A balanced program of exercise and the consumption of whole foods takes you far down the road of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. But when necessary, the inclusion of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy as recommended by your physician might be the boost you need for a happier and healthier life.
How to Achieve Optimal AgingAs people age, they may encounter symptoms that make them feel less than optimal. Even those that follow healthy eating programs. It is possible to stop much of the undesirable aspects and symptoms associated with aging. Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) is a science which has shown to improve the quality of your life.
Physicians who prescribe these hormones will take a detailed history of the symptoms you experience. Following this, a laboratory evaluation of your hormone levels will be done. With these results, a personalized hormone supplementation program can be prescribed for you.
After initiating the therapy, you will be monitored and the hormone replacements will be balanced for optimal benefits. Many patients experience how natural hormone supplementation can help with healthy aging.
Bio-identical hormones are prescribed, but they are natural substances that function as messengers to stimulate cells to heal, reproduce, and rejuvenate. Disease and symptoms of aging occur when hormone levels decline.
Natural, bio-identical hormones are preferred over synthetic hormones, so you can achieve all of the benefits of hormone replacement without the risks and side effects associated with synthetic hormones.
DHEA
By age 40, DHEA has declined markedly. Replacement results in immune enhancement, therefore making DHEA extremely important in cancer and infection prevention. DHEA is a precursor to the sex hormones and is therefore an important building block in the production of these hormones. DHEA helps the breakdown of fats and cholesterol, while reducing the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.
ESTROGEN
Replacement with natural estrogen protects against heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and osteoporosis in women. Estrogen prevents symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes, temperature deregulation, mood swings, urogenital atrophy, decreased libido, and depression. Estrogen lowers LDL cholesterol and raises HDL (the good cholesterol).
PROGESTERONE
Replacement with natural progesterone protects against uterine and breast cancer , and also osteoporosis. Progesterone reduces symptoms of menopause. Progesterone occurs naturally with estrogen and should be prescribed concurrently to balance estrogen.
MELATONIN
This hormone is produced by the pineal gland and declines significantly by age 40. Melatonin controls circadium rhythm and sleep cycles. It induces sleep, improves quality of sleep, and increases REM sleep and deep stage IV sleep. During this deep stage of sleep, the immune system is stimulated. It has anti-cancer effects and modulates immune function by activating the cytokine system (lymphocytic function).
TESTOSTERONE
This hormone is necessary in both men and women and declines steadily after age 30. Testosterone is responsible for sustaining libido, muscle mass, and immunity. It protects against disease in men plus the degeneration of muscle, bone, tendon and joints. It is a great mood enhancer and imparts a sense of well being in aging men and women.
THYROID
This metabolic hormone decreases steadily with age. Lack of thyroid hormone results in cold intolerance, fatigue, lassitude, weight gain, increased cholesterol, thin and dry skin, hair loss, thin and brittle nails. Replenishment results in reversal of these symptoms plus increased energy and metabolism.
PREGNENOLONE
Decline of this hormone occurs after age 30. This hormone aids in cellular repair of the central nervous system and is the most potent memory enhancer of all the hormones.
If you are not feeling optimal even though you are exercising and eating right, ask your doctor about bio-identical hormone replacement.
