Want To Relieve Stress Meet The Hormone That Can Make You Feel Calmer And Look Younger
Charlotte Watts
Stress & Nutrition
Posted April 25, 2016
Youve probably heard about the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline. Well, DHEA is a hormone in the body that has a calming and anti-ageing effect, helping relieve stress. Calmista blogger Charlotte Watts reports on how to get more of it
Theres a lot of talk about the hormones that we release when we jump up into the stress response. Its great that theres much more awareness of rising adrenaline and cortisol and their effects, but what about coming down from the heightened response these provoke? Every reaction in our bodies needs an opposite reaction or we would simply keep going in the same direction until the gas ran out. Bringing the body back to a resting state after a stress response is a priority for our recover, as the stress state uses up so much fuel and nutrients and can cause so much damage via inflammation and oxidation. Being able to come back to baseline from a period of stress is a crucial part of not feeling on constant alert or continually overwhelmed.
Coming down from up, up, up
Feeling tired, achy and weak could mean low DHEA levels
those with low DHEA report feeling chronic stress long-term and that theyve lost the joy in life
Natural protection
Long term stress and low DHEA levels can mean real health consequences
Prolonged stress, which may raise insulin, blood sugar and cortisol, eventually leads to low DHEA blood levels.
The intelligent way to raise DHEA
Lifestyle Considerations
The Secret To Looking Younger Forever
In her new book, Younger, Dr. Sara Gottfried, our go-to expert for all over-forty health concerns, shows why aging gets a bad rap that isnt deserved: The steep decline in health, diseases of age, and symptoms that we tend to associated with getting olderfrom belly fat to memory lossare not a predetermined inevitability based on our genetic blueprints. Only 10 percent of disease is caused by genessome of which we can turn on and offand the other 90 percent is lifestyle, says Gottfried. So we actually have an extraordinary amount of control over the length of our healthspan and the grace with which we age . Here, Gottfried shares the essential Younger keys to avoiding inflammaging , staying fit , retaining the natural structure and beauty of your faceand extending your own, invaluable healthspan as long as possible.
A Holistic Defense Against The Effects Of Aging
While HRT can be a critical piece of the puzzle,it is not the only strategy for those who want to look and feel their best asthey age. Many actions, including lifestyle changes, can help you counteractthe effects of aging and hormonal decline. These include:
- Emphasize weight-bearing and resistance exercise: Exercise takes on extra importance as you age, as it can help to counteract the bone loss that leads to osteoporosis. Weight-bearing exercise utilizes the bodys effort against gravity to build muscles and strengthen bones. Likewise, resistance training with weights or bands can promote muscle strength and help build bone density. These activities can also help you maintain a healthy weight and minimize unwanted changes to body composition.
- Focus on a healthy diet: The importance of a healthy diet cannot be underestimated at any stage of life. A well-balanced diet as part of a healthy lifestyle can have both curative and protective effects while also helping you look the way you want.
- Consider nutritional supplements: Certain vitamin and mineral supplements may have a significant impact on your overall health, energy level, and appearance as you age. Additionally, if not adequately provided in the diet, nutritional supplements can help to compensate for lacking essential nutrients.
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What Are Some Of The Other Anti
The slow decline of HGH production that occurs as we age, results in what is known as adult onset, or age-related growth hormone deficiency . The signs and symptoms of age-related GHD include:
- Fatigue
- Weakness and a lack of strength
- Sexual health issues
- Changes in memory, processing speed and attention
- Lack of an overall sense of well-being
- Depression
- Impaired cardiac function
Think of your aging mothers or fathers, or any other old person you know. Does the above list sound like them? That is because they are most likely suffering from age-related growth hormone deficiency.
The modern science of HGH replacement therapy, can slow, and in some cases reverse, the many debilitating symptoms of age-related GHD.
To sum it all up, the many anti-aging benefits of HGH include:
- HGH improves the metabolism of fat and its conversion to energy, resulting in a leaner body and increased energy levels.
- HGH enhances protein synthesis and cellular rejuvenation, resulting in increased muscle mass, improved tissue and younger more youthful looking skin.
- HGH provides more restful sleep, improved brain functioning, decreased risk of obesity, improved sleep patterns and better moods.
- HGH increases libido and improves sexual performance.
- HGH improves heart health, lowers the risks of cardiovascular disease, can improve cholesterol profiles, and boost your immune system.
Growth hormone replacement therapy has many anti-aging benefits.
Replenish Skin With Human Growth Hormone
One of the many layers from the skin, the core dermal place where elastin and collagen lie are most vulnerable to damage. This is unfortunate because protein is important aspects of the strength of your skin. Elastin aids in letting flexibility inside the skin, allowing it to extend and yet usually returning to the regular position.
Collagen provides energy in the skin by acting as the glue between your cells and bodily organs. This is the health proteins that allows the body to adjust, to move without the need of falling apart. Without this protein, your body essentially wouldnt have the ability to function.
The deterioration of elastin and collagen will not likely only age the skin, it can also generate many side effects. You may develop facial lines, sagging, imperfections, spot facial lines, and many more characteristics you expect in older people.
You may already know that the suns UV rays are the number one reason behind skin aging. Simply being exposed to numerous UV rays will impact your facial skin as look GH-deficient. Basically, one might need to deal with saggy and old because the sun rays attack the fatty tissue in it by one or two percent annually.
Not simply will the Ultra violet rays eliminate the body fat under your skin, nevertheless, it will assault the water beneath it as well. The result is a skin that may which makes it sag and droop down. Without water beneath the skin, the face will resemble a shriveled prune.
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Will I Start Looking Older If I Stop Hormone Replacement Therapy
Many women worry that their menopause symptoms will return and the signs of aging along with them if they stop taking hormone replacement therapy. Its important to note that hormone replacement therapy should not be taken for longer than one year except on medical advice.
Studies have shown that undergoing the treatment for long-term periods can increase a womans chance of breast cancer, with this risk going up even further the longer the hormone therapy occurs. For this reason, any hormone replacement therapy will need to cease eventually.
The good news is that its unlikely that you will immediately experience a re-onset of menopause symptoms once treatment ends, and also unlikely you will find yourself rapidly appearing to re-age. Most doctors also recommend a gradual cessation of treatment rather than stopping abruptly.
Have A Younger Looking Skin
Every person admires how delicate a babys skin is. The plump, soft skin that displays young age is due to the fact that the babys body is made up of 90 % water. Even so, as you age, this skin commences wearing out, stretches, which is impacted in numerous other various ways. You get rid of that fresh glow, as the skin loses moisture.
Aging is not really the only aspect associated with dried up, non-hydrated skin. Kids with GH deficit is also short on this dampness. They have very dried up skin and will look older than they really are.
Your system absolutely demands water. The truth is, over 60% of the body weight consists of that water. Your entire cells, organs, and tissues call for it since it helps to have a safe body temperature, while it removes waste, and allows your joints to work properly.
Consequently, the amount of drinking water you have inside your body is essential regarding your overall health and aging aspects.
When you have the necessary amount, youll encounter a slower aging process and in addition, avoid harmful environmental damages.
Older people start losing water quantities on their skin, in fact, loses its capability to retain the appropriate levels. It is very important for your skins everyday health. HGH help you have ample amounts of water so you look younger.
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The Influence Of Hrt On Skin Changes In Postmenopausal Women
The importance of oestrogens in maintenance of skin health offers the possibility that HRT could reduce the menopausal signs of atrophy , dry skin and wrinkles. Moreover, one observational study in more than 3,000 women found that compared to non-users, HRT use was associated with a statistically significant reduction in dry skin and wrinkling but not atrophy.13
HRT appears to boast dermal collagen levels and thereby improves skin health. This has been the subject of several trials,14 in which all but one demonstrated an improvement in collagen levels. It has been suggested that HRT was ineffective in one trial because the women had been amenorrhoeic for a short period of time and that any hypoestrogenic effects would have been small during this initial period of time.15 The longest study of topical HRT continued for 4.8 years and used 0.06% estradiol gel or transdermal patches to maintain a daily estradiol dose of 1.5mg. The trial observed increases of skin thickness of between 7% and 15% in several areas of the body.16 In contrast, a randomised, double-blind trial with oral conjugated oestrogen therapy, detected a 30% increase in dermal thickness after only 12 months.17
Whether or not the use of HRT can improve the appearance of wrinkles on sun-exposed areas of the body is equivocal
Symptoms Of Hormone Imbalance
Because hormones are involved in so many body processes, and because there are so many different types of hormones, the symptoms of an imbalance can vary widely.
A few of the telltale symptoms we see often include:
- Unintended, unexplained weight loss or gain
- Issues with sleeping
- Changes in your sex drive
- Dry skin
You may also feel hot or cold, or be sensitive to temperature in general.
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A Q& a With Dr Sara Gottfried
Can you talk about the 90/10 conclusion at the heart of the book? How does lifestyle vs. genes vs. the interaction of the two contribute to signs of aging and disease?
Genetics loads the gun, and the environment pulls the trigger. I call this the 90/10 rule: Only 10 percent of disease is caused by your genes, while 90 percent is caused by environmental factors, including the environment you create with lifestyle choices. This gives you a sacred opportunity to change the course of disease and aging in your body by lengthening your healthspan, the period of time in your prime, relatively free of disease. The goal is to upgrade that 90 percent to affect the genetic 10 percent.
Since mapping the human genome, scientists developed an important complementary concept called the exposomethe sum of all exposures in an individual, from diet and lifestyle to behavior, as well as how the body responds to them, and, finally, how these exposures relate to health. These factors have the power to work for or against you, and can adjust how your genes are expressed in your DNA sequence.
Does Hrt Make You Look Younger Why Hormones May Be The Key To Feeling Your Best As You Age
For centuries, humans searched for the mythicalspring known as the Fountain of Youth. According to legend, drinking or bathingin its restorative waters would turn back time and leave you looking andfeeling as you did in younger years. Today, the search is no longer literal,but continues in metaphorical form and with enduring enthusiasm. In fact, as welive longer and in a culture that vigorously celebrates youth, the desire torecapture the appearance and energy levels of youth is perhaps keener than ever.This fight against aging leads many to wonder: does HRT make you look longer?
Hormone levels shift throughout life, guiding our development through childhood, puberty, and the childbearing years. These shifts are also intimately related to how we age. Falling testosterone levels in men and the fluctuations of estrogen and progesterone that trigger perimenopause and menopause result in a host of physiological changes. Some of these changes are neutral or merely inconvenient. But others can have a profound and destructive impact.
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Does Hrt Make You Look Younger
6th April 2020
Any woman who has been through it can tell you that the menopause is no picnic in the park. Not only does it cause hot flushes, mood swings and low sex drive, but it also signals the end of a womans reproductive years and can therefore leave women feeling older and unhappy about it.
When it comes to the unpleasant symptoms, thats where hormone replacement therapy comes in. But does HRT also have the power to make you look younger?
Physical Aspects Of Sexual Activity
Having sex two times a week means that you are somewhat physically active. After all, sex requires you to put some effort into the act and engage your muscles.
Dr. Weeks also states that sex increases the release of human growth hormone in women which can help them increase muscle mass.
This is especially true if you frequently exercise and eat a nutritiously rich diet.
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How Hgh Work On The Skin
Human growth hormone is among over 50 different chemical substance within your body. Hormones are used for signaling giving vital communications that activate a variety of function and other hormone secretions.
What sets Human growth hormone apart from other substances is the pure scope of the things it does for the body. It impacts fat burning capacity, immunity, but above all cell regeneration.
HGH therapy allows you to look significantly younger within months. Youll lose the lines, creases, crows toes, etc. Along with these advantages, the curve of the skin change as well, making your facial skin look revitalized.
As mentioned before, Human growth hormone helps you eliminate the excess fat cells. With HGH, the undesirable body fat in your body is also eliminated, while you obtain muscle mass.
Because of this, the fat within your skin will remain, however, the bad body fat that causes swollen eyes will disappear. Muscle gain will lift your body with this whole process, creating your skin to look much stronger and re-energized.
In many ways, HGH therapy could be compared to cosmetic surgery, but with the similar benefits. Health proteins get a boosts when you take growth hormone. Given that collagen and elastin are proteins which can be essential in sustaining the stamina of the skin, getting HGH can make you look a whole lot younger. Your skin will become firmer, smooth, and streamlined, something you otherwise look at plastic surgery.
Sexual Function And Sex Drive
Its probably not surprising that sex hormones are responsible for sex, but it may intrigue you as to the role that sex plays in how young you feel. Not only do most men and women find that their libido gradually decreases as they age, but women can also experience vaginal dryness, which can leave sex feeling uncomfortable or even painful.
Oestrogen is responsible for the natural lubrication of the vagina so if youre experiencing vaginal dryness, then low oestrogen levels are the likely cause. A lubricating cream or gel such as Vagisil may help, but HRT will boost these levels at the source and can help you to want sex again.
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Really Sitting Is The New Smoking
The first step to losing belly fat is to get enough sleep, so your body maintains optimal levels of growth hormone and can be equipped to bounce back after injuries. The second is to stop sitting so much! Really, sitting is the new smoking: Not only does it increase your risk of diabetes and heart disease, but it can even make your belly look fat by tightening your hip flexors and increasing your waist circumference. So get up and move!
Overall, exercise helps convert white fat into useful brown fat that ultimately facilitates burning calories and generating heat. Exercises that get your hip flexors working properly and tuck your belly back behind your abdominal muscles where it belongs are great. Practice yoga at least three times per week for a half hour to strengthen your core, cut out belly fat, and get the added benefit of releasing stress and tension.
What is the triangle of youth, and how do we preserve it? How do we slow down collagen loss?
Your body will continue to produce collagen throughout your life, but the manufacturing process slows down with age and lack of maintenance. After age twenty-five, you lose collagen at a rate of 1 percent per year, and that rate increases up to 2 percent in your forties. By age sixty, youve lost half of your collagen.
Here are a few specific tips:
You mentioned that exercise can also make a difference on our skincan you explain some of the science behind this?
Can Hormones Keep You Young
What if I told you I had the key to better sex, a leaner body and youthful skin? You’d probably look at me like I was crazy. There is no fountain of youth, right? I recently read an article on human growth hormone serving as the “so-called fountain of youth” for a former NFL player and his wife. They have been taking human growth hormone injections prescribed by their doctor for eight years and have noticed better sex, better sleep, changes in skin, and that they both feel 20 years younger.
I’ve been prescribing bioidentical hormones for years and can tell you miracles on both sides of the fence. For many of my patients, taking hormones at a low physiological dose along with other lifestyle changes is the answer to their prayers. Their lives absolutely turn around. But for others, taking extra hormones is too risky. There are patients and practitioners who feel that hormones are a large contributing factor to breast cancer, yet birth control use, for example, has not been definitively connected to breast cancer.
Taking hormones remains a controversial topic. What’s frustrating is that patients and healthcare practitioners alike have gotten very good at lumping things into “all good” or “all bad” categories. Hormones are a perfect example of something that requires individualized medicine. What’s most important to me is that my patients have a choice about hormones and are informed while making that choice.
What’s the Big Deal About Hormones?
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