Natural Anti Aging

Human growth hormone, HGH or GH (growth hormone) is a hormone that begins to decline around the age of 30 in males and females.  Hormones rule the body and regulate bodily functions and when their levels decrease, hormone balances will cause many of the diseases that accompany the aging process.  Hormones effect every organ in the body and when one of those hormones is out of balance, a chain reaction can occur with all the hormones.  HGH should only be used in conjunction with the other bioidentical hormones that your doctor has prescribed.

The aging process and the decrease in hormone levels cause physical, physiological and psychological changes in the body. Hormone deficiencies aid to accelerate the aging process and cause all kinds of problems such as insulin, thyroid and adrenal insufficiencies.  Balanced hormones will help cholesterol, weight loss, muscle wasting, bone strength, feelings of well being, energy levels, protect against heart attack and cancer.

Natural bioidentical hormones such as estrogen (estradiol, estrone and estriol), progesterone, DHEA, and testosterone all assist with maintaining our health.  Adding human growth hormone to this combination will offer many anti aging / health benefits.  Although HGH has a negative reputation because of over use and abuse by athletes, prescribed in the correct dosages – just to replace the HGH levels that are diminished in the body will provide powerful immune-stimulating results.

Human growth hormone is thought to, but not proven to increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease and diabetes, but there is no scientific research that confirms this.  A study has shown, in fact, that people with severely low levels of HGH had a 50 per cent increase in cancer.  HGH is prescribed to people with dwarfism to help with muscle, bone development and growth.  When prescribed as an anti aging bioidentical hormone, it will help with muscle strength and definition, slow down atrophy of the organs, assist with combating anxiety, strengthen bones, fight wrinkles and stimulate the metabolism.

It is prescribed as a bioidentical hormone and will help with anti aging and age management issues.  It is used for anti aging and balancing the hormone system.  It has developed a reputation as an anti aging hormone because of results which help fight wrinkles, increase muscle mass which deteriorates as you grow older, and boosts metabolism and energy levels. People who use HGH have lost large percentages of body fat thereby losing a great amount of excess weight.

Human growth hormone is difficult to obtain and must be obtained through a bioidentical doctor by prescription.  Human growth hormone can also be increased by using supplements to boost its production in the body.  These amino acid supplements include glycine, tyrosine, lysine, arginine, ornithine and glutamine and should be taken with potassium, zinc, vitamin B3, B6 and C.

HGH supplements are administered by injection or homeopathic drops which you can obtain from your doctor or naturopath by prescription at a compounding pharmacy.  Human growth hormone should not be taken alone; it should be used in combination with other bioidentical hormones because the goal is to achieve balance with your hormone levels as you age.  When using HGH, you should ensure that you are eating healthy meals with protein at every meal, exercising, reducing your stress levels and sleeping properly.  Speak with your medical professional before embarking on any hormone supplement program.

Suzanne Somers, one of the great pioneers of bioidentical hormones and healthy living came to the Metro Convention Center in Toronto a few weeks ago. I was lucky to get tickets and go with some friends.

Suzanne talked about bio identical hormones, her doctors, our toxic environment and its effects on us, her health, a little bit about her past and her new book “Knockout”. She was lucid, clear, humorous and spoke for an hour and a half without notes. How did Suzanne look? She looked fantastic, with a simple modern hairstyle, great figure, a simple black top and skirt, great legs, fabulous high heels and a few sparkly bits of jewellery. I was thrilled to be watching Suzanne Somers.

Suzanne and I share a past that goes back to 2004, when I first hit perimenopause or menopause. I wasn’t exactly sure what it was. I went to my regular doctor; she gave me a blood test and said, you’re in menopause. She gave me a prescription for Premarin and that was it. I had talked to the secretary at the doctor’s office and she told me she handles menopause just by drinking a large glass or two of soya milk. If only we could all be so lucky.

So how did the Premarin work out for me? It didn’t. My symptoms still existed, I was getting all bloated up and I didn’t like that, so I halved my dose thinking that maybe the dose was too much for me. Then I went back to my doctor and asked for natural hormones. Her response was “they don’t work, that’s just some California new age idea.”

I kept reading on the internet about these natural hormones, more specifically these bioidentical hormones and Suzanne Somer’s name kept popping up. I ended up going to my local book store and bought what was to be the first book of Suzanne’s I would purchase. That first book was “The Sexy Years,” which told me everything I ever wanted to know about bioidentical hormones. I also bought a book called “What your Doctor May not Tell you about Premenopause” by Dr. John R. Lee, MD.

I had the hardest time finding a bioidentical doctor. I did find a few bioidentical doctors but they were not taking new patients and others were charging a fortune for bioidentical testing, monitoring and prescriptions. I did go to another regular doctor and she pooh-poohed the idea of bioidentical hormones too. My search for solutions was a long and complicated one.

I searched long and hard for a compounding pharmacy and finally found one and discussed my symptoms with the pharmacist and my difficulty in finding a bioidentical doctor. He ended up writing me a prescription for Bi-est and Progesterone and told me to go to a particular doctor who would sign the prescription but he would not able to monitor my hormone levels.

That is my history with bioidentical hormones and the search for bioidentical doctors. Because of the difficulty of finding bioidentical doctors in this country, three years ago I started up this website PureAgeless.com to help other women find bioidentical doctors. The site also provides background information on natural solutions to aging. Finding the doctors involved lots of research and I was able to get some contributions from our readers as well. PureAgeless.com is the first site in North America to give a comprehensive listing of bioidentical doctors in Canada and the United States.

Since then and over the years, I have been a fan of Suzanne Somers and the chance to go to her lecture in Toronto was a great opportunity.

Onto the stage walked this beautiful blond woman wearing black, a few bits of sparkly jewellery and fabulous legs and high heels. She looked maybe 39 years old. But her actual age is 63. She did not have any obvious signs of surgery – like the puffed up look some celebrities get. She is a walking example of “practice what you preach”. If we can all look that fabulous at 63, then we will be doing the right thing. What amazed me most besides her looks was the fact that she spoke without losing her place or thought for an hour and a half. She was charming and funny. She has a great hairstyle, dressed in a classy/ casual style, she’s in shape because she works at it, she takes care of her body because her body is her business. She wants to maintain optimum health as the years progress.

I believe she sees a lot of doctors who test her for everything and then give her the nutritional supplements her body needs. In her book “Breakthrough,” she discusses her personal regime – how her day begins, the supplements she takes, what injections she has, her hour long yoga session in the morning and her fabulous breakfast. She also discusses what she does on a monthly basis.

I praise her, but I don’t think all women would be able to follow this type of routine when they are working women and not able to afford all the specialists, the supplements and the tests. But we can follow her example. We can follow a hormone balancing diet, eating real foods for health, supplement our declining hormone levels with bioidentical hormones, we can exercise and do yoga and we can buy most of the supplements we think we need. We can remove as many of the toxins from our life that we can. We can even try and remove the stress in our lives that is killing us. A naturopath, a doctor can help you with supplementation doses and bioidentical hormone supplementation.

After Suzanne’s lecture, I bought her book “Knockout,” which discusses new techniques by cutting edge doctors in the treatment of cancer. It’s an interesting and informative read, especially if you or someone you know has recently been diagnosed with cancer.

My friends and I enjoyed her lecture and after it, we were in the washroom discussing her speech and bioidentical hormones . One of my girlfriends (we are in 48 – 50 year old range), said, “Doesn’t she look fantastic at 63! She looks better than all of us.” We were all laughing and one of us said “God, I hope I look that good at 63.” Suzanne, you are amazing.

Hot flashes in menopause can be severe

Hot flashes can occur at any time after middle age for 40 – 90% of women as they reach pre-menopause (also known as perimenopause) and menopause. Hot flashes can be managed by a variety of ways, from herbal solutions, to bioidentical hormones, to changes in lifestyle and medications.

What are hot flashes? Hot flashes are sudden occurrences of intense heat felt in the face and upper body. The face becomes hot and the skin red and blotchy on the upper chest, neck and face. The heartbeat increases, perspiration increases causing a sweaty feeling. When the hot flash subsides, a chilled feeling will follow.

The frequency of hot flashes will vary among women. You may have a couple a day, a few per week or, in severe cases, three to four hot flashes an hour. They can last from a couple of minutes up to half an hour. Hot flashes or “night sweats” can awaken you at night, disturbing your sleep.
Hot flashes can begin in the period of a woman’s life prior to menopause. This time of life is called perimenopause or pre-menopause. They can last for several years or continue indefinitely. Hot flashes are caused by declining levels of the hormones progesterone and estrogen production in the ovaries.

If your hot flashes are infrequent and not disrupting your life, it is not necessary to seek medical treatment. However, if your hot flashes are disturbing your sleep, effecting your quality of life and frequent, there are many lifestyle changes you can make and natural solutions such as herbal remedies or bioidentical hormone replacement. If you do not want to try these natural solutions, you should seek medical attention.

Bioidentical hormones are a valid option to consider. We absolutely do not recommend synthetic hormones such as Premarin or Progestin. If you do not want to make changes in your lifestyle or supplement with natural bioidentical hormones or nutritional supplements, there are also medications which can help with hot flashes.

Diet and lifestyle changes can help with mild occurrences of hot flashes:

• Exercise daily: During menopause years, it is vital to exercise on a daily basis. Not only does exercise increase bone and muscle strength, it improves circulation, promotes a healthy heart and produces the “feel good” hormones in your body which help fight feelings of mild depression. You must exercise for a half hour every day, whether you choose bicycle riding, walking or practice yoga. Find an activity you enjoy and stick with it.
• Diet and alcohol consumption: Reduce your alcohol consumption. Reduce your intake of spicy foods. Increase your consumption of phytoestrogens and soy protein. Add lots of healthy vegetables and fruits and a few nuts to your daily diet.
• Give up smoking: Smoking has been showin to increase hot flashes. Smoking also causes cancer, heart disease and stroke. Nicotin causes our body to convert estrogen into an antiestrogen called catecol estrogen which lowers estrogen levels and increases hotflashes.
• Stress reduction – stress and anxiety increase hot flashes. Try yoga or deep breathing or meditation to help you relax. Learn to deal with stressful situations.
• Stay cool – keep the temperature in your house at a cooler level. Use a fan or open a window. Dress in layers so you can remove a layer of clothing during the onset of a hot flash. Drink a cold glass of water when a hot flash occurs.

Nutritional supplements for menopause can help deal with mild hot flashes. Known nutritional supplements which can be purchased in your local health store can help you. Black cohosh, soy and red clover, isoflavones and Vitamin E are thought to be helpful. They must be taken with caution because some of these have mild estrogenic effects and can also conflict with other medications you may be taking. A naturopath or a doctor with knowledge about menopause and diet can assist you.

Bioidentical hormones replacement therapy is widely used in North America and Europe to balance declining hormone levels which cause hot flashes. Bioidentical hormones are plant derived extracts which are bioidentically exact to the hormones that the body produces. It is in this way that they are a healthier option for supplementing decreasing levels of hormones. After the Women’s Health study in 2002 revealed the dangers of synthetic hormones, more women turned to healthier, more natural solutions. The problem today though is that you have to find a doctor who is trained in prescribing bioidentical hormones and find a compounding pharmacy to make up your individual prescription.

Replacing your diminishing hormones with bioidentical hormones also has many other beneficial side effects of which we have discussed in previous articles on bioidentical hormone supplementation. However, as more and more doctors become aware of bioidentical hormone supplementation, it will become easier to find one and easier to find a compounding pharmacy to mix up your prescribed hormone preparation.

There are medications which have been used for the treatment of hot flashes. Medications such as Gabapentin and Clonedine have been found to reduce hot flashes. However, these drugs carry with them other unwanted side effects such as dizziness, nausea, dry mouth and constipation. Check with your medical practitioner to see if these options are for you.

Menopause is a natural event in a woman’s life and should not be considered a sickness, though some women with severe hot flashes will feel as if they are ill during this period in their life. There are many options to consider and you should explore them all to get rid of those unwanted hot flashes. Find a solution which works for you and monitor your symptoms and re-evaluate your options periodically. Remember, if you are experiencing only mild symptoms, you may not need to do anything. Work with your health care professional to help you find a solution to hot flashes if you are experiencing severe hot flashes. Balancing your hormones and life style changes are one of the best ways to help you deal with hot flashes.