What causes aging?
There are several theories about what causes aging. Some of the theories make sense whereas some do not. One of the generated accepted theories by all is that aging process and all diseases that comes along with aging is caused by damaged to our body cells.
Cells function properly by communicating with each other through electrons. Electrons could only move in the body with the help of hydrogen. Cells must have oxygen to survive and function properly. The multiplication and growing of cells requires hydrogen. Hydrogen is regarded the fuel of life. The fabric of life namely the DNA of cells is held together through hydrogen bonds.
As we grow older, the hydrogen pool in our body becomes depleted. Free radicals seek out other chemical structure from which they can acquire an electron. Free radicals are a group of compound s with an electron missing from their chemical structure and this makes them unstable. One part of the cell which is most susceptible to free radical damage is its membrane. The cell membrane is composed mainly of fat and proteins. The fats or lipids in the cell membrane easily interact with free radicals to produce a dangerous chemical that harms tissues and damaged the DNA of cells.
As we grow older, chances are that more and more of our cells are damaged by free radicals and this result in chronic inflammation, hormone imbalance and thus accelerate the aging process.
Anti ageing hormone
Hormones in our body undergo changes as we age. One of the major hormones that get affected as we age is DHEA. DHEA stands for ‘De-Hydro-Epi-Androsterone’. As we grew older and aged, our body hormone tends to become imbalance thus this leads to triggering of chain reaction that impact our body metabolism, stress, weaken our immune system and other emotional and psychological health.
What is hormone?
Hormones are chemicals excreted by glands of the endocrine system for instance the thyroid, pancreas, ovaries, testes, adrenal and pituitary to name a few. The hormones are released directly to the blood stream and it affects the way we think and feel.
DHEA hormone is produced by the adrenal glands (small organs smuggled up near the kidneys) and is created by chemical reaction involving cholesterol molecules. Thus cholesterol which we often associates with bad health
What is DHEA ?
This hormone is essential and responsible for triggering the production of other hormones such as the oestrogen (female hormone) and progesterone (the male hormone). DHEA is usually inactive circulates in the blood as DHEA-Sulphate. It is activated and converted into DHEA by the cells in our body.
As we age, DHEA hormone levels in our body drops from as early as the late twenties and continues through middle ages and beyond. By the time we reach 40-50, the DHEA level in our body might just left to 30% level compare to our youthful level.
Facts about DHEA.
Laboratory experiments with animal such as rabbit indicates DHEA increases anti oxidant activity and thus possibly for human as well.
It activates and triggers the process of bone-forming cells, better known as osteoblast.
It reduces heart disease by protecting the body against bad cholesterol (LDL)
DHEA helps to reduce interleukin 6 (IL6), a chemical frequently found in immune diseases. IL6 level increases with age and can be used as a guide to determine how quickly the body ages. As such experiments indicate DHEA helps to keep chronic inflammation under control.
Alzheimer disease patient’s DHEA level is found to be drastically lower compare to normal healthy person (at least by 50%). Some experts believe that damage to the brain nerves occur at faster rate if the DHEA level is low. Laboratory experiments indicate DHEA is able to make nerve cells stronger and able to withstand toxic and chemical assault.
DHEA is also known to help to boost our immune response and fight infections.
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