Healthy Aging

Physical Activity

Moderate physical activity as part of everyday life

According to Dr. Anne Fabiny, a geriatrician and assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, there is a remedy similar to the fountain of youth: it is exercise. As described in the recent work of the famous Harvard University (Living Better and Longer, Harvard Health Publications, 2010):

• Exercise reduces your risk of being affected by a myriad of diseases, helps you maintain strong,
  healthy bones, and helps maintain your vitality and health independence as age progresses. Learn more

• Staying active improves mood and mental functions. By strengthening your muscles and eliminating your excess weight, you relieve your aching joints.
• Some people discover that regular exercise allows them to reduce their use of medications, such as treatments for hypertension or diabetes, thereby reducing their health costs and mitigating adverse effects.

A study on moderate exercise found even greater benefits on longevity: an additional 3 to 5.7 years of life depending on the frequency of activity (Americans aged 65 and over, Living Better and Longer, Harvard Health Publications, 2010).

The beneficial effects of physical activity on longevity and aging come largely from a stimulation of our natural defenses against oxidation. Repeated physical activity helps maintain these antioxidant defenses at a consistently higher level. A review of more than 50 pages of recent literature reviews the importance of this approach to human health (Ristow and Schmeisser, 2014. Mitohormesis – promotion and health and lifespan by increased levels of reactive oxygen species)See figure

It is recommended to practice aerobic physical activity of moderate intensity for at least 2.5 hours (150 minutes) per week or, at least, 1.15 hours (75 minutes) of a high intensity activity, or a combination of both.

• During an activity of moderate intensity you are capable of speaking, but unable to sing; during an activity of high intensity, you would be capable of saying a few words without having to take a breath.
• Moderate activities include lawn mowing, brisk walking, treadmill, skating and cycling.
• High intensity activities include running, playing basketball, swimming, playing soccer and cross-country skiing.

Vitoli Products

Using the products from the VITOLI^® product line

It is the sum of positive behaviours/actions undertaken in order to age well, which will guarantee the best results. Dietary supplements, commonly known as “natural health products”, are part of this. There are a large number of products aimed at preventing certain health problems or aim towards maintaining certain specific physical abilities.

The Vitoli^® product line is offered by Les Laboratoire Idunn Technologies; a company specialized in healthy aging. The formulations of the Vitoli^® product line are focused on effectiveness: the best plant extracts, supplemented with vitamins and minerals essential for healthy aging. Start by taking Vitoli^® Healthy Aging and complete your selection with the health facets that are most important to you. Do not hesitate to consult to your doctor and pharmacist; they will readily help you.

The formulations of the Vitoli^® product line have been qualified to uphold up to 5 health claims per product: read the labels carefully and follow the instructions for the use of each product.

See all our products

Healthy Diet

A healthy, balanced diet, rich in fruits and vegetables.

It is well known that a balanced diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, can reduce the incidence of cancer and multiple diseases, whether related to aging or not.

The best advice we can give you regarding fruit and vegetable consumption is vary your purchases. To consistently have varied fruits and vegetables on hand promotes their consumption, especially when it comes to snacking. Take the opportunity to add color to your prepared meals by setting a simple goal, for example, three different colours per meal. Try to maintain a ratio of two times more vegetables than meat on your plate.

Recommendations and easy tips

Here are 10 easy tips from the 25 recommendations in the book ”Live younger, longer”. We suggest you select one per month that you will implement.

1. Try to eat only whole grain products. You should aim for 3 to 4 servings a day: brown rice, wild rice, pasta and bread.
2. Reduce your consumption of red meat and limit cold cuts.
3. Increase your consumption of fish; try different varieties.
4. Prepare raw vegetables in advance (e.g. celery and carrot); when you’re looking to fill a craving, you’ll be ready.
5. Leave nuts on your kitchen counter and work desk.
6. Eat slowly; it takes about 20 minutes for the human body to say that it is no longer hungry. Discipline yourself to eat just enough.
7. Set satiating foods: fruits and vegetables (5 servings a day), nuts, milk, yogurt, whole grains, legumes, fish.
8. Decrease the consumption of empty-calorie foods: sugar, sugary drinks, refined starchy foods, junk food, cookies, etc.
9. Use olive oil preferably, or canola oil.
10. Consume alcohol in moderation: no more than 3 drinks a day (2 for women), no more than 15 drinks a week (10 for women); 1 serving is equivalent to: 1 beer, 1 glass of wine or 1.5 oz of spirits.

Consult a nutritionist for specific recommendations applicable to you and your family.

In this context, we warmly recommend the book of the renowned nutritionist, Ms. Hélène Baribeau. In her recent book, Bien mangé pour être au top! (January 2013), Ms. Baribeau presents how to adopt an anti-aging diet that will directly help keep you at the top of your game. The book revolves around 11 aspects in which nutrition has a major impact: our energy level, our brain faculties, digestion, muscle and bone mass, weight and waist circumference, joints, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and longevity in good health.

Stress Reduction

Stress Reduction

Stress is both a poison of existence and a powerful source of motivation. This is probably one of the most neglected aspects of our lives and can be the source of very important issues :

• About 80% of medical consultations would be related to stress in a direct or indirect way (Dr.
  Herbert Benson, Harvard Mind/Body Medical Institute),
• Stress could even be responsible for 60 to 80% of work-related injuries (American institute of stress).

It must be known that it is chronic stress, the stress present over long periods of time, which
causes a large number of negative impacts on health.Learn more

Here are some simple recommendations that can help you get on track to reduce the presence of bad stress. Do not hesitate to consult your doctor; they know what to do to help you.

• Be positive: see life on the bright side, cultivate positive thinking, look for opportunities to have fun and enjoy life.
• Give yourself attainable goals and discuss them with those around you.
• Evaluate your days positively and learn from them.
• Take breaks, give yourself time to think.
• Enjoy the time spent with family and friends; avoid making excuses to yourself in delaying these interactions.
• Create situations where you can relax with your loved ones: the best way to do this is to start by booking time.
• Assess your situations and stressors: get to know yourself and learn to let go.
• Give yourself simple ways to reduce anxiety; talk to your loved ones.

Social Life

Foster a family/friends network with whom to share/discuss opinions on how to live healthier, longer and to age well.

A study has shown that people aged 65 and over with a poor social life are 20% more likely to die from all causes than socially active people. Social life enhances cognitive abilities, physical abilities and our positive perception on life. One of the most compelling studies on the importance of social life is that women with breast cancer are four times more likely to survive if they have a large circle of friends than those who do not.

In order to fully benefit from the effects of socialization on longevity, we must help, be helped, feel supported, and be encouraged by our group. It requires cohesion, a culture of mutual help and “good neighbourliness”. It is for this reason that family relationships are at the forefront of beneficial relationships. The family is often a source of true relationships, with those who really know us and have seen us grow up (Ditzen and Heinrichs, 2014. Psychobiology of social support – The social dimension of stress buffering).

• Be open to having real friends; those who have really answered the question: How are you? Those whom you can count on and who can count on you too.
• Reserve quality time for your social life.
• Discuss with your friends and family about your efforts to live well and feel better.
• Be socially active; this will also help your physical activity efforts.

From the books “Live Younger”

The books “live younger, longer” and “live younger, two times longer” written by éric simard, PhD in biology.

If you want to learn more about the facets of aging and get more tips for living healthier, longer, you can purchase the following books, written by Dr. Éric Simard, founder of Idunn Technologies who distributes the Vitoli^® product line.

“Live Younger Longer”
In this book, Dr. Éric Simard with the participation of several experienced scientific collaborators demystify aging and share with us an integrated approach to stay healthy for a longer period of time.
Did you know ?

• That there are species that do not age.
• That the processes of aging can be slowed down.
• That moderate physical activity increases our resistance to oxidation.
• That a woman with a large circle of friends is 4 times more likely to survive breast cancer.
• That some plants and foods have molecules that can improve the natural processes of maintenance and repair systems.

“This book is a vast reservoir of credible scientific data, clearly presented and analyzed, which
becomes easy to consult at any time, to better plan your daily lifestyle regime and thus extend the
years of life harmoniously and beneficially. Thank you, Éric for your dedication within this
domain and your judicious recommendations, which are easy to execute and within the reach of
all. It is within the excellence that characterizes you.”
–Dr Serge Carrière, retired specialist physician decorated by the Order of Canada

To learn more : https://vitoli.ca/en/our-products/live-young-longer/

 

“Live younger, TWO times longer”

In this book, 25 key questions are addressed concerning diseases associated with aging, science/biology and prevention. This book is for scientists, health professionals or anyone interested in disease prevention, as well as the best practices to maintain the full potential of our capabilities as we get older.

This book combines the knowledge and expertise of Dr. Simard, a doctor of biology and a researcher in the field of aging, Dr. Jacques Lambert, physician, Jean-Yves Dionne, pharmacist
and André Perreault, pharmacist. It addresses:

• The concept of “de-prescription” … do we take too much medicine?
• The notion of happiness and its link to health and aging.
• Ten tips for aging well.
• Conditions related to: memory, osteoporosis, prostate, diet, sleep, stress.
• Anecdotes including a 105-year-old record-breaking male cyclist and an 85-year-old lady holding more than 500 medals after having started competitive running from the age of 78.

To learn more : https://vitoli.ca/en/our-products/live-young-twice-as-long/