Forever Young: The Science of Nutrigenomics for Glowing, Wrinkle-Free Skin and Radiant Health at Every Age [Hardcover]

Nicholas Perricone (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 14, 2010

Dr. Perricone's Forever Young makes an extraordinary promise: by following a program designed to decrease wrinkles and dramatically improve the appearance of the skin, the reader is also guaranteed more energy, less fat and an improved mood. The core of Dr. Perricone's appeal is his scientific grounding and authority. In a field notorious for the triumph of style over substance, Dr. Perricone is at the cutting edge of new science which is scientifically proven to work. At the core of the new book is an exciting new science on skin: Nutrigenomics and gene expression. With his innovative vision, Dr. Perricone has applied the new science to ease wrinkles, make the skin supple, smooth and glowing. His prescriptive program will shave years off the reader's appearance and will give the reader more energy.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Celebrity dermatologist Perricone (The Perricone Prescription) claims to have the key to blocking age-related illness while achieving youthful skin and energy. Based on nutrigenomics, an emerging field linking nutrition and longevity, his plan claims to activate age-reversing genes and biochemicals with superfoods (e.g., wild salmon, watercress, chia seeds, barley grass, cinnamon, cocoa); supplements (e.g., vitamins K and D, astaxanthin, Pycnogenol); a fat-burning diet with recipes; yoga; and rest. While other recent titles--particularly Michael Roizen and Mehmet Oz's YOU: Staying Young--echo such counsel, Perricone takes a beeline approach, backed by new technologies (Perricone's own Cold Plasma cream) and noninvasive skin treatments (micro-current). A resource list directs readers to Perricone-brand or promoted products (Williams-Sonoma cookbooks, Le Creuset cookware, etc.). Many favorite foods are forbidden in exchange for ageless beauty without chronic dieting and excessive workouts. After a few days free of dietary devils, readers might even embrace Perricone's model of success: Madonna and her salmon retox.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"Dr. Perricone's years of clinical and laboratory research have resulted in technological breakthroughs." --Harry G. Preuss, MD, professor of medicine, Georgetown University

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Atria Books; First Edition edition (September 14, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439177341
• ISBN-13: 978-1439177341
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.1 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #204,048 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #29 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Aging > Beauty, Grooming & Style

More About the Author

Nicholas Perricone, MD, FACN, is a board certified clinical and research dermatologist. He completed his internship in Pediatrics at Yale Medical School and his Dermatology Residency at Ford Medical Center. Dr. Perricone is regarded as the father of the Inflammation Theory of Ageing. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Wrinkle Cure which reached # 1 on both the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times bestseller lists in 2002 with sales of one million copies. Dr. Perricone is certified by the American Board of Dermatology, is a Fellow of the New York Academy of Sciences and a Fellow of the American College of Nutrition. He is the recipient of the 2002 Eli Whitney Award, awarded annually to an outstanding individual for significant contribution to science.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

85 of 87 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and a little frustrating September 15, 2010

By Blazing Pascal

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

First, I really like this book. It's full of excellent information that, when you think about it, just makes sense. I am glad I got the book and would recommend it to anyone (I am waiting for my second copy to give away as I write this).

That said, as a 37 year old man looking to lose about 45 pounds, the book has also been a little frustrating. First, I realize that women are the target market here, but it would be nice to have a few pages directed at the guys out there. Second, and more importantly, I really needed to see a simple summary and a clear regimen stated somewhere. Every chapter is full of excellent information, but I feel as if I have to pick and choose and piece it together myself in order to make it (hopefully) work for me.

I was glad to see there was a relatively clear guide to making the Meal Replacement Drink, but even then, it could have been clearer. After spending some time describing the benefits of egg white albumin, the recipe says, "I suggest 6 ounces of the protein source in liquid form or as labeled if it is in powdered form." Powdered form? I assume he recommended 6 ounces of egg whites as the liquid source, but now I have to figure out what "powdered form" means and if I was correct about the egg whites. I am sure some research will help me here, but it would have been nice to just be told plain and simple. Add to that, the six ounce recommendation is for a "women approximately five feet, four inches tall with moderate activity..." What about a guy about 5'11" with less than moderate activity? In the same recipe, he says to mix 1 teaspoon of non-Dutch cocoa with stevia and *a little water*, what is "a little water?" Again, I realize this might be a "to taste" thing, but I would have liked a place to start....

There is a great section talking about glutathione and the topical solution that solves the problem of adequate transport. I am very excited to try this, but I can't figure out where it is. I am now thinking that it is not out yet. I may be mistaken though. I'm still trying to figure it out. I watched the PBS special where he talked a lot about the wonder of this topical and I assumed it was available. Just not sure yet.

The recipes look very good - and that is coming from someone with terrible sensory issues and food aversions. There are a few tweaks I will have to make, but I have also been encouraged to "just eat it" with most of the ingredients. While I am not into Yoga, the section is very well done and about as engaging as it could be. The poses, etc. are all explained well and I will glad to see a few "programs" listed, at least two of which I am looking forward to trying.

Ultimately, I think I will have to call one of their counselors and see if they can help me. I am weak and tired and anxious to try this. The claims to not only help you lose weight but improve mood and overall health are very motivating for me. That said, I do not want to end up wondering if I am doing it right. That is terribly frustrating. Sometimes I felt as if the author was assuming I knew something already.

I would have given the book 5-stars had it, 1) provided at least a little guidance for a man reading this, 2) provided a "cheat sheet" of sorts plainly stating proper summarized regimens for both the diet and the supplement usage. I think that most of the information I need is in there, somewhere. I just wish I didn't have to work so hard to bring it all together.

One last thing: while Dr. Perricone does offer up his own products in here, I never felt as if he was forcing me to get his stuff. He also suggests a variety of other venders (though he may have relationships with them too, I don't know), and many of the supplements, etc. he recommends can be purchased just about anywhere. I really wish his weight management supplement pack was not $200 a month. : ( Budgeting it one thing, not having the money to budget after buying all the organic food, supplements, and all that is another. Not saying it is not worth it, just saying I may never be able to know. ; )

All that said, GET THE BOOK! I really am enjoying it. I received it yesterday and am already going through it a second time. Read more ›

76 of 78 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars It's now safe to get sunlight September 24, 2010

By G Gibson

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Dr Perricone finally recommends getting sun exposure in moderation. It's not that he was wrong about UV rays damaging effect on the skin. He and other dermatologists have come to the conclusion that the benefits of vitamin D that your skin produces with sunlight outweighs the negative effects of UV rays. If you take his advice and take astaxanthin or AstaREAL, you will limit the UV damage. Dr Perricone devotes 10 pages of the book to this superb antioxidant. He explains how it provides protection from UV rays and also how it protects against oxidative damage during and after exercise. I thought he would provide information in this section about krill oil as a source of astaxanthin, but instead he writes about his beloved salmon.

The beginning of the book discusses the basic causes of cellular dysfunction, mainly free radicals and inflammation. Dr Perricone presents a few of his novel ideas about delivering glutathione to the inside of the cell and consequently protecting the mitochondria against free radical damage. He covers a new class of mitochondrial antioxidants called SS peptides that are able to penetrate the mitochondrial membrane. He also discusses supplements that most nutrition savvy readers already know about such as; acetyl l-carnitine, alpha-lipoic acid, N-acetylcysteine and Co-Q10. Unfortunately, he does not give any information about CoQ-Quinol.

Chapter 2 Nutrigenomics, is a combination of nutrition and genomics. He explains how antioxidants and phytonutrients can positively effect gene expression. This means that what you eat before your children are conceived can actually effect their genetics. Also included in this chapter are 3 old superfoods; cinnamon, turmeric, and watercress. Other foods given in-depth coverage are; cocoa, chia seeds.... and of course salmon. Finally a book that recommends cocoa! According to food chemist Chang Lee, it has 3x more antioxidants than green tea. I mix 1 tsp of Navitas cocoa powder with my coffee. 1/3 g fat and 0 sugar and it's cheap!

Chapter 3 is about losing fat and preserving muscle. Dr Perricone presents his Metabolic Miracle diet which is designed to burn fat and preserve muscle. The idea is to slow the process of age-related muscle loss. Also in this chapter are a few paragraphs on growth hormone and DHEA. He is not a fan of exogenous GH and he cites some negative side effects in a study, although he does not give the details. He is more optimistic about growth hormone-releasing hormones. Not mentioned in this book is a promising new drug called MK-677. Since GH and testosterone levels drop significantly with age, I feel that this section warranted more information. This is more than a quality of life issue because the myocardium in the heart is composed of muscle. Keep in mind that Dr Perricone is out of his area of expertise here. Dr Di Pasquale and Dr Michael Colgan are the authors I go to for information on anabolic hormones and muscular nutrition.

Chapter 4 is about the repair and rejuvenation of the skin. Dr Perricone explains his ionic suspension carrier sysem that is capable of delivering charged particles to the skin. By delivering vital nutrients to the skin in an ionic form, Dr Perricone's proprietary system increases glycosaminoglycan production by 150%. Microcurrent treatment is another topical treatment for skin that is covered in great detail. He includes nutritional information that is especially important for the skin on the following topics; vitamins B3, C, D, astaxanthin, Green Magma, mushrooms, and of course salmon. I was pleasantly surprised at the price of astaxanthin at Amazon and other sites, less than $10 for 60 caps.

Chapter 5 is devoted entirely to bone health and he gives a wealth of information on calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, and vitamins K1 and K2. Since these minerals and vitamins are important for everyone, this chapter is not just for women or the elderly.

Chapter 6 is a short chapter about menopause. He emphasizes the importance of phytoestrogens and discusses soy, flaxseeds, and chia seeds. Dr Perricone cites an interesting study on fish oil for treating hot flashes.

Chapter 7 is all about yoga. This chapter contains 40 pages of yoga diagrams. I would rather have seen these pages devoted to something else. I take a sauna to relax and according to some studies is a way of detoxifying. According to our government, sauna therapy increases BH4 synthesis and heat shock protein hsp90. Maybe I'll practice yoga in the sauna and get the benefits of both.

U.S library of Medicine:
"There is a large and rapidly increasing number of diseases that are associated with BH4 depletion and these may be candidates for sauna therapy. Such diseases as hypertension, vascular endothelial dysfunction, multiple chemical sensitivity and heart failure are thought to be helped by sauna therapy and chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia may also be helped and there are others that may be good candidates for sauna therapy."

Chapter 8 covers foods to improve libido, various recipes, and you guessed it, salmon.

Final Thoughts:

If you want to improve your skin or learn the theory behind how phytonutrients work, this book is for you. If you are just looking for a diet book you may be a little disappointed.

Will you live beyond the maximum life span of 120 by eating these superfoods? No, we are not there yet. But, you will dramatically improve your chances of living beyond the average life span. Here is the evidence:

Kuna Indians traditionally drink 3-4 cups of cocoa per day. For Kuna Indians, high blood pressure and heart disease are rare.

In India where they consume large amounts of curry containing turmeric they have the lowest Alzheimer's rate in the world.

In Japan where they consume large amounts of green tea they have one of lowest cancer rates even though 1 out of 3 people smokes. BTW, green and white teas are antimutagens in addition to being antioxidants.

In Greenland where the Eskimos eat their traditional fish diet, type 2 diabetes is almost nonexistent. Among those that have converted to a western diet the rate has sky rocketed. Read more ›

31 of 35 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Required Reading for Women Over 40 September 14, 2010

By Mary VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Nicholas Perricone, MD is a pioneer in anti-aging medicine, and is consistently on the cutting-edge when it comes to our understanding of nutrition and inflammation and their effects on skin, health, metabolism, and weight loss. "Forever Young" is a terrific book, and in a readable, practical way, Dr. Perricone has tackled the the science of nutrigenomics -- big long medical word alert!! Basically, nutrigenomics is looking at how nutrition affects our DNA and genes, and ultimately, our health. While everyone else is messing with creams, plastic surgery, hormones, and Botox -- Dr. Perricone is talking about how beautiful skin and a healthy body always start from the inside out. If you're over 40, "Forever Young" is required reading....and much more affordable than a jar of department store wrinkle cream! -- Mary Shomon, Thyroid Patient Advocate & Author

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Forever Young: The Science of Nutrigenomics for Glowing, Wrinkle-Free Skin and Radiant Health at Every Age October 18, 2010

By Eugenia L. Johnson

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This latest book by Dr. Perricone lives up to it's title. I've read several of his other books and followed his diet suggestions for about 4 years. His products are expensive, but they work as promised. The information in this book, like his other books is easy to understand and apply to your daily life. Following his advice not only makes your skin look years younger, but really does improve your overall health, helps to keep your blood sugar stable and thereby helps to keep your weight stable. I had oily skin and acne my whole adult life until I started following Dr. Perricone's diet suggestions. I'm now 62 years old and get compliments on my skin on a regular basis. People are shocked when they find out how old I am. I have no wrinkles and my skin even looks good without makeup. This was not the case 5 years ago! I've made Dr. Perricone's suggestions part of my daily life so that I can look and feel good well past 100!