Dr. Perricone's 7 Secrets to Beauty, Health, and Longevity: The Miracle of Cellular Rejuvenation

by Nicholas Perricone

Book Overview

He has shown us how to smooth our wrinkles, and helped us slim down without feeling deprived. Now #1 New York Times bestselling author Dr. Nicholas Perricone gives us an anti-aging program that... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345492455
• ISBN13: 9780345492456
• Release Date: November 2006
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 333 Pages
• Weight: 1.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 7.7" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

Great information

I really enjoy the books of Dr. Perricone. I think that he knows what he's talking about. This book continues the philosophy of his other publications: chronic inflammation (or the love of pro-inflammatory foods) is the root of all physiological evil. This book focuses on cellular rejuvenation, in particular, the need to protect the mitochondria (the powerhouse of the cell and site for ATP production, as we all learned years ago in high school biology) from extensive and lethal DNA damage. Dr. Denham Harman's free-radical theory of aging is now universally accepted to the point that food marketers have picked up on the hype of "antioxidants" (molecules that lend an electron to an excited free oxygen radical, thus stabilizing it and preventing oxidative damage to cells). In all the years my family has purchased boxes of Lipton black tea, we had never been informed until recently that we are in fact drinking in 105mg of Protective Antioxidants per serving. Dr. Perricone worked with Dr. Harman's free-radical theory and related it to his hypothesis that inflammation is the underlying cause of disease and aging. I think that Dr. Perricone and Dr. Harman are far-sighted scientists/physicians, and now the rest of the medical world is backpedaling and accepting the free-radical and inflammation-underlying-disease theories. Dr. Perricone says that Dr. Harman's work went unnoticed and unappreciated for decades. Fortunately, Dr. Perricone had the foresight to evaluate and later champion this free-radical theory before it became common knowledge. Another theme that Dr. Perricone comes back to time and time again is the need to control blood sugar levels, even if you are not diabetic. A diet high in refined, simple sugars will upset insulin levels and cause glycation (AKA cross-linking, sugar molecules attach to protein molecules, especially collagen, which in turn causes the previously flexible collagen to become rigid). Dr. Perricone recommends supplementing with cinnamon and niacin-bound chromium to regulate blood sugar levels. He gives us a scientific overview as to why these two supplements, one a spice we all love and the other a trace mineral, help our bodies maintain proper insulin function and normal blood sugar levels. I try to follow his dietary and supplemental guidelines as much as my budget will allow. I am hardly in an economic position to spend several hundred dollars on supplements every month and eat completely organic. Thankfully, organic food is becoming more available to the point that Meijers (a major supermarket/retailer in the Midwest) has its own organic food line that is reasonably priced. (I hope this in no way means that organic standards are being watered down.) Dr. Perricone's own line of supplements is way out of my budget, but other vitamin companies offer similar products at a third or so of the price. His skin products are for the wealthy and A-list celebrities only. Fortunately, Reviva Labs offers its

Loads of new info + good, updated review of basics

Despite having read all of his prior books, I was pleased to find that Perricone covers a lot of new ground in 7 Secrets, while recapping his core principles (avoid inflammatory foods, for one) in a fresh, streamlined manner salted heavily with new information. I found the info on pheromones and caralluma (for weight control) very interesting, and liked the Anti-Aging Kitchen chapter...good info on oils and cookware, etc. If you want to get started on a personal makeover, this is a good place to start...you'll understand the way diet influences everything, and the information on nutrition supplements is very sound...I've been in the technical end of the supplement industry for more than 20 years, know the research on most nutraceuticals, and can smell hype a mile away. Perricone has inspired many me-toos, but he still's the best at presenting the core info on diet, aging factors, skin health, and weight control in a clear way.

Wow - this is the one book I really needed to read this year!

Dr. Perricone, you are welcome in my house anytime! Thanks to you, I have an "anti-aging kitchen" exactly as you advised in the book. This big change caused quite a stir in my house. You inspired me to go through the cabinets, pantry and refrigerator and throw out everything that was not good for me. It wasn't easy - but all those cans, boxes and jars of food with horrendous ingredients are gone, gone, gone, and most of what I now eat is fresh, fresh, fresh! I am an active, high-achieving boomer who doesn't look my age and I would love to stay active, healthy and productive (I am never retiring!) into my 90s and beyond. (Well, why not!) I have read and loved all your books, but this last one, "7 Secrets of Beauty, Health and Longevity," is the one that really took hold. I am following every suggestion of yours to the letter---foods, supplements and physical exercise included. Already, and it hasn't been all that long, I look and feel much better. I also feel more, well, peaceful. Joyful might be too strong, life being the roller coaster that it is. But, thank you for the warm, sage advice. By the way, my mitochondria are happier too -- those "energizer bunnies" inside our cells. I love the way the book makes even the most complex medical, scientific and nutraceutical concepts accessible to a lay person like me. My assessment is that this is the right book for anyone who reaches a certain age (anywhere over 40) and wants to hold onto his or her energy, health, spirit, and youthful looks. Those under 40 need to read the book too, I think, so they won't be a mess by time they reach my age, which too many people are these days. Wish I had had this book 20 years ago, but I am seriously grateful I have it now, to inspire me to take better care of myself for the rest of my life. PS I am loving my oat pilaf and all those other delicious foods in the book that I never even knew existed! Bravo Dr. P!

Wonderful New book!

I originally bought this book for the reference to the T-Tapp exercise program, but have found that the insight provided into diet, exercise, stress management, cooking and environmental factors have made this book a true joy to read and one that I will recommend and share with everyone I know.

Impressive Perricone work, and star on the chart for T-Tapp!

I specifically bought this book due to the T-Tapp references and content in Dr. Perricones prescriptives for anti-inflammatory - and thus disease preventive - exercise. I must say I have been most notably impressed with the forward-thinking Dr. Perricone for his comprehensive study of the inflammatory response to diet, exercise, and environmental factors. In a logically developed manner, Dr. Perricone explains the inflammation connection to disease and decline of health. He assures the reader of the simple things we can do to adjust the way we eat and exercise to have a great deal of control over the inflammatory response. He also details what we can do to offset those influences that are beyond our control. It is the simplicity yet depth of presentation that I particularly appreciate. It is encouraging as well as impressive to encounter the dietary and exercise sections. Preventative wellness is more imperative than ever, and the endorsement by Dr. Perricone of the T-Tapp preventative wellness fitness approach is quite logical and very exciting for the future of fitness. At the same time, his anti-inflammatory dietary advise is right in sync with the T-Tapp fitness dietary approach. The entire section devoted to stress management does not go unnoticed and I agree it needs to be underscored as an important component in wellness. As an added note, the power of his message could only be enhanced by including, in the second printing of this book, additonal content to address vegetarian dietary alternatives. As Head T-Tapp Trainer and health and fitness educator, I am excited to have this additional resource to deepen and enhance instruction regarding exercise and nutrition. The fact that it is written in a way that is easy to read AND includes illustrations of exercises to be done in only 10 minutes time make this a solid, user-friendly reference material.