By David Blyweiss, M.D., Advanced Natural Wellness

April 29, 2013

• Why “total” testosterone doesn’t count
• How statin drugs are sapping your manhood
• Testosterone-boosting tips every man needs right now

One thing all men worry about as we age is our testosterone levels.

Any little change in libido or performance immediately sets our minds on the topic. When you add low energy levels, moodiness and a little middle-aged spread into the equation that worry can spiral out of control.

The first line of thought – and I see it all of the time – is to run to the doc for a male-enhancing drug.

While these pills might help you perform in the short-term, they do nothing to improve testosterone levels. All they do is relax the smooth muscles in your “nether-parts.” This increases blood flow so you can stay in action when it counts.

But it doesn’t truly solve anything. Not even close to it. You’re still the guy who is suffering from Low T.

When I tell men this, their second line of thought is to immediately ask for a testosterone injection, patch or gel. However most of the time I don’t suggest – or prescribe – this type of replacement therapy for my patients. Not even when blood tests show their testosterone levels are low.

And there’s good reason for that.

You see, there are two forms of testosterone in your body. And you need to know which one needs attention.

Today I’m going to show you how you can naturally boost the most important form of testosterone in your body… the type that will provide the biggest boost to your libido, energy and stamina. It’s called “free” testosterone.

Your body has “free” testosterone and “bound” testosterone. When you add the two together, you’ve got your total testosterone levels. But in the end, it’s the free testosterone that really counts.

However only about 2% of your total testosterone is available as free testosterone.

It’s your body’s most active form of testosterone and circulates freely in through your bloodstream. It keeps your libido active, fuels your drive and ambition and allows you to maintain control of your strong, male characteristics.

Bound testosterone accounts for the other 98% of testosterone in your body.

This testosterone is bound to something called sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) along with other proteins. Because it’s bound to the other proteins, it’s not free to do much of anything. It’s basically unavailable for use.

Now here’s the thing. As you age, SGBH levels increase. More testosterone gets bound with it… so less is available in the free form your body can really use.

Free testosterone levels in an 80-year man are approximately half of what they are in a 20-year old!

So this is a real problem. Low levels of free testosterone don’t just affect your libido and stamina. Low T levels can also be a real concern when it comes to other health issues like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity and Alzheimer’s disease.

And here’s a real eye-opener. Statin drugs may cause your levels of free testosterone to plummet even further!

It’s true.

Men who take statin drugs have significantly lower free testosterone levels than men who don’t. They also have smaller testicles, reduced hormone function and my experience male breast enlargement.

The trouble is, if you have low T you’re more likely to be taking a statin. That’s because men with lower testosterone typically have higher LDL “bad” cholesterol readings. So doctors prescribe statins to reduce levels of LDL cholesterol.

The intention, of course, is to protect your cardiovascular health. But these meds are also eating away at your manly free testosterone levels.

Now I’m not saying you should stop taking your statin medication. However you should talk to your doctor about some natural ways to lower your cholesterol. This can help you get off of these testosterone-sapping drugs.

In the meantime, lowering SHBG levels and increasing the amount of free testosterone throughout your body is the best way to go. And there are several ways to do that…

Unless you have testing done, there is no way to know what your free and bound testosterone levels are. But if you discover your free testosterone is dwindling, you need to take immediate action.

Here are some natural supplements that can help increase the mightiest form of testosterone in your body:

Vitamin D. Research finds men with plenty of vitamin D in their bodies have much lower levels of SHBG. They also have higher testosterone levels.

And one study had some great news. Men who supplemented with vitamin D were able to increase free testosterone by 20%. I prefer supplements that contain D3. 1,000 to 2,000 a day should do the trick. However, if you’ve been diagnosed as vitamin D deficient, I recommend up to 5,000 IU daily.

Tongkat ali is traditionally used for its aphrodisiac effect. And most notably, for its ability to stimulate production of testosterone. It inhibits SHBG which allows more free testosterone to remain in the bloodstream. You can kick up your testosterone levels with 100 mg daily.

Forskolin has been gaining interest in recent years as a testosterone booster and to help with male infertility issues. It’s been shown to increase testosterone values in men with testosterone deficiency. And in one study, 500 mg. daily increased free testosterone levels in overweight and obese men.

Incorporating resistance-training into your workout program, losing weight and sticking with low glycemic foods can help boost the results.

And in the cases where I do prescribe a topical treatment for testosterone, I make sure it’s bioidentically made.

Resources:

Corona G, Boddi V, Balercia G, Rastrelli G, De Vita G, Sforza A, Forti G, Mannucci E, Maggi M. The effect of statin therapy on testosterone levels in subjects consulting for erectile dysfunction. J Sex Med. 2010 Apr;7(4 Pt 1):1547-56.

Roberto G, Biagi C, Montanaro N, Koci A, Moretti U, Motola D. Statin-associated gynecomastia: evidence coming from the Italian spontaneous ADR reporting database and literature. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2012 Jun;68(6):1007-11.

Hak AE, Witteman JC, de Jong FH, Geerlings MI, Hofman A, Pols HA. Low levels of endogenous androgens increase the risk of atherosclerosis in elderly men: the Rotterdam study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Aug;87(8):3632-9.

Pilz S, Frisch S, Koertke H, Kuhn J, Dreier J, Obermayer-Pietsch B, Wehr E, Zittermann A. Effect of vitamin D supplementation on testosterone levels in men. Horm Metab Res. 2011 Mar;43(3):223-5. Epub 2010 Dec 10.

Wehr E, Pilz S, Boehm BO, März W, Obermayer-Pietsch B. Association of vitamin D status with serum androgen levels in men. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2010 Aug;73(2):243-8. Epub 2009 Dec 29.

Mohd Effendy N, Mohamed N, Muhammad N, Naina Mohamad I, Shuid AN. Eurycoma longifolia: Medicinal Plant in the Prevention and Treatment of Male Osteoporosis due to Androgen Deficiency. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:125761. Epub 2012 Jul 15.

Godard MP, Johnson BA, Richmond SR. Body composition and hormonal adaptations associated with forskolin consumption in overweight and obese men. Obes Res. 2005 Aug;13(8):1335-43.