Q What are bio-identical
hormones and what is the
main difference between
this and bio-synthetic
hormones?
Safah: Bio-identical hormones mean
biologically identical, an exact replica of
the hormones that we make in our bodies.
Molecule to molecule, they look and act
the same as our own hormones. These are
plant derived from yam or soy, extracted
and synthesized in a lab to exactly replicate
human hormones.
On the other hand, synthetic hormones
are drugs, coming from sources that we
do not find in nature, so their molecular
structure is different from hormones
our bodies produce. The most famous
form of synthetic hormones is Premarin
and Prempro, derived from the urine of
pregnant horses.
Q What do hormones do?
Safah: Hormones regulate all body systems,
internally and externally, mentally and
physically. As we age, our hormone levels
decline: They peak between 14 and 18
years of age and start declining around
age 40. Anti-aging medicines diagnoses
the person’s hormone level or deficiencies
and supplement them to normal or
physiological levels with bio-identical
hormones. No anti-aging protocol
is successful without addressing and
replacing lost or declining hormones with
bioidentical hormones.
Q Who is BHRT indicated
for?
Safah: Everyone can benefit from BHRT.
Today doctors are treating serious illnesses
like cancer, diabetes, and HIV with bioidentical hormones. Bio-identical hormones
regulate all body systems. They make
the body functions better. We are made
from electricity and hormones. The first
controls our movements, the latter controls
everything else. Organs, glands, tissues,
hair, nails, and skin need hormones.
The ill can benefit extremely from
BHRT, but also those who want to keep
their health at optimal level and delay
the aging process can safely take bioidentical hormones. Of course people
must always work with an anti-aging
professional to decide on the best
dosage for each individual.
Q How do they help
with anti-aging?
Safah: In medicine, we optimize levels
of hormones that follow the lifecycle
in a human. Keeping these levels year
after year by supplementing with bioidentical hormones will delay the aging
process, giving the body the tools to
operate at its best capacity.
Q How is BHRT used?
Safah: Bio-identical hormones are
compounded as trans-dermal creams
or capsules and there are over 3,000
compounding pharmacies in the US
and Canada. Bio-identical hormones are
extracted from plants and compounded
and modified to become an exact,
atom-to-atom match of the hormones
produced in the body. They are
compounded as trans-dermal creams or
capsules. HGH is injectable.
Q Is BHRT prescribed
by a doctor?
Safah: Many BHRT, with the exception
of the hormones melatonin and DHEA,
are sold by prescription. Hormone levels
must be checked by a blood or saliva
tests (saliva is by far the most accurate
one) then the dosage is prescribed by
a health care professional or a doctor.
They can be taken without any kind
of symptoms to combat the aging
process. Some believe that we don’t die
because we age, but rather because our
hormones decline as we age. H
Mar/Apr 2016
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