DO you want to look and feel younger? Dr. Vincent Giampapa, president of the American Board of Anti-Aging Medicine in New Jersey, shares some secrets.

The most important anti-aging hormones are Human Growth Hormone, released by the pituitary gland and converted in the liver to another anti-aging hormone called insulin growth factor and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) which is produced by the adrenal glands.

Starting in your 20s, your body slows down production of these growth-making hormones by 10 percent every 10 years. So, by the age of 65, you are only making anywhere from 10-20 percent of these hormones. This results in loss of muscle and bone density, lowered immunity against disease, the onset of diabetes, cancer and hypertension.

Dr. Giampapa explains you can increase hormone production primarily through proper diet.

Tips to remember

1. Eat ?clean? food. Go organic. Pesticide-free food will not add toxins to your blood.
2. Go heavy on the good stuff. Include multi-grain breads and carbo in your diet.
3. Keep blood sugar levels normal. Note that the higher the blood sugar, the more insulin and cortisol your body releases, the less DHEA your body produces.
4. Beany boosters. Beans are good for you. It?s low glycemic (meaning, it raises your blood sugar slowly) and packed with fiber.
5. Yam helps. Sweet potatoes are one of the stars in the anti-aging list. You can juice it raw, served them baked, mashed or boiled.
6. Fat control. Keep your fat intake on the low side by avoiding red meat, pork, innards and chicken skin. Add more nuts, olive oil and virgin coco oil.
7. Eat more fish and load up on omega-3 fatty acids essential to heart and brain health.

To guide you better, eat meat/protein equivalent to the size of your palm. And have five palm portions of salad/vegetables every day.

Move more

Movement creates energy. If you catch yourself getting sleepy at work, stand up and walk briskly for 10 minutes.

Exercise builds muscle, strengthens bones, improves circulation, releases endorphins (feel-good hormones), promotes better sleep and turbo-charges your sex drive.

Supplements can win your war against aging.

Bioflavonoids?Found in apples, yellow and red onions, tea, high-fiber foods.

Vitamins C and E?Found in citrus fruits and vegetables.

Coenzyme Q10 and Alpha-Lipoic Acid?Antioxidants needed to make your body run more efficiently.

Phosphatidyleserine?a kind of fat found in the nerve cells of the brain.

Dr. Ronald Klatz, author of ?Brain Fitness,? believes it is essential to brain health.

Soothing scrub

Get a handful of raw oatmeal, mix in a dash of rock salt and sugar, 2 tsp of virgin coco oil and scrub your body until it feels silky smooth.

Affirm today: ?I get younger day by day.?

Love and light!

The World of Wellness shop is now open at Virra Mall Greenhills Shopping Center. Call 4114448.