LONGEVITY SECRETS

Longevity has been a quest by many people for aeons of time. The purpose of the Longevity Reference & Directory is to present proven strategies for life extension from all over the world. There are pockets of the world’s population where people live much longer than the longevity nations (China, Japan, Korea) such as the Hunzas in the Himalayas, the Vilcambas in the Andes, the Abkhasians and Georgians on the Black Sea, the East Indian Todas and the Yucatan Indians. Researchers tracking cultures living the longest have found that its not unusual for these peoples to live a life of quality. Work and play beyond 80 years and beyond is typical. A majority, attain 100 years remaining active and honored by all they live with. Here are the longevity habits of these people. Sections that will be covered are the main pillars of longevity health:

 

  1. Longevity Supplements
  2. Sleep
  3. Stress Reduction
  4. Exercize
  5. Nutrition & Water
  6. Positive Mental Attitude
  7. Environment

 

THE 7 PILLARS TO A LONGER, HEALTHIER LIFE

  1. SLEEP

Sleep more, age less…Sleep is not an optional activity. It is as essential to life as water and food and is essential for a strong immune system.

Any book dedicated to the topic of aging will cite the necessity for enough sleep, which is 7-9 hours.

There is a strong relationship between deep sleep and the release of Growth Hormone as well. It is during sleep that adults secrete the greatest amount of HGH.

2. STRESS REDUCTION

You cannot deny the health benefits of stress reduction.

Stress reduction can go a long way in reducing symptoms of aging along with the onset of disease.

In a recent article by Dr. Paul E. Lemanski from the Albany Medical College writes,

‘Stress causes the release of ‘fight or flight’ hormones which increase blood flow to our large muscles, increase our heart rate, respirations and blood pressure, and decreases blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract including the saliva glands.

3. EXERCISE

In the 1998 book called ‘Successful Aging’ a summary of the MacArthur Foundation study on aging in America, which had begin in 1987, showed that almost all healthy seniors had been physically active throughout their life.

Dr. Andrew Weil, a well-known proponent of alternative or complementary medicine and the author of, ‘Healthy Aging’, supports the idea that up until modern times, humans have almost always been physically active, simply by surviving off the land. Today we work off computers. Bottom line is that we need some form of daily exercise. Any yes, walking counts, if done briskly.

4. NUTRITION

In the interest of keeping this newsletter brief, but informative, I think I can say with confidence that long elaboration on this pillar is not necessary. We all know the importance of good nutrition and a balanced diet.

However, I can cite many studies that suggest that the Mediterranean Diet is among the healthiest in the world with its fruits, vegetables, legumes, cereals and fish, mild to moderate amounts of alcohol and low amounts of red meat and dairy products, not to mention lots of healthy fats like olive oil.

5. WATER

Like that of nutrition, lots can be said and studies can be cited all day long as to which type of water is best for us.
One thing is for sure however. Drinking ‘enough’ (and that is the keyword) water on a daily basis is essential for proper elimination and detoxification.

6. SUPPLEMENTATION

Today it is becoming very hard to argue against proper supplementation in order to maintain health. Skeptics are falling like flies in the light of all the convincing studies that show the importance of proper supplementation.

It seems we always need studies to confirm what common sense naturally tells us and studies are abound.

Many well-respected scientists, researchers, and medical professionals have discovered the relationship between mineral deficiencies and a wide variety of health conditions, which afflict the human body.

Our soils just don’t have the minerals necessary for optimal healthfulness, so supplementation is crucial.

7. POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE

In the book ‘power of positive thinking’ Norman Peale writes that having faith in yourself makes good things happen to you. This same theme has been written about over and over, each book with a different angle, but with the same basic, underlying message.

There are of course other pillars to support a long and healthy life, but these are what we consider the most fundamental. More in-depth information can be found at “Longevity Secrets“ 

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”

-          Hippocrates circa 431 B.C.

-           

Now, let me introduce or reintroduce your healthy choices to construct a healthy diet from.

 

     fresh vegetables      fresh fruit         whole unprocessed grains    seeds & nuts 

 

This regimen is simply low in fat, low in cholesterol, low in salt while high in fiber. This listing is not the most encompassing but merely a beginning to start from:

 

 

FOOD THERAPY for LONGEVITY 

These food choices are generally beneficial for most people. The exception will be determined by individual constitutions. If an individual is basically cold or hot, damp or dry, deficient or excessive, then foods need to be selected according the effect these foods make on your body. This aspect will increase the likelihood of further life extension.

Foods that Benefit Longevity:

Vegetables: Asparagus, Avocados, Alfalfa sprouts, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Vegetable juices, Cauliflower, Celery, Collard greens, Cucumbers, Fennel, Garlic, Green beans, Green peas, Kale, Leeks, Micro-algae (chlorella, spirulina, wild blue-green), Seaweeds (irish moss, kelp, etc.), Turnip, Scallion, Saltless sauerkraut, Mushrooms (Ganoderm, Maitake, Shiitake, YunZhi), Pumpkin & seed
Meat: Cod, Halibut, Salmon, Scallops, Tuna
Fruit: Apples, Apricot, Bananas, Bitter melon, Blueberries, Cantaloupe, Cherry, Cranberries, Figs, Grapefruit, Grapes, Kiwifruit, Lemon/Limes, Oranges, Papaya, Pears, Pineapple, Plums, Prunes, Raisins, Raspberries, Strawberries, Watermelon
Legumes: Black beans, Dried peas, Garbanzo beans (chickpeas), Kidney beans, Lentils, Lima beans, Miso, Navy beans, Pinto beans, Soybeans
Whole grains: Amaranth, Barley, Brown rice, Buckwheat, Corn, Millet, Oats, Quinoa, Spelt, Whole wheat, Whole rice
Nuts & Seeds: Fox nut, Chestnut, Sesame seed, Flax seed, Walnut, Rye
Sweeteners: Royal Jelley, Stevia, Agave Nectar, Bee pollen
Healthy oils: Sunflower seed, sesame oil, ghee & coconut oil

Foods to Avoid:

Artificial Sweeteners, Coffee, Wine (beyond 1 oz. per day), Baked Beans (sugar), Baked Goods (doughnuts, cakes contain excess trans fats, sugars), Breakfast Cereals (sugar, processed grain, low nutrition), Campbell’s Condensed Soups (hi sodium), pot pies (hi calory/fat), Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) foods, Hotdogs (unknown ingredients, sodium nitrate), Luncheon Meats (too many additives, sodium nitrate), Margarine (highly toxic), Ramen Noodles (no nutrients, excess sodium), Refined Vegetable Oils (corn, cottonseed, soybeans, safflower seeds and canola), Saltines (excess carb & sodium), Sausages & cured meats (too many additives, sodium nitrate), White & Wheat bread (no nutrition), White Pasta (extremely hi carb & sodium), White Potatoes (solanine-calcium depletion & arthritic pain), Chips & French fries, Cocktails (excess sugar/liver toxicity), Fruit Juice (loaded w/ sugar), Fruit Smoothie (loaded w/ syrup, make your own), Dairy products except goat’s milk (pure mucous), Sodas (removes rust from metal, excess carbon dioxide, imbalances digestive system), Excessive Protein (loss of calcium, damages kidneys)

The above healthy foods will go a long way to not only a long life but will bring quality of life, free from debility while the harming foods will bring short, painful and restricted life. Now that you know, what’s left but to find the fortitude for 90-180 days to discover your healthy body.

 

Mark Hammer, CMH, Master Herbalist-Chinese Medicine    Longevity Mountain 

May, 2009 

Why apricot kernels should be part of your diet each day

Are you familiar with apricot kernels?

To be honest, I had actually never even heard of apricot kernel until earlier this year. I had no idea what they were. Actually they are just the seeds or stones of an apricot.

Everyone has heard of apricots, but normally all we see of apricot kernels is after we have eaten the apricot when we throw it out!

However, organic apricot kernals are one of the healthiest foods for you.

The one biggest reason apricot kernels are so healthy is that they contain so much vitamin b17. A lot of foods contain Amygdalin (B17), but not as much in the kind of foods that are widely eaten these days in the western world. On top of this apricot kernels have higher levels of the vitamin than most of these other foods, and this is why you should include them into your diet.

Vitamin B 17 is thought to be an amazingly powerful vitamin for helping with cancer. Up until now, there have been no concrete studies to prove this, and there has been a lot of legal battles trying to stop people from selling apricot kernals as a prevention for cancer, but having said that, there are plenty of people who are certain of the cancer prevention properties of the kernel.

As with any food, you always need to keep a diet that is balanced, you shouldn’t just bank on so called “superfoods” to keep you fit. This is never more important than when you are eating apricot kernels.

Whereas with normal apricot kernels, you can have as many as 200g a day, you can also find bitter apricot kernels, which are stronger. With the bitter apricot kernels you are recommended to only eat 2-3 of the kernels a day.

The reason you have to be careful is because despite the fact that apricot kernels are so beneficial to your health, there is also cyanide present. This is not anything to worry about if you eat normal amounts, however this is why you need to keep to the correct dosage.

Another food that has been linked to maybe aiding recovery from cancer is soft goji berries. These contain very high levels of antioxidants and are perfect to include in your diet along with apricot kernels.

Cure Sickness with Chinese Herbal Treatments

Chinese herbal treatments have been used for cooking for many years now. Nonetheless they have also been usually used as a medication and they have been planning to cure more than a few fitness harms.

Nonetheless the repayment of Chinese herbs have not yet been demonstrated and so they are often referred to as ‘alternative medicines’.
Whether they work or not, the use of Chinese herbs in both catering and remedial has accepted onto Western Countries. Now millions of natives near the world use them and their attractiveness is screening no signs of slowing down.

How Chinese Herbs Were by tradition Used

Chinese herbs were traditionally used for cookery The Chinese population loved to cook their cooking with herbs as they in actuality helped to increase the suggestion Due to their popularity they were premeditated far and wide and the first ever Chinese herbalist was produced and known as “Shennong”. Shennong is chiefly a imaginary character which is said to have tasted all of the Chinese herbs and reported back to rural associates about the settlement and venomous abilities that the herbs have.

Alternative health supplements is very essential for general health .

A guidebook was shaped known as the “Shennong BencaoJing” and it enclosed in the neighborhood three hundred and sixty five medicines in it.

Out of persons two hundred and fifty two of them were made from Chinese herbs. This was the first ever instruction booklet to be twisted on Chinese Herbs.

Why the Chinese Have a Love thing with Herbs?

When you look at the Chinese persons you will bring to fruition that they in general tend to live long, good for your health lives. They have a implausible diet and part of this is down to the herbs which they spend also.

When you look into a lot of chemical drugs, you will see that most of them have been consequential from Chinese herbs. So from this you will attain that herbs apparently do help to take away the symptoms of some conditions The Chinese in general think that in order to live a healthful way of life you need to eat well, employ systematically and have a good medley of herbs easily on tender
taken as a wholeherbs are cherished for their clear strength remuneration that the Chinese nation have knowledgeable first hand. They may have a a little fictional past, but their attractiveness now just goes to show that they visibly work in some way.

So even as they are in good health known for being used for cooking you may like to try them out the next time that you have a pain or a mild shape illness

How To Actually Use the Grapefruit Diet Plan

There are many different variations of the now world famous grapefruit diet, however the basic principle is the same: Have half a grapefruit before every meal. This is so that you get full benefit of the vitamins and minerals in the grapefruit that help to burn fat quickly.

There are several benefits of the grapefruit diet plan, including the potential to lose up to ten pounds. At only 12 days the diet can be a great kick start into a longer fitness program, or longer term balanced diet.

Here is a regular day on the diet:

  • For breakfast: Half a grapefruit + two eggs (prepared any way you want) and 2 slices of bacon / suasages / beans.
  • For lunch: Half a grapefruit + a portion of any meat and some vegetables or salad.
  • For dinner: Half a grapefruit + either meat or fish cooked in any way you like prefer and some salad or vegetables, again.

All you need to remember is that that before every meal you need to eat half of a grapefruit! It's simple.

However, make sure you don't get too carried away and eat too much fatty foods and chocolates etc. Foods andthat aren't allowed include heavy portions of carbohydrates - for example breakfast cereals, white bread,and pasta. especially in larger amounts, or as whole meals.

As previously mentioned grapefruits actually help to increase metabolism and fat burning. But that is not all. The other principles behind eating a grapefruit is that it gives you a lot of energy and helps to balance your diet, but the main point is that it helps to make you feel full, so that you do not eat a full meal and do not eat too much of the type of food which is bad for you.

The main problem with the popular grapefruit diet plan is that it isn't possible or practical to use over the long term. mostly though it is not healthy to eat too much acidic citrus fruit all throughout the day for long periods. So even though it is good for you in the short term, in the long run, or in large doses it can be damaging. Another problem is that it cuts out things needed in a balanced diet, such as carbohydrates. You shouldn't keep repeating thisdiet, it is only really meant as a stepping stone onto a long-term diet to help keep the weight off.

We hope you have enjoyed this article. If you are really serious about losing weight then give our healthy eating cd a try. It will increase your motivation and your willpower to eat healthy food. It will moreover rewire your mind to help you really enjoy your new healthy food choices instead of seeing them as a struggle to eat.

Nice Step Using Green Tea Face Smoothly

Good effects of green tea face has been proved by many studies. The powerful extract green tea used by many cosmetics for making human face shine clearly. Green tea also proven for avoid free radical which caused by pollution on human face.

Here the step by step which could feel powerful of green tea face easily:

Step1
Always try to buy your green tea face wash from a reliable source. Trusted brand names are usually a safer bet. Try Wet and Wild’s or Aubrey Organics’ Green Tea Face Wash, Kiss My Face’s Organic Face Wash with Green Tea.

Step2
If you have very sensitive skin, it is always best to perform a patch test on your skin when trying new products. Wet a small patch of skin on your forehead (if you wear bangs) or just in front of your ear. These areas will likely be less noticeable should you develop an allergic reaction to the products. Place a small amount of the green tea face wash on that area and gentle rub into the skin. Rinse thoroughly and allow 24 hours to pass to determine if an allergic reaction will occur.

Step3
To begin using the green tea face wash, wet your face with lukewarm water. Hot water is drying to the skin but warm water will open up pores for better cleansing.

Step4
If you use a face cloth to wash your face, dampen the face cloth and apply a small amount of the green tea face wash to the cloth. Use your hands to spread the cleanser in a large area on the cloth to better distribute it onto your face.

Step5
If you use your hands to wash your face apply a small amount in the palm of one hand and rub your hands together to evenly distribute the cleanser onto the palms of both hands.

Step6
Using either the face cloth or your hands, gently cleanse your skin, working in a circular motion. Start at the bottom of your face and work up to avoid dragging the skin down (gravity will do that well enough in time!).

Step7
Sure wash ,yet do it gently when wash touched of your face. Pay special attention to your hairline where makeup and hairspray can stick and cause clogged pores.

Step8
When cleansing around the delicate eye area, use a light patting motion instead of dragging your cloth or hands across the skin.

Step9
When cleansing is finished, rinse the cloth or your hands thoroughly to remove all soap residues. Now, starting at the bottom again, begin to rinse the cleanser from your skin. If using a cloth, simply gently wipe the face until all traces of the cleanser are gone. If using your hands splash water on the face until all the green tea face wash is removed.

Step10
Finish off your green tea face wash by turning the water to a slightly cool temperature and giving your face a final rinse. The cooler water will close and tighten your pores.

Step11
Dry your face by patting it with a clean face towel and apply a moisturizer specific to your skin type.

Green tea face is unique of green tea extract which powerful to make human face healthy extremely. Hope this suggestion very useful for you.

 

Lose Weight with Nutrition Supplements

Weight loss advocates tell you that you should eat small meals five to six times per day. If you really think about it, you’ll realize that can add up to a lot of food. If you have trouble getting in all those meals, you can include nutrition supplements to make sure you get all the  nutrients you need. Vitamin and nutrition supplements are essential if you are trying to lose weight, and even if you are trying to maintain a recent weight loss or just want to be healthier. You don’t need to spend a fortune on nutrition supplements, in fact less is more. Instead of hitting the nearest supermarket, visit a nutrition center and get a little help to find the healthiest choice.

Proper Nutrition

Whether your goal is to maintain your current weight or lose some weight, it is important to learn how many calories you need on a daily basis to reach your goal. To find out, take your weight and multiply it by 13 if you’re typically sedentary, 14 if you are moderately active and 15 if you are very active. This will determine how many calories you need daily just to maintain your current weight. If you want to lose weight, subtract five hundred from that number and try to stick to that number of calories each day. Adding five hundred calories will give you the correct number of calories to consume if your goal is to gain weight or build muscle. However, not all calories are created equal.

No Junk

It makes no sense to take nutrition supplements and then pig out on junk food and soda every day. Your  meals should include plenty fresh foods, such as fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains. These fresh foods should make up about ninety percent of your daily meals. Some of your daily meals can be exchanged for nutrition supplements like vitamins or protein shakes, and other nutrition supplements that will give you the nutrients you need.

A Great Plan

A great plan starts with a healthy breakfast high in carbohydrates and protein to give you the energy you need for the day; such as a whole grain breakfast cereal and skim milk. Fresh fruit combined with a nutrition supplement such as a protein shake is an example of a healthy snack. Lean meat such as chicken combined with vegetables and brown rice make a great lunch. Add another nutrition supplement for another snack and then have a piece of lean meat and vegetables for dinner. Remember that calories consumed before bed are more likely to be stored as fat, but you can have one more supplement before lying down if you need it.

Obtain Your Body and the Surroundings Chemical Free with Organic Food

Currently, organic food is supposed to be one of the answers to ensure better health. We all know that in order to stay healthy, a more balanced diet accompanied with regular exercise is essentially needed by our body. Having enough rest after that is necessary to keep us fresh enough to do the same cycle over again. Therefore, choosing the organic food is believed by many people as the only way to achieve a better health.

No Contamination

Organic food is known to be grown on organic farms where the foods are grown under very strict control in which government formulated guidelines concerning how to grow such foods need to be followed. It also covers knowing how to grow the organic produce and to pack it up without in any way contaminating the organic food through use of any form of chemical or even pesticides.

Traditional foods are naturally grown in an surrounding full of chemicals. What is even more worrying is the fact that many of the chemicals used have not even been appropriately researched. It means that we don’t know what the effects of consuming such chemicals will be for our health. Thus, it is easy for us to see that by eating organic food we are at least assured that we won’t be consuming any chemicals and therefore we won’t need to be anxious about ill effects of being subjected to such substances.

As a matter of fact, when it deals with organic food such as meat and dairy products, these are sure to be free of any chemicals, which is definitely not the case when eating traditional dairy and meat products. You can be certain that when it concerns organic food, farmers will also feed their livestock with nothing but organic feed that is sure to be free from chemicals or supplements. As a result, there is no possibility that you will be consuming any kind of chemically enhanced foods.

Organic food is also advantageous to the surrounding as a whole because even the land in which such food is grown will not be harmed with the use of chemicals and as a result, the landscape will stay pure and uncontaminated.

Thus, if you are anxious about maintaining your health and thus commit to eat organic food, just be assured that by consuming such foods, at least your body does not receive unwanted doses of chemicals, insecticides and pesticides. In addition, the environment too will benefit immensely. As a result, deciding to consume organic food is positively a responsible choice that will place you in excellent stead both for the near and the long term.

Want to know further about organic food? Let’s explore more on the links here and you will get much more about it.

Testosterone and Growth Hormone: an original study

Background: Age-related declines in testosterone and growth hormone (GH) are associated with increased adiposity and decreases in lean mass and bone mineral density (BMD). A long-term retrospective study examined the effects of testosterone and/or GH supplementation on body composition and quality of life (QoL).

Methods: A database survey assessed the records of 91 men and 97 women (ages 25–82) in treatment groups based on their hormonal status: dehydroepiandrosterone but no hormonal supplementation (control); testosterone only (Tes); GH only (GH); and testosterone plus GH (Tes+GH).Pre- and post-treatment assessments recorded changes in fat and lean mass, BMD, and QoL.

Results: After an average of 3 years of treatment, weight decreased in women in the control and Tes+GH groups but remained stable in men in all groups. Tes and Tes+GH produced statistically signifi cant increases in lean mass, reductions in fat mass, and improvements in BMD in both sexes; GH produced similar changes in women. QoL and mood improved in all groups. Treatments were generally safe and well tolerated.

Conclusions: In this retrospective survey, treatment with testosterone and/or GH was associated with favorable effects in men and women across a wide age range. Keywords: testosterone, growth hormone, body composition, quality of life.

Background
Since the second century, when Galen observed that castration led to declines in sexual function and general health and recommended eating animals’ testicles as a way to improve vitality, medicine has progressed to a point where isolated and purified testosterone can be used clinically. Today, however, the goal is not only to enhance libido and sexual function, especially in men, but also to optimize body composition – to offset age-related hormonal changes that may contribute to reduced bone mass (osteopenia), reduced muscle mass (sarcopenia), and increased adiposity.  Increased visceral adiposity has been associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes, and other types of morbidity (Nicklas et al 2004; Lebovitz and Banerji 2005; Jensen 2006).

Testosterone levels are positively correlated with measures of body composition
such as bone mineral density (BMD) and lean muscle mass. Improved BMD
is associated with a decreased risk for osteoporosis and fracture. The correlation between testosterone levels and lean muscle mass is seen across a wide range of age and health status (Bross et al 1998). Optimal lean mass is associated with increased strength and coordination and reduced injury from falls. Reduced body fat is associated with decreased actuarial health risk, especially for coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The most obvious beneficiaries of testosterone supplementation would be hypogonadal men. All patients in this reported study in the testosterone-only group had been diagnosed as hypogonadal when they began testosterone treatment. Because testosterone levels generally decline as men age, with free testosterone concentrations declining by about 50% between age 25 and 75,elderly men are at higher risk of becoming hypogonadal.  The over-65 male population is expected to double (to over 31 million) by 2030, with the incidence of low testosterone levels increasing from 30% in the seventh decade of life to 70% in the eighth decade (Hijazi and Cunningham 2005).Accordingly, it is important to understand whether testosterone supplementation improves measures of health.

As in men, androgens in women affect body composition, mood, libido, and general well-being. Defi ciency in young women may result from ovarian or adrenal dysfunction, hypothalamic amenorrhea, ovarian failure, oophorectomy,
or wasting from acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Deficiency in testosterone may occur secondary to use of estrogen, oral contraceptives, or corticosteroids. However, this condition is diffi cult to recognize (declining libido may be the only symptom), and the few data on testosterone therapy
in premenopausal women reveal mainly the expected adverse effects of reversible hirsutism and acne; more data are needed to identify women who would be candidates for testosterone therapy and to establish therapeutically useful regimens in this population (Kalantaridou and Calis 2006).

Like patients who have low androgen levels, individuals with growth hormone (GH) deficiency have increased adiposity. All patients in this study who received GH had clinically documented GH defi ciency. Results of studies
designed to determine the effects of GH on body composition in deficient adults have been mixed. Various trials have shown improvement in BMD in men (Bravenboer et al 2005; Snyder et al 2007), decreased fat mass and increased
lean mass in both men and women, along with signifi can’t improvements in serum lipids but not in BMD (Hoffman et al 2004), and benefi cial reductions in waist:hip ratio and serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol (Franco et al 2006).

The objective of the retrospective survey of clinical data was to assess the effects of testosterone and GH supplementation on body composition and quality of life (QoL) in men and women who had been diagnosed as defi cient in androgens and/or GH across a wide age range.

Methods
This study examined the records of patients treated at the Cenegenics® Medical Institute (Las Vegas, NV) during the period 1999 to 2006.
The records of 91 men were assessed in the following treatment groups: dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA; an adrenal precursor to both estrogens and androgens) but no testosterone or GH (control; n = 31; age range 40–82);
testosterone only (Tes; n = 17; age range 40–79); GH only (GH; n = 20; age range 42–70); and testosterone plus GH (Tes+GH; n = 23, age range 36–81).

The records of 97 women were assessed in the same defined treatment groups: control (n = 27; age range 25–60); Tes (n = 26; age range 38–69); GH (n = 12; age range 42–71); and Tes+GH (n = 32, age range 29–75).

The average length of treatment was 3 years.

Table 1 outlines the hormonal regimen used in male and female patients with their consent after explanation of clinical and laboratory goals to be achieved.

Measures of body composition (BMD and body mass index) and QoL were compared in patients who received hormonal treatment versus patients who received DHEA supplementation but no hormonal treatment. Other therapies,
given adjunctively as needed to optimize clinical and laboratory parameters, included DHEA, thyroid hormone, melatonin (for antioxidant and sleep-stabilizing properties), human chorionic gonadotropin in men (to facilitate weight loss and stimulate endogenous testosterone production), and
estradiol and progesterone in women.

In addition to the hormonal regimens, all patients were placed on a low-glycemic diet to improve the lipid profile and increase insulin sensitivity and an exercise program to increase lean muscle mass and decrease fat mass.

All patients had comprehensive baseline and annual physical examinations as well as laboratory assessments at 4- to 6-month intervals. Dual X-ray absorptiometry scans were obtained annually to assess BMD at the hip and lumbar spine; fat mass and lean muscle mass were also assessed
annually. QoL outcomes were rated using standardized scales (the Beck Depression Inventory and the Holmes and Dickerson linear analog self-assessment scale) to assess mood and functionality.

Data were expressed as the mean ± standard error. Between-group differences were assessed using the Mann-Whitney U test and the Kruskal-Wallis test. For correlations, Pearson’s test was used for normally distributed data; otherwise,
the Spearman rank test was used. All hypothesis tests were twotailed, with statistical signifi cance assessed at p 0.05 with 95% confi dence intervals. The statistical software used was SPSS 11.5 for Windows (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA).

Results
Serum testosterone
Among men, there were no significant changes in weight (pre- and post-treatment), and there were no significant changes between the different groups.

Table 1 Hormonal regimens; in addition to the use of testosterone and GH, other hormonal treatments were offered as needed to achieve normalization of clinical and laboratory status

Therapy (route) Goal Measurement
Testosteronea, men (intramuscular) Concentration (±12.5%) representing 66th percentile for 40-year-old men
Total: 700–900 ng/dL
Free: 130–200 pg/mL
For clinically documented hormone deficiency
Testosterone, women (transdermal or sublingual) Upper 33% of normal range for premenopausal women
Total: 52–70 ng/dL
For clinically documented hormone defi ciency
Human growth hormone (subcutaneous) Upper 40% of normal range for ages 39–54 years Rise of 100% in insulin-like growth factor 1, but not above
360 ng/mL
For clinically documented hormone deficiency
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) (oral) Upper 30% of normal range for young adults Sulfated DHEA:
470–619 μg/dL in men
280–380 μg/dL in women

(Figure 1). In the control group, mean total testosterone increased from 545 ng/dL pretreatment to 687 ng/dL post-treatment (p 0.03), and free testosterone rose from 107 to 119 pg/mL (nonsignifi cant). In the Tes group, the corresponding increases in total and free testosterone were 538 to 927 ng/dL (p 0.002), and 94 to 167 pg/mL (p 0.002). In the GH group, the increases were 596 to 707 ng/dL (nonsignificant) and 110 to 156 pg/mL
(p 0.006). In the Tes+GH group, the increases were 526 to 814 ng/dL (p 0.002) and 88 to 126 pg/mL (p 0.03).

Among women in the Tes, GH, and Tes+GH groups, increases in serum testosterone were significant but of considerably smaller magnitude.

Body weight
Among men, there were no signifi cant within-group or between-group changes in weight. Mean weight across all groups remained stable within the range of 192 to 198 lbs (87–90 kg) over the course of the trial. However, among women, mean weight between treatment groups was more diverse at baseline (138–155 lbs, or 63–71 kg), and treatment resulted in more notable weight
decreases in the control and Tes+GH groups (4.8% and 3.2%, respectively).

Body composition
Lean mass increased signifi cantly with Tes (3%) and Tes+GH (6%) in men, and with Tes (2%), GH (13%), and Tes+GH (3%) in women (Figure 2). Among men, the increase with Tes+GH was significantly greater than with any other
regimen.

Total body fat was signifi cantly reduced with Tes and Tes+GH in men, and with Tes, GH, and Tes+GH in women; the percentage change was substantially greater in men.

QoL outcomes
Although none of the groups showed any notable abnormalities at baseline, scores on standard measures of mood, functionality, and quality of life showed improved status over the course of treatment.

Safety
Physical and laboratory assessments and recording of adverse effects indicated that the study treatments were generally well tolerated. Among the men, mean levels of prostate specifi c antigen (PSA) showed statistically nonsignifi cant increases from baseline to post-treatment with all regimens (from 1.05
to 1.40 ng/mLwith Tes, from 1.03 to 1.20 ng/mL with GH, and from 1.04 to 1.14 ng/mL with Tes+GH).

Discussion
This study showed that supplementation with testosterone or GH or both, in conjunction with benefi cial lifestyle changes in diet and exercise, produced statistically signifi cant changes in measures of body composition. Treatments were generally well tolerated.

To place these findings in perspective, a systematic review and meta-analysis of 29 randomized controlled trials of testosterone therapy in over 1000 middle-aged and aging men (mean age 64.5 years) found that treatment resulted in a 6.2% reduction in total body fat and a 2.7% increase in lean mass, marginal improvement in strength, significant increase (3.7%) in BMD at the lumbar spine but not at the femoral neck, and reductions in cholesterol, especially in men with lower testosterone concentrations at baseline
(Isidori et al 2005). Those fi ndings are generally consistent with the changes noted in the present study, which included men and women spanning a wider age range. However, another systematic review of the literature questioned the
benefi t of testosterone supplementation in men with normal testosterone levels (Krause et al 2005).

Testosterone supplementation by any route of administration (intramuscular, oral, or transdermal) increases BMD by increasing formation and decreasing resorption of bone, with theoretical but as yet unproven reduction in
fracture risk (Köhn 2006). In a 1999 report, individuals with lower pretreatment serum testosterone concentration showed greater changes in lumbar spine BMD during the first 3 years of treatment (Snyder et al 1999). This fi nding
is supported by another study in which men with borderline hypogonadism showed only limited benefi t from one year of testosterone therapy (reduction in body fat mass but no significant increase in BMD or lean muscle mass); however, extending the treatment might yield more robust effects
(Merza et al 2006).

One of the most important reasons for studying the effects of testosterone treatment is that testosterone therapy also has benefit in terms of cardiovascular health. If changes in body composition measures provide a surrogate measure for decreased cardiovascular morbidity, clinicians would
have a valuable tool for determining which patients to treat and guidance for determining treatment end points. A casecontrol study showed the risk of severe atherosclerotic coronary artery disease in men varied inversely with total
testosterone; risk was 5-fold higher among men in lowest quartile than among men in highest quartile (Chute et al 1987). A large-scale survey in 1132 men aged 30 to 79 years revealed a signifi cant inverse relationship between blood
pressure and levels of testosterone (p 0.001 for both systolic and diastolic pressure), but no such correlation was seen with other hormones (Khaw et al 1988). The reduction in body fat mass associated with testosterone therapy,
along with possible stabilizing effects on blood glucose, has obvious benefi cial implications in terms of lowered risk of diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease (Köhn 2006). It is noteworthy that the present study
showed not only reductions in total body fat with testosterone and GH, but also reductions in truncal fat, which in excess is associated with an increased risk of insulin resistance.

Another potential benefi t of testosterone therapy may be decreasing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. GH is believed to have neuroprotective effects, directly or in conjunction with insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1; a polypeptide produced mainly in the liver in response to stimulation by GH). In a
study of lean elderly subjects, low testosterone availability secondary to high levels of sex hormone binding globulin was associated with a higher incidence of Alzheimer’s disease (Paoletti et al 2004). Although the exclusion of heavier
patients may limit the applicability of these findings and the root problem was not absolute testosterone defi ciency but excessive binding leaving inadequate free testosterone, there may be a role for testosterone supplementation in patients considered at risk. The QoL measurements used in the present study may provide a useful clinical measurement of cognitive function. Recent reviews on this topic concluded that supplementation may minimize cognitive loss in testosterone-deficient elderly patients at risk (Beauchet 2006) and that supplementation may be more benefi cial in elderly men than in elderly women (Hogervorst et al 2005).

With reference to GH, a meta-analysis of 10 randomized trials in 458 patients with GH defi ciency showed that the mean change in BMD at the lumbar spine was signifi cant at 6 and 12 months, and more strongly signifi cant at 18 and
24 months; however, the magnitude of these changes was small and of uncertain clinical relevance (Davidson et al 2004).

The idea of combining hormonal and bisphosphonate therapy is an attractive approach to improving BMD.  A long-term controlled study in 30 adults with GH defi ciency showed that the combination of GH and alendronate was
highly effective in patients with osteoporosis (Biermasz et al 2004). In contrast, a study in 149 men showed testosterone and alendronate were comparably effective, but the combination offered no additional benefi t over monotherapy with either agent (Welch et al 2007).

The role of DHEA supplementation to improve BMD is unclear. In a randomized controlled one-year trial in 140 men and women (aged 60–88 years) with low levels of sulfated DHEA at baseline, supplementation resulted in signifi cant
improvements in BMD at the spine among the women and at the hip in both sexes (Jankowski et al 2006); however, another double-blind trial in elderly men and women showed limited benefi t after two years of treatment (Nair et al 2006).

In this trial, the only statistically signifi cant changes seen in the control groups receiving DHEA were an increase in total testosterone in men and an increase in BMD at the hip in women. In this trial, the only statistically signifi cant changes seen in the control groups receiving DHEA were an increase in total testosterone in men and an increase in BMD at the hip in women.

One special population that merits mention is men at increased risk of prostate cancer, as there may be concern about the safety of testosterone supplementation in these patients. Although castration has been associated with regression or retardation of advanced prostate cancer, it does not
automatically follow that restoration of normal testosterone levels in hypogonadal men increases the risk of carcinogenesis. In fact, a detailed review on this subject concludes that increased risk is associated with low rather than high levels of testosterone (Raynaud 2006). In the present study, PSA levels increased with GH and/or testosterone, but the increases were clinically as well as statistically insignificant, as all of the post-treatment values remained well within the normal range (0–2.5 ng/mL). Obviously, men with an established
history of prostate cancer would not be considered candidates for treatment.

From the present study, the finding that total and free testosterone increased across all treatment groups in men, including the control group, indicates that the basic regimen of diet and exercise with DHEA and adjunctive hormonal correction as needed was also effective, although the magnitude of the increase was greater in the Tes and Tes+GH groups. Testosterone improved to target ranges with all active treatments except Tes+GH; in this group, the
baseline level of free testosterone was unusually low and the post-treatment value, although representing a statistically significant increase, fell just short of the lower limit of the target range.

The study left several questions unanswered. Among the women, weight decreased more in the control group than in the Tes+GH group, which strongly suggests the value of lifestyle change and the need to encourage compliance with diet and exercise; however, it is not clear why this effect was not seen in men.

Another gender issue is the unusually large increase in lean mass seen with GH therapy in women but not in men. Nor is it clear why women but not men on the control regimen showed an unhealthy increase in trunk fat despite
the reduction in overall fat mass.

DHEA supplementation changes androgen/estrogen ratios differently in men and women, which may explain our results. There are signifi cant increases in estrogen levels in men, but not much increase in testosterone. For women,
DHEA increases androgens but does not have much effect on estrogens (Arlt et al 1999, 2001; Barnhart et al 1999).  In our study, DHEA did affect testosterone levels in men.

The main limitations of this study are its design as a retrospective database survey and the lack of stratification of outcome data by demographic variables other than gender and by concurrent treatment modalities. Moreover, although
diet and exercise counseling was provided to patients, it was not feasible to determine the compliance rates. Although the current findings are intriguing, they do not distinguish results in younger versus older patients or in patients with different levels of endogenous hormones and different measures of
body composition at baseline. Nevertheless, the results of this investigation are important considering the relative paucity of long-term data (follow-up 1 year) on outcomes with similar treatment strategies. As additional longer-term retrospective data become available for hormone-defi cient patients, studies that evaluate correlations between administration of hormones and specific health outcomes will provide clinicians with more precise guidance on which patients to treat and which clinical parameters to use as treatment end points.
By using surrogate measures, such as body composition changes, clinicians may be able to more predictably reduce cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline.

Randomized controlled prospective clinical trials are planned, with larger populations followed for even longer periods, which may further clarify the proper role of hormonal supplementation as part of a comprehensive
program to preserve vitality throughout life, improve identification of suitable candidates for treatment, and establish optimal individualized regimens.

Conclusions
For patients with clinically documented low androgen levels, testosterone supplementation, alone or in combination with GH (only used in patients who had been diagnosed with adult GH defi ciency), produced clinically signifi cant changes in (1) lean body mass, (2) Beck Depression test, (3) change in total
body fat, and (4) BMD at the hip in both men and women across
a wide age range. These results indicate that hormonal supplementation
can augment the benefi ts of lifestyle change.

Colon Cleansing Tea Cures the Internal Colon Disorders

By enhancing the digestive process in the body, Colon Cleansing Tea will cure many colon diseases. Colon plaque is also eradicated using this kind of tea. Considered to be one of the natural curing ways with out any medication, this tea is available in many brands.

There are many flavors of colon cleansing teas listed below.

  • Peppermint colon tea
  • Green colon tea
  • Fiber colon tea

Not all the above colon cleansing tea is popular. The first two kinds are available under many brand names. The fiber colon tea is not much popular, but is has valuable effects in the process. The peppermint flavor is the common kind in the world. It soothes the intestinal tract when consumed and also acts as a curer of the throat.

The green tea will detoxify the body organs with the help of the herbal ingredients present in it. Health plus is the major manufacturer of the colon cleansing tea. Some of the teas are available in the form of popular tea bags also. Let us discuss about some of the popular tea brands with the ingredients and their ratings by the users.

Health plus pleasant peppermint tea is available in the form of bags. It is made up of herbs and spices blended together. This is used as a detoxifier in the colon treatment. The users have rated a good rate for this tea and it is worth full. The easy going tea from the same manufacturer is made from the wild rhubarb and cassia seed. It is a rhizome tea from the rhei variety with peppermint flavor.

Pepp 30B tea is also a kind of tea similar to that of the pleasant peppermint tea. It is also made from the blends of natural herbs and spices. It uses a different type of blending called the synergistic blend. The famous kind of tea is the green tea. This is also promoted by the Health plus tea company.

Green Tea is a kind of colon cleansing tea that will promote proper digestion in the body, even after a heavy diet of food. This is made form the spices and herbs which remove the toxification in the body. The cleansing teas are made from any of the following herbs, which is most common.

They are

- Rhamnus Purshiana bark
- Cassia Senna leaf
- Berberis Vulgaris bark.
- Ruhus Idacus leaf
- Rheum Palmatum root.

The major role of the colon cleansing teas is they clean the digestive tract and protect the cell membrane in the intestinal mucosa. Another famous tea is the Holy Tea, which is used to detoxify the poisonous substance in the colon region. Since it removes poison and made from the herb Holy Thistle this tea product is called as Holy Tea. This kind of tea is sold by a private club. It is also curing the weight loss problem in the human being.

These are the normally used colon cleansing teas in the treatment of the colon diseases.

Related Articles:

Natural Colon Cleansing: A Handful Of Notes Available -> Natural Colon Cleansing

Colon Cleanse Product Reviews

How To Avoid Food Allergies While Enjoying Your Food

 

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There are a number of needs that we as individuals need in order to survive. According to Maslow’s Hierarchy Needs they are in no set order: Self-Actualization, Esteem, Love,Belonging, Safety and Physiological. In each of those needs, we determine which of them are the most important individually. However, regardless of who you are, or where you are from, one need tends to stand out more than the rest, and that’s Food.

Because there are so many places that one can go to get food from, it tends to become a buffet style of need. Restaurants, fast-food, diners you name it are so plenteous, that the propensity to contract something is very probable. With this being said, one is every so close to obtain some type of a food allergy. A Food Allergy is the immune system’s response to a food that the body mistakenly believes as a harmful agent. The problem that many seem to have issue with is, they sometimes become aware that certain foods initiates an allergic reaction, but because the food tastes so good, they are willing to sacrifice their body for the sake of taste. What they fail to realize is food allergies can be very harmful to the body as well as causing swelling, itching, and other types of external irritants.

For many people some of the common types of food allergies are peanuts and shellfish.
I have a three year old son; my wife and I were totally unaware that he was allergic to peanuts. While at his daycare, one of the staff members gave him a peanut butter cookie. In a matter of minutes, my son broke into hives and swollen of his eyes. Fortunately we were in the area and got medical treatment for him. To say the least, we too did not know that he was allergic to peanuts. Shellfish can also be an allergic reaction. If you have seen the movie “Hitch”, if you remember when Hitch had eaten a shellfish, he began to have an allergic reaction.

When people consumes food and have an allergic reaction, the best course of action is to eliminate it from your diet. Symptoms of food allergies are very typical to other allergic reactions such as, skin rashes or skin irritations, swelling of eyes, nasal irritations, in some individuals, food allergies can also cause an anaphylactic reaction, which causes a sudden lowering of blood pressure as well as difficulty breathing and in severe cases can lead to death. These allergic reactions can be treated with medications, once the medics are able to ascertain the types or types of food(s) that was ingested. The treatment will treat that food allergy and that food allergy only.

Countering the Appetite Killer

In order to effectively counter the effects of an allergic reaction is, first identify exactly what foods will activate those food allergies. One of the simplest ways to identify those food allergies is, to make a list of what food(s) have caused the reaction and make note of those food(s). Before you order a meal at a restaurant or diner, ask the waiter what ingredients are added to the food. You can let them know that you are allergic to a specific type of ingredient and ask if any of the ingredients are added to the food. If so, of course order another meal you eat. This may be one of the best ways to prevent future food allergies from flaring up. Having a medical alert bracelet can definitely reduce accidental ingestion of a potential food allergen.

 

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