Can I use DHEA as an anti aging supplement?

DHEA is widely sold all over the place as an anti-aging supplement and also to prevent a number of medical disorders. Others claim that regular intake of DHEA can increase energy and strength. So far the clinical research shows that DHEA can reverse, prevent aging or increase energy and is best used for older people whose DHEA levels are low. Even the people who claim to have taken DHEA for years have gone on to become old and develop wrinkles.

So what is DHEA?

Our body does make DHEA or dehydroepiandrosterone in the adrenal glands. These small glands are located on top of each kidney. All the DHEA made by the body is used up to make other hormones like the male and female sex hormones, including testosterone, estrogen and progesterone. Today, synthetic DHEA is readily available in many health food stores and consumed by thousands of people. In some European countries and Canada one requires a prescription to get DHEA.

In humans, DHEA levels gradually increase from puberty till about the late 30s and then start to decline. The decline in DHEA levels is said to be part of generalized aging. The decline in DHEA occurs at the same time as decreased muscle mass, reduced bone density and slowing of mental performance. Because of these observations, many people have been recommending DHEA levels to slow down the aging process.

However, people who have taken DHEA for decades have not shown any decline in aging and have continued to grow old just like everyone else. However, they appear to look well, sleep better and have a surplus of energy. A few studies have shown that DHEA in women may increase bone density and limit osteoporosis, improve concentration and cognition. However, these are not universal findings and only seen in less than 5 percent of women.

Moreover these results have not been reproducible nor have they been consistent. However, many of the older stars in Hollywood are using DHEA and it appears to help them look younger and stay healthy, Suzanne Somers, for instance.

In a recent study done at the Mayo clinic, researchers showed that DHEA supplements taken for 2 years had a few anti aging benefits. DHEA improves some symptoms in menopausal women. There is good evidence that DHEA can help adrenal insuffiency, high cortisol, depression and sleep problems. At the moment the evidence for DHEA an as anti-aging pill are not conclusive and there is the chance one risks developing some side effects. The most common side effects reported after taking DHEA include:

- Reduction in the good cholesterol
- Increased facial hair
- Oily skin
- Acne

The long term side effects of DHEA are not known. However, there is a strong belief that prolonged use of DHEA can lead to excess levels of estrogen and testosterone. There is concern among health care experts that these elevated levels of sex hormones after the age of 50 may predispose the individual to a higher risk of breast, uterine or prostate cancer.

So this is the known data on DHEA. There are many alternative health care practitioners and anti aging fanatics who advocate use of DHEA as an anti-aging hormone. For those who would like to use the supplement, take note of its side effects and talk to people who have used the product.

Moreover, the DHEA on sale does vary both in quality and quantity. And there is the ever present risk that fakes and counterfeits may exist. Before you begin to take DHEA, you must get a blood test to measure the DHEA in your system t see if you require DHEA supplements.

As well as taking DHEA supplements, eat healthy, incorporate regular exercise into your daily life, don’t smoke, limit stress and get a health check up every now and then.

Natural Anti Aging Skin Care

If you would like to know what causes premature aging in the skin, you can blame free radical molecules in the body (caused by binge drinking, bad diet, smoking and stressors from the environment). You can also include in this list exposure to the sun which can cause not only wrinkles, age spots and freckles but also causes skin cancer when in excess. In this article, you will discover some natural anti aging skin care tips that you must start using now to help preserve the softness and moisture in your skin. I would also like to recommend some free radical busting anti-aging tips and some over-the-counter products to help you fight the signs of the aging of your skin and restore youthfulness.


From the early 30s and onwards, our skin starts to lose its healthy color and texture. Sin becomes less vibrant, sagging and wrinkles begin to appear. Large pores, broken capillaries around the cheek and nose begin to appear. From the age of the early 40s, age spots will begin to show on our hands, arms, face and upper lip because of exposure to the sun, the Pill and pregnancy. However, there are many anti aging skin tips that you can use to help maintain the glowing look of youthful skin well beyond your 40s.

1. Get your beauty sleep. Beauty sleep is really just that – make it your priority for natural anti aging skin care. Sleep restores your cells and is necessary for regeneration.

2. Learn to breath deeply in yoga classes. Deep breathing promotes oxygen flow to the skin and your “massages” your internal organs. Deep breathing also helps with skin tone.

3. Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits which are loaded with Vitamin A, C and E, all being strong anti-oxidants. Vitamin C helps boost collagen production and is anti-inflammatory, essential for skin cell regeneration, plumping and healing. Vitamin C and E together (vitamin E is also immune stimulating which helps circulation and skin tone. Taking these two vitamins together also assist to protect against UV rays.

4. Moisturize from within – another basic rule for helping keep skin moisturized is to drink 8 glasses of clean water per day. This helps with skin hydration, flushes out toxins and keeps your hair shiny.

5. Another benefit of exercise besides helping manage your weight, strengthen your muscles and bones is that exercise helps your skin to heal more quickly.

6. Apply moisturizer while your skin is still damp – apply immediately after bathing or showering will help fight the signs of aging of your skin allowing more penetration to the deeper layers of skin.

7. Make sure your diet contains the necessary fats – essential for healthy youthful skin. Essential fats moisturize from within. Eat plenty of oily fish, extra virgin olive oil, flax seeds, avocados, nuts and seeds. When you use a massage oil, use an oil which is derived from nut, seed or fruit oils for helping with your anti aging skin care regime.

8. De-Stress! One of the most dangerous things not only for your skin and aging and health is stress. Nothing ages the skin, (except for smoking and excess exposure to the sun than stress. Remember, stress kills! Stress can cause pimples, wrinkles, puffy eyes and frown lines. Nutritious food and yoga classes can help immensely to handle stressful times. Meditation is also good for de-stressing and helps preserve youthful skin.

9. If you skin is suffering from the pollution in the city, try using green tea and grape seed oil on your skin. These help to get rid of free radical pollutants from your skin.

10. Stop smoking, as already mentioned earlier in this article, you know all the facts and dangers of smoking. Consider also that it wrecks your skin. Period. Smoking decreases oxygen to the skin, causes a gray look to the skin tone, constricts blood vessels, creates those fine wrinkles around the lips, and produces a collagen destroying enzyme.

11. Use anti-aging skin care products suitable to your age group. Pre-menopausal skin requires different products that products suitable for menopausal skin. Use skin care products to fight the signs of aging – ones that contain such natural ingredients as hyaluronic acid, Vitamin C, plant proteins and wheat germ oil.

So there you have it, 11 basic natural anti aging skin care tips which are not difficult to follow and are in your control. These tips are also good rules to apply a healthy life style to your own life. Never forget to moisturize your skin twice a day and ALWAYS apply sun block when you go out in the sun.