What are 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.
• As doctors, we were taught that as we age, our hormones decline. It is now becoming clear that as our hormones decline, we age!
• Hormones are considered the strongest at from age 25-30 years, the same period when the body is at its strongest and healthiest.
• Diet and exercise will not be as effective if your hormones are not balanced correctly.

Why Hormones Decline

• Hormones decline as we age every year after the age of 30.
• The human body was never designed to live as long as we are living today. Advances in healthcare, vaccinations, sanitation and food preservatives have drastically increased life span. However, the glands that produce our hormones do not regenerate and continue to decline, 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.

Natural Hormones vs. Synthetic Hormones

• Synthetic hormones, like Provera or Premarin, derived from plant progesterone and animal estrogens, are chemicals that act as toxins in the body. Because they are not natural to the human body, we can not metabolize them properly.
• Dr. Kelley only uses natural bioidentical hormones. Unlike synthetic hormones, bioidentical hormones or natural hormones are replicas of the body’s own natural hormones. They’re made from soy, yams and other plant extracts, which are changed in a lab to be biologically identical to the same hormones your body makes.
• For optimal safety and results, Dr. Kelley’s supplements only hormones that are low, evaluates client’s symptoms and retests hormone levels regularly.

Hormones: what they mean and what they do

HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE – the growth hormone

• Decreases body fat
• Increases muscle mass
• Improves tissue healing and protein synthesis
• Increases bone density
• Quicker illness recovery
• Increases capacity to exercise
• Increases skin hydration and elasticity
• Improves sense of well being
• Decreases incidence of illness

TESTOSTERONE – the male hormone

• Improves brain function
• Increases energy
• Increases strength
• Increases bone density
• Increases libido
• Improves sexual sensitivity
• Improves sexual function
• Improves HDL and LDL levels
• Improves cardiovascular health

DHEA – the mother of hormones

• Improves neurological function
• Increases sense of well being
• Improves immune function
• Improves stress tolerance
• Increases metabolism

ESTROGENS – the female hormone

• Protects against heart disease, stroke
• Decreases cholesterol
• Lowers incidence of Alzheimer’s
• Improves memory
• Alleviates symptoms of menopause: headaches, mood swings, bloating, hot flashes, fatigue, waning libido

PROGESTERONE – the hormone of pregnancy

• Protects against breast and uterine cancer
• Protects against fibrocystic disease
• Helps fat metabolism
• Helps normalize blood sugar
• Helps reverse osteoporosis
• Helps thyroid hormone function
• Acts as a natural antidepressant
• Protects against nervousness
• Protects against anxiety and irritability

PREGNENELONE – the gateway hormone

• Promotes formation of other hormones
• Repairs brain and nerve tissue
• Enhances many brain functions
• Reduces aging skin
• Improves sense of well being
• Increases energy and mobility
• Improves sleep quality
• Reduces harmful stress effects
• Reduces aging brain deficiencies

THYROID – the hormone of metabolism

• Increases energy
• Increases fat burning, and controls weight
• Increases your heart rate
• Increases your appetite

INSULIN – the hormone of storage

• Responsible for getting blood sugar into all cells
• Increases fat storage
• Increases risk of diabetes, hypertension and stroke

MELATONIN – the hormone of sleep

• Responsible for maintaining sleep
• Helps alleviate “jet-lag”
• Improves one mood
• Improves the immune system (by decreasing cortisol)

CORTISOL – the hormone of stress

• Responsible for responding to stress
• Helps protect you against your environment (allergens)
• Mobilizes energy, improves fatigue
• Increases your appetite for sugar
• Decreases bone mass, muscle mass, and slows down your metabolism

Summary:
Getting older can be brutal — women gain weight, lose their sex drive, experience hot flashes, suffer memory loss, become short-tempered, find it difficult to sleep, and on and on. It’s not so easy for men, either — they start to lose energy and stamina as they age, too (and they have to live with women going through menopause). After years of being thin and fit and full of energy, Suzanne herself encountered the “Seven Dwarfs of Menopause” — Itchy, Bitchy, Sweaty, Sleepy, Bloated, Forgetful, and All-Dried-Up. Instead of living out the rest of her life cranky, sleep-deprived, and libido-less, Suzanne set out to discover how she could get her mind, body, and life back and banish those pesky dwarfs for good.

Suzanne has discovered that the second half of life has been more rewarding, fun, and purposeful than her younger years. The key to her happiness? Taking natural bioidentical hormones. Natural hormones, which mimic the hormones produced in our own bodies that are almost completely lost with aging, are the answer to the symptoms of menopause that plague women. Recent findings from the medical community show that synthetic hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be harmful to women — thus, thousands of women are looking for an alternative to alleviate their symptoms. In The Sexy Years, Suzanne comes to the rescue with a step-by-step plan and detailed information about how women can take control of their health, for themselves and for their men, including:

• What the differences are between synthetic and bioidentical hormones, and why bioidentical hormones help women lose weight, reinvigorate their sex lives, and fight the symptoms of aging
• How doctors do not receive adequate training about hormones and are slaves to the pharmaceutical industry, and what questions every woman must ask her physician about hormone replacement therapy and her health
• How Suzanne turned her life around, with information about how often she visits her doctor, blood work, what hormones she takes, how to get these hormones, and more
  What male menopause, or andropause, is and how men can also take bioidentical hormones and regain the energy they had in their youth
• What a variety of specialists think about natural hormones, health, and sexuality — Suzanne shares the best advice from these doctors and provides a resource list of physicians and pharmacies

In combination with her Somersize diet and fitness plan, which she also writes about here, Suzanne has never felt better. The beauty of growing older, she maintains, is that you can combine the wisdom of age with the vitality of youth. Suzanne makes it perfectly clear how women and men can regain their zest for life at any age. These really are the sexy years!

Summary:

“Ageless: The Naked Truth About Bioidentical Hormones” is the newest and most comprehensive book yet about bioidentical hormones by Suzanne Somers. Following her successful “The Sexy Years”, this book continues her extensive research with 16 leading experts on bioidentical hormone therapy explaining in terms that everyone can understand and enjoy the importance of Bioidentical Hormones, Fitness, Nutrition and Sleep. We highly recommend that you read this book cover to cover.

Dr. Paul Savage is one of the leading physicians that Suzanne Somers’ writes about, as he discusses with her the importance of proper Nutrition and Hormones. In this interview, Dr. Savage describes to Suzanne his own life’s journey to better fitness, nutrition, stress-reduction and the need for bioidentical hormone replacement for both men and women. Read as he discusses with her the experiences he has encountered from nearly a thousand patients, and the specific cases that touched his heart the most, and of his efforts to expand his work to physicians throughout the country.

Suzanne Somers has 16 interviews from cutting-edge experts on how to slow the aging process for men and women. She introduced millions of women to bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and changed the way we look at menopause with her revolutionary book, “The Sexy Years”. Now, in “Ageless,” Ms. Somers introduces a medically validated approach against age-related diseases. “Ageless” is jam-packed with new, updated information on bioidentical hormone replacement and anti-aging. A definite read.

Boca Raton, FL - October, 2008 - When Suzanne Somers talks about bioidentical hormones, people listen. Suzanne Somers has released another book discussing her success with bioidentical hormones.

Somers says the cornerstone of breakthrough medicine is bioidentical hormone replacement. The key is to first understand what hormones your body produces and what happens when you lose them. She dedicates an entire chapter to the different minor and major hormones in the body. Some of the hormones listed include:

· Estrogen: Primarily a female hormone, estrogen is present and necessary in both the male and female body. Estrogen affects our organs and tissues including the brain, liver, bones, skin as well as blood vessels and female sex organs.

· Progesterone: Primarily a female hormone, progesterone is also needed in the male body. It is produced in the ovaries and adrenal glands and helps build and maintain bones, and prevents cancer.

· Testosterone: A critical hormone in both the male and female body, testosterone helps maintain bone density, fat distribution, muscle mass and strength, red blood cell production and sex drive.

· DHEA: Referred to as the “mother hormone” of the body, DHEA is produced in the brain and is responsible for helping balance other hormones like testosterone.

· Thyroid: Responsible for our metabolism and control of the efficiency and speed of how fast our cells “work,” the thyroid hormone is one of the most vital hormones in the body and can cause severe reactions in the body if it is unbalanced.

· Cortisol: Known as the stress hormone, cortisol is vital to human life and if it occurs too low or too high, severe systemic complications can result.

· Melatonin: The melatonin hormone controls the body’s sleep function. When the body has low levels, deep and restful sleep is difficult.

Dr. Kelley recommends Suzanne Somer’s book, “Breakthrough: Eight Steps to Wellness” to all patients as an educational source of the latest information on hormone therapy. When coupled with the diagnostics of a qualified hormone therapy specialist, Somers’ book is an invaluable wellness tool,” said Stanton.

• Testosterone - The total amount in your system, including how much is actively available to your body
• Dihydrotestosterone - The total amount of used testosterone in your body
• Estrogen - To make sure it’s not too high
• PSA - Prostate specific antigens – your prostrate health

Adrenal Hormones - Your immune system, your energy level, and your ability to handle stress

• Cortisol – the stress hormone
• DHEA – the “mother of all hormones”

Thyroid Hormones - Your metabolism

• TSH – Thyroid Stimulating Hormone

Your Body’s System

• Prolactin and Luteinizing hormone
• Complete blood count, complete metabolic profile, Hemoglobin A1C, Insulin and Lipid Panel
• Zinc and Vitamin D

Other Hormone Tests - The physician may suggest other tests for you

Andropause, also known as the male menopause or MANopause, is the result of a gradual drop in testosterone. In many cases, bioidentical hormones can be part of the solution. Symptoms of low testosterone manifest in a number of ways including physical, emotional, psychological and behavioral changes. Men frequently notice male menopause symptoms as a gradual loss of energy, muscle, mental focus, stamina and libido. Experts directly relate low testosterone to causes of low sex drive. Although a decline in hormone levels will occur in virtually all men with age, there is no way of predicting whose male menopause symptoms will reach the severity of seeking medical help.

Top 10 Signs of Andropause - the male menopause:

Statistics on Andropause: The Male Menopause

Suffering from symptoms of low testosterone? According to the US Census Bureau, approximately 4 -5 million men have low testosterone levels and only 5-10 percent of them will seek treatment.

According to the US Census Bureau, approximately 4-5 million men have symptoms of low testosterone levels and only 5-10% of these men will seek treatment.

A recent World Health Organization (WHO) report stated “male androgens progressively decline with age.” The report analyzed male hormones and found that the testosterone level in most 70 year old men was 10 percent of the level in males that are 25 years old. By the time men are between the ages of 40 and 55, they can experience symptoms similar to female menopause, which in men is known as the male menopause or andropause. The symptoms of andropause include changes in body mass, resulting in less muscle and more fat, changes in attitudes and moods, fatigue, a loss of energy and sex drive, as well as physical agility.

Male menopause symptoms are also associated with stress levels, nutrition quality, fitness routine and the environmental toxins the body is exposed to on a daily basis.

Treating Andropause, the male menopause

Dr. Kelley’s physician-supervised programs use only natural bioidentical hormones, hormones, which are identical to the body’s own chemistry, integrated with nutrition and fitness programs. Bioidentical hormone therapy provides a natural treatment that helps men suffering the from male menopause symptoms and allows them to live the best life possible.

Your individualized treatment plan may include a combination of creams, gels, pills, self-injections or pellet therapy. Each treatment plan is customized to your individual needs.

Andropause Exams and Tests for Men

To determine your hormonal needs, Dr. Kelley’s anti aging physicians thoroughly evaluate your symptoms of low testosterone using state-of-the-art diagnostics including saliva, urine and/or blood labs to determine your hormone levels and your unique bioidentical hormone needs. After starting bioidentical hormone therapy, Dr. Kelley monitors and reevaluates your hormone levels to insure that they are maintained within optimum balance.

Ovarian Hormones - What makes you a woman

• Estrogens, Progesterone and Testosterone

Adrenal Hormones - Your immune system, your energy level, and your ability to handle stress

• Cortisol – the stress hormone measured four times in a day

• DHEA – the “mother of all hormones”

Thyroid Hormones - Your metabolism

• TSH – Thyroid Stimulating Hormone

Your Body’s System

• Complete Blood Count, Complete Metabolic Profile, Hemoglobin A1C, Insulin and Lipid Panel

• Vitamin D and Iron

Other Hormone Tests - The physician may suggest other tests for you based on your symptoms.

Along with your lab tests, you’ll spend time on our secure Web site completing a thorough personal, medical and family history questionnaire in the convenience of your home. At your initial consultation, the anti-aging physician will review your answers and lab results to determine with you the next steps together.

The signs of menopause and related hormonal issues include:

• Hot flashesNight sweats
• Weight gain
• Mood swings
• Depression
• Trouble sleeping
• Vaginal dryness
• Loss of sex drive
• Urinary incontinence
• Irritability

Hot flashes, night sweats, trouble sleeping and weight gain are the most common symptoms of hormonal imbalance as a woman ages. Perimenopause weight gain is often times misdiagnosed and is one of the first signs of hormonal imbalance. These signs of menopause or early menopause and related conditions are also connected to your stress levels, poor nutrition, lack of exercise and the environmental toxins your body is exposed to on a daily basis.
Dr. Kelley’s anti-aging physician supervised program uses only bioidentical hormones, which are identical to the body’s natural chemistry, integrated with nutrition and fitness programs. Dr. Kelley’s anti-aging physicians provide a natural treatment that helps women suffering from the symptoms of perimenopause and signs of menopause by using bioidentical hormones or natural hormones to live the best life possible.

Testing along with Comprehensive Symptoms are critical factors for success.

To determine your hormonal needs, Dr. Kelley’s anti-aging physicians thoroughly evaluate your early menopause symptoms using state-of-the-art diagnostic tests, such as, saliva, urine and/or blood tests to determine your hormone levels and your unique bioidentical hormonal needs. After starting bioidentical hormone therapy, Dr. Kelley monitors and reevaluates your hormone levels to insure that they are maintained at their optimum balance.

Hot flashes, night sweats, trouble sleeping and weight gain are the most common symptoms of hormonal imbalance as a woman ages. Perimenopause weight gain is often times misdiagnosed and is one of the first signs of hormonal imbalance. These signs of menopause or early menopause and related conditions are also connected to your stress levels, poor nutrition, lack of exercise and the environmental toxins your body is exposed to on a daily basis. 
Dr. Kelley’s anti-aging physician supervised program uses only bioidentical hormones, which are identical to the body’s natural chemistry, integrated with nutrition and fitness programs. Dr. Kelley’s anti-aging physicians provide a natural treatment that helps women suffering from the symptoms of perimenopause and signs of menopause by using bioidentical hormones or natural hormones to live the best life possible.