A new large-scale population-based study from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston showed for the first time that older men using testosterone therapy were less likely to have complications that require them to go back to the hospital within a month of being discharged than men not using this therapy. The study is currently available in Mayo Clinic Proceedings .

Using nationally representative SEER-Medicare linked data, the researchers identified 6,372 men over 66 with low testosterone who were hospitalized at least once between January 2007 and December 2012. The distribution of age, ethnicity/race and marital status were comparable between testosterone users and nonusers.

The study analyzed data to determine the patients’ risk of going back to the hospital within 30 days after hospital discharge. The older men receiving therapy for low testosterone were less likely to return to the hospital. The overall rate of 30-day hospital readmissions was 9.8 percent for testosterone users and 13 percent for non-users. This decline was stronger for emergency readmissions, with a rate of 6.2 percent for testosterone users and 10 percent for non-users.

“It is possible that our findings of decreased hospitalization among male Medicare beneficiaries who received testosterone therapy reflect the improved health, strength and exercise capacity seen in previous studies,” said lead author Jacques Baillargeon, UTMB professor of epidemiology in the department of preventative medicine and community health. “Our findings suggest that one of the benefits of androgen therapy may be quicker recovery from a hospital stay and lower readmission rates. Given the importance of potentially avoidable hospital readmissions among older adults, further exploration of this intervention holds broad clinical and public health relevance.”

Reducing avoidable hospital readmissions is a national health priority and a major focus of health care reform in the United States. When older persons go home after a stay in the hospital, many are less independent and have poorer day-to-day health. Previous studies have confirmed that age-related loss of muscle mass and strength is hastened by hospital stays and leads to higher rates of rehospitalizations, admission to long-term care facilities and death.

Testosterone deficiency is associated with muscle loss and overall health decline, rendering older men with low testosterone particularly vulnerable to “post-hospital syndrome.” Testosterone therapy, which increases muscle mass and strength, is reported to improve mobility, functional health and exercise capacity in older men with low testosterone.

Other authors of this paper include UTMB’s Rachel Deer, Yong-Fang Kuo, Dong Zhang, James Goodwin and Elena Volpi. This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Article Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-04/uotm-ttd041316.php

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Kevin T. Nead and colleagues evaluated medical records from the Stanford health system and New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital for 16,888 nonmetastatic prostate cancer patients, of whom 2,397 received androgen deprivation therapy. Men treated with androgen deprivation therapy for various lengths of time were matched with control patients who did not receive the ther­apy. Researchers discovered that men who received the therapy were 88% more likely to develop Alzheimer’s over follow-up. Longer androgen depriva­tion therapy duration (equal to or greater than 12 months) was associated with more than double the risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

Editor’s Note: “Based on the results of our study, an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease is a potential adverse effect of androgen deprivation therapy, but further research is needed before considering changes to clinical practice,” Dr. Nead noted. It is regrettable that this therapy must be employed to save the lives of certain prostate cancer patients. These findings help reinforce a strategy that men with advancing prostate cancer who need to block testosterone production should consider intermittent androgen deprivation therapy, in which therapy is stopped after the PSA falls to a low level, usually after 3-9 months. Androgen deprivation therapy is resumed only if the PSA increases significantly. By carefully monitoring PSA blood levels, androgen deprivation can often be used sparingly to control PSA levels while maintaining quality of life.

Change your Body Composition and Renew Energy with our proprietary Second-Generation HGH Releasing Medication!

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Only available through us! Our state-of-the-art compounding pharmacy has focused their considerable knowledge on producing a product that delivers greater benefits to the patient at a price that is more affordable than HGH. This exciting, new product, SERMORELIN GHRP2/GHRP6, has proven to be much more effective and have a more profound effect on body composition.

When we’re young, our bodies produce a growth hormone releasing factor that triggers our pituitary gland to produce and release human growth hormone (hGH) in levels that are sufficient to sustain good health and vitality. However, as we age, growth hormone releasing factor declines causing a decrease in the production and secretion of pituitary hGH. This often results in a growth hormone deficiency that can erode health, diminish vigor and vitality, and lead to a host of undesirable symptoms.

A Natural, Effective, Affordable Alternative

Traditionally, adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) has been treated by substituting natural hGH with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH). Now, our breakthrough product, SERMORELIN GHRP2 offers a natural, effective, and affordable alternative to recombinant human growth hormone for those suffering the symptoms of age-related growth hormone deficiency.

Developed in 1998 by Serono Laboratories, Inc., the makers of Saizen hGH, FDA approved Sermorelin is the most natural and effective treatment for AGHD. As a releasing agent, SERMORELIN GHRP2 triggers the pituitary gland to produce your own natural growth hormone. Your body regulates the level and frequency of hGH release, so you don’t experience the side effects associated with injected rhGH.

No Off Cycles!

SERMORELIN GHRP2 requires no off-cycles. In fact, the longer you use it, the better your pituitary gland functions, more like it did when you were younger!! In addition, SERMORELIN GHRP2 can be used to re-stimulate the natural production of human growth hormone, making it a very effective off-cycle medication for those on an injected rhGH therapy program.

At our pharmacy, we’ve combined the pituitary-supporting effects of Sermorelin with the stimulating action of GHRP-2 (Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide). GHRP-2 stimulates the pituitary gland which causes an increase in growth hormone release. In addition to amplifying your GH releasing Hormone, GHRP-2 also acts to suppress other hormones that inhibit your body’s natural growth hormone secretion. GHRP-2 also supports your central nervous system by protecting neurons, as well as, increasing strength similar to the way certain steroids in the dihydrotestosterone family do.

As detailed below, our SERMORELIN GHRP’s will include the following benefits:

 Increases Energy, Provides Mental Clarity and Improves Mood

 Improves Physical and Mental Functioning

 Improves Immune System, Skin Elasticity and Strengthens Hair

 Huge Metabolism Increases

 Improves Cholesterol levels, Lowers Blood Pressure, Protects the Heart  Decreases Body Fat

 Increases lean muscle mass

Restore Your Health and Vitality!

Bottom line, restoring optimal growth hormone levels can sustain and promote youthful anatomy and physiology, thereby helping to restore the health and vitality often lost with agerelated growth hormone deficiency. SERMORELIN GHRP2 not only provides the youth restoring benefits of hGH on body composition, it also helps maintain good pituitary health.

What to Expect:

If you follow the guidelines set out by our Doctor, take your meds as directed and exercise regularly with a clean diet, you can expect to see these dramatic changes from your increased HGH levels as soon as 3-6 months from beginning your therapy……

1. Benefits to the Immune System A major benefit of increasing HGH levels is that an increase of the hormone can actually give the immune system a powerful boost; resetting it to back when it was strongest in our younger years. You may be wondering how this is possible. It’s simple, really. I’ll try to explain: The Human Growth Hormone regenerates cells. White blood cells, which help fight disease, are increased and the production of red blood cells is enhanced. Also, macrophages needed to defend against bacteria are boosted. New antibodies are created and the production of interleukin 2 and T-cells is elevated.

Explanation of Benefit:

Basically this means you’ll encounter significantly fewer infections, colds, flues or other maladies that will try to slow you down. If you do get sick, which everyone does once in a while, the time it takes for you to recover is shortened. Surprisingly, these positive effects on the immune system are often the most frequently overlooked set of benefits associated with successful HGH therapy.

2. HGH Benefits Lean Muscle Growth Who doesn’t want more lean muscle and less fat? HGH benefits more than the immune system after all. It helps people enhance their physical presence by gaining weight in all the right places. Not to worry, weight gained is in muscle not fat.

Our research in action:

According to recent research, people who take this hormone decrease their body fat by an impressive average of 15%. What’s even better, the research also concluded that people increased their amount of lean muscle by an average of 8% by supplementing their daily regiments with a human growth hormone supplement.

Power Users: If your primary objective is to speed up muscle growth, stimulate new muscle development by increasing protein synthesis, or to increase your overall muscle strength, you should read our popular article on using HGH for Bodybuilding and other performance enhancing purposes.

It doesn’t hurt that your metabolism will get a boost allowing you to burn calories at a faster rate. The calories that would have once contributed to your love handles, thighs, and abs are now converted into fuel used to build lean muscle. Losing unwanted fat not only makes you look and feel better, it can make you look years younger as well.

3. HGH Benefits Your Endurance Levels Let’s face it, we live in a fast paced society that never slows down no matter how tired we get. HGH benefits our overall endurance levels by providing needed energy and vitality. Your moods get better and your outlook on life gets brighter, all stemming from the use of natural HGH supplements in increase your body’s natural hormone level.

Interesting Fact: This mood-elevating benefit is a natural byproduct of healthy body systems, found after a successful increase of existing growth hormone levels. Some users have compared this natural effect to the effects of prescription anti-depressants that synthetically create feelings of well-being and happiness in clinically depressed men and women).

Your expectations and attitudes will become invigorated as your concentration and ability to think things through skyrockets. With the right attitude and ability to keep your thoughts in check, not only will you be able to make it through an endurance packed workout, you won’t struggle to pay attention at work, in class or anywhere else in your life.

These particular benefits are our personal favorites. It’s not often that you hear about something that can naturally elevate your mood and outlook on life as well as HGH can. We’ve analyzed countless sources of data and information on various efficiency studies and clinical trials and the results almost never change. The facts are consistent between research: Skin, nails and hair all reap the benefits of elevated growth hormone levels–caused by successful HGH optimization as an adult.

Think about this: What would you say if you could make your face look a decade younger?

4. Effects on Skin You look younger because wrinkles are reduced. The skin on your face thickens. Contours are more noticeable and youthful looking, hydration and elasticity sets in. In some documented cases, burned skin is repaired and ulcerated wounds close. Fine lines fade and deep, set in wrinkles become less noticeable all due to cell rejuvenation.

5. Effects on Finger and Toenails Nails grow stronger and longer. This is possible because cellulite patches disappear. Nail beds are healthier and cuticles stronger.

6. Effects on Hair Growth Thanks to the countless benefits of HGH, your hair begins to grow in its natural shade of color and it also grows in thicker and stronger. One study attributed new hair growth in 38% of its clinical participants to HGH supplementation. Pretty impressive, right?

7. Improvements in Sex Drive As the body ages, its natural to experience a decrease in sex drive. HGH benefits sex drive in both men and women. Both sexes have reported a significant increase in enhanced orgasms. The want/desire to have sex returns and both men and women are able to perform when the desire and opportunity presents itself.

8. Sexual-Health Benefits of HGH:

Sexual Function Returns

Vaginal Dryness Disappears

Multiple Orgasms

Menstrual and Post-Menstrual Symptoms Decrease

Heightened Pleasure

Increased Male Potency

In humans who have an unnatural deficiency of their growth hormone levels, frequent problems arise relating to lack of sexual libido or sexual desires of any kind. GH-deficient males have trouble producing and maintaining erections and GH-deficient females have extra trouble getting in the mood for sexual activity. Having an orgasm is often impossible for individuals with severe deficiencies.

9. HGH Benefits Brain Function This whole section is an astonishing concept that I still have trouble believe sometimes. The fact that we can naturally increase the power of the human mind (without the negative side effects of harmful stimulants) is almost too hard to believe, even for a researcher like myself. Sometimes I have to just take a step back from everything and think about how far we’ve come with medical advancements in the past century.

How does HGH increase brain power? Without neurons, our brain and nervous systems wouldn’t be able to function properly. As we age, neurons can become damaged and slow down. Neurons are a permanent fixture and though we cannot grow new neurons, thanks to HGH, we can rejuvenate and repair the ones we have.

Explanation of Benefit:

The health of your neurons drastically affects your ability to learn, call memories to action and be as intelligent as you set out to be. Living with unhealthy neurons in the brain can cause many stressful situations where cognitive performance is less than satisfactory. By supplementing your body with additional growth hormone, you can gradually restore the health of such neurons in your brain.

Just another benefit to add to the long list: Human Growth Hormone has the ability to enhance cellular defense mechanisms. This defense mechanism prevents free radicals from doing their damage to cells and promotes a typical increase in healthiness of the human body.

Did you know HGH can also stimulate brain cells into rejuvenating themselves? That’s pretty cool, right? All of these benefits are possible since the human growth hormone is naturally produced in the body at an early age. By increasing the levels of HGH as an adult, we can virtually reset the clock on our lives and give our body systems the youthful reminder they need to keep producing natural goodies. Anyway, let’s go back to the topic of HGH stimulating brain cells and promoting rejuvenation.

What does this enhance?

Short-Term Abilities

Long-Term Abilities

Memories

Learning

Intelligence

THE BEST INVESTMENT WE CAN MAKE IS THE ONE WE MAKE IN OUR HEALTH. Contact us today for more information.

Ashwagandha (90mg), an exotic Indian herb, has demonstrated anti-anxiety and neuroprotective effects, and tantalizing evidence suggests that it is also a cancer fighter. Animal toxicity studies indicate that this remarkable plant is safe and well tolerated

Astragalus (90mg) works by stimulating the immune system. It has antioxidant effects that inhibit free radical production. In the body, free radicals damage cells and are linked to many health problems associated with aging. There is, though, no known way to stop free radicals completely

Siberian ginseng (170mg) improves memory and feelings of well-being in middle-aged people. Some research shows that Siberian ginseng significantly improves sociability and sense of well-being in people over 65 years of age after 4 weeks of treatment. But the effects seem to disappear after 8 weeks.

Rhodiola Rosea (40mg) is a remarkable herb that has a wide and varied history of uses. It is thought to strengthen the nervous system, fight depression, enhance immunity, elevate the capacity for exercise, enhance memory, aid weight reduction, increase sexual function and improve energy levels. It has long been known as a potent adaptogen. Adaptogens are natural plant substances that increase the body’s non-specific resistance and normalize the functions of the body.

Adrenal fatigue have you feeling run down ? Contact us today for more information on testing and all of our therapies.

What Does Lipotropic Mean?

Lipotropic compounds are substances that help stimulate the breakdown of lipid (fat) during metabolism and, in this way, reduce the accumulation of excess fat in the liver and other tissues. Injections of carefully calibrated doses of natural lipotropic nutrients can optimize your ability to shed fat.

Lipotropic Injections Improve Weight Loss

Many substances have lipotropic properties. The most effective lipotropic agents for weight loss purposes are choline, inositol and methionine. Through their involvement in lipid (fat) metabolism, lipotropic agents help maintain a healthy liver.

The liver plays a major role in human metabolism including aiding in the digestion, storage, and distribution of nutrients and the detoxification of metabolic poisons and waste products. The liver produces and stores glycogen from excess carbohydrates, and later releases it when blood sugar levels fall too low. The liver synthesizes plasma proteins that carry oxygen and nutrients to the body tissues and plasma proteins that carry waste products back to the liver for detoxification. The liver also produces bile, a compound that emulsifies fat so that it can be broken down by digestive enzymes. A lipotropic nutrient is one that promotes or encourages the export of fat from the liver. Lipotropics are necessary for the maintenance of a healthy liver as well as burning the exported fat for additional energy. Without lipotropics such as choline and inositol, fats and bile can become trapped in the liver, causing severe problems such as cirrhosis and blocking fat metabolism. Choline is essential for fat metabolism. Choline functions as a methyl donor and it is required for proper liver function. Like inositol, choline is a lipotropic. Inositol exerts lipotropic effects as well. An “unofficial” member of the B vitamins, inositol has even been shown to relieve depression and panic attacks. Methionine, an essential amino acid, is the major lipotropic compound in humans. When estrogen levels are high, the body requires more methionine. Estrogens reduce bile flow through the liver and increase bile cholesterol levels. Methionine helps deactivate estrogens.

Vitamin B12

This vitamin is important to keep the brain and nervous system functioning normally and for the formation of red blood cells. By synthesizing and regulating DNA, B12 is involved in cellular metabolism. It also plays a vital role in fatty acid synthesis and energy production. Many medications, certain medical conditions, and the normal aging process can lead to a B12 deficiency.

Choline and Inositol

These chemicals are co-enzymes that are required for the proper metabolism of fats and have the ability to remove fat from the liver. Since brain and nerve cells have a protective covering made of fatty acids, choline and inositol are necessary for normal nerve and brain function.

Choline is a key agent in bile production, and bile emulsifies fats in foods you eat so they can be digested. Without choline, fats can become trapped in the liver, where they can block normal metabolic functions. Choline also helps to emulsify cholesterol so that it mixes with the blood and does not settle on the walls of the arteries.

Choline works in combination with inositol to metabolize fats and cholesterol. The body can produce choline, with the help of vitamin B12, folic acid (vitamin B9) and the amino acid known as methionine. However, the rate your body produces choline may not be adequate to meet daily metabolic needs, particularly during weight loss when a lot of body fat must be broken down. Studies show that diets deficient in choline often result in undesirable changes to liver, kidney and brain functions. For this reason, we often recommend choline injections to our weight loss patients.

Inositol is a member of the B-Complex vitamin group and is a lipotropic agent. It metabolizes fats and cholesterol and helps transport fats in the blood system. Thus, inositol can aid in the redistribution of body fat and can help to lower cholesterol levels by moving cholesterol to the liver where it can be excreted. A lack of inositol has been shown to result in an accumulation of triglycerides (a fat compound made of 3 fatty acids) in the liver.

Methionine

This chemical is an essential amino acid that participates in fat and protein metabolism. It has lipotropic properties similar to those produced by choline. Methionine is an essential amino acid because your body cannot produce it. It must be supplied by your diet. Your body uses methionine to make proteins and many other important substances. For example, your body requires an adequate supply of methionine to synthesize two other important amino acids cysteine and taurine. Methionine is also one of the nutrients required for the body to produce choline. Therefore, a deficiency of this amino acid will adversely affect fat metabolism by limiting choline production. Methionine levels also affect the amount of sulfur-containing compounds, such as glutathione, in the liver. Glutathione and other sulfurcontaining peptides (small proteins) play a critical role in defending against toxic compounds. When higher levels of toxic compounds are present, more methionine is needed.

Lipocarn

L-Carnitine is an amino acid which is required for the transport and breakdown of body fat for the generation of metabolic energy. Studies show that oral L-Carnitine supplementation can decrease fat mass, increase muscle mass, and reduce fatigue (University of Maryland Medical Centre, 2002). Like most nutritional supplements, a high dose is needed when taken orally to produce any efficacy since so little is absorbed during digestion. When administered via injection, nutrients like L-Carnitine are absorbed almost 100%. By following the 10-1 ratio of absorption in oral versus injected L-Carntine, our Lipo-C provides the equivalent of 2000mg of Carnitine per injection.

Methylcobalamin

Methylcobalamin is a cobalamin used in the treatment of diabetic neuropathy. Methylcobalamin has been advocated to protect the cognitive function of patients suffering from depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, stroke, and ALS. Supplementing with mehtylcobalamin while following a low calorie diet can increase alertness and energy, as well as supply the body with what it needs for healthy cellular growth and function. Vegetarians especially benefit from methylcobalamin since this compound tends to be prevalent in meat proteins. Also known as vitamin B12, Methylcobalamin is the most bio-available form which means it is readily absorbed and used by the body once injected. Many over the counter B12 supplements consist of Cyanocobalamin, also a cobalamin, which must first convert to methylcobalamin within the liver for the body to have any use for it.

Contact us today for more information on our b12 therapies.

There’s been a resurgence of interest in the anxiety-relieving powers of L-theanine , an amino acid found in green tea. ¹

Discoveries over the past two years have uncovered exciting additional properties of this nutrient best known for inducing calming, tranquilizing effects while simultaneously improving alertness.

In this Research Update, we examine how L-theanine acts in the brain, and review compelling new studies on its actions that include potentially reduced risk of stroke and less brain damage if an ischemic stroke were to occur.

How L-Theanine Works in the Brain to Block Anxiety and Stress

While glutamate is the brain’s most important excitatory neurotransmitter, L-theanine binds to the same brain cell receptors and blocks them to glutamate’s effects. This action produces inhibitory effects. ^1,2 That inhibition to brain overactivity has a calming, relaxing effect in which anxiety fades. ³

In addition to blocking excitatory stimuli at glutamate receptors in the brain, L-theanine also stimulates production of the inhibitory, relaxing neurotransmitter GABA, adding to its calming, anti-anxiety effects. ²

Unlike prescription anti-anxiety drugs, however, some of which mimic GABA’s effects, L-theanine produces its anti-anxiety effects without producing sleepiness or impairing motor behavior. ⁴ In fact, L-theanine has been shown in human studies to moderately improve alertness and attention while exerting its anxiety-reducing effects. ⁵

Of particular interest are studies showing that L-theanine supplementation prevents the abrupt rise in blood pressure that some people experience under stress. ¹ The reason this is so critical is that many people have normal blood pressure readings at rest that spike up to dangerously high levels when subjected to stressful situations.

These periods of surging blood pressure inflict massive arterial damage and are the main reason why at-home and at-office blood pressure testing are so important.

New Directions for L-Theanine

And while its deeper mechanisms are still under investigation, there is tantalizing evidence that L-theanine influences expression of genes in brain areas responsible for fear and aggression (amygdala) and memory (hippocampus), helping to balance the behavioral responses to stress, and potentially improve conditions such as mood disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance dependence. ⁸

L-Theanine Protects Brain Cells and Promotes Cognitive Function

There’s a link between anxiety, reaction to stress, and the brain’s most fundamental function, maintaining cognition. Studies over the past two years suggest a potential role for L-theanine in supporting cognitive function and preventing its loss.

Stress has powerful negative effects on one’s ability to think clearly and make smart decisions. This is demonstrated physiologically by animal experiments showing that stress significantly reduces animals’ performance on standard tests of learning and memory, as well as by increased oxidative stress in the brain and elevated blood levels of stress-response hormones such as catecholamine and adrenaline. Treating animals with L-theanine before the stress is applied, however, results in reversal not only of cognitive impairment, but also of the elevation of stress hormones and oxidative damage. ⁹

Studies such as these demonstrate that L-theanine can specifically reduce the molecular impacts of acute stress, and the resulting excitotoxicity, on brain cells. ^10,11 The issue with chronic glutamate-driven excitotoxicity is profound and long-lasting cognitive dysfunction, including neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s diseases, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ¹²

The protective effects of L-theanine have been shown in animal models for at least the first three of these disorders, suggesting that regular L-theanine supplementation might be important in fending off these tragic conditions by opposing the destructive effects of long-term glutamate excitotoxicity. ^13-16

In a rat model study for Huntington’s disease, researchers investigated the protective effects of L-theanine against 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP). Rats exposed to 3-nitropropionic acid experienced significant reductions in body weight, oxidative defenses, and locomotor activity, as well as impaired mitochondrial enzyme activity. But when exposed to L-theanine, the behavioral, biochemical, and mitochondrial enzyme activities were significantly attenuated, leading authors to conclude that “ L-theanine has neuroprotective activity against 3-nitropropionic acid induced neurotoxicity .” ¹⁷

Exposure to toxic chemicals is another known risk factor for many of the neurodegenerative disorders, with the metal aluminum being a major culprit. ^18,19 Recent studies show that L-theanine is capable of preventing both the biochemical and structural damage to brain cells induced by aluminum, offering yet another means by which this nutrient can prevent or slow cognitive decline. ²⁰

Taste the Relaxation

The molecular similarity of L-theanine with glutamic acid can be experienced simply by tasting it. L-theanine provides the umami flavor that gives green tea its richness. ³¹ One of the more common molecules that delivers umami taste is glutamic acid, and studies show that glutamate and L-theanine both stimulate the same receptors on our tongues, in a vivid demonstration of molecular mimicry. ^32,33

In the brain, of course, the similarity is only close enough for L-theanine to bind to brain glutamate receptors but without stimulating them, which is why L-theanine produces relaxing, as opposed to stimulating, effects.

L-Theanine Reduces Stroke Impact

A stroke is the result of a sudden blockage of blood ( ischemia ) to a part of the brain, resulting in massive chemical stresses, extreme excitotoxicity, and eventual death of brain cells. ²¹ The latest studies show that L-theanine has properties that may both help to prevent strokes and to mitigate the damage caused when they do occur.

Lab studies show that L-theanine is capable of significantly improving nitric oxide production in endothelial (artery-lining) cells. ²² This has the potential to lower stroke risk because nitric oxide is a signaling molecule that endothelial cells use to communicate information about blood flow and pressure to muscles in the artery walls, telling them to constrict or relax appropriately in response and distributing blood flow appropriately.

In another stroke-preventing mechanism, L-theanine has recently been shown to significantly reduce the expression of adhesion molecules to the endothelial wall by inhibiting tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a), thereby reducing the risk of an artery-blocking clot or obstruction that produces a stroke. ²³

L-theanine protects the body from the damage of blood reperfusing, or refilling that occurs after the abrupt loss of circulation during the stroke. ²⁴

This ischemia-reperfusion injury results in massive release of glutamate and produces deadly excitotoxicity. ²⁵

Animal studies show that administration of L-theanine up to 12 hours after a stroke is induced protects brain cells and reduces the size of the damaged brain areas. Even treatment as late as 24 hours after the stroke improves neurological status. ²⁴

L-Theanine May Play a Role in Ameliorating Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, literally a “split mind” in which sufferers experience a cut-off from reality, is one of the most tragic and misunderstood disorders known. People with schizophrenia may experience positive symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and paranoid thinking, as well as negative symptoms including loss of ability to experience pleasure, blunted emotions, and diminished speech capacity. ²⁶

Perhaps because schizophrenia may involve excitotoxic damage to brain cells, L-theanine has recently been the focus of human studies in patients with this disease. ²⁷

In one study of 40 patients with schizophrenia, subjects were given placebo or 400 mg L-theanine along with their regular medications for an eight-week trial. The supplemented patients demonstrated significant reductions in their anxiety and general symptoms of psychopathology. ²⁸

A 250 mg per day dose of L-theanine significantly improved, in a different study scores on positive symptoms, as well as in sleep quality. ²⁹ And the combination of L-theanine ( 400 mg per day) with the hormone pregnenolone ( 50 mg per day) was capable of reversing not only anxiety, but also negative symptoms. ³⁰

Summary

L-theanine, an amino acid found in green tea, reduces anxiety by blocking excitatory stimuli at glutamate receptors in the brain while stimulating production of the inhibitory, relaxing neurotransmitter GABA. But unlike prescription anti-anxiety drugs, L-theanine relieves stress without causing drowsiness or impairing motor behavior. In fact, studies show it improves alertness and attention. Researchers are now examining L-theanine’s applications beyond its anti-anxiety effects. Studies suggest a role for L-theanine in supporting cognitive function and preventing cognitive loss by protecting brain cells and preventing strokes and reducing the damaging effects if a stroke has occurred. Lastly, L-theanine is the subject of human studies in patients with schizophrenia.

Article Source: http://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2016/3/brain-benefits-of-l-theanine/page-01

Men with more magnesium in their blood are likely to have a higher amount of free testosterone in their body. Chemical analysts draw this conclusion in an article published in the Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis.

About sixty percent of the body’s testosterone is attached to sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) [spatial structure above]. Androgens bound to SHBG lose their anabolic effect but probably retain their androgenic effect. In the prostate, for example, there are SHBG receptors and they send error signs to the prostate cells if they attach themselves to SHBG with androgens bound to it. Androgen steroid hormones incorporated by SHBG therefore do have undesired effects, but no desirable effects.About two percent of the testosterone in the body is active: it is not attached to binding proteins which prevent testosterone from interacting with its receptor. About forty percent of the body’s testosterone is attached to albumin, a protein that can let go of the hormone. Free testosterone and testosterone attached to albumin are referred to as bio-available testosterone.

As men get older, SHBG sweeps up more and more testosterone. This is also because older men eat less protein. Low protein consumption raises the concentration of SHBG in the blood. A higher protein intake results in more albumin, and that increases the amount of bio-available testosterone. Within limits, of course.

The researchers, linked to the Université de Franche-Comté, extracted SHBG from the blood of young men, and exposed the protein to magnesium ions. Then they measured how fast the testosterone attached itself to SHBG at increasing magnesium concentrations. The higher the magnesium concentration, the lower the attraction.

Although the researchers did not examine whether more magnesium actually leads to more free testosterone in humans, they believe their findings are meaningful at the physiological level.

“The results presented here provide evidence for an Mg ²⁺ -mediated variation of the testosterone-SHBG association, suggesting that an increase of the Mg ²⁺ -concentration inside the biological concentration range (0.75mM-1.0mM) could lead an enhancement of the bioavailable testosterone”, they write.

Fifteen years ago researchers examined the effect of extremely high – and biologically improbable – magnesium concentrations. These led to a small decline in the testosterone level. [Horm Metab Res. 1993 Jan;25(1):29-33.]

The researchers have announced that they will soon be publishing their findings on the effect of plant substances on the binding of testosterone to SHBG.

Magnesium in food is found in plant products. Good sources are fibre-rich breakfast cereals, spinach, nuts and beans.

Sources:
Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, doi:10.1016/j.jpba.2008.10.041

Article Source: http://www.ergo-log.com/magnesiumtest.html

Movies and TV shows full of svelte celebrities. Magazines and websites pushing weight loss and exercise.

It is tough being a man these days.

Just-published research, from one of the largest studies on male body image, shows how much men worry about being thin and muscular: Not quite as much as women agonize about their bodies. But still a lot. And it affects their relationships in surprising ways.

A partner may become resentful that her man slimmed down without her—or jealous of all the new attention he is getting. She may worry he will find someone else. Or he might encourage her to lose weight or work out to feel better, and she could view this as a not-so-subtle hint.

We all make sure our online presence makes us look fantastic. Better tone up the dad bod.

“There’s a much more extreme model today of what a healthy man looks like,” says David Frederick, assistant professor in health psychology at Chapman University, in Orange, Calif., and lead researcher on the new male body-image study.

The research, published online in February in the journal “Psychology of Men and Masculinity,” analyzed the answers of 111,958 heterosexual and 4,398 gay men who responded to a series of five surveys posted on MSNBC.com, NBCNews.com and Today.com between 2003 and 2012. The respondents ranged from 18 to 65 years old, and the researchers found no differences in body satisfaction according to age. For comparison, the researchers also analyzed the answers of 103,376 heterosexual women and 2,145 lesbians who answered the surveys.

The research divided the results into four categories. The first looked at body satisfaction and found that men and women have similar levels of dissatisfaction with their physical appearance: 21% of heterosexual men and 29% of gay men were dissatisfied, compared with 27% of heterosexual women and 30% of lesbians.

When it comes to their weight, 39% of heterosexual men and 44% of gay men said they were dissatisfied. When asked about muscle tone, 30% heterosexual men and 45% of gay men were unhappy.

The second category found that 29% of heterosexual men and 37% of gay men said they had gone on a weight-loss diet in the past year. More than half of both heterosexual and gay men had exercised to lose weight in the past year.

The researchers asked people how many times they checked in the mirror each day. The most common response, for all groups, was one to three times.

The third category looked at social pressure—and showed that men feel a lot of it. Sixty-one percent of heterosexual men and 77% of gay men said they felt people judged them on their looks and many said they felt pressured by magazines and television to have a better body.

The last category looked at sex. People were asked if they tried to hide parts of their body during sex during the past month and which parts. Twenty percent of heterosexual men, 39% of gay men did. The body part they tried to hide the most? Their stomach.

Finally, the researchers asked people if they had avoided having sex during the past month because they felt bad about their body. Just 5% of heterosexual men said they did, compared with 20% of gay men.

All of this male body angst can cause romantic problems. A 2013 study in the journal “Sex Roles” found that men who felt body shame were less likely to seek out—and maintain—romantic relationships.

Alan Shade says he’s been bothered by his weight ever since he was “kind of a chubby” child. He noticed that the men on TV were always thin and the fat guy was the butt of the jokes. “Even the Power Rangers were all skinny,” says the 27-year-old entrepreneur from Las Cruces, N.M.

When he was 21, Mr. Shade met a woman, whose figure he describes as “like a pinup.” After they moved in together, Mr. Shade says he told her to look the other way when he was getting dressed and he tried to hide his stomach when they were intimate. “I always thought I was going to lose her,” he says.

Two years ago, when his then-employer had a weight-loss contest, he signed up and won, losing 40 pounds. When acquaintances commented on his appearance, his girlfriend became upset.

Mr. Shade says his girlfriend told him she was worried he was going to leave her, and that he tried to reassure her. He says the couple began to fight a lot and eventually broke up.

Now Mr. Shade is single. But he has learned some lessons for his next relationship. “You have to say how you feel,” he says. “And women don’t really care too much about what you look like.”

Therapists recommend: Communicate—before and after the weight loss. “Be open about the hurdles you might go through as a couple,” says Helen M. Farrell, a staff psychiatrist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston and an instructor at Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Farrell says it is also important to focus on the ways that getting in better shape has benefited your relationship: Are you happier together? Do you have better sex? Do you sleep well with less snoring to disturb your partner?

If you’re a man who isn’t comfortable receiving compliments, explain that to your partner. Say: “I like it when you tell me I look great, but too many compliments makes me worry you didn’t find me attractive before.”

A man whose partner is worried or insecure should work to make her more comfortable, says Dawnn Karen, a therapist and professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Hold her hand tightly when you go out. Compliment her more. And be careful on social media: Shirtless shots that garner a lot of likes aren’t going to help.

This article is republished courtesy of The Official Website of John R. Lee, M.D. If you missed part one of the article, read it here .

A Recipe for Beating (and Preventing) Breast Cancer

The latest research on natural progesterone and breast cancer clearly indicates how important it is for women to maintain healthy, normal levels of progesterone that are in proper balance with estrogen. Doing so could not only increase many womens’ chances of recovering from breast cancer – as the latest research indicates – but could also help them to avoid getting breast cancer in the first place.

As Dr. Lee and Dr. Zava point out in their book, hormonal imbalances have reached epidemic proportions in most developed countries over the last several decades. Due to poor diets, lack of exercise, a rise in obesity levels, the widespread use of hormone-altering chemicals, and other factors, many women suffer from chronically higher than normal estrogen levels and much lower than normal progesterone levels. In other words, many women are in chronic states of estrogen dominance. This is one of the key reasons why breast cancer rates are as high as they are.

Considering the epidemic levels of hormonal imbalance we are experiencing, how can a woman know if her progesterone and estrogen levels are in proper balance? If they are out of balance, how can she return them to proper balance and maintain them in that all-important state? Dr. Lee and Dr. Zava answered these questions in their landmark book: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Breast Cancer . While it is not possible here to cover everything they wrote, here is a short summary of their recommendations.

• Check yourself for symptoms of estrogen dominance. While being estrogen dominant is bad news, the good news is that it usually leaves a clear trail of symptoms. To find out if you may be estrogen dominant, read Dr. Lee’s list of estrogen dominance symptoms . If you find that you have a number of the symptoms on this list, chances are good that you are suffering from this syndrome.
• Get your hormone levels tested. While symptoms are good indicators of hormonal imbalances, the most decisive tool for identifying imbalances is a hormone test. As a general rule, Dr. Lee and Dr. Zava recommended that women who are concerned about breast cancer test at least five hormones. These are estradiol (the most potent estrogen in the human body and the one most frequently linked to breast cancer), progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, and DHEA-S.
• Work with doctors who are trained in the use of natural hormones. Beating breast cancer is a team effort, so build a team that will support rather than thwart your quest for hormone balance. While growing numbers of doctors are becoming aware of the value of natural hormones, many have not kept up with the latest research and may resist your suggestions.
• When needed, take physiological doses of bioidentical progesterone and other bioidentical hormones to restore proper balance. When it comes to taking natural hormone supplements, it is critical to remember that more is not better . The goal is to return hormone levels to what would be considered normal for a healthy person. In most cases, this means taking relatively small amounts of bioidentical hormones and regularly reevaluating hormone levels through saliva testing. Many women find after testing their hormones that all they need is some bioidentical progesterone to establish proper balances between the major hormones. Others, however, find that they may need to add other natural hormone supplements to achieve balance and get adequate symptom relief. A good doctor who understands and is trained in the use and prescribing of natural hormones can advise you on your supplement strategy and help you consider your options.
• Eliminate hormone-altering chemicals and xenohormones from your life. Every day, our bodies are exposed to toxic chemicals that did not exist just a decade or two ago. There are synthetic hormones in the foods we eat, pesticides in our air and water, and estrogen-like compounds in many of the products we use every day. Many of these chemicals and xenohormones are known cancer-causing agents. Fortunately, we can sharply reduce our exposure to these substances and dramatically reduce their presence in our bodies. What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Breast Cancer identifies the sources of these chemicals and offers concrete advice for avoiding them.
• Use diet and exercise to support hormone balance. Our modern diets are heavily tilted towards foods that promote obesity and estrogen dominance. Our sedentary lifestyles only reinforce this problem. Both women and men can benefit from reducing their intake of sugars, refined carbohydrates, and foods that are high in trans-fatty acids while increasing their intake of organic, cruciferous (e.g. cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts) vegetables, fruits, and fiber. They can also benefit from regular, moderate exercise, which helps metabolize and eliminate excess estrogens.
• Keep educating yourself, for you are your best health advocate. When it comes to preventing or fighting breast cancer in your body, you have every right to be the leading decision maker. Dr. Lee and Dr. Zava firmly believed this and wrote What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Breast Cancer for patients as well as their doctors. The book contains a wealth of information that can help you make important decisions with your doctor. For instance, if your doctor is recommending you take an estrogen inhibitor such as Tamoxifen, the book can help you weigh the pros and cons of using such drugs as well as chemotherapy, radiation, and other treatment options. So we encourage you to read it carefully and discuss it with your doctor. In addition, we encourage you to read the free articles about breast cancer on The Official Website of John R. Lee, M.D. as well as the references listed at the end of this article.

Thanks to the latest research, we have further proof that Dr. Lee and Dr. Zava were ahead of their time when they said that natural hormone balance could help prevent and treat breast cancer. We support you in learning from them, putting what you learn into practice, and sharing what you learn with your family, friends, and doctors.

References

Mohammed, Hisham, et al “Progesterone receptor modulates ER-a action in breast cancer,” Nature 2015; 523; 313-317. Click here for abstract .

Perks, Bea “Progesterone receptor could slow breast cancer growth,” Pharmaceutical Journal, PJ 17 Jul 2015. Click here to read .

Please contact us for more information on our bioidentical therapies.

Many over time have argued that monogamy is “unnatural,” but modern science is actually painting a very different story .

In fact, it seems that we may be hardwired for monogamous relationships after all, and oxytocin, otherwise known as the “love hormone,” may have something to do with it.

So, in honor of Valentine’s Day, we decided to write about monogamy and oxytocin’s potential role in it.

But rather than focus on the “mush”, in typical Life Extension fashion, we’re going to look at the science behind it. Surprised?

Sorry, hopeless romantics!

What is Oxytocin?

Oxytocin is a hormone produced by the brain. It has various functions in the human body, playing a role in labor, breastfeeding, pair bonding, and sexual arousal. It even plays a role in relationships, potentially helping to form monogamous ones.

Prairie voles, for example, secrete oxytocin when they meet and mate, and this hormone is necessary for pair bonding. ¹ That’s why scientists believe they mate for life — although, we must point out, they sometimes do cheat! ²

It’s not much different for humans either. Oxytocin may just be the key element that keeps couples together.

Oxytocin Keeps Men from Straying and Cools Arguments

In a neat experiment, scientists gave a group of men a placebo or a nasal oxytocin spray. Then, each of them was encountered by an attractive woman. The scientists then measured the space between the man and the woman.

They found that the men who were given oxytocin and were in “stable,” monogamous relationships stood farther away from the attractive woman. ³ In contrast, men in the placebo group stood closer, indicating interest.

In a different study, scientists found that oxytocin took the “heat out of an argument.” One group of couples was given intranasal oxytocin, while the other group received a placebo. They were told to choose a heated topic and discuss it, and levels of a stress hormone called cortisol were measured.

They found that, after the argument, both the men and the women in the couples given oxytocin had lower levels of salivary cortisol.

During the discussions, oxytocin was shown to increase the positive communication in the couples, as compared to the negative behavior during the arguments. ⁴

Fidelity + friendlier arguments = staying together. Perhaps this might be the equation for monogamy?

How to Get More Oxytocin

You can induce the release of oxytocin naturally by giving hugs, kisses, gifts, and holding hands. Basically, physical touch is the key element at play.

You can also get oxytocin via prescription as a nasal spray, believe it or not.

The Bottom Line

We’re not quite sure if an oxytocin spray will keep your partner from straying or arguing with you, but perhaps it might be used for couple’s therapy one day. Of course, more research is needed.

Regardless, in this day and age, romance seems to have taken a back seat to our fast paced life, so many of us could probably use a little more oxytocin. Don’t you think?

References:

1. Adv Exp Med Biol . 1995;395:227-34.
2. Nature . 2008 Feb 7;451(7179):617.
3. J Neurosci. 2012 Nov 14;32(46):16074-9.
4. Biol Psychiatry . 2009 May 1;65(9):728-31.

Article Source: http://blog.lifeextension.com/2013/02/relationship-love-oxytocin.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=normal