After nearly 30 years in medical practice, I continue to learn valuable lessons from my patients. A while back, during a consultation, I commended a patient for her youthful, healthy appearance. Her reply was, “but beauty has to start from within and that’s why I’m here.” After thinking about it for a moment, I realized the profound importance of that statement.        

Outward beauty really does require inner wellness and health. Inner wellness requires certain foundational pillars, including nutrition, nutritional supplementation, adequate sleep, body movement and hormone balancing. In addition, there are newer options and technologies available to us in the world of functional medicine.        

Nutrition, in my opinion, is the most important component of internal wellness. Adequate protein intake, low glycemic index carbohydrates and healthy fats are the basis. Adding appropriate nutritional supplements, including omega 3 fatty acids, multivitamins, probiotics and antioxidants, assist the nutritional process. Nutritional supplements should be reviewed and tailored to each patient’s specific needs.        

The body requires exercise. One of the foundational commonalities of those centenarians who live in what are called “The Blue Zones” is movement. These people are shepherds who traverse mountainsides daily. While we no longer need to shepherd flocks, we can set time aside for 150-180 minutes of exercise per week, including a mixture of aerobics and resistance.        

To recover from our work and exercise, we must sleep. Optimal health requires seven to nine hours per night. During sleep, the body heals and rejuvenates. Hormone secretion has a chance to balance itself during sleep. The ovaries, testicles, thyroid gland and adrenal glands are interdependent and a disruption in any one can derail the others. Hormone balancing is an extremely important aspect of well-being and the ability to sleep well. Bio-identical hormones, when needed, promote a safe, individualized therapy to achieve this.        

Other newer therapies exist to promote wellness. Some of these include the use of cannabinoids, also known as CBD oils, which can be used to help with anxiety, sleep and chronic pain, and growth hormone-releasing peptides that can assist with antiaging by normalizing the body’s own growth hormone. We now have the newest collagen supplements available, which many of my patients are using to help their hair and revitalize their skin, joints and tendons. IV therapy can be used to improve metabolism, promote hydration, especially in athletes, avoid or reduce colds and flu, as well as new technology for vaginal rejuvenation to reduce vaginal dryness and painful intercourse secondary to menopause. By addressing these issues, we can begin to improve our inner health, which is the important step in achieving outer beauty. Individualized consultations are available for anyone interested in beginning this journey.  

Soucre: Albert J. Peters, D.O., F.A.C.O.G., Medical Director of the Center for Anti-Aging Medicine and Hormone Wellness. Location: Integrated Health Campus, 250 Cetronia Rd., Ste. 301, Allentown. For more information, visit HormoneWellness.net.