DHEA: DHEA is the most abundant hormone in the human bloodstream. Research has found it to have significant anti-obesity, anti-tumor and anti-ageing effects. DHEA levels naturally drop as people age, and there is good reason to think that taking a DHEA supplement may extend your life and make you more youthful while you are alive. Additionally, DHEA may be an important player in cognitive enhancement. Health Benefits: • Vitality and higher energy levels • Extended life and improved mood • Slows the ageing process • Resistance to disease • Reduces the ill effects of stress • Decreased body fat • Weight control • Enhanced sex drive Background and Research: DHEA is a hormone produced by the adrenal gland and is the most common sterone in the human bloodstream. When we are young, around 7 years of age, we begin producing this hormone naturally. Blood levels reach their highest during our late teens and begin to decline around age 25. DHEA levels decline at the rate of about 20% per decade until we eventually bottom out at approximately 10% of peak levels by the time we reach 80 years of age. In the 1960s, French physician Etienne Emile Baulieu, M.D., discovered DHEA's anti-ageing properties. In a recent study, an endocrinologist at the University of California, San Diego, Samuel Yen, M.D., administered DHEA supplements to thirty men and women ages 40-70 for six months. The subjects felt substantially better physically and psychologically, and they had fewer aches and pains. C. Norman Shealy, M.D., Ph.D. has said that DHEA plays a major role in the immune system, is a building block for sexual and other hormones, and determines general levels of well-being and mood. DHEA is deficient in every major disease, including obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure,  various immune deficiencies, coronary artery disease and autoimmune disorders. DHEA May Have A Significant Impact On Lean Body Mass In one study conducted by D. Jakubowicz and colleagues, 22 men took 300 mg of DHEA nightly for 30 days. They observed an average 27% fall in insulin levels. They also found an 89% increase in IGF-1 (a powerful hormone with multi-faceted effects, most notable its growth hormone-like effects on body composition), a 14% decrease in body fat, and a 7.8% increase in lean body mass. DHEA May Block Cortisol’s Catabolic (Breakdown) Effects On Muscle Tissue Other discussions at the DHEA conference centered on the Cortisol - DHEA relationship. Cortisol is a catabolic (tissue breakdown) inducing stress hormone. Exercise has been shown to significantly raise serum cortisol levels. These exercise- induced, elevated cortisol levels may contribute profoundly to catabolic effects on muscle tissue. DHEA has been shown to block some acute effects of stress induced cortisol release. Pure Pharmaceutical DHEA - Not Mexican Wild Yam Because Mexican Wild Yam contains precursors to DHEA, many unscrupulous companies are trying to masquerade this herb for the real thing. Mexican Wild Yam does not contain any DHEA. Mexican Wild Yam has not been shown in any studies to have the positive effects that real DHEA has. DHEA May Have A Profound Influence On Positive Body Composition Alteration Favoring Lean Muscle Tissue Accrual Yet another study revealed that high dose DHEA supplementation decreased body fat levels by 31% while maintaining the same overall body weight in just 28 days. This indicates a significant increase in lean body mass at the expense of body fat. This study shows DHEA may have a profound ability to significantly alter body composition to favor lean mass accrual. DHEA May Cause Healthier - Leaner Eating Habits Another study showed DHEA had an interesting effect on the choice of foods consumed. A controlled animal study showed those administered with DHEA, when given a choice, chose lean protein and carbohydrate foods as opposed to foods comprised of high fat. Additional Information: DHEA’s most overlooked but vital role may be its relationship with cortisol. DHEA has an inverse relationship to cortisol, i.e. when DHEA is low cortisol levels are elevated and vice-versa. Cortisol is one of the few hormones that increases with age. Cortisol is known to induce stress and when levels are elevated for long periods many bodily functions are negatively affected. For example, the body may become more insulin resistant and damage to the endocrine system via damage to the hypothalamus may occur. Maintaining healthy DHEA levels while keeping coritisol levels under control may help slow physical ageing and reduce stress. How much should be taken? Recommended doses vary depending on the reason for use. A daily dose of 25 to 50 mg daily is common. It is generally recommended that men can safely take up to 50mg daily and women can take up to 25mg daily. Your doctor may recommend higher doses for some conditions. ------------------------------------------------------------ MELATONIN:Melatonin: Promotes Healthy Sleep Patterns In numerous studies, Melatonin was shown to: • Treat insomnia • Enhance sleep quality • Fight jet lag symptoms • Slow the ageing process • Relieve symptoms of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) • Decease ocular pressure • May prevent Parkinson’s Disease What is Melatonin and where does it come from? Melatonin is the hormone responsible for regulating the body’s biological clock. It is produced by the pineal gland, which is located in the brain. Melatonin helps to regulate sleep. During daylight, the pineal gland in the brain produces the neurotransmitter serotonin, but at night, the pineal gland stops producing serotonin and instead makes melatonin. This melatonin release helps trigger sleep. Why take Melatonin?• Insomnia: The ability to fall asleep and stay asleep may get a boost from melatonin supplementation. Some studies of young and elderly adults have shown that taking a small amount of melatonin before bedtime helps to both hasten sleep and improve its quality. These benefits were seen in insomniacs as well as in individuals who struggle with only occasional sleep problems. • Sleep problems caused by pain or stress: Frequent night-time awakenings can occur as a result of chronic pain or stress. In such situations, melatonin may help by encouraging sounder slumber. • Jet lag: If you're working a night shift or are traveling across time zones, melatonin supplements may help your body to overcome any disorientation and quickly reestablish a normal sleep pattern. Recent studies of airline personnel and others who travel long distances found that melatonin supplements significantly relieved jet lag symptoms. This was true regardless of whether they were flying eastbound or westbound. However, not all studies have found melatonin to be superior to a placebo for such jet lag symptoms as fatigue, daytime sleepiness and impaired alertness. • Anti-Ageing: Animal research indicates that melatonin may be of value in extending life--elderly mice administered the supplement lived 25% longer than their cohorts in one study--although much more investigation is needed before firm conclusions can be made about its value for humans in this regard. Melatonin's antioxidant properties may help to stave off illnesses commonly related to ageing, such as heart disease and cataracts. The hormone may boost immune-system function as well, which can weaken with age. • SAD-related depression: A number of people who feel quite normal and energetic in summer become depressed and sluggish in winter, when sunlight is weaker and less abundant. Low melatonin levels may also be present in individuals who react in this way. According to a handful of preliminary studies, such individuals are said to be suffering from SAD (seasonal affective disorder) and may experience a significant improvement in mood if they take several tiny doses (0.1 mg) of melatonin in the afternoon. Study participants who failed to improve took either a large single dose in the morning or no melatonin at all. More studies are needed in this area. • Ocular Pressure: Taken in small amounts, Melatonin has been shown to lower pressure in the eyes. Since studies have only been done on healthy eyes, it is uncertain whether melatonin would be an effective treatment for glaucoma. • Parkinson’s Disease: Low melatonin levels may cause the failure of neurotransmitters, leading to Parkinson’s Disease. Supplementation may prevent this from occurring. Who needs it and what are the symptoms of deficiency? It is largely thought that as people age, their bodies produce less melatonin. Deficiencies can lead to insomnia. The production of melatonin varies according to the amount of light you're exposed to; more melatonin is produced at night than during the day, and your body produces more melatonin in a completely dark room than in a dimly lit one. Stress, illness, and ageing are the culprits that can speed up this deficiency in Melatonin. Recent research has shown that Melatonin is one of the most powerful antioxidants. The problem of insomnia is helped significantly with Melatonin intake. Most people report a calm deep sleep; some report more dreams and also a good nights rest. How much should be taken? Are there any side effects? Melatonin researchers themselves have yet to determine the optimum doses for various users. Individual needs vary considerably depending on differences in metabolism. For purposes of sleep, larger doses are not necessarily more effective than smaller doses. (If you feel groggy the next morning, the dose you have taken was too high; if you do not experience a deep restful sleep, your dose may have been too low). Research findings indicate that the lowest potency of melatonin can usually induce natural sleep patterns or help us to cope with jet lag. However they determined that the highest potencies are needed by seniors 65 years of age and older.