Even after years of eating too many doughnuts and too much red meat, it's still not too late to activate one's healthy, disease-fighting genes.
That's according to "The Longevity Factor: How Resveratrol and Red Wine Activate Genes for a Longer and Healthier Life" - Dr. Joseph Maroon's newest book.
Maroon, originally from Bridgeport, is vice chairman of the department of neurological surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and team neurosurgeon for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In his latest work, Maroon educates the reader about how to activate healthy genes with natural and plant-based substances, mainly a compound named resveratrol, a polyphenol or antioxidant that is found in red wine grape skins.
In 2005, Maroon learned about resveratrol and related longevity research using mice during a neurosurgical meeting in Boston. During a lecture, Dr. David Sinclair, director of the Paul F. Glenn Laboratories for Biological Mechanisms of Aging at Harvard Medical School, talked about how mice given the agent were impacted. The mice lived 25 percent longer and showed decreased instances of cancer, brain degeneration and vascular disease. The mice also exhibited better memories during maze tests; fat cells were reduced despite being on high-calorie diets; energy and endurance in muscle cells increased; muscles grew stronger and showed less fatigue; coordination and mobility improved; and muscle fibers were transformed from ordinary into the type of fibers found in athletes.
Maroon was astounded by Sinclair's results.
If resveratrol could change mice in such a significant manner, could it do the same for humans?
''The fact that we can now activate genes, for better or for worse, captured my imagination and compelled me to learn.'' Maroon said.
Studies with humans, however, still are needed, he noted.
Maroon said Sinclair and his colleague, Joseph Baur, who wrote the foreword for ''The Longevity Factor,'' published the findings of their study in the scientific journal Nature in 2006.
Resveratrol is produced by plants under stress, such as red wine grapes while they are fighting off fungal infections, Maroon notes in his book.
''Laboratory mice that consumed these plant molecules also benefited from this same stress response. In other words, when ingested, plants 'communicate' with animals and people, using the language of molecular genetics and activating the so-called survival genes,'' Maroon wrote.
There are many companies that sell resveratrol supplements. However, for beginners, Maroon said choosing resveratrol-rich foods is a good place to start. Unhealthy foods contain ''substances that actually activate genes that also create inflammation in the body.''
For example, by consuming red wine - two glasses a day for men and one for women - the health benefits can include reduction of the risk of coronary heart disease; prevention of the hardening of arteries; a decreased risk of kidney stone formation, Alzheimer's disease and effects of smoking on blood vessels' linings; and production of an anticlotting action, Maroon writes in his book.
When possible, people should drink the wine with food to lessen the impact on the liver, though Maroon said the recommended amounts should have little to no impact.
Those who do not enjoy wine or do not want to consume alcohol can drink concord grape juice. Other foods high in polyphenols include green tea, dark chocolate and apples.
Maroon said it was important to note that it's "never too late" to start getting healthy and that there are no side effects to eating gene-activating foods, unlike taking many pharmaceuticals. And though most of today's physicians are focused on treating diseases instead of preventing them, Maroon said people must take responsibility for their own health.
Maroon is planning a book-signing in February at Books-A-Million at The Highlands in Ohio County.
Its date remains tentative.