If you are an older male, and have been feeling tired most or all of the time, this is not due to the fact that you are just getting older. You are likely dealing with low testosterone, a condition also called “low T” or hypogonadism. When you have low T, your body’s natural hormone production of testosterone is below normal levels. As a result, you are likely feeling fatigued and may have trouble focusing on tasks. You may also be experiencing sexual performance issues, have trouble sleeping or feeling depressed or anxious. Many men experience increased body fat and weight gain, as well as loss of muscle mass.
What is Low Testosterone?
What is Low Testosterone?Testosterone actually begins to naturally decrease in men as early as age 30. As many as 40 percent of men age 45 and older are affected by low testosterone, the hormone most associated as being the male sex hormone. Certainly testosterone is needed for sexual desire and libido for me, but the hormone serves many other important roles such as regulating sleep patterns and maintaining a high energy level. Testosterone also plays a part in maintaining sufficient numbers of red blood cells, and is responsible for both bone density and muscle mass.
How do I know if I have low testosterone?
While the only true way to confirm low testosterone is by having a blood test, you may be noticing some of the symptoms, like fatigue and low energy level. Testosterone drops as men naturally age, but other lifestyle factors also can lower levels. Chronic stress and poor nutrition are both culprits, as is an imbalance in the body’s microflora. Men who gain weight experience lower T levels, as do men who do not get enough exercise. Certain prescription drugs like statins for cholesterol lower testosterone, and men who have low vitamin D levels also have low T.
The more risk factors you have, the more your normal immune response is impacted, leading to decreased metabolism, and diseases like obesity and diabetes.
What are the remedies?
These days, there seems to be a low testosterone clinic on every corner. Low T therapy is also called low testosterone treatment and male hormone replacement, and the idea behind it is that testosterone injections are given to supplement the body. While this treatment is safe, it is not without possible side effects because synthetic hormones are used. Research shows that these hormone supplements increase the risk of stroke and lower levels of HDL or good cholesterol. There are some natural approaches men can take to boost testosterone.
Stress: First and foremost, try to reduce your stress levels. Chronic stress can impact your body over time because you are constantly pumping out cortisol. When cortisol is elevated, testosterone bottoms out. Try to find ways to be less angry, or to forgive people in your life. Take care of resentment and other emotional issues.
Sleep: Americans get poor sleep – it is not long enough and is not the right kind. Quality sleep can raise testosterone levels. Most people need at least 7 hours of sleep each night. Most critical is the period of time between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. when the body resets itself every night. Without a proper reset, your body does not release the proper amounts of hormone.
Diet: Your diet can also have a tremendous impact. Reduce your sugar intake. When you find out that Americans eat two tons of sugar in a lifetime, it will be easier to kick the sugar habit. Sugar intake means that your blood glucose levels remain elevated, and continued exposure puts you at high risk for developing type II diabetes, a disease which affects your body’s ability to produce the correct amounts of testosterone. You should also add healthy fats to your diet. Most men with low T eat too many carbs, so instead load up on healthy fats, which boost your testosterone levels. Adding coconut oil, almonds, olive oil, avocados and foods like fish that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids can all help.
Vitamins: Your level of Vitamin D has a direct impact on testosterone levels. In fact, a vitamin D deficiency will cause your testosterone levels to completely bottom out. Some research has shown that Vitamin D supplements boosted testosterone in overweight men by as much as 30 percent. You can take vitamin D3 supplements, but your body needs sunlight to convert it into the active vitamin D components. Make sure you get exposure to at least 20 minutes of sunlight each day. The sunlight must be direct on your skin, such as sitting outside or driving in the car. Most Americans are deficient in vitamin D. Have your blood tested at the same time you do your testosterone test. Any day you don’t get sun exposure, you need to take at least 5,000 IUs of vitamin D3. As long as your vitamin D levels remain low, so will your testosterone.
Your Liver: Detoxifying your liver can help to boost natural testosterone levels. If your liver is not functioning properly, your body will not output the proper levels of testosterone; the liver has an enzyme needed to produce testosterone. For example, men who have alcohol-induced liver cirrhosis have testosterone levels that are reduced by as much as 90 percent. Take care of your liver by doing a liver detox or liver cleanse.
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