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

October 24, 2014

• Men: Are these chemicals castrating you?
• Place yourself in the driver’s seat
• … And get your T on!

As we men age, our testosterone levels take a beating.

It starts in our mid-30s. That’s when production of this manly hormone begins to decline. But something else happens, too. Every day we’re exposed to toxins that mimic estrogen. These chemicals increase our estrogen stores, while decreasing testosterone even further.

These hormone-disrupting chemicals aren’t obvious. They’re hiding in foods and products you use every single day.

You’ll find Bisphenol-A in food wraps and plastics, where it leaches into your foods and beverages. It also seeps into your skin when you handle cash register receipts. Personal care products, like shampoo and deodorant, can contain phthalates and parabens. Teflon-coated cookware is a source of perfluorinated chemicals.

And, what about the foods you eat?

Milk can contain bovine growth hormone. Commercial meats are full of hormones that alter your testosterone and estrogen ratios. Soy and soy byproducts contain estrogen-mimicking isoflavones.

Statin drugs can lower testosterone levels in men, too. The amount of that reduction depends on dosage. For example, 80 mg. of simvastatin daily could lower testosterone by as much as 10% in less than a year. But, if you’re on 40 mg., the testosterone reduction would be about 7%.

All of these gender-bending chemicals are putting you in a state of estrogen dominance. You might even be feeling the effects. Your testes might be growing smaller while your breasts are getting larger. Muscle mass might be dwindling. Your energy, libido and zest for life might be a distant memory.

Put it all together and it can be a hefty blow to your manhood.

Well, now, let’s put you in the driver’s seat and stop this chemical castration in its tracks.

First, let’s get rid of some of those chemicals that are feminizing you. It might seem a little challenging to start with. But it’s not nearly as hard to do as you might think.

• Never purchase foods or drinks that are packaged in plastic wraps and containers. Don’t store your leftovers in plastics, either. Always choose glass. It’s inert and won’t affect your manhood.
• Trash your Teflon pots and pans. Then, invest in a good set of stainless steel cookware. It might be a little pricey, but you don’t have to buy an entire set all at once. To start off with, just select the sizes you use most often. You can add other pieces as your budget allows.
• When it comes to personal care products, go organic. That way you’ll never have to worry about castrating chemicals seeping into your body during your daily grooming routine.
• Get 80% of your diet from natural, organic plant sources. When it comes to testosterone, cruciferous vegetables are your best friend. Vegetables like cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and broccoli contain something called Indole-3-Carbinol (I3C). This natural compound helps rid excess estrogen from your body.

The other 20% of your diet should come from animal sources: clean, wild-caught fish, hormone-free chicken or turkey, and grass-fed, hormone-free beef.

In many cases, these strategies can reverse testosterone loss. But, if you find you’re still having problems, here’s the next best step you can take to “get your T on”…

If you’re low on testosterone, you’ve probably thought about all the great things testosterone replacement therapy might be able to do for you.

Suddenly, you’ll be manly again! Your muscles will rapidly pop back to life, right along with your libido. Those unmanly breasts will disappear, and your gumption for life will return.

But, it’s expensive, right? And, who knows what the long-term consequences of synthetic hormones can do to your health.

Alright, then, I have a great alternative…

It’s something called bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. If you go to a mainstream doc, chances are good you’ve never heard of it before. But those of us who practice functional medicine are “in the know.”

Exactly what is it that we know?

• Synthetic hormones aren’t identical to those found in the male body. They’re one-size-fits-all. They don’t take into account your own, personal physiological make-up.
• Plant-based, bio-identical hormones are expertly formulated for your specific needs. They’ll match exactly what you need for top performance… and top production of your male hormone.
• Unlike synthetics, bio-identical hormones are identical in structure to those produced by your own body.
• Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy is much, much, less expensive than synthetics.

I suggest finding a functional physician in your area who specializes in bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. I guarantee you’ll love the results.

Sources:
Schooling CM, et al. “The effect of statins on testosterone in men and women, a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.” BMC Med. 2013 Feb 28;11:57.

Auborn K., et al. “Indole-3-carbinol is a negative regulator of estrogen.” J Nutr. 2003 Jul; 133(7 Suppl): 2470S-2475S