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Why Your Testosterone May Be Low & How To Boost Testosterone Naturally
Discover possible reasons for low testosterone levels and effective natural ways to boost it. Improve vitality and overall hormonal health. Read to learn more.
Next Health Staff
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December 6, 2023
Did you know that men go through their own form of menopause?
Andropause is the result of low testosterone in men and begins in your mid-30s.
Research shows that once this process starts to take place, testosterone levels decline about 1-2% annually. Therefore, by the time you reach your 40s, testosterone levels can be nearly 40% lower than 20 years prior.
Testosterone is not just a sex hormone for men, it plays a critical role in heart health, bone density, energy, muscle mass, and more. That is why this annual drop in testosterone can result in a 5-8% decline in muscle mass plus:
- Hair loss
- Weight gain
- Bone loss
- Low energy
- Low sex drive
- Decreased physical performance
- Slower cognition
- And more
Because these symptoms begin to take place in your 40s, they are often chopped up to “getting old.” However, these are symptoms of low testosterone, not age itself. In fact, after the age of 50, testosterone levels can drop up to 50% from their peak, coinciding with men reporting their lowest levels of general life satisfaction. (Many researchers believe this hormonal dysfunction could play a role in the stereotypical midlife crisis).
The Truth About Low Testosterone
Low testosterone affects millions of people, yet it is rarely addressed by standard practitioners.
A 2019 epidemiological study looked at the testosterone levels of over 1,200 men (between the ages of 40-70) and found that 55% had low levels.
The best way to proactively address your hormonal health is by testing your levels. The Next Health Baseline Test, a comprehensive starter panel of over 50 biomarkers. These biomarkers include hormone levels, thyroid levels, inflammatory markers, and other key indicators that give you and our medical providers an accurate picture of your overall health.
From there, our medical providers will empower you with a personalized plan to balance and restore the hormone levels of your youth.
Below are a few natural and at-home testosterone boosters you can incorporate into your daily routine to look and feel your best:
Tips to Boost Testosterone Levels
Exercise
Exercise can raise testosterone because it promotes muscle building. According to the research, the more muscle you have, the higher your testosterone levels.
Exercise is also excellent for balancing other essential hormones such as cortisol, insulin, and thyroid hormones.
Just a little movement every day can make a big difference. The average person spends more than half their day sitting and the typical office worker spends 15 hours a day sitting.
Our bodies are not designed for such sedentary lifestyles and by exercising a couple of times a week, you can help balance your hormones and promote longevity. In fact, research shows that just 150 minutes (or more) weekly can increase life expectancy by seven years when compared to those who don’t practice regular, moderate exercise.
Sleep
Sleep is critical for hormonal health as it helps regulate hormones such as cortisol, the stress hormone, which modulates other hormones in the body. One indicator of chronic stress is the ratio of cortisol to testosterone: a high ratio of cortisol to testosterone is a key endocrinological indicator that stress is compromising your health.
Moreover, neuroscientist and author of Why We Sleep: The Power of the Mind and Dreams, Dr. Matthew Walker states that men who get an average of five to six hours of sleep per night will experience such a drop in their testosterone levels that they will have the same levels as men ten years their senior.
It is important to note that over 70% of adults in America report that they do not get enough sleep on a regular basis. Aim for eight hours a night regularly for optimal hormonal health.
Consider Your Toxin Levels
Toxins are often called “endocrine disruptors,” meaning they fundamentally disturb hormonal function upon exposure. The average person is exposed to over 700,000 toxic chemicals on a daily basis. Many of us are not even aware of the ways we expose ourselves to toxic chemicals. For example, one study found that women put a minimum of 168 chemicals on their face during their morning routine.
Over time, such exposure can take a toll on your health and hormonal function. That is why it is important to buy high-quality, clean beauty products, cleaning products, and household items to limit your toxin exposure.
To gain insight into how toxins may be compromising your health, consider our comprehensive testing bundle: The Next Health Total Tox Burden Package. By analyzing over 90 biomarkers, this package empowers you to understand your level of toxin burden and take an informed plan of action to optimize your detoxification. By eliminating harmful substances you can restore your sense of health and alleviate symptoms such as brain fog, bloating, joint pain, skin problems, lack of energy, and so much more.
Read about our tips for Daily Detox Practices here
Diet High In Protein & Healthy Fats
Many of us are familiar with the concept of eating more protein to boost testosterone levels. This is because protein is critical in the building of lean muscle, and as mentioned above, more muscle means more testosterone.
Protein also aids in fat loss, which is also associated with improved levels of testosterone.
However, it is common to overlook the importance of healthy fats in boosting testosterone levels and improving heart health. Testosterone is incredibly important when it comes to heart health, especially in men. Learn more here
Sources of protein include: red meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk yogurt, beans, and leafy green vegetables
Sources of healthy fats include: avocado, extra virgin olive oil, chia seeds, nuts, wild-caught fatty fish, dark chocolate, and cheese.
Supplementation
As touched on above, detoxing is one of the best ways to promote healthy hormone levels as a buildup of toxins and cellular waste can disrupt your endocrine system, decreasing testosterone levels over time. DIM Detox can help support natural detoxification as it helps promote liver health, phase II detoxification pathways, and healthy cell metabolism. This supplement is a perfected blend of all-natural ingredients such as broccoli sprout that can help boost your overall wellness.
There are also supplements such as Testosterone Formula™ that are formulated to impact your testosterone levels directly. As a potent combination of of essential nutrients with botanical extracts, such as ginseng and tribulus, Testosterone Formula is designed to help support healthy testosterone levels.
At Next Health, we understand that lifestyle changes such as incorporating daily supplementation can be difficult. That is why our medical concierge team and wellness experts are always happy to answer any questions, provide educational information, and help adjust your personalized health optimization plan to your unique needs. Start your plan today, by first measuring your biomarkers, so you can take a data-driven, informed approach to supplementation and optimal health.
Peptide Therapy: CJC-1295 Ipamorelin
Peptides are chains of amino acids that act as precise messenger signals in the body that improve cellular function. As a result, they can help enhance various bodily responses such as healing bone and muscle, losing weight, enhancing growth hormone production, treating insomnia, and weight loss.
There are over 7,000 known naturally occurring peptides that are produced in the human body that aid in cellular function, and they can now be produced at an advanced compounding pharmacy.
The Next Health Peptide, CJC-1295 Ipamorelin, is designed to stimulate the release of growth hormone. CJC-1295 Ipamorelin binds to the pituitary, where human growth hormone is produced, which in turn activates the liver to make proteins that assist in building lean muscle and improving recovery processes for bone, organ, and muscle repair.
CJC-1295 Ipamorelin is perfect for those looking to build lean muscle, improve testosterone production, support fat loss, or even improve their quality of sleep.
Our policy requires medical consultation and recommendation from a licensed provider for peptide therapy. If you’d like to speak to a Next Health professional about peptide therapy, request a complimentary consult here
Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy
Although there are many helpful ways to boost your testosterone from the comfort of your home, there are also medically-guided and effective ways to boost testosterone naturally for those looking for a next-level solution.
Next Health’s Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy utilizes bio-identical hormones that are derived from yams and are “molecularly identical” to the body’s own hormones, so the body does not recognize them as foreign. This can naturally improve your body’s hormone levels, boosting testosterone levels and your overall sense of wellness.
Patients have found that Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy with pellet implants is extremely effective. The pellets are approximately the size of a tic-tac, and depending on your required dose, we will determine how many pellets need to be inserted. Implants are placed under the skin, with local anesthetic, and consistently release small, physiologic doses of hormones that provide optimal therapy.
Once the pellets are inserted, hormones are released based on cardiac output, meaning your body controls how quickly the hormones are released to maintain optimal hormone levels.
Based on the majority of our female patients, they are pelleted once every 3-4 months. Based on the majority of our male patients, they are pelleted once every 4-5 months.
Next Health also offers Bio-Identical Hormone Injections for those who are interested.
Boost Your Testosterone Levels Today
Hormones such as testosterone are integral to your overall wellness, which is why Next Health aims to give you the tools you need to resolve any imbalances.
Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy can help combat and even reverse signs of aging.
To learn more about Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy or to book an appointment, request a complimentary consult
Sources
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10958037/
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