“Getting old is for the birds.” Have you uttered those words yourself or heard others say that? Do you find yourself talking about your aches, pains, and age-related concerns now more than ever? Your health affects nearly every aspect of life – sleep, mobility, activities of daily living, work, social interactions, finances, and more.

Aging well is a lifetime process of healthy choices with diet, lifestyle, exercise, family, friends, and spiritual connections. Add environmental exposures, family genetics, microbiome balance, and much more. Aging is inevitable, but making healthy, insightful choices can enhance your ability to age well.

An important component of healthy aging is the inclusion of plant-based nutrients that modulate sirtuins (SIRTs). Emphasizing SIRT-rich foods and adding SIRT modulating supplements for a lifetime helps optimize your health for better “golden years”.

SIRT Antiaging Compounds

Sirtuins or SIRTs are anti-aging compounds that are major regulators of cellular physiology to maintain cellular homeostasis. SIRTs are involved with several critical cellular pathways like AMPK, PI3K/AKT, and mTOR which regulate the anabolic (rebuild) and catabolic (breakdown) processes.

At the Core of Cellular Aging

Sirtuins/SIRTs are involved with the core of cellular aging. They are deeply involved with managing antioxidant-oxidant balance, mitochondrial function and biogenesis, inflammatory mechanisms, DNA repair, insulin sensitivity, glucose and lipid metabolism, apoptosis, and NAD production.

Sirtuins regulate the secretion of inflammatory mediators and neuroimmune cells like dendritic cells and macrophages. An imbalance of sirtuins in cells results in increased cellular stress with increased production of TNF-a, NF-kappa B, NLRP3 inflammasome proteins, and other pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Sirtuins quench and suppress free radicals like reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as COX2 and iNOS expression. Sirtuin activities occur within capillaries and blood vessels, nervous system glial cells, and mitochondria. Aging well depends on maintaining these healthy functions.

Types of SIRTs

SIRT1 is the most well-studied compound of sirtuins. SIRT1 regulates pancreatic insulin secretion and regulates insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake and usage.

It also affects DNA repair, neuroprotection, and vascular protection. SIRT1 is found in your brain, heart, kidneys, liver, retina (eye), skeletal muscle, blood vessels, uterus, and adipose tissue.

Other sirtuins (SIRT2-7) are found in these and other tissues. On a cellular level, sirtuins are found in the nucleus, nucleoli, cytoplasm, and mitochondria.

As your body ages and experiences high levels of wear-and-tear, it leads to oxidative stress, DNA damage, cellular aging or senescence, and apoptosis. Early in life, SIRT1 and other sirtuin levels are working efficiently and with high cellular levels which maintain a healthy balance for repair. Over time SIRT1 and other sirtuin levels get out of balance and decline.

Dietary Bioactive Sirtuins

Numerous studies demonstrate that a diet rich in phytochemicals modulates sirtuin activity, restoring balance and replenishing cellular levels. Fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, tea, olive oil, and red wine contain bioactive sirtuin modulating nutrients. Dietary sources include:

• Berberine: herb. It is a SIRT1 modulator.

• Curcumin: herbal spice. It is SIRT1, SIRT3, SIRT4, and SIRT6 modulator.

• Fisetin: Strawberries provide the richest source of fisetin with considerably less found in apples, persimmons, onions, grapes, kiwis, and other foods. Fisetin is a SIRT1 modulator.

• Luteolin: celery, parsley, broccoli, onion leaves, carrots, peppers, white radish, cabbages, apple skins, with lesser amounts in peppermint, brussels sprouts, spinach, beets, and other foods and spices. Luteolin modulates SIRT1, SIRT3, SIRT6. Luteolin can cross the blood brain barrier making it highly valuable for brain health with cognitive function, mental health, vision, 

• Quercetin: the highest amounts is found in onion followed by spinach, cranberries, kale, asparagus, broccoli, cherries, blueberries, with lesser amounts in other fruits, vegetables, teas, and red wine. Quercetin is a SIRT1 and SIRT6 modulator.

• Resveratrol: the highest content is found in walnuts and tangerines, followed by sweet potatoes peaches, oranges, grapefruit, grapes, apples, pears, strawberries, tomatoes, peanuts, cranberries, hops with minimal amounts in other foods and red wine. Resveratrol is a SIRT1 modulator.

• Other sources of sirtuin rich foods include cabbage, cauliflower, beans, garlic, medjool dates, capers, green tea, olive oil, dark chocolate, and coffee. Choose organic, locally grown as much as possible.

A lifetime of healthy dietary and lifestyle choices helps you age gracefully with vitality. Yet, many Americans are aging faster than previous generations despite the advances and billions of dollars spent on health care. A large percentage of the population is using multiple prescription drugs with no end-date of use to maintain some semblance of health. The Western Diet, sedentary lifestyles, high stress, and environmental toxins place a great toll on health and are void of the support provided by sirtuin-rich foods.

To help you get back on track, start by incorporating 1-3 or more of the foods listed above into your diet each day. These daily intakes are essential for lifelong health. However, one serving a few times per week or even daily will not provide nutritionally relevant support. For example, one tangerine weighing 3.5 oz provides 1 mg of resveratrol per serving and is considered a food rich in resveratrol.

More clinically relevant bioactive sirtuin support can be found in supplements. Here are some great options to add to your arsenal.

Boost Sirtuin Activity with Nutritional Supplements

Berberine

• Berberine Ultra™ contains Berbevis® Berberine Phytosome™, a dramatic advancement in berberine supplementation. A single 550mg capsule of Berberine Ultra™ shows four times better bioavailability compared to 500mg of Berberine HCL.

Curcumin Options

• Turmeric Gold is an advanced turmeric extract with superior curcuminoid absorption and bioavailability. It is shown to be 24 times more bioavailable than standardized turmeric extract with black pepper.

• Repair Plus: is a multi-decade-long customer favorite for all sorts of concerns related to repair and overall support needs. It provides a blend of Turmeric Gold, quercetin, bromelain, and papain.

• Brain Protector™ combines four potent nerve and brain protecting ingredients that are designed to help you maintain healthy brain function as you age. These four ingredients include optimized curcumin proven to cross the blood brain barrier, wild blueberries, R-alpha lipoic acid, and fisetin.

Quercetin

• Quercetin has been a customer favorite for decades. It supports the function of your immune system, respiratory tract, gut, brain, bones, metabolism and more.

• Quercetin Phytosome + Luteolin is new to our product line and already a hit! Quercetin Phytosome provides superior bioavailability with up to 20 times better absorption than regular quercetin. Luteolin is another flavonoid proven to cross the blood brain barrier and is also a SIRT activator. This dynamic duo is an excellent resource for numerous reasons.

• Repair Plus: contains quercetin with turmeric, bromelain, and papain.

Fisetin

• Fisetin contains 100 mg of a branded extract of the flavonoid fisetin, called Novusetin. It is a nootropic, or a smart nutrient, which are compounds that enhance brain function. It is also one of nature’s most potent senolytics. Senolytic compounds support the body's process of clearing senescent cells

• Brain Protector provides 50 mg of fisetin (Novusetin) combined with R-alpha lipoic Acid, curcumin, and wild blueberries.

Resveratrol

• Resveratrol Ultra 500™ contains 500mg of highly bioavailable trans-resveratrol per capsule! This optimized resveratrol supplement is standardized to 98% active trans-resveratrol. Most resveratrol supplements are just 50% trans-resveratrol, and this is what you can assume if no percentage is listed on a product.

• Cardio Helper provides a blend of resveratrol with grape seed extract, horse chestnut, and hawthorn berry. This has been a customer favorite for about 30 years!

• Pterostilbene: This compound is a cousin to resveratrol. Due to its biological structure, it provides up to 4 times better absorption than resveratrol. It is also a sirtuin modulator.

Aging is normal, but how well you age is up to you. Supporting your body with SIRT-activating foods and supplements helps protect your cells, boost energy, and maintain vitality. Start with small daily choices and you can enjoy sharper focus, stronger resilience, and brighter golden years.