Everything Andropause

Know your risk factors for a stroke

2009-06-30T15:43:00.000-07:00

Many strokes are preventable!

Unfortunately, having a stroke can happen to anyone. There are several types of strokes, but a stroke creates a condition where your brain cells are deprived of a sufficient blood supply, with sometimes devastating results. Knowing the risk factors for strokes can save your life. In the case of strokes, truly an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Let's take a look:

Some factors are related to lifestyle choices, while others are genetic. There are also medical conditions which may predispose you to suffering a stroke.
Among the lifestyle choices, there are risk factors for stroke that are most preventable. One of the most common is smoking. It's well known that smoking tobacco products contribute to cardiovascular damage. Enough said. Don't smoke. If you do, do your best to quit. Many studies have concluded that excessive use of alcohol and street drugs increase your risk of stroke.

Other lifestyle choices, such as what you eat, may contribute to increased risk factors for strokes. Choosing lean meats, along with plenty of fruits and vegetables, goes a long way to preventing strokes. Regular exercise helps keep your heart and circulation good and healthy.

Your genetics play a role as well. You cannot eliminate this risk factor, but being informed of genetic risk factors for strokes allows you to work with your physician to control conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and diabetes. Certain ethnic groups, as well as a family history, may predispose you to certain conditions which place you at increased risk. Sickle cell anemia is one condition where adequate blood supply is already compromised, so reducing as many of the other risk factors for strokes is essential.

Patients with heart conditions may well be in the best position to reduce their risk for strokes. High blood pressure, controlled with medications, good dietary choices and exercise, can significantly reduce your risk factors for stroke.
Patients with diabetes often have cardiovascular problems, including HBP and high cholesterol. Diabetics can likewise significantly reduce their risk factors by eating healthy, controlling their weight and exercising regularly.

Age and gender also influence your risk of suffering a stroke. Perhaps due to circulatory problems or lack of exercise, studies show that your risk of stroke is doubled every ten years after reaching 55. Some physicians recommend aspirin, as a preventative of stroke. Discuss this with your own physician. As for gender, it's a fact that men suffer more strokes than women, but women more often die of a stroke than men. If you take birth control pills, are pregnant, or smoke, your risk factors for stroke are greatly increased.

If you've previously suffered a stroke, or a heart attack, you're at greatest risk. This means you'll want to address every risk factor aggressively, to minimize your risk.

Take care of your health. Take it seriously and help prevent a stroke.

Nicotine Detox

2009-06-25T08:29:00.000-07:00

Nicotine withdrawal is one of the hardest things that I ever had to go through. Nicotine detox is no joke. At first, you think it will be no big deal. Sure, everyone likes to have a cigarette now and then, but you can resist, can't you? You just need to find something else to do rather than taking smoke breaks.

After a day or two, however, it can get pretty serious. You get moody and irritated. You start eating more or needing to take long walks to deal with the anxiety. By some estimates, even heroin detox is easier than nicotine detox. Whether or not this is true, one fact remains. If you want to quit smoking successfully, you need to detoxify from the nicotine first.

There are several different ways to do this. The most classic one, of course, is the cold turkey quit smoking approach. You simply stop having cigarettes and do not let yourself have another one. There are several different ways to do this, of course. You can do it alone or get help from friends. You can even check yourself into a detox center for a weekend or take a camping trip to an area where you will not be able to get a cigarette.

Some people find this approach harsh to the point of counteractive. They argue that this way of doing nicotine detox tends to fail, causing people to give up on quitting smoking. Many of them prefer to quit smoking slowly, using nicotine patches and gum. This approach has its own pitfalls, of course. You really need to keep track of everything very carefully, and the nicotine detox. takes a lot longer. Rather than having terrible symptoms of nicotine withdrawal for a weekend, you have them for weeks and weeks at a time. Although they are less severe, they last so much longer that some people find it easier to start smoking again.

A lot of folks that I know believe that nicotine detoxification can be aided by other medicines or herbal supplements. Indeed, it seems like there are some kinds of gums and pills that really do work pretty well. They help you to suppress your cravings for cigarettes, making it much less likely that you'll start smoking again. By taking this sort of medication while you are going through withdrawal, you can avoid having to deal with the worst of the cravings. You will still want a cigarette from time to time, but it will be much easier to deal with.

How to Ward off Strokes and Protect your Health

2009-06-17T15:28:00.000-07:00

We are all familiar with the potentially devastating effects of suffering a stroke, especially as men get older and go through andropause, but most of us don't have a clue as to stroke causes. All strokes are caused, essentially, by a lack, or excess of blood to the brain cells.

The majority of strokes involve a lack of adequate supply of blood to your brain. These are called ischemic strokes. The remaining 20% of strokes are of the hemorrhagic type, where a blood vessel in the brain ruptures and bleeds within the skull.

Here we present a synopsis of the two basic types and stroke causes. Preventing strokes is best accomplished by improving your cardiovascular health. Narrowed arteries, high blood pressure, and a sedentary lifestyle are a recipe for a stroke.

The most common type of stroke is the ischemic stroke. Poor circulation and atherosclerosis results in a greatly reduced flow of blood to your brain. This is ischemia, the most common cause of strokes. When brain cells are deprived of proper blood circulation, brain cells suffer almost immediate damage. This is why it's so important to seek immediate medical help if you've exhibited symptoms of stroke. Permanent damage may thus be averted.

The transient ischemic attack (TIA) might be termed a 'mini-stroke'. This type of stroke is of short duration, lasting only a few minutes, and does not result in permanent brain damage. However, the TIA is a definite indicator of trouble brewing.

Many people suffer this type of stroke, but do not seek medical attention, although this is a major predictor of subsequent, serious strokes. If you've experienced the symptoms of stroke (numbness in your limbs or face, confusion and difficulty coordinating muscles in walking), contact your doctor immediately and get to the hospital. Stroke causes such symptoms and your risk for a major stroke in the future increases by a multiple of ten.

Naturally, reducing the plaque in your arteries can ward off this type of stroke. Your doctor may prescribe a pharmaceutical to do the job. Follow your doctor's advice to combat this narrowing and clogging of the arteries.

The ischemic embolic stroke causes a blood clot to form, which breaks away and finds its way to your brain, where it stops, unable to flow through the smaller brain arteries. This type of stroke causes an irregular heartbeat, referred to as atrial fibrillation. This leads to sluggish blood flow and the subsequent formation of blood clots, making you ripe for a major stroke.

The second type of stroke, the hemorrhagic stroke causes the blood vessels in your brain to bleed. The reasons typically stem from high blood pressure and weak capillaries (aneurisms). Rare stroke causes include certain birth defects, involving fragile blood vessels. Age and genetic factors must also be considered. The hemorrhagic stroke causes sudden ruptures, often characterized by a severe and debilitating headache.

Stroke causes potentially debilitating problems. Take care of your heart!

Testosterone and Women

2009-06-15T11:48:00.000-07:00

Review study shows many benefits and few risks with a commonsense approach to testosterone replacement for women.

Although sex drive or libido in women is multi-faceted, it’s often closely tied to testosterone levels, and a new review study from researchers at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, published in the journal Maturitas, shows that testosterone replacement can bring many health benefits and few risks.

Women with low testosterone often have little or no desire to have sex. Using testosterone replacement therapy may seem like an obvious solution, but some doctors and researchers have been concerned that supplemental testosterone may convert to estrogen and thus create an increased risk of breast and uterine (endometrial) cancers. There has also been concern that testosterone replacement may increase a woman’s risk of heart disease, because men have a higher overall risk for heart disease than women do.

Read more

Dr. Atkins Diet Debate

2009-06-09T15:10:00.000-07:00

There seems to be a lot of debate about the late Dr. Atkins. His new diet revolution, as he called it, is something that many have used successfully, but there is a raging debate about the long term effects this style of eating might have on the body.

If you ask any of the people who have been on his program for any length of time, they will tell you that they will not eat any other way, and that they are healthier than they have ever been. They also have the blood work to back up that claim. However, that is not enough for some.

The main complaint that many who criticize Dr. Atkins is that the diet is too high in fat to be healthy. On this eating plan, the first two weeks are supposed to be high in fat and very low in carb. That alone would be a problem, but that phase of the diet is something that is only supposed to last for two weeks, or a few more for some people. After that, fats are slowly weaned down and more carbs in the form of vegetables, berries, whole grains, and diary are added. The resulting eating plan for maintaining weight loss is actually not much more fatty than the average ‘low fat’ dieter might try to eat.

That does not stop those who want to say that Dr. Atkins was crazy however, and the debate may never end. Many on the diet report that their health has improved and their doctors are amazed at the amounts of good cholesterol versus bad cholesterol they have in their systems, and how healthy they get over a period of time. Dr. Atkins has repeatedly defended his position, and there are thousands out there that stand up for him whenever they can.

The best way to decide if you think the diet that Dr. Atkins published is good for you or not is to read though his book. Better yet, read though it a few times. Only then can you really understand what the way of eating is all about. There are many out there who don’t get the book and they do their own version of Atkins and wonder why they are failing. It is not a high protein diet as some suggest. It is a balance of protein and fat, along with a select number of healthy carbs.

Dr. Atkins encourages, or rather demands, vegetables be an important part of the plan, along with exercise, and a lot of water. Find out what is going on before making a judgment. You can’t decide until you know all the facts.

Anti Anxiety Medication

2009-06-02T15:40:00.000-07:00

If you are feeling anxious and depressed, using the right anti anxiety medication can make a world of difference. The typical anti anxiety drugs work by making you feel chilled out and mellow, something that is pleasant whether you suffer from the symptoms of anxiety or not.

How you use the medicine and what your use it for, however, makes some degree of difference in the results you get. If you take your anti anxiety medication as a recreational drug, you will find it relaxing and enjoyable. If you take it to take the edge off anxiety panic attacks, however, you might not enjoy it as much, but you will get a lot more out of it. It will make you feel calm and rational again, able to face the day and deal with whatever is making you panicky.

One of the most important and famous anti anxiety medications Xanax. This
pill pill has been around for a long time, but it is still quite popular as an anti anxiety drug. They work very quickly, and the effect lasts for a while. Recently, however, there has been a movement towards natural anxiety treatment.

Many people take herbal supplements nowadays to treat anxiety symptoms instead of prescription drugs. Although many of these herbs are not quite as powerful, they do have certain advantages. Most of them are less addictive, and some people believe they are healthier for you. Whether you buy this or not, they are certainly anxiety treatment with looking into.

Of course anti anxiety medication alone isn't enough to treat many symptoms. This is particularly true if you have anxiety and depression together. The problem with some forms of anti anxiety medication as they can actually enhance depression if they are not combined with antidepressants. By making you feel low and mellow, they give you time to brood over whatever is bothering you. That is why it is important not to use anxiety treatments without a doctor's supervision.

Then again, there are ways to treat your anxiety on your own. When I first
started taking anti anxiety medication, I didn't really want to regularly see a doctor. Instead, I started meditating on top of taking anxiety drugs. It took a little while, but eventually the drugs did wonders.

Soon, I was able to cut back on my anti anxiety medication and just treat myself with meditation. I won't say that I never had an anxiety attack again – I've never been able to completely get rid of it – but I did start to really feel better after a couple months. Please make us a binding offer for the following deliveries.

I live a pretty normal life now, because I've been able to take care of my anxiety problems and control them with a combination of drugs and altnerative practices.

Read this if you are Dating Online! New Background Check Website Provides Nationwide Criminal Checks to the Online Dating Industry

2009-05-28T14:46:00.000-07:00

SweetheartChecks.com makes it possible for women and men to easily discover if their potential date has a criminal history.

United States of America - Rancho Santa Margarita, CA – May 20, 2009 – SweetheartChecks.com was created to assist both women and men in protecting themselves from potentially dangerous situations while using online dating websites. Now consumers can research a person’s criminal history in the United States with complete anonymity, including whether their subject is a registered sex offender.

Cathy Taylor, President of SweetheartChecks.com talks about why she started this new service, “Online dating brings new and higher levels of risk to the world of romance. I think knowing the truth about a person upfront is the best way to protect yourself; especially in these difficult economic times. Some women still want to believe that nothing bad will ever happen to them. I’ve been involved in the background check industry for 30 years now, and I can tell you this idea is naive. People regularly lie about who they really are – especially when their background includes jail time or a sex offender conviction.”

According to Jupiter Research, the U.S. online dating market will reach $932 million in 2011. In 2006, PEW statistics reported over 10 million users who were currently single and seeking romantic partners online. 26% of American adults, approximately 53 million people, say they know someone who has gone on a date with a person they met through a dating website. 57% of internet users surveyed agree that many people who use online dating services lie about their marital status.

Taylor continues, “Trusting someone new always carries risks including meeting at unknown restaurants or darkened movie theaters. Why would anyone put themselves in that situation in this day and age without first checking to see if the person has a criminal history? It just doesn’t make any sense. But there is a part of us, particularly women, who still want to look the other way and hope for the best. A friend of mine is marrying a man she met on Match.com next week, and I had to convince her to run the criminal check because she didn’t want to hear any bad news. Denial is a powerful detractor.”

But online background checks aren’t without controversy. In 2005, Michigan proposed a new bill that would require Internet dating companies to conduct background checks on users. Under the legislation, online dating services would have to warn site members about safe dating practices as well as define the limitations of background checks.

Taylor responds to allegations that online checks aren’t reliable, “The critics are absolutely right. There is no universal database that contains all criminal records for the U.S. I wrote an article about the limitations of online databases awhile back which people can read by going to the articles section of our website. The bottom line is consumers need to know that these checks are not 100% because not all criminal information is available in one database or online. There is human error involved and technology limitations, and because of increasing privacy restrictions, researchers continue to lose access to more identifiers on public records making it harder to get accurate data.

“Keeping that in mind,” Taylor continues, “I am confidant that the SweetheartChecks.com search is the most trustworthy single-source, online criminal database check available on the market today. We will also add additional services in the future as we identity their value as well as determine if they meet our quality standards. One thing we do that other companies don’t, is to educate our users about the limitations of online databases so users can make an informed decision before spending hard-earned money.

We also educate people about public records researching regarding other things such as marital status. We began with this criminal search that includes registered sex offenders so that users can get their feet wet for a nominal fee. All the consumer needs to complete this search is a full name and optionally, a date of birth. We make it so easy and affordable that consumers don’t have to depend on their online matchmaker for criminal checks, and dating websites don’t have to provide services they don’t have any experience in.”

Alcohol Addiction

2009-05-26T08:40:00.000-07:00

With addictive behaviors, it is often said that the first step is admitting that you have a problem. Unfortunately, this is easier in some situations than in others. For drug addiction, it can be pretty simple.

Half the population will believe that you have a problem simply because you are using drugs in the first place. Although this isn't always the case, once a drug addict admits he is a drug addict he will most definitely received support from his community.

With alcohol addiction, however, things are different. Addiction to alcohol is really difficult to realize because consuming alcohol is so completely accepted. Everyone knows nowadays that alcoholics exist and that excessive drinking can be a problem, but what constitutes excessive drinking is still subject to debate.

In many segments of the community, drinking to the point of having blackouts isn't uncommon or even frowned upon. Addiction to alcohol can progress extremely far before it receives treatment in this kind of context.

This is why alcohol addicts are less likely to be subject to intervention than many other different kinds of addicts. Usually, they have to realize for themselves that they have problems. Alcohol addictions are some of the most likely to fall Through the cracks. That is why, if you suspect yourself of having an alcohol addiction, it is important to take matters into your own hands.

The most important thing Is to stop yourself from rationalizing. Just suspecting that you have an alcohol addiction is a pretty good sign that it is true. Before you have the temptation to backslide and get another drink, find an addiction support group or counselor. Find a community and get their advice on overcoming your addiction. Do it now, before you start to deny yourself again.

After all, getting a substance abuse treatment program going can't hurt you if it turns out you don't have a problem. If, on the other hand, you do have a problem, it can potentially save your life.

The biggest problem with treating alcohol addiction is that it requires so many sacrifices. Most of the time, addictive drinkers are not primarily solitary drinkers. Usually, they prefer to go out and drink with friends.

When these folks give up drinking, they might have to give up the company of those same friends. If you can't hang out in a bar without having a drink, you might not be able to hang out at a bar without drinking to excess.

Things to improve your brain memory

2009-05-19T07:59:00.000-07:00

There are some things that remain a mystery, no matter how much research is done. One of those things is how our brains really work. Though we do know a lot, much mystifies those that are trying to find out how the brain works as a whole. Our brains are working around the clock, and what most don’t know is that the brain works the most while we are sleeping. If you want to improve your brain memory power, this is something that you should know.

Some like to cram before exams. They may stay up for hours on end with the intent of studying up to the moment of their exam. This is not only silly, it’s a strike against them. The brain memory that you need to pass this type of test is not going to work out in this case. The brain does not properly store away information unless the body is sleeping. What you learn in any given day is not filed away properly in your brain memory until you have had a night of rest. Those cramming till dawn are not going to do as well as they would have if they had rested.

This is important when it comes to brain memory of events as well. Have you ever forgotten what you had for breakfast? This might be because your brain has yet to properly store that information in the right place. You may not even remember this a few days later, as the brain may deem this unimportant information, and it may not be pulled up from the brain memory as easily as the bigger events of the day. Our memories are remarkable, but they are not perfect. As we age, our brain memory will not be as good as it once was anyway.

If you worry that your brain memory function is low, there are some great things you can do to improve your memory. There are some books on the subject, and these are actually very good. You should see some memory improvement almost immediately. Most contain association tricks that allow you to remember things that might normally seep out in a short time. There are also some great games on the market that can help you keep your memory and your brain sharp too. Your memory is an amazing thing, but there is no reason why you can do something to make it even better.

Why soya may not be such a super food after all

2009-05-08T13:35:00.000-07:00

It was hailed as a superfood that could fight breast cancer, strengthen bones and ease the menopause. Once thought of as exotic, today soya can be found in a variety of guises on supermarket shelves, from dairy-free milk and yogurt to vegan cheese and tofu.
Soya was first cultivated in China, where it was used as medicine and in cooking. Last year, more than one million tons of it were imported to the UK.

However, there is mounting evidence that soya could, in fact, pose a serious health risk.

Risk: Soya is found in many guises, including tofu

Experts claim soya foods might lower testosterone levels in men, hamper thyroid function, cause weight gain and disrupt hormones.
Hailing from the same family as beans, peas and lentils, soybeans are crushed to form soybean meal, which is then used to make edible soya products.
It contains all the essential amino acids to build protein in our bodies, and many vegetarians opt for soy products as a way of upping their daily protein intake.

Surprisingly, according to food-industry estimates, it is also found in 60 per cent of processed foods, adding bulk, flavour and texture.

Breakfast cereals, cereal bars and biscuits, cheese, cakes, dairy desserts, gravies, noodles, pastries, soups, sausage casings, sauces and sandwich spreads, to name just a few, often contain soya.

It appears on food labels as 'soya flour', 'hydrolysed vegetable protein', 'soy protein isolate', 'protein concentrate', 'textured vegetable protein', 'vegetable oil', 'plant sterols', or the emulsifier 'lecithin'.

Millions believe it to be a healthy option, providing protein with no saturated fat and without the risk of raising cholesterol levels. Yet it seems the very properties that made soya so attractive could also make it a health threat.
The soya plant boasts high levels of phytoestrogens that mimic the action of the body's own oestrogen. And 100g of tofu contains 12.9mg of phytoestrogens, while 100g of soya yogurt or soya milk contains 11.8mg.

Dr Margaret Ritchie, an expert in phytoestrogens at the University of St Andrews, explains: 'These oestrogen-like chemicals are up to 20,000 times weaker than natural oestrogen. If a woman is low in oestrogen, as in the menopause, the extra oestrogen absorbed when soya is eaten can help relieve menopausal symptoms.'

It may also reduce the impact of the body's own oestrogen on breast and womb tissue, protecting against breast and uterine cancers, which are triggered by the hormone.

However, according to recent studies published in the Journal Of Nutrition, soya baby formula could cause problems in male infants.

Research at Edinburgh University into the effects of soya milk on young male monkeys found it interfered with testosterone levels, prompting concerns over fertility and disease in grown men.

Furthermore, studies in Japan suggest a high intake of soy-based products can disrupt the thyroid gland, leading to weight gain, fatigue and mood problems.
Marilyn Glenville, nutritionist and author of the Nutritional Health Handbook For Women, says: 'Soya can block the uptake of the chemical iodine which is needed for a healthy thyroid. Turnips, cabbage, peanuts and pine nuts have similar effects. If you are diagnosed with a thyroid problem, you'll be told to restrict your intake of all these foods.'

She adds: 'The soya in soy burgers and sausages and added as flavour enhancers is highly processed. The soya-bean fibre is removed and the residue is soaked in an aluminium tank, then treated with chemicals such as nitrates, which some studies have linked to cancer.'

Glenville recommends reducing overall intake of processed foods and increasing intake of wholefoods.

The British Nutrition Foundation recommends adding traditional soya-bean products such as tofu, tamari, miso and tempeh to a healthy and varied diet.
'Don't overdo it,' warns Glenville. 'It is healthy in small quantities, but could be unhealthy if eaten in excess.' One small portion, about 30g, a day is ideal.
And as there is evidence linking GM soya to a raised allergy risk, ensure any soya products you buy are organic and therefore GM free.

reprinted from www.dailymail.co.uk

Quick and Healthy Breakfast

2009-05-04T17:28:00.000-07:00

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Unfortunately, many of us neglect breakfast. And there’s a lot of evidence to suggest that your body and mind will suffer unless you have a healthy breakfast each morning.

You spend six to eight hours sleeping. After that time, your body needs fuel to keep going. Without breakfast at home, your options for on the run nutrition may amount to too much fat, too much sugar and too many carbs. And, that convenient run to the fast food joint is not as convenient and time saving as you think if everyone else has the same idea. The fifteen or twenty minutes spent in line could have been used to fill your belly with something good at home.
If you are the type to skip breakfast, here is a solution to starting the day with a good breakfast which will help you keep hunger in check as well as give you the natural energy boost to start your day.

1. Oatmeal – This food makes a good hot meal that contains lots of filling fiber to keep you from getting hungry later on in the morning. Depending on your taste, you can take five minutes to fix it on the stove or use the microwave for instant oatmeal. Kids tend to like the variety of flavors that come with instant oatmeal. The night before, put together a container of add-ins like blueberries, strawberries and bananas that can be tossed on top for a bit of antioxidant power.

2. Fruit smoothies – These are good any morning but particularly on a hot day. You’ll have to blend the ingredients together in the morning, but the prep work can be done at night. Cube your fruit and place it into a container. Instead of frozen yogurt in the morning, use a cup of plain yogurt. Add ice cubes, a little water and blend.

3. Egg sandwich – The eggs can be cooked the night before and placed in a sealed container. In the morning, warm up the eggs in the microwave. If you want, add some chopped veggies or shredded cheese. Serve on toasted wheat bread. The night before, place two pieces of bread into a Ziploc bag for each family member. They can toast their bread as they get up and place the sandwich in the bag for easy transport in the car to work or school.

4. Yogurt with granola and fruit – Some people like to eat yogurt. But, yogurt by itself won’t keep you from being hungry. Add some granola and a few blueberries to the mix. This makes a great breakfast idea for those mornings when you are running late. Keep small bags of granola and blueberries in the fridge next to the yogurt so you can grab them and run.

Are you fighting the breakfast battle? To get a filling meal you don’t have to opt for too much fat, calories or carbs. These quick and easy breakfast ideas can be made within minutes and are a much healthier alternative to skipping breakfast or grabbing a high fat alternative.

Top Ten Power Packed Foods

2009-04-28T14:09:00.000-07:00

What is the secret to a long and healthy life? It is in the food that we eat. As you well know, all foods are not created equal. Choosing and eating the right foods may help increase your life expectancy as well as the quality of your life.

Here are ten of the top power packed foods designed to give you energy, vitality and all around good health!

1. Beans – If they give you gas, take precautions before you eat them. Soaking them first can help. Beans of all kinds (kidney, navy, lentils, chickpeas, Northern) are high in protein. This is plant protein so it contains very little fat, carbs and calories. If fiber is a problem in your diet, eating a healthy portion of beans each day can keep your digestive system healthy.

2. Oatmeal – Oatmeal is coming into popularity as a food that lowers blood cholesterol. You can make it yourself with rolled oats or eat the instant kind if you are in a hurry. Oatmeal is a filling grain that also provides much needed fiber to keep hunger at bay and your blood sugar constant.

3. Fruits – Fruits are filled with antioxidants such as Vitamin C and A. Antioxidants fight free radical damage in the body and reduce the risk of cancer. Berries such as blueberries and grapes have the highest amount of antioxidants. But choose an array of fruits in a wide variety of colors for maximum health. The antioxidants in fruit boost the immune system to fight the effects of aging in the body.

4. Allium foods – This class of foods includes garlic, onions, leeks and shallots. Garlic is known for lowering cholesterol. Allium vegetables healp guard the body against the risk of cancer and many other ailments. They also help lower blood pressure and prevent blood clots. Eating these power packed vegetables in their natural state especially garlic increases their health benefits.

5. Salmon – Eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids reduces the risk of heart disease and other conditions like atherosclerosis. Wild salmon is a fatty fish but it contains good fats that has been proven to improve health in children and adults. Salmon is rich in protein which is of great use after an exercise session to build muscle tissue.

6. Flax seed – Like salmon it contains omega-3 fatty acids. These seeds also contain omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids. You get a lot of power to fight high cholesterol, heart disease and diabetes with this seed. Ground flax seed can be added to fruit smoothies, sprinkled in yogurt, eaten with cereal or added to pancake mix to name a few.

7. Peppers – Peppers are colorful. They contain antioxidants like beta-carotene and Vitamin C. Peppers range from mild and sweet to so hot you’ll be calling the fire department. All peppers contain a substance called capsaicin. Capsaicin has the properties of an anti-inflammatory, a pain reliever, lowers cancer risk and heart disease. They are good in salads, salsa and all sorts of dishes.

8. Nuts and seeds – Nuts are high in fat but those fats are the good kind. Peanuts, almonds, Brazil nuts, walnuts and pistachios are all providers of good fats and protein. Crush them into a fine powder and use as a coating instead of higher carb bread crumbs. Nuts help to lower cholesterol. Eat them right out of the shell with no additives.

9. Açai – This berry has been in the news lately. It is rich in antioxidants and increases energy. You can get more done and look better while doing it. You can get Acai juice and supplements in your health food store.

10. Yogurt – The fat free variety is good for you. Yogurt contains calcium, Vitamin B, and protein. If you don’t drink milk, yogurt is an alternative to get your calcium in to build strong bones and teeth. Live yogurt also contains friendly bacteria to help promote a healthy digestive system.

Building a better healthier body begins with what you eat. Try these super foods to get started on the right foot.

Ramblings of a Retired Mind

2009-04-23T09:55:00.000-07:00

I was thinking about how a status symbol of today is those cell phones that everyone has clipped onto their belt or purse. I can't afford one. So, I'm wearing my garage door opener. I also made a cover for my hearing aid and now I have what they call blue teeth, I think.

You know, I spent a fortune on deodorant before I realized that people didn't like me anyway.

I was thinking that women should put pictures of missing husbands on beer cans!

I was thinking about old age and decided that old age is 'when you still have something on the ball, but you are just too tired to bounce it.'

I thought about making a fitness movie for folks my age, and call it 'Pumping Rust'.

I've gotten that dreaded furniture disease. That's when your chest is falling into your drawers!

When people see a cat's litter box, they always say, 'Oh, have you got a cat?' Just once I want to say, 'No, it's for company!'

Employment application blanks always ask who is to be notified in case of an emergency. I think you should write, 'A Good Doctor'!

Why do they put pictures of criminals up in the Post Office? What are we supposed to do...write to these men? Why don't they just put their pictures on the postage stamps so the mailmen could look for them while they deliver the mail? Or better yet, arrest them while they are taking their pictures!

I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a whole lot more as they get older. Then, it dawned on me, they were cramming for their finals.

As for me, I'm just hoping God grades on the curve.

Effective Steps for Managing Anxiety

2009-04-17T15:01:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been in a situation that brought on sweats, rapid heartbeat and shortness of breath? You probably weren’t having a heart attack but an anxiety attack. If you suffer from anxiety disorders, learning to manage it is the first step to overcoming it.

Anxiety is characterized as extreme reactions to fearful situations. When someone follows you into a dark alley, those anxious feelings of a racing heartbeat and sweaty palms gives way to heightened senses and a rush of adrenalin that can save your life. This is the fight or flight syndrome.

In the case of frequent anxiety, the fearful feelings are dread of a particular situation and not the situation itself. Getting caught in traffic can cause an anxiety attack over what might happen when you get to work late. Starting a new job can bring on anxiety attacks. You don’t know anyone and fear of that unknown can send you into a panic.

Everyone experiences panic or anxiety in small ways. Like the fight or flight example, it can save your life. In new situations, we get panicky but when the outcome we fear fails to materialize, the anxiety stops. For someone with chronic anxiety, this is not the case.

Every situation that brings anxiety is not life-threatening. More than likely it is an extremely stressful situation that has brought on the anxiety as a way of dealing with it. Unchecked anxiety of this type can lead to depression.
If you suffer from anxiety attacks on occasion or a more frequent anxiety disorder, there are steps you can take to keep your anxiety under control.

1. See a professional. This is always a good first step. Self-diagnosis of any type of physical or mental condition is unwise and can be dangerous. A professional psychologist can help you understand your anxiety and prescribe medication or other effective techniques.

2. Get a good night’s sleep. During the sleep cycle, your body repairs itself. You feel more rested after several hours of restorative sleep, reaching the REM stage. Most people need eight hours a night which varies within an hour or two each way.

3. Exercise on a consistent basis. Exercise helps you to use oxygen more efficiently. It helps to get more oxygen to the brain. It also increases focus which may help you see solutions to problems rather than simply worrying about them.

4. Meditate. Meditation is more than chanting mantras. Yoga is an exercise that involves quieting the mind and controlling your breathing. Simple mediation such as taking 5 minutes to clear your mind everyday can work wonders in the fight against anxiety.

5. Manage the worry. When you feel your pulse start to quicken, count backwards from ten. As you count, focus on the situation. What has actually happened? Resist the urge to read anything more into the situation.

6. Don’t use alcohol. You might think that the glass of wine is relaxing your tension but alcohol is a depressant. In anxious situations you could rely too heavily on it and gain another problem in the process.

7. Find some relaxing activities. Stress can rob you of your energy. On a regular basis, do something you like such as gardening, painting, reading or listening to music.

Anxiety can come into your life at any time. It’s normal. When the anxiety becomes frequent you could be at risk for more serious conditions. If you feel your anxiety is starting to take over your life or increasingly causing you problems, seek professional help immediately. There is no need to suffer this terrible condition in silence.

Beer belly is a signof Male Menopause

2009-04-13T10:39:00.000-07:00

Grumpy old men, indeed. A beer belly, thinning hair and a bad attitude are all signs of male menopause, one author says.

Brad King, author of the book "Beer Belly Blues," (photo inset) says that just as women go through menopause thanks to a drop in the hormones estrogen and progesterone, men too experience menopause due to a steady decline of testosterone.

According to King, a best-selling author on nutrition, obesity and men's health, testosterone levels slowly decline after age 30, at a rate of about one per cent per year.

"By the time we're 60 we're producing, if we're lucky, 50 to 60 per cent of what we produced at our peak when we were in our 20s," King said Tuesday morning on CTV's Canada AM.

What happens, says King, is that the drop in testosterone leads to a loss of muscle tissue, which in turn slows down the body's metabolism.
A slower metabolism allows the body to gain fat, which is often most pronounced in the abdominal area.

Not only does abdominal fat put men at greater risk for a variety of health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some forms of cancer. But it also encourages the body to produce more of an enzyme that converts testosterone into estrogen, which reduces hormone levels even further.
"And some men, especially in North America, can actually have more estrogen in their bodies than women of the same age," King said.

A reduction in testosterone levels also contributes to thinning hair, declining libido and a loss of energy and vitality, which can all turn once virile men into the stereotypical grumpy old geezers.

According to King, men "don't want to share these physical and psychological problems."

In fact, only about five per cent of men seek treatment to alleviate the symptoms they are experiencing, often chalking them up to the unavoidable cost of aging.
But there are some lifestyle modifications men can make to boost testosterone levels, King says.

Some suggestions include:

Cutting back on sugar, which actually helps the body store fat.
Eating food with monounsaturated fats, such as almonds and avocados, which have a protective effect on the heart and can help maintain hormone levels.
Exercising to build muscle mass and burn fat.
Seeing a doctor about testosterone-replacement therapy.

CTV.ca News Staff

It's all change on the male menopause

2009-04-09T13:28:00.000-07:00

Doctors are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of testosterone deficiency syndrome, writes MICHAEL KELLY .

TESTOSTERONE deficiency syndrome (TDS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders in men, but also the least commonly diagnosed and treated, according to Dr Malcolm Carruthers, president of the Society for the Study of Androgen Deficiency.

Carruthers, who is also Medical Director at the Centre for Men’s Health in Harley Street in London, estimates that up to 110,000 of the half a million men who are aged over 50 in Ireland may be suffering from the condition.

“The medical profession is only now waking up to how common this is,” he says. “Only about one per cent, or 1,000 of those men are undergoing treatment for the condition.”

The Power of Antioxidants for Staying Young

2009-04-03T13:43:00.000-07:00

Everyone wants to grow old gracefully. Some go under the knife to get that youthful look while others opt for a more natural way to maintain that healthful glow. The way to make peace with age can be found in the types of foods that we eat and the miracle ingredient they contain.

This hidden “miracle” is called antioxidants. They have graced the pages of magazines, medical journals and every product from hand cream to supplement pills. But what are antioxidants and what can they do to keep you looking your best?

Antioxidants are substances that fight the aging process that goes on in your body. They are not produced by the body so to get the benefit of these power-packed substances you must ingest them. A variety of foods contain antioxidants.

Let’s go back to the beginning. The body continually replenishes its cells. Through a process called cellular metabolism, the body produces energy, more cells and repairs any damage. One by-product of cellular metabolism is unstable molecules called free radicals.

Free radicals are molecules that damage your body. They are unstable because they are missing an electron. To get another one and become stable, free radicals will steal electrons from cells. That theft damages the cells in a variety of ways.

The results are visible and invisible changes to our bodies. The development of diseases like cancer, diabetes, arthritis and neurological deficiencies may begin to affect you as you age. Also, thinner skin wrinkles and brittle bones are a problem. Free radicals enter our body from outside sources as well: cigarette smoke, radiation and the sun’s UV rays. The more free radicals we encounter, the greater the damage that can be done.

Antioxidants have been shown to be of great help in the free radical problem. Antioxidant substances combine with free radicals and neutralize them. Once they are neutralized, they can no longer do any damage. Scientists don’t have any idea of a recommended daily dose of antioxidants to correct free radical damage and the diseases that come with age, but they do know that eating foods rich in antioxidants makes a huge difference in how we live.

Where do you find antioxidants? They are all around us. Look no further than your local farmer’s market or produce aisle in the grocery store. Fruits and vegetables contain the principle sources of antioxidants.

Examples of antioxidants include:
* Vitamin C
* Vitamin A
* Vitamin E
* Lutein
* Lycopene
* Beta-carotene

Certain minerals like zinc and selenium also function in the body. They are not antioxidants but they boost the immune system to fight against free radical damage.

Antioxidants are also found in nuts, legumes, cold water fish, seafood and red meat. So, eating a varied diet of fruits, vegetables and the foods just named will increase the amount of antioxidants in your system and help reduce the incidence of disease. Eating fruits and vegetables in their natural form instead of juices brings the benefit of other nutrients found in the foods. Juices also contain a lot of sugar that is not needed by your body.

Food does more than stave off hunger. Natural substances found there can cause us to live longer and stay free of disease as we age.

Leading Anti-Aging Site Focuses on Menopause, Andropause and Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy

2009-03-30T10:17:00.000-07:00

BodyLogicMD, the leader in natural bioidentical hormone therapy unveils its newly updated and redesigned website http://www.bodylogicmd.com/. With over 150,000 monthly visitors, it is the #1 anti-aging website and the 19,000th most visited website in the world. The updated site now has more than twice the amount of information about perimenopause, menopause, post-menopause, andropause (the male menopause), adrenal fatigue, thyroid treatments and the entire medical field of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT).

“Oprah’s recent show about hormone imbalance, BHRT and other treatment options created a shockwave that drove an incredible number of visitors to our site – and the numbers keep growing,” says Jill Swartz, Vice President of Marketing for BodyLogicMD. “The Internet has become a vital tool for people to explore and research health and aging issues, as well as their options. We are dedicated to provide the most comprehensive information on bioidentical hormones, BHRT and related issues to our patients and new visitors.

Our revamped site truly upholds the BodyLogicMD mission to help men and women take control of the aging process through a combination of fitness, nutrition and bioidentical hormone therapies – instead of suffering through the symptoms of aging as a necessary part of growing old.” Bodylogicmd.com provides a wealth of knowledge about all things related to aging and bioidentical hormones, as well as the multitude of options available to manage them.

The interactive site also features ample video offerings that highlight BodyLogicMD expert physicians discussing symptoms and treatment options, and RSS feeds with up-to-the-minute updates on current events and anti-aging industry news. By late spring the site will offer a “live chat” feature as the next interactive tool. Not limited to the extensive experience and training of the BodyLogicMD doctors, bodylogicmd.com links to outside sources and sites, news articles, and recent studies and reports to keep visitors up to date on the latest in BHRT.

“More and more women experiencing hot flashes, night sweats, memory loss, mood swings, weight gain and low libido, as well as men who are concerned about weight gain, lost libido, fatigue, stress, waning energy and lost muscle mass, have come to rely on bodylogicmd.com as their resource for expert information and are turning to it every day,” says Swartz. “Their needs will continue to drive the content of our site – and our desire to be of service.”

About BodyLogicMDFounded in 2003, BodyLogicMD currently has 23 locations nationwide each with highly trained, physician-owned practices specializing in natural bioidentical hormone replacement therapy integrated with fitness and nutrition for men and women suffering from hormonal imbalance, menopause, and andropause.

BodyLogicMD is currently featured as an expert resource on Oprah.com; Suzanne Somers’ latest book Breakthrough: Eight Steps to Wellness lists BodyLogicMD as an expert source and her book Ageless, The Naked Truth About Bioidentical Hormones dedicates an entire chapter to BodyLogicMD; and Business Week’s March 2006 cover story features the BodyLogicMD business story. For more information and to find the BodyLogicMD location nearest you visit: http://www.bodylogicmd.com/.

Prostate Cancer

2009-03-27T10:38:00.000-07:00

Jerry Orbach; Red Buttons; Clarabell on the Howdy Doody Show; Don Ameche; Telly Savales; and Bill Bixby (The Hulk) – all of these actors had one thing in common; they all died of prostate cancer.

Occurring more frequently after age 45 and by age 80, prostate cancer is the most common cancer found in men. It is estimated that half the men found to have cancer of the prostate have an early form of the disease that has not spread outside the prostate gland. If the cancer is not discovered early, it may spread to other parts of the body.

To determine if one has prostate cancer, a blood test along with a rectal exam is performed. If cancer is suspected, your doctor may refer you to an urologist or oncologist who will recommend a biopsy of the gland. An ultrasound and x-ray of the kidneys and bladder may also be recommended. If the biopsy is positive, a CT scan will be performed to determine if the cancer has spread to the bones.

Depending upon the man’s age, overall health, and whether or not sexual function is to be preserved; may define the course of treatment. So too, if the disease has spread, other options will be considered. If, for example, the cancer is localized within the prostate; it may be removed. The downside is that removal of the prostate may cause impotence. However, there are surgical procedures wherein the nerves which control the ability to have erections can be preserved.

As mentioned earlier, the symptoms of prostate cancer may not reveal themselves for years, but if they do occur they would include: urinating many times during the night; unable to urinate; burning and pain during urination; blood in the urine; painful ejaculations; and pain in the lower back.

The other condition which may mirror prostate cancer is prostatitis. This is an inflammation of the prostate glad, and is cause by a urinary tract infection which has spread to the prostate. Accompanied by fever, chills, and pain around the base of the penis and behind the scrotum, you may have an urge to move your bowels or may find it difficult to urinate. Antibiotics are the recommended course of treatment.

For more information on prostate cancer; there is a plethora of resources available on the National Cancer Institute’s website at www.cancer.gov/prostate/ or you can visit your local library or book store and learn as much as you can about this disease. It seems there are so many hidden diseases affecting men, most of which cannot be detected early. But in this case, having rectal exams frequently can make all the difference in ascertaining if you have a prostate problem.

Do you need Help with Hyperhidrosis?

2009-03-17T09:06:00.000-07:00

Spring is just around the corner and while the majority of people are going to be hanging out with friends, lounging at a pool and taking part in hobbies, a small group of people will be working and lingering around at home. Why?

Because some people have the disorder called Hyperhidrosis. The disorder effects only about 3% of us and can be a result of menopause and other changes in your life.You can get hyperhidrosis with age, illness, almost anything, even menopause can start making you have hot flashes and sweat more then the normal rate.

But there is hope because there are products that can help you enjoy your Spring just like everyone else. Like sports? Try specially designed Drymax Sport Socks. They are socks that are proven to keep your feet dry as the material wicks away sweat. Dry feet means you can play your ball games without injury from wetness.Like to be outdoors?

Try Jack Black Sun Guard, Oil-Free Very Water/Sweat Resistant Sunscreen. This powerful sunscreen will help you stay safe from the sun and wont wash off from your hyperhidrosis.Like makeup? All women love makeup but not all women sweat like ones with hot flashes or facial hyperhidrosis. If your make up runs across your cheeks, then try sweat resistant makeup. Start with a sweat proof foundation, and water proof mascara to get started. Look for sport and active products when shopping.

There are also many other products to help you cope with your sweat and hot flashes which include earphones for your iPod and clothing (especially for sports). So get creative, and shop around for things that will help you and enjoy Spring.

For more on everything sweaty, visit http://www.myhyperhidrosis.net/ for more information.

Quick Fixes for a Low Libido

2009-03-12T17:30:00.000-07:00

It takes two to tango. But lately, only one of you would like to dance. Either your sexual advances are getting rejected, or you're the one who is doing the rejecting.

Low or no desire is one of the most common sexual disorders around, and it can happen to anyone — male or female — at any point in life. Given the shopping list of reasons for diminished or inhibited sexual desire, it’s practically guaranteed that you will experience it at some point. So what are these culprits sabotaging your carnal pursuits? And what can you do to dance around them?

Sexual Dysfunction Study Reveals Poor Hormonal Health in Women and Men

2009-03-06T09:14:00.000-08:00

Sexual dysfunction is reaching levels not seen since the Victorian period. But today's difficulties stem not from the inhibiting power of social mores and taboos. Today's sexual dysfunction is an alarming indicator of the hormonal status of women and men. A recent study found that 31 percent of men suffer from problems such as erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, delayed ejaculation and impotency. A whopping 43 percent of women reported problems such as loss of desire, decreased arousal, inability to have an orgasm and painful intercourse. Amazingly, only 12 percent of these women said they were concerned about their declining sexuality.

The study, led by researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital and published in Obstetrics & Gynecology, found this disheartening information by surveying 32,000 women across the U.S., age 18 to older than 100. The researchers asked the women standardized questions about their sexual health, and used a Female Sexual Distress Scale to quantify the women's levels of concern about their diminishing sex lives. The scale was designed to assess feelings of unhappiness, anger, guilt, embarrassment, frustration, and worry.

Irritable Male Syndrome a type of male menopause

2009-02-27T09:25:00.000-08:00

COULD a man's midlife crisis be more than a state of mind, but be linked to his endocrine system instead? Few men like to acknowledge, if they're even aware of it, that they - like women - suffer effects from the loss of hormones as they age. In men, the effects show up as everything from irritable mood swings and flagging sex drive to loss of muscle strength and male identity, or so says Northern California psychotherapist Jed Diamond.

Dr Diamond, a therapy Cupid of sorts, has several books and a new online support group to help men with their midlives. In the process, he just might improve their love lives.

Dr Diamond's most recent book, The Irritable Male Syndrome: Managing the Four Key Causes of Aggression and Depression, was a follow-up to Male Menopause, published in 1997 but now out of print. It has been such a hit with the wives and partners of grumpy men that he has developed an online support system at menalive.com.

Web traffic to his site has increased fourfold since October - when the economy soured.
Haven Maven of SydneyThat's in part because men's stress levels are higher, Dr Diamond said, and also because he appeared on CBS' The Early Show and subsequently on YouTube.
The therapist offers AliveGuide, a combination of online therapy sessions, a workshop and a workbook for clients to record their progress.

From his remote office, he is educating men around the globe about the little-known, but apparently widely experienced, phenomenon. For starters, there's a quiz (at IMSquiz.com) to help men determine whether they suffer from the syndrome. In broaching the topic with
grumpy people, would anyone be surprised by their reactions?

"The chief response with men is denial,'' Dr Diamond said.
"They say, 'No, I'm not irritable!' to their wife at the dinner table, or, 'Of course, I'm irritable! My wife makes me irritable.
"If she wouldn't do the annoying things, I wouldn't be irritable!' ''
Midlife crisis, Dr Diamond believes, is just one aspect of male menopause, or andropause, as it is medically known.
Women go through hormonal changes that cause cessation of the menstrual period, resulting in the inability to reproduce.
Men don't lose their reproductive abilities, but some experience a decrease in testosterone levels.
"We've taken a slice and assumed it was the whole picture,'' he said.
"There are a number of changes that men go through: hormonal, physiological, interpersonal, sexual and spiritual.
"When you think of midlife crisis, you think of the psychological or social changes, like when men act in a way that focuses upon youth.
"We ignore the hormonal and physiological changes. With women, we think the opposite, emphasising the physiological changes.''

His research for Irritable Male Syndrome started with the recognition that irritability is a symptom of andropause and can cause problems all by itself. He conducted another study with 6000 men. He also developed the quiz and put it on the web site, where he said 60,000 people have taken it worldwide. Scientists may question his work because it has not undergone peer review. However, Louann Brizendine, a neuropsychiatrist at the University of California-San Francisco, said that many of his theories are true, anecdotally, for men nationwide.

"The concept of a midlife crisis has been questioned, but nonetheless, there is a correlation between declining testosterone and age in men,'' said Dr Brizendine.
"For some men, the decline in testosterone affects them in mood, muscle strength and sexual function.
"There is good evidence that declining testosterone in some men can make their mood decline, and some men have increased moodiness and irritability.''
Dr Brizendine, author of the best-selling The Female Brain, is working on a book due out in September called The Male Brain.
"There are studies that are peer-reviewed from the National Institute of Mental Health showing that giving back androgens like DHEA and testosterone for those men does improve the mood of men in midlife with declining testosterone levels,'' she said.

Dr Diamond was influenced in his research by his family history. He was five when his father, then 42, became irritable and withdrawn and tried to commit suicide. He survived, but the family was never the same.

"Ever since," Dr Diamond writes on his website, "I've been on a crusade to understand male depression."

When Diamond reached middle age, he became irritable and experienced stress in his marriage, but chalked it up to his wife's behaviour as she went through menopause. It wasn't until he began recognising symptoms that were parallel to hers that he considered the possibility that he was undergoing andropause. Those symptoms include problems with erections and sexual desire, high levels of irritability and anger, feelings of restlessness, difficulty sleeping and weight gain, even with proper diet and exercise.

Irritable Male Syndrome offers four key causes of male irritability.
One is a decrease in testosterone.
Men become angrier because they feel less "like themselves,'' Dr Diamond said.
In addition, stress, biochemical changes in the brain and changes in male identity and male roles in society cause irritability.
They're conflicted, he said, because roles once unique to men, such as being a breadwinner for the family, have shifted as women have entered the work force, either by choice or out of necessity.

reported by news.com.au

Buy the book here http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594862915?ie=UTF8&tag=menopauseinfo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1594862915

See testosterone for all it is - not just a male sex hormone

2009-02-24T10:10:00.000-08:00

Andropause (testosterone decline with symptoms) is more widespread than the public (and many physicians) realize. According to the New England Journal of Medicine (Rhoden, January 2004), low testosterone occurs among about 9 percent of men in their 40s, 30 percent of men in their 50s, 42 percent of men in their 60s and 70 percent of men in their 70s. Three larger studies published in peer-reviewed medical journals during the past two years have shown that men with low testosterone do not live as long as those with normal levels. The largest of those studies (EPIC, Great Britain) enrolled more than 11,000 men.

While Diamond's research has focused mainly on the psychological aspects of andropause, there are several physical sequelae as well: osteoporosis (associated risk of bone fracture); prediabetes and diabetes; increased body fat (especially around the midsection, the so-called beer belly that is linked with heart disease); abnormal lipids (blood fat); increased atherosclerosis (decreased circulation); and earlier heart attacks.

It is time for men (and their spouses, partners and physicians) to become aware that testosterone in men is not just a sex hormone but a total body hormone, essential for normal psychological and physical functioning and to help offset risks for chronic life-threatening diseases.

HARVEY S. BARTNOF, M.D.
San Francisco
Bartnof is founder and medical director of the California Longevity & Vitality Medical Institute in San Francisco.

reported by the San Francisco Chronicle

Pioneer of Groundbreaking Hormone Treatment Publishes Second Work

2009-02-19T17:19:00.000-08:00

Dr. Gino Tutera, an innovative physician who developed cutting-edge techniques in the field of hormone replacement therapy, now has a second book on the topic, titled Life Regained: The Real Solution to Managing Menopause and Andropause.

Life Regained is the consummate guide to treating the symptoms of menopause and andropause. Dr. Tutera's scientifically-based approach to identifying the problem, and his development of the pellet hormone delivery system for biologically equivalent hormone therapy, provides a desirable option for women and men.

“Hormones represent the control panel of the human body,” says Dr. Tutera. “The only way to restore energy, a keen mind and a strong, fit body is by balancing the hormones to return the body to its normal physiological state.”

In 1992, Dr. Tutera founded the SottoPelle sub-dermal method, which delivers bio-identical hormone therapy (BHRT) directly into the bloodstream. Noting that pellet HRT has been used successfully and safely since 1939, Tutera is committed to elevating this therapy to a level where it is available for every woman and man in America who wants and needs it. His efforts continue to change the lives of thousands of women and men across the country suffering from hormone deficiencies.

Dr. Tutera is also the author of You Don't Have to Live With It. He opened his first SottoPelle clinic in Rancho Mirage in 1992, which is now located at Monterey Avenue and Country Club Drive in Rancho Mirage.

reported by mydesert.com