Hormones are an essential part of your good health. These chemical messengers travel in the bloodstream, regulating bodily function. ¹ Hormones regulate your metabolism, sexual function, growth, development, mood and, ability to reproduce. ¹ Therefore, it seems like hormones are a very important part of your overall health and well-being. By now you might be wondering: how do I know that I have the right amount of hormones necessary for good health? Keep reading to find out.

An overview of hormones

Basically, hormones are involved in the regulation of your bodily functions. ² For example, insulin secreted by the pancreas helps to control blood sugar. Testosterone, secreted by the testes, creates male sex characteristics such as a beard and a deep voice. ³ When women go through menopause, they may experience all kinds of unpleasant symptoms due to fluctuating hormone levels. Perhaps now you understand why hormones are so important when it comes to your health...

How do I check my hormone levels?

If you suspect that a hormone imbalance might be affecting your health: it never hurts to have your hormone levels checked. You can ask your doctor to perform a variety of hormone tests. The results may surprise you. We also found this online resource which might help you to determine which hormones you'd like to test.

Correcting hormone imbalances

There are a variety of options available today when it comes to balancing out your hormones. If your hormone levels are not that far out of balance, it may be worthwhile to try diet and lifestyle changes first. However, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be necessary to overcome more severe hormone imbalances.

If you are a middle-aged male, looking for a slight increase in your testosterone, you might want to read about diet and lifestyle changes first. Also, remember that the mineral zinc is necessary for adequate testosterone production. ⁴ T.J. Clark offers a Liquid Male Potency Supplement formulated with zinc as well as other nutrients.

If you are a middle-aged woman going through menopause, then consider trying our Natural HRT Advanced Formula. It contains soy isoflavones, which have been noted by some studies for their ability to reduce the risk of breast cancer. ^{6 7} Also, bear in mind that there are some safety concerns when it comes to taking prescription hormones as part of your HRT program. Click here for more information about HRT and menopause.

Another hormone that our middle-aged customers have found useful is melatonin. We encourage you to try our easy-to-absorb Liquid Melatonin for the best results. Finally, we always advise that you check with your doctor first before making any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

Bioidentical vs. Synthetic Hormones

If you are suffering from a hormone imbalance and diet and lifestyle changes are not helping, then you may want to consider HRT with either bioidentical or synthetic hormones. Both types of hormones have proven to be effective in raising hormone levels. However, experts like Dr. Weil feel that bioidentical hormones tend to have fewer side effects. ⁵ If you are considering HRT, then be sure to research the risks involved and weigh them against the possible benefits.

Some possible risks for men:

• http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsweek/Hormone-replacement-the-male-version.htm
• http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/testosterone_replacement_therapy/hic_testosterone_replacement_therapy.aspx

Some possible risks for women:

• http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/medicaltreatments/menopausal-hormone-replacement-therapy-and-cancer-risk
• http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/guide/breast-cancer-hormone-replacement-therapy-cancer-risk

The bottom line

A proper balance of hormones is vital to your good health. Your body has delicate feedback loops in place to control the amounts of hormones secreted by your organs and glands. Scientists do not completely understand these mechanisms at the present time. Therefore, it might be a good idea to help your body try and do it's job first with diet and lifestyle changes. If that isn't enough, then perhaps it's time to start exploring the benefits of HRT using prescription hormones. And remember that each person has their own unique set of needs. Thank you for reading our newsletter.