What is 7-Keto DHEA

Having found out that my DHEA level was low I decided to look into this hormone. DHEA is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands and is known to ameliorate the effects of aging on many body functions. My research, however, led me to a safer alternative: 7 -Keto DHEA.

7-Keto DHEA is a safer and more potent form of DHEA. 7 Keto is NOT DHEA, rather it is a natural metabolite of DHEA which means that our bodies eventually convert DHEA into 7 Keto DHEA in the skin and kidneys.

Benefits of 7-Keto DHEA:

• Reduces body fat
• Strengthens immune function
• Helps balance thyroid function
• Enhances the liver enzyme catalase
• Enhances IGF-1 (growth hormone) hormone production
• Improves cognitive function and enhances memory
• Helpful for overcoming insulin resistance in type II diabetes
• Relieves depression
• Has anti-aging benefits
• Helps lower stress-induced high blood pressure and may be beneficial for other heart-related diseases
• Increases muscle mass
• Eases inflammatory conditions like lupus and arthritis
• Boosts energy and relieves fatigue
• Helpful for asthma
• May be helpful in Alzheimer’s disease

The most fundamental difference between DHEA and 7 Keto DHEA is that 7 Keto DHEA is already converted DHEA, so, it will not dangerously spike oestrogen and testosterone as does DHEA. Studies have shown that DHEA can raise blood levels of testosterone by as much as 10 times above normal. Since 7-Keto does not convert into testosterone or oestrogen, it is a safe alternative. (Elevated testosterone can increase hair growth in women and cultivate prostate cancer in men).

7 Keto is non-toxic. Liver and blood hormone levels have shown it to be safe and without adverse side effects.

7 Keto DHEA has been proven to promote greater weight loss than DHEA. One clinical trial published in the Journal of Exercise Physiology Online looked at 30 obese people who took a placebo or 7-KETO. Both groups took three one-hour sessions of aerobic and anaerobic exercise per week. At the end of the eight-week study, the 7-KETO group had lost 1.8 percent of body fat, compared to 0.57 percent among the placebo exercisers. Their overall weight loss was 2.88 kilos, about three times the loss among those who took the placebo.

There are signs that 7 Keto DHEA imitates thyroid hormones which cause the body to make more heat and thus burn more calories and helps the body lose weight.

7 Keto lends greater support to the immune system by increasing IL-2 production in human lymphocytes. IL-2 is the key cytokine regulator of T-helper cells which helps activate the immune system against invading pathogens. It also helps to reduce cortisol – a hormone associated with stress as well as chronic mood disorders and aging.

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10 years of headaches

Anyone who has known me for a long period of time will tell you how I’ve suffered with headaches. How a day would not pass that I didn’t complain about my headaches and how I would be popping painkillers for much of the day, 6 days out of 7. On a good day they would last for the morning, on a bad day no matter how many painkillers I took, the headache just wouldn’t shift – I could only imagine what the medication was doing to my liver. In many cases I’d wake up with a headache. I can trace this back to the last 10 years! Not a nice feeling at all, as anyone who has suffered from headaches and migraines will testify.

It was around the time that I was suffering from chronic tiredness, studying for my health sciences degree and was doing a lot of internet research, that I came across a naturopath living in South Africa and I started to pick her brains (more about my fatigue than the headaches, I hasten to add). Her thoughts confirmed what a private doctor had told me – that I had Candida. I started to take a blend of raw vitamins, minerals and amino acids, I also started to take natural progesterone – within a week of taking the herbal blend I noticed that my headaches had lessened. Over a year has passed and to this day I still can’t believe that I don’t suffer from those debilitating headaches and brain fog that had plagued me for years. I won’t be without the herbal blend, it cleanses the system and the liver, gives energy to the body and helps insulin resistance and I won’t be without the natural progesterone.

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Insulin Resistance

Insulin is a hormone produced by the beta cells within the pancreas. Insulin is released into the blood stream and travels throughout the body. It is an important hormone that has many actions within the body. Most of the actions of insulin are directed at metabolism (control) of carbohydrates, fats (lipids), and proteins. Insulin also is important in regulating the cells of the body including their growth.

Insulin resistance is a condition in which the cells of the body become resistant to the effects of insulin, that is, the normal response to a given amount of insulin is reduced. As a result, higher levels of insulin are needed in order for insulin to have its effects.

Causes

There are probably several causes of insulin resistance and there is thought to be a strong inherited component. Some medications can lead to insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is seen often in the following conditions:

• Metabolic syndrome
• Oestrogen
• Menopause and the years thereafter
• The Pill
• HRT
• Obesity
• Pregnancy
• Infection or severe illness
• Stress
• Steroid use

A combination of raw vitamins, minerals and amino acids mixed daily with some fruit juice not only ensures the insulin response works at its optimum level, but also boosts energy and assists with weight loss. And, it’s not too disgusting to drink either!

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