Hormonal protocols?! The best hormone test is the DHEA Challenge Test, also known as the DCT, which measures DHEA, progesterone, estradiol and testosterone. See the RxforWellness Article Archives "How to Use Our Products" section for more information on mail order saliva tests. Protocols for Adult Woman As you can see, it is a bit more work for women to figure their hormonal enhancement program. Generally, however, the strategies to attain and maintain lean body mass looks like this: A nutrient dense low glycemic nutritional strategy and exercise, and: Under 35, consider ThermoLoss, 2 caps before breakfast and lunch. If evening carbohydrate craves are too strong, one 5 HTP at night is indicated more especially when such cravings are combined with poor sleep and low mood. As sub-optimal thyroid function is 10 times more common in women, if there are sub-optimal thyroid signs and symptoms, add one 7 KetoLean twice a day if the basal (before rising) under arm temperature of the first 3 days of the menstrual cycle is below 97.8 on average. If below 97.2 add T-100 as well. Much below 97.2 with many thyroid symptoms calls for a visit to your doctor. (See Vol. 1, lesson 6 for more info.) By 35, consider adding soy and flaxseed to your diet. We recommend UltraMeal w/ ground Flax. At 40, consider adding transdermal progesterone, using the FREE home study course lessons, questionnaires and tests discussed above to decide when you might best start progesterone. We provide the best value in progesterone with Projuvine. With the start of the peri-menopause, consider adding herbal phyto-estrogens like "Menopause Wellness". If these do not prove strong enough, consider adding Estro Pro, which is an all natural triple estrogen plus progesterone product. If sex drive has noticeably dropped, consider testosterone enhancements with Libidex/Vital Love. By menopause, if not earlier, add an HGH enhancer like Hgh Plus. The Hormones of Age On the other side of the balance we must keep the hormones of age, insulin and cortisol, the stress hormone, under control. Insulin Insulin can be viewed as a fat storage hormone. High carbohydrate intake, and large meals in general, causes a rapid rise in blood sugar. Insulin is released to lower it. Excessive insulin forces your body to burn glucose for energy instead of stored body fat. Insulin also converts the excess sugar into fat and thus drop blood sugar levels too low, called hypoglycemia. This makes you hungry again! When too much blood sugar is stored away as fat, the brain does not get adequate amounts of its only fuel, blood sugar! The resulting low-blood sugar triggers loss of concentration, energy slumps, mood swings, hunger and cravings! Elevated insulin levels: 1) force the body to burn carbohydrates for energy. 2) Prevent the release and utilization of stored body fat. 3) Convert and store excess glucose into fat. 4) BLOCKS GROWTH HORMONE RELEASE! As we grow older, our insulin levels become higher and higher as we become more insulin insensitive. The best way to keep insulin under control is to eat small, frequent, balanced nutrient dense, low glycemic meals, and to exercise regularly. Those with carbohydrate intolerance would do well to add insulin sensitizing nutrients such as those found in Insulin Wellness and ThermoLoss. Insulin Wellness has no stimulant herbs or appetite depressants. Insulin Wellness is recommended to those who are not taking ThermoLoss and who score high on the Sugar Sensitivity Questionnaire and the Insulin Sensitivity Questionnaire found in the RxLearning Channel.(See the RxShopping channel for more information) More information on insulin and low glycemic foods can be found in Vol. 2, lessons 1 and 2. Remember, 5HTP is also good for sugar cravings if the above regimen does not prove enough. Cortisol Cortisol levels tend to rise somewhat with age. What rises more dramatically is the cortisol/ DHEA ratio, as DHEA definitely drops with age. Cortisol, the stress hormone, is a catabolic hormone. It tends to breakdown muscle, bone and brain tissue. As maintaining muscle mass is integral to maintaining a lean body mass and burning off calories, any process that speeds catabolism of lean body mass is to be retarded as much as possible. Moderate exercise, play, recreation, relaxation and meditation all lower cortisol. (As an aside, the best nutrient to retard brain aging from stress is Phosphatidyl Serine. See PS-100 in the Rx Shopping Channel for more information.) Putting it All Together! We said in the beginning that an ideal integrated strategy for obtaining and maintaining a desirable lean body mass past middle age would aim to: 1. Control calories ingested/digested 2. Optimize calories burned as energy 3. Optimize tissue repair, rebuilding and growth To control calories digested we recommended using phenylalanine and tyrosine during the day and 5HTP at night. These amino acids and their metabolites are the building blocks out of which the brain makes messengers that shut off hunger and reduce carbohydrate cravings, respectively. Specifically we recommended ThermoLoss 1-3 for before breakfast and lunch , and one 5-HTP in the evening. To optimize calories burned, we recommended eating small, frequent, nutrient dense , low glycemic meals. We suggest the majority of food be eaten by 3 PM. We further recommended fish, water, added fiber (psyllium, oat bran, chitosan), green tea, water rich vegetables and clear soups. If carbohydrate sensitivity was problematic based on experience and or the Sugar Sensitivity Questionnaire, then a Zone Diet or even Atkin's or other low carb diet links were suggested, such links located in the RxResources Channel. Links for low-fat vegetarian eating strategies were included also for those so inclined. (See the Diet and Nutrition section of the RxResources Channel.) Exercise was encouraged of course, particularly muscle building exercise as muscle has a very high calorie demand. Those with sub-optimal metabolisms were lead to first check for sub optimal thyroid function by taking the hypo-thyroid questionnaire and their basal metabolism rate or BMR. This is a simple A.M. axillary (arm pit) temperature explained in Vol. 1, lesson 6. 7-KetoLean was suggested for the lesser cases with T-100 added for the more sub-optimal thyroids. Those with more normal findings were informed about thermogenic products, products that increase metabolism and fat burning. ThermoLoss was the product choice provided. Finally, enhancing the hormones of youth, namely Hgh and the sex hormones, which tend to add muscle and or inhibit fat, while keeping insulin and cortisol at bay with good diet, exercise, play, recreation and/or meditation, and Insulin Wellness or ThermoLoss was suggested. By putting together your own personalized program to reduce calories, increase metabolism and maintain a youthful hormonal profile, you will not only attain and maintain lean body mass, you will have created an excellent anti-aging and longevity program as well!