While no one wants to grow old, instead of focusing on aging the focus should be on aging well. The following steps can help you make your way through the aging process with grace.
1 Balance Your Hormones
Hormones are the body’s messengers that transport information from the brain to the glands, from the glands to the cells and from the cells to the brain. Hormones rejuvenate, regenerate and restore our bodies. Hormones decline as we age every year after the age of 30 and do not regenerate, producing fewer hormones with each passing year. As we age, it becomes increasingly important for both men and women to keep their hormones balanced to protect against fatigue, mood swings, disease, obesity and to enjoy an overall healthier sense of well being.
2 Manage Stress
You can manage your stress levels by getting more sleep and learning conscious relaxation techniques. Choose a mindfulness practice such as meditation or yoga, or simply just slowing down.
3 Stay Active and Incorporate Interval Training
Scientific evidence shows that almost any kind of regular physical activity—running, walking, biking, yoga, or even gardening— provides tremendous benefits for your body and your mind as you age. Doing the same exercise routine at the same intensity level every day makes your body “bored” and causes the dreaded workout plateau. Throw a curveball into your routine with interval training, which involves varying the intensity of your workout throughout your exercise session.
4 Stay Connected
As you age, keeping in close contact with your family, friends, and community will help you maintain strong psychological and physical health.
5 Eat Smart
What you eat will have an enormous impact on your overall health and longevity.
6 Supplements
While it is most important to eat foods rich in vitamins and nutrients, you can support your body by increasing your intake of essential vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.
7 Sleep Well
Getting a good night’s sleep is crucial to feeling rested and rejuvenated each morning.
I decided to go see an urologist to get checked out. I was concerned about my libido, which seems to be how every male measures how he is aging. I was reading online about the hormone testing. My results came back as low-normal. As a result, the urologist gave me a shot of pure testosterone 400 DL. It worked well and I was happy again. I had to go back 30 days later to get another shot. He then put me on androgel, which is when things took a turn for the worse. He said it could possibly be stress, which I found to be strange because I had always taken good care of myself.
I went to a vitamin shop and discussed the testosterone shots I was taking with some of the bodybuilders there (who in my opinion, are experts at balancing their hormones). They kept asking me about my estrogen levels, as they said my Estrogen is probably high – and I wasn’t sure what the answer was. It made sense that there had to be a balance between the two!
I couldn’t believe that a Western doctor would blindly prescribe testosterone without taking into consideration my estrogen! And after asking around I found that most Western doctors will not consider testing estrogen levels in men. Instead they’ll just treat the result of the testosterone tests –not treat the whole situation.
I did a lot of research and found Dr. Schultz who tested all of my hormone levels. It turned out that my testosterone was three times over the normal level and my estrogen was four times over the normal level. She took the time to explain to me that the testosterone had to go somewhere and about the cascade effect which I was experiencing. She decided to put me on arimidex and eventually weaned me off androgel.
Estrogen levels in men are extremely important but are so often overlooked. Too much estrogen is not healthy in men. I’ve done a lot of research now in order to understand hormones. I still can’t believe that there are doctors are out there who don’t take into consideration estrogen levels in men. This approach absolutely worked wonders.
Most traditional doctors don’t really look at what is going on with your hormones and treat symptoms with pharmaceuticals. What I’m trying to do, however, is treat a deficiency. If my hormones are low, I’m replacing them because your body doesn’t function properly without hormones. By naturally balancing your hormones, I find that I don’t need pharmaceuticals anymore.
After starting the bioidentical hormone therapy everything went back to normal and my libido is back! I look better and feel better! It is amazing how much better and how much younger I feel now!
Thank you Dr. Schultz!
Jim M. Patient of Dr. Michelle Schultz of BodyLogicMD of Naperville
I so want to help other women going through what I have gone through. When I first saw Dr. Archer and she told me that I wasn’t crazy nor did I have Alzheimer’s – I was so relieved. When I first saw her I felt so hopeless and when I walked out of her office I can’t explain the joy that I felt. She told me that I was estrogen dominate, had no progesterone, no testosterone. I spiked with cortisol first thing in the morning and by noon I had very little, just a small bit at dinner and none at bedtime, but I couldn’t sleep. My DHEA was just as bad. My blood work was great with the exception that with my cortisol and DHEA, as they were, my body was now attacking my thyroid. We are trying to stop that now. A lot of the DHEA, Cortisol and thyroid are very stress related.
I started my period around the age of 10 and had severe PMS and cramps. My first child was born at the age of 20, then I had a miscarriage at 25 and a 24 week baby at 25. She weighed 1lb 8oz. She was in the hospital 3 1/2 months. Then my last son was born at 28. When he was 11, I went to the doctor because I couldn’t sleep, my anxiety was through the roof, and I thought I had early onset Alzheimer’s. He ask me how much longer I expected myself to the job of 5 people. I told him for 8 more years. Andy would be 18 by then. He said I would be dead before then. He prescribed anti-depressants, sleeping pills and Xanax. Let me go back. I had a hysterectomy when I was 30 leaving 1 ovary. I still had severe PMS. So severe I couldn’t stand to hear my children speak. My gynecologist politely told me there was no such thing as PMS and that it was all in my head. I also have my own business, I do anything for the inside of the house. I was a mom that went to all events which meant that I stayed up lots of nights all night long to catch up. I continued to go downhill. Not handling stress, had severe foggy brain and was in constant pain. I couldn’t remember the least little things. It started affecting my work, family, and even opening my mail. I would just put it in a pile and get to it when I could handle it. I went to several different doctors and yes one was a female. She said that the one ovary I had left was putting out enough estrogen for 2 ovaries, but didn’t check anything else. I thought I was going crazy. I really thought I was losing my mind and all of the doctors around here were filling me up with ambien, xanax, anti-depressants and pain pills.
Now here is where Dr. Heidi Archer is my angel!! I was in my shop, standing at the cutting table, flipping through channels when I saw Robin McGraw on Oprah. This was in January 2009. I love Robin so I immediately stopped. When I heard what she was talking about, I couldn’t move. When I heard the lady from Canada talking again I was frozen. I had tears running down my face. They were talking about me. For the first time in 12 years I saw hope. I had been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, told I would need to close my shop and go on disability. I truly was on the verge of suicide. I say this because I had no reason to live nor did I want to. When I saw Robin and Oprah, I saw hope. I immediately started researching all that they had talked about and that’s when I found BodyLogicMD and Dr. Archer. I did the testing and went to see her. In addition to a hormonal imbalance, she also told me I was in Adrenal Fatigue. It is a 4 1/2 hour drive for me, but I would have driven across the country if I had to. Within a week of the treatments I could tell a difference. I started feeling like the old or should I say new Kathy.
Since the first time I saw Dr. Archer and started on my hormone treatment, things may get me down for a day, maybe two, but that’s it. I started on my new hormones on June 1, 09. I have almost as much energy as I did in my 30’s. I can’t wait for the 20’s!! Today, I walked for the first time and I joined Weight Watchers one more time, but for the last time. I’m going to outlive Suzanne Somers!!! I’m handling the rejection which is something I’ve never been able to handle and I’m starting to really like me. I’m starting to paint again and starting to make my house beautiful which is why I got into this business 21 years ago.
By the way Dr Archer started my DHEA at 25mgs and now it’s at 75mgs and I will fight anyone who tries to take my hormones away.
Cholesterol naturally rises with age and is a leading contributor to heart disease- the number one killer in the United States. While you may have heard the importance of watching your cholesterol levels for a healthy heart, many people do not realized the connection between cholesterol levels and hormones.
Cholesterol is a building material for the following hormones:
These hormones are important in many aspects of our lives, including:
Mineral balance
Blood pressure regulation
Sex hormone balance
Blood sugar regulation
Statistics indicate that a number of Americans are suffering from hormonal imbalances due to improper diet and ability to handle insulin. These factors can, in turn, affect many other hormones in the body including the sex hormones. If adequate cholesterol levels are not maintained and balanced, these hormones cannot be made in good quantities and symptoms of hormone deficiency may occur.
What is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is found in every cell of the body and is a soft, waxy and fat-like substance. But unlike general thinking, cholesterol is not all bad; it is necessary by the body to strengthen cell membranes, digest fats, make hormones and insulate nerves
There are two types of cholesterol: LDL (bad) and HDL (good). LDL cholesterol causes build-up of plaque in arteries that blocks blood flow to the heart and brain. HDL, on the other hand, appears to have the ability to help prevent heart disease by carrying LDL cholesterol away from arteries- making high levels of HDL cholesterol a good thing.
The many benefits of cholesterol include:
Keeping your cell membranes intact
Boosting mental performance
Aiding digestion
Building strong bones and muscle
Maintaining your energy, vitality, libido, and fertility
Regulating your blood sugar
Repairing damaged tissue
Protecting against infectious diseases
The American Heart Association says that total cholesterol levels below 200 mg/dL are most desirable; 200-239 mg/dL are borderline high risk for heart disease and strokes. One out of every two Americans have high cholesterol, in fact, more than 106 million Americans have cholesterol levels above 200 and another 46 million have levels about 239. An HDL cholesterol of 60 mg/dL or higher gives some protection against heart disease.
Component
Healthy
Borderline
Unhealthy
Total cholesterol
< 200
200-239
>240
LDL
< 100
100-159
>160
HDL
>60
41-60
< 40
Triglycerides
< 150
150-199
>200
HDL Factor- Men
3.5
3.6-5.4
5.5
HDL Factor- Women
3.0
3.1-4.1
4.2
Cholesterol provides the building blocks for you to make your hormones. If your cholesterol levels are too low, your body is not able to make the necessary hormones for proper functioning. Our physicians are experts in bioidentical hormone therapy and using a combination of a customized fitness and nutrition program, you can positively impact your cholesterol levels and provide a stage for your body to function optimally and in balance.
Hi, I have been suffering with anxiety, panic attacks, and depression for years. I have been on Wellbutrin Cymbalata and still have battled the same symptoms for years and need help. Am I on the right meds which I am against them totally? I suffer and so does my family seeing me this way- not going to work, loss of interest in many things, crying all the time, and tired of no answers from any of my doctors. It seems nobody wants to help. I feel my kids need me and I am a bad Mom when I know I am not. Please help.
A:
You may be suffering from a hormone imbalance. You have some classic symptoms that may be related to estrogen dominance or an imbalance of adrenal hormones. The best way to find out is to find a qualified doctor to do an evaluation of your hormone levels with blood and saliva testing. With proper hormone balance you may be able to get off the medications which you are uncomfortable taking.
Can hormones cause depression? The answer in short is yes. Hormones have an enormous impact on mood, sleep and many other factors that are essential for quality of life. While depression certainly can have a number of emotional and psychological causes, the role of hormones cannot be overlooked.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the past year alone, the number of unemployed men age 20 or older has doubled – increasing from 3.7 million in May 2008 to 7.5 million last month. Although the increase hasn’t been as significant, the number of unemployed women age 20 or older has also increased – 3.6 million in May 2008 up to 5.6 million last month.
Major depressive disorder is a growing problem in the United States. It affects about 20% of Americans at some point in their lives and by 2020 will be the second most important cause of disability in developed countries. Symptoms include sleep abnormalities, interest or pleasure deficit, guilt or feelings of worthlessness, energy deficit, concentration deficit, appetite abnormalities, psychomotor agitation or retardation, and suicidality or thoughts of death. A person is diagnosed with depression if five or more of these symptoms are present for at least two weeks, with at least one symptom being either depression or loss of pleasure.
Major depressive disorder affects half as many men as women. However, one reason for this could be that, according to studies, men typically don’t use the word “depressed.” They will instead blame their problems on work or not feeling physically well. Also, women tend to have more of the symptoms of major depression than men. Despite more women being depressed than men, men are more likely to commit suicide than women. About 7% of depressed men kill themselves in comparison to 1% of depressed women. This could be related to the idea that most men are not used to to searching for help in dealing with their emotions.
Depression is a common symptom of hormone levels being out of balance. If you can answer yes to more than 5 of the questions below, it may be time to get your hormone levels tested.
Depressed mood (sometimes shows up as irritability)
Loss of interest or pleasure in life (don’t enjoy things you used to enjoy)
Significant change in appetite (up or down)
Abnormal changes in sleep pattern (too much or too little)
Fatigue or loss of energy
Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate excessive guilt
Diminished ability to think or concentrate
Becoming indecisive or easily overwhelmed
Thoughts of death and suicide
Depression is not a weakness – although 54% of people believe it is a weakness. In fact, it is a very common emotional experience with a variety of triggers. Pinpointing exactly what triggers an individual’s depression, which includes hormones, provides the physician with the key to successful treatment. Estrogen, progesterone and cortisol hormones are hormones that can affect depression in women. In men, low levels of testosterone and thyroid hormones can lead to depression.
Many women and men have found relief from their depression through a combination of bioidentical hormone therapy and a customized nutrition and fitness program. Is it the answer you’ve been looking for? Depression is not something you have to live with – get informed and get help today.
The AMA’s 543-member policy-making House of Delegates met in Chicago, to set its advocacy agenda for the coming year. It’s unusual for a non-physician, let alone a U.S. president, to address AMA House of Delegates meetings, but President Obama was seeking committee support for his national health-care reform plan.
“The cost of our health care is a threat to our economy,” he said. “It is an escalating burden on our families and businesses. It’s a ticking time-bomb for the federal budget. And it is unsustainable for the United States of America,” stated Obama.
If more people in this country, not only in the AMA, but the FDA as well, were concerned about preventive medicine and preventing disease, we might not be in the serious predicament we are now faced with as a nation. We need the government to recognize and support alternative therapies and approaches to health care before any reform could actually work.
A few of our expert physicians weigh in on the subject:
Did you know that the fifth best selling prescription medicine in Germany is Ginkgo Biloba? In the United States, we unfortunately do not consider herbs and nutrients as a real part of any medical treatment. We do not ensure the potency of the medicine and supplements and many medical doctors dismiss the value of natural prescriptions.
However, integrating natural approaches with interventional surgery and prescription synthetic medicines is critical to reduce the cost of medicine in the United States. Furthermore, restricting MD’s to spending 6 minutes per visit is not making a preventive approach a realistic option – which is one of the main reasons I chose to leave traditional medicine. As a BodyLogicMD specialist, I spend a minimum of 1 hour with each of my patients to fully evaluate their medical history, nutrition choices, and lifestyle. Based on their lab work results, I prescribe a customized preventive program for each of my patients that includes bioidentical hormone therapy along with a personalized nutrition and fitness program.
My goal as a physician is to help my patients prevent disease and live a balanced and healthy life. Balancing hormones and providing guidance for lifestyle changes help my patients achieve optimum health and wellness. My patients feel better and have more energy. They eat, sleep, and exercise better. These benefits are synergistic and I frequently see improvements in family relationships, overall health, and work productivity. I tell my patients that while the goal is to live well and not necessarily longer, increased longevity may be a by-product of an improved lifestyle.
Our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Alicia Stanton was interviewed this morning on FOX regarding “The Oprah Effect” and the anti-aging industry. She also discussed bioidentical hormone therapy.
Dr. Alicia Stanton is Chief Medical Officer of BodyLogicMD and also practices anti-aging and integrative medicine in Manchester, Connecticut serving the Hartford, Connecticut and surrounding areas. Dr. Stanton is a Diplomat of the Board of Anti-Aging Medicine and an Associate Professor at the University of Connecticut, School of Medicine. Prior to joining BodyLogicMD, Stanton had a private OB/GYN practice for 10 years until transitioning into dedicating herself to specializing in bioidentical hormone therapy. Stanton has a special interest in hormone balance and its effects on menopausal symptoms, weight gain, PMS, energy levels and stress. Stanton’s experience also translates well to managing her male patients and their hormonal issues including low testosterone, adrenal fatigue and low libido. Her BodyLogicMD Connecticut-based practice is dedicated to anti-aging medicine and maintaining optimum health through nutrition, fitness and bioidentical hormone therapy.
As Chief Medical Officer, Stanton is the voice of BodyLogicMD and is also responsible for the training and education standards of all BodyLogicMD physicians.
Dr. Stanton is board certified by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and a Diplomat of the American Board of Anti-Aging Medicine. She is a member of the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, American Nutraceutical Association and the Fellowship of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine.
Dr. Stanton graduated magna cum laude from SUNY at Buffalo School of Medicine. She is the founder of Enfield Gynecology and Obstetrics, P.C. in Hartford, CT, where she practiced obstetrics and gynecology for 10 years. She has also taught as an Associate Professor at the University of Connecticut Medical School for 15 years. After a life-changing accident in 2004, Dr. Stanton decided to shift her practice to focus entirely on preventive medicine, anti-aging and hormone therapy. She joined BodyLogicMD of Connecticut in 2005.
Board Certifications and Associations:
Member of BodyLogicMD a national network of highly trained physicians specializing in Natural Bioidentical Hormone Therapy.
American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine
Member of the Fellowship for Anti-Aging and Functional Medicine
Hormones decline in both men and women as they age. Human growth hormone, sometimes known as “The Master Hormone” declines about 14% per decade after it peaks around 20 years of age. By our 70’s, the level is significantly lower. This decrease brings about a slow decrease in testosterone levels in men as well. Some are calling this the “male menopause”. It is very different from the female menopause which occurs because the ovaries are depleted of their eggs. The maturation of ovarian follicles to eggs is what drives the cyclic female hormone production. When the eggs are no longer available, the production of hormones in a cyclic fashion ceases. Females do, however, continue to produce a low, constant level of hormones on their own.
Many things can accelerate the decline of hormone levels in both sexes. Stress levels, diet, nutrition and lifestyles all contribute to hormone imbalance. Currently, one of the main culprits is stress. This is true because the stress hormone, cortisol, is built with the same building blocks as our sex hormones, DHEA, testosterone and estrogen. The more stress we have, the more cortisol we demand and the fewer building blocks we have to make our sex hormones. So, we get less testosterone which causes a decrease in libido, fatigue, depression, inability to build muscle mass and increase in erectile dysfunction in men. This situation is further aggravated by poor diet, lack of exercise and lack of sleep because all of these things create more of a demand for cortisol. Many women start having perimenopause symptoms in their late 30’s due to this imbalance. Men may also see symptoms of low testosterone as early as their late 30’s too – especially with the high levels of stress we have today.
The good news is that hormone levels can be checked and monitored and missing hormones can be replaced if necessary. However, it is not all about hormone replacement. It is about optimizing nutrition through a diet with lean proteins and complex carbohydrates as well as adequate vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and omega 3 fatty acids. It is also about limiting your exposure to stress and setting boundaries as well as getting appropriate rest and exercise. If the simple lifestyle steps are started early, it is possible to maintain hormone balance naturally throughout your life. If, on the other hand, you have many significant symptoms, discuss your situation with a physician who understands Functional Medicine and get your hormone levels tested.
It’s National Men’s Health Week - the purpose of Men’s Health Week is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. Many of our patients have had tremendous success in relieving their symptoms of hormone imbalance by using a customized plan that includes bioidentical hormone replacement and a nutrition and fitness program.
Meet Dennis, a patient of Dr. Jennifer Landa of BodyLogicMD of Orlando … he’s lost weight, gotten his groove back, has thicker hair, and feels great!
It’s National Men’s Health Week… The purpose of the observance is to raise awareness of preventable health problems and encourage the early detection and treatment of health problems affecting men. Take care of yourself and be proactive with your health, not reactive!
Put your health first and start making the right choices to live better, longer.
Our anti-aging experts share their Top 10 List for healthier, happier, less stressful life:
Stay hydrated – drink enough water throughout the day
Floss!
Monitor your blood pressure weekly
Stop smoking and don’t drink in excess
Meditate, do TaiChi or Yoga for stress reduction
Have fun and laugh and smile as often as possible
Make better choices when eating (see our tips below)
Wear sunscreen
Get moving (incorporate weight bearing exercise 2x/week)
When it comes to making better choices when eating, there are some simple rules to follow:
During your meals, your plate should be 1/3 protein (white meat: chicken, turkey, fish, soy, eggs, and lean pork) and 2/3 colored vegetables (any vegetable that is colored, not white, all the way through). Add a sprinkle of olive oil, canola oil, or almonds for your fat.
Avoid sugar and sweet snacks. If it says “low fat” or “instant” on the package, put it back.
Eat five portion controlled meals a day. So in addition to breakfast, lunch and dinner, have a snack between lunch and dinner, and a small snack before bed.
Eat all your vegetables and two hard fruits (if it crunches when you eat it, it’s GOOD FOR YOU!) every day.
Have a tablespoon of cod liver oil (fish oil) every day.
Are you feeling tired? Suffering with erectile dysfunction? Fatigued? Losing your hair but gaining weight? Irritable? Could be that your hormones are out of balance!
