DHEA Cream to Counteract Cortisol

To maintain optimal health and well-being, humans need adequate levels of dehydroepiandrosterone, known as DHEA. DHEA is the most abundant naturally occurring pro-hormone in the human body. DHEA levels gradually increase from birth to about age 25, when we are in our “reproductive prime” as humans. But after twenty-five, DHEA levels begin to decrease by about 2% per year. As an important prohormone, or building block for hormones, DHEA plays a crucial role in many body functions. Therefore, as levels of DHEA decline, people notice they have trouble sleeping, lack energy or focus during the day, gain weight more easily, lose muscle tone and sharpness of mind. Low levels of DHEA are associated with “diseases of aging”, such as greater risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, depression and insomnia, to name but a few.

Cortisol increases while DHEA decreases as we get older

Cortisol is known as the stress hormone. Cortisol is produced in response to stressful situations. It is the “fight or flight” hormone released to protect the body with an inflammatory response. The problem with this inflammatory response is that, over time too much cortisol on a chronic basis has many detrimental effects.  Since we gradually make less and less DHEA after age 25. On the otherhand, we gradually make more and more cortisol as we get older.  Humans are at their healthiest, feel best and are at lowest risk of disease – cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression and cancer when the DHEA to cortisol is at a ratio of ten to one (10:1) according to Dr. John R. Woodward, M.D.

Everything, from driving in rush-hour traffic to dealing with an upset friend or co-worker, can cause stress in our lives, producing more cortisol. Elevated cortisol levels over time can lead to impaired immune response, energy drain, feeling bloated, low energy, weight gain and feeling washed out.  Cortisol can also adversely affect cardiovascular health, blood glucose levels and bone strength. High cortisol levels can lead to the development of Metabolic Syndrome, which has been shown to lead to obesity, high blood pressure, and higher  cholesterol and triglyceride levels.  DHEA counterbalances the negative effects of cortisol.

DHEA and Cortisol

DHEA is the only thing in the body that counterbalances the negative effects of cortisol. There is a great article about “Adrenal Exhaustion” by Dr. Christiane Northrup, MD, describing the all common usual life scenario of high cortisol with low DHEA so common adults. Given the gradual declines in DHEA and the gradual increases in cortisol as we age, using DHEA cream daily make sense.

You, Cortisol and DHEA cream

Do you wake up feeling groggy and have difficulty getting going? Do you crave sweet snacks in the middle of the afternoon? Is your thinking foggy? Are you forgetful? Do you get recurrent colds, headaches or feel depressed? At night, though you’re tired, do you have trouble falling asleep? Do you wonder what happened to your interest in sex? If this description fits you, you probably have a high cortisol and a low DHEA. What Dr. Northrup describes in her work as “adrenal exhaustion” So you should try using a pharmaceutical gradebioidentical DHEA cream called Twist 25 every morning and evening for at least a few weeks. It is available without a prescription; and can do great good safely. You feel the benefits.

Visit a doctor and have your cortisol, DHEA and thyroid levels checked. You can test your DHEA levels from home using a home blood spot test kit available at Twist 25 store.  Twist 25 DHEA cream is safe, and has no dangerous side effects. If you’re 35 or up, increasing DHEA is good for health, happiness and looking and feeling your best. Try Twist 25 DHEA cream today and notice the difference! Make your own hormones and feel your best.

DHEA for Men

DHEA, dehydroepiandrosterone, is extremely important for men 35 and up. As a hormone precursor, DHEA is metabolized by the testicles into testosterone. A little intracellular testosterone is also produced as DHEA is absorbed into the dermis. Therefore, although DHEA cream is beneficial for healthy testosterone production in men, routine testing ensures adequate levels are maintained. 

DHEA is also the only substance in the human body that counteracts the inflammatory effects of cortisol.  Medical expert and Twist 25 originator, Dr John R. Woodward, M.D. advises, “For optimal health, the DHEA to cortisol ratio should be 10:1.” 

The #1 cause of death for men is heart disease. An informative article by cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Dwight Lundell, M.D., explains that, contrary to conventional belief, cholesterol level is not the main thing that causes heart disease. Rather, it’s chronic inflammation. “Simply stated, without inflammation being present in the body, there is no way that cholesterol would accumulate in the walls of the blood vessels and cause heart disease and strokes. Without inflammation, cholesterol would move freely throughout the body as nature intended. It is inflammation that causes cholesterol to become trapped.”¹

Take note, men: regular daily exercise, eating a diet high in fresh green vegetables and using bioidentical Twist 25 DHEA cream can help reduce the risk of heart disease.

DHEA also reduces the risks of all types of cancer.  Medical research shows that maintaining good DHEA levels significantly reduces the risks of cancer, the #2 risk of death for men.²

The #3 cause of death for men is stroke. A very important risk factor for stroke is hypertension (high blood pressure). So, controlling high blood pressure is crucial to reducing risk of stroke. Turns out that maintaining a proper DHEA level, exercising regularly and eating a diet high in green cruciferous vegetables also helps reduce high blood pressure and stroke.

Applying Twist 25 DHEA cream daily enables men 35 and up to maintain healthy hormone levels, reduces risk of heart disease, cancer and stroke; and DHEA also supports strong bones, healthy cartilage and a strong immune system.

Should men use Twist 25 DHEA cream? Yes.  DHEA is always a safe, non-addictive first step for men to maintain healthy hormone levels. It is much better to maintain good health than try to regain health once it is lost. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Use Twist 25 DHEA cream. Make your own hormones.

¹ https://www.preventdisease.com/news/12/030112_World-Renown-Heart-Surgeon-Speaks-Out-On-What-Really-Causes-Heart-Disease.shtml

² https://www.directlabs.com/Resources/Hormones/StudyOnDHEA/tabid/194/language/en-US/Default.aspx

Increasing Your Immune System's Front Line

Written by Erin Chamerlik, Nutrition Educator, MS, MT(ASCP)

Natural Killer Cells (NK cells). Not something we talk about everyday, or any day, but these little white blood cells are your friends because they are your front line of defense against cancer and this winter's germs, including those that cause colds, flu and pneumonia.

When cells are infected by a virus or changed into cancerous cells, NK cells attack causing the rogue cell to die (apoptosis). 

Here's the bad news. Like so many things in the body, NK cells lose their functionality as we age. The good news is that we can optimize our NK cell function with a few simple improvements. 

There are a few strategies that you can employ to help strengthen your immune system and increase the function of NK cells, your immune system’s front line fighters.

Increase DHEA

DHEA, (dehydroepiandrosterone), produced and metabolized in the adrenal glands, gonads, and dermis, has the abilityto improve the immune system (and many other things) when blood levels of the important hormone precursor are increased to more youthful levels. After age 25, DHEA levels decline at the rate of about 2% per year. Some unwanted signs of low DHEA include low libido, low energy, poor memory, increased belly fat, weight gain and a sub-optimal immune system. 

It is important to maintain DHEA levels because DHEA has immune-enhancing effects and increases the NK cells. ^{1, 2}

A study of men taking DHEA for five months was conducted by Dr. Omid Khorram of the University of Wisconsin. The results were described in Dr. William Regelson in his book, The Super-Hormone Promise.

Regelson wrote, "Dr. Khorram found that DHEA did indeed have a palpable, measurable rejuvenating effect on their aging immune systems." He found that DHEA geared up the immune system to fight foreign invaders and specifically DHEA "increased the number and activity of cancer-fighting NK (natural killer) cells, which keep a watchful eye on potential cancerous cells and destroy them before they can grow.” ³

DHEA helps the immune system in another way, by providing a counterbalance to stress. The body responds to stress by producing more of the adrenal hormone cortisol. When stress is not managed, large amounts of cortisol reduce the number and function of NK cells. ⁴

It is important to maintain youthful levels of DHEA to feel and look your best and help reduce the negative effects cortisol can have. Adults over age 25 can safely benefit from topical application of bioidentical DHEA cream, Twist 25. 

NK Cell Boosting Foods and Supplements

Foods and supplements that increase beneficial NK cells will help bolster your front line defense against newly arising infected cells and malignant cells.

The following foods and supplements have been shown to have a positive impact on NK cells:

•   Dark Chocolate and Cacao ⁵

•   Panax ginseng ⁶

•   Blueberries ⁷

•   Aged Garlic ⁸

•   Vitamin E ¹⁰

•   Foods high in beta carotene - carrots, dark green leafy vegetables and sweet potatoes ¹⁰

Factors Known to Reduce NK Cell Activity

Just as we want to add beneficial foods and supplements to support our first line fighters, it is wise to address negative influencers too.

These factors negatively affect NK cell function:

   •     Micronutrient deficiencies in zinc or vitamins A, C, and D ^{11, 12}

   •     Exposure to toxins ¹²

   •     Obesity ¹²

   •     Smoking ¹²

   •     Certain medications ¹²

   •     Lack of adequate sleep ¹³

In this article, we have only addressed factors that directly affect the NK cells of the immune system. Supporting the immune system begins with a strong foundation of healthy, unprocessed food, clean, filtered water, and adding supplements like Vitamin C, Omega-3 Fish Oil, Vitamin D3 + K2, and probiotics. Regular exercise is important year-round, but may be even more important in winter to keep your immune system strong.

References

1.       Bovenberg SA, van Uum SH, Hermus AR. Dehydroepiandrosterone administration in humans: evidence based? Neth J Med. 2005 Sep;63(8):300-4. Review. PubMed PMID: 16186639.

2.       Khorram O, Vu L, Yen SS. Activation of immune function by dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in age-advanced men. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 1997 Jan;52(1):M1-7. PubMed PMID: 9008662.

3.       Regelson W. The Super-Hormone Promise. New York, NY: Pocket Books; 1997. 400p.

4.       Andersen BL, Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Glaser R. A biobehavioral model of cancer stress and disease course. Am Psychol. 1994 May;49(5):389-404. Review. PubMed PMID: 8024167; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2719972.

5.       Kamei M, Nishimura H, Takahashi T, Takahashi N, Inokuchi K, Mato T, Takahashi K. Anti-influenza virus effects of cocoa. J Sci Food Agric. 2015 Apr 2. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.7197. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 25847473.

6.       Kang S, Min H. Ginseng, the 'Immunity Boost': The Effects of Panax ginseng on Immune System. J Ginseng Res. 2012 Oct;36(4):354-68. doi: 10.5142/jgr.2012.36.4.354. PubMed PMID: 23717137; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3659612.

7.       McAnulty LS, Nieman DC, Dumke CL, Shooter LA, Henson DA, Utter AC, Milne G, McAnulty SR. Effect of blueberry ingestion on natural killer cell counts, oxidative stress, and inflammation prior to and after 2.5 h of running. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2011 Dec;36(6):976-84. doi: 10.1139/h11-120. Epub 2011 Nov 23. PubMed PMID: 22111516.

8.       Ishikawa H, Saeki T, Otani T, Suzuki T, Shimozuma K, Nishino H, Fukuda S, Morimoto K. Aged garlic extract prevents a decline of NK cell number and activity in patients with advanced cancer. J Nutr. 2006 Mar;136(3 Suppl):816S-820S. PubMed PMID: 16484572.

9.       Stamets P. Turkey Tail Mushrooms Help Immune System Fight Cancer. [Internet]. HuffPost2012 June. Available from: Turkey Tail Mushrooms Help Immune System Fight Cancer.

10.    Ashfaq MK, Zuberi HS, Anwar Waqar M. Vitamin E and beta-carotene affect natural killer cell function. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2000;51 Suppl:S13-20. PubMed PMID: 11271852.

11.    Erickson KL, Medina EA, Hubbard NE. Micronutrients and innate immunity. J Infect Dis. 2000 Sep;182 Suppl 1:S5-10. Review. PubMed PMID: 10944478.

12.    Bush B, Mo S. Natural killer cells – Canaries in the immunological coal mine. [Internet]. https://neuroendoimmune.wordpress.com2011 May. Available from: https://neuroendoimmune.wordpress.com/2011/05/08/natural-killer-cells-canaries-in-the-immunological-coal-mine/.

13.    Irwin M, McClintick J, Costlow C, Fortner M, White J, Gillin JC. Partial night sleep deprivation reduces natural killer and cellular immune responses in humans. FASEB J. 1996 Apr;10(5):643-53. PubMed PMID: 8621064.

About the Writer

Erin Chamerlik is the founder of Get Better Wellness, Inc., a wellness-focused health and nutrition education company located in Nashville, TN. Learn how you can reach optimal health through a whole food eating plan that integrates ancient wisdom with an innovative, science-based approach to health and wellness.

Erin extends her message through podcasts, public workshops, social media (Twitter, FaceBook, Pinterest and Instagram) and she blogs at GetBetterWellness.com

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