The mother of all hormones…
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) may look like the name of an ancient goddess, but it turns out that this tongue-twister of a hormone – in adequate levels – has great anti-aging effects for the entire body, such as increasing muscle mass, bone growth and fat burning, as well as improving memory and boosting the immune system. The key is to maintain those adequate levels.
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in Men
It is common for menopause to prompt emotions of sadness and depression in women. It is estimated that between 8% and 15% in menopause experience depression in women of some form, often beginning in perimenopause.
It’s no wonder they call DHEA the “mother of all hormones.” We need it to help us reach maturity – and to keep our systems on track. Secreted by the adrenal gland, it is the most abundant steroid in our bodies and serves as the foundation for male and female sex hormones (androgens and estrogens). After the age of 30, DHEA levels begin to decrease, which “helps” the aging process. In fact, by age 70, we only produce about 10% of what we did as 20-year-olds. That certainly explains a lot!
Low levels of DHEA can cause symptoms including:
- Fatigue
- Loss of strength and muscle mass
- Depression
- Aching joints
- Decreased sex drive
- Impaired immune function
On the other hand, adequate DHEA levels can help:
- Increase testosterone levels
- Restore muscle mass
- Improve the body fat ratio
- Improve memory
- Boost the immune system
- Promote flexibility
- Raise endurance levels
In addition, DHEA can help combat auto-immune disorders, obesity, senile dementia, osteoporosis, chronic fatigue syndrome and depression.
With the “mother load” of benefits associated with DHEA, it is definitely worth seeing your doctor to check your levels. As with any supplement, you should consult your doctor before taking DHEA. For women, a close eye should be kept on estrogen levels to ensure they do not go too high, an important key to help lower the risk of certain disease, including breast, ovarian and other hormone-sensitive cancers. For men, healthy levels of DHEA will help prevent prostate cancer; however, men who have already been diagnosed with prostate cancer should not take DHEA as it may increase the risk of prostate tumors.
