in this issue

• Your Waistline and Your Female “MOJO”: Why Your Belly Fat Could Be Sabotaging Your “MOJO”
  

“One of the most frequent complaints we hear every day from overweight women and men is that, not only do they not feel attractive, they also often live in low-sex or no-sex relationships,” says Genie James, co-author of FROM BELLY FAT TO BELLY FLAT. “The reasons for this can be complicated. Of course, self-image plays a role but – in working with thousands of patients for over ten years – we have found that a loss of libido is not only a result of decreased self esteem. There is a very real biochemical link between belly fat and low libido.”

According to C. W. Randolph, Jr., M.D. (the other author of FROM BELLY FAT TO BELLY FLAT), “For women over 30 and men over 40, the real culprit for low libido is a most often a medical condition resulting from a shift in hormone levels that occurs naturally with age. Progesterone levels are the first to decline creating an imbalance between estrogen and progesterone levels. The resulting condition is called estrogen dominance.”

“I look at the size of the person’s belly even before I look at their lab work results,” says Randolph. “Too much estrogen in the human system causes the body to pack on extra pounds around the middle. Indeed, belly fat is a key indicator of "metabolic syndrome," a cluster of abnormalities that include high levels of blood sugar, blood pressure, and triglycerides, as well as low levels of ‘good’ HDL cholesterol. This combination of risks has an impact on mortality from heart disease.”

How many people out there have lost their “mojo”? “Lots,” replies Genie. “Statistics show that 20 million couples have stopped being sexually intimate and 40 million Americans live in a no-sex or low-sex marriage. In another medical survey, doctors reported that about 50 per cent of women from ages 28 to 60 say they no longer derive pleasure from sexual activities. This is not only about people in relationships. The lack of sex drive extends to little/no interest in sexual fantasies or masturbation. And, because of the sensitive nature of the topic, the odds are that this number is under reported.”

When asked how his treatment of overweight individuals with low libido differs from many of his physician peers, Dr. Randolph responded: “Unfortunately, most doctors were not trained in medical school to diagnose estrogen dominance. As a result, they treat the symptom not the true health issue. I have women and men walking in my office everyday carrying a bag of prescription medications (such as Viagra or Cialis for erectile dysfunction, beta blockers for cardiovascular concerns, or statins for high blood pressure) when what they really need is help eliminating their bodies’ extra estrogen load so that their symptoms of sexual dysfunction, as well as their risk for heart disease and diabetes, can often be resolved naturally.” In describing his natural approach to helping women and men finally get rid of those stubborn pounds, improve their health and be reborn as bedroom enthusiasts, Dr. Randolph and Genie offers their unique 3-Step Medically-Proven Program:

1. 80% of women and men can resolve their underlying issue of estrogen dominance by addressing their progesterone deficiency. I recommend using my Natural Balance Cream, which is made with bio-identical progesterone, to restore optimum hormone levels. If someone does not respond with Natural Balance Cream alone, it usually means that they will need to the balance of their other sex hormones (including testosterone) has also shifted. If this is the case, they will need to consult with a physician or knowledgeable medical professional who is trained in diagnosing hormone imbalances and prescribing individualized dosing of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). On our website, we do offer telephone consultations for just such persons. Even before testing your hormone levels, I can tell you that – if you are a man over 40 years of age – you are estrogen dominant. Your estrogen dominance is a primary reason that you are now more prone to pack extra pounds around your middle. Bio-identical progesterone cream is the first thing you can do to start to neutralize your estrogen dominance and get you ready to slim down. I recommend my Natural Balance Cream for Men.
   

2. Follow our unique nutritional program, detailed in FROM BELLY FAT TO BELLY FLAT, to eliminate the body’s extra estrogen load naturally through the bowel.
   

3. Take the following supplements to help decrease the body’s extra estrogen load and support overall hormone balance (NOTE: To make it simple for you, we offer the following supplements + our Natural Balance Cream for Women or Men on our website, www.hormonewell.com as a Belly Flat Value Pack):
   
   Calcium D-Glucarate
   Calcium D- Glucarate is a natural substance that promotes the body's detoxification process and supports hormonal balance. Calcium D-Glucarate facilitates the detoxification process by inhibiting the re-absorption of estrogen-like toxins into the bloodstream, allowing them to leave the body and be excreted in the feces.
   
   Calcium D-Glucarate has been found in animals to lower unhealthy estrogen levels and thereby inhibit the development or progression of cancer. I recommend taking 1000 mg of Calcium D-Glucarate twice daily.
   
   Diindolymethane (DIM)
   DIM is a phytonutrient akin to the Indole-3-Carbinol (I3C) found in cruciferous vegetables. DIM has unique hormonal benefits. It supports the activity of enzymes that improve estrogen metabolism by increasing the levels of 2-hydroxyestrone, e.g. the “good” estrogen. When taken as part of a healthy diet, I have found that DIM helps support PMS symptoms, fat loss and healthy estrogen metabolism.
   
   In men, DIM also promotes its own metabolism. This means that it allows for greater testosterone activity. Men taking DIM supplements will benefit bio-chemically as DIM promotes optimal testosterone to estrogen ratio. I recommend 200 mg of DIM each day.
   
   The B Vitamins
   The B Vitamins, such as B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12 and folate, do a lot within your body to support estrogen detoxification. Conversely, if your body is deficient in B vitamins, you will have higher levels of circulating estrogens. By now, you definitely know that increased estrogen levels lead to estrogen dominance and estrogen dominance will most certainly lead to weight gain and the inability to get that weight off.
   
   B vitamins also impact estrogen activity for the hormone receptors at the cellular level. Clinical studies have shown that high levels of intracellular (e.g. within the cell) B6 can decrease the binding response at the estrogen hormone receptor site. What happens at the cellular level is sort of like an internal game of musical chairs: If the music stops and B6 sits down in the “estrogen chair” then the estrogen molecule is out of the game.
   
   Because the B vitamins work together to perform such vital tasks at the cellular level, I recommend that you take the entire B-complex, not just one or two of the vitamins. To treat symptoms of hormone imbalance, you will need between 50-100 mg of B Complex that contains 50 mgs of thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (b3), pantothenic acid (b5), P6, PABA, choline, inositol,; 50 mcg B12, and 400 mcg of folic acid.
   
   Vitamin E
   I remembered from my little bit of nutritional studies in medical school that, years ago, researchers studied the effects of Vitamin E in reducing the effects of menopause and that most studies found Vitamin E to be helpful. Vitamin E has been shown to reduce PMS related breast-tenderness, nervousness, depression, headache, fatigue and insomnia. I had a hunch I knew why. As I reviewed the more current medical literature evaluating the health benefits of Vitamin E, I was validated when my hunch proved to be correct.
   
   Low Vitamin E levels were linked to estrogen dominance. Furthermore, Vitamin E deficiency has been found to inhibit estrogen detoxification. I recommend taking 800IC per day of Vitamin E; 400 IU in the morning and 400 IU at bedtime.
   
   Calcium – Magnesium Combo
   Most women and men find it difficult to get 1200 – 1500 mg of needed calcium from their diet. As a rule, I recommend supplementing calcium intake with a calcium-magnesium combination supplement.
   
   Magnesium is another supplement that helps the body eliminate excess estrogen. For women, magnesium levels tend to fall at certain times during the menstrual cycle. These shifts in magnesium levels can upset an optimum calcium-magnesium ratio. In proper balance, the body better absorbs and assimilates the calcium it needs and allows calcium to migrate out of tissue and organs where it doesn’t belong.
   
   Without magnesium, calcium may be not fully utilized. Under absorption of calcium can lead to menstrual cramps. Similar to a Vitamin E deficiency, when the body does not have enough magnesium to support calcium absorption, many women report PMS symptoms such as mood swings, fatigue, headaches and sleeplessness.
   
   Premenstrual chocolate craving is a phenomenon that has puzzled a great many physicians. They have been unable to explain why some women have this overwhelming urge to eat lots and lots of chocolate right before their periods yet, at other times of the month, their chocolate cravings remain under control. When I started thinking about it, the PMS- chocolate connection made a lot of sense. You see chocolate is very high in magnesium content.
   
   Keeping an optimal balance of calcium and magnesium is critical for optimal physical functioning and for hormone balance. I recommend that each day you take a calcium-magnesium supplement that combines these minerals in a ratio of two parts calcium (1500 mg) to one part magnesium (750 mg).
   
   7- Keto Dehyroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
   Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is one of the hormones produced by the adrenal glands. After being secreted by the adrenal glands, it circulates in the bloodstream as DHEA-sulfate (DHEAS) and is converted as needed into other hormones. Since it is a precursor to testosterone, DHEA may help build muscle. It is very unusual for anyone under the age of 35 or 40 to have low DHEA levels. As we age, however, the body’s production of DHEA declines, so people over 40 can most definitely become DHEA deficient.
   
   While many anti-aging enthusiasts are familiar with DHEA, far fewer are likely to be as aware of its metabolite, 7-Keto DHEA, which functions within the body to safely boost immune function and help reduce body fat. The term 7-Keto DHEA is in fact a brand name for the chemical compound 3-acetyl-7-dehydroepiandrosterone. Human blood levels of both 7-Keto DHEA and DHEA tend to rise and fall in a similar pattern with age: increasing until the twenties, beginning to decline in the thirties and continuing decline until the levels are reduced by about 50% by age fifty. Clinical studies have shown that, as 7-Keto DHEA levels go down in middle age, body weight tends to goes up.
   
   7-Keto DHEA stimulates weight loss through a process called thermogenesis. This term refers to the creation of heat at a cellular level. The more thermogenesis, the higher the metabolic rate and the more fat that is literally burned up as energy. Studies have also demonstrated that 7-Keto does not accumulate in the body over time and is free of unhealthy side effects.
   
   I have found supplementation with 7-Keto DHEA to be significantly beneficial for increasing the rate at which the body converts stored fat into energy. Because 7-Keto DHEA is a natural hormone metabolite it benefits the body in two ways: 1.) it helps restore hormone balance while, at the same time, it 2.) works internally to melt away those unwanted pounds.
   
   I recommend 100 mg of 7-Keto DHEA per day; one capsule every morning.
   
   Chitosan
   Chitosan is processed from the shells of crustaceans such as shrimp, lobster and crabs. Basically stated, chitosan acts as a super fiber. The swelling action of chitosan creates a sensation of feeling full thereby serving to suppress the appetite. In addition, the super fiber characteristics of chitosan foster a natural cleansing process that is extremely vital to weight loss.
   
   Chitosan is also able to absorb between six and ten times its weight in fat and oils. It then converts the fat molecules into a form that the human body does not absorb. When chitosan causes less fat to enter the body, the body has to turn to previously stored body fat to burn for energy. The net result: weight loss.
   
   Chitosan also acts as a super fiber. I recommend taking 750 mg to 1 gm of Chitosan three times a day with meals.
   

   BELLY FAT VALUE PACK
   $112.85 (15% Savings)
   
   Calcium D-Glucarate
   Diindolymethajne (DIM)
   B-Complex
   Vitamin E
   Calcium-Magnesium Combo
   7-Keto DHEA
   Chitosan

4. Stress less and sleep more. Most men aren’t aware how stress and sleeplessness will at a cellular level sabotage their waistlines, their health and their erections. “I don’t expect anyone to get rid of all the stress in this busy world we live in but, in working with hundreds of patients over the years, we have developed some straight forward lifestyle modification techniques that have helped our patients modify their stress levels and, also, sleep through the night. We also outline these in FROM BELLY FAT TO BELLY FLAT.

Does it work? “Absolutely,” declares Genie. “After being on our program for just four weeks, four out of five women and men report that they have lost between 9- 12 pounds and, even better, they delightedly indicate a ‘significant increase in sexual desire, pleasure and activity’. If you follow our program to treat your underlying hormone imbalance and lose your belly, we guarantee you will look great, feel better and GET YOUR MOJO BACK!”

C.W. Randolph, Jr., M.D. and Genie James, M.M.Sc.
Co-Authors of From Belly Fat to Belly Flat &
Co-Founders of The Natural Hormone Institute of America

Dr. Randolph is a practicing gynecologist and an internationally recognized expert in the field of in bio-identical hormone replacement. He is the Medical Director for the The Natural Hormone Institute of America and is also the author of From Hormone Hell to Hormone Well as well as From Belly Fat to Belly Flat.