At the foundation of how you age is your hormonal system and whether or not it is in balance. If it’s imbalanced, your chances of healthy aging are slim, which is why you need to understand, and then get a clear picture of, your hormonal health.

Hormone imbalances can begin as early as your 20’s, and both men and women can be affected. That imbalance, or a drop in levels, can trigger symptoms that, if left untreated, can progress to a disease state. You can regenerate your health just by bringing a hormonal imbalance back to center.

Unlike synthetic hormones that have been shown to put postmenopausal women at risk for breast cancer, heart disease, stroke, and blood clots, natural hormone replacement is chemically identical, or bio-identical, to the hormones your body makes. Your body’s hormone receptors recognize them.

These natural forms are derived from plant sources such as soybeans and wild yams. Conventional hormone replacement drugs, because they’re not chemically identical, are unable to create a perfect fit with your body’s hormone receptors. So already, you’re batting a better average by using a substance with which your body is familiar.

As to the benefits of hormone replacement in men, the research is beginning to catch up. While the focus has long been on women and hot flashes, men have been living with their own symptoms such as loss of sex drive, focus, and stamina due to low testosterone levels. Muscle mass and strength also decrease with low testosterone levels.  And while that can be challenging enough to deal with when trying to perform normal, everyday tasks — it can also set men up for injuries. 

Just as with estrogen, waning testosterone levels can leave men at greater risk of developing the diseases of aging. Researchers have found that as many as 25% of males will have lower testosterone levels by the age of 35, and that makes them  more vulnerable to becoming insulin resistant, which in turn can lead to both diabetes and heart disease. 

If you are interested in bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, there are several dosage forms available: pills, transdermal creams or patches, and for men, testosterone injections, pellet implants, and troches (medicated lozenges). Your doctor can prescribe which treatment will work best for you.