Low testosterone symptoms include fatigue, erection dysfunction, decreased sex drive, depression, memory problems, insomnia, sleep disorders, and many others. These symptoms are observed in a disease process referred to as hypogonadism. They can affect men of all ages, but they become more common in older men. Studies have reported that nearly half of older men suffer from low testosterone!
Testosterone declines naturally with aging and can be restored with hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Testosterone replacement therapy can be performed with injections or implantable pellets. Injections involve injecting synthetic versions of the male hormones testosterone, such as cypionate testosterone, created by adding ester to testosterone. The testosterone pellet is unique since it uses bioidentical testosterone, a replica of the naturally occurring hormone. However, there are some hypothetical risks associated with testosterone therapy. For example, reports suggest that testosterone therapy may increase the risk of prostate cancer since it can stimulate the overgrowth of prostate cells or even clotting and heart attacks by increasing your blood count.
These concerns have led scientists to promote several alternatives to restore testosterone levels naturally without risking these health complications. One way is to increase exercise and eat healthy foods. Another option is to try natural remedies. Here are three natural supplements that boost testosterone levels safely.
#1 DHEA
DHEA stands for dehydroepiandrosterone, and it is often used in combination with testosterone therapy because it helps promote muscle growth. A recent meta-analysis showed that DHEA supplementation increased free testosterone levels by 13% compared to placebo.
#2 Zinc
Zinc deficiency causes low testosterone levels, and studies show that zinc supplementation can improve testosterone levels. A double-blind trial found that zinc supplementation improved total testosterone levels in older men.
#3 Magnesium
Magnesium supplements can help increase testosterone levels. Other benefits of magnesium supplements include improved blood pressure, mood, blood sugar, and even heart disease.
Testosterone Can Protect You From The Damage of Chronic Inflammation.
Chronic inflammation is linked to many illnesses, including cancer, diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s Disease, ulcerative colitis, asthma, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, obesity, depression, anxiety, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and even autism. It is one of the leading causes of death in the United States.
An overactive immune system often causes inflammatory conditions, and several factors contribute to this state. These include genetics, lifestyle choices, environmental toxins, and stress. However, most people don’t realize that food itself can cause inflammation.
In addition to being inflammatory, some foods contain compounds called pro-inflammatory chemicals. These include omega-6, trans fats, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, hydrogenated oils, MSG, high fructose corn syrup, and soy products.
The good news is that you can reduce the amount of inflammation in your body by eliminating these foods. However, what is not known by the public is that testosterone can significantly reduce inflammation. This occurs in multiple modalities. The first is that testosterone results in the growth of muscles globally. Muscle growth will result in the ability to utilize glucose in the blood so that glucose levels are not elevated. Elevated glucose levels will promote diabetic changes that will increase your inflammatory cytokines. The second mechanism of testosterone suppresses the inflammatory response by directly promoting growth hormone production and suppressing the cortisol response. Both of these influences will lead to limiting inflammatory responses.
The Low-T Boom
The low-T boom is a condition where someone always feels tired or weak, even though they don’t have any obvious physical signs. Common complaints include, “I’m just always exhausted” or “I have no energy.” Although this patient had never needed a medical workup, his doctor may suggest that he start testosterone replacement therapy. This is a booming market, with many companies offering products like creams, gels, patches, pills, injections, and implantable pellets. Some are sold over the counter; others require prescriptions. But some experts say there’s no evidence that testosterone replacement therapy works and could cause complications such as prostate cancer or heart problems.
There’s been a lot of debate about whether there are any health issues linked to taking testosterone supplements. The Food and Drug Administration has not approved the use of testosterone pellets. Testosterone is produced naturally by the body during puberty and into adulthood. It helps build muscle mass, bone density, sex organs, and sperm production. A healthy adult male typically produces about 2 milligrams per day. And while most men don’t produce low enough testosterone to develop serious conditions such as osteoporosis, low testosterone levels can lead to fatigue, depression, weight gain, decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, and hair loss.
Doctors recommend that anyone interested in testosterone replacement therapy should have blood tests first. Laboratory tests will determine whether your testosterone levels are, in fact, low. If you start on testosterone replacement therapy, you will also be ordered routine follow-up tests. More doctors realize that testosterone replacement benefits outweigh the risks.
What Are The Risks of Testosterone Therapy?
Testosterone treats low energy, poor sex drive, erectile dysfunction, muscle loss, fatigue, bone density issues, and depression. Testosterone therapy is often prescribed to men whose natural testosterone levels fall short of what’s needed to maintain healthy sexual function.
The most common side effect of testosterone therapy is acne, though it usually clears up within a few weeks. Other possible side effects include increased risk of prostate cancer, liver damage, and blood clots. Some studies suggest that testosterone therapy could increase the risk of heart disease. However, experts say the evidence isn’t conclusive enough to confirm whether testosterone causes heart problems. On the contrary, more studies demonstrate testosterone’s protective effect on your heart and body, helping you eliminate unwanted fat in your gut responsible for hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease!
In general, there are fewer potential side effects associated with testosterone therapy than with other hormone replacement therapies. Other hormone replacement therapies are associated with the risk of breast enlargement, hair growth, mood swings, weight gain, sleep disturbances, and fluid retention.
What Are The Benefits of Testosterone Therapy?
Testosterone replacement therapy treats low testosterone levels, which are more common as we age. Low testosterone levels can affect many areas of your life, including how you feel about yourself, your relationships, and your sex life. It can impact everything you do, from getting out of bed to routinely exercise. But there are things you can do to help improve your testosterone level naturally.
Low testosterone can indirectly promote medical conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. Testosterone is one of the most important hormones in men, as it helps build muscle mass and maintain bone density. Low testosterone levels are often associated with low energy, fatigue, depression, decreased libido, and erectile dysfunction.
The best way to test your testosterone level is to obtain a blood sample. Blood samples taken during the morning tend to provide the most accurate results. If you’re concerned about having a needle stick, ask your doctor about getting a salivary testosterone test. This method involves collecting spit into a small tube and submitting it to a lab. Saliva provides a good indicator of testosterone levels because it reflects changes in the body over short periods.
If you want to know how much testosterone you have, you’ll need to do a second reading. A baseline reading might be enough, but that doesn’t always work. Your testosterone levels change throughout the day, so you’ll want to take another reading. To ensure your measured values are correct, schedule both readings around the same time every day to confirm a consistent testosterone value.
Ask your doctor about all the potential side effects before starting testosterone therapy, and have realistic expectations. According to a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, testosterone therapy does not guarantee improvement in quality of life or increased longevity. Men taking testosterone had no significant differences in overall mortality compared to those receiving placebo. However, many men taking testosterone reported increased libido and stamina.
The findings are based on data from the randomized controlled trial TOSCA.Trial. This study showed that men with low levels of total testosterone experienced improvements in physical function and mental health. In addition, there was no difference in mortality rates between men who received testosterone versus those who did not receive treatment.