ESTROGEN

is secreted by the ovaries, which cease production at menopause. Estrogen protects against heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s Disease and memory disorders. It protects against vaginal atrophy, urinary incontinence, and prevents symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes. Estrogen deficiency results in urogenital atrophy, incontinence, sagging skin in the breasts, increased skin wrinkles of the face, increased fatigue, depression, mood swings and decreased libido. It is of extreme importance that the estrogen prescribed be a natural estrogen and not a synthetic estrogen. The synthetic estrogens have been shown to be harmful. For optimal protection, natural estrogen supplementation should be balanced by natural progesterone supplementation. You do need estrogen! But it must be the right type of estrogen, maintained at optimal levels for maximum protection.

TESTOSTERONE

is a hormone normally associated with men but is also found in women. Testosterone is a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands, testes and ovaries. It contributes to muscle mass, strength, and endurance, decreased fat, increased exercise tolerance, enhancement of well-being and psychological status. Testosterone protects against cardiovascular disease, hypertension, body fat, and arthritis. It leads to improved lean muscle mass, increased bone density, decrease in cholesterol, improved skin tone, improved healing capacity, and increased libido and sexual performance. Testosterone is the best hormone to increase collagen and elastin in the skin. It prolongs the quality of life by decreasing the diseases of aging, as does estrogen in the female. Testosterone is also present and extremely important in the female as well as the male, making supplementation absolutely recommended for both men and women. Testosterone is the second most important hormone for energy and well-being.

Typically, when hormones in men are discussed it is usually in reference to the abuse among athletes, which has given rise to the perception that all testosterone is dangerous. Add to that the unfounded fear that testosterone causes prostate cancer and the misunderstanding escalates.

Testosterone replacement in men, done with bioidentical testosterone in physiologic doses, is not only safe, but also protective. This is well supported in the medical literature. Testosterone has been shown to increase muscle strength and lean body mass, improve sexual response, prevent osteoporosis, protect against cardiovascular disease, increase energy, and improve mood and sense of well-being.

THYROID HOMONE

is a metabolic hormone secreted by the thyroid gland that regulates temperature, metabolism and cerebral function. It contributes to energy levels and temperature regulation and body warmth. It increases fat breakdown, resulting in weight loss as well as lower cholesterol. It protects against cardiovascular disease and improves cerebral metabolism. It helps to prevent cognitive and memory impairment. Thyroid hormone is probably the safest and most beneficial cholesterol- lowering agent, yet it is infrequently used for this! More than any other hormone, the thyroid hormone is most responsible for improvement in energy and reducing fatigue.

DHEA

is a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands. This hormone is a precursor to other sex hormones. In addition to having its own hormone effect, it results in a shift to an anabolic or protein building state. It reduces cardiovascular risk by increasing lipolysis or breakdown of fat. It also stimulates the immune system, restores sexual vitality, improves mood, decreases cholesterol and body fat. Recent studies point to DHEA as an anti-stress hormone, reversing the effects of stress on the immune system. Most people notice a sense of well-being, which is described differently by everyone.