A new study published by the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (Endocrine Society) has linked low levels of Human Growth Hormone (HGH) to Alzheimer’s disease in men. HGH is produced by the pituitary gland in the brain and is responsible for the growth of tissues, bones, ligaments etc in adolescence. However, as we age HGH continues to influence health and longevity by promoting healthy cholesterol levels, improving cardiac function, preventing osteoporosis, inducing fat loss and muscle growth and preventing cognitive decline and dementia. Both men and women see a steady if not rapid decline in HGH production after
When was the last time your doctor told you to get your minerals by eating raw almonds and brazilnuts? What he most likely told you do to is go the the vitamin store and get a “good” Calcium-Magnesium-Zinc complex. The problem with trying to get your minerals through supplementation is that we can not mimic nature and supplements are often poorly absorbed. Supplements are also expensive! The number one mineral deficiency found in athletes and patients in the United States is Magnesium. Mg has over 300 functions in the body so achieving optimal health when you
Did you know that 50% of patients who suffer heart attacks have normal EKG’s. normal cholesterol values and no symptoms prior to having a heart attack? The reason why that should scare you is because other than these basic screening tools very few physicians are ordering advanced tests to predict the likelihood of having a heart attack or stroke. The purpose of this blog is to educate you about what other options you have to screen for cardiovascular disease. Specifically the carotid ultrasound to look for thickness of the wall (intima media thickness) and for early plaque build up.
Higher testosterone levels in men reduce their risk of dying from all causes by 25-30% according to a study the journal Circulation (2007 ;116:2694-2701). They concluded “In men, endogenous testosterone concentrations are inversely related to mortality due to all causes, cardiovascular causes and cancer, with a 25%-30% lower risk in total mortality in the highest compared with the lowest quartile of testosterone level.” They discuss that the benefits of testosterone are the following in reducing risk of death: Improving HDL Cholesterol Lowering triglycerides Improving body mass index (decrease fat, increase in muscle) Reduced risk of diabetes Lower LDL
If you ask most physicians the effects of sub-optimal thyroid function on patients they will state that the most common symptoms are fatigue, weight gain, constipation and depression. Very rarely do we (doctors) discuss the benefits of thyroid on cardiovascular disease and cholesterol metabolism. However, there is a lot of data in the medical literature that shows thyroid hormone (specifically T3) reduces cholesterol, improves cardiac function and reduces your risks of cardiovascular disease. My goal of this blog is to make you aware that you can improve your cholesterol by doing more than just taking a “statin”
