ANTIAGING METHODOLOGIES - HORMONES
Hormones
Hormones are chemical messengers that transmit commands
from the brain to the various functional systems of
the body, via the blood. They also alter the gene expression
of DNA throughout the body. Hormones are involved in
controlling growth, the reproduction process, appetite
, digestion, nutrient utilization, and many other normal
biological processes.
Hormones are produced and moderated by several glands
throughout the body. At least 50 human
hormones have been identified; the most important for
antiaging purposes are produced by:
The pituitary Gland - known as the
'master gland' functions under the influence of the
brain/hypothalamus; influencing the physiology of cells
throughout the entire body.
Thyroid - Controls body metabolism
Ovaries - Produce female sex hormones
estrogen and progesterone
Testes - Produce male sex hormone
testosterone
Liver - DHEA and Human Growth Factor
Hormone Decline With Age
Many hormones decline with age. The most significant
of these are:
Specific areas of the brain also show age-related
declines in the levels of the neurotransmitters dopamine,
acetylcholine, norepinephrine, GABA and serotonin.
Many of the physical and personal changes associated
with aging are linked to declining hormone levels. This
decline in hormone levels affect the length of telomeres.
Telomeres
Telomeres are sequences at the ends of chromosomes.
Cells with critically short telomeres ultimately alter
their character and the cell diminishes, becomes sluggish
and tired. The cell also becomes unresponsive to triggers
that would normally stimulate it to divide. Though these
growth arrested cells can live on in the body for years,
once they have reached this state, they do not under
normal circumstances, replicate themselves. They are
said to have reached their Hayflick limit.
From the age that reproduction typically begins in
the human species, individuals decline in overall efficiency,
and their vulnerability to injury and illness increases.
The technical term for this decline is 'senescence',
less precisely termed 'aging'.
Hormones produced by glands, organs, and tissues, hormones
act as the body's chemical messengers, flowing through
the blood stream searching for special receptors. The
activity of receptors are controlled by the specific
hormone that fits it and also, to a lesser extent, by
closely related hormones. The most commonly known are:
- Testosterone - The male hormone,
testosterone
is produced in the testes and may decline with age,
though less frequently or significantly than oestrogen
in women. Studies investigating its ability to strengthen
muscles and prevent frailty and disability in older
men are continuing. Its side effects are still unproven,
and may include an increased risk of certain cancers,
particularly prostate
cancer.
- Oestrogen - The female hormone,
produced mainly by the ovaries. In hormone replacement
therapy, oestrogen is used to relieve discomforts
of menopause,
slow reducing bone density and help prevent cardiovascular
disease .
In addition, and of special interest in anti-aging
are:
- Growth Hormone - A product of
the pituitary gland, GH impacts body composition,
muscle strength and bone strength. It is released
through the action of another hormone releasing hormone
produced in the brain. HGH
replacement works by stimulating the production
of insulin-like growth factor, which comes mainly
from the liver.
- Melatonin - Produced in the pineal
gland responds to light and regulates seasonal changes
in the body. As it declines during aging, it may trigger
changes throughout the endocrine
system, which impact sleep and ones ability to
adjust time zones.
- DHEA - [dehydroepiandrosterone],
is produced in the adrenal glands. Although it is
regarded as a weak male hormone, it is present in
both sexes. It remains inactive whilst circulating
the body, until it reaches tissue that needs it. It
also acts as a precursor to some other hormones, including
both testosterone
and oestrogen.
DHEA
supports anti-aging with stress response, immune
system decline, and preventing certain chronic
diseases such as cardiovascular
disease in men, cancer
and multiple sclerosis. There is now evidence that
too much DHEA can be harmful.
Most hormones begin their decline at about age 30,
and peri-menopausal symptoms in women are not uncommon
from 35 onwards until full menopause
is reached.
Hormone Replacement
According to Dr. Elmer M. Cranton, "The goal
of hormone replacement is to restore levels to those
normally present for several decades during early adulthood.
Safe levels at age 30 will remain safe when restored
to that same level later in life. Adverse effects from
hormone replacement result only from excessive doses
."
When some declining hormones are replaced, various
signs of aging diminish. Oestrogen replacement therapy
has been used for some years, in spite of divided controversy.
Preliminary studies suggest that testosterone replacement
may likewise have benefits for aging men, by increasing
bone and muscle mass and strength. Questions about cancer
risks surrounding both oestrogen and testosterone replacement
therapy have yet to be resolved, but many individuals
agree that the small increase in risk is largely outweighed
by the improvements in life quality.
Lifestyle changes that correct hormone imbalance!
• Improve your diet by including protein (organic
meats and poultry that contain no growth hormones and
antibiotics, plus eat cold-water fish - not farmed raised
- 3 times a week), whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
A healthy diet will improve your long term health, will
certainly reduce your hormone imbalance symptoms and
will allow you to live longer.
Increasing Your Hormones Using Diet And Exercise
You can naturally impact your hormone levels using
diet and exercise.
Increase your physical activity by exercising - women
who exercise sleep better, are more energetic, look
younger, enjoy better mood control, maintain weight
or lose weight, and have stronger bones and connective
tissue. It also boosts your immune system, which helps
protect you from infectious diseases.
Reduce stress - stress stimulates your body to produce
more cortisol, androgens, epinephrine and adrenaline.
Cortisol inhibits progesterone production by the ovaries.
With stress, your body will produce high levels of cortisol
which can significantly reduce progesterone production
and cause estrogen dominance.
Too much cortisol in the body reduces progesterone
production, causes diabetes, high blood pressure, weakens
your immune system, leads to overeating, and eliminates
essential minerals and vitamins in the body.
Natural
Antiaging Hormone Replacement Products
Human Growth Factors
Hormones are assisted by by a number of other substances
that also stimulate or modulate cell activities. Known
collectively as growth or trophic factors, these include
substances such as insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1),
which moderates many of the actions of GH.
Growth hormone stimulates production of insulin-like
growth factor [IGF-1]. Produced primarily in the liver,
IGF-1 flows through the blood stream seeking IGF-1 receptors
on the surface of various cells, including muscle cells.
Using these receptors it signals the muscle cells to
increase in size and number, perhaps by stimulating
production of muscle-specific proteins. Six other known
proteins bind with IGF-1; but as yet, their regulatory
roles are not known.
The action of GH is impacted by other factors. Exercise,
for example, stimulates GH secretion on its own. Obesity
depresses production of GH. The way fat is distributed
is also impacted by lower levels of GH; leading to an
excess of abdominal fat but not to lower body fat..
HGH
Products
Human Growth Hormones [HGH]
The rate at which cells reproduce is impacted by the
level of Human
Growth Hormone in the body. HGH levels decline from
the age of 20 and as such, it is a common antiaging
method to "supplement" these levels. As replacement
of HGH
through pills or injections is not effective in the
first instance and expensive and inconvenient in the
latter, a more reliable method is to use supplements
that act as catalysts to encourage the body to produce
higher levels of these hormones.
HGH
Products
Estrogen Hormone Treatments
Estrogen
hormone replacement is highly controversial. In
some cases, replacement therapies can increase the rate
of certain cancers, and in other cases, it decreases
the rate of different cancers. Eventually whether to
utilise oestrogen
replacement therapy is an individual choice based
upon family history or genetic predisposition to cancer
and also the individuals own history.
Many women finding taking
natural phytonutrient supplements boost their estrogen
levels sufficiently to avoid taking hormone drugs. Estrogen
and progesterone can both be administered as a cream
or patch.
Estrogen
Supplements
Natural
P rogesterone Supplements
NEXT: Caloric
Restriction
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