A Harvard Medical School professor says "The red wine chemical resveratrol extends the life of every organism we give it to."
Dramatic human proof of this comes from reports of a 46% longer life span in Burgundy France. High levels of resveratrol are found in the grape skins of the Burgundy red grapes. Burgundy is a tough growing climate environment and grapes that survive here have especially high resveratrol content. The Monrovian purple grape appears to have 25 times more resveratrol than other grapes.
Here is a Reuter's news report coming from researchers at Brown University and the University of Connecticut: "What we have done is to find the molecules that potentially extend the life spans of people, not just their health spans".
Resveratrol is a buzz word in health science research. In the past 10 years over 500 medical research studies were performed. These studies consistently demonstrate that life expectancy can be increased an estimated 25 to 35 years.
How does resveratrol work? It stimulates a longevity gene. This triggers a defense enzyme that increases the individual's ability to repair itself.
Oxidative damage is the chief cause of destructive aging and resveratrol is also a powerful antioxidant that helps prevent this.
By preventing oxidative damage the genetic code (DNA) is preserved from a more rapid, age related destruction.
It is also interesting that in Sardinia Italy they have one of the highest life expectancies in the world. They consume a little red wine daily from an early age.
Red wine consumption is not an excuse to overindulge and create the health hazards of increased cardiovascular risk and cirrhosis of the liver. Resveratrol supplements are appearing in health food stores and supplement sources.
What are the health benefits that resveratrol researchers are finding?
" Reduced heart attacks
" Less damage from strokes
" Improved cognition
" Less fat accumulation
" Enhanced immune system against viruses
" Reduced cancers
" Youthful endurance and physical activity
" Youthful appearance
Recent animal studies show that increasing the levels of resveratrol increases the number of mitochondria inside all cells of the body. The significance of this is that mitochondria are the energy factories for individual cells.
One benefit of increasing the number of mitochondria is the reduction of fat. The more efficient the energy production, the more efficient the fat burn by these energy factories.
The second benefit of increased resveratrol is activation of the longevity gene. (This is clearly proven by longevity studies on humans). Where there are high levels of resveratrol, long term, this means as much as a 46% increase in life expectancyas was shown in Burgundy, France.
This longevity gene, SIRT1, promotes better glucose and insulin control which translates into more energy and less fat gain and diabetes.
According to Dr. Mark Stengler in his Bottom Line Natural Healing Newsletter of January 09, metabolism and weight control greatly benefit from resveratrol.
Much current research is now being done. Preliminary studies show two areas of why longevity is extended. The first is believed due to the activity of the longevity gene, SIRT1; it is stimulated and activated. The second is co-related to oxidative damagethe mother of all degenerative diseases.
Robb and others in their research on the biochemistry and biophysics (published in that journal) found a 14 fold increase in the activity of MnSOD (SOD2). The significance of this is that it reduces oxidative damage due to free radicals. (loose electrons). This inhibits heart disease, cancer and all the other inflammatory, degenerative diseases that shorten your life.
SOD2 confers resistance to mitochondrial dysfunction and thereby directly helps heart strength. The mitochondria are the energy factories in all cells. The heart muscle needs at least 4 to 5 times the amount of energy that other cells need. Heart failure is reduced as well as definitely reducing the inflammatory effect of the free radicals.
Heart failure, due to lack of energy from the mitochondria, plus inflammatory atherosclerosis, are the primary factors in heart disease. Resveratrol enormously reduces heart disease. Resveratrol is the most plausible reason for increased life expectancy. (It inhibits other degenerative diseases, thereby also extending longevity)
In animal studies, mice fed unhealthy fats and free radical damaging diets, confirm that indeed oxidative damage was reduced by resveratrol and life expectancy was increased. In other words, in spite of a lousy diet with exposure to free radicals, the resveratrol supplemented mice lived longer and had more physical endurance.
All degenerative diseases benefit from the reduction of free radicals; they are paramount to all degenerative diseases. A heart healthy diet and good supplements make sense for staying healthy and living longer.
The dramatic extension of longevity has caused the phenomenon in Burgundy to be called the "French Paradox". It is a paradox because of the high fat, poor diet consumed by the Burgundy residents; yet they have a better cardiovascular health than most Westernersresidents of the U.S.A.
Some scientists began to question is resveratrol alone the full cause of increased longevity? It turns out there is evidence of another factor.
Dr. Jay Rowen, M.D. reports in his June 2009 newsletter, Second Opinion, that there appears to another factor in the red wine that contributes to longevity. It comes to light from research done at the University of California in Davis. Dr. Andrew Waterhouse, professor there, reports that ingredients called saponins are not only present in the resveratrol but also in the wine itself. They come from the wax in the wine skins.
Research shows that the saponins are plant sterols that are similar to cholesterol but are not harmful, but helpful to your health in two ways. They substitute for the cholesterol, hindering accumulation of it in the arteries and they are antioxidants that reduce inflammation. Antioxidants reduce free radical damage that affects your DNA and genetic code. Damaged DNA produces sick cells that lead to all kinds of degenerative diseases.
Dr. Stengler quotes a colleague, Carrie Doenell, N.D., this: "Energy and weight loss improve in 75% of those taking supplemental resveratrol." Researcher, Dr. Doenell recommends taking 125 mg of resveratrol daily as a preventative measure.
Showing posts with label Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Life. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Self-directed Iras - Why Dividend-paying Whole Life Insurance Offers An Attractive Alternative
Are self-directed IRAs all that they are built up to be? Let's consider that question. We've all been sold on the idea of IRAs as a wise investment product. Contributions accumulate in value during your working years, allowing you to enjoy the fruits of your labor upon retirement. And they do offer tax benefits to their owners. Sounds great. But when looked at closely, you begin to see the limitations of IRAs.
Understanding the Limitations of Self-directed IRAs
Self-directed IRAs, in particular, are attractive to many people who like the idea of controlling where their money is invested. You can use these accounts to contribute and control your investments in the stocks, funds or bonds of your choosing. When using traditional IRAs, your contributions and capital gains are tax-deferred, allowing more of your money to be used in an investment strategy.
The limitations of these IRAs, however, is in their nameIndividual Retirement Accounts. As a financial tool, these accounts are strictly for retirement, and they are regulated by the IRS as such. If you don't follow their rules, you can lose your tax benefits.
To begin with, the tax benefits of these accounts are limited. Contributions to traditional IRAs are made tax-free, but get taxed upon distribution. Roth IRA contributions go in after tax, but distributions are tax free. Also, if your Adjusted Gross Income is K or more (single) or 9K or more (married) then you will receive no deduction on your federal income tax filings for your self-directed IRA contributions. So for those earning more than those amounts, these accounts are hardly a tax relief vehicle and seriously limits their value as an investment product.
The IRS also regulates the contribution amounts, investment use and distribution of these types of accounts. There are limits as to how much you can contribute annually. Currently, if you are younger than 50, ,000 is your limit. If you are older than 50, you can contribute up to ,000.
Self-directed IRAs are also limited by what you can use your money for. There is a self-dealing rule, for example, that says you can't act or benefit on your own behalf as a trustee of your money. Basically, you can't have any direct or indirect personal involvement or gain from any of your investments. That includes renting a house you bought to a family member. If you used self-directed IRA funds to purchase that house, you can't even fix the kitchen sink...let alone allow your niece to rent it. These investment limitations are fairly severe.
The same limitations exist when it comes to the distribution of your funds. With few exceptions, you can't access your funds until you reach the IRS retirement age. If you do so, those funds will be subject to the normal income tax plus a 10% withdrawal penalty.
Offering a Better Way
Dividend paying whole life insurance offers a platform that provides many of the same benefits of an IRA, but without the limitations. In fact, when used as an Infinite Banking System, the cash value growth and tax benefits of these policies go above and beyond most retirement investment strategies.
With a dividend-paying whole life policy that is structured to work as an Infinite Banking System, policyholders will benefit from:
tax-deferred income growth
tax-free distributions via policy loans
tax-free withdrawals up to your basis
no contribution restrictions, subject to health underwriting
no income-level restrictions
a death benefit for beneficiaries
Understanding the Infinite Banking Concept
So what is Infinite Banking? It's a financial philosophy of being your own bank and its predicated on the tax and investment advantages of a whole life policy. You will fund your account with your premium payments. The insurance company will, in turn, invest a portion of your premiums in very safe financial instruments such as bonds. These will be be diversified by industry, maturity and geography for added investment security.
Gains from these investments will be factored with overall performance of the insurance company. The costs of overhead, mortality (death benefit payouts) and other expenses are subtracted from the gains. What's left is the excess that can be given back to the policyholders as dividends. Typically, these policies have a guaranteed tax-free growth rate of around 4%.
Through your premium payments and dividend earnings, the cash value within your policy will begin to grow, and that's where the greatest benefits begin. You get to be your own bank.
When you put money into a traditional financial institution, they will pay you a small amount of interest. When you borrow from that financial institution, they will charge you a greater amount of interest. In the banking industry this is known as the spread, and it's how financial institutions make their money.
A dividend-paying whole life insurance policy allows you to lend money to yourself using the cash values within your policy. You control these funds and dictate the re-payment terms. That means you set the interest rate, the amortization period and other loan terms. As you pay back the loan, you also pay yourself interest, and collect the spread that would otherwise go to your lending institution. There are no penalties for a late or missed payment. And there are no loan fees or other transaction fees.
You can use these personal loans anyway you want. Finance your car, pay yourself back. Finance your roof, pay yourself back. Finance your business, pay yourself back. You're in control, not the IRS.
In addition to the income growth opportunities available, there are numerous other benefits to the Infinite Banking Concept. By borrowing money from a properly structured dividend paying whole life insurance policy you can enjoy tax-deferred growth of money, tax-free distributions via policy loans, and an income-tax free death benefit for your heirs.
Who wouldn't want a place where they can put their money to grow tax-deferred without all the limitations of a self-directed IRA. By using a dividend-paying whole life policy as an Infinite Banking System, you have full liquidity, use and control of your money. Instead of discouraging self-dealing, the Infinite Banking System encourages you to use your funds whenever and wherever you can in your own life.
Understanding the Limitations of Self-directed IRAs
Self-directed IRAs, in particular, are attractive to many people who like the idea of controlling where their money is invested. You can use these accounts to contribute and control your investments in the stocks, funds or bonds of your choosing. When using traditional IRAs, your contributions and capital gains are tax-deferred, allowing more of your money to be used in an investment strategy.
The limitations of these IRAs, however, is in their nameIndividual Retirement Accounts. As a financial tool, these accounts are strictly for retirement, and they are regulated by the IRS as such. If you don't follow their rules, you can lose your tax benefits.
To begin with, the tax benefits of these accounts are limited. Contributions to traditional IRAs are made tax-free, but get taxed upon distribution. Roth IRA contributions go in after tax, but distributions are tax free. Also, if your Adjusted Gross Income is K or more (single) or 9K or more (married) then you will receive no deduction on your federal income tax filings for your self-directed IRA contributions. So for those earning more than those amounts, these accounts are hardly a tax relief vehicle and seriously limits their value as an investment product.
The IRS also regulates the contribution amounts, investment use and distribution of these types of accounts. There are limits as to how much you can contribute annually. Currently, if you are younger than 50, ,000 is your limit. If you are older than 50, you can contribute up to ,000.
Self-directed IRAs are also limited by what you can use your money for. There is a self-dealing rule, for example, that says you can't act or benefit on your own behalf as a trustee of your money. Basically, you can't have any direct or indirect personal involvement or gain from any of your investments. That includes renting a house you bought to a family member. If you used self-directed IRA funds to purchase that house, you can't even fix the kitchen sink...let alone allow your niece to rent it. These investment limitations are fairly severe.
The same limitations exist when it comes to the distribution of your funds. With few exceptions, you can't access your funds until you reach the IRS retirement age. If you do so, those funds will be subject to the normal income tax plus a 10% withdrawal penalty.
Offering a Better Way
Dividend paying whole life insurance offers a platform that provides many of the same benefits of an IRA, but without the limitations. In fact, when used as an Infinite Banking System, the cash value growth and tax benefits of these policies go above and beyond most retirement investment strategies.
With a dividend-paying whole life policy that is structured to work as an Infinite Banking System, policyholders will benefit from:
tax-deferred income growth
tax-free distributions via policy loans
tax-free withdrawals up to your basis
no contribution restrictions, subject to health underwriting
no income-level restrictions
a death benefit for beneficiaries
Understanding the Infinite Banking Concept
So what is Infinite Banking? It's a financial philosophy of being your own bank and its predicated on the tax and investment advantages of a whole life policy. You will fund your account with your premium payments. The insurance company will, in turn, invest a portion of your premiums in very safe financial instruments such as bonds. These will be be diversified by industry, maturity and geography for added investment security.
Gains from these investments will be factored with overall performance of the insurance company. The costs of overhead, mortality (death benefit payouts) and other expenses are subtracted from the gains. What's left is the excess that can be given back to the policyholders as dividends. Typically, these policies have a guaranteed tax-free growth rate of around 4%.
Through your premium payments and dividend earnings, the cash value within your policy will begin to grow, and that's where the greatest benefits begin. You get to be your own bank.
When you put money into a traditional financial institution, they will pay you a small amount of interest. When you borrow from that financial institution, they will charge you a greater amount of interest. In the banking industry this is known as the spread, and it's how financial institutions make their money.
A dividend-paying whole life insurance policy allows you to lend money to yourself using the cash values within your policy. You control these funds and dictate the re-payment terms. That means you set the interest rate, the amortization period and other loan terms. As you pay back the loan, you also pay yourself interest, and collect the spread that would otherwise go to your lending institution. There are no penalties for a late or missed payment. And there are no loan fees or other transaction fees.
You can use these personal loans anyway you want. Finance your car, pay yourself back. Finance your roof, pay yourself back. Finance your business, pay yourself back. You're in control, not the IRS.
In addition to the income growth opportunities available, there are numerous other benefits to the Infinite Banking Concept. By borrowing money from a properly structured dividend paying whole life insurance policy you can enjoy tax-deferred growth of money, tax-free distributions via policy loans, and an income-tax free death benefit for your heirs.
Who wouldn't want a place where they can put their money to grow tax-deferred without all the limitations of a self-directed IRA. By using a dividend-paying whole life policy as an Infinite Banking System, you have full liquidity, use and control of your money. Instead of discouraging self-dealing, the Infinite Banking System encourages you to use your funds whenever and wherever you can in your own life.
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