said, “it’s what makes men, men”. When you think about men and testosterone, the images that pop up in your mind are not very positive ones. “Testosterone, for all the good and bad publicity about it, is the hormone that makes males what they are. It not only changes us physically, but affects us psychologically as well and, contrary to much publicity, those changes are pretty much all for the better when it comes to men; they relate to better cognitive function as we age as well as our dominant (not aggressive) attitude. It is the “take charge and get things done” hormone” – Jack Darkes, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of South Florida
Most people know that testosterone (T) is responsible for sexual development in men and is important for libido and sexual function. However hormones, by definition, have effects throughout the body. There are testosterone receptors in nearly all tissues in the body, so this primary male hormone impacts nearly every organ system.
Testosterone influences psychological factors such as mood, memory, libido, assertiveness and confidence. It also affects physiological factors such as cholesterol levels, blood sugar which means equates to body fat and obesity.
The decline of testosterone
Studies have shown that over the past decade, men’s testosterone levels have been on the decline. There was a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metaboliosm in January 2007 which provided evidence of a new physiological de-masculinization of the modern man. The study compared testosterone levels of three generations of men in the 80’s, 90’s and new decade and the news was quite troubling. Their study found that of the age-matched subjects, the men in the 80’s had higher average testosterone levels than the men of the 90’s, and the men of the new century have on average the LEAST testosterone of all. Simply put, testosterone levels are going down.
Symptoms of Low Testosterone
Low libido
Decreased morning erections
Low energy or fatigue
Depressed mood
Irritability
Osteoporosis
Shrinking testicles
Loss of muscle mass or failure to gain muscle despite working out
Decreased morning erections
Low energy or fatigue
Depressed mood
Irritability
Osteoporosis
Shrinking testicles
Loss of muscle mass or failure to gain muscle despite working out
What causes low testosterone?
Low testosterone may be caused by diseases of the hypothalamus, pituitary gland or testicles. Usually, however, low levels are the result of a natural decline with age (after the age of 40 or so) and/or lifestyle factors such as stress, physical inactivity, chronic illness, poor sleep or substance abuse (including tobacco and alcohol). To some degree this decrease in testosterone due to stress is evolutionary. The body's production of sex hormones is exquisitely sensitive to stress - be it physical or emotional. Testosterone in men drops in the face of chronic stress or anxiety, partly because the primal role of the sex hormone system is to drive reproduction. If the body senses an inability to care for itself, the last thing it wants is to produce a child needing to be taken care of in the face of such external stress. This system can't differentiate attack triggers from the daily grind in an unhappy job - it is all translated chemically in the body and ends in low testosterone production.
What are the health risks associated with low testosterone?
Low T is associated with serious diseases like osteoporosis, Alzheimer's, depression, diabetes and heart disease. Therefore it is unhealthy to leave low T untreated.
Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer in men in the Need a good reason to start pumpin’ iron and eating healthier foods?
Obesity also increases the risk for diabetes and heart disease, and men with low T have more body fat. In fact, the obesity-low T link manifests as a vicious cycle. Body fat causes an increase in the conversion of testosterone into estrogen - yes, men have estrogen. In fact, a 50-year-old man has, on average, more estrogen than a post-menopausal 50-year-old woman. The more T that gets converted, the lower is the ratio of testosterone to estrogen and the more muscle mass is lost and fat is gained. This gets to be self-perpetuating.
What to do if you have Low Testosterone?
Men over 40 should have their levels of testosterone checked regularly, especially if they are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above. That level may be as important to overall health as cholesterol number or blood pressure. There are many proven ways to treat low T, under a doctor's supervision.
Making lifestyle changes can help naturally elevated testosterone levels. Building lean muscle can help elevate testosterone and strength training is a great place to start. Stress plays a major role in your testosterone levels and studies have shown that regular exercise can help reduce stress and depression.
Eating unhealthy, processed foods, fast foods, sugary snacks and beverages can cause testosterone levels to drop. Rick Collins and James Villepigue, authors of the Alpha Male Challenge suggest eating a Paleolithic Diet which basically means you would be eating as if it were 1,000 years ago, before agriculture.
Testosterone and The Alpha Male
We established that testosterone does affect men psychologically. It’s what separates an Alpha Male, from a Beta Male. So, what is a True Alpha Male? According to Rick Collins and James Villepigue, a True Alpha Male is a man who has respect, who is a leader among leaders, who doesn’t need to abuse or take advantage of other to get ahead. A man who is healthy, strong , and confident.
Now is the time to take a good look at your self physically and mentally. If you are over weight, sedentary and don’t have the healthiest habits, you may be at risk of having low testosterone. Do you think of yourself as a leader among leaders, a man who has respect, who is looked up to by others, who is healthy, strong and confident?
By making simple changes to your lifestyle, you can put yourself on the road to improved health that can bring your testosterone levels back up and not only will you look better, you will feel better physically, mentally and emotionally.
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