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

October 15, 2018

• The difference between low testosterone and male menopause
• Is low T a lifestyle choice?
• Grab control of the hormone that makes you manly

There’s a good reason guys are so crazy about girls when they’re in their teens and twenties. At these ages, testosterone levels are practically raging out of control. But once you hit 30, levels begin to drop by as much as 2% each year.

This makes male menopause a very real threat to aging men. (You might also hear this condition referred to as andropause or hypogonadism.)

But these days, I notice more and more guys in their 30s and 40s coming into my office with symptoms of andropause. They complain that their libido is on permanent vacation. They can’t keep the action going in the bedroom. Their energy levels are low and they’re moodier than they’ve ever been in their life.

This clearly isn’t a result of age-related testosterone loss. So what could be behind this anomaly?

Is Low T a Lifestyle Choice?

It should come as no surprise to you that there are many factors in your life that can affect your testosterone levels. And not all of them have to do with growing older.

For example, being significantly overweight at any age is linked to declining testosterone. In fact, somewhere around 40% of obese men have subnormal levels of free testosterone.

When I look at numbers like these, I have to admit. Obesity might just be one of the leading causes of dwindling testosterone levels in men.

It’s also quite common for men with type 2 diabetes to suffer from low T. I see it often enough here in my own practice. But I’m not the only one. It’s estimated that between 33% and 50% of men with this metabolic disorder have low plasma testosterone.

And as you probably know, diabetes and obesity often go hand-in hand. These days, we call this toxic combo “diabesity”.

Well, it turns out that diabetic men who are obese are the most likely to suffer from low serum testosterone. So that’s something of a double jeopardy when it comes to your manly ambitions.

But it doesn’t stop there. Not by a long shot.

You’ve probably heard that physical inactivity and sedentary behaviors contribute to the development of diabetes. And you know that these same behaviors tend to pack on the pounds.

Well guess what?

A sedentary lifestyle saps the testosterone right out of your body, even among men of younger ages. This means that every hour you spend as a television-watching-couch-potato you’re robbing your body of the hormone that defines your manhood.

To top it all off, isn’t it just a crazy coincidence that poor sleep habits are associated with an increased risk of diabetes, weight gain and a marked decrease in testosterone levels?

If you suffer from low T… If your drive and ambition flew the coop… If you feel aimless and moody… If it seems your libido is a distant memory…

Grab Control of the Hormone that Makes You Manly

Many men believe that when symptoms of dwindling testosterone levels strike, synthetic testosterone replacement therapy is their only choice.

That’s not true. And, in fact, I discourage it.

You see, these drugs greatly increase your chances of developing a blood clot that can block blood flow. This, in turn, could result in a heart attack or stroke. These clots can even damage the organs in your body and, in some instances, trigger sudden death.

Instead, I recommend that you look at your lifestyle, first.

If you need to lose weight or if you have diabetes, take charge. Cut out the unhealthy processed, sugary, refined and processed foods. Instead, choose a fresh, organic and healthy, Mediterranean way of eating. Get plenty of daily physical activity. Make good sleep habits a number one priority.

As you make these changes and transition to a testosterone-friendly lifestyle, give your body the support it needs.

• There’s an herb called tongkat ali that stimulates the production of testosterone while reducing the substance most of it gets bound to. This allows more free testosterone to remain in your bloodstream. It only takes 100 mg daily to kick your testosterone levels up.
• Forskolin is another herb that helps increase testosterone values and boost free testosterone levels. In fact, in just a few short months it can boost free testosterone by about three and a half percent. Take 500 mg each day.
• Taking a vitamin D3 supplement in the form of cholecalciferol can increase free testosterone by up to 20%. 1,000 to 2,000 IU each day should do the trick. However, if you’ve been diagnosed as vitamin D deficient (30 or less), I recommend up to 5,000 IU daily…retesting your levels around 3 months later.

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