in this issue

Sandra, a 44 year old working mother of three, has been a patient of mine for over ten years. In her 30’s Sandra would come into my office wearing pretty dresses or chic pantsuits. Three months ago, however, she walked came in for an appointment wearing slouchy sweatpants and an over-large t-shirt. As soon as she saw me, she burst into tears. “Dr. Randolph,” she said, “I have gained 30 lbs over the last three years and - no matter how little I eat, which fad diet I try or how much I exercise – I stay fat. You have got to help me.”

I did. Two months later Sandra weighed in 16 lbs lighter. “I can’t believe it,” she exclaimed exuberantly, “I haven’t felt or looked this good since my 40th birthday. My husband is just as thrilled as I am. I have even moved my skinny jeans to the front of my closet. I am shooting to get back into them in the next month.”

What did I do for Sandra? I put her on our unique Belly Flat Diet that has helped thousands of women and men lose those pounds. In addition, because Sandra had told me that she couldn’t shake the weight even with fewer calories and more exercise, I recognized that her metabolism was in slow mode. I told her to be sure and eat five times a day, three meals and snacks, (just as we outline and provide recipes for in From Belly Fat to Belly Flat) so her body would trust her to keep it fueled. I also made sure that Sandra took the supplements I recommend, particularly 7-Keto DHEA. If you have anything in common with Sandra, please read on.

7- Keto Dehyroepiandrosterone (DHEA) Will Help You Burn More Calories in Less Time
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; every morning.

Now, I also want to put out a reality check. YOU CAN NOT EAT CHEESEBURGERS, PIZZA, BEER AND CHEETOS AND EXPECT FOR 7-KETO DHEA TO BE YOUR MIRACLE PILL. YOU HAVE TO DO YOUR PART. I can guarantee you that “your part” will be easier and quicker if you follow our Belly Flat Diet.

P.S. Genie and I saw Sandra and her husband on Saturday night when we went to the movies. Sandra just beamed when Genie hugged her neck and then told her, “My goodness, you look fabulous. Where in the world did you get those incredibly sexy skinny jeans?”

C.W. Randolph, Jr., M.D.
Co-Author of From Belly Fat to Belly Flat &
Co-Founder 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.