Fountain of Youth - A Surprising Source

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

There are two substances that fall into the category of Fountain of Youth. They are Vitamin D and bioidentical DHEA.

Both of these substances are made from cholesterol. Cholesterol is life giving and not the villain it has been made out to be. We now know that dietary cholesterol and high levels of cholesterol in the blood are not the cause of heart disease. Dr. Sandro has a great article on this topic.

If you are searching for the Fountain of Youth, continue reading to learn more about Vitamin D and DHEA, which both come from the surprising source, cholesterol.

Vitamin D

Adequate levels of Vitamin D are important for bone strength, improved mood, physical performance, healthy immune function and even reduced rates of certain cancers.

A deficiency of Vitamin D3 can result in obesity, diabetes, depression, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, autoimmune disease and diseases of aging including arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease and hypertension.

Vitamin D is a steroid hormone made from cholesterol. When our skin is exposed to sunlight, cholesterol can be converted into Vitamin D3. Daily sunlight exposure is the best way to get Vitamin D3, but most people are not outside for 20 minutes every day with their skin exposed.

Food sources of Vitamin D include egg yolk, fatty fish and beef liver. It is very difficult to obtain adequate Vitamin D3 from food sources alone.

Vitamin D3 Supplementation is recommended. Usually 2,000 IU to 5,000 IU daily. It is best to also supplement with Vitamin K2 to prevent calcification of the arteries.

Test - Once a year have a Vitamin D blood test and aim to be in the range of 50 - 80 ng/mL. The blood test you need is called 25(OH)D. An at-home test kit is available here.
 

DHEA

DHEA stands for Dehydroepiandrosterone – the medical world is rife with acronyms, now we know why! DHEA is a precursor hormone also synthesized from cholesterol, secreted by the adrenal glands and metabolized in the gonads and skin.

When DHEA levels are low, the body will not have adequate hormone production. This imbalance can leave one feeling flabby, fatigued and stressed and susceptible to many diseases of aging.

Quick Facts about DHEA

• DHEA is the most abundant hormone precursor in the body.
  

• In men and women alike, DHEA peaks by age 25 then drops each year after at a rate of about 2% each year.
  

• The aging process is tied to a decrease in hormones like DHEA and growth hormone, and is tied to an increase in cortisol (the stress hormone).
  

• DHEA has a multitude of benefits backed by scientific studies.
  

• When DHEA is applied to the skin it is about 90% more active than when we take it as a pill. DHEA metabolism occurs in the skin naturally.
  

• DHEA is converted to other hormones like estrogen, testosterone and about 50 other hormones.
  

• DHEA is not addictive or habit forming, and is available over the counter without a prescription.
  

• DHEA has no dangerous side effects.
  

DHEA is a Building Block for hormones, sebum, collagen, cartilage and more.

Benefits of DHEA

• Reduces risks of cancer
  

• Supports cardiovascular health
  

• Helps improve deep REM sleep
  

• Critical for lean muscle development
  

• Reduces both visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat
  

• Supports strong bones
  

• Supports formation of cartilage and collagen
  

• Allows softer skin and fades age spots
  

• Reduces risks of UV and chemical carcinogens
  

• Supports immune system
  

• Reduces effects of menopause and andropause
  

• Helps reduce risks of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
  

• Improvements in mood, libido, skin health and bone strength. Less anxiety and depression.
  

• Improves energy, focus and sense of well being
  

• DHEA counterbalances the damaging effects of chronically elevated cortisol so it is often called the anti-stress hormone
  
  

  Anti-aging Plan

  The best anti-aging plan is a comprehensive approach.
  
  How to slow the aging process:

• Eat a nutrient-dense diet, centered on unprocessed, whole foods with plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits.
  

• Hydrate properly. Drink filtered water; about half your body weight in ounces of water (for example, a person weighing 150 pounds needs approximately 75 ounces of water per day).
  

• Exercise daily.
  

• Get 8 hours of sleep per night.
  

• Maintain healthy hormones. Twist 25 DHEA cream daily is a good start. Have your hormone levels tested.
  

• Supplement wisely, including Vitamin D3, Omega-3 fish oil, magnesium and Vitamin K2.
  

• Reduce and manage stress. 

“Of all the bioidentical hormones I have used in my practice, the one that gives the biggest bang for the buck is DHEA. It is inexpensive [available without a prescription] and has proven to be an effective treatment for a wide variety of conditions. If I only had one adrenal hormone to use, it would be DHEA.” Dr. David Brownstein, MD

References
(1) Brownstein, David. “DHEA to the Rescue.” Newsmax Health. NewsMax Media, 16 May, 2011. Web. 03 Aug. 2015.
(2) Hossein-nezhad A, Holick MF. Vitamin D for Health: A Global Perspective. Mayo Clinic proceedings Mayo Clinic. 2013;88(7):720-755. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2013.05.011.
(3) Labrie C.; Flamand M, Belanger A, Labrie F. High bioavailability of dehydroepiandrosterone administered percutaneously in the rat. J Endocrin 1996;150(Suppl):S107-S118.
(4) Labrie F, Bélanger A, Bélanger P, Bérubé R, Martel C, Cusan L, Gomez J, Candas B, Chaussade V, Castiel I, Deloche C, Leclaire J. Metabolism of DHEA in postmenopausal women following percutaneous administration. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2007 Feb;103(2):178-88. Epub 2006 Nov 3. PubMed PMID: 17084625.
(5) Naeem, Zahid. “Vitamin D Deficiency- An Ignored Epidemic.” International Journal of Health Sciences 4.1 (2010): V–VI. Print.
(6) Penckofer S, Kouba J, Byrn M, Ferrans CE. Vitamin D and Depression: Where is all the Sunshine? Issues in mental health nursing. 2010;31(6):385-393. doi:10.3109/01612840903437657.
(7) Stevenson S, Thornton J. Effect of estrogens on skin aging and the potential role of SERMs. Clinical Interventions in Aging. 2007;2(3):283-297.
(8) “Vitamin D and Bone Health.” Osteoporosis Clinical Updates. National Osteoporosis Foundation, February 2012. Web. 03 Aug. 2015.



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 weekly podcasts, public workshops, social media (Twitter, FaceBook, Pinterest and Instagram) and she blogs at GetBetterWellness.com


Connect with Erin Chamerlik - Get BetterWellness

DHEA Information: Separating Fact from Fiction

DHEA is a prohormone that is produced by the adrenal glands, ovaries or testes, and the skin. As the most abundant prohormone in the human body, DHEA helps support many body functions. Humans make more and more DHEA from birth through age 25, then levels decrease every year by about 2% per year.  Cortisol levels increase every year as we get older. 

In the presense of DHEA cells tend to replicate well and thrive. In the absence of DHEA, cells die.
DHEA helps the body to build lean shapely muscle, improves REM sleep at night and cognitive function during the day. DHEA improves energy sometimes described as “sense of well-being” or "focus", improves memory, cardiovascular health, and reduces risks of cancer by boosting the immune system.
Perhaps most importantly, DHEA counterbalances the negative inflammatory effects of cortisol. Dehydroepiandrosterone is a prohormone, and as a result, it is a base precursor to testosterone, estrogen, estradiol, and 50 other androgenic and estrogenic hormones, all smaller carbon chain molecules depending upon which carbon chain sequence the body removes.
Unfortunately, there is some misinformation about DHEA that should be cleared up.
Relation To Aging
DHEA is not the “Fountain of Youth:” DHEA will not make you younger.
What science shows us through medical studies is that DHEA has many beneficial functions in the body. We are healthiest and happiest when DHEA levels are at their highest during our "prime" of life (age 20-25), and ever worse as levels decline. Risks of cardiovascular disease, dementia, cancer and diabetes are highest when DHEA levels are low. Conversely, cardiovascular health, mental sharpness, strong immune response, bone strength, deep sleep, sex and mood are all better when DHEA levels are higher.

Can supplementing DHEA levels make us younger? No. But can it reduce the negative effects of time on the body and reduce our risks of illness, many diseaes, and keep us at our best? Yes.
As mentioned above, people make more and more DHEA from birth through puberty into adulthood. Production of DHEA peaks at about age 25, when we are in our reproductive prime as humans. Then after age 25 levels decrease at a rate of about 2% per year thereafter. So by age 35, people are making about 20% less than they did at age 25; and by age 50 people are making only about half as much as when they were feeling and looking their best. 

Is DHEA safe? DHEA has no dangerous side effects. DHEA does not increase risks of cancer. Infact, DHEA reduces risks of cancer of all types and strengthens the immune system. DHEA is the most abundant naturally occurring prohome in the human body.
Losing Weight
Medical research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) shows that “DHEA induced significant decreases in both visceral fat (that’s the kind within the abdomen) and subcutaneous fat (that’s the pad just beneath the skin) in men and women.”*
This is due in part doctors believe because DHEA helps improve insulin sensitivity, so the body functions more efficiently, burning glucose in the bloodstream rather than storing it away as fat. Furthermore,when DHEA levels are right people have more energy and sense of well-being: so they tend to be more active. They get more exercise because they are more active. Energy level and sense of well-being combined with a positive productive mindset allow a more active lifestyle. Also, muscle recovery after workouts is quicker. Lean shapely muscle and soft skin are visible signs of a healthier lifestyle. People like to see results. Quick nice visible results make users more apt to exercise and be active; people with an active lifestyle lose fat and stay healthier noticing the benefits of DHEA more.
Counterbalance the Negative Effects of the Stress Hormone: Cortisol
Cortisol is often called “the stress hormone”. Cortisol is released in the body as a protective inflamatory response. But chronically elevated levels of cortisol driven by chronic stress begin to have negative effects on our health and appearance as we get older. Cortisol produces many negative effects, such as a reduction in energy, feeling tired and bloated, increased body fat and breakdown of muscle.
DHEA is the only thing in the body that counterbalances the adverse effects of cortisol. While DHEA levels gradually decrease as we get older, cortisol levels gradually increase as we get older. For optimum health it is recommended that DHEA to cortisol levels be maintained at a ratio of 10:1
How to use DHEA - Dosage
The skin, or dermis, is the largest organ of the human body; and is where much DHEA processing actually occurs naturally in the body in both men and women. In fact, medical research shows that for post menopausal women more than 80% of hormones are metabolised in the skin. Daily recommended doses of DHEA for people 35 and up range from 25 MG to 150 MG per day depending on age and sex. The older you get, the more you need. Males have higher DHEA levels than women.
DHEA supplements are nothing new; but to actually feel and notice the many potential benefits of DHEA, it must be used correctly. The key is to provide the body DHEA the right way – as a bioidentical cream, so DHEA can be absorbed and processed in the skin rather than the gut.
When DHEA is taken as a pill, most DHEA is destroyed by the liver; and only increases levels of DHEA sulfate (DHEA-S) not free DHEA. Free DHEA is what the body processes into the sex hormones. Twist 25 DHEA cream is a pharmaceutical grade bioidentical DHEA cream developed and tested to be safe, effective, and available over the counter, and it is absorbed and processed in the skin, not through the gut where the DHEA would be eliminated by the first pass effect of the liver.
When looking for DHEA cream, remember that all supplements are not created equal. Look for a pharmaceutical grade bio-identical DHEA cream that is tested to ensure safety, quality and strength. Additionally, be sure the DHEA supplement you use is a bio-identical DHEA cream, as this is exactly what your body makes and uses.
If you’re looking for the top quality DHEA cream, it is Twist 25  DHEA cream. Twist 25 has been thoroughly tested to ensure the best quality possible. Add a pump or two of Twist 25 to your routine each day and feel the benefits. You’ll feel the difference within a few weeks.
* Villareal DT, Holloszy JO. Effect of DHEA on abdominal fat and insulin action in elderly women and men. JAMA. 2004 Nov. 10; 292(18):2243-2248. Funding from the National Institutes of Health supported this research.