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Anti-Aging Strategies for Health and Longevity With the dawn of the 20th century, the scientific age begins. Pharmaceutical drugs evolve to become a multi-billion dollar business supported by scientific research continuing today. The caveat and often the problem with research studies is that, as they are continually being conducted, their findings are often contradictory, especially in the anti-aging field. Let’s talk a little about some of the anti-aging treatments discovered in the 20th and 21st centuries. As always, we advise you to check with your health care provider before embarking on any health program. Hormones as Dietary Supplements DHEA. Dehydroepiandrosterone is an adrenal hormone enhancing the immune function. It has been found to help prevent and treat many of the disorders associated with aging, like bone density, muscle mass, body fat reduction. This hormone is a precursor for many other hormones produced in the body. The following case study, conducted with a medical doctor specialized in anti-aging protocols, concerns a husband and wife, both in their 50s, who came into the office complaining of extreme fatigue and feeling much older than their years. Before they would agree to a blood screening, they requested to be placed on the minimum dosage of DHEA. The physician in charge was reluctant to do so, and the couple wanted to know what the minimum dosage would be, since this hormone is sold as an over-the-counter nutritional supplement. 25mg. every other day was decided upon, alternating with a DHEA precursor such as wild yam capsules (scientifically referred to as Dioscorea). The wild yam is a plant growing mainly in China, Japan, and Central America, and is reported to improve overall health, boost the immune system, increase energy, and help balance the hormonal systems. DHEA levels in the yam product alone, however, are too low to affect blood levels. Having decided to try these supplements, the couple purchased 25mg. of DHEA as well as the wild yam capsules and alternated taking the two supplements for the next 21 days before their next appointment. Their original blood panel results indicated that their DHEA levels were extremely low. They strongly requested a follow-up test which showed that, with the DHEA and wild yam supplementation, their DHEA levels were normal. Subjectively, they were feeling more energetic and had a sense of well being. HGH. Human Growth Hormone, also known as Seasomatotropin, is a hormone that regulates growth. Administered to older adults, it rebuilds muscle mass and reduces the amount of fat tissue, reversing changes that occur with aging. Studies in 1991 on this hormone at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, by Dr. William Rudman, MD, and Dr. L. Cass Terry, MD, PhD, found during studies with laboratory animals, the astounding results that illustrated a reversal of almost all aging symptoms. Using a control group of one hundred mice injected with HGH, there seemed to be a “fountain of youth” effect. The mice receiving the HGH were more agile, sexually active, survived almost twice as long, and navigated through mazes more accurately than the control group which had not received the HGH injections, but experienced the same environment and diet. The researchers asked for volunteers from the Veterans Administration hospital who averaged between sixty and seventy years old. In three months of receiving the HGH injections, they all experienced relief of many aging symptoms including loss of body fat averaging 10 to 35 pounds, increased muscle mass, increased strength, libido, and well being. Some participants actually exhibited hair growth and reversal of gray hair. At the end of three months, the participants were taken off of the HGH injections, waited another three months and reevaluated. The findings were significant. They had only retained twenty percent of their increased “youthful characteristics.” This author assisted in a sixty-person study using an oral HGH supplement. Significant changes were noticed the first two weeks in all sixty subjects, and at the end of three months, there was a dramatic improvement in all subjects who continued the study. The company supplying the HGH oral supplement spray was Regeneis HGH spray (888-424-6774). Melatonin. A natural hormone that acts as an antioxidant. Its production is reduced with aging. Melatonin may help prevent cancer, counteract insomnia and boost immunity. This naturally occurring hormone, manufactured in the human brain and stomach, is one of the most effective and lowest in cost of the over-the-counter nutritional supplements that slow down the aging processes. An interesting study in which one of the authors was involved was conducted in Switzerland by an Italian medical doctor, having two hundred women in the study who were peri-menopausal (beginning menopause). Ranging in age between forty and fifty years old, they were interested in having an anti-aging effect of reversing the menopausal process. The study was conducted for one year in a controlled, double blind environment. Both 3mg. melatonin tablets as well as placebo tablets were supplied by a United States manufacturer. After one year, all one hundred women who were taking 3mg. of melatonin each night reported that they felt and looked younger, that their sleep was more refreshing, and that their menopausal symptoms had reversed themselves and they were now menstruating as in their previous cycles. The control study reported the opposite: Their peri-menopausal symptoms increased, their sleep patterns were not as restful, their skin was showing more signs of aging, and their periods had either ceased or become rare. This supplement is safe, has over 4,000 research articles about it, is great for people who have sleeping problems plus those on irregular schedules as it balances the biorhythms which have the ability to deliver a refreshing night’s sleep, a major determining factor in slowing down the aging process. Next month, more about the hormones Pregnenolone, Testosterone, Estrogen (all three parts), and Progesterone as dietary supplements. Balch, P. Prescription for Nutritional Healing. 3rd ed. NY, Putnam, 2000. Steven and Rose Novil are doctors of nutrition and naturopathy. Steven practices in Chicago and has lectured at international conferences on Anti-Aging as well as locally, and is an advisor to major supplement companies. In addition to her degrees in health, Rose is also a Professor of Library Services at Oakton Community College, consulting with Steven and researching new developments in the field of Anti-Aging. Readers are reminded to always check with their health care provider before starting any health regimen. This information is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness or disease; it is for educational purposes only. Steven can be reached by phone at 312-458-9676 (24 hour voicemail) or at livonlivon@yahoo.com, website: www.meta-ehealth.com. |
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