Many people are looking for the best ways to look and feel younger. This is something that almost everyone is striving to achieve. There are a number of different ways that you can try to look and feel younger from skin treatments to exercise classes to keep you active, but not everything gives you the best results. DHEA or dehydroepiandrosterone is a type of adrenal steroid hormone that is found within the body.
It is identified by many to be a type of youth hormone. Due to the many youth benefits that DHEA can offer, it is a steroid that is becoming increasingly popular. However, there are many people that question how healthy this steroid is for the body and what the real youth benefits are. Before you become one of the many people turning to DHEA for the many youth benefits it offers, you might want to learn more about the pros and cons:
What is DHEA?
Before you take a closer look at the pros and cons of DHEA, it is a god idea to learn the basic information surrounding this steroid. It is an adrenal steroid hormone made within the body from the adrenal glands. After it is made, DHEA is then coated with androgens, estrogens and other hormones. Normal DHEA levels in the body increase during the 20’s and then decrease over time as you age. DHEA is known to regulate fat metabolism and increase energy levels within the body. For this reason, many people believe that taking this steroid can offer youth benefits. Here is a closer look at the pros and cons of DHEA.
The Pros of DHEA
1. Skin Benefits
Some research does show that the elasticity of the skin can be enhanced and improved by simply taking DHEA orally. It makes your skin thicker and can even help to reduce skin pigmentation that occurs as a result of aging. If you want your skin to look more youthful and be thicker, taking DHEA offers this benefit.
2. Erectile Dysfunction Treatment
Many men suffer from erectile dysfunction, but DHEA has been proven to be an effective treatment for this condition. Taking DHEA for 24 weeks has been proven to improve this condition substantially. However, those men with diabetes are not urged to take DHEA orally for erectile dysfunction treatment.
3. Osteoporosis Benefits
Another condition that DHEA can be used to effectively treat is osteoporosis. Women that are looking to increase their bone density can greatly benefit from taking DHEA orally. It helps to improve bone density over time and make bones much less brittle.
4. Schizophrenia Treatment
People that are experiencing the negative side effects of schizophrenia can take DHEA orally to reduce symptoms of this condition. Research does show that DHEA is more effective for women with schizophrenia than men.
The Cons of DHEA
Even though DHEA is known to have youthful benefits and can effectively treat a number of different conditions, it is still known to have some adverse side effects. This means that there are various cons to taking DHEA for youth benefits or as a treatment for certain types of conditions.
1. Adverse Side Effects
The adverse side effects of taking DHEA is the biggest reason why there is skepticism surrounding this hormonal steroid. The possible side effects that you can experience when taking DHEA orally include irritability, aggressiveness, hair loss and hair growth on the face for women. Many of these side effects are reason enough for some people to choose not to use DHEA. You have to weigh the benefits against the side effects that you experience.
2. Under Doctor Guidance Only
It is never a good idea to try DHEA supplementation on your own. You always need to consult with a medical professional before you begin a regimen and should never take it if you are pregnant. It is also not recommended that young individuals take DHEA orally, because their bodies already produce enough. Since you have to seek the guidance of a medical professional before you begin taking DHEA, it is not a supplement that works for everyone.
3. Dosage Trial and Error
Finding the right dose of DHEA that works for you is not always easy. It is a bit of a trial and error process to obtain the dosage that is most beneficial for you. Many people get frustrated during the process and never find the best dosage.
4. Natural Alternative
The benefits of DHEA can often be obtained naturally without having to take this supplement. If you exercise, it is possible to increase your bodies DHEA production naturally. This is the safest way to get the youthful benefits of DHEA without having to deal with the negative side effects.
As you can see, there are a few benefits to taking DHEA, but there are side effects that you need to be aware of before you begin supplementation.