Men and Low Testosterone

In an attempt to put anyone not already on a prescription drug on a prescription drug, drug companies are now subjecting us to a legion of ads during primetime television asking men to talk to their doctors about low “T”, or low testosterone.

Men’s testosterone naturally declines as they get older – it is part of the normal aging process. Subsequently, sex drive can wane, you may have less energy than you did in your 20s, and your muscle strength may diminish. All of those are possibly, albeit not necessarily, signs of low testosterone.

Low testosterone is a real problem in men, and one that is easily diagnosable with a blood test. However, the symptoms often described in marketing campaigns aren’t necessarily only the result of low testosterone. Vague symptoms that are easily attributed to the natural aging processes are now the signs of a disease, according to marketers. All of the sudden, all adult men are beginning to think their testosterone is low, necessitating some sort of prescription treatment.

In reality, we live in a society that puts a premium on youth. It is evidenced across all strata of society; anti-aging is big business. We’ve been told that we can maintain the sort of youth and virility abundant in our 20s throughout our entire lives. We are promised tonics, solutions and medicines that are described as nothing short of a magic bullet. But does this huge movement of men ready to load up on testosterone harken to something in our not-so-distant past? The huge movement of men being encouraged to talk to their doctor about low testosterone seems eerily similar to the movement to put all women on hormone replacement therapy – a therapy that promised youthfulness late into life. Years later, we realized that initiative might have been a little too zealous, and serious consequences ensued.

If you’re a man, and you’re worried about low testosterone, there are some things you can do before getting put on a drug. You’ll see, all things listed are commons sense items for maintaining health, but are actually proven aids in boosting testosterone:

Keep your weight at a healthy level. 

Having an unhealthy weight can cause testosterone levels to lower – on either side of the scale.

Sleep Enough/Mitigate Stress.

These two are linked, because being overstressed and under rested can both cause abnormalities in hormone levels. Take control of your stress and give yourself time to sleep.

Exercise.

Like diet, exercise is crucial to health. We all know this. But being inactive can actually lower your level of testosterone, too. Try getting into a reasonable exercise routine.

Look out for certain medications that can lower testosterone levels.

We all experience the effects of aging. At Know the Cause, we believe those effects can be mitigated and health maintained at any age. But there’s no such thing as  a magic bullet. Use common sense when it comes to your hormones – try the Kaufmann 1 Diet in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle, and you may find yourself feeling much better without the aide of prescription drugs.