Who is Suzanne Somers

Ageless: The Naked Truth About Bioidentical Hormones

by: Suzanne Somers

The most profound truth that seems to be still ignored by many practicing internists, gynecologists, and endocrinologists (and the most important part of this book) is stated on page 90 of this book:

"When a woman has a complete hysterectomy, so many doctors make the mistake of prescribing only estrogen. This is a recipe for disaster."

Exactly how and which hormones should be prescribed is still a matter of research but (as a physician practicing many of the techniques described in this book) I've seen so many women go from suffering with fatigue, lack of sex drive, difficulty thinking, depression, anxiety, and weight gain...to "waking up" and feeling energetic, sexual, losing weight, and throwing away their antidepressants...that it is maddening to me that so many gynecologists continue to ignore their own research.

EXAMPLE: Years ago, in OB/GYN (like the New England Journal for gynecologists) the gynecologists published in their own magazine a study showing that women who were started on testosterone immediately BEFORE the hysterectomy (so it would be on board to help with recovery from the operation) recovered from surgery faster, had less pain, and a faster recovery emotionally and sexually than did women who were not on testosterone.

With proper hormone replacement (including testosterone), very good research in OB/GYN shows that women who have hysterectomy for the right reasons will have better sexual relations after the surgery than they had before the surgery.

If I sound like I'm ranting, it's because I am. I see so many women go from feeling miserable to feeling wonderful after the principles described in this book are applied that I find it tragic that too many women get slapped with a pap smear and a prescription for Premarin on the way out the door after their 10 minute visit with the gynecologist (where most of the discussion took place with her talking to her physician looking up from between her legs (spread by the table's stirrups).

One WARNING about the book...
Ms Somers says, "I'm sorry, but the lack of knowledge and insensitivity of doctors who think byat by removing organs unnecessarily, they are protectin women from cancer is truly disturbing! I will not even venture to think that somewhere in this scenario is a financial gain."

Actually, she did venture to think it because she said it. And the truth is that THERE IS FINANCIAL GAIN. But, if doing hysterectomy does prevent cancer, then you want doctors to have financial gain. I want Ms Someers to have financial gain for helping women with this wonderful book that wakes women to the truth about hormones, and also want doctors to have financial gain when they save lives.

Until you take care of a woman in her 30's wasting away in the hospital with ovarian cancer while her children cry at the bedside, it may be difficult to develop a hatred of this sneaky killer disease. Ovarian cancer is notorious for not being found until it's far to late to treat effectively because it has spread to the brain and other parts of the body.

If a woman is near menopause and truly needs a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus), then I agree she should probably have an oophorectomy (remove her ovearies) and lose for an entire lifetiem the risk of this horrible cancer rather than keep ovaries that will fail in a few years anyway. The mistake is not in the oophorectomy...the mistake is in improper hormone replacement after the hysterectomy.

So, though I don't find every word of the book to be the best advice, I do recommend that every man and women over the age of 30 read this book carefully and use it as a guide for further discussion with their doctor.

There's a list of physicians in the back of the book. I personally know some of these doctors...as with any other profession, there is a range of quality...

On one extreme, some physicians practice medicine using many of the principles discovered by "anti-aging" research in combination with good sound internal medicine. On the other extreme, there are not-so-qualified physicians who burned out in another specialty who then use the new fad "anti-aging" medicine to be able to drum up business and charge high prices for services that are less than ideal. A good way to grade the physician you use is to ask about ligitimate research that has been conducted and how long he/she has been doing this type of endocrinology/internal medicine.

As for the VOICE: Ms Somers has written several books now about hormone replacement. I've recommended to my patients that they read "The Sexy Years" as a way to understand menopause and how proper and improper hormone replacement might change the body. This book was needed because it goes more directly to some of the medical options available and how they might be combined to live the most healthy energectic life possible. Ms. Somers has the gift of being able to grab more attention to the truth than could any physician and I'm grateful that she's using her position and her labors in writing for the noble work of saving lives rather than in the many other ways a movie star might squander time and money. Thank you, Ms Somers; I'm not a big on paying attention to movie stars turned expert (I haven't had a TV in my house since I left home for college), but you have become a great voice for good medicine and I have come to admire you greatly. -- Charles Runels, MD "research physician & fath..."

Release Date: 10/10/2006

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Amazon Price: $16.50 (as of 11/24/2009)
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Playboy: Celebrity Centerfolds

A good DVD for collectors
This dvd explores the various celebrities that have been in Playboy pictorials. From playmates like Anna Nicole Smith and Pamela Anderson, to 80's pop star Debbie Gibson, to T.V. and movie star Jamie Pressley. If you like collecting Playboy DVD's like myself or if you just like to see celebrities in their birthday suit, This DVD is worth picking up. -- Anthony Brinegar, Winchester, KY, USA

Release Date: 10/03/2006

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Amazon Price: $13.49 (as of 11/24/2009)

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Breakthrough: Eight Steps to Wellness

by: Suzanne Somers

Life-Altering Secrets from Today's Cutting-Edge Doctors and the #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Ageless

Today's most trusted advocate of anti­aging medicine, Suzanne Somers, deepens her commitment to helping people lead healthier, happier lives by opening their eyes to cutting-edge, proven remedies and preventative care that most doctors just aren't talking about with patients: longevity medicine and the more progressive study of bioidentical hormones.

As we age, certain hormones diminish, creating an imbalance that can set off everything from perimenopause to cancer, beginning as early as our thirties. This hormonal imbalance is causing many to feel depressed, anxious, fatigued, sexless, sleepless, and ultimately ill, sometimes even terminally. What's more, Somers and twenty doctors in the field of antiaging medicine argue that the processed chemicals in foods and pharmaceuticals we ply ourselves with are actually slowly eroding our bodies and minds. So we're getting slammed twice. From estrogen dominance to deceptive thyroid problems, people are suffering, and most don't have access to the treatment they truly need to get better and thrive . . . until now.

Breakthrough explores cutting-edge science and delivers smart, proactive advice on the newest treatments for breakthrough health and longevity.

In addition to being a pioneer in a rapidly growing health field, Somers is a passionate, caring individual whose own life was derailed by disease and brought back to unimaginable, feel good heights that she wants you, too, to experience.

Release Date: 09/09/2008

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Suzanne Somers' Get Skinny on Fabulous Food

by: Suzanne Somers

"I got skinny on fat," claims Suzanne Somers. It sounds too good to be true--a weight-loss program that lets you "eat incredible, rich foods in abundant portions while the unwanted pounds effortlessly melt away." Most nutritionists would cringe at the idea that people trying to lose weight don't need to restrict their dietary fat, but Suzanne Somers and her "Somercizers" insist it works. Fat (even saturated fat) isn't the enemy, she claims--it's "products loaded with sugar, white flour, hydrogenated oils, and chemicals and preservatives that replace real fats." Get Skinny on Fabulous Food follows Somers's Eat Great, Lose Weight with a recap of the Somersize program, which involves eliminating "funky foods" like sugar and starch and using a type of food combining. Also included are grateful letters from followers of the program, menu suggestions, and 150 new recipes. Recipes include such fat-filled dishes as Leslie's Mushroom Broccoli and Egg Cupcakes (with butter, oil, Swiss cheese, and nine large eggs), Beef Stroganoff (with butter, oil, and two cups of heavy cream), Ginger Creme Brûlée (with butter, heavy cream, nine large egg yolks, and even the enemy: sugar), Cappuccino Chocolate Chunk Cheesecake (with cream cheese, eggs, chocolate, sour cream, and--yup--sugar). No calorie counts or nutritional breakdowns are included. --Joan Price

Release Date: 03/13/2001

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Suzanne Somers' Eat, Cheat, and Melt the Fat Away

by: Suzanne Somers

Having attempted numerous diets and weight-loss programs over the years -- everything from cabbage soup diets to Weight Watchers -- my husband and I were quite skeptical when we first heard about Somersizing. But we immersed ourselves in the program. The results: My husband lost 27 pounds, and I lost 18 pounds. Your program has been a blessing!"
-- Sandy and Peter Alexander

"After the birth of my third child, I was discouraged by my eating habits and appearance. Being a mother of three with a busy life, I was aware the word 'diet' meant disaster. But two books and seven simple steps were all it took to change my life. In five short months, I was able to lose 30 pounds easily. In the last seven months I have lost an additional 31 pounds. I no longer look at food as the enemy. I urge anyone who wants to look and feel better to try this wonderful program."
-- Cheryl Lewandowski

Release Date: 04/22/2003

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Amazon Price: $12.21 (as of 11/24/2009)

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Somersize By Suzanne Somers [VHS]

Best fifteen dollars I have ever spent!
My husband and I have been somerzing for about a month and have lost around twenty pounds each. We love it! I don't feel that I am dieting and my blood sugar has leveled off completely. Suzanne inspires you with her common sense, honesty and sense of fun. Her video is inforrmative and really explains the diet. You get two videos and two audio tapes and a pocket guide and pamphlet. We had also purchased her books. It is a diet you can live on for the rest of your skinny life. Thanks Suzanne. -- Janice M. Paterson, Eastern Shore of Maryland, USA

Release Date: 01/28/1997

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Suzanne Somers' Slim and Sexy Forever: The Hormone Solution for Permanent Weight Loss and Optimal Living

by: Suzanne Somers

Suzanne Somers may forever be ingrained in American minds as the ditzy blond from Three's Company, but her five past bestselling diet books prove that her fit figure is admired by millions. Now in her 50s, Somers has endured what she calls the "Seven Dwarves" of menopause-Itchy, Bitchy, Sweaty, Sleepy, Bloated, Forgetful, and All Dried Up. She claims that until one tames the hormonal roller-coaster of menopause, there's little hope of losing weight: "If your hormones are out of balance, no weight-loss program will work for you." She recommends supplementation with "natural, bioidentical hormones" available from a compounding pharmacist, or an endocrinologist specializing in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). The synthetic hormones so widely prescribed, she says, cause the body to "mimic pregnancy," and result in a "high-insulin state," both of which lead to weight gain and bloating.

While finding these natural hormonal supplements may be difficult for some readers, as the majority of BHRT-prescribing endocrinologists practice in the Los Angeles area, Somers stresses it's worth making the trip for a BHRT appointment. Moreover, readers may balk at a major side effect of taking bioidentical hormones: the return of one's menstrual period. "To me, having a period is a small price to pay for great health, increased vitality, and a slim figure," she says. Somers adds to her hormonal advice a detailed menu plan, which includes limited amounts of whole grains, and plenty of fruits and vegetables. She also recommends a few "high-glycemic" foods to avoid at all costs. The recipes are mostly drool-worthy, with dishes including Chicken Parmigiana and Warm Chocolate Soufflé Cakes, with the less labor-intensive dishes requiring some of her packaged Somersize-brand sauces, spices, and sweeteners. While the hormone supplementation in her plan may be hard to come by, her dietary advice is much more sensible than what you'll find in the majority of weight-loss books these days.--Erica Jorgensen

Release Date: 04/25/2006

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Ageless: The Naked Truth About Bioidentical Hormones

by: Suzanne Somers

The mere fact that large drug companies are fighting the FDA on bio identicals is a real good indication that there is something to this material.

Big drug companies are loosing money with the traditional hormones such as premarin which is made from horse urine. And hormones derived from plants which are more identical to our hormones are starting to take the lead and money from them.

I have been reading about bio identicals for some time now, and the drug companies are running scared. When in fact they should stop with the fighting and maybe join with the others and start to research the compounds and manufacturing their own bio identicals.

Suzanne is a true pioneer and knows with the aging baby boomers, we have to look at the aging process differently and shouldnt settle for becoming little old ladies or little old men, like its normal.

We still dont know why things grow old and we know quality of life doesnt improve with age, so finding out how to feel good when we age should be paramount in research. Rather than us just "wearing out our bodies" or "out living our bodies" we should be focusing on retention of feeling good mentally and physically. We dont have to age gracefully, somethings really are worth the fight and Suzanne has struck that nerve. -- S. G. Weeks "alpina3" (California, Ca USA)

Release Date: 10/10/2006

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Amazon Price: $16.50 (as of 11/24/2009)
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