1. Eat Frequent Small Meals
Instead of eating 3 meals a day, eating 5-6 mini meals throughout the day keeps hunger at bay and helps to maintain steady energy. Be sure to eat a protein at each meal, as protein is harder for the body to metabolize than sugar, so it keeps you full longer.

2. Eat Before You Get Hungry
This tip requires practice, because sometimes we get busy and by the time we realize we’re hungry, we’re starving! That’s why snacks are important – you never want to go more than a few hours without food. Eating before you get hungry helps you to control portion size.

3. Take Your Time
Eat slow and put your fork down in between bites. Enjoy conversation with family and friends. After you eat, wait at least 15 minutes before thinking about second helpings – it takes time for your stomach to signal your brain that it is full enough, which translates into not hungry.

4. Fill Up At Home
If you are going to a party/restaurant/barbeque you know will have unhealthy, tempting foods – eat something healthy before you leave so you are already full when you go. This will keep temptation under control as it will be easy to eat less at the occasion.

5. Plan Your Meals
Thinking through what and when you’re going to eat will make you more likely to stick to your diet goals!

6. Drink Water
Sometimes thirst can be mistaken for hunger. Drink at least eight glasses of non-carbonated, purified water (half your weight in ounces) each day. If you really hate the taste of water, add a little lemon or lime juice or brew a weak green tea. Make fruit ice cubes by dropping a raspberry, blueberry, or small slice of strawberry into each ice cube tray after you fill them with water.

7. Track Your Progress
Record your daily food intake and exercise in a journal. Studies show that those who keep a journal reach their fitness goals quicker.

8. Get Your Sleep
If you are sleep deprived, your metabolism may not function properly which can lead to weight gain. On average, you should aim for 7.5 hours of quality sleep per night.

9. Exercise
Regular exercise can enhance your weight loss and will tone your body. The best way to begin a work out plan is to start slow and gradually ramp up when you feel ready. 10 minutes a day of walking can be a great start if you have not worked out for some time.

10. Motivate Yourself
Keep your goal in mind by displaying an old item of clothing that you’ve longed to fit into again in a prominent place so you see it every day. Visualize yourself looking great and in shape.

Incorporate these tips slowly and don’t try to incorporate all at once – that’s a sure-fire way to disaster! Try adding in the easy tips first, then move to the ones you find more difficult. While your short-term goal is to lose weight fast, it’s the long-term goals of health and fitness that matter most. Most importantly, enjoy yourself this summer and remember to find time to relax!

It’s that time of the year again and while the cooler weather and your Auntie Flora’s fried turkey might be enticing you to overindulge, it’s best to be cautious when participating in holiday feasts, where the pain and regret of the consequences often outweigh the short-term pleasures and splurges.

Sure, the holidays are meant to be enjoyed with our families, but the average American gains 10 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, according to Medical News Today. Taking this into account, we’ve made a list of tips that can help you get through this season without adding on the extra weight.

1. First and foremost: be realistic – Don’t try to lose weight during the holidays. Friends and family will most likely invite you to events and they will most likely try to stuff you to the brim. Instead try to maintain your current weight.

2. Eat what you like (and yes that includes some fat) – Eating moderate amounts of fat during the holidays will satisfy your appetite and prevent you from overeating other heavy foods such as potatoes or breads. That said, practice moderation and don’t deprive yourself of your favorite foods. Enjoy them fully and then back away from the table.

3. Don’t stop exercising - Many people tend to lay off exercise routines during the holidays and this is a mistake. Not only are you consuming more calories than normal, but you’re body is using less energy and storing all that excess food as fat: a recipe for disaster. A moderate and daily exercise routine can help offset increased holiday eating. Keep up that running!

4. Wait before grabbing seconds – The stomach needs 20 minutes or more to realize it is full. Often, we eat until the point of fullness, only to have the actual feeling of fullness kick in a little later. Give your body time to fill up before choosing to indulge on seconds.

5. Focus on family, friends and conversation, not on food - Probably the biggest point to take home on holiday feasts: it’s about the company, not the turkey gravy. Share, love, talk and take notice of all the food you consume while standing near the snack table. That carrot dip can be dangerous. Whether you’re sitting at the table or not, every item you eat will add up in your stomach so try having conversations away from snack items and, yes, focus on the people around you – they probably care about you should give them your full attention this holiday season.

To learn more about weight management and medical weight loss, call the Southern California Center For Anti Aging today!

Research has shown young girls in the United States have been reaching puberty earlier than they used to and now the same appears to be true for boys. According to a study conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), boys are entering puberty between six months and two years earlier than boys in past generations.

The study, published in Pediatrics, included data from more than 4,000 boys between the ages of 6 and 16. The boys were of different races and came from 41 states where statistics were collected from just under 150 pediatric offices.

Doctors observed patterns in genital development, testicle formation and pubic hair growth, finding African American boys were more likely to reach puberty early (at 9.14 years) when compared to white boys (10.14 years) or Hispanic boys (10.4 years).

The study does not point out any single cause for the early onset of puberty, but researchers mention it could be a combination of modern diet, lack of physical exercise, and a variety of environmental factors including pollution, contaminates in water, and the ingestion of plastic – which has been found to mimic hormones like estrogen in the human body.

Researchers said the public health implications of premature puberty in boys remain unclear and called for more research on the matter in a variety of medical fields.

Scientists and researchers are now linking sleep loss to weight gain and disrupted levels of the hormones that control appetite and weight gain. Insulin resistance and blood sugar disturbances are also linked to lack of sleep. Without enough quality sleep, the natural restorative cycles of the human body are disrupted, along with levels of several regulatory hormones—namely leptin, ghrelin, adiponectin and melatonin. Lack of sleep may down-regulate the satiety hormone leptin and up-regulate the appetite-stimulating hormone ghrelin, thus increasing hunger and food intake. Another hormone, adiponectin, is essential for normal weight, blood sugar and cholesterol control.

Research indicates that melatonin plays a similar role, responsible for maintaining both a healthy weight and a healthy lipid profile—not to mention proper glucose metabolism. The bottom line: Cutting back on sleep, may set your body up for metabolic imbalance and eventual weight gain.

For more information about our hormone-based medical diet, call Southern California Center for Anti-Aging today for you preferred appointment at 424.247.4962.

Abouts 3 out of 4 women experience hot flashes as they go through menopause. Hot flashes are brief, lasting from about 30 seconds to a few minutes. The frequency of hot flashes can vary from only a few times each week to constantly throughout a day. Hot flashes are commonly associated with other symptoms including redness of the skin known as flushing, excessive perspiration, chills, rapid heartbeat, nausea, dizziness, anxiety, headache, weakness, or a feeling of suffocation. Hot flashes at night accompanied by sweating are referred to as “night sweats” and frequently prevent restful sleep.

In women, hot flashes are thought to be the result of hormonal imbalance, usually low estrogen. However, they can also be due to “relative estrogen deficiency” a condition in which the estrogen level appears low because of other factors, such as excessive progesterone.

In men, hot flashes are due to declining levels of testosterone.

Factors which increase the likelihood of experiencing hot flashes:

·         Lack of circulating air or poor air quality

·         Intense exercise

·         Hot or spicy food

·         Refined carbohydrates and sugar

·         Caffeine, nicotine, and other stimulants

·         Alcohol

·         Hot drinks

·         Smoking

·         Being overweight

·         Anxiety or stress

·         Saunas, hot tubs and showers

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy can help replace the hormones lost during menopause and andropause and help alleviate hot flashes, call today for a comprehensive consultation at 424.247.4962.

Women’s hormone levels begin to change in their middle to late 30’s. Perimenopause is the process of change that leads up to menopause and usually occurs 2- 10 years prior to the onset of menopause. During perimenopause, progesterone and estrogen levels (as well as other sex hormone levels) decline, however, progesterone declines more rapidly than estrogen. These fluctuating and declining hormone levels cause menstrual cycle changes, such as irregularity, or heavier or lighter cycles.

Eventually progesterone and estrogen levels drop enough that the menstrual cycle stops and menopause begins. The decline in hormones causes many of the well-known physical and emotional symptoms associated with perimenopause and menopause. Excessive or chronic stress, poor nutrition, lack of exercise and exposure to environmental toxins all contribute to the decline in hormone levels.

Most common physical signs and symptoms of menopause and perimenopause:

·         Heart pounding (heart palpitations)

·         Rapid, irregular heartbeats

·         Vaginal dryness

·         Dry eyes

·         Painful intercourse

·         Sleep disturbances & insomnia

·         Hot flashes and/or night sweats

·         Abdominal weight gain

·         Urine leakage

·         Cravings for sweets or carbohydrates

·         Brain fog (difficulty concentrating, memory problems)

·         Weight gain, especially around the middle

·         Stiffness and joint fatigue

Emotional symptoms:

·         Depression

·         Mood swings

·         Irritability

·         Anxiety

Optimizing and balancing hormones with Bio-identical hormones not only helps ease menopausal and perimenopausal symptoms, but may also decrease the risk of osteoporosis, colon cancer, and cardiovascular disease.

If you are suffering from menopause or perimenopause, call Southern California Center for Anti-Aging today at 424.247.4962 for a comprehensive appointment.

Estriol (E3)

This is the most abundant of all the estrogens. It makes up approximately 80 percent of the estrogenpresent in the system and is produced by the ovaries. It is made in large amounts during pregnancy and is necessary for a carrying to full term. It also works on protecting the bones from losing density, protects the urogential health of a woman and has many valuable antioxidant properties. It is generally considered to be the weakest of the estrogens in terms of stimulating tissue growth and many see it as the safest form of all. It works well to combat vaginal dryness and vaginal atrophy as well.

·         Considerable evidence exists to show that it protects against breast cancer

·         Is used in Europe to treat breast cancer instead of Tamoxifen

·         It does not have the bone, heart, or brain protection of estradiol

Estradiol (E2)

This estrogen is considered to be the most active of all the estrogens. Estradiol makes up 10 percent of the body’s estrogen supply. It is a powerful hormone and is used most widely for controlling hot flashes and general menopausal symptoms. It may offer bone protection, improve lipid profile, enhance blood clotting, improve memory and clarity, increase serotonin and endorphin levels, enhance intestinal absorption of vital nutrients and is associated with eye lens health.

·         Increases HDL

·         Decreases LDL and total cholesterol

·         Decreases triglycerides

·         Helps maintain bone structure

·         Increases serotonin

·         Decreases fatigue

·         Works as an antioxidant

·         Helps maintain memory

·         Helps absorption of calcium, magnesium, zinc

Estrone (E1)

Is the main estrogen the body makes post menopausally. High levels many researchers believe may increase a women’s risk of breast cancer.

·         Estronehas very similar properties as Estradiol

·         It composes the last 10 percent of estrogen present in the body

·         It is usually converted from body fat

Call Southern California Center For Anti-Aging today for your preferred appointment at 424.247.4962.

Estrogen dominance is a phrase used to describe what can happen when estrogen and progesterone get out of balance. It is a relative excess of estrogen −it doesn’t mean there is too much estrogen, but that there is too much estrogen relative to the level of progesterone. As a woman reaches the age of menopause, her body continues to produce estrogen in her muscle and fat cells. She may typically produce 40-60 percent of the estrogen made before menopause but only very little progesterone.

Over-stimulation from estrogen of the breast tissue cancause unpleasant symptoms and lead to health issuesfor example, breast tenderness, swelling, and fibrocystic breasts. In the uterus, excess estrogen stimulation may lead to endometriosis, cervical dysplasia, increased risk of uterine cancer, heavy or irregular menses, menstrual cramping and uterine fibroid tumors. Excessive estrogen (dominance) can also cause weight gain, constipation, cyclical headaches and migraines, depression, mood swings, fluid retention, low libido, and anxiety.

Causes of Estrogen Dominance

Women can become estrogen dominant for many reasons. Lack of exercise, impaired elimination of estrogen, not taking in enough dietary fiber, lack of adequate amounts of progesterone to balance estrogen, using birth control pills, and environmental exposure. Estrogen mimickers are everywhere in the environment in the form of chemicals (xenoestrogens), and foods and plants (phytoestrogens). Pesticides are perhaps the biggest source of xenoestrogens followed by plastics, fuels, drugs, cosmetics, non organic meats and some dairy products.

Ways to Reduce Estrogen Dominance

• Do not heat food in plastic
• Reduce stress
• Avoid chemical sources of estrogen (xenoestrogen)
• Avoid food sources of estrogen (phytoestrogens)
• Cleanse the liver
• Balance hormones with bioidentical estrogen and progesterone
• Metabolize excess estrogen using a supplement like DIM or Calcium D glucarate
• Drink out of glass containers, not plastic or Styrofoam
• Exercise regularly

Call Southern California Center For Anti-Aging today for a comprehensive consultation at 424.247.4962.

• Tiredness
• Depression
• Muscle weakness
• Constipation
• Weight gain
• Feeling cold a lot of the time
• Heavy and long menstrual periods
• Coarse, dry hair
• Thick, dry skin
• Swollen eyelids, puffy
• Deep, hoarse voice
• Thick tongue
• Thickened facial features
• Slowed heart rate
• Less interest in sex
• Loss of hearing
• Numb and tingling hands

Some of the more common causes of hypothyroidism are:

• Hashimoto’s disease (thyroiditis): This condition is an irritation and swelling of the thyroid gland. It is caused by a problem with the immune system.
• Complete or partial removal of the thyroid gland with surgery.
• Viruses: They can infect the thyroid gland and cause it to make too little hormone.
• Radiation: Radioactivity can destroy the thyroid gland and its ability to make thyroid hormone. Radioactive iodine is a common treatment for an overactive thyroid gland, but often the treatment leads to an underactive thyroid gland. Also, X-ray treatment for cancer of the head or neck may expose the thyroid gland to radiation and damage it.
• Overdosage of medicine used to treat hyperthyroidism.

Anyone can have hypothyroidism, but it happens most often in women over age 40. Some thyroid problems are inherited or present at birth.

Call Southern California Center For Anti-Aging located in Torrance, California today for a complete consultation at 424.247.4962.

The adrenal glands respond to every kind of stress in the same manner. Examples of stress that can cause to adrenal fatigue include, poor diets, lack of exercise, use of stimulants, lack of sleep, lack of relaxation, illness, overwork, major surgery, financial pressures, negative attitudes and beliefs, fears, marital stress, smoking, death of a loved one, and job stress. Although severe fatigue is the major complaint of patients with adrenal fatigue, often multiple non-specific symptoms are associated with it.

Some symptoms of adrenal fatigue include:

• Feeling tired for no reason
• Having trouble getting up in the morning
• Feeling run down and stressed
• Craving salty or sweet snacks
• Frequent respiratory infections
• Confusion, poor concentration, and memory recall
• Insomnia
• Gaining weight, especially around the waist

Adrenal fatigue can be suspected based on clinical exam and symptoms. However, none of the standard laboratory tests currently in use are designed to detect adrenal fatigue. Checking cortisol levels either in blood or saliva at certain times of the day may indicate a deficiency of the hormone cortisol.

Treatment begins with an attempt to relieve stressful situations as much as possible. Lifestyle changes such as diet modification and exercise can help tremendously. Limit the consumption of processed foods, alcohol and tobacco because these substances put extra stress on the adrenal glands. Take small breaks to lie down during the day, increase relaxation, eat regular meals, exercise regularly and get at least 8 hours sleep nightly.

If you believe you may be suffering from adrenal fatigue, call Southern California For Anti-Aging today for a adrenal fatigue consultation at 424.247.4962.