Aging looks like many different things. However, it is crucial to attack it on a cellular level and treat the body and mind as a whole to reverse aging. Wellness is more than just physical fitness; it is about being happy with who you are and your impact on this world.
This list of the best supplements that reverse aging will guide you on your journey to living your best life and being the best version of yourself that you aim to be.
Doing our best to age gracefully
While we definitely can’t stop aging from happening, we can certainly do our part to slow it down and reverse some aspects of aging.
(Side note from Iva) As I am now in my 60s, I have started making changes to my diet and my skincare routine that have helped me fight the aging demons! While I truly believe this list of supplements that reverse aging is fantastic, it’s important to take care of yourself in other ways, too.
Quitting smoking, cutting back on alcohol, and watching the foods you eat also play a huge role in your health and aging. Just some food for thought!
(This post contains affiliate links, so if you make a purchase, I may make a small commission-affiliate disclosure here)
Are There Supplements to Reverse Aging?
While no supplement can stop aging, we’ve come up with a list of the best anti-aging supplements we could find that will certainly help slow it down, at the very least. I believe that a proper diet, exercise, proper hydration, and the supplements listed below will help you keep aging at bay.
Remember, nothing good comes easy. You must be devoted and committed to your well-being. While we really have no control of biological aging, we can certainly do our part to slow it down or age gracefully.
7 Best Supplements that Reverse Aging
Here is the list of supplements that reverse aging. Please always check with your doctor or health care practitioner before introducing new vitamins, supplements, or minerals into your daily diet.
1 Collagen
There are 28 different types of collagen; the more common types: are I, II, III, V, and X. Collagen I and III are for complexion and muscles, and type II is for joint health. However, they are all beneficial in improving muscle strength, just like whey or plant protein.
The additional benefit of collagen is that it helps with gut health and improves joint health even though most protein powders are for muscle health; as you age, joints are more of a concern, therefore increasing your collagen consumption and production can be very important to minimize deterioration.
Vitamin C also increases collagen production and wound healing.
A study utilized acetaminophen with collagen II, and the individuals who took both had significantly decreased symptoms of osteoarthritis. Although the study was done with acetaminophen, a natural alternative would be DLPA or turmeric. They are more beneficial for gut health and naturally reduce pain and inflammation.
2 5-HTP
Depression is a significant concern for aging adults, especially with decreased exercise and time spent indoors. Over 34 million adults over age 65 suffer from depression, and only 3% of those individuals receive treatment for their mental health.
5-HTP is a precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is low in individuals suffering from a depressive disorder. 5-HTP is a form of tryptophan that does not compete with other amino acids when absorbed. Whereas tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin, it has to be taken separately from other proteins so it does not compete with more potent amino acids.
80-90% of serotonin comes from the gut, so it is imperative to take care of your gut health.
Mindfulness-based stress reduction is a way to help you be aware of the positivity in your life you may be overlooking, and it is similar to mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. This is where you allow yourself to soak in the present things you have to look forward to and live in the moment. Despite what is going on, you are drowning out the noise and focusing on how you feel currently.
3 Magnesium
Magnesium is a mineral, and it is necessary for over 300 different processes in our bodies, including
- bone creation,
- natural muscle relaxer,
- blood pressure,
- sleep,
- hydration,
- anxiety,
- blood sugar, and more.
In addition, magnesium comes in various forms, which means it is bound to different amino acids for other purposes.
Magnesium threonate is magnesium that crosses the blood-brain barrier and can be helpful for cognitive function, memory, headaches, and more.
Magnesium improves bone density by working alongside vitamins D, K, and calcium to remove calcium from the bloodstream and place it into bones. This is why it is not beneficial to take just a calcium supplement alone if you are trying to improve your DEXA scan results.
4 Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy
Progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone are your main sex hormones, and both men and women have all three of them but in different quantities. Hormones play a significant role in energy levels, bone density, insomnia, temperature, mood, endurance, etc.
BHRT, or Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, is typically done with an integrative or holistic doctor. However, you can find topical creams that separately increase testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone.
Supplementing with a pregnenolone cream can increase your estrogen production, which declines significantly as you age and even more rapidly after menopause for women. Men begin decreasing testosterone levels in their 20s and 30s; by the time they are in their 70s, they do not have deficient testosterone levels as low as only 25% of what they had when they were younger.
You can supplement with progesterone creams and testosterone creams or supplements. These testosterone supplements decrease the amount of testosterone in your body that converts to estrogen, contributing to male pattern baldness, muscle loss, etc.
Progesterone and pregnenolone creams are absorbed through your skin and can bypass the liver since they are not being digested.
5 Omega-3s
Omega 3 fatty acids are a type of fat found in fish oil, small amounts in grass-fed dairy, and some algae.
Omega 3s are a popular anti-aging supplement because of their long list of benefits; here are just a few:
- Anti-inflammatory
- Increase Memory
- Blood Thinners
- Blood Pressure Support
- Pain
- Wound Healing
- Heart Health
Omega-3s are an essential part of your diet to help counteract the high amount of omega-6s consumed daily from vegetable oils and certain processed foods.
6 Antioxidants
EGCG is an antioxidant found in green tea, and it is heart-protective, just like carotenoids, which are beneficial for eye health and come from carrots. Many different plants contain antioxidants that help reverse aging on a cellular level. Antioxidants counteract the oxidative stress we accrue from normal bodily processes in addition to environmental toxins and stress.
Stress has such a significant impact on our bodies, and the fact is that we will never be without stress; we just have to learn how to deal with it better!
Antioxidants are in many different foods, and there is a variety of antioxidants that help decrease inflammation, protect your cognitive function, and help reverse signs of aging.
7 Saw Palmetto Extract
Bladder control may be an issue that ruins your day; Saw Palmetto Extract improves urinary dysfunction in men with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). It does not interact with most prescription drugs, and it is not reported to have any side effects. (Suzuki et al., 2009) It can be purchased at your local health food store in a soft gel or capsule form.
Saw Palmetto also has antiandrogenic effects that help prevent testosterone from converting to DHT via the 5a-reductase enzyme. DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is responsible for male-patterned baldness in men and women, hirsutism (facial hair growth in women), and it can contribute to sexual dysfunction in men.
What Vitamins Tighten Crepey Skin?
This seems like a million-dollar question. Many women over 50 or 60 are starting to show signs of crepey skin, and let’s be honest, we hate it.
While there are no miracle drugs or vitamins that tighten crepey skin, you may want to consider cosmetic surgery if that’s your thing. There are some over-the-counter creams that may help, like Retinol, but for proven lasting effects, surgery may be your best bet and possibly your only option.
Other Supplements for Longevity and Antiaging
While I’m no doctor or health care professional, I do my research and try to find the best supplements for brain health and physical health. In my discovery, I’ve also found a few more you might want to try.
Please don’t forget to always check with your doctor before adding any types of supplements to your daily diet. If you are on medication, some of these supplements may not pair well.
- Lion’s Mane
- Vitamin E
- Resveratrol
- CoQ10
- Curcumin
In Summary
While this list contains some of the best antiaging supplements, it’s important to do your own research and find what’s best for you.
Many different natural supplements and foods help slow the process of aging and help eliminate some unwanted symptoms. Although aging may seem like a negative thing for some, there are many things you can do to enjoy every moment of life.
Combining healthy lifestyle choices, supplementation, and challenging yourself to see the good in life and laugh as much as possible will make aging seem a breeze. This list of the best supplements that reverse aging is an excellent start to holistically improving your health (targeting many different aspects).
“You don’t stop laughing when you grow old; you grow old when you stop laughing.” ~George Bernard Shaw
Author Bio: Megan Santiago is a Clinical Mental Health Counselor in training. She runs her blog Holistic-Momma.com, teaching readers about natural ways to cope with their mental health. Megan has worked in the natural health industry for many years and is integrating that with her education in mental health. She has also coped with her anxiety naturally, and she loves teaching others how to do the same.
References:
Bakilan, F., Armagan, O., Ozgen, M., Tascioglu, F., Bolluk, O., & Alatas, O. (2016). Effects of Native Type II Collagen Treatment on Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial. The Eurasian journal of medicine, 48(2), 95–101. https://doi.org/10.5152/eurasianjmed.2015.15030
Suzuki, M., Ito, Y., Fujino, T., Abe, M., Umegaki, K., Onoue, S., Noguchi, H., & Yamada, S. (2009). Pharmacological effects of saw palmetto extract in the lower urinary tract. Acta pharmacologica Sinica, 30(3), 227–281. https://doi.org/10.1038/aps.2009.1
do any multivitamins reverse aging ??