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The Wonderful Wizard, Dr. Oz

By Sophie Brink

Published on January 24, 2008

Oprah fans the world over have fallen in love with Dr. Mehmet C. Oz, a personable physician with a long string of positions, appointments, and professional honors attached to his name. This double-board-certified surgeon is also a double threat: he combines brains with a vivacious personality that is hard to forget. Women may swoon over the good doctor, a regular guest on Oprah, but both men and women pay attention to Dr. Oz, because many believe he has the map to the fountain of youth.

According to Dr. Oz and Dr. Michael Roizen, coauthors of the book YOU: Staying Young, the fountain of youth lies within all of us. We need only tap into this power to live to the ripe old age of 100. Yet, they believe that when it comes to living, quality vastly outweighs quantity. Follow their guide to staying young, the doctors explain, and you will feel better, look better, and love better.

The "Major Agers"

Dr. Oz refers to the biological mechanisms that make us older than our calendar years as the "Major Agers." Major Ager number one is responsible for memory loss. It involves the telomeres, the ends of our chromosomes. Telomeres, says Dr. Oz, are like shoelaces. Like the ends of a shoelace, our telomeres tend to fray with wear and tear. When our telomeres fray and shorten, we become susceptible to memory problems. The good news is that we can keep our telomeres strong by reducing stress and by exercising both our minds and our bodies.

Viva Las Vagus

The key to reducing stress is found within our own bodies, in the form of the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve (pronounced vay-gus) extends from the brain stem to the organs in the neck, thorax, and abdomen. It carries sensory information from these organs back to the brain. Too much sensory input, caused by mental or physical stress, can overload the brain, causing it to "short circuit." According to Dr. Oz, we can help to calm the vagus nerve by breathing deeply through our diaphragms and by regularly engaging in meditation or prayer.

Losing Omentum

Don't hit "spell check" just yet. The omentum is an organ attached to the stomach that stores fat. Not only responsible for causing the dreaded "beer belly," a larger omentum can also raise a person's risk for heart attack, says Dr. Oz. Reducing our waist size, then, means not only making our pants fit better, but keeping our hearts healthy.

Sexual Healing

It turns out that singer Marvin Gaye was right. Sexual healing really is good for you. In fact, there is an entire chapter devoted to sex in YOU: Staying Young. According to Dr. Oz, monogamous sex can help us lose weight and live longer. The key to a healthy sex drive, explains Dr. Oz, is maintaining a proper hormone balance. As we age, the production of certain hormones begins to decline. Eating healthy, exercising, getting enough sleep, and reducing stress can help to regulate our hormones and jump start our sex drives.

Reverse the Charges

Dr. Oz gives hope even to those of us who are aging poorly due to eating a poor diet, smoking, or engaging in other harmful behaviors. It takes only three months to begin to reverse the damage done to our bodies and minds, says Dr. Oz. Those interested in Dr. Oz and YOU: Staying Young can visit http://www.you-staying-young.com to learn more.

Editor's note: If you have questions for Dr. Oz himself, visit http://www.oprah.com/health/oz/ask/oz_ask_main.jhtml.

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Keyword Tags: weight loss, celebrities

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Comments

Dr. Oz,
I hope that this message will reach you. I really need help. I have so much trouble with my bowels. Years ago I was total that this was IBS. I have lived with this for so many years and now the pain is almost unbearable. I have had three colonoscopys in the past ten years, they were all ok. When I have an attack, it starts with severe constipation and stomach pain. Once I have a bowel movement, I then have diarrhea. I have to take something for pain before I can get some relief.I am having these attach weekly. I have been to the emergy room at the hopital several times when I was having an attack and they only give me something for pain and tell me to see my Doctor. If there is an information that you might give me, I would be so grateful.

Ann Jones, 3 months ago

Dear Dr. Oz
I have an a cute broncuites that I developed over three to five years ago living into a cold apartment building along with sinius. I saw you on Oprah show and you was explaining how to use a pot to clear sinus problem. How can I get that pot to buy because I am living in Canada and what can I use for broncuites cold?
I would be grateful for your advice.

Thank you kindly

Julie Barker, 3 months ago

It's called a "neti pot". A quick Google search should turn up plenty of results.

Johnny, 3 months ago

Dear Dr.Oz
I am at my witz end. I have sarcoidosis. My kidneys are part of that. I develop at least about every 6 month kidney stones and therefore have had at least 14 lithotrypsies over the past 20 years. I was told it is because of the high calcium in my blood. I am taking 5mg of prednisone daily also because of other implications regarding sarcoidosis [lungs, skin, sinusses, eyes. arthritus, psoriasis etc] I have specialists in many of those areas but most Doctors do not know what to do with sarcoid patients, especialy regarding my kidneys. My right kidney only works for 20 percent I am slowly loosing this kidney. Is there any advice you can give me I live close to Toronto. Maybe you can talk about this disease on the Oprah show I am sure that you know about this disease because many sarcoid patients have also heart problems and since you are a heart surgeon maybe you know more about sarcoidosis than some of the Doctors I have dealt with.
Hope to hear from you soon .
Sincerely yours, Marianna

marianna, 2 months ago

Dear Dr. Oz,
We are a DESPARATE family asking for your help! My mother has been diagnosed with breast cancer. she has two types of cancer, the smallest tumor contains about 1 mm of the cancer that spreads, and the largest tumor is the one that doesn't spread. the doctor wants to remove her whole breast area, should we do test before the surgery to see if the cancer has spread. or should we just have it remove without doing test?

Patricia , 2 months ago

I have PCOS. I have trouble lossing wieght, high cholestrol, and rebound hypoglycemia. I have one child that is 5 years old. My husband and I have been trying for about a year to get pregnant with no luck. I take Provera to start my cycle then 100 mgs of Clomid for 5 days. The meds make me very irrittable, and don't even get me started bout the hot flashes. Is there another way? Maybe some herbal meds?

Beth Evans, 2 months ago

Hi Doctor Oz,
I have reached desperation levels due to my wifes extreme pain in her hands and feet. Her skin is extremely sensitive and there are spasm like pains in her hands and feet to such an extent that she passed out in the hospital bed. She was on Omnipon, Atterax, Tramahexal and paracetamol intraveneously. It helped on occasion but did not eradicate the pain. The Neurologist is still doing blood tests but said that he thinks she may have fibromyalgia. She has reactive hypoglycaemia, acute anaemia and problems with an underactive thyroid. She has also had some very stressfull occurences in the last year.This pain started about twenty days ago and the severity has increased. She has had an MRI which showed no abnormalities. Her pain is so severe that she now can hardly walk or use her hands and she cannot sleep at all. She is now on 1200mg of neurontin and other pshycosemetic drugs at present but they do not seem to be working. Her emotional state is extremely brittle due to the relentless pain. Please help, I am now desperate.

Regards,
David Moraites.

David Moraites, about 1 month ago

To Beth Evans (q 6), re PCOS. Metformin is a miracle drug for women with PCOS, it treats so many of the symptoms, eg, regulates cycles, weight loss (in conjunction with exercise and a good carb, good fat and balanced diet), treats HBP and cholesterol as well as other symptoms. It is much more successful for falling pregnant than fertility drugs for PCOS.

Sophie Petersen, about 1 month ago

I also have PCOS and I take an oral contraceptive called Lindynette 20 and my period comes every month on time, but the problem I have is that I was slim and now I weigh about 145lbs. Do you think the pills are causing the weight gain?

Patrine Johnson, 25 days ago

Hi Patrine, I haven't heard of this pill but I am sure it is affecting your insulin levels which in turn puts on weight. My endocrinologist only recommends the Mirena device for (hormonal) contraceptive, he says that OCP increases insulin levels. Are you on Metformin? This will regulate your cycle and help you lose weight along with exercise and a healthy balanced eating plan (wholegrains, good fats etc) and reduce your insulin levels. Make sure you get your insulin tested too. Most doctors only check glucose levels, but ask them to test insulin as well. In Australia, the test is called a 2 hour GTT (glucose tolerance test) plus insulin. PCOS women tend to have normal glucose but high insulin (which causes the weight gain) and this can lead to diabetes when older if left untreated.

Sophie Petersen, 24 days ago

Hello, I love you! I eat very well for the most part, much whole grains, fresh fruits, veggies etc...I understand about reading labels etc. I have lichen planus and I am wondering if you would have any suggestions? I also have fibromylasia ( under control with diet for the most part), I am 49 yrs old, had a hysterectomy at 30 due to endometsis. A couple of years ago my family dr took me down from my nice dose of HRT to a low dose. I know have some atrophy etc.... I was wondering if you had any overall skin correction advice. Thanks! Mary

Mary, 16 days ago

CROHN'S DISEASE!!!! i'VE BEEN SUFFERING WITH THIS FOR OVER 7 YEARS NOW. Dr. Oz I need help!!!! I take the maximum dosage of Asacol, Remicade infusions,Potassium 20mq.,Predisone, and now they want to try the drug 6mp. I would like you and Oprah to do a show on a disease that very little people know about or understand. I feel with your help with my diet and some other things I could possibly go into remission. I'm so tired of living my life worrying about accidents,my sex life and normal everyday activities.
PLEASE PLEASE SAY YOU WILL HELP ME DR. OZ!!!!!!!!!!
THANK YOU,
KIMBERLY

Kimberly Jenkins, 7 days ago

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