b"NUTRITIONCouncil DHEABy Dr. Joseph Deb The Real StoryIf you are presently taking or considering taking DHEA,at night diminish mental and physical regeneration, which please read this article. Many important facts about DHEAresults in acceleration of the aging process. Protein synthesis \x08\x0e\x03\x07\x04\x06\x07\x1d\x11\x18\x03\x0c'\x077\x04\x1d\x04\x07\x0e\x07\x14\x0e\x03\x0f\x03\x04\x06\x03\x18\x07\x11\x04\x07\x06\x16\x03\x07\x0b\x03\x18\x11\x08&\x075\x117\x03\x07\x0b\x0f\x06\x07 is reduced and protein breakdown is increased, leading to compounds that have the potential for doing good, DHEAbone loss, skin wrinkles, arthritis, muscle loss and weakness, also has the potential to do harm.and all the protein supplements in the world wont make a First, lets look at what DHEA is, what effects it has in thedifference. However, resistive exercise (like bodybuilding) can body, and how it becomes depleted. DHEA is an abbreviationmaintain muscle mass under these conditions by stealing for dehydroepiandrosterone. It is a hormone made primarilyprotein from the internal organs. Obviously, this is not healthy. by the adrenal or stress glands. Hormones are messengerAn additional strike against endurance athletes is the fact that \x0b\x0c\x03\x0c\x03\x0f\x07\x06\x16\x08\x06\x07\x11\x04]\x03\x04\x03\x07\x06\x16\x03\x07\x13\x04\x06\x11\x04\x07\x13\x07\x03\x0c\x0c\x0f\x07\x08\x04\x18\x07\x06\x11\x0f\x0f\x03\x0f\x07\x08\x0c\x0c\x07 \x11\x04\x0f\x0c\x11\x04\x15\x0f\x03\x04\x0f\x11\x06\x11\x19\x03\x10\x07\x0f\x0c\x1d\x07*\x11\x18\x08\x06\x11\x19\x03\x07\x06'\x14\x03\x07<\x07\x0b\x0f\x0c\x03\x07\x05\x02\x03\x0e\x0f\x07\x02\x03\x0b\x03\x07over the body. DHEA and cortisol are the bodys long-acting\x0e\x03\x14\x0c\x08\x03\x18\x07\x02'\x07\x13\x08\x0f\x06\x07\x12\x0c'\x0c'\x06\x11\x07\x06'\x14\x03\x07<<\x15?\x07\x0b\x0f\x0c\x03\x07\x05\x02\x03\x0e\x0f\x10\x07\x0e\x03\x0f\x0c\x06\x11\x04\x12\x07stress hormones and are antagonistic to each other to somein poor performance. Not all of these effects of high cortisol \x18\x03\x12\x0e\x03\x03&\x07\x16\x03\x0e\x03\x08\x0f\x07=#\x07\x16\x08\x0f\x07\x08\x04\x07\x08\x04\x08\x02\x0c\x11\x07\x0e\x07\x02\x11\x0c\x18\x11\x04\x12\x07\x11\x04]\x03\x04\x03\x10\x07 and low DHEA occur in everyone. What does happen in each cortisol has a catabolic or tearing down effect on the body.individual is dependent upon genetic predisposition and Both of these effects are essential, and these two hormoneslifestyle/environmental factors.must be in proper balance for optimal health. How do these hormones become imbalanced? By stress maladaptation.Stress maladaptation is the bodys inappropriate response to prolonged stress. The normal reaction of the body to stress is to produce greater quantities of both cortisol and DHEA. When the stress is gone, the body reduces its output of \x0e\x06\x11\x0f\x0c\x07\x08\x04\x18\x07=#\x07\x06\x07\x0e\x03\x0f\x06\x11\x04\x12\x07\x0c\x03\x19\x03\x0c\x0f\x07\x08\x04\x18\x07\x03\x19\x03\x0e'\x06\x16\x11\x04\x12\x07\x11\x0f\x07\x05\x04\x03&\x07\x1c\x16\x11\x0f\x07is what happens with short episodes of stress. However, when the stress is prolonged, the body prefers to make increasingly greater amounts of cortisol and less DHEA. How long does it take for this to occur? One study showed that after just 28 days of continuous stress, cortisol levels had climbed to \x1e+\x07\x14\x03\x0e\x03\x04\x06\x07\x13\x07\x0f\x06\x08\x0e\x06\x11\x04\x12\x07\x19\x08\x0c\x03\x0f\x07\x08\x04\x18\x07=#\x07\x16\x08\x18\x07\x18\x0e\x14\x14\x03\x18\x07\x06\x071\x1f\x07percent of initial levels! Whats even worse is that even after the stress is removed, the body sometimes does not recover and bring these hormones back to normal levels, but insteadThe bad news is that maladaptation to stress with elevated remains in the stress response mode with high cortisol and lowcortisol and diminished DHEA is extremely common, epidemic DHEA output.actually. And until the body undergoes a certain degree of The consequences of elevated cortisol and reduced DHEAbreakdown, there are no symptoms. The good news is that levels are devastating: The immune system is compromisedthe altered cortisol and DHEA levels, and the conditions that with increased risk to infections, certain cancers, allergiesresult, can be normalized with the appropriate intervention. and autoimmune diseases. Glucose utilization and insulinDHEA supplementation is only part of the solution. To fully function are altered with resultant higher blood sugar levels.reverse this condition, the stress that produced it must be Salt and water are retained, producing tendency toward\x0e\x03\x0b\x19\x03\x18\x07L\x07\x02\x06\x07\x05\x0e\x0f\x06\x07\x11\x06\x07\x0b\x0f\x06\x07\x02\x03\x07\x11\x18\x03\x04\x06\x11\x05\x03\x18&\x07high blood pressure. Blood cholesterol and triglyceridesMost people equate the word stress with mental/emotional increase and predispose to heart disease. Thyroid functionstrain. This is only one type of stress. The other major types of becomes impaired, resulting in decreased metabolism,\x0f\x06\x0e\x03\x0f\x0f\x07\x08\x0e\x03\x07\x02\x18'\x07\x06\x11\x0f\x0f\x03\x07\x11\x04]\x08\x0b\x0b\x08\x06\x11\x04\x07\x08\x04\x18\x07\x11\x04G\x0e'\x10\x07\x08\x04\x18\x07]\x06\x08\x06\x11\x04\x07lowered body temperature, and reduced vitality. The bodyin blood sugar levels. No matter which of these types of stress stores fat, especially around the midsection. Depression,are present, the bodys response is always the same: Initially insomnia, hunger, and PMS result. Reproductive functionboth cortisol and DHEA increase, and with prolonged stress, falters with resultant infertility and cessation of the menstrualthe DHEA plummets.cycle. The body becomes more susceptible to toxins and heavy metals. Stomach ulcers form. Memory and learningTo truly correct the underlying cause, we need to reduce become impaired. The combination of reduced R.E.M. (rapidthe precipitating stress. Meditation, tai chi, and aerobic eye movement) sleep and lowered growth hormone releaseexercise can minimize mental/emotional stress. All of these 16 I Winter 2020 www.anjc.info"