Stephen Sinatra, MD, is a cardiologist who has specialized in preventive medicine for more than 20 years. He is the author of numerous books on natural health, including Reverse Heart Disease Now and is coauthor of Sugar Shock! When asked about the key to staying healthy, he doesn’t hesitate: “The most important things are staying trim and eating a diet that is not infl ammatory, which means staying away from sugars.” By sugars, Sinatra doesn’t just mean what’s on the dessert menu or the white stuff some guys put in their coffee. Beer, wine, all other alcoholic drinks, breads, bagels, crackers and pastas are all sources of concentrated sugar, as far as your body is concerned, and they all disrupt the network of hormones that determines whether or not you like what you see in the mirror. And, he says, controlling your sugar intake is the most important thing you can do nutritionally to stay out of intensive care down the road.

BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION

Testosterone, insulin, adrenal and thyroid hormones are some of the key players that determine the health of your heart, the size of your waistline and your ability to function well in the boardroom and the bedroom. “We used to think these hormones were all individual players,” says Sinatra. “They’re not. They work collectively.” Although the interplay of hormones is complex, there is a simple underlying principle: When levels of one are suboptimal, the others also suffer. Sinatra says the answer to the riddle lies in weight control, not by following fad diets, but by understanding a few key cause-and-effect relationships and acting accordingly. Here’s a look:

Insulin: This hormone holds a key to body weight, risk for diabetes, heart disease and other conditions. Here’s how it works: After you eat, food is converted to blood sugar (glucose). The pancreas then produces insulin to deliver the glucose to cells to be used as energy

High-sugar foods and drinks lead to skyrocketing glucose levels, which shift insulin production into high gear. When this high-sugar/high-insulin cycle repeats frequently, cells become overwhelmed with blood sugar and stop accepting it, a condition technically called insulin resistance. Weight gain, increased risk for heart disease and diabetes are among the results.

Thyroid: Hormones produced by the thyroid gland regulate metabolism, and iodine is a key nutrient required to produce suffi cient amounts of hormones. Toxins in today’s environment and reduced levels of naturally occurring iodine in our food result in many American men (and women) having an underactive thyroid or slow metabolism, contributing to insulin resistance and obesity.

Adrenal Hormones: Produced by the adrenal gland, these hormones are necessary for healthy function of the thyroid gland and stable energy levels.

Testosterone: Excess weight, lack of exercise, insulin resistance and inadequate levels of thyroid and adrenal hormones all contribute to low levels of testosterone. In turn, low testosterone leads to further weight gain, low energy, low libido and other sexual difficulties.

The Hormone Solution: “Weight loss is the most important factor, because when you lose weight, you improve insulin sensitivity, sparing the burden on your other hormone systems,” says Sinatra. Cholesterol and blood pressure generally improve at the same time.

The Heart Solution: Sinatra also recommends taking CoQ10, L-carnitine, magnesium and Dribose to support energy production in the heart. These supplements feed mitochondria, specific components within our cells that are responsible for generating energy. Mitochondria are more concentrated in the heart than in any other organ, so their optimal function is critical. “When I treat men who have heart disease with mitochondrial support, I hear from them and their wives that their libido and erectile potency improve as well,” says Sinatra.

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