There is a relatively new field in medicine known as Anti-aging. It is not recognized by mainstream organizations such as the AMA. However, patients (especially baby boomers) are flocking to it. The goal of anti-aging doctors is to help their patients feel and look younger. The treatments involve hormones and supplements.

The conventional side of medicine claims that this is just a way for doctors to make money. The anti-aging group claims they are in it to help their patients feel good.
What is a patient to think?

As a baby boomer myself, I noticed that when I started going through menopause, I needed help with my hormones. I continue to use them. I feel better when I can sleep, don’t have hot flashes in the middle of a conversation and have fewer body and joint aches. For me some simple hormone adjustments have made a big difference. Vitamin D has also made a huge difference. I was at the rickets level of vitamin D until I started supplementing with it. I noticed that my energy level, muscle strength and balance have improved 100%.

I am not trying to reverse aging, we all know that it is impossible. No matter what we do, time marches on. However, I think that aging as healthfully as we can is a reasonable goal. How one does that is very individual. Some women choose hormones others do not.

I think that for me as a physician (and a patient) that the middle ground works best. I aim to help my patients become as healthy as possible with diet, exercise, and supplements, for which there is evidence to show they help such as omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin D and B vitamins as well as foods such as ground flax seed. I also utilize mainstream approaches. So ultimately, I do not think there is a way to stop the clock or turn it back, but there is a way to help it to run more smoothly.