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Obesity Protocol DHEA In individuals with low thyroid hormone output (hypothyroid), DHEA levels are low (Tagawa et al. 2000, 2001). For some, DHEA replacement could help protect against the decline in thyroid hormone output that occurs in response to reduced calorie intake. For people over 35 year of age, the benefits of restoring DHEA levels to a youthful state include immune enhancement, protection against neurological disease, reductions in risks of cardiovascular disease, alleviation of depression, and protection against osteoporosis. DHEA-replacement therapy is also suggested as part of an overall weight-management program for people over 35 years of age. The average daily dose of DHEA for men is 50 mg of DHEA, whereas women need only 15-50 mg. It is advisable to take DHEA early in the day. Refer to the DHEA Replacement Therapy protocol before taking DHEA. DHEA is contraindicated in men and women with hormone-related cancers.
In one group of morbidly obese men, a study showed that serum estrone and estradiol were elevated twofold. Fat cells synthesize the aromatase enzyme, causing male hormones (testosterone and others) to convert to estrogens (Deslypere et al. 1985). Fat tissues, especially in the abdomen, have been shown to "aromatize" (convert) testosterone and its precursor hormones into potent estrogens (Schneider et al. 1979; Kley et al.1980a,b; Killinger et al. 1987; Khaw et al. 1992; Marin et al.1992, 1998). Eating high-fat foods may reduce free testosterone levels according to one study that measured serum levels of sex steroid hormones after ingestion of different types of food. High-protein and high-carbohydrate meals had no effect on serum hormone levels, but a fat-containing meal reduced free testosterone levels for 4 hours (Killinger et. al. 1987). Obese men experience testosterone deficiency caused by the production of excess aromatase enzyme in fat cells and also from the fat they consume in their diet (Khaw et al. 1992). The resulting hormone imbalance (too much estrogen and not enough free testosterone) in obese men partially explains why so many are impotent and experience a wide range of premature degenerative diseases (Blum et al. 1988). Clinical findings have shed light on subtle hormone imbalances of borderline character in obese men that often fall within the normal laboratory reference range (Shippen et al. 2001). This means that if you are a man over age 40 and your physician tells you that your testosterone and estradiol are "normal," your levels are normal for a person of your age. It does not necessarily mean that your actual levels of testosterone/estrogen are in optimal, youthful ranges that would help to induce fat loss, especially in the abdomen. For complete information on boosting free testosterone and suppressing excess estrogen, refer to the Male Hormone Modulation Therapy protocol. Men contemplating testosterone replacement therapy should have a PSA blood test and digital rectal exam to rule out existing prostate cancer.
The following chart reveals the most important blood tests that can help you and your physician facilitate optimal weight loss. It shows the hormone imbalances often seen in corpulent individuals compared to healthy ranges enjoyed by normal weight people.
If DHEA levels are low (they almost always are in people over age 35), take the appropriate amount of DHEA (15-50 mg/day) to restore them to a youthful range. If fasting insulin levels remain significantly above 3-5, you may need to take more avocado sugar extract tablets, stop eating after 6:30 p.m. and/or alter your diet by reducing consumption of high glycemic index-load foods. Range often seen
in overweight In men, if free testosterone is below the optimal range, ask your physician to prescribe a transdermal cream providing 5 mg a day of natural testosterone. If estradiol levels are high (over 30), use 0.5 mg of the drug Arimidex twice a week to block the aromatase enzyme that converts testosterone to estrogen. Before using testosterone, men should verify that they do not have prostate cancer by having a blood test for PSA and undergoing a digital rectal exam. Unlike in men, balancing estradiol levels in women is complicated and individualistic. Overweight women often have high estradiol levels because fat cells produce the aromatase enzyme that causes the body to make more estrogen. Liver function is very important in the metabolism of estrogens. If estrogen cannot be conjugated properly, it will not be excreted normally and levels will remain high. Cattle are implanted with estrogen pellets to "fatten" them up. A common complaint by women taking estrogen drugs is weight gain. Women should seek to modulate their estrogen levels, but should do so under the supervision of a physician with expertise in female hormone modulation. Concerning estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone modulation in women, modulation has to be precisely carried out to induce weight loss without encountering unpleasant side effects such as hot flashes and depression. The general relation of progesterone to estradiol in healthy women is around 10:1 or higher. Below that a woman can become "estrogen dominant." In this situation, estrogen dominates the effects of the testosterone and progesterone. This is especially prevalent in overweight women because the fat cells induce excess estrogen, which creates a vicious cycle that should be broken to restore optimal hormone balance. Physicians often first try to raise testosterone and progesterone to offset the excess estrogen. If that does not help negate the effects of estrogen dominance, the next step is to try to lower estradiol. This must be done under a physician's supervision because it involves drugs (such as Arimidex) and must be done carefully to avoid unpleasant side effects. A woman with an estradiol value of 200 pg/mL would need 2000 pg/mL (2.0 ng/mL) of progesterone to offset it. Extra progesterone does no harm and most women like the feeling of having higher progesterone levels. Sometimes DHEA and testosterone supplementation can convert to estradiol, so that must be considered also. Once you have achieved a youthful hormone profile, along with supplements that help facilitate weight loss, you are in a position to determine how much body fat you want to lose. For instance, if you take avocado sugar extract supplement every evening, your appetite will be reduced, fewer calories will be consumed, and you can expect to start losing about a pound a day. There may be social occasions when you do not want to curb your appetite because you want to eat a big meal. You may not want to take avocado sugar extract at this time because you would not be able to eat a lot of food. Once on this regimen, you will find it easy to make healthy food choices such as including more fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet, avoiding high sugar snacks, and reducing total calorie intake. Hormone modulation is the only practical approach for most aging individuals to rid their body of excess body fat and keep it off. If you are seriously concerned about protecting yourself against multiple degenerative diseases while improving your appearance, you should have your blood tested. Once the results are received, modulate your hormone profile accordingly by taking the drugs and supplements that can help restore youthful fat-muscle ratios. If you need a referral to a physician knowledgeable about hormone modulation, please call (800) 226-2370.
Conjugated
Linoleic Acid In addition to correcting a hormone imbalance that may be the underlying cause of unwanted weight gain, certain dietary supplements can help facilitate and sustain fat loss. These low-cost supplements should be used in addition to physician-supervised hormone modulation therapy.
The primary dietary sources of CLA are beef and milk, but Americans are eating less beef and drinking less whole milk in order to reduce their dietary intake of saturated fat. People often drink nonfat milk, but it is the fat content of milk that contains CLA. Because skim milk contains virtually no CLA, persons seeking to lose weight who also drink skim milk are depriving themselves of a potential source of this fat-reducing nutrient. In 1963, the CLA percentage in milk was as high as 2.81%. By 1992, the percentage of CLA in dairy products seldom exceeded 1%. The reason for the sharp reduction in milk CLA was because of changing feeding patterns. Cows that eat natural grass produce large amounts of CLA. Today's "efficient" feeding methods rely on far less natural grass. For example, grass-fed Australian cows have three to four times as much CLA in their meat as do American cows. However, health-conscious Americans avoid beef and whole milk because these foods are high in fat, and when people do consume beef or milk, they are consuming very little CLA because of the deficiency of CLA in cows today. Thus, most Americans have inadequate amounts of CLA in their diet. This CLA deficiency might be at least partially responsible for the epidemic of overweight people of all ages that now exists.
CLA Fat-Loss Studies
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been shown to decrease the volume of adipocytes and thus reduce body fat (Park et al. 1997, 1999). However, many overweight people have too many adipoctyes (fat cells). These people need more than CLA to achieve effective weight control. At the Experimental Biology 2002 meeting (New Orleans, Lousiana, April 19-24, 2002), scientists presented a fascinating study in which a group of mice was supplemented with CLA or CLA plus guarana. After 6 weeks, both groups of mice showed a substantial reduction in fat mass. In the CLA-only group, the decrease in fat mass was due to dramatic reduction in adipocyte size without a change in adipocyte number. In the CLA plus guarana group, both adipocyte size and number were reduced by 50% (FASEB 2002). The results of this study demonstrate that dietary CLA decreases excess fat accumulation by reducing the capacity of adipocytes to store fat. When guarana is added to CLA, there is an additional effect of reduction in adipocyte number as well as a decrease in adipocyte size. The impact of this finding in preventing obesity is profound. Obesity Protocol Pg (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9)
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These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease
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