Testosterone therapy: Potential benefits and risks as you age
While the above may help with testosterone levels, there is only so much testosterone that the body can produce if there are existing health issues that affect hormone production. Diabetes, metabolic disorders, and other health conditions can naturally contribute to lower testosterone levels. Furthermore, testosterone levels naturally go down as you get older. The best types of exercise to increase your testosterone levels are weightlifting and high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Building muscle mass triggers your body to produce testosterone. By contrast, endurance exercises like cycling for hours or running marathons can actually reduce your testosterone level.
Testosterone plummets in the face of obesity — and more than a third of American men have obesity. A recent meta-analysis, in which researchers crunched data from 68 studies that included nearly 20,000 obese men, found that 43 percent of participants had low testosterone. Oysters are rich in zinc, which is crucial for testosterone production and fertility.
Impressively, zinc supplementation improved testosterone levels and sexual function, including vaginal moisture and arousal. Zinc is an important nutrient for hormonal health, and it plays an important role in hormone production by increasing testosterone naturally. Research suggests that zinc plays an important role in modulating serum testosterone levels in normal men. Failing heart health sometimes occurs without notable symptoms. That’s why regular health screenings are vital for early detection. Obesity is directly linked to lower testosterone levels, making weight management critical to men’s health. In general, people with obesity are at risk for a high number of chronic health conditions, many of which may impact testosterone and other hormones.
Not only this though, it also helps lower the levels of the ‘Sex Hormone Binding Globulin’ which makes testosterone non-functional. If this is lowered testosterone can have more of an impact on your body. Avocados are a triple threat when it comes to boosting testosterone levels. They are a great source of healthy fats and magnesium and contain boron, a trace element linked to testosterone production. One study found that within a week of taking boron supplements, testosterone levels in males increased up to 32%. Starting your day with pomegranate juice can lower stress hormones like cortisol and increase what does testosterone do to a female body levels. Since your hormones control almost every area of your health, it can be extremely frustrating when something goes wrong.
Boron has been linked to testosterone production, and some have even suggested that it may be able to treat erectile dysfunction. More studies are needed to investigate the direct effect of white button mushrooms on testosterone levels. Some studies have shown that males with lower vitamin D levels are more likely to have hypogonadism than those with higher levels.
He is also the host of the popular The Art of Being Well podcast and the New York Times bestselling author of Intuitive Fasting, Ketotarian, Gut Feelings, and The Inflammation Spectrum. I think the other thing that men should watch out for, we also see a lot of men who take Propecia, or finasteride for hair loss. And that can actually have effects on your testosterone, your sex drive, and even your fertility. So that's another good thing to avoid if you're concerned with that. "Very low-fat diets can be problematic. Fats, especially those from whole food sources, provide cholesterol, a crucial building block for hormone production," Reeder said. Beyond the benefits of zinc, oysters and other shellfish's antioxidant effect may boost testosterone by increasing the efficiency of the Leydig cells, the primary source of testosterone. According to Houman, zinc is an essential nutrient for testosterone synthesis in the testes.
The medication you’re taking for other health issues could be causing lowered testosterone as a side effect. Statins, used to lower cholesterol, can lower testosterone in both men and women, for example. Remember to avoid alcohol in the run-up to bedtime to stop it from waking you up during the night. For humans, get 30 minutes of sunlight exposure on your skin each day. For sleep, it’s important to get light into your eyes — although don’t look directly at the sun, of course. Simply head out without sunglasses and expose some skin while you’re at it. So, if you’re a shift worker who loves your job, you may not need to worry too much about work impacting your testosterone, as long as you’re keeping your sleep debt low.
If testosterone is a primary concern, ask your provider about how to increase your testosterone levels naturally through weight loss, or if medications may be appropriate for you. There are significant side effects from long-term testosterone replacement therapy to consider, but in the short term, it may help you lose more fat than muscle. A healthy diet is critical for the normal production of hormones. Even micro-nutrient deficiencies can negatively interfere with the normal functioning of the body. Nutrients that are thought to be particularly important for healthy testosterone production are zinc, magnesium, and vitamin D. One study also revealed that a low-fat, high-fibre diet negatively impacted testosterone levels but it’s important to note that the sample size was small so it’s difficult to draw meaningful conclusions. Male hypogonadism can be distressing and cause unwanted physical symptoms.
They also contain other nutrients that are important for testosterone production, such as vitamin D, which is vital for hormone regulation. Direct evidence linking onions to testosterone levels is limited. However, onions contain numerous beneficial antioxidants and compounds like sulfur that have been shown to support reproductive hormone balance and overall vitality.
Be cautious when storing food in plastic containers, as Bisphenol-A (BPA), found in some plastics, cans, and food packaging, disrupts hormones and inhibits testosterone production. Frequent BPA exposure over six months is linked to a significant drop in testosterone levels. Additional signs of low testosterone include a loss of body hair since testosterone promotes body hair growth. Diminished testosterone levels can also affect one's ability to build and store muscles; low testosterone can cause one to gain fat instead and lead to sudden weight gain. That's a pretty well-known effect of testosterone, but there's much more to the hormone than upping your jacked levels. Low testosterone—or male hypogonadism—is linked to depleted energy, low sex drive and decreased mood.
