The human microbiome refers to the trillions of microorganisms present in the body. When it’s in balance, it contains only healthy microbes that support and maintain a healthy body. Microbes in the mouth and stomach contain genetic materials that sends signals to the body in health and in illness. When the microbiome is unbalanced, the presence or absence of any type of microbe can have an effect on many systems in the body, and lead to several diseases. That negative state is called microbiome dysbiosis.

Microbiome Dysbiosis has Both Internal and External Causes

Microbiome dysbiosis affects both the oral microbiome and the gut microbiome. As you would expect, the foods you eat can affect your microbiome in both positive and negative ways. For instance, a diet heavy in sugars and low in fiber can cause dysregulation of the microbes that control digestion and cause conditions like diarrhea, constipation, Irritable Bowel Disease and other ailments of the digestive tract.Dysbiosis can also be caused by host-specific factors such as genetic background, health status (infections, inflammation), and lifestyle habits or—more importantly—environmental factors such as diet (high sugar, low fibre), xenobiotics (antibiotics, drugs, food additives), and hygiene. Just an aging body can cause microbiome dysbiosis. “One of the newest hallmarks of aging is what we call gut dysbiosis”, says Dr. Helen Messier, Fountain Life Chief Medical and Science Officer. “We know that as people age, their microbiome begins to change, and it changes for the worse.” The diversity of the gut microbiome is a cause of this worsening, which means that the gut is missing some of the microbes and metabolites necessary to carry on the body’s processes.

The Oral Microbiome is Linked to Several Illnesses

Several studies have linked both the oral and gut microbiomes to cardiovascular disease. It has been shown that affect compounds like short-chain fatty acids and metabolites that process lipids make this connection between mouth and heart. As expected, the oral microbiome dysbiosis also leads to periodontal disease and other oral conditions. Gut microbiome is also connected to cardiovascular disease. One study revealed that gut microbiota can produce trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), a metabolite linked to arterial stiffness and coronary artery disease. This production is triggered by certain foods, like beef, pork and eggs. The microbiome is also linked to other diseases like depression (as it is thought to control the production of serotonin) and even COVID. It is very important, then, to make sure that microbiome dysbiosis isn’t present.

Microbiome Dysbiosis Can be Treated

The good news is that microbiome dysbiosis can be treated, and the first steps to treatment are diagnosis and prevention. Fountain Life provides a test of the gut microbiome as part of the APEX and EDGE memberships. Dr. Messier explains the diagnostic process: “[W]e look at the gut microbes specifically by doing a stool test, and sequencing what microbes are there and what their activity is. And then we also look at metabolites that are released from the microbe, that are floating around in your blood and show up in your urine. ”Once your microbiome test is complete and evaluated by a Longevity Physician, APEX members will have access to a host of treatment options designed to address the specifics of your microbiome dysbiosis. Your entire Fountain Life Health Care Team – including a health care coordinator, nurse, nurse practitioner and health care coach – will be with you throughout your entire APEX membership, helping you understand your results, and making sure that you get the exact care you need. If you do not have a microbiome deficiency, your team will make sure you get any preventative treatments to keep your body as healthy as possible. You can be sure that with Fountain Life, your health care plan will be designed to give you the preventive care you need, with the personalized service that you want.

In the age of tech-driven health solutions, the buzz around health wearables continues to escalate. These nifty devices promise to track your health metrics effortlessly, but are they worth the hype? Let's dive in.

The Accuracy Dilemma

The accuracy of health wearables in tracking health metrics can vary depending on the type of device and the specific metric being measured. Here are some general considerations:

Fitness Trackers

• Wearables designed for tracking basic health metrics such as steps taken, distance walked, and calories burned are generally accurate for these purposes. However, the accuracy may vary between different brands and models.

Heart Rate Monitors

• Many wearables now include heart rate monitoring features. While they are generally accurate for steady-state activities, their accuracy may decrease during high-intensity workouts or activities with a lot of movement.

Sleep Trackers

• Some wearables claim to monitor sleep patterns. While they can provide useful insights, sleep tracking accuracy may be limited compared to professional sleep studies conducted in a controlled environment.

Blood Pressure Monitors

• Some advanced wearables include blood pressure monitoring features. However, the accuracy of these measurements may not be as reliable as traditional blood pressure cuffs.

ECG and Blood Oxygen Monitors

• Wearables with ECG (electrocardiogram) and blood oxygen monitoring capabilities have become more common. While they can provide valuable information, their accuracy may differ from medical-grade equipment.

Skin Temperature Sensors

• Some wearables include sensors to measure skin temperature. While changes in skin temperature can provide insights into overall health, these measurements may not be as accurate as core body temperature measurements.

How Can They Help on Your Longevity Journey

They're not magic pills but health wearables and apps that empower your longevity journey. They aid in monitoring, motivation, and informed choices. Health wearables and health apps serve as pivotal components in the pursuit of a longer, healthier life. Their real-time monitoring capabilities empower individuals to check their health parameters constantly.

Beyond monitoring, these devices act as motivators, nudging users towards healthier choices by tracking progress and encouraging consistent engagement in physical activities. The data they provide assists in making informed decisions regarding lifestyle changes, exercise routines, and overall well-being. They're effective companions in the journey toward better health but should supplement, not supplant, professional medical advice and validated devices for precise health assessments and interventions.

Proactive Health Insights

While wearables might give hints, predicting health issues or detecting anomalies before they become problematic is a tall order. This is where Fountain Life steps in. With a Fountain Life membership, you'll receive a 150 GB "upload" of imaging, genetics, and blood diagnostics that maximize your vitality and healthspan. By providing top-of-the-line health snapshots, vetted therapeutics, and a team of longevity physicians, we provide long-life, life-long treatments to help you reverse disease and live optimally.

The Reality Check

Health wearables aren't substitutes for professional medical guidance. They're excellent for personal insights and motivation but should be independent of significant health decisions. For individuals with specific health concerns or those requiring precise medical measurements, it is advisable to consult with healthcare professionals and use clinically validated devices. Always consider health wearables as tools for personal insights rather than as medical diagnostic devices. So, are health wearables worth it? They're not flawless, but as tools for self-awareness and motivation, they certainly have a place in your health toolbox!

Are you doing all the right things but still have low energy?

We've all experienced those days when we feel like we're running on empty, struggling to find the energy to power through our daily tasks. It's perfectly normal to have occasional bouts of low energy, especially when life gets hectic. However, when fatigue becomes a constant companion, even when you're seemingly doing all the right things, it can be frustrating and concerning. Here are some of the top reasons for chronic low energy and why it can persist despite your best efforts to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Poor Sleep Quality

One of the most common culprits behind chronic low energy is poor sleep quality. Even if you think you're getting enough sleep, the quality of your slumber is equally important. Factors such as sleep disorders (e.g., sleep apnea, insomnia), irregular sleep patterns, and poor sleep hygiene can lead to disrupted sleep cycles, leaving you feeling groggy and fatigued throughout the day. Solution: Prioritize good sleep hygiene, create a consistent sleep schedule, and consider seeking professional help if you suspect a sleep disorder.

Stress and Anxiety

Chronic stress and anxiety can be energy drainers. When your body is in a constant state of alertness, it depletes your energy reserves. Stress hormones like cortisol can interfere with your sleep, digestion, and overall well-being, leaving you feeling perpetually drained. Solution: Managing stress through relaxation techniques, mindfulness, or seeking therapy can help alleviate its energy-sapping effects.

Poor Nutrition

Your diet plays a pivotal role in your energy levels. Consuming a diet high in processed foods, sugar, and unhealthy fats can lead to energy crashes and fluctuations in blood sugar levels. Nutrient deficiencies, especially in iron, vitamin D, and B vitamins, can also contribute to persistent fatigue. Solution: Focus on a balanced diet rich in whole foods, stay hydrated, and consider consulting a registered dietitian to identify and address nutritional deficiencies.

Medical Conditions

Several medical conditions can cause chronic fatigue, even when you're making healthy choices. Conditions such as thyroid disorders (hypothyroidism), chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and anemia can all contribute to ongoing low energy. Solution: If you suspect an underlying medical condition, consult a healthcare professional for a thorough evaluation and proper treatment.

Hormonal Imbalances

Hormonal imbalances, such as those related to the thyroid, adrenal glands, or sex hormones, can lead to chronic fatigue. These imbalances can disrupt your body's natural energy regulation systems. Solution: If you suspect a hormonal imbalance, consult with a healthcare provider who specializes in hormonal health for proper assessment and treatment. Chronic low energy can be a complex issue with various underlying causes. While adopting a healthy lifestyle is crucial for overall well-being, it may not always be enough to combat persistent fatigue. Identifying the root cause of your low energy and seeking appropriate solutions is key to restoring your vitality.

Physical activity is more than just a solution to keep weight in check. It acts as a universal remedy, offering a myriad of benefits to our mental and physical health, thereby improving our overall wellbeing. Regular exercise can not only prolong your life but also mitigate depressive symptoms, improve sleep quality, and slow down mental deterioration. Here are 5 reasons you should start exercising right now:  

1. Exercise helps you live longer

Consistent physical exercise contributes significantly to longevity by strengthening the body's vital functions and warding off chronic diseases. Several studies have revealed a correlation between regular exercise and an extension in lifespan, largely due to exercise's role in maintaining a healthy weight, boosting the immune system, and reducing risks of diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. A 30-year study on the role of moderate to heavy exercise in decreasing mortality revealed a strong connection between longer periods of exercise and longevity. The research showed that 150 – 300 minutes of vigorous exercise per week decreased all-cause mortality by 35% to 42%. Double the amount of moderate physical activity has a similar impact on mortality.  

2. Exercise helps you sleep better

Regular exercise can significantly improve the quality of sleep by helping you fall asleep faster and deepening your sleep. Physical activity increases the amount of time spent in deep sleep, the most physically restorative sleep phase, where the body repairs and regrows tissues, builds bone and muscle, and strengthens the immune system. Additionally, the rise in body temperature during exercise may contribute to improved sleep by helping it drop during sleep, inducing a state of drowsiness.  

3. Exercise staves off cognitive decline

Exercise also plays a vital role in combating cognitive decline, which is often associated with aging. Engaging in regular physical activity boosts the blood flow to the brain, nourishing the cells with vital oxygen and nutrients. Studies have shown that consistent exercise can lead to increased brain size and volume. A 2011 study revealed that moderate exercise training increased the size of the hippocampus (the part of the brain responsible for memory) by 2%, and even reversed age-related declines in brain size. Exercise also stimulates the production of hormones that can promote the growth of brain cells, enhance learning, and improve memory capabilities. In this way, regular physical activity can effectively slow down cognitive decline and even protect against dementia and Alzheimer's disease in older age. Another study found an inversely proportional relationship between the amount of exercise and subjects' self-reported experience of cognitive decline. These benefits also extend to subjects with Alzheimer's Disease and dementia.  

4. Exercise slows the physiological effects of aging

Not only does exercise hamper cognitive decline, but it also slows and reverses the physiological signs of aging. As we age, our skeletal muscles undergo a process known as sarcopenia, characterized by a gradual loss of muscle mass and strength. This typically begins around the age of 30 and accelerates after 60. Factors contributing to sarcopenia include reductions in nerve cells responsible for sending signals from the brain to the muscles to start movement, a decrease in the ability to turn protein into energy, not getting enough calories or protein each day to sustain muscle mass, and a lack of physical activity. Not surprisingly, some form of exercise reduces the effects of age-related decline in muscle tissue, as well as overall physical performance such as strength, balance, endurance and flexibility.  

5. Exercise treats depression and anxiety

Exercise can significantly contribute to the management of depression. Primarily, it stimulates the release of endorphins, often referred to as "feel-good" hormones, which induce a sense of well-being and euphoria. Physical activity also enhances the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter responsible for regulating mood, sleep, and appetite, which is typically low in individuals suffering from depression. In addition, engaging in regular exercise can provide a sense of accomplishment, divert attention from stressful thoughts, and improve self-esteem. In fact, researchers have found that exercise is 150% more effective than antidepressants or cognitive behavior therapy at reducing moderate depression, anxiety and psychological distress. Moreover, the same study revealed that exercise programs of shorter duration have the greatest benefit in reducing psychological symptoms.

Regular exercise has the power to transform not only our physical health but also our mental and cognitive wellbeing. It can extend our lifespan, enhance sleep quality, slow cognitive decline, counteract the effects of aging, and even serve as an effective remedy for depression. These compelling reasons make incorporating regular physical activity into our daily routine a necessary part of any wellness plan.  

Advancements in Artificial Intelligence are reinventing medical care and changing the way we diagnose illnesses. As Fountain Life co-founder Peter Diamandis points out in his book The Future is Faster Than you Think, “convergence of sensors, networks, and AI is upending medical diagnosis.”

One of the areas Fountain Life is most excited about is our full body MRI with AI. Our non-invasive MRI provides a head-to-toe scan, using a powerful magnetic field that allows doctors to see a 3D rendering of your body and brain. Unlike an X-ray, there are no negative effects on your body. Through convergence Fountain Life can link the MRI imaging with artificial intelligence (AI) to scan for any abnormalities or irregularities.

MRI with AI allows doctors to see, with unparalleled precision, the body, and spot abnormalities at their earliest – and usually treatable – stage. It can reveal cancer tumors before they arrive at stage 3 or 4, and even find small aneurysms in the brain. It can also show neurodegeneration and signs of blood vessels narrowing in the brain and heart, and offers imaging of all organs in the body, such as the liver and kidneys.

Annual MRI with AI Testing for Fountain Life Members

Fountain Life members can use this valuable tool annually to find illnesses in their infancy before they can cause harm. While no one wants to hear that they have cancer, finding it early saves lives. You can start treatment for cancer while it’s still at an early, highly treatable stage. Alternatively, based on findings, you may be instructed to change medications or modify your lifestyle to help prevent or reverse heart disease or even dementia!

All Fountain Life members receive an MRI scan with AI annually as part of our precision diagnostics preventative tests. Together, these annual tests play a key role in helping you live to 100 – while feeling like you’re 60.

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Do deadlines make you particularly anxious? Do you constantly worry that you’ll be late for appointments? If so, you have been experiencing a condition called time anxiety, and it can rob your productivity. Time anxiety is a general sense of stress or unease related to time. It involves feeling pressured, overwhelmed, or anxious about time-related factors like dates, appointments, and being late. While time anxiety presents itself in many ways, there are also solutions and treatments for this often-debilitating condition.

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‍Identifying Time Anxiety

‍Most people experience anxiety when they are late, or if they have missed an important meeting. However, when you live with time anxiety, your feelings about time-related concepts often exist without concrete reasons or triggers. Time anxiety is accompanied by various features that manifest in an individual's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in the following ways:

• Constant Worry: People with time anxiety often experience continued worry about the passage of time. They often feel pressure when faced with deadlines, often worrying that they won't have enough time to complete tasks. This worry can extend to worries about lateness and about missing appointments, or manifest as an overall unease about the day getting later.

• Fear of the Future: There is often an underlying fear of the future associated with time anxiety. People may worry about potential negative outcomes of planned or unknown activities. Those with this feature of time anxiety may worry about specific events in the future or may deal with existential dread, a generalized worry about the passage of time and the unknowable future.

• Sense of Urgency: The average person feels motivated to complete time-limited or urgent projects. However, people with time anxiety may feel a heightened sense of urgency in their actions. always rushing to complete tasks or meet deadlines, even when the situation might not require immediate attention.

• Procrastination: Though they are obsessed with lateness and deadlines, some people with time anxiety may also engage in procrastination. The fear of not having enough time can be overwhelming, and that fear can lead to avoiding tasks until the last minute. Unsurprisingly, procrastination feeds on existing anxiety and causes further worry.

• Feeling uneasy when you don’t get around to everything you had planned to: ?When Alex Lickerman, MD, described this factor of time anxiety, he used a vacation as a metaphor. When you go away, you make plans and create timelines. Before a trip, you may look at upcoming plans with pleasant anticipation. However, if you don’t complete all your plans, you may become more preoccupied with the sites and attractions you missed than with those you could see. This dwelling on the negative can turn into obsession with what was missed, and a self-renewing cycle of anxiety and regret.

• Impaired Time Management: Paradoxically, even with their intense focus on time and time-related concepts, people with time anxiety may struggle with effective time management. The anxiety may interfere with their ability to plan and prioritize tasks efficiently. Procrastination falls under this umbrella, as do misjudging the time it takes to complete a task or misunderstanding the tools needed to keep an effective schedule.

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Treatment is Available for Time Anxiety

The good news is that time anxiety can be treated with intervention by mental health professionals and others who treat mental and emotional maladies. Treatments for time anxiety are like those for other types of anxiety. They range from the clinical to the recreational. The Cleveland Clinic notes that these four treatments are effective for people with time anxiety:

• Talk therapy - A licensed therapist will help you uncover the source of your condition and provide a safe space to explore the lifestyle components of your time anxiety.

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) – CBT deals with identifying the thoughts that trigger compulsive activities, and then “retraining” the brain to choose healthier responses to anxiety.

• Hypnotherapy – A licensed hypnotherapist uses focus and breathing to bring you into a calm, dream-like state. In that position, you can feel safe to explore experiences and trauma that may have led to time anxiety. A hypnotherapist can also give you a post-hypnotic suggestion, which will replace anxious thoughts and behaviors once you wake up.

• Meditation – Many people use meditation to treat various forms of anxiety, and it can be used to treat time anxiety. Meditation trains you on how to breathe and focus your mind in a particular way that calms your mind and reduces your stress response. In a calmer state, your anxiety will lessen.

Time-related mental conditions like time anxiety can be very debilitating. Fortunately, once it is identified properly, you can receive treatments to make it less of a disruption to your life.

APEX Membership from Fountain Life

Taking care of your health doesn’t just benefit you. Your health is important to your loved ones who want you to live long and live well. Fountain Life programs are designed to help you do just that – extend your lifespan and healthspan – with advanced diagnostics and personalized treatment plans that detect and prevent major illness before it manifests as symptoms. Our Chief Medical and Science Officer, Dr. Helen Messier, spoke with us about how one Fountain Life program, the APEX membership, provides members with the kind of proactive healthcare that can find and detect disease and lead to increased performance and vitality.

Personal, preventive, proactive care

APEX is Fountain Life’s yearlong program that addresses the top causes of morbidity and mortality: cardiovascular disease, cancer, metabolic disease and neurocognitive disease. APEX does this with a series of diagnostic tests that combine the latest, scientifically vetted preventive methodologies with the personalized attention of a team of longevity healthcare professionals.

APEX starts with brain and body scans – like EKG, MRI and CCTA – and blood and urine tests that detect the presence of disease as well as assess your risk for developing life-limiting disease. These procedures can detect the early signs of cancer, pulmonary embolism and cardiovascular trauma even before symptoms present. This allows you to get preventive and restorative treatment before your medical condition becomes more serious.

But the APEX membership doesn’t stop there. The next level of testing provides a more comprehensive look at your disease risk, not just the presence of disease. As Dr. Messier notes, “we look at those 4 biggest risks of death and disability, but we go deeper and look at maybe why you have those… in additional testing that looks at not just the what, but the why.

”The “why” entails obtaining genetic information for diseases like heart attack, dementia and various forms of cancer, and assessing your risk of developing these conditions. This advanced level of testing combines genetic information found in your organs and bloodstream to statistics on disease incidence using AI tools. This allows for disease prevention through medical treatment and/or lifestyle modification.

The preventative aspect of APEX is its most compelling, as our existing healthcare system is predicated on treating diseases that you have, rather than preventing disease outright. Dr. Messier emphasizes that “you want to find those early because those take a long time to develop, and by the time you have symptoms for any one of those 4 diseases, it’s really late and it gets very difficult to do something about it. But if you find them earlier, it’s much easier.” With APEX, you can trust that you’re finding disease and illness at the best stage for treatment.

APEX is more advanced than your PCPs office

You may be thinking that blood tests and scans in your primary care physician’s office can give you the same information provided by the APEX program. While your primary doctor may order bloodwork and body scans for you with an annual physical, they cannot provide the level of technology and advanced analysis that is possible with the tools used in APEX.

Many of APEX tests integrate artificial intelligence, using AI tools to get a more detailed view of your test results, and enabling us to analyze your test results in comparison with millions of data points from other individuals. This process makes testing more accurate, which gives you a greater chance of targeting precisely what and where disease may lurk in the body.

AI overlay and analysis is available for the following APEX tests:

• Full body and brain MRI
• Coronary CTA
• Low-dose lung CT
• Retinal scan
• Skin cancer screen
• Early cancer detection blood test
• Genetic blood testing
• Whole genome sequencing
• Cardiovascular risk blood test

…and several other advanced and genetic evaluations.These types of tests, as well as their highly technical analysis, simply are not available from your primary physician. As experts in longevity and preventive medicine, Fountain Life can bring you a level of care to which you ordinarily would not be exposed.

Concierge-level of care

The differences between APEX and your regular doctor also extend to the personalized care we provide you during your year of membership. “Not only do you get a Longevity Physician, [but] you [also] get a [Health] Care Team. You have a nurse and a nurse practitioner, a health coach, a nutritionist, to really make those changes that are needed to optimize your health,” notes Dr. Messier.

Your Longevity Physician is available to read out the results of your tests and provide you with a treatment roadmap to correct any illness and reduce disease risk. Your dedicated Longevity Physician is available to meet with you four times during the annual APEX membership to gauge your progress and make any necessary changes.

During the year, your Health Coach and Nutritionist are on hand to help you make any lifestyle changes necessary to improve your condition, and to monitor your progress through your healthcare journey. Finally, you have a Nurse and a Nurse Practitioner to provide medical guidance when your Physician is not available. A Health Care Coordinator works with you and your team to streamline communication and coordinate your contact with Fountain Life staff.

There are many reasons to choose Fountain Life and APEX to advance your healthcare goals and take control of your lifespan and healthspan. Our preventive treatments, AI-enhanced methodologies and personalized care make APEX the best choice to find underlying disease and restore your body to health and vitality.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a very hot topic in healthcare, and it has become a buzz word in both medical and popular media. For some, the idea of an artificial intelligence may bring to mind science fiction scenarios of robots controlling humans. However, AI is a tool that can make it easier for physicians to detect and diagnose disease, and does not involve a secret robot brain to accomplish this.

AI machine learning powers data analysis in preventive medicine

Machine learning is a subset of AI that focuses on developing algorithms and statistical models that enable computers to learn from and make predictions or decisions based on data without being explicitly programmed to perform specific tasks. It can make predictions based on a larger number of data points than is possible through human cognition. As AI datasets get larger with more inputs, machine learning algorithms become better able to provide fast, accurate analysis better than humans.

Dr. Helen Messier, Chief Medical and Science Officer at Fountain Life, believes that AI is a critical part of practicing medicine: “AI helps us take a deeper view of what’s going on, we can see it with more clarity. We don’t use AI exclusively to make decisions, obviously, we have a physician that helps interpret that. It’s a tool that we use, that doesn’t take the place of the physician. It’s a very critical component” in providing advanced medical care.

Using AI for brain scans at Fountain Life

Fountain Life’s brain MRI diagnostic employs machine learning techniques. Utilizing images already taken of your brain, this assessment provides you with information on the key indicators of overall brain health. It also uses a machine learning algorithm to connect brain structure with the genes that affect your brain health. This process helps to get a more well-rounded picture of how genetics impacts your brain’s symptomatology.

Dr. Helen Messier: “We can now quantify all of the different volumes in your brain in the different regions of your brain. We can get an assessment of their size," which can reveal the presence of dementia, tumors, infections or blood clots. MRIs can detect brain anomalies before any symptoms occur, which could mean treating a condition in its early stages when interventions are more likely to be successful.

Fountain Life uses AI-assisted CCTA to predict heart disease

If you are at risk of a future heart attack, Fountain Life’s AI-guided approach to Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA) provides heart imaging, along with an AI overlay that analyzes your heart in comparison to hundreds of thousands of data points that improve the accuracy of the results.

According to Dr. Messier, “We use an AI overlay that helps us characterize any plaque that you might have in your coronary blood vessels, the blood vessels that feed oxygen and the blood supply to your heart. We can see if you have hard plaque that’s calcified. We can [also] see if you have soft plaque.”

By accurately identifying the presence of soft plaque — a less dense and more vulnerable type of arterial buildup that is more likely to rupture and cause blockages — we can offer a precise assessment of your current heart disease risk. This enables early intervention and timely preventative measures reducing the likelihood of life-threatening events. Heart disease is still the leading cause of death in the United States, often manifesting as heart attacks without prior symptoms, so early detection and intervention are very important in saving lives.

The future of AI in medicine?

The future of medicine will likely be driven by artificial intelligence. Large tech companies, medical companies and hospital systems have invested time and money into harnessing the power of AI for the healthcare industry. Organizations are tasked with finding AI solutions to disease diagnosis, emergency room triage and medication reconciliation. There are many areas of inquiry within healthcare that could benefit from, still, Dr. Messier doesn’t believe that AI is a danger to the practice of medicine. She believes that “doctors that don’t use AI will be replaced because it gives them a much better toolkit and allows us to see things in a much better view…so it’s really an important component. We’re always on the lookout for new AI technology that we can incorporate the appropriate vetting. And a lot of these technologies are FDA approved, so they’re very, very helpful, and I think they should be adopted and used much more widely.”

In the realm of essential minerals, magnesium reigns supreme. Magnesium is a key player in nerve transmission, muscle contractions, protein formation, and the regulation of blood sugar. Beyond these physical aspects, magnesium is also important for our mental health, orchestrating mood regulation and stress management.

Magnesium: The master mineral

Magnesium is needed to help facilitate over 300 reactions in the body, so it is clear just how crucial this mineral is to our well-being. Unfortunately, due to its decreasing prevalence in farm soil, magnesium deficiency in our diets has become commonplace. Around 60% of Americans aren’t getting adequate magnesium. This insufficiency is likely two-fold: we’re eating fewer magnesium-rich foods, and our bodies are less able to absorb the necessary amount as we age.  How do you know if you’re not getting enough? Well, your body will let you know.  Here are some symptoms of magnesium deficiency:

• Muscle Cramps or Spasms: Persistent muscle cramps, spasms, or twitching can signal a lack of magnesium. These spasms often occur in the legs, feet, or even facial muscles.
• Fatigue and Weakness: Feeling unusually tired, weak, or experiencing low energy levels despite adequate rest  
• Irregular Heartbeat: Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeats might occur due to magnesium insufficiency. These irregularities can feel like fluttering, rapid beats, or an irregular rhythm.
• Nausea and Loss of Appetite: A decrease in appetite accompanied by feelings of nausea or general gastrointestinal discomfort
• Mental Symptoms: Anxiety, restlessness, or even mood swings  

What are the benefits of magnesium?

Magnesium essentially controls our ability to function. It stands as the fourth most crucial ion within our system, following calcium and potassium and its absence would impair muscle contractions and disrupt our nervous system's ability to transmit and receive messages. Other benefits include:

• Improved Digestive Health: Magnesium helps regulate muscle contractions in the digestive tract, aiding in regular bowel movements and preventing constipation.
• Enhanced Exercise Performance: Adequate magnesium levels support energy production, muscle function, and oxygen uptake during physical activity, potentially improving exercise performance and recovery.
• Regulated Blood Sugar Levels: Magnesium plays a role in insulin function and glucose metabolism, contributing to better blood sugar control and reducing the risk of insulin resistance.
• Better Bone Health: Magnesium contributes to bone formation and density. It works alongside calcium and vitamin D to support bone strength, reducing the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.  
• Support for Sleep Quality: Magnesium can promote relaxation and calmness, which may contribute to better sleep quality. It helps regulate neurotransmitters involved in sleep and supports muscle relaxation, aiding in a restful sleep.

At Fountain Life, we're committed to unraveling the secrets to help you live a healthier life. Learn how we can help optimize your HealthSpan in other areas through the power of preventative diagnostics and therapeutics.

Addicted to sugar?

You aren’t alone. North Americans crave it. Whether in the form of candy bars, pop, cookies, cereals and syrups or hidden in processed foods such as pasta sauces and salad dressings, many of us are tempted by the sweet allure of sugar.

Not all sugar is bad. In fact, your body needs it to survive—the brain uses more energy than any other organ and glucose is its main source of fuel.

The American Heart Association recommends no more than 36 grams (or 150 calories) of sugar per day for men and 25 grams (or 100 calories) for women, but American adults are actually consuming 77 grams of the white stuff every day, more than three times the recommended amount for women. This adds up to about 60 added pounds of sugar a year.

All that sugar is having a devastating toll on our health. Here’s the downside of too much sweet stuff:

Kicking the sugar habit

If you’re having trouble cutting back on sugar, don’t despair. Research shows sweets can be as addictive as cocaine.

Try these 4 tips:

1. Read food labels to monitor your intake of added sugar. Choose items that have 5g or less sugar per 100 g.

2. Reduce the sugar you add to your beverages, including coffee and tea.

3. Opt for fresh fruit when you have a craving for something sweet.

4. Cut back the sugar called for in recipes by one-third to one-half.

Heart attacks are responsible for almost 35 percent of all deaths in the United States. One of the reasons cardiovascular disease is so deadly is that the medical system’s current, traditional methods of detection miss 70 percent of all patients who will suffer a heart attack, mistakenly labeling them “low risk.”

The current system of cardiovascular disease is flawed

“The current approach to cardiovascular care is flawed for two reasons,” says Dr. James Min, Director of the Dalio Institute of Cardiovascular Imaging at New York Presbyterian, board-certified cardiologist and founder of Cleerly.

1. An emphasis on symptom-driven care that identifies only late-stage cardiovascular disease.
2. A lack of personalized and standardized care for coronary artery disease diagnosis and treatment.

“The end result is an approach that leaves too many high-risk patients undiagnosed because they don’t present with stereotypical symptoms,” says Dr. Min.

A report in the Journal of American College of Cardiology estimates there are several million adults with concerning symptoms of heart disease who are excluded as being at a serious risk of heart attack because the current classification systems are heavily focused on obstructive coronary heart disease criteria.

We need to accurately assess present-day risk by identifying newer, soft plaque that is prone to rupture.

Think you’re too young for a heart attack?

The average age of a sudden, fatal heart attack is only 50 years of age.

Fountain Life’s AI Coronary Artery Scan solution

Fountain Life has invested in industry-leading AI technology to measure, characterize and track atherosclerosis, identifying the stickier, soft plaque that can cause problems right now. The advanced AI technology is 58 percent more effective than human readers.

Because this technology focuses on present-day risk, rather than responding to symptoms it also reduces unnecessary, invasive procedures by up to 87 percent.

Don’t guess about your heart health

Contact Fountain Life today to find out more about how our AI Coronary Artery Scan is saving lives by assessing present-day heart disease risk.

There’s no one diet that works for everybody. The best way to find the ideal diet for your unique metabolism is to get real-time feedback on how the foods you eat and your activities impact your body. The solution? A Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM).

CGMs are nothing new. They’ve been used for 25 years to help people with diabetes track their blood glucose levels to better manage their condition. Recently, these devices have become more advanced and easier to use, and nutritionists and healthcare professionals are now suggesting people use them to optimize their overall health and performance.

How Metabolically Fit Are You?

High levels of blood glucose are strongly correlated with chronic disease and poor metabolic health, which is at an all-time. Only 12 percent of American adults are metabolically healthy, defined as having optimal (without medication) triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose, and waist circumference, according to a 2019 study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Poor metabolic health increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and diabetes. While some 37 million Americans (one in 10 adults) have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, another 96 million (one in three) have prediabetes — higher-than-normal blood sugar — and the majority don’t know it.

Metabolic dysfunction is, in fact, at the root of most chronic diseases.

How A CGM Works

Wearing a CGM (a half-dollar sized patch placed on the arm or belly with a tiny filament sensor inserted just under the skin) is like having a miniature lab on your body. It offers real-time 24-hour feedback, testing glucose every few minutes and sending the data wirelessly to a monitor, so you can see your blood glucose rise and fall throughout the day. This provides you with crucial information about how lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, sleep and stress impact your blood sugar levels.

4 Ways Wearing a CGM Can Improve Your Health

1. Helps determine your personal optimal diet

CGM identifies how various foods affect your blood sugar levels and whether they cause a dangerous spike in blood sugar or provide a healthy boost to your metabolism. Studies have found that even when people eat identical foods, they can experience dramatically different increases in blood sugar. Knowing exactly which foods to eat (and what times) to maintain a stable and steady blood sugar range allows you to perform at your best.

2. Reveals the impact of exercise  

Exercise improves your ability to maintain steady glucose levels and improves metabolic fitness. Not sure how that hour-long workout at the gym or your nightly walk around the block after dinner is affecting your blood sugar levels? A CGM will show you.

3. Measures the impact of sleep

Sleep contributes to blood sugar regulation and a good night’s rest generally corresponds to lower blood glucose the next morning. Without enough shut-eye, it can be more difficult for your body to metabolize glucose, which can lead, for example, to weight gain and fluctuating hormones.

4. Monitors Stress Levels

Stress can increase the production of cortisol and epinephrine, which, in turn, tends to increase blood glucose. Seeing the clear impact of stress on blood sugar levels can motivate you to find ways to better manage it.

An early detector

A CGM acts as an early detection system, allowing you to catch potential serious health issues caused by chronically high blood sugar levels. This gives you the chance to make the necessary lifestyle changes that will prevent disease.

For optimal results, it’s most effective to combine your CGM readings with personalized nutritional coaching to create an individualized plan tailored to your specific lifestyle habits. This will result in improved diet, sleep quality, exercise performance and stress levels, setting you on the path to optimal health and greater longevity.

The CGM is one component of our Precision Diagnostics and APEX Memberships. Please connect with us to learn more!

We all know that increasing muscle mass boosts our metabolism and improves body composition. New research published in Endocrine Reviews has found that skeletal muscles play a pivotal role in optimizing numerous areas of your health. Skeletal muscles maintain your posture, facilitate voluntary movement, protect your joints and are essential for breathing and body temperature regulation. What’s more, emerging evidence shows that skeletal muscles can secrete hormone-like proteins, like an endocrine organ, which can communicate with cells, tissues and organs throughout the body. This muscle-based, molecular messaging system can help keep your body and brain in top condition and can improve liver and blood vessel health and even have an anti-aging effect on the skin. Here’s a look at how muscles can positively impact your health.

Move to release myokines

‍For the first time ever, researchers are beginning to understand the biochemical mechanisms that make exercise so beneficial. While there is still much to learn in this area, it’s clear that movement triggers skeletal muscles to release myokines. They are a group of hormone-like proteins that may have autocrine (talks to different parts of the same cell), paracrine (signals adjacent cells), and endocrine effects. The latter makes it possible to “talk” long-distance to tissues and organs throughout the body, including the brain, adipose tissue, bone, liver, gut, pancreas, vascular bed and skin. The result is relaying messages to take a specific health-protective action. For example, after a workout, your skeletal muscles secrete a myokine called IL-10, which sends a message to the immune cells in your liver to lower inflammation.

Muscle boosts brain function‍

Regular exercise and building muscle mass reduce anxiety and depression, bring more blood flow to the brain, and can even improve and preserve cognitive function.
In fact, researchers at McGill University found that low muscle mass is associated with faster cognitive decline.
‍

Movement encourages skeletal muscles to release two myokines, irisin and CTSB, that communicate with, and increase, levels of the molecule brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the brain. BDNF promotes cell survival and regulates plastic changes related to learning and memory.

The muscle-immunity connection‍

Contracting muscles boost your immune system. They secrete several myokines, including IL-6 and IL-1RA, that help to regulate the function of immune cells such as macrophages and monocytes. IL-6 and IL-15 also regulate the maturation and distribution of natural killer (NK) cells that take action on tumors.
That’s not all: Active muscle produces an amino acid called glutamine, which is consumed by immune cells such as lymphocytes and macrophages to enhance their energy and performance.

Muscle benefits bone health‍

From a mechanical standpoint, moving your muscles regularly helps to maintain bone density, reduce your risk of fractures and improve bone healing. Additionally, exercise releases myokines Irisin, IL7 or IL15 from your muscles. These are associated with overall bone health, including formation, mineralization and recovery from fractures.

Your exercise prescription‍

It’s clearer than ever that fitness should be a priority in your lifespan and healthspan plan. How should you pump up? Research suggests that overall myokine levels are lower in moderate physical activity and abundant after workouts that are longer or high-intensity. Speak with your Fountain Life Health Coordinator for assistance in creating a fitness regimen that will bring out the best in your body, so you can live a long and healthy life.

‍

SOURCES
https://muhc.ca/news-and-patient-stories/news/ri-muhc-study-shows-association-low-muscle-mass-cognitive-decline#:~:text=Muscles%20also%20secrete%20molecules%20that,greater%20risk%20of%20cognitive%20decline.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/physical-activity
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2018.00698/full

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7288608/
https://www.nature.com/articles/nrrheum.2014.193

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21787-skeletal-muscle
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2020.582258/full
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncel.2019.00363/full

‍

Could cold water be the fountain of youth?

Increasingly, research studies are proving that cold water therapy has a host of benefits, from reducing stress to burning fat, improving mood, boosting the immune system, giving you a more youthful appearance and generally prolonging life.

Therapeutic hypothermia — the cooling of the body for therapeutic purposes — has been around since the ancient Greeks and Romans used cold water to bring down fevers. Hippocrates prescribed snow and ice to stop bleeding. Tortuous icy baths were once used to “treat” people in psychiatric facilities. Cold showers have long been promoted to cool passionate urges.

A healthy shock to the system‍

Today, spas tout the benefits of cold-water plunges, polar bear dips are a popular annual rite and cold-water swimming has become all the rage thanks in great part to self-described “Iceman” Wim Hof, who set a Guinness World Record for swimming under ice. His Wim Hof Method has tens of thousands of followers around the world.

An increasingly popular practice is whole body cryotherapy, which involves exposure for 3-5 minutes to sub-zero temperatures in a sealed chamber. Some professional athletes and celebrities swear by it. While the Nordic nations have long endorsed the benefits of cold water for giving the body a healthy shock to the system.

Well aware of the benefits of cold-water immersion, every morning, Fountain Life co-founder Tony Robbins wakes up and plunges into a 57-degree Fahrenheit pool of water. Cold water immersion activates the body’s natural healing powers that can relieve the symptoms of many medical conditions and promote a sense of health and well-being.

Could exposing yourself to icy temperatures be one of the secrets to longevity?

Here are 7 anti-aging benefits to cold therapy:

1. Boosts the immune system

There’s evidence that cold water can stimulate the body’s immune system, which helps fight illness. A Dutch study with 3,000 participants found that people who took a daily cold shower (following a warm shower) of either 30 seconds, 60 seconds or 90 seconds for one month were off work with self-reported sickness 29% less than those who had a warm shower only.

2. Improves blood circulation

Our bodies turn pink when we get cold because blood vessels are restricted, and blood flow increases to warm our core and protect the vital organs. This stimulation of blood flow promotes increased circulation which causes the lymphatic vessels to contract and help flush out toxins that can promote cellular damage and premature aging.

3. Makes you happier‍

Taking a cold plunge has psychological benefits because it reduces stress hormones such as cortisol and releases feel-good endorphins. A widely reported 2007 study found cold showers were effective at alleviating the symptoms of depression, without any negative side effects.

4. Relieves pain‍

As we get older muscle and joint pain, such as arthritis, is a common problem that can inhibit our daily activities. Using ice packs on injured muscles increases blood circulation, which aids healing and pain relief. A 2017 study found that cold water immersion was effective for relieving muscle pain.

5. Promotes weight loss‍

Exercising in the cold burns more calories than exercising in warmer temperatures, making it easier to lose weight. A 2017 study of men and women who hiked when the temperature hovered between 23°F and -14°F, burned 34 percent more calories than they did while hiking on days when the temperature was above 50°F. Even cold showers may help with weight loss since the cold activates levels of brown adipose tissue, which helps burn calories.

6. Prevents dementia ‍

Researchers have made the link between whole-body cryotherapy and its possible effectiveness in preventing age-related cognitive decline. The cold-water treatment may play a role in fighting the inflammatory and oxidative stress responses that can create memory loss.

7. Reduces signs of aging‍

Cold water is good for the skin, the largest organ in the body. Hot water strips away essential oils that make the skin look younger, whereas cold water tightens the pores and the cuticle layer which can help skin look shinier, resulting in that much sought-after youthful glow.

Are you ready to become a Fountain Life member?

Head to our membership page or click below to email us and learn more.

Can't remember your neighbor's name? Or exactly why you went down to the basement? Or where you left your car keys? Forgetfulness is a natural part of aging, but it can also be a sign of cognitive impairment in the early stages of dementia, possibly leading to Alzheimer's disease.

Memory loss is one of the greatest fears of aging and Alzheimer's disease affects 6.5 million, or 10 percent, of Americans over age 65. No one wants to be dependent on others, be treated differently by family and friends, or avoid social situations due to embarrassment. Studies show that even our fear of memory loss can be a risk for increased memory failure.

Is your forgetfulness something you should be concerned about?

The Alzheimer's Association estimates that up to 40 percent of dementias are caused by treatable conditions other than Alzheimer's (including thyroid disease, nutritional deficiencies, infections and sleep apnea) so the sooner they are detected, the better. Even identifying Alzheimer's early enough can help slow the progression and severity of the disease.

An MRI scan with AI is the most sensitive imaging test available. The MRI produces detailed pictures of your brain and brain stem and cross-references it with a database to detect abnormalities associated with mild cognitive impairment, predicting your risk of eventually developing Alzheimer's disease.

Early diagnosis is crucial

While there's no cure for Alzheimer's, an early diagnosis is crucial. Since there are drug and nondrug interventions to slow the progression of the disease, manage symptoms and help you plan for the future the earlier you find it, the better the outcome. You could also be a candidate for clinical trials.

Sharpen your memory now to ward off problems later

The changes in the brain that lead to Alzheimer’s usually begin years before any symptoms are found. While this hidden change in brain chemistry might sound scary, it presents you with a pivotal time to implement key lifestyle changes that can help reduce the severity of the disease.

Staying mentally active through regular social activity, keeping organized, maintaining a healthy diet and a regular sleep schedule are some steps you can take to decrease your risk of Alzheimer's. A routine of regular physical activity, which boosts blood flow to the brain, is one of the best things you can do to keep your memory sharp—the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation found that regular exercise can reduce your risk of developing the disease by up to 50 per cent.

Book your annual MRI with AI

Fountain Life’s annual precision diagnostics testing includes an MRI with AI to help detect neurological diseases such as dementia at their onset when action can be taken. Our non-invasive MRI provides a snapshot of the brain, then links it with artificial intelligence (AI) to scan for abnormalities.

Your brain is the most critical organ in your body. Taking care of it today boosts your chances for optimal brain health. If you haven’t booked your yearly appointment, reach out today.

Are you waking up feeling unrested or rising during the night? If so, you may want to consider skipping your evening wine or cocktail.

Up to 20 percent of people admit to using alcohol to help them fall asleep, but that strategy inevitably backfires since the quality of sleep suffers when you are under the influence.

The impact of alcohol on sleep

Alcohol negatively impacts the body in a host of ways that affect sleep, from decreasing melatonin to disrupting the circadian rhythm, aggravating sleep apnea and increasing nighttime urination, resulting in more frequent trips to the bathroom.

It can also impact your performance the next day due to decreased concentration, increased sluggishness and compromised memory. Anyone who has ever suffered through a hangover knows how unproductive the next day can be. But even a drink or two can impact your ability to focus the next day.

Long-term health implications

One-third of our lives are spent sleeping, and adequate rest is as essential to our wellbeing as exercising and eating healthy. Poor sleep can be a precursor to a host of health problems ranging from obesity to cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

A Sleep Foundation study found that even low amounts of alcohol before bed (less than two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women) can decrease sleep quality by almost 10 per cent while anything more than this amount can decrease sleep quality by 40 percent. If you are prone to late-night drinks this could be adding up to long-term health implications.

Take a sleep reset

If you aren’t sure how significantly alcohol may be affecting the quality of your sleep, take a break from drinking for a couple of weeks to see how you feel. You might be pleasantly surprised at how much more refreshed, energized and happier you feel upon waking.

If you still aren’t feeling refreshed, try these six additional ways to improve your sleep hygiene:

1.   Avoid large meal slate in the day: Have dinner at least three hours before going to bed.

2.   Reduce your caffeine intake after noon: Did you know 50 percent of caffeine is still present in the
body four to six hours after being consumed?

3.   Exercise regularly: Physical exertion will help you fall asleep faster and longer.

4.   Reduce distractions: Keep the TV in another room. Ditto for your electronics.

5.   Try deep breathing at bedtime: This can help lower the heart rate and blood pressure while increasing melatonin and the feel-good serotonin hormone.

6.   Stick to a predictable sleep schedule: Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day and, if you must nap, keep it short (30 minutes ideally, and no more than one hour).

We all know that increasing muscle mass boosts our metabolism and improves body composition. New research published in Endocrine Reviews has found that skeletal muscles play a pivotal role in optimizing numerous areas of your health. Skeletal muscles maintain your posture, facilitate voluntary movement, protect your joints and are essential for breathing and body temperature regulation. What’s more, emerging evidence shows that skeletal muscles can secrete hormone-like proteins, like an endocrine organ, which can communicate with cells, tissues and organs throughout the body. This muscle-based, molecular messaging system can help keep your body and brain in top condition and can improve liver and blood vessel health and even have an anti-aging effect on the skin. Here’s a look at how muscles can positively impact your health.

Move to release myokines

‍For the first time ever, researchers are beginning to understand the biochemical mechanisms that make exercise so beneficial. While there is still much to learn in this area, it’s clear that movement triggers skeletal muscles to release myokines. They are a group of hormone-like proteins that may have autocrine (talks to different parts of the same cell), paracrine (signals adjacent cells), and endocrine effects. The latter makes it possible to “talk” long-distance to tissues and organs throughout the body, including the brain, adipose tissue, bone, liver, gut, pancreas, vascular bed and skin. The result is relaying messages to take a specific health-protective action. For example, after a workout, your skeletal muscles secrete a myokine called IL-10, which sends a message to the immune cells in your liver to lower inflammation.

Muscle boosts brain function‍

Regular exercise and building muscle mass reduce anxiety and depression, bring more blood flow to the brain, and can even improve and preserve cognitive function.
In fact, researchers at McGill University found that low muscle mass is associated with faster cognitive decline.
‍

Movement encourages skeletal muscles to release two myokines, irisin and CTSB, that communicate with, and increase, levels of the molecule brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the brain. BDNF promotes cell survival and regulates plastic changes related to learning and memory.

The muscle-immunity connection‍

Contracting muscles boost your immune system. They secrete several myokines, including IL-6 and IL-1RA, that help to regulate the function of immune cells such as macrophages and monocytes. IL-6 and IL-15 also regulate the maturation and distribution of natural killer (NK) cells that take action on tumors.
That’s not all: Active muscle produces an amino acid called glutamine, which is consumed by immune cells such as lymphocytes and macrophages to enhance their energy and performance.

Muscle benefits bone health‍

From a mechanical standpoint, moving your muscles regularly helps to maintain bone density, reduce your risk of fractures and improve bone healing. Additionally, exercise releases myokines Irisin, IL7 or IL15 from your muscles. These are associated with overall bone health, including formation, mineralization and recovery from fractures.

Your exercise prescription‍

It’s clearer than ever that fitness should be a priority in your lifespan and healthspan plan. How should you pump up? Research suggests that overall myokine levels are lower in moderate physical activity and abundant after workouts that are longer or high-intensity. Speak with your Fountain Life Health Coordinator for assistance in creating a fitness regimen that will bring out the best in your body, so you can live a long and healthy life.

‍

SOURCES
https://muhc.ca/news-and-patient-stories/news/ri-muhc-study-shows-association-low-muscle-mass-cognitive-decline#:~:text=Muscles%20also%20secrete%20molecules%20that,greater%20risk%20of%20cognitive%20decline.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/physical-activity
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2018.00698/full

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7288608/
https://www.nature.com/articles/nrrheum.2014.193

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21787-skeletal-muscle
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2020.582258/full
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncel.2019.00363/full

‍

Physical activity is more than just a solution to keep weight in check. It acts as a universal remedy, offering a myriad of benefits to our mental and physical health, thereby improving our overall wellbeing. Regular exercise can not only prolong your life but also mitigate depressive symptoms, improve sleep quality, and slow down mental deterioration. Here are 5 reasons you should start exercising right now:  

1. Exercise helps you live longer

Consistent physical exercise contributes significantly to longevity by strengthening the body's vital functions and warding off chronic diseases. Several studies have revealed a correlation between regular exercise and an extension in lifespan, largely due to exercise's role in maintaining a healthy weight, boosting the immune system, and reducing risks of diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. A 30-year study on the role of moderate to heavy exercise in decreasing mortality revealed a strong connection between longer periods of exercise and longevity. The research showed that 150 – 300 minutes of vigorous exercise per week decreased all-cause mortality by 35% to 42%. Double the amount of moderate physical activity has a similar impact on mortality.  

2. Exercise helps you sleep better

Regular exercise can significantly improve the quality of sleep by helping you fall asleep faster and deepening your sleep. Physical activity increases the amount of time spent in deep sleep, the most physically restorative sleep phase, where the body repairs and regrows tissues, builds bone and muscle, and strengthens the immune system. Additionally, the rise in body temperature during exercise may contribute to improved sleep by helping it drop during sleep, inducing a state of drowsiness.  

3. Exercise staves off cognitive decline

Exercise also plays a vital role in combating cognitive decline, which is often associated with aging. Engaging in regular physical activity boosts the blood flow to the brain, nourishing the cells with vital oxygen and nutrients. Studies have shown that consistent exercise can lead to increased brain size and volume. A 2011 study revealed that moderate exercise training increased the size of the hippocampus (the part of the brain responsible for memory) by 2%, and even reversed age-related declines in brain size. Exercise also stimulates the production of hormones that can promote the growth of brain cells, enhance learning, and improve memory capabilities. In this way, regular physical activity can effectively slow down cognitive decline and even protect against dementia and Alzheimer's disease in older age. Another study found an inversely proportional relationship between the amount of exercise and subjects' self-reported experience of cognitive decline. These benefits also extend to subjects with Alzheimer's Disease and dementia.  

4. Exercise slows the physiological effects of aging

Not only does exercise hamper cognitive decline, but it also slows and reverses the physiological signs of aging. As we age, our skeletal muscles undergo a process known as sarcopenia, characterized by a gradual loss of muscle mass and strength. This typically begins around the age of 30 and accelerates after 60. Factors contributing to sarcopenia include reductions in nerve cells responsible for sending signals from the brain to the muscles to start movement, a decrease in the ability to turn protein into energy, not getting enough calories or protein each day to sustain muscle mass, and a lack of physical activity. Not surprisingly, some form of exercise reduces the effects of age-related decline in muscle tissue, as well as overall physical performance such as strength, balance, endurance and flexibility.  

5. Exercise treats depression and anxiety

Exercise can significantly contribute to the management of depression. Primarily, it stimulates the release of endorphins, often referred to as "feel-good" hormones, which induce a sense of well-being and euphoria. Physical activity also enhances the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter responsible for regulating mood, sleep, and appetite, which is typically low in individuals suffering from depression. In addition, engaging in regular exercise can provide a sense of accomplishment, divert attention from stressful thoughts, and improve self-esteem. In fact, researchers have found that exercise is 150% more effective than antidepressants or cognitive behavior therapy at reducing moderate depression, anxiety and psychological distress. Moreover, the same study revealed that exercise programs of shorter duration have the greatest benefit in reducing psychological symptoms.

Regular exercise has the power to transform not only our physical health but also our mental and cognitive wellbeing. It can extend our lifespan, enhance sleep quality, slow cognitive decline, counteract the effects of aging, and even serve as an effective remedy for depression. These compelling reasons make incorporating regular physical activity into our daily routine a necessary part of any wellness plan.  

With advances in medical science and an increased focus on healthy living, we have more control over our lifespan and healthspan than ever before. But the key to longevity isn't just about staying alive, it's about thriving in our golden years. Here, we provide simple, yet effective evidence-based strategies that can be easily incorporated into your daily routine to not only add more years to your life but also enhance your vitality and well-being as you age.

Exercise

Physical activity serves as a near-universal remedy for contemporary health issues. It enhances muscular strength, optimizes cardiovascular functioning, and diminishes the risk of injuries. Exercise has demonstrated multiple pathways through which it can effectively prolong one's lifespan.

A 2022 study illustrated the life-extending benefits of frequent exercise. Researchers analyzed the exercise and activity patterns of over 416,420 adults across a 30 year period. Applying a Cox regression analysis to the self-reported activity data, researchers found that moderate aerobic exercise (defined as 150–299 minutes per week) resulted in a 19% to 25% lower risk of all-cause, cardiovascular disease, and non-cardiovascular disease mortality. Vigorous exercise was less effective at reducing mortality, but still had an impact (2% to 4%).

Most notably, the gains in longevity were more pronounced for those who hadn’t exercised previously, indicating that those new to fitness stand to improve their health at a greater degree than people who’ve always exercised regularly. This is good news if you’ve just begun your physical fitness journey.

Adding muscle strengthening exercise to one’s fitness and activity routine also impacts longevity. Another study looked at activity and mortality data from 1997 to 2014, with researchers performing the same regression analysis to correlate exercise level with all-cause mortality. The study found that one hour per week of muscle strengthening exercise provided a reduction in all-cause mortality, with gains up to 3 hours, at which point the benefits begin to decline.

According to these two studies, an optimal exercise program would include five hours of aerobic activity, plus up to three hours of muscle strengthening exercise per week. Even if you do one of these activities, you will still be lowering your risk of mortality across several areas.

If you are considering starting or adding to your current workout routine, consider adding functional fitness. The purpose of functional fitness is to mimic everyday movements so that your body is strong enough to function without injury. Good exercises to try are squats and lunges for legs, and pushups and dips for upper body and core. Using large muscle groups with these exercises not only provides strength- and muscle-building benefits, but it also raise your heartrate to give aerobic and cardiovascular benefits.

You might have seen articles on the practice called “rucking”, which is essentially walking over hills with a weighted backpack. This activity provides aerobic benefits and strengthens the lower body in two different ways. First, climbing hills works the calves, hamstrings, quadriceps and gluteus muscles. Going downhill engages the knees and hip flexors, which are very important in stopping forward motion, such as when you trip or fall. Lack of strength and flexibility in these muscles causes falls in older people, which are a leading cause of injury and illness.

Change your diet

Food is our fuel for living. It makes perfect sense that when we put better fuel into our bodies, we reap the rewards in improved health and vitality. But the food we eat often determines how well, and how long, we’ll live.The link between diet and longevity was illustrated in a research study that correlated various healthy eating patterns, with human mortality. This study compared the mortality of a cohort of over 100,000 to their eating patterns, as defined in the chart below:

The analysis found that the less likely a person was to eat in any one of these dietary patterns, the greater their likelihood of death from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and respiratory disease. In addition, the Alternate Mediterranean Diet and Alternative Healthy Eating diet were inversely associated with mortality from neurodegenerative disease.Even if you don’t follow one of the eating plans mentioned above, you can still realize longevity gains by making other changes in your diet consistent with these food regimes.

• Reduce saturated fats/increase healthy fats: Replacing all your added fats with extra-virgin olive oil is a good way to increase your monounsaturated fatty acids, which are responsible for the “good” cholesterol in your blood.
• Increase fiber: Research findings indicate that individuals who have a higher intake of dietary fiber demonstrate a notable reduction, ranging from 15% to 30%, in mortality rates related to all causes and cardiovascular incidents. Moreover, these individuals exhibit a lower prevalence of coronary heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and colorectal cancer when compared to those with a lower fiber intake in their diet. The range for high fiber in this study was between 25 grams and 29 grams of fiber per day.

The best way to increase dietary fiber, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, is to increase the amount of plant-based foods in your diet. Fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains and nuts are excellent sources of fiber.

Get better sleep

In the hustle and bustle of our modern lives, it's easy to overlook the importance of a good night's sleep. We often sacrifice those precious hours of rest for work, socializing, or binge-watching our favorite shows. But sleep is not a luxury: it is a fundamental pillar of a longer, healthier life.

While most sleep studies have investigated sleep duration as a factor in health, several studies have looked at the quality of sleep as a determining factor in longevity and mortality. One such study investigated the correlation between sleep quality and cardiovascular disease mortality.

Researchers combined chronotype (one’s propensity to be a “morning person” or an “evening person”), duration, insomnia complaints, snoring, and daytime sleepiness to devise an index for measuring sleep quality.This index was applied to over 140,000 health records, and the results showed a reduction of about two years of CVD-free life for poor sleepers when compared to those with average-quality sleep. Moreover, women and men with sleep disorders (eg, insomnia) lost 1.4 and 3.8 years free of cardiovascular disease.

Similar results were reported in another study using a multi-factorial approach to sleep quality, though looked at mortality across several conditions. In the second study, researchers created their sleep quality index using the following factors:

• Ideal sleep duration of seven to eight hours per night
• Difficulty falling asleep no more than two times per week
• Trouble staying asleep no more than two times per week
• Not using any sleep medication
• Feeling well rested after waking up at least five days per week

The results of this study revealed that subjects who had all five of the characteristics above (high quality) were 30% less likely to die from any cause than those with zero or one characteristic. These individuals with high sleep quality were 21% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease, 19% less likely to die from cancer, and 40% less likely to die of causes other than heart disease or cancer.Longevity expert and Fountain Life founder Dr. Peter Diamandis counts sleep as one of his longevity pillars and uses several techniques to ensure he gets eight hours of high-quality sleep.

• Unplug: turn off electronic devices and the television 30 minutes before bed. Diamandis’ wind down includes donning blue-light-blocking glasses, which help the body produce enough melatonin to get and stay asleep, and dimming the lights.
• Establish a sleep routine: go to bed/sleep at the same time each day. You can also create other bedtime practices that signal to your body that it’s time to sleep.
• Stop snoring: Snoring can be a symptom of sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing stops and starts during the night. Using devices that keep your airway open, like a CPAP machine or mandibular alignment device, can help you get a better night’s sleep.

The National Sleep Foundation also maintains guidelines for good sleep which center around tools to assess and manage sleep satisfaction, sleep quality, and sleep duration. You can use these tools and suggestions to better manage the effectiveness of your sleep.

Get your mind right

Mental health is a crucial component of overall wellness, profoundly impacting lifespan. Research has indicated that mental health conditions, especially depression and anxiety, can shorten life expectancy due to the heightened risk of chronic illnesses like heart disease and diabetes. Moreover, sound mental health fosters healthier lifestyle choices and habits, including regular physical activity, a balanced diet, and sufficient sleep, all contributing to an extended lifespan. It is also observed that a positive mental state bolsters the immune system, enhancing the body's resistance to various diseases. Hence, investing in mental health isn't solely about enriching the quality of life, but it's also a step towards longevity.

One life factor that affects your mental health is happiness. Happiness researchers have illustrated the connection between living a happy life and longevity. One study followed a group of elderly people for either 10 or 30 years to track their health and well-being. Over the course of that time, they were given a survey each year to measure their level of happiness and optimism. The results revealed that the subjects who lived the longest reported the highest levels of positive emotion.

An estimated 5% of adults experience depression, and almost 17% of adults will experience depression at some point in their lifetime. Depression has a direct result on physiological function, as it is often accompanied by various physical symptoms such as sleep disturbances, changes in appetite and weight, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. Scientists have investigated the connection between depression. In a study published in the Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology, the respondents’ performance on strength and functional tests was plotted against the respondents’ level of depression. The results showed that those who suffered from depression performed statistically significantly worse on functional tests than those without.Another aspect of mental health is overall cognitive function, which declines with age as well as with the onset of various types of dementia. While there are treatments that can improve cognitive decline once it starts, the best defense is prevention. Harvard-affiliated, Massachusetts General Hospital neuroscientist Rudolph Tanzi has developed an acronym – SHIELD – as a mnemonic for remembering how to protect your brain from deterioration:

• Sleep
• Handle stress
• Interact with friends
• Exercise daily
• Learn new things
• Daily exercise

Practice preventive healthcare

As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Preventive healthcare plays a fundamental role in extending longevity by allowing early detection and management of potential health issues. Regular check-ups and screenings can effectively identify problems in their initial stages when they are usually easier and less expensive to treat. Preventive healthcare also promotes healthier lifestyles, encouraging individuals to adopt habits like a balanced diet, regular exercise, and good sleep hygiene. These habits help to mitigate the risk of chronic diseases, including heart disease and diabetes, which are leading causes of premature death.

Longevity medicine is an important part of preventive care. It is an emerging branch of medical science focusing on the promotion of healthy aging via the prevention of the maladies that come with getting sick and getting older. Its primary aim is not just to prolong human life but to extend the years of health, productivity, and quality of life.

Longevity medicine targets the biological process of aging itself, comprising strategies and therapies that slow the rate of aging and decrease the risk of age-associated diseases. This field of medicine takes a comprehensive approach to health, considering the whole body and its intricate systems, and uses the latest advancements in genomics, biotechnology, and molecular biology to decipher the underlying causes of aging and related diseases. The goal of longevity medicine is not just to increase our lifespan, but to allow us to live healthier for a longer time.

Fountain Life employs preventive and longevity medicine through advanced diagnostics that help detect pre-symptomatic disease so that you can live a healthier, longer life. Fountain Life’s diagnostics are centered around the diseases and conditions that are the most salient causes of premature death, including cardiovascular disease and cancer. Preventive diagnostics are proven to have an impact on catching and curing these conditions.

The impact of preventative diagnostics in assessing the risk for cardiovascular disease has been illustrated in the scientific community. In the “Framingham experiment”, a well-known, multigenerational study of a specific population in Massachusetts, revealed the genetic component involved in cardiovascular disease risk, proving that CVD is tied to inheritable traits. Fountain Life’s test for heart disease risk factors can now use a blood test to determine whether certain genes are present in your body. Cancer screening using genetic biomarkers is also a part of Fountain Life’s preventive diagnostics and is available with all Fountain Life programs. Our testing uses blood serum and advanced machine learning to detect and analyze a person’s risk for developing certain cancers.

To learn more about Fountain Life's programs, connect today!

Heart disease is when the heart's blood supply becomes narrowed due to plaque build-up in the arteries. The arterial plaque can lead to chest pain (angina), heart attack, and even death. Each year 805,000 Americans have a heart attack. For over 200,000 of them, it's not their first one. Unfortunately, for many, it's their last. However, it does not have to be this way. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 80% of cardiovascular disease is preventable. Knowing your plaque score and taking charge of your health through diet and lifestyle changes can help you maintain a healthy heart as you age.

Heart disease describes the group of illnesses that affect a person's heart and circulatory system. Over 800,000 Americans die from cardiovascular disease every year. Additionally, 160,000 heart disease deaths are people under 65.

Heart disease does not have just one cause. Many factors increase the odds of developing this condition, including age, family history, lifestyle choices, and risk factors such as obesity or diabetes, physical inactivity, high blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.

Understanding the risk factors for heart disease

The heart is a muscle. To work, it needs oxygen-rich blood and nutrients from the body's other organs. Individuals leading a sedentary lifestyle and not getting enough physical activity are not maintaining the strength their heart needs to pump blood. This inactivity slows down the heart's functions allowing plaque to build up more easily on the artery walls, which causes calcification.  

When this happens, the arteries are narrowed or blocked, and blood flow slows down or stops altogether, either of which can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Plaque also builds up from two other major risk factors—smoking and high cholesterol.

Preventing plaque build-up

Plaque is a thick layer of fatty substances that can build up in the walls of an artery, also referred to as calcification. It starts to stiffen the walls of the arteries as the thickness increases. High levels of cholesterol, smoking, alcohol use, and stress are all factors that contribute to plaque build-up and calcification in your arteries.

Leading a healthy lifestyle

It's never too late to make changes to your lifestyle. The three top ways to help your heart are quitting smoking, improving your diet, and increasing your daily physical activity. Change isn't easy. Talk to your doctor about working with a nutritionist and fitness trainer to boost your overall health. Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. and worldwide. But what many people don't know is that you can prevent and even eliminate heart disease through education on how to control plaque and calcification. By understanding heart health, cardiovascular disease, the risk factors, and your plaque score, you have the tools necessary to make the lifestyle changes essential to extend your longevity and life quality.

Advancements in Artificial Intelligence are reinventing medical care and changing the way we diagnose illnesses. As Fountain Life co-founder Peter Diamandis points out in his book The Future is Faster Than you Think, “convergence of sensors, networks, and AI is upending medical diagnosis.”

One of the areas Fountain Life is most excited about is our full body MRI with AI. Our non-invasive MRI provides a head-to-toe scan, using a powerful magnetic field that allows doctors to see a 3D rendering of your body and brain. Unlike an X-ray, there are no negative effects on your body. Through convergence Fountain Life can link the MRI imaging with artificial intelligence (AI) to scan for any abnormalities or irregularities.

MRI with AI allows doctors to see, with unparalleled precision, the body, and spot abnormalities at their earliest – and usually treatable – stage. It can reveal cancer tumors before they arrive at stage 3 or 4, and even find small aneurysms in the brain. It can also show neurodegeneration and signs of blood vessels narrowing in the brain and heart, and offers imaging of all organs in the body, such as the liver and kidneys.

Annual MRI with AI Testing for Fountain Life Members

Fountain Life members can use this valuable tool annually to find illnesses in their infancy before they can cause harm. While no one wants to hear that they have cancer, finding it early saves lives. You can start treatment for cancer while it’s still at an early, highly treatable stage. Alternatively, based on findings, you may be instructed to change medications or modify your lifestyle to help prevent or reverse heart disease or even dementia!

All Fountain Life members receive an MRI scan with AI annually as part of our precision diagnostics preventative tests. Together, these annual tests play a key role in helping you live to 100 – while feeling like you’re 60.

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Do deadlines make you particularly anxious? Do you constantly worry that you’ll be late for appointments? If so, you have been experiencing a condition called time anxiety, and it can rob your productivity. Time anxiety is a general sense of stress or unease related to time. It involves feeling pressured, overwhelmed, or anxious about time-related factors like dates, appointments, and being late. While time anxiety presents itself in many ways, there are also solutions and treatments for this often-debilitating condition.

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‍Identifying Time Anxiety

‍Most people experience anxiety when they are late, or if they have missed an important meeting. However, when you live with time anxiety, your feelings about time-related concepts often exist without concrete reasons or triggers. Time anxiety is accompanied by various features that manifest in an individual's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in the following ways:

• Constant Worry: People with time anxiety often experience continued worry about the passage of time. They often feel pressure when faced with deadlines, often worrying that they won't have enough time to complete tasks. This worry can extend to worries about lateness and about missing appointments, or manifest as an overall unease about the day getting later.

• Fear of the Future: There is often an underlying fear of the future associated with time anxiety. People may worry about potential negative outcomes of planned or unknown activities. Those with this feature of time anxiety may worry about specific events in the future or may deal with existential dread, a generalized worry about the passage of time and the unknowable future.

• Sense of Urgency: The average person feels motivated to complete time-limited or urgent projects. However, people with time anxiety may feel a heightened sense of urgency in their actions. always rushing to complete tasks or meet deadlines, even when the situation might not require immediate attention.

• Procrastination: Though they are obsessed with lateness and deadlines, some people with time anxiety may also engage in procrastination. The fear of not having enough time can be overwhelming, and that fear can lead to avoiding tasks until the last minute. Unsurprisingly, procrastination feeds on existing anxiety and causes further worry.

• Feeling uneasy when you don’t get around to everything you had planned to: ?When Alex Lickerman, MD, described this factor of time anxiety, he used a vacation as a metaphor. When you go away, you make plans and create timelines. Before a trip, you may look at upcoming plans with pleasant anticipation. However, if you don’t complete all your plans, you may become more preoccupied with the sites and attractions you missed than with those you could see. This dwelling on the negative can turn into obsession with what was missed, and a self-renewing cycle of anxiety and regret.

• Impaired Time Management: Paradoxically, even with their intense focus on time and time-related concepts, people with time anxiety may struggle with effective time management. The anxiety may interfere with their ability to plan and prioritize tasks efficiently. Procrastination falls under this umbrella, as do misjudging the time it takes to complete a task or misunderstanding the tools needed to keep an effective schedule.

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Treatment is Available for Time Anxiety

The good news is that time anxiety can be treated with intervention by mental health professionals and others who treat mental and emotional maladies. Treatments for time anxiety are like those for other types of anxiety. They range from the clinical to the recreational. The Cleveland Clinic notes that these four treatments are effective for people with time anxiety:

• Talk therapy - A licensed therapist will help you uncover the source of your condition and provide a safe space to explore the lifestyle components of your time anxiety.

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) – CBT deals with identifying the thoughts that trigger compulsive activities, and then “retraining” the brain to choose healthier responses to anxiety.

• Hypnotherapy – A licensed hypnotherapist uses focus and breathing to bring you into a calm, dream-like state. In that position, you can feel safe to explore experiences and trauma that may have led to time anxiety. A hypnotherapist can also give you a post-hypnotic suggestion, which will replace anxious thoughts and behaviors once you wake up.

• Meditation – Many people use meditation to treat various forms of anxiety, and it can be used to treat time anxiety. Meditation trains you on how to breathe and focus your mind in a particular way that calms your mind and reduces your stress response. In a calmer state, your anxiety will lessen.

Time-related mental conditions like time anxiety can be very debilitating. Fortunately, once it is identified properly, you can receive treatments to make it less of a disruption to your life.

New studies link endocrine disrupting chemicals with reproductive health  

The human endocrine system comprises a network of glands that produce and secrete hormones, which are chemical substances responsible for controlling a range of bodily functions. The major glands that make up the endocrine system include the pineal gland, pituitary gland, pancreas, ovaries, testes, thyroid gland, parathyroid gland, hypothalamus, and adrenal glands. These glands regulate various body functions such as metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, sexual function, reproduction, sleep, and mood, among others. The system operates via feedback mechanisms that maintain a stable internal environment, or homeostasis, within the body.  

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) are a class of environmental toxins that can interfere with the normal functioning of the endocrine system. These chemicals can mimic, block, or alter the hormones in the body, leading to a disruption in the body's normal hormone balance. New research have connected EDC exposure to disrupt metabolic and reproductive health in men and women.

We are exposed to EDCs every day

Commonly encountered Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals include Bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and certain pesticides. BPA is frequently found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, often used in food and beverage packaging and toys. Phthalates are commonly used in PVC plastics, cosmetics, and medical devices. PCBs were once widely used in coolants, flame retardants, and insulators, and despite being banned in the 1970s, residues persist in the environment.   Certain pesticides, such as DDT, used to control pests in agriculture, can also act as endocrine disruptors. These chemicals often enter our bodies through the consumption of contaminated food and water, inhalation of polluted air, or physical contact with contaminated products. EDCs also include parabens, commonly used as food preservatives; and triclosan,?an antimicrobial compound used in personal care products.

EDCs have effects on women’s reproductive and metabolic systems

In this year’s studies, researchers identified impacts of EDCs on women’s reproductive health, including:

• Early menopause
• Endometriosis  
• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• Delayed menarche
• Uterine fibroids

Several of these conditions are not only disruptive to reproduction, but they also increase the risk of breast and uterine cancers.  Endocrine-disrupting chemicals were also found to cause metabolic syndrome, a disease that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, and stroke – three of the most life-limiting health conditions.

Men’s reproductive health also takes a turn when exposed to EDCs

In a separate research review of endocrine disruptors on men, the team found that the chemicals caused several reproductive issues, including:

• Irregular testosterone levels
• Infertility
• Reduced sperm production, quality, and motility
• Testicular abnormalities and cancer

These conditions not only impact fertility but can be life-threatening Low testosterone is associated with loss of bone density and muscle mass; high testosterone is associated with prostate cancer.

How to reduce exposure to endocrine disruptive chemicals

• Choose household and personal care products formulated without EDCs
• Look for plastic bottles that are BPA free, and better yet, drink from reusable bottles
• Limit plastic usage in your home, and replace it with wood, glass, or metal
• Eat organic foods that have not been exposed to pesticides

Fountain Life can help

As part of our APEX membership, Fountain Life delivers diagnostics that test for the effects of these dangerous chemicals in your body. Fountain Life offers a comprehensive suite of tests that help to identify damage caused by environmental chemicals such as EDC's. With our APEX Membership, Fountain Life can help you identify diseases before you have symptoms, and provide a suite of diagnostics and therapeutics to keep you performing and living at your best.

Your heart is the engine that keeps your body running, and taking care of it should be a top priority. Heart disease is a leading cause of death worldwide, and one of its primary culprits is the buildup of arterial plaque. While many people are familiar with the concept of plaque in the arteries, it's crucial to understand the difference between hard and soft plaque and how getting preventative heart scans, such as Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA), can help prevent heart attacks, aneurysms, and other life-threatening conditions.  

The plaque predicament

Arterial plaque is a substance that builds up inside your arteries over time. This plaque is composed of various substances, including cholesterol, fat, calcium, and cellular waste. However, not all plaque is created equal. Plaque can be categorized into two primary types: hard and soft plaque.  

Hard plaque vs. soft plaque  

• Hard Plaque: Hard plaque, also known as calcified plaque, is the more stable and older form of arterial buildup. It is characterized by the presence of calcium deposits within the plaque itself. This calcium makes the plaque hard and inflexible, like a rigid shell. Over time, hard plaque can narrow the arteries, reducing blood flow to the heart muscle. It may eventually lead to a condition called coronary artery disease (CAD) or atherosclerosis.  

• Soft Plaque: Soft plaque, on the other hand, is the more dangerous and volatile form of arterial buildup. Unlike hard plaque, soft plaque is composed of fatty deposits and inflammatory cells, making it soft and unstable. This type of plaque can rupture suddenly, leading to blood clots that can block blood flow to the heart or other vital organs. When a blood clot obstructs an artery supplying the heart, it can result in a heart attack. Soft plaque is also associated with an increased risk of aneurysms, which are potentially life-threatening bulges in blood vessel walls.  

Preventative heart scans: The role of CCTA  

Now that we understand the difference between hard and soft plaque, it's clear why preventative measures are so crucial. One of the most effective tools in early detection and prevention is the Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA) scan. CCTA is a non-invasive imaging test that uses advanced CT technology to create detailed, 3D images of the coronary arteries. Here's how CCTA can help:  

• Early Detection: CCTA can identify both hard and soft plaque in the coronary arteries, allowing for early intervention and treatment.  

• Risk Assessment: By assessing the type and extent of plaque present, CCTA can help determine your risk of heart disease, heart attack, and aneurysms.  
• Treatment Planning: Based on the findings from a CCTA scan, healthcare providers can develop personalized treatment plans, which may include lifestyle changes, medications, or even procedures to remove or bypass blockages.  
• Assessment of Anomalies: CCTA can also identify other cardiac anomalies, such as congenital heart defects or abnormalities in the structure of the coronary arteries.
• Peace of Mind: Regular CCTA scans can provide peace of mind for individuals at higher risk of heart disease, allowing them to monitor changes in plaque buildup over time and make necessary adjustments to their health regimen.