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4 Super Reasons You Will Love "Easifying" Your Life
Are you someone who wants a simpler life, but who associates simplifying with giving away everything you own, and going back to baking your own bread? Unfortunately, that attitude can scare you away from making the simple (pardon the pun) kind...
8 Tips to Burn Fat Fast!
Are you looking for that “jump start” to rev your metabolism and get you bathing suit ready? The following eight tips will improve your workouts and ignite your metabolism. Try some or all of these tips, but beware, the result may be a number...
How to Lift Weights to Lose Weight
HOW TO LIFT WEIGHTS AND LOSE WEIGHT The 5 Golden Rules by Michael Stefano I was barely fifteen when I bought my first set of weights. My best buddy and I lugged the 110-pound set uphill for the twenty plus blocks from the porting goods store to...
Myths That Effect Your Muscle Building Results
Over the past 5 years, while working as a personal trainer, I've
discovered a lot of muscle building hype floating around the
internet.
Here are some of the most common myths that will effect your
muscle building goals. Next to the myth,...
Weight Training For Weight Loss?
Should you lift weights if your goal is to lose fat? Some people are afraid when they hear about "mass building" routines and taking weight-gainers. There is nothing to worry about: lifting weights properly will put on muscle and burn fat at the...
Yoga Helps Fight Mid-Life Bulge
Copyright 2005 Daily News Central
Yoga practice helps middle-aged people lose weight and keep it off, suggest new studies published in the online journal Alternative Therapies In Health and Medicine.
Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer...
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Fighting Age with DHEA
DHEA is another controversial antiaging hormone. However,
unlike the Human Growth Hormone (HGH) there have been more studies done, but with often conflicting results.
DHEA is a naturally occurring steroid hormone that is a precursor to the male hormone testosterone and the female hormone estrogen. There seems to be little dispute that DHEA
levels steadily decline as we age, so that by the age of 70 a person is only producing about 20% as he did in his teens or 20’s.
Proponents of supplemental DHEA claim that taking the hormone will improve your memory, increase libido, improve muscle tone and stamina, reduce depression, anxiety and fatigue, rejuvenate cells leading to firmer, less wrinkled skin, add sheen and
strength to damaged hair and nails and help with weight control.
A German study done in the late 90’s showed that women who took
DHEA for four months were less likely to be depressed, anxious or
hostile and more likely to have sexual thoughts and enjoy sex. These
results seemed to confirm other studies that DHEA can effect moods
and perhaps reduce depression. It might also aid in the treatment of
chronic fatigue syndrome.
However two studies in 2003 gave contradictory results as far as the
effect of the hormone on heart disease and doctors are very worried
that the hormone might, in fact, worsen heart conditions.
More recent studies have shown that DHEA can cause significant
reductions in abdominal fat, which is associated with diabetes and
blood plaque build up in the arteries. So the effect of the hormone
on the heart is still undecided.
DHEA is also proven to help some lupus suffers.
As with all hormone therapies, the experts warn that the long term
risks are unknown. There is concern that DHEA may cause or worsen
heart conditions or cause or accelerate prostate cancer or other
tumors.
The hormone is available as a supplement and not patentable, so no research is likely to be done by the
pharmaceutical industry. As a matter of fact, DHEA was briefly banned
in the US, but is now legal, to the chagrin of many doctors.
Other physicians feel that a dosage up to 50 mg a day would probably
not be harmful. But even they call for more studies.
DHEA is probably not needed before the age of 40. A blood test can be
used to establish if you are suffering from a deficiency.
There is nothing to prevent anyone from buying and taking DHEA. There
are many short term benefits and long term hazards, if any, have not
yet been proven.
If you feel you might benefit from DHEA, consult a qualified physician
first. This article is for informational purposes only. It does not purport to offer medical advice.
About the Author
Ms. Bowler has been a teacher all her life. She has taught grade school, ballet and aerobics. She has also been a personal trainer.
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