Taneesa Williamson In the beauty, wellness & aesthetics industry, you would have definitely heard the term ‘anti-ageing’, but as discovered at the recent Kailo Wellness Summit (read more about the summit in our February issue of SPA+CLINIC), there was an interesting shift in how we should view ageing, as stated by Dr Zac Turner.
With an extensive (and impressive) resume, Dr Zac has recently aimed his attention on both men’s and preventative health, with a strong belief that prevention is much better than cure, and that optimising your body can be the ultimate way to prevent chronic disease, obesity and many other conditions. Dr Zac has owned and is currently involved with multiple clinics in the field of holistic health and believes that it is possible to live a longer, healthier and happier life – just by focusing on a holistic approach.
We spoke with Dr Zac on his insight into ‘pro-living’, and how this should be what we refer to.
Please explain why you prefer the term ‘pro-living’ to ‘anti-ageing’?
Pro-living has a positive quality to it that reflects my conviction that people should enjoy their lives more, rather than “fight” against ageing. Pro-living also omits “ageing”, as I also genuinely believe that ageing will soon become seen as a concept of the past.
What are peptides and how are they an integral part of slowing down the ageing process?
Peptides are small chains of amino acids that act as the building blocks of proteins. Their highly targeted nature makes them capable to trigger system responses that were not envisaged not so long ago, and as such they should be considered when thinking about the future of wellness.
Rather than slowing down ageing, I believe peptides might be involved in changing the ageing process.
What are some key elements to ageing well?
Stay active, or better…become more active as you age. It is time to dismantle the myth that exercise is for youngsters.
Limit your food intake. Become comfortable with the idea that in a society that has normalised excess consumption being hungry is healthy.
Develop consciousness practices that will help you break your assumptions, patterns. Ageing can be seen as a calcification of your mindset, and these practices will assist in keeping you connected to your environment rather than stuck in your ways, which might have become inadequate to your evolving situation.
Seek help whenever your quality of life has degraded due to health-related issues. It is time to ditch the wholehearted acceptance of ageing as a progressive degradation of our lives.
You also work with psychedelics – what role can they potentially play in a healthy lifestyle?
There already exist compelling evidence for the efficacy of certain psychedelics in treating depression, PTSD and anxiety. MDMA and Psylocybin have received the Breakthrough Therapy designation from the FDA in the Unted States. I believe psychedelics will become part of the essential tools to improve mental health, notably by helping break habits and thought patterns. They will catalyze the rise of the concept of “wellness” in the mental health environment, which currently focuses on fixing vs enhancing. Happier healthier bodies and minds go hand in hand, especially as our life spans increase.
Featured image: Dr Zac Turner
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