till you die is a great aim for us all. Let’s make use of the wealth of information that is about right now about how we kill ourselves – mainly via cardio-vascular disease, cancer and, too much sugar and carbohydrates in our diets.

There is more information out there to help keep us alive and healthy than most of us realize.

In this blog I will examine this information and try to give the various views which there are. I will be using this info – and I hope you find it interesting.

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Important topics covered – all of which directly affect longevity – will include:

Supplements - to take or not to take? Can they be poisonous? Where to get them?

Diet – is meat good or bad? How does starch makes you fat – rather than fat?

Why is diabetes becoming rampant – and how can most people easily avoid it?

What is more likely to give you a heart attack than cholesterol?

Tag this blog with Delicious or Digg or your favourite service and come back soon.

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Living to 150 – what a lark!

Just don’t tell the poor old actuaries – they’d have a heart attack.

Living to 150 is a post from: Living To 150

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