Suzanne Somers, who looks great at age 60, says she knows the secret to endless youth for women. In her book Ageless: The Naked Truth About Bioidentical Hormones, Somers claims that using hormones that are identical to those made naturally in the ovaries will banish hot flashes, mood swings and other menopausal symptoms without the health risks carried by synthetic hormones.

Bioidentical hormones are derived from plants and other natural sources and, on a molecular level, are identical to what is produced in the ovaries. Bioidentical HRTs include estrogens such as Estrace, Vivelle-Dot, Climara, Estring, and Vagifem.

Somers argues that synthetic hormones are the ones that cause the dangerous side-effects associated with hormone replacement therapy. A popular synthetic estrogen Premarin, for instance, is made from horse urine(I know - I had that look on my face too when I read that).

A panel of seven doctors have taken issue with Somers’ book, calling it misleading and downright dangerous to women.

Read more about Somers’ book, bioidentical hormones and the controversy at WebMD.