What does DHEA do for your body, anyway? Let’s examine some of the ways DHEA can benefit you. It balances hormones, lowers inflammation, and enhances feelings of well-being. And finally, it helps reduce menopause symptoms. But how do you get your hands on some? Here are some ways to get DHEA in your system. And remember, it’s not a steroid.
Balances hormones
While taking supplements with DHEA can have many benefits, there are some cautions to be aware of. While it may appear to be a single product, it actually is a concert of hormones that works together in your body. This is why it is important to understand the physiological and emotional changes that occur when balancing hormones. Thankfully, there are natural solutions available. Here are some of the most effective ones:
DHEA is often taken as a supplement for aging adults. It works as a counterpart to the stress hormone cortisol. Too much cortisol can lead to high levels of stress and fatigue. Women who experience menopause often report symptoms such as low energy and emotional numbness. By balancing estrogen and testosterone levels, DHEA can help maintain a positive mood.
Lowers inflammation
DHEA is essential for your body’s antioxidant defenses. Low levels can cause your body to suffer ordinary aches and pains. When your levels of this hormone are low, your beta endorphins are also reduced. The good news is that DHEA can help you to combat this problem. Learn how it works and take a look at what you can do to make it more plentiful in your body.
One of the ways DHEA reduces inflammation in your body is by inhibiting the production of interleukin-6, a pro-inflammatory cytokine. IL-6 recruits immune cells that cause a range of inflammatory effects in your body, including the destruction of healthy tissue. In addition, DHEA decreases the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha, another inflammatory cytokine. When levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha are high, the body is in a state of inflammation, which may indicate a compromised immune system.
Reduces menopause symptoms
One study showed that DHEA can reduce menopause symptoms. This Italian study tracked 48 menopausal women for a year. Twelve of the women took low-doses of DHEA, while the others took a steroid or standard hormone replacement therapy. In addition, some women took vitamins D and calcium. The results of these studies were analyzed. One of the most intriguing findings involved the effect of DHEA on sexual activity.
DHEA increases after menopause, but declines as women get older. A woman’s DHEA level increases 3.95% between early perimenopause and late postmenopause. African-American and Chinese women have lower levels of DHEA. It’s important to listen to your body, as these symptoms often increase during menopause. If you’re experiencing symptoms of aging and/or depression, try DHEA to support your body’s natural production of estrogen.
Boosts metabolism
The effects of DHEA on metabolism have been widely studied, but it’s unclear exactly how the hormone works. The research team in this study used the placebo group as a control for the DHEA treatment. The placebo group had a similar average energy intake at the beginning of the study, but did not experience any changes in body weight. However, DHEA increased insulin sensitivity. This result was consistent across the study, which shows that DHEA can increase metabolism.
The DHEA treatment also increased the weight of the liver and body mass in both young and adult rats. Furthermore, the treatment boosted state three and state four respiration rates in all substrates. It is unclear how the effect of DHEA on metabolism can be explained by the limited data available. This research is, however, a positive sign for people who suffer from obesity or are suffering from an autoimmune disorder. For now, however, the results are preliminary and more research is needed.
Lowers cardiac risk
There is an increasing body of evidence that a dietary supplement containing DHEA lowers the risk of cardiac disease. Interestingly, it appears that DHEA is not a risk factor for the onset of heart disease, but does lower the risk of cerebrovascular events. To test this, Australian scientists exposed human cells to DHEA concentrations typical of those found in over-the-counter supplements. They found that the human cells responded in a way similar to the initial symptoms of heart disease.
Studies have shown that DHEA levels are associated with various metrics of heart health, including clinical severity, mortality, and length of survival. The findings are consistent across racial groups, gender, age, and age. In fact, lower levels of DHEA-S are associated with higher incidence of PAH and worse haemodynamics. Nonetheless, the relationship between DHEA-S levels and clinical severity is less clear.
