The longer we live, the more likely it is that our body accumulates substances that may cause us harm. These harmful substances interact with the body is three ways:

1. They are detoxified by the body and removed through feces, urine or sweat.

2. They cause abnormal cell growth or the cells forming a cancer.

3. They become defensive and wall off a foreign invader until it becomes a tumor.

Benefits Of Ordering Your Own Lab Tests

Although tumors and cancers may start at any age, they are more frequent in those who are older than 40.

There are a few types of tumors and cancers that may be more common in people in their 30s such as testicular cancer in men or rarely cancer of the cervix in women, but these are somewhat rare in that age range.

Although cancer is not something we should focus on because what we focus on, we bring into our lives, it is good to know what types of tests may be done to see what is happening in our body.

This way you can fully participate in the setting up of your own health goals and treatment plans.

And by providing the doctor with some additional information, you can help him stay on top of your situation if you do already have cancer.

Medical Lab Tests Tell Us Different Things

There are now lab tests that you may order online for a number of different types of cancer.

Although every single type of cancer doesn’t have its own test – and would cost far too much to run anyway, the list below tells you the type of cancer that can be discovered.

All the tests are blood tests. Do note the difference in the purpose of the different tests:

• Some are preventative and can find problems before a cancer is found.

• Some are for detection.

• Some are for the purpose of monitoring a cancer.

Lab Tests For Cancer

Don’t fear cancer! Do your best to follow your intuition and do consider the lab tests for cancer as a way of staying ahead of the game.

Related posts:

1. Early Detection is the Key to Beating Breast and Prostate Cancer Over 50
2. Top 4 Medical Tests for Men and Women Over 40
3. Starting The New Year: How To Assess Your Own Health

With New Year’s Day right around the corner and January, the month of new beginnings arriving, it’s sometimes hard to get a handle on how to create New Year’s Resolutions that will stick.

What should you resolve to do? Do you have any new ideas or will you use the same resolutions for last year and the year before, hoping that somehow something will be very much different and the resolutions will stick?

Common Health And Fitness Resolutions

One of the types of resolutions that many people make is to get healthier. In this area, there will be resolutions such as these that are made:

• to lose weight

• to go to the gym three times a week (or daily)

• to take a new exercise class

• to join a yoga class and practice at least three times a week

• to get rid of pimples once and for all

• to get a facial every two weeks

• to start skin brushing

• to eat healthier foods

• to give up the sugar habit

• to eat more vegetables

• to get one’s teeth fixed by the dentist

As you can see, health resolutions come in all different “shapes” and “forms” and are as individual as the number of people in the world.

Health Resolutions: Step 1 Is Determine A Baseline

And all the health resolutions have one thing in common: you must know where you are starting from in order to monitor your progress.

If you want to lose weight, here’s a short list of what to record as a baseline, and every week after that:

☑ Height
☑ Weight
☑ Blood pressure
☑ Percent body fat
☑ Percent body muscle mass
☑ Percent body water
☑ Measurements:

If your New Year’s Resolution is to go to the gym daily or three times a week, don’t just mark a calendar with a big X over the days that you go. Strive to get more data, because it will help you later.

Here’s a list of info you could incorporate in a journal entry that only takes 5 minutes a day:

• Time of day and day you worked out

• Length of workout

• Overall intensity of workout

• What you did during the workout

• What was the hardest exercise you did?

• What was the easiest exercise you did?

• Did you add anything to your workout today?

• What exercises did you workout to failure?

• How long you stretched out before working out

• How much sleep you had the night before

• Last meal or snack before working out

Monitoring More Than One Variable Gives You Answers

Can you see how these details are going to help you create success for your resolutions?

The simple list of 11 items will actually take less than 6 minutes to record – and provides a wealth of information to you for the future.

For example, if you injure yourself on the 4th workout, you can compare the workouts for the previous three days and see if anything may have led to the injury.

Was it lack of sleep? Were you hurrying through your workout because you wanted to get home for dinner? Did the injury happen after you performed the most difficult exercise?

Collecting data is essential to meet your health goals. The more you record, the more you can see what really happened as a result of changing one or two things in your life.

Always Include These Health Indices

Anyone who is making health resolutions should always have some basic things they are monitoring:

• Height
• Weight
• Blood pressure
• Fasting blood sugar levels
• Hemoglobin A1c levels
• Cholesterol levels (HDL, LDL, and total cholesterol)
• and measurements of your body if necessary

These Extra Lab Tests Give You More In-Depth Info About Your Health

But let’s think ahead here. What extra lab tests would be a good idea to get now for this new baseline for your New Year’s Resolutions?

Here are a few to think about:

• Vitamin D levels

• Vitamin B12 levels

• Selenium levels

• Results of specific lab tests that you’re concerned about, such as cancer tests, allergy tests, inflammation tests, and antibody titers if you have Lyme disease, hepatitis, or other infectious diseases that measure titers.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D tests are easily done – and most doctors will gladly run them these days because they know that about 75% of the general population is deficient in the vitamin. You’ll know the results within a week.

When vitamin D is low, then the whole body suffers – from depression, fatigue, mood disorders, immune system disorders, and even high blood pressure.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 levels are also easily done with a simple blood test. Since many people believe that eating red meat is bad for them, they may be suffering from a vitamin B12 deficiency without knowing it.

When this vitamin is low, it’s easy to feel tired, and start to experience tingling sensations or other odd sensations in different parts of the body.

Selenium Levels

Selenium levels are monitored via a blood test. When selenium is low, the hair may fall out but more important than that is that the immune system is compromised. The body can’t detoxify as well as it should and it’s easy to develop cancer.

Specific lab tests refer to specific conditions you are tracking. For example, if you suspect food allergies, get an ALCAT test to find out what food sensitivities you have towards food.

Making simple changes as a result of finding out what these tests reveal can go farther in creating health in your body than working out every day in the gym. Try it and see for yourself!

Related posts:

1. Lab Tests You Can Order On Your Own To Check For Or Monitor Cancer
2. Top 4 Medical Tests for Men and Women Over 40
3. Maintaining Your Vision Over 50

Ever Wondered How To Look Younger?

We can’t deny the fact that we live in a youth obsessed culture. And at times it can feel like we are fighting a losing battle as the first signs of wrinkles appear and the face and body begin to sag.

“How to look younger?” is the question on everyone’s lips and yet the truth is none of us can truly avoid the aging process.

Certainly it is possible if you have lots of money to invest in cosmetic surgery but we all know the results.

While some people have excellent surgery that preserves their looks to some extent many more celebrities who have cosmetic surgery work in their 50s and 60s look exactly like that – i.e. older people who have been ‘done’.

The truth is there are many simple and easy ways to look younger than your age without resorting to expensive cosmetic procedures that no doubt will need constantly refining and updating as the years progress.

Check out our top tips to look younger…

How To Look Young Whatever Your Age

1. Eat Well

There’s no way around it – eating a healthy, nutritious diet that avoids fats and sugar and includes lots of antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables is a simple way to look 10 years younger.

That old saying ‘you are what you eat’ is certainly true and if you indulge in a high fat, high sugar and high calorie diet you’ll end up with a body and complexion that is bloated and saggy – something that is aging in itself.

A diet high in fruit and vegetables, lean protein, oily fish or other foods containing essential fatty acids (EFAs) and unrefined carbohydrates is the way to smooth, supple skin and a lithe body.

Being overweight is aging, although being too thin is not recommended either, however staying lean and trim will take years off your age.

Refine your diet and make sure the foods you eat have nutritional value this will go a long way in helping to hold off the years.

What’s more when you eat healthily too feel better and have more energy too. Fact.

2. Hydrate Your Skin Inside And Out

Both men and women will benefit and stay younger looking by moisturizing their skin regularly.

That means the body, face and especially the skin of the hands and neck, as these are areas prone to premature aging. Crepe-like skin in these areas can really give your true age away.

During the daytime use a moisturizer that contains an SPF of at least 15 is recommended to prevent skin aging via the sun’s harmful UV rays.

In fact you really must protect your skin from the sun as you age because nothing will damage and age your skin more.

At night choose a richer moisturizer – this includes the men! Moisturizer is not just for women and it is possible to buy or make your own moisturizers that are scented with more masculine fragrances.

Products containing sandalwood make a good choice for men.

Drinking enough water each day will also help to hydrate your skin from within.

Dehydrated skin is prone to showing up fine lines and wrinkles so try to drink 6 – 8 glasses of pure water every day.

What’s more when you are adequately hydrated you are less likely to overeat – drinking water also helps to regulate your appetite and help you to manage your weight as well as keeping your skin looking younger.

3. Don’t Get Stuck In A Style Rut

Nothing will date you more than wearing your hairstyle or your clothes in a style that was popular in a past decade you really enjoyed.

Many people make the mistake of getting stuck in a style rut that reflects a time when they felt young, happy and confident.

Staying up to date with the latest fashions may sound like something that is purely the domain of the young but it is possible to adapt and modify recent trends to update your look without becoming an aging fashion victim.

Avoid anything too tight or too fussy, simple classic garments that are well cut and made in high quality materials will stand you well – but don’t disregard high fashion completely, there are ways to adopt trends, such as colors, prints or by using accessories, without going over the top.

4. Considering Coloring Your Hair

Grey hair can look good if all of your hair is gray or white – as long as gray hair looks shiny and healthy it doesn’t have to be too aging.

However if your hair is at an in-between stage then coloring your hair may be the best option – and this goes for men too.

The main problem with colored hair is if too dark a shade is chosen. Your skin tone changes as you age and very dark hair may look too harsh.

A mistake many people make is using the same hair colorant they used when they were younger.

Consider highlights or a color that is one or two shades lighter than your natural hair color.

5. Update Your Makeup

A top tip for women is to remember that as you age less is more when it comes to makeup.

Heavy foundation can settle and accumulate in lines and wrinkles making them more noticeable, so switch to a tinted moisturizer instead for a youthful, dewy and glowing complexion.

Eye make up can also enhance creases around the eyes and heavy colors will highlight any dark circles under the eyes.

Stick to eyeliner and mascara only and don’t go too dark. Mascara in shades of natural brown and navy blue work well on older skin tones.

A fine slick of light colored powder eye shadow under your eyes will help to open them up and lift the area.

Lipstick can bleed when there are fine lines around the mouth and as lips become thinner and lose some of their plumpness as we age, dark lip shades can add years to your overall look.

If you want to look younger stick to lip gloss and lip plumping glosses in clear or pale shades.

Make sure your eyebrows are neat and tidy and not over or under plucked.

Eyebrows give your face definition and if yours are neat and well shaped you will knock years off your face.

6. Grooming Is Paramount

One for the men – facial hair like beards and moustaches can be aging and it’s a truth that most women prefer men who are cleanly shaven.

Likewise hair sprouting from the ears and nose is instantly aging and unappealing.

Make sure ALL your facial hair is groomed and this includes your eyebrows – don’t let them get too bushy.

Get your eyebrows trimmed regularly by a professional if you are unsure of how to take care of this area yourself.

7. Keep Your Teeth White

Keeping teeth white and clean looking will help you to look younger.

Yellowing teeth that have been stained by coffee, wine or nicotine are instantly aging so make sure you get yours regularly cleaned by your dentist or invest in teeth whitening treatment.

8. Wear Brighter Colors

As your skin tone changes with age it’s important to adapt your wardrobe to make use of this.

You may have always thought black was sophisticated and slimming but dark colors can drain your face and leave you looking older than your years.

That doesn’t mean you need to ditch all your dark colored clothes, wear lighter and brighter colors near to your face so they can compliment your complexion.

This means tops and blouses for women and shirts and knitwear for men. We all know that darker colors can be slimming so save them for your bottom half.

A brightly colored scarf or tie around the neck can give an outfit an instant lift and reflect light onto your face helping you to look vibrant and young rather than drained or tired looking.

9. Keep On Moving

As we age both men and women lose muscle tone and are prone to piling on the pounds, but this doesn’t mean you need to get lazy and accept a flabby body as inevitable.

Exercising and controlling your weight is the way to stay trim as you age and the best form of exercise for both men and women to get your inner calorie burner fired is weight bearing exercise.

Two to three sessions of weight training per week is beneficial for both sexes as it helps to build muscle mass and give you a body that is toned and trim.

For women the added benefit is that weight training also helps to build stronger bones – important if you want to avoid age related bone conditions like osteoporosis.

Of course any form of exercise that gets your heart rate up is good for you brisk walking, swimming and gym classes targeted towards older people are all fine.

If you really want to see and feel a difference try incorporating some muscle building exercise into your weekly exercise routine.

10. Smile And Stay Positive

Attitude is everything if you slouch around apologizing for your age then people will treat you like an ‘older’ person.

Be confident in yourself, celebrate your achievements and enjoy the fact that your life experience has given you a wisdom that your younger friends have yet to achieve.

A smiling face and a positive attitude are ageless and if you believe in yourself then others will too – no matter what your age.

Find Out More…

If this article has given you food for thought and you are interested in finding out more about how you can REALLY fight the aging process then consider the Fit Over 40 program.

This book reveals all the inside secrets of the aging process and how to manage it effectively to keep your body and mind looking young forever.

Related posts:

1. 7 Anti-Aging Tips For The Over 40s
2. Tips To Help With Thinning Hair For Men Over 40
3. Top 4 Medical Tests for Men and Women Over 40

When you hit the age of 30, you may be like most people and begin to wonder why:

• You gain weight more easily than before

• Your skin starts to take on a different appearance and wrinkles begin to appear

• Mentally you may start to slow down

• Your body seems to have more aches and pains than ever

• Healing takes longer and longer

• You may tend to feel as if you don’t have the competitive edge anymore

All these signs and symptoms of aging are due to one thing alone – your hormones are shifting.

Your body makes hormones for basic functioning, such as antidiuretic hormone, which kicks in and is related to regulating the flow of urine when you drink water or beer.

Your body makes hormones that may be categorized as anti-aging hormones, too.

One of them is called DHEA hormone, or dehydroepiandrosterone.

Hormone Science Is Not An Exact Science

DHEA hormone levels are at their peak when you’re in your mid 20s, and then they begin to dwindle. That’s when some people start noticing that their body is slowing down.

However, what most people don’t know is that you can keep DHEA levels up by your good daily health habits.

Thus, it’s possible for you to slow down your own aging process – just because you get up in the morning and do healthy things for your body! Isn’t that amazing?

Of course, you could take a simple DHEA supplement instead – but the truth about hormone replacement is that it’s difficult to find out where exactly the hormones should be and keep them there.

Think about what happens when someone becomes low in thyroid hormone.

They are prescribed a thyroid hormone supplement and it seems that only in rare situations that thyroid supplement truly corrects the problem.

They may feel as if it is making a difference in the beginning, but a year later, they are experiencing the same problem again.

DHEA hormone supplements may be similar.

Some doctors will order a 50 mg DHEA supplement for a man past the age of 30 or 25 mg DHEA supplement for a woman after testing them and finding the levels that are quite low.

DHEA Levels: Keep ‘Em Up And Your Sex Life Is Up!

Once the levels are higher, it’s time to stop the DHEA and use lower doses to maintain the levels.

This anti-aging hormone is usually synthesized in the adrenal glands and has many functions in the body:

• Increase libido
• Burn fat and make it easier to lose weight
• Prevent cancer
• Production of estrogen and testosterone
• Increases the activity of white blood cells
• Improves memory and focus
• Promotes lean muscle tissue in the body

25 mg DHEA: Too Much For Women?
50 mg DHEA: Too Much For a Man?

DHEA supplements, like many other nutritional supplements, can cause problems if taken too long and in too high of a dosage.

This is because the anti-aging hormone helps boost the production of the body’s natural testosterone.

Many practitioners may give dosages of the nutritional DHEA supplement of 50 mg per month for men and 25 mg for women, but only for the first few months, then drop the levels way down to 25 mg DHEA and 10 mg for women.

Some practitioners believe that only 5 mg DHEA is really needed per day for anyone.

When libido is dwindling to nothing, a boost of testosterone works to enliven a man’s desire for his wife once again. It also can boost a wife’s desire for her husband.

But too much of a good thing can be bad. Too much testosterone can lead to aggression and a complete personality change.

Too much testosterone can make a man into a raging, nasty person because it suppresses warm and caring feelings for others.

On the other hand, enough testosterone helps give a man the oomph to take risks financially such as going for a new promotion, or maybe considering new investments for his retirement portfolio.

Enough testosterone for a woman gives her the desire to want her husband in bed again.

As you can see, there is a fine balance here. And that’s why it may be easier for some people to start with changing their health habits to get the natural increase in DHEA levels in the body.

Three of them seem so basic that you might say to yourself, “How could it be that easy?”

Well perhaps the Creator made it easy for us, and we just seem to make it harder on ourselves.

How To Increase DHEA Levels Naturally

1. Get enough sleep!
2. Eat protein with every meal during your day.
3. Get to the gym and work out with weights.

It’s amazing how these simple strategies will make vast changes in how anyone feels! So what are you waiting for?

Have you had enough protein – chicken, fish, turkey, beef, pork, lamb, or eggs today? Have you worked out with weights? If so, go to bed!

Related posts:

1. What Happened To My Testosterone After I Hit 40? What To Do About It
2. Are You Eating An Aging Diet? 10 Foods That Will Age You Before Your Time
3. 7 Anti-Aging Tips For The Over 40s

Since the beginning of time, there have been thoughts about aging food, anti-aging foods, and an aging diet.

People noticed that they felt better when they ate certain foods and linked other foods to the onset of illness.

The kings, queens and other members of royal families throughout time were given the best of foods and the best of the wines, water, and spices so they could live a long life.

They even had servants who tasted their food and water to make sure that they weren’t poisoned. The kings’ servants spent time determining what were aging foods and what were anti-aging foods.

As civilization progressed, little communities were known for their longevity and their resistance to disease.

Often these were people who lived in the mountains who had free access to pure, running water and lived a hard life, farming the land for whatever they could get out of it.

With the progression of medical science and millions of research studies into what an aging diet and anti-aging foods look like, we now have the knowledge to get results in our own lives.

Although scientists still don’t agree with each other 100% about examples of an aging food is – or what examples of anti-aging foods are, there is enough of a consensus on what you can personally eat or not eat to stay young-looking.

Who Will Live Longer? You Decide

Here’s an example of that controversy, which has shifted into the public.

Have you ever seen the viral email about the difference between two 51-year-old women?

One woman is a very beautiful Italian woman, a cooking expert who eats meat, butter and desserts, with dark, laughing, fun eyes, about 30 pounds overweight. She looks like she would be fun at a party and quite radiant.

The other woman is blond haired, blue-eyed, and a skinny vegetarian about 15 pounds underweight. She looks old because her skin tone is sagging and lots of wrinkles. She is a TV health guru who advocates a holistic lifestyle, avoids yeast and breads, meats, and pasta.

The email implies that going the healthy route is not one of avoiding breads, meats, and pasta, or even calories and that you can eat whatever you want and it won’t be an aging diet.

Although we know now that you don’t need to fear saturated fat anymore unless you binge on these anti-aging foods, we do know that a healthy lifestyle means skimping on calories at least a few days a week.

Staying within your ideal body weight is helpful because you not only look good, but you feel better, move better and have a healthier immune system.

What Your Eyes See May Not Be Real For Determining Longevity

The myth of the email is that just by looking at someone you can determine their health status, and how long they will live.

The old-looking woman could have beat cancer, a life of drugs and alcohol, and several debilitating diseases and came out ahead. Unfortunately along the way, she looked old.

The younger looking woman could die tomorrow with a heart attack or receive a diagnosis of breast cancer in a few weeks.

What we can count on is that how we go into the older years is dependent on our habits right now.

Eating healthy foods – anti-aging foods – instead of an aging diet will give us an edge but that edge is only to be compared to ourselves, not other people.

With that in mind, here is a list of 10 aging foods to eliminate from your diet because they will age you before your time.

10 Aging Foods To Always Avoid

1. Seed Oils Are ‘Seedy’!

Seed oils, such as corn oil, vegetable oil, sunflower seed oil, cottonseed oil, canola oil, and other seed oils are high in polyunsaturated fats, which are a culprit in arteriosclerosis, rapid aging and cancer.

The biggest problem with them is that they contain oxidized fats. You’re safer to eat a handful of nuts than to cook with oils and add oils on your salads.

2. Sweets Aren’t So Sweet For You!

Many of us love a little sweet here and there.

But when that sweet is associated with the rapid accumulation of advanced glycation endproducts, or AGEs, which cause proteins to form twisted, useless strands in each tissue in the body, we have to ask ourselves what is truly important in life.

Certainly one little cookie won’t cause senility, but who can stop at one little cookie?

3. Rancid Food Of Any Kind Equals Aging

The longer a prepared food sits in the refrigerator or at room temperature, the more that food is decomposing.

In the process of decomposition, many compounds are produced, which can be linked with ill health. Don’t eat old food!

4. Fruit And Vegetables That Are Spoiling

Spoiling produce is a source of molds and fungi. Although the process of spoiling is ‘natural’, molds and fungi have been linked to the production of cancer and other diseases.

If you can see mold on a food, the mold count is too high for you to consume it. Throw it away.

5. Nuts With Obvious Molds On Them

Just as fruits and vegetables can and will get moldy and spoil, the same is true for nuts.

Peanuts are notorious for their higher levels of Aspergillus mold. This mold causes the production of aflatoxin which is linked with cancer in exceptionally small amounts.

In one study, when breast tumors were analyzed under the microscope, they were found to have a core of aflatoxin. The body was exposed to too much of it at one time and tried to surround it, forming a tumor.

6. Too Many Carbohydrate Foods During A Meal

Pigging out on carbs during a meal will make you tired for a reason – these foods are aging you!

Stop eating so many of them at one meal. Limit yourself to two carb servings per meal.

7. Too Many Carbohydrate Foods During the Day

If you’re good and limit your carbs to two servings per meal, you can still overdo it for the day!

Loading up on even more carbs in between meals can give you 120 grams carbs in your diet or more, risking high blood sugar levels.

8. Puffed Foods Will Puff You Up

Puffed foods are foods like rice cakes, puffed corn and puffed rice cereals.

When tested by Glycemic Index scientists, these foods had a Glycemic Index close to or exceeding 100. This means that they shot the blood sugar levels up after they were eaten.

High blood sugar levels mean that the sugar has to go somewhere in the body, and it does – it gets deposited in the organs. This renders the proteins in those organs useless.

9. Boxed Cereals Leave You Fighting For Life!

Boxed cereals are notorious for their high Glycemic Indexes. It’s best to do without them!

Eat real oatmeal, not processed oats or quick-cooking oats.

Quick-cooking oats cook quickly because the oats have been broken down to smaller particles. Small particles means higher blood sugar levels, too.

10. Quick Meats Quicken Your Death

Hot dogs and salami, cold cuts and processed meats are highly processed, and contain a high level of AGEs that contribute to aging.

Related posts:

1. Must-Have Foods For Those Over 40
2. Diet Tips Individuals Over 40 Need To Know To Boost Their Fitness Success
3. 7 Anti-Aging Tips For The Over 40s

Testosterone is what makes men male. This hormone gives men big muscles, great strength, thick bones, a deep voice, and sexual drive.

As these benefits decrease past the age of 40 when testosterone levels dwindle, many men think the answer is simply increased testosterone levels.

But high testosterone levels may not be the answer to men’s health problems, especially if medication is used.

And there are precautions about the use of DHEA for low testosterone, as well.

Testosterone Cycles In Men

During the normal life span of a human, there are times when testosterone levels are high and other times when they are low.

Right after fertilization of an egg in the womb, testosterone levels are low.

Then, around one to one and a half months old in the womb, testosterone levels increase and begin causing the cells of the body to form male sex organs. This is when the prostate gland develops as well.

Testosterone levels are low when a baby is born, and are only detectable around the age of 6 months. The hormone levels then start to increase during puberty.

As a teen goes into young adulthood, testosterone levels are at their peak for life. And that’s when men feel as if they are in their prime of life.

The times that the testosterone levels are higher are times when men are more preoccupied with women, the drive to get ahead and be #1, and becoming sexually active.

When the testosterone levels are low, men are more interested in other things, such as hobbies or intellectual pursuits.

Men also take more financial risks when they have higher levels of testosterone.

But then as men begin to age, their levels of testosterone start to fall. Levels below 300 ng/dL are considered low, and the range is 300-1200 ng/dL.

Females Have Testosterone, Too

Surprisingly to some people, females also will have levels of testosterone; their levels are much lower, at 30 to 95 ng/dL.

When females have low levels, they experience a lack of libido, just as men do with low levels of testosterone.

Checking Your Level Of Testosterone May Be Revealing

Since keeping levels of testosterone high enough for men to feel as if they are at their peak in life depends on the levels of testosterone in the blood, it becomes important after the age of 30 or 40 to check these levels.

How low are they? In 2005 to 2006, researchers started reporting on their new findings: that men who were in their 50s and older had levels of testosterone that were considerably lower than what they should be. Yet no one knew why.

High Testosterone Can Be Bad

The synthetic derivatives of testosterone may be associated with side effects such as increased PSA test results, a test for prostate health; aggression, acne, oily skin, sleep apnea, and hair loss or hair thinning.

This can result from testosterone injections, gels and patches or steroid pills causing higher levels than what they should be.

Testosterone medication can even affect your children. For example, there have been cases reported where fathers taking testosterone medication who often sat young children on their laps.

The children absorbed the high levels of testosterone and began developing the signs of maleness that aren’t supposed to occur until teen years.

The big question is how to increase the testosterone levels without using testosterone supplementation, and thus without the risks.

Since testosterone is created naturally in the body from cholesterol in the testes and the adrenal gland, you can look at natural ways to increase testosterone – and not have to worry about testosterone negative side effects from very high levels.

Ways To Increase Testosterone Levels Naturally:

1. DHEA, A Natural Supplement, But Too Much Is Not Good

DHEA stands for the adrenal hormone dihydroepiandrosterone, which is one that increases testosterone levels naturally.

The body makes its own DHEA, but just like testosterone, levels of DHEA fall as we get older. About 10 to 15 mg DHEA is made by the body daily.

Increasing DHEA levels has been beneficial to heart health, the reversal of Type 2 Diabetes, banishing fatigue, and other positive benefits.

DHEA is often used for low testosterone.

A DHEA supplement can help increase testosterone levels but if levels are raised too high, then it can cause the negative side effects mentioned above.

Hormone supplementation is always kind of tricky, and too much can be just as bad as too little.

Since around the mid-1990s, DHEA for low testosterone became available over-the-counter without a prescription.

Supplements as high as 50 mg are available, but how much you need really should be discussed with a knowledgeable doctor – and your progress should be tracked.

This way, your physician may only recommend 10 mg DHEA for low testosterone as a supplement, and it will be less of a risk of developing high levels of testosterone.

2. Reversal Of A Zinc Deficiency

Zinc deficiency causes low testosterone. It’s also associated with decreased immunity.

Seeing a nutritionist can be a way to determine whether or not low testosterone levels are occurring from a zinc deficiency.

3. Bodybuilding Pumps Up Testosterone Levels Naturally

Why not get a naturally high level of testosterone just from working out in the health club with body building exercises?

Studies show that levels increase from this type of activity.

4. Eating More Protein

As we age, we sometimes stop eating as much steak, fish, chicken, pork, and turkey. And this in turn, contributes to lower levels of testosterone.

Just by eating more protein in the diet, men can get the edge back in life – with higher testosterone levels.

5. Getting REM Sleep

Another simple technique to increase testosterone levels is getting to bed on time, preferably by 11 p.m.

REM sleep, or rapid eye movement sleep happens during the night in 90-minute cycles.

The more 90-minute cycles you get during the night, the greater the benefits on your health. One benefit is restoration of higher testosterone levels.

Related posts:

1. Why The Anti-Aging Hormone DHEA Levels Dwindle After Age 30 And What To Do About It
2. Lab Tests You Can Order On Your Own To Check For Or Monitor Cancer
3. Fertility and Fitness Over 40

Thinning Hair

The subject of thinning hair is a hot topic for men of all ages but particularly when a man is over 40, thinning hair and hair loss may become more noticeable and many men feel that this is the time to seek advice.

For some men hair loss over time is seen as an inevitable part of the aging process and they are not troubled by it.

Some men are happy to shave their heads or simply live with thinner hair.

For others however, thinning hair can be extremely distressing and cause loss of confidence.

If thinning hair over 40 is a problem that concerns you, this article will explain what you can do to improve the condition of your hair.

What Causes Thinning Hair?

There are several causes of hair loss in men including:

• Illness
• Reaction to certain medications
• Stress
• Thyroid disorders
• Iron deficiency
• Fungal scalp disease
• Male pattern baldness

Male pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia as it is sometimes referred to be the main cause of thinning hair in men over 40 and is extremely common.

The condition is usually inherited and begins with hair loss around the temples progressing to thinning hair at the crown of the head.

This condition can begin as early as the teenage years in some men and quite often when a man is still in his 20s or 30s.

However over 40 and beyond is the time when many men notice a more visible change to their hair.

Male pattern thinning is caused by a chemical called dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which causes the hair follicles to produce hairs that are progressively thinner.

Eventually the affected hair follicles stop working altogether and hair will no longer grow.

Men who develop this type of hair loss have a genetic sensitivity to DHT and this is why some men are affected while others aren’t.

Can I Stop Thinning Hair?

If there is a temporary cause for hair loss such as stress or iron deficiency then it is possible to halt the process with supplements or lifestyle changes. However male pattern hair loss is more difficult to treat.

There are many ‘miracle’ products for thinning hair advertised that promise to halt or reverse male pattern hair thinning but these need careful investigation as some will be successful and others will only serve to waste your time and money.

That said there is much you can do to disguise thinning hair if this problem is causing you concern and embarrassment. And there are natural solutions available that can help you to restore your hair back to its best.

Hair Care Tips For Thinning Hair

Many people make jokes about hair loss but the problem can be distressing and lead to feelings of low self-esteem and self-consciousness.

If you are experiencing thinning hair you may want to try out the following tips below to help disguise the problem and regain control of this troubling condition.

1. Find A Good Hair Stylist

A good hair stylist who understands the problems of thinning hair in the over 40s is worth their weight in gold!

Finding the right hair stylist can be a matter of trial and error but could make all the difference.

Many men when trying to combat the problem of thinning hair make the mistake of trying to recreate the hairstyle they have always had.

But a change of style that suits your hair as it is now could be a good solution and a good hair stylist should be able to advise you.

2. Choose The Right Style

Many men over 40 try to grow their existing hair longer to counteract the problem, they then slick it back over areas that are thinning such as the crown of the head from the front or from one side – in what is commonly ridiculed as the ‘comb-over.’

In an attempt to disguise the problem they may in fact be drawing more attention to it by doing so.

Shaving the hair as closely as possible to the scalp may be a better option but not everyone can carry off this ‘tough’ look.

Certainly if you work in an office it may not feel like the right look for you, however it is worth a try as close crops do grow out relatively quickly.

3. Try Hair Volumizing Products

There are many products on the market such as shampoos, conditioners, mousses and hair lotions that can add volume to your hair.

It’s important to do a bit of research on these however as some may be costly, ineffectual or both.

A good product will add temporary volume to your hair and can help if your hair looks flat and thin.

Most of these products will not have a lasting effect however; it is also possible that you hair will eventually become ‘used to’ the product and over a period of time the results may not be as good as they were in the beginning.

It may therefore be necessary to incorporate a few different volumizing hair products into your hair care regime.

Good volumizing products will not weigh your hair down.

They are usually applied to the roots of the hair when wet and if you blow dry your hair (some people blow dry their hair with their head upside down to increase the effects) will build volume.

Choose texturizing mousses, sprays and lotions as heavy creams and gels stick too much of your hair together and will reveal more scalp.

4. Experiment With Color

Contrary to popular belief coloring your hair will not cause further hair loss if your hair is in a good and healthy condition.

Over processing the hair with color and heat can cause dryness and hair breakage, which will affect the overall look of your hair, but hair color treatments do not cause hair to fall out.

Semi-permanent color is particularly gentle, as it does not contain any peroxide or ammonia although permanent color should pose no problem if you hair is healthy.

Color can add body and volume to fine hair and is therefore useful when it comes to disguising thinning hair.

5. Investigate Natural Solutions To Thinning Hair

Much advice given on the subject of hair loss can only provide a temporary fix.

If you are looking for something more permanent understanding the cause of your hair loss is vital.

If you fully understand the process of hair loss it may be possible that you can see certain parts of your lifestyle that could be contributing to your thinning hair.

Separating fact from fiction when it comes to hair loss is vital.

The Hair Loss Black Book is a valuable tool that explains hair loss in detail, looks at the scientific facts and gives you all the tools you’ll need to successfully tackle the problem of thinning hair.

Related posts:

1. 7 Anti-Aging Tips For The Over 40s
2. Top 10 Tips To Look Younger
3. What Happened To My Testosterone After I Hit 40? What To Do About It

What Is The Menopause?

The menopause is a hugely significant phase of a woman’s life, one in which she moves from a time of fertility to a totally new experience of herself.

It generally begins with the peri-menopause when a woman is somewhere in her early 40s and can take up to 10 years until the process is fully over.

Menopause occurs when the levels of estrogen and progesterone (the female hormones) begin to fall and the ovaries stop producing eggs.

This means that menstruation stops and a woman is no longer able to conceive. It is a time of great change for women both physically and mentally and many, but not all, women experience some unpleasant side effects throughout the process.

For some women entering the menopause can be a relief, for others the changes to the body are overwhelming and upsetting.

Menopausal Skin

Skin changes are one of the biggest problems that face women at this time. Much has been written about the mood swings and hot flashes associated with the menopause but the skin changes that can occur at this time are less well known.

Falling levels of the hormone estrogen cause menopausal skin problems. Estrogen facilitates the production of collagen and the skins natural oils, as it diminishes the skin can become dry and itchy.

Women experiencing the early symptoms of the peri-menopause may notice overly dry elbows, drier, flaky skin around the T-Zone of the face and may also notice that their nails are becoming more brittle and splitting more easily.

The Menopause And Dry Skin

One of the earliest signs that a woman is entering the peri-menopause is the drying out of the skin. And this can occur all over the body including the face, chest, back, knees, elbows, legs and even the genitals.

7 Tips To Help Combat Dry And Itchy Skin During The Menopause

1. Include Healthy Fats In The Diet

Healthy fats contain what are known as essential fatty acids or EFAs.

Sometimes referred to as Omega 3 and Omega 6 oils – the best sources of EFAs are found in oily fish, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, linseeds, some of the healthier oils such as sunflower, sesame, walnut and soya, dark green vegetables and fortified eggs.

A diet lacking in these good fats will leave you with dry, itchy skin.

This is because EFAs facilitate the production of the skin’s natural oil barrier. This barrier is vital for the skin if we want to keep it hydrated, moist and smooth looking.

2. Avoid Hot Baths And Showers

Very hot baths and showers may be a great way to unwind at the end of the day but they can take their toll on menopausal skin.

Very hot water is too harsh for your skin as you age and will strip it of its’ natural oils.

The solution is to avoid bathing in very hot water – take baths and showers in tepid water and also decrease the amount of time spent in the bath or shower.

3. Go Easy On The Soap

Soap is also very harsh on the skin and may exacerbate the problem of dry skin.

Save the soap for the areas where you may really need it such as the feet and the underarms. You can simply wash the rest of your body with water or with a product specially formulated for very dry skin if you prefer.

Avoid soaps or cleansing products that are anti-bacterial or strongly perfumed however as these will also contain harsh chemicals that strip the skin of its’ natural moisture levels.

4. Slap On The Moisturizer

Don’t forget after bathing or washing to moisturize your entire body – not just your face.

There are many simple and inexpensive moisturizers in the shops that won’t cost you a fortune and will do the job just as well as the pricier beauty products.

Don’t skimp on this part of your beauty routine as your skin will dry out and may become itchy if adequate moisture levels are not maintained.

The menopause and itchy skin can go hand in hand and moisturizing your skin is a good way to prevent the annoyance of skin that feels irritated and itchy.

5. Exfoliate Before Moisturizing

Using exfoliating products is a good way to prime the skin before applying moisturizer.

Exfoliators help to slough away dead skin cells and leave the skin feeling smooth. What’s more your moisturizer will be better able to penetrate the skin once any excess dead skin is removed.

Again it is important to choose a gentle exfoliator and not one that contains too many harsh chemicals.

Many people choose to make their own with ingredients such as sea salt, honey, a drop of cosmetic olive oil and a drop of a favorite fragrant aromatherapy/essential oil.

These simple, homemade beauty products can work just as well as shop bought exfoliators and you are safe in the knowledge that they are 100% natural too!

6. Drink Enough Water

It’s that good advice that you just keep on hearing. Water is essential for healthy skin – what’s more it’s good for your whole body too.

Making sure that you are adequately hydrated from the inside will help to keep your skin looking good on the outside and also help to prevent dry, itchy skin.

Water also helps to flush out impurities, which in turn can keep your skin free from blemishes. What’s more water helps to plump up your skin and keep it smooth looking – a person who is dehydrated may have a pinched, dry or sallow looking complexion.

So make sure you’re getting enough water to prevent dry skin and premature aging. Six to eight glasses per day is the usual recommended amount for adults.

7. Get Enough Exercise

Exercise is important during the menopause for the health of your heart and bones however it also helps to keep your skin healthy too.

When you exercise higher levels of nutrients and oxygen are delivered to the skin and this increases the production of collagen, which is vital if we want to maintain a youthful looking complexion.

People who exercise also generally tend to have brighter more vibrant looking complexions than those who don’t.

Beautiful Skin As You Age

The experience of dry skin during the menopause can come as a shock to some women, particularly if they have been used to the problems of oily skin in their younger years.

However by following the simple tips and advice given here there is a lot that you can do for yourself to care for your skin and keep it looking healthy and beautiful as you age.

The Naturally Skinsational eBook is an extensive skincare resource that is filled with ideas for making your own 100% natural and safe beauty products.

Natural products are an excellent choice for anyone suffering from dry, itchy skin as they can be created to suit your needs and won’t be packed full of harsh, artificial ingredients.

Related posts:

1. Skin Care for 40′s to 50′s
2. Skin Care For 50’s to 60’s
3. 7 Anti-Aging Tips For The Over 40s

Want To Look Good Over 40?

There is a lot of advice out there on how to look good as you age, anti-aging hints and tips can be found in abundance that aim to show you how you can hold off the years.

However much of the advice focuses on aging prevention and is aimed at those who are still in their 20s and 30s.

But what about if you are over 40? Or well beyond 40?

By your 40s some of the damage you have done to your skin will begin to show up on your face and body.

If you spent your younger years tanning, smoking and enjoying the odd alcoholic drink or two these articles can make you feel like it’s all too late.

But don’t worry – if you’re over 40 all is not lost!

For certain you cannot reverse all the damage caused to your skin and body by 20 years of living life to the full if that’s what you’ve done but there is much you can do to prevent further damage and improve the condition and texture of your skin so you’ll look good as the aging process continues.

7 Effective Anti-Aging Tips For The Over 40s

Those 3 golden rules still apply…

• Avoid tanning and always wear a high factor sunscreen
• Avoid smoking
• Only drink alcohol in moderation or not at all

These 3 tips will ALWAYS be the foundation of any anti-aging advice – and with good reason. There is nothing that will age your skin more than these 3 sins! It’s proven.

However by now most people are aware of the 3 big skin no-nos. So what else can those who are over 40 do to improve the condition of their skin and hold off the dreaded wrinkles?

1. Cleanse And Moisturize Every Morning And Every Night.

It goes without saying that a good skincare routine for both men and women is the bedrock of beautiful skin.

Keeping your skin clean and hydrated from the outside will do much to improve the tone and texture of your skin and moist looking skin will help you to look younger as dry skin highlights all those fine lines and wrinkles you want to disguise.

You don’t need to spend a fortune on costly creams and cleansers either however soap is best avoided on the face. Choose a gentle cleanser to wash your face and a good moisturizer that suits your skin type.

It’s also easy enough to make your own products from natural ingredients if you want to be sure that what you are putting onto your skin is 100% natural

Most people find that their skin becomes drier as they get older so a richer moisturizer maybe more appropriate. What worked for you in your 30s may not work for you now.

However don’t confuse thick with rich. Some creams are just too heavy and will simply sit on top of the outer layer of your skin without penetrating it, these creams can leave your skin looking dull or puffy.

2. Drink Plenty Of Water

Yes it’s that piece of advice that you hear over and over again but it does work! Making sure your body is adequately hydrated with water will help your skin to look smoother.

Try to drink 6 to 8 glasses of water per day to make sure that your skin doesn’t become too dry. Dry and dull skin, especially on the face, is very aging.

3. Eat Well

There are so many good reasons to eat healthily for the over 40s that it is difficult to know where to begin!

A healthy diet will help you to manage your weight and avoid certain health issues that can creep up on us as we age. Conditions like diabetes and high cholesterol are linked to diets that are high in sugars and unsaturated fats.

Over 40 is the time to really think long and hard about eating more healthily, being overweight is instantly aging and a poor diet will really start to show up on your face.

A diet that is high in fat and sugar will lead to a dull, pallid or puffy complexion.

For vibrant skin try to include more fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet, your skin will really thank and reward you for including these vitamin packed wonder foods in your daily diet.

Fruit smoothies are an excellent way to include more fruit in your diet and if you have a juicer vegetable juices make an excellent, nourishing low calorie snack or meal replacement.

4. Re-Think Your Hairstyle And Color

It’s not just your hair that turns gray as you age – your skin pigmentation changes too. And while most over 40s don’t end up with technically gray skin many experience a ‘dulling’ of the skin.

Skin loses its brightness over time and this is unfortunately very aging. Nothing suggests youth and vitality more than vibrant, glowing skin.

The change to the color and tone of your skin may simply be Mother Nature’s way of making sure that it compliments your ‘new’ gray hair color. However lots of people, men and women, color their gray hair as a way to look younger.

This can lead to a contrast that is too harsh. The colors that suited you in your 20s and 30s may not work for your skin tone once you are over 40. So make sure that if you are coloring your hair that you choose a shade that flatters your new skin tone.

As a rule, very dark colors will not work on over 40s complexions; they will drain the face and leave you looking haggard.

If possible aim to go one shade lighter than your natural hair color as you get older. Highlights, especially around the face, also work well for older people.

Making sure you have a good haircut is paramount to the aging process, as nothing will date you more than trying to hold on to the hairstyle you had in your 20s or 30s. So why not try something new?

Many people say that women should cut their hair shorter as they age and there is something in this. Hair that has become drier or thinner because of the aging process won’t look as good as it once did if kept long.

However not every woman wants to have short hair and nor should they! Shoulder length, layered styles can be more flattering and less aging than close cut crops. So choose a style that works for you and that, most importantly, you really like.

The secret lies in finding an excellent hair stylist who understands the aging process!

5. The Eyes Have It

One anti-aging tip for the over 40s that you may not have thought about is to make sure that you take care of your eyebrows. The eyebrows frame your face and neglecting them or over-plucking them can instantly age you.

For men, straggly overgrown or bushy eyebrows will add years to your face so make sure you keep them groomed by getting them trimmed by your barber.

For women much as overly bushy eyebrows will make you look unkempt, over plucked, thin brows are actually more aging.

As you age it is better to adopt a fuller look for the eyebrows, if you don’t have them naturally you may need to define yours with an eye pencil.

6. Sleep Your Way To Younger Looking Skin

The term beauty sleep is not based on myth. Lack of sleep is high on the list of skin enemies that can prematurely age your skin.

We all know that we look better after a good nights sleep and that a run of late nights can leave us looking tired, droopy and haggard.

Aim to get between 6 to 8 hours of sleep per night and see the results on your face – a less tired looking and more vital complexion.

7. Try Facial Exercises

You work out the muscles of your body so why not work out the muscles of your face?

Facial exercises are an excellent way for the over 40s to improve the texture and tone of their skin.

Facial exercises work in three positive ways. First of all they can help you firm up problem areas like sagging jowls and drooping brows.

Secondly then can help to enhance facial features by working on the underlying muscles so if you want to accentuate your cheekbones or define your jaw line facial exercises can help.

Finally facial exercises, like regular bodily exercises, increase your circulation the blood flow to your skin. This has a positive effect on the tone of your skin and will help you to achieve that all-important glowing complexion that will help you stay looking youthful.

You Can Still Look Fantastic!

There’s no need to fear the aging process – it comes to us all eventually so it’s better to embrace it. And as you can see from this article there is a lot you can do to improve and revitalize the tone and texture of your skin.

The Naturally Skinsational eBook shows you how to harness the rejuvenating, anti-aging powers of natural ingredients that can be found in any home.

Literally packed full of skin-friendly recipes this eBook is the resource for those who want to age beautifully the natural way.

Related posts:

1. Why The Anti-Aging Hormone DHEA Levels Dwindle After Age 30 And What To Do About It
2. Top 10 Tips To Look Younger
3. Tips To Help With Thinning Hair For Men Over 40

If you’re getting ready to start up on your workout plan, one thing that you’ll definitely want to consider is the best exercises for men over 40.

While many of the exercises that this group should be doing are fairly similar to those that younger males should be, there are some key differences that you must know about.

By selecting the right combination of exercise for men over 40, you can be sure that you’re maximizing muscle growth, without putting your body at risk.

Males of this age do have slightly different hormonal environments, recovery abilities, and other related issues that can factor into workout selection, so by noting these and then formulating your plan, you can be sure that you’re on your way to success.

Let’s go over some of the important factors that need to be assessed when looking at the best exercises for men over 40 and then give you a great list of movements to choose from.

Being Aware Of Joint Pain

The very first thing to think about when designing a workout program for yourself is that now that you are older, you are at a slightly higher risk of experiencing joint related pain.

While this won’t impact all males, many of those who do have a background of quite heavy lifting or other intense physical activity pursuits behind them (such as endurance running training) could be dealing with nagging chronic injuries that don’t seem to quit.

For this reason, it’s helpful to look at a few substitutions.

For example, rather than performing full front squats, which will place a great deal of strain on the back and knees, try leg press instead.

This way you’re supported by the bench the entire way through and it’s a lot less taxing on the body. As you can still lift very heavy when doing the leg press, it won’t hinder muscle growth in any way.

Likewise, rather than doing a standing shoulder press where you’re going to experience a very high amount of tension coming down through the spinal column, consider doing a seated shoulder press instead or consider doing upright rows if you are suffering from elbow pain.

Again, you’ll still get great strengthening benefits from both of these movements but won’t have the level of stress on the body that you would with that standing shoulder press.

It’s always important not to cut out any muscle groups from your workout plan but make minor adjustments that will keep the body safe and comfortable.

Factoring In Recovery

The next thing that you must take into account as well is your recovery ability. Many of the compound exercises will really place a high degree of stress on the CNS since you are lifting such a heavy weight and working so many muscle groups at once.

To help get around this, you may want to start doing some pre-exhaust isolation exercises first. What this means is that rather than going straight away into the bench press for instance, you should perform a few isolated chest fly’s first.

This isolation exercise will tire out the chest muscles so that when you do move to the compound lift of bench press, you require fewer overall sets to really fatigue the muscles and bring about that growth response.

You’ll still see great strength gains as you are doing the key compound lift, but the entire session won’t be quite as taxing.

Normally for men under 40 they would choose compound first and then move to isolation movements, but for selecting the best exercises for men over 40, the opposite is generally a smarter move.

Of course this doesn’t have to be the case in all situations, but for many it is. Especially when you are dealing with a chronic injury in one muscle group.

Hitting The Trouble Spots

Finally, last but not least, when thinking about the best exercises, consider your trouble spots. Typically males do tend to accumulate the most fat in the abdominal and lower back region as this is where your body naturally tends to store fat.

As such, you’ll likely want to be doing something to help you rid yourself of this. While getting down to a low body fat percentage overall is always the top way to reduce fat from the abs and ‘love handles’, you can also firm up the muscles underneath so that you look better in that area.

The plank is going to be great for this as it works the entire core as well as all the muscles that run along the spinal column as you try and maintain good balance while doing the movement.

Also remember to perform the side plank as part of your routine as well, as that will really hit those muscles on the side very well.

Another great movement for lower back fat will be weighted supermans, where you lie flat on a bench, have someone sit across your lower legs for balance, and then holding a weighted plate lower and rise back up again using the back muscles to guide you.

This is great for hitting those stubborn areas that many other exercises miss, especially if you are going to be doing more seated exercises as we mentioned above.

So there you have some of the key things to note when choosing exercise for men over 40. It’s definitely important that you do make a few adjustments to your workout routine as you go along so that you can see that much better results.

The one thing that puts a stop to many men who are seriously involved in their training is injuries, so this can help keep you injury free and ensure you stay the course.

For more help designing a fully customized workout plan that is targeted towards those over 40 looking to get fast results, please check out the Fit Over 40 program.

It has everything you need to make a dramatic body transformation.

Related posts:

1. Workouts For Men Over 40
2. How to Lose Belly Fat? For Men & Women Over 40
3. Gaining Muscle Over 40? Here’s How