Hardly anyone would say that I need to “optimize my hormones” for good health and longevity. In fact, many of the signs of aging can be directly related to declining amounts of major hormones. Testosterone, DHEA, Progesterone, Estrogen, Growth Hormone all decline with age, for example. Why are many people almost obsessed with the idea of anti-aging? We all are going to die, right? Well let me tell you a simple fact. When I reach the age of sixty and beyond, when asked “How are you?”, I want to be able to look them in the eye, give them the thumbs-up sign and say “Golden” (and mean it).
That is why I am a proponent of “H.O.T.” or Hormone Optimization Therapy. To this end, for myself and my Naturopathic patients, I have taken the training and become a Fellow and Board-Certified in Anti-Aging, Regenerative and Functional Medicine from the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine – and I have decided to “blog” about relevant
issues that we all should know about when it comes to healthy aging.
H.O.T. is not just bio-identical hormone replacement therapy– as important as this can be. Excessive hormonal levels – like insulin and cortisol – also adversely affect health. Hormone Optimization Therapy takes into account that hormone levels and organ systems are all interactive. Reducing stress and restoring adrenal function is absolutely necessary for individuals with low thyroid activity, for example. Optimizing both adrenal and thyroid function is necessary to have balanced female and male hormones. A Naturopathic Doctor by virtue of his or her training is a specialist in supporting and optimizing the body’s functions.
It was a surprise to me that a high percentage of men have symptoms of and suffer from hypothyroidism and low testosterone as they get older. The “grumpy old man” syndrome is actually the result of low T! Maybe it is just the male in me, but there is a distinct difference between being sensitive to your female partner’s needs and being an emotionally “sensitive” male as a man ages. One of my patient’s just today mentioned that as her father has gotten older, he cries much more often – and “that isn’t my dad”. In my opinion, his Testosterone to Estrogen ratio has changed and he has become more hormonally like a female. Please understand that I am not saying that there is anything wrong with a man or a woman crying. In a man, however, inappropriate or increasing crying (or anger) may indicate a testosterone deficiency. Optimal testosterone levels are absolutely essential to a man’s health – his mind, heart and “bone” in particular. More on this in the next blog.
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Until next time,
Dr. Gatis
