Understanding Male Hormones
It is no secret that we are in the midst of facing the biggest epidemic of chronic disease and chronic “functional disorders” in human history. More than 133 million Americans, or 45% of the population, have at least one chronic condition. These conditions include arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and depression – with root causes traced back to imbalances related to inflammation, blood sugar issues, toxicity, and poor gut health.
It is important to understand that it is these same root causes that accelerate the male aging process, including accelerated andropause, and need to be addressed first in order to correct dramatic abnormal shifts in male hormone decline.
Andropause (aka “Low T”) is known as the natural period in a man’s life when testosterone levels drops. Andropause typically occurs between the ages of 40 and 60 and is associated with a variety of symptoms including changes in body composition, mood, energy levels, sex drive, muscle tone and overall vigor and endurance. Unlike the dramatic changes in hormonal backdrop occurring in women, the age related changes in reproductive hormones of men are subtle, and ideally, occur gradually throughout the years of mature life.
HOWEVER, due to common metabolic imbalances inherent in today’s modern world, men are now facing more dramatic shifts in hormone decline which may explain why testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and other male enhancement drugs like Viagra have surged in popularity over the past decade.
Rather than waiting for your hormones to bottom-out and then, in turn, requiring replacement therapy, our goal is to address the underlying mechanism that is dysfunctional early enough to negate the disease process. The goal of the functional health model is to fix the system’s core physiological mechanisms and feedback loops for the purpose of resolving the area that is dysfunctional.
The good news is that, once a correct assessment as been made, men respond well to targeted diet, lifestyle, and nutritional programs.
Signs & Symptoms of Low Testosterone:
- Change in sleep patterns: insomnia/sleep disturbances
- Physical changes: increased body fat & reduced muscle bulk
- Sexual changes: reduced sexual desires, sexual dysfunction
- Emotional changes: decreased motivations, depression & irritability
- General fatigue/decreased energy
Above is a summary of the relevant symptoms and root causes associated with “low T” and/or andropause. The first step is to request a full blood chemistry and hormone panel, review the ranges, and identify if your markers correspond to one of these patterns.
The body is designed to survive….not look good! When ever there is a stressor, the body’s instinct is to hold on to fat as this strategy is deep rooted in our evolutionary DNA. Fat, after all, is stored energy. Fat can breakdown into material the body can use to make energy when food is sparce.
In other words, when the body feels safe, it will let go of fat (excess calories), but until then, it is a frustrating battle to be stuck in the calories in/ work -out harder model of weight loss.
6 Steps to Optimize Testosterone Production Naturally
- Adopt a Low-Inflammatory Diet to Control inflammation
- Balance your Blood Sugar
- Pay attention to your Macro-Meal Composition (proteins, fats, carbs)
- Exercise and Lift Weights
- Minimize Stress and Cortisol Levels
- Get your Detox Systems Working
- Get Plenty of Restful, High Quality Sleep
