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A transgender athlete at the University of Montana a biological male now competing in women's cross country was recently named "female" athlete of the week for excelling in a race.

Just last year, Jonathan Eastwood was a winning runner on the men's team in 5,000-meter and 1,500-meter races. This year, the senior goes by the name "June" (pictured, far right) and finished second in a group of 204 female runners at the Santa Clara Bronco Invitational late last month. That performance in the 6k race earned him the Big Sky Cross Country "Female Athlete of the Week" honor.

Steve McConkey of 4 WINDS Christian Athletics has been an outspoken critic of transgender men competing against women.

" I've been following the performances [of transgender male athletes]. They're improving," he offers. "And so when June Eastwood got female Big Sky Female Person of the Week, it did not surprise me."

Eastwood's second-place finish at the invitational one second behind the winner also caught the attention of Bill Zwerger at American Thinker:

"I have the sneaking suspicion that his latest second-place finish was due to him 'letting off the gas' toward the end of the race, seeking to minimize the negative publicity his winning yet again would have garnered, along with the outrage his female opponents must feel in having a male win every race against them."

For similar reasons, McConkey who admits the performances he's seeing are not yet "spectacular" believes Eastwood is maneuvering to qualify for women's competition in the upcoming Olympics next summer in Tokyo by holding back for now.

"I think the athlete is actually dogging it and trying to get his testosterone levels down," he tells OneNewsNow. "But I think over time, you're going to see [a transgender] athlete who will be in the Olympic trials and potentially could go very far."

The Daily Mail points out that in accordance with NCAA policy, male athletes who identify as transgender women must suppress testosterone levels for a full calendar year before competing in women's sports.

Read the rest here:
Trans athlete accused of 'dogging it' to avoid negative publicity - OneNewsNow

The sight of Catherine McKennas Ottawa Centre campaign office defiled by a misogynistic attack days after the Liberal MP was voted into office offered a vile, yet telling, capper to a campaign that was unkind to women in overt and more insidious ways. The slur was sexist: the wordcunt spray-painted across McKennas face as if to obscure and silence her. When it was discussed on CBCsCrossCountry Checkuplast week, the host didnt repeat the word but referred to it as vulgar. And yes, the word is vulgar;Macleanstypically wontpublish it. But Im repeating it without slashes or asterisks because the attack on McKenna needs to be called out as gendered; cunt is used to sexualize and demean a woman; it is not a word used to attack a male politician.

McKenna, minister of the environment, has faced sexist garbage for yearsfrom being dubbed climate Barbie to threats so serious she needed a security detail. Shes not alone. Pernicious attacks on female politicians of all political stripesinCanada, inAustralia, and theU.S.are now so common that its debated whether Western politics, a bedrock of democracy, istoxicfor women.Recentreportsindicate female politicians are standing down in Britain in response to horrific abuse.

Its positive news, of a sort, that Ottawa police justannouncedtheyre investigating the vandalism against McKenna as a hate crime; this recognizes the gravity of the attack. Less positive is the lack of collective bi-partisan political or public outrage. Nor has there been a call for zero tolerance, or a needed crackdown on abuse rife on social media platforms. No one would expect women to endure constant threats of rape, physical assault, or murder as a norm in other fieldsmedicine, law, teaching. After a terrorist act, no one says that a population should stop flying or going into the streets. Yet thestandard response to news of the attack against McKenna even by those sickened by it was a resigned: Andthats whywomen dont enter politics.

Yet this federal election began with a record number of women choosing to run for officeup some nine per cent from 2015. The NDP ran 49 per cent women (up from 43 in 2015), the Greens, (lead by Elizabeth May, the only female party leader), ran 47 per cent women/non-binary/trans candidates (up from 40 per cent), the Liberals ran 39 per cent women (up from 31 per cent), and the Conservatives ran 32 percent (up from 19 per cent).After votes were counted, we had 10 more women in Parliament, bringing female representation in the House of Commons to 29 per cent, a three per cent increase. At this rate, well surpass one-third female representation after the 2027 electionand reach 50-50 representation decades after that.

Weve heard the same theories floated for years of why unequal representation persists: Women are socialized not to see themselves as eligible candidates as readily as men; they have to balance career and family (in a way men dont); they dont have access to the same funding; theyre not positioned by parties in winnable ridings. Theres truth there. But the biases can be more subtle than that, as seen in the imagery and messaging of the 2019 federal election. Traditional masculine motifssports, warriors, shows of strengthprevailed.Obviously women excel at sports, but framing on the campaign trail tends to be as a testosterone-soaked masculinity contest. Its imagery that excludes many whod make excellent representativesnot only women, but some men, and anyone who is older or who lives with a disability.

National elections as masculinity contests have long existed in the U.S., as astutely outlined by Jackson Katz in his 2017 bookMan Enough?: Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, and the Politics of Presidential Masculinity. Since Ronald Reagan vs. Jimmy Carter onward, Katz writes, U.S. elections have been debates about American manhood waged exclusively by white men until Barack Obama, who was often photographed playing basketball. Its changing, seen with the election of a new squad of younger women, lead by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, yet its still one where the tough guy with certitude prevails, and the nuanced or indecisive is emasculated.

Using sports as a go-to political metaphor is problematic for many reasonsits intrinsically polarizing and sets a narrow perception what a politician looks like. We saw a breakthrough in Canada with the presence of NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, the first racialized leader of a major national party. That said, on the strong, macho front, Singh fulfilled the mandate: in August, gearing up for the election, he shared an image of himself after a mixed martial arts class with former ultimate fighting champion Georges St-Pierre.

During the campaign, when Singh slammed a big hammer to ring a bell at a Poutine Fest in B.C.,Burnaby Nowenthused: Hes flexing his campaign muscles. The NDP leader also introduced a strenuousJagmeet Jumpbefore rallies. Conservative leaderAndrew Scheer was less successful in the format: he appeared in party ads swinging a baseball bat, and was mocked; he was also criticized post-election by former Conservative cabinet minister Peter MacKay who evoked another sports metaphor when he likened Scheer losing to a hockey player missing a goal on an empty net.

Choose Forward Grouse Grind

The Grouse Grind is tough, but to get to the top you need to keep moving forward. And we need to do the same to keep growing our economy, fighting climate change & protecting beautiful places like this across Canada. In October, you get to choose which way we go. #ChooseForward//Le Grouse Grind est difficile, mais on doit continuer davancer pour arriver au sommet. Et on doit faire la mme chose pour faire crotre notre conomie, lutter contre les changements climatiques et protger notre environnement. En octobre, cest votre choix. #ChoisirDAvancer

Posted by Justin Trudeau on Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Then theres Justin Trudeau, whose political credibility and rise hinged on him winning a 2012 charity boxing match against Senator Patrick Brazeau. Trudeaus fitness and physical derring-doyoga poses, balancing babies,jogging shirtlessdefine his political identity. During the federal campaign, Trudeau ran up Vancouvers Grouse Mountain, and his team summoned media to cover him training in a boxing ring the morning of the TVA debate. Star Liberal candidate and Trudeau protg Adam van Koeverden took a page from the PMs playbook on his first bid for political office in Milton, Ont. The four-time Olympic medalist posted a photo onInstagram showing him prepare for a local debate with a killer workout. Like Trudeau, van Koeverden pitched himself as a frontman for gender equality: one of his campaign boasts was his involvement at the federal government level to ensure gender inclusion in sports. He won the riding,ejecting veteran Conservative incumbent Lisa Raitt.

During the campaign,Raitt lamented in aniPoliticsinterview about how virility and stamina have become conflated with political competence and ability: What am I going to do? Im a fat woman over 50. I cant compete in that, she said.

Even before the campaign, we saw a focus onimagery over doing actual work. On June 17, 2019, for instance, May was the only leader in the House of Commons to vote to pass a motion declaring a national climate emergency. Trudeau, Singh, and Scheer were all in Toronto gaining political currency being photographed at the Raptors parade.May told me she experienced sexism when I covered the Greens on the election trailfrom being referred to as quirky, a word not often used to describe a man, to being criticized in one media account for learning about World War II history from the movies, (which is not the case). Thats not something theyd likely say about Andrew Scheer, May said.

We also saw May, the only woman at the leaders debates (she was excluded from TVA debate) drowned out as her rivals fought to defend womens reproductive rights. A man has no position on a womans right to choose, Singh said during the official English-language leaders debate, to which May interjected: How about a womans right to speak in a debate? Its been really interesting for most of this campaign to hear a lot of men arguing about what a womans rights should be.

Ironically, abortion became a cudgel used against May, who supports a womans right to choose, by the NDP, even as67 Conservative candidatesreceived endorsements by anti-abortion groups. Meanwhile, discussion about critical issues that affect women disproportionatelytheepidemic of violence against women and girls, the need for universal childcarewas absent.

Post-election, its time to rethink and address inequities in the political realm, asMelanee Thomas, an associate professor of political science at the University of Calgary, writes inPolicy Options. Thomas, who researches gender and electoral politics,argues that the problem is entrenched biases at the party level, and not voters discriminating against women. Political scientists have looked for butfound no evidenceto support the idea that voters discriminate against female candidates, Thomas writes. Rather, political parties areless likely to nominate women as candidates than men, they are also more likely to disproportionately nominate women in seats their party cannot win.

Despite Trudeaus 50-50 male-female cabinet, for instance, his party didnt support the Gender EquityAct, a 2016 private members billintroduced by then NDP MP Kennedy Stewart to ensure greater parity. The bill, which proposed to financially penalize parties with a 10 per cent or more split between male and female candidates, didnt pass.

Its a bias that extends to party leadership, Thomas writes: federal parties, particularly those that stand a chance to form government, simply do not select women as leaders. There are exceptions, she notes: when a party isin crisis or decline,but more often women become party leaders when their party is uncompetitive.

History backs this up.Canada has had a female prime minister, fleetingly, in 1993, but never has come close to electing one. Kim Campbell became Conservative Party leader after the premature exit of then unpopular prime minister Brian Mulroney. Campbell never sat in Parliament as PM; the Conservatives were trounced in the 1993 election.(With speculation swirling that the Conservatives are planning to replace Scheer, its telling that one name being floated is Ben Mulroney, the son of Brian Mulroney, a TV presenter with no political experience, and not that of his sister Caroline, a cabinet minister in the Ontario Conservative government.)

The NDP has had one female leaderAlexa McDonoughfrom 1995 to 2003. When May was elected leader of the federal Greens in 2006, the party had never held a seat in the House of Commons; it now has three, nine short of official party status. (On Monday, May announced she would be stepping down as party leader.) Women have run for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada, but none has come close to winning.

The expectation that women leading provincial governments would offer training ground for the federal stage hasnt happened, Thomas writes, noting provincial politics also reflectsharsher standardsapplied to women leaders. For several months this year, Canadahad no women premiers;Caroline Cochrane was elected premier of the Northwest Territories last month, the first woman in the job since 1995.

As Thomas sees it, its time to ask different questions: Instead of asking why women should be more included in politics, we should ask why men merit being so overrepresented, she writes.

While we ponder that, its also good to remember that, for all of the regressive imagery, election 43 brought us new, young female politicians, among them Mumilaaq Qaqqaq, an NDP MP in Nunavut and Jenica Atwin, a Green MP elected in Fredericton. We also saw the return of former Liberal Jody-Wilson Raybould as an Independent representing Vancouver-Granville and, of course, Catherine McKenna,who has refused to be silenced or obscured, and whose treatment should be seen as a slur across Canadas face.

Continued here:
Inside The Testosterone-soaked Masculinity Contest That Was The 2019 Election - Chatelaine

In Summary

More frequently reported side effects include: deep vein thrombosis. See below for a comprehensive list of adverse effects.

Applies to testosterone: buccal patch extended release

Other dosage forms:

Along with its needed effects, testosterone may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking testosterone:

Incidence not known

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking testosterone:

Symptoms of overdose

Some side effects of testosterone may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Less common

Applies to testosterone: buccal film extended release, compounding powder, intramuscular solution, nasal gel, subcutaneous implant, subcutaneous solution, transdermal cream, transdermal film extended release, transdermal gel, transdermal ointment, transdermal solution

The most frequently reported side effects with this drug are edema, acne, site pain, injection site erythema, cough or dyspnea during or immediately after injection.

The most frequently reported side effects with testosterone topical are skin reaction (16.1%) and allergic contact dermatitis (up to 37%).[Ref]

Very common (10% or more): Testosterone topical: Skin reaction (16.1%), burn-like blisters (12%), itching, allergic contact dermatitis (up to 37%)

Common (1% to 10%): Acne, induration, burning

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Alopecia, erythema, rash (including rash popular), pruritus, dry skin, folliculitis (testosterone topical)

Frequency not reported: Seborrhea, urticaria, male pattern baldness, hirsutism injection site inflammation

Postmarketing reports: Angioedema, angioneurotic edema, hyperhidrosis, discolored hair, leukocytoclastic vasculitis[Ref]

Very common (10% or more): Accelerated growth

Common (1% to 10%): Increased estradiol, hypogonadism

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Increased blood testosterone

Frequency not reported: Signs of virilization in women (e.g., hoarseness, acne, hirsutism, menstrual irregularity, clitoral enlargement, and alopecia), precocious puberty (in prepubertal males)

Postmarketing reports: Hyperparathyroidism, prolactin increased, testosterone increased[Ref]

Very common (10% or more): Testosterone buccal film: Gingivitis (32.6%)

Common (1% to 10%): Diarrhea, oily stools (due to IM injection oily solvent); Testosterone topical: Gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastrointestinal bleeding, gum or mouth irritation (9.2%), taste bitter, gum pain, gum tenderness, gum edema, taste perversion

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Nausea

Rare (less than 0.1%): Abdominal pain

Frequency not reported: Abdominal disorder, intraabdominal hemorrhage

Postmarketing reports: Vomiting; Testosterone buccal film: Dry mouth, gingival swelling, lip swelling, mouth ulceration, stomatitis[Ref]

The majority of gum-related adverse events were transient.[Ref]

Very common (10% or more): Testosterone topical: Application site pruritus (up to 37%), application site blistering (12%)

Common (1% to 10%): Injection site pain, injection site discomfort, injection site pruritus, erythema, injection site hematoma, injection site irritation, injection site inflammation; injection site reaction; Topical testosterone: Application site erythema, application site warmth, application site irritation, application site vesicles, application site exfoliation, application site burning, application site induration, bullae at application site, mechanical irritation at application site, rash at application site, contamination of application site

Postmarketing reports: Injection site abscess, procedural pain, application site swelling (topical testosterone)[Ref]

Common (1% to 10%): Hot flush, hypertension

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Cardiovascular disorder

Frequency not reported: Venous thromboembolism

Postmarketing reports: Angina pectoris, cardiac arrest, cardiac failure, coronary artery disease, coronary artery occlusion, myocardial infarction, tachycardia, cerebral infarction, cerebrovascular accident, circulatory collapse, deep venous thrombosis, syncope, thromboembolism, thrombosis, venous insufficiency, stroke[Ref]

Common (1% to 10%): Abnormal prostate examination, benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), ejaculation disorder, prostatitis

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Prostate induration, prostatic disorder, testicular pain, decreased urine flow, urinary retention, urinary tract disorder, nocturia, dysuria

Rare (less than 0.1%): Micturition disorders, epididymitis, bladder irritability, impotence, inhibition of testicular function and testicular atrophy

Frequency not reported: Oligospermia, priapism, benign prostatic hyperplasia (prostatic growth to eugonadal state), excessive frequency and duration of erections; Pediatrics: Precocious sexual development, an increased frequency of erections, phallic enlargement

Postmarketing reports: Prostate infection, calculus urinary, dysuria, hematuria, urinary tract disorder, pollakiuria, azoospermia[Ref]

Common (1% to 10%): Polycythemia, hematocrit increased

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Increased red blood cell count, increased hemoglobin, prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time, prolonged prothrombin time

Frequency not reported: Blood and lymphatic system disorders, suppression of clotting factors II, V, VII, and X, bleeding in patients on concomitant anticoagulant therapy

Postmarketing reports: Thrombocytopenia, anemia[Ref]

Common (1% to 10%): Weight increased, appetite increased, fluid retention (sodium, chloride, water, potassium, calcium, and inorganic phosphates)

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Increased glycosylated hemoglobin, hypercholesterolemia, increased triglyceride

Frequency not reported: Abnormal lipids (decrease in serum LDL, HDL, and triglycerides), metabolism and nutrition disorders, hypercalcemia

Postmarketing reports: Hypoglycemia, diabetes mellitus, fluid retention, hyperlipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, blood glucose increased[Ref]

Common (1% to 10%): Back pain, hemarthrosis (testosterone topical)

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Arthralgia, pain in extremity, muscle spasm, muscle strain, myalgia, musculoskeletal stiffness, increased creatine phosphokinase

Frequency not reported: Pediatrics: Premature epiphyseal closure, increased bone formation

Postmarketing reports: Musculoskeletal chest pain, musculoskeletal pain, myalgia, osteopenia, osteoporosis, systemic lupus erythematosus[Ref]

Common (1% to 10%): Headache, vertigo (topical testosterone)

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Migraine, tremor, dizziness

Frequency not reported: Nervousness, paresthesia

Postmarketing reports: Cerebrovascular insufficiency, reversible ischemic neurological deficiency, transient ischemic attack, amnesia[Ref]

Common (1% to 10%): Prostatic specific antigen (PSA) increased, prostate cancer

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia

Rare (less than 0.1%): Neoplasms benign, malignant, and unspecified (including cysts and polyps)[Ref]

Common (1% to 10%): Fatigue, hyperhidrosis; chills, body pain, smell disorder

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Breast induration, breast pain, sensitive nipples, gynecomastia, increased estradiol, increased testosterone, asthenia, night sweats

Rare (less than 0.1%): Fever, malaise

Frequency not reported: Edema

Postmarketing reports: Sudden hearing loss, tinnitus, Influenza like illness[Ref]

Common (1% to 10%): Irritability, insomnia, mood swings, aggression,

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Depression, emotional disorder, restlessness, increased libido, decreased libido

Frequency not reported: Hostility, anxiety

Postmarketing reports: Korsakoff's psychosis nonalcoholic, male orgasmic disorder, restlessness, sleep disorder[Ref]

Common (1% to 10%): Sinusitis, nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, bronchitis

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Cough, dyspnea, snoring, dysphonia

Rare (less than 0.1%): Pulmonary microembolism (POME) (cough, dyspnea, malaise, hyperhidrosis, chest pain, dizziness, paresthesia, or syncope) caused by oily solutions

Frequency not reported: Sleep apnea

Postmarketing reports: Chest pain, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hyperventilation, obstructive airway disorder, pharyngeal edema, pharyngolaryngeal pain, pulmonary embolism, respiratory distress, rhinitis, sleep apnea syndrome[Ref]

Signs and symptoms of pulmonary microemboli may occur during or immediately after the injections and are reversible.[Ref]

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Abnormal LFT, increased AST

Rare (less than 0.1%): Abnormal hepatic function

Frequency not reported: Jaundice, benign liver tumor, malignant liver tumor, liver enlargement, peliosis hepatitis

Postmarketing reports: ALT increased, AST increased, bilirubin increased, transaminases increased, gamma-glutamyltransferase increased[Ref]

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypersensitivity reactions

Frequency not reported: Anaphylactic reactions

Postmarketing reports: Anaphylactic shock[Ref]

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Testosterone topical: Lacrimation increased

Postmarketing reports: Testosterone topical: Intraocular pressure increased, vitreous detachment[Ref]

Postmarketing reports: Nephrolithiasis, renal colic, renal pain[Ref]

1. "Product Information. AndroGel (testosterone)." Unimed Pharmaceuticals, Buffalo Grove, IL.

2. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0

3. "Product Information. Axiron (testosterone)." Lilly, Eli and Company, Indianapolis, IN.

4. "Product Information. Testopel (testosterone)." Bartor Pharmacal Co, Inc, Rye, NY.

5. "Product Information. Aveed (testosterone)." Endo Pharmaceuticals Solutions Inc, Malvern, PA.

6. "Product Information. Testim (testosterone)." A-S Medication Solutions, Chicago, IL.

7. "Product Information. Androderm (testosterone topical)." SmithKline Beecham, Philadelphia, PA.

8. "Product Information. Fortesta (testosterone)." Endo Pharmaceuticals (formally Indevus Pharmaceuticals Inc), Lexington, MA.

9. "Product Information. Depo-Testosterone (testosterone)." Pfizer U.S. Pharmaceuticals Group, New York, NY.

10. "Product Information. Testosterone Enanthate (testosterone)." West-Ward Pharmaceutical Corporation, Eatontown, NJ.

11. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0

12. O'Driscoll JB, August PJ "Exacerbation of psoriasis precipitated by an oestradiol-testosterone implant." Clin Exp Dermatol 15 (1990): 68-9

Read more:
Testosterone Side Effects: Common, Severe, Long Term ...

The qualities of confidence, ambition, and strength are closely associated with high testosterone levels.

It's no accident these characteristics are predominantly male. The more testosterone you have, the greater ability for these qualities to be expressed.

Increasing your testosterone has powerful cognitive and physiological effects.

It can enhance your tolerance for stress, helps alleviate fatigue, has mood brightening effects, and improves body composition (reduced fat/increased muscle).

Well-being (reduction in depression and mild euphoria)

Confidence (reduced social anxiety and greater assertiveness)

Energy improvements and greater work capacity

Motivation (greater ambition)

Sex drive/libido and response times heightened (shorter refractory period)

Concentration (greater ability to complete complex mental tasks)

Strength and muscle mass increases

Body fat reduction and higher basal metabolic rate

Photo credit: artofmanliness.com

Testosterone levels higher than 1000ng/dl or 35nmol/L are generally considered "significantly above normal" for men.

Going above that mark means you're somewhere in the top 2.5% of all men. The bottom 2.5% would put you below 250ng/dl or 9nmol/L serum testosterone.

For the average male, 1000ng/dl corresponds to about 150mg to 200mg of supplemental testosterone per week, depending on the individual's metabolizing ability.

After witnessing many firsthand reports, going well above higher than normal testosterone dosages can produce profound effects on mental and physical abilities.

What's interesting to note, most "medical professionals" will tell you nothing beneficial can be gained by going over normal ranges.

More accurately, most doctors will tell you it's outright dangerous. Strangely this opinion is based on limited to no supporting facts.

It's been the prevailing wisdom in the medical profession since at least the 1980's, which has much to do with the popular presses' negative PR campaigning against steroids in sport.

A number of studies have been published supporting testosterone's effectiveness in supraphysiologic dosages.

No effect on anger, mood and increased sex drive, and increased strength and muscle size.

One of testosterone's psychotropic effects is its ability to raise your sex drive. Its nature's way of telling you "Get out there and get laid. Don't focus on one woman in particular. Find what's available and get the job done." It's indiscriminate.

A little simplistic but... men's primary purpose for sex is to spread their seed as far and wide as possible. It's a matter of quantity over quality... a direct effect of testosterone on your brain.

On the other hand, it's more favorable for women to get quality over quantity since she has to carry a child for 9 months and is responsible for the majority of child rearing.

Thats one of the reasons why women's testosterone is lower. It's disadvantages for them to have promiscuous sex with random men and get pregnant.

Acne (primarily on back and shoulders)

Minor testicle shrinkage (not necessarily a negative)

Reduced fertility (can be offset with HCG and/or Clomid)

Hair Loss (can be decreased or prevented with Propecia (finasteride) and/or Nizoral Shampoo (ketoconazole))

Enlarged prostate (can be offset by keeping DHT and estrogen in check)

All these side effects can all be mitigated by responsible use and safe practices.

One important thing to note... as I'm sure it's on many of your minds. Will having higher testosterone cause you harm if it's something you intend on doing long term?

Well it's not without its risks, and unfortunately there isn't much long term data supporting either position. It's something you have to weigh the positives against the negatives.

I'd suggest working with a doctor to keep close tabs on your health markers, most notably lipids and hematocrit (high red blood cells), which tend to get the most skewed with supraphysiological dosages.

Continue reading here:
High Testosterone Levels In Men | Signs, Symptoms & Side ...

Knowing the average testosterone level for your age can be useful. Once identified, it can help increase your odds of successful treatment.

Getting to optimal test levels can then help drive energy, strength, and motivation. But if low testosterone symptoms aren't managed they can alternatively lead to a frustrating experience.

The following total and free T range indicates the downwards trend as men age.

In healthy non-obese men, aged 20-40, normal testosterone levels in men range between 315 to 1000 ng/dl (10.9 to 34.5 nmol/l)[1], with an average of 627 ng/dl (21.8 nmol/l)[2].

As you may imagine, these ranges are not set to optimal levels. They are from a cross-section of men aged 20 to 80. Many of whom may be sick or diseased, from a lifetime of unhealthy habits.

Upon receiving the results of your blood test, your T levels may be close or under the bottom of the range. If your doctor refuses treatment, a gentle reminder of what "optimal health" entails may be in order.

After pointing out, you have the T levels of a sick 80 year old hopefully, your doctor will come around.

Courtesy of: Dr. Rand McClain

Perhaps your doctor is stubborn or doesn't like their patients being active participants in their own healthcare. In that case, you may be better off emphasizing your symptoms of low testosterone.

Noting a loss of sex drive, the development of impotence, and/or reduced muscle mass and strength is a start. That should give any knowledgeable doctor a red flag that T levels aren't on par.

Depression, fatigue, and loss of motivation are also commonly caused by low testosterone. Sadly, many doctors would rather prescribe an antidepressant. Bringing back to normal, a natural substance your body already makes, may be wiser.

If all else fails (as sad as it may seem), play the desperation/victim card. Maybe tell him you're on the cusp of getting fired, due to poor work performance.

Alternatively, you could share that your wife/girlfriend has threatened to leave. Saying they're dissatisfied over your sex drive/impotence problems or recent lack of ambition.

Most doctors with a soul will come around, once you explain the seriousness of your case. And if they don't, shop around. Sooner or later you'll find a doctor who's sympathetic, as tough as that search may be.

Check my resources section at the top of the page. It may help you find a highly rated doctor specializing in hormone replacement therapy in your area.

1. Vermeulen, A. (2001). Androgen replacement therapy in the aging male. A critical evaluation. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 86:23802390

2. Jean M. Kaufman, Alex Vermeulen, (2005). The Decline of Androgen Levels in Elderly Men and Its Clinical and Therapeutic Implications. Endocrine Reviews 26:833876

3. Vermeulen, A. (1996). Declining Androgens with Age: An Overview. In Vermeulen, A. & Oddens, & B.J. (Eds.), Androgens and the Aging Male (pp. 3-14). New York: Parthenon Publishing.

Continued here:
Normal Testosterone Levels By Age In Men | Average Ranges ...

Did you know the average 100-year-old Okinowan male has much higher levels of testosterone than the average American male that is 30 years younger! Today, low testosterone in males is rapidly growing. I will cover the best strategies to increase testosterone naturally and boost human growth hormone (HGH) fast.

Maintaining the right level of testosterone can be tricky today. And Im not just talking to guys here! Healthy women make up to 300 micrograms of testosterone in their ovaries and adrenal glands every day.

Like men, women with low testosterone levels often experience chronic fatigue, a stunt in their libido and a decreased sense of well-being. So, this is a hormone that everyone should keep tabs on!

However, low testosterone in men has especially become a major health issue today, and I will explain why and how you can fix.

If you have low testosterone, like many men do,these natural treatments (but not testosterone supplements!) will absolutely help you overcome it faster. In fact, if you implementthisprocess, youre probably going to notice changes in probably 24to 48 hours that fast.

Youre probably most familiar with testosterone as being the sex hormone responsible for defining manhood. And, yes, it does. However, proper levels of this key hormone are also necessary to stimulate sexual desire, increase libido, heighten arousal and ensure sexual satisfaction for both men and women. Its also necessary to maintaining the following:

As men and women age, their T-levels naturally decline but this can accelerate faster than normal by the typical American lifestyle:

All of these risk factors deplete the normal immune response, lead to obesity and diabetes, tax the body and decrease metabolism. This, my friends, is the recipe for low T-levels and most people are stuck on the gerbil wheel desperate for a ticket to get off of the ride.

Low testosterone has become such an issue that up to 40 percent of men over 45 are affected!(1) No one knows the prevalence of women with low T-levels yet, but a Wall Street Journal article suggests that the pain epidemic many women struggle with may be linked to imbalance hormones, including testosterone. (2)

No wonder men and women are racing to supplement stores to get their hands on makeshift testosterone therapy!

Supplement companies have been targeting people with decreased sex drive, altered mood and difficulties with concentration and mental stimulation heavily the past few years. This is one reason why T-therapy has become relatively commonplace today.

Knowing the research and past side effects of other synthetic hormone treatments which have been shown to lower HDL cholesterol and increase the risk of stroke makes me recommend avoiding this type of treatment if possible. (3) The story is similar fortestosterone supplements.

Instead, try and all-natural approach to increasing testosterone and HGH.

The first of the natural testosterone boosters is intermittent fasting. One of the biggestintermittent fasting benefits? Its been shown to increase testosterone by nearly 200percentor even up to 400 percent. (4) In addition, a study by theUniversity of Virginia Medical School noted that growth hormone levels increased 2,000 percent over the baseline in men who ate no calories for 24 hours, and growth hormone levels are correlated with testosterone. (5)

Intermittent fasting basically means you skip breakfast, and you eat your meals closer together. Youll eat three meals per day: one at noon, one at 3 p.m.and your last meal around 6 p.m. That allows your organs to rest, especially your liver, which is so crucial for naturally balancing hormones, especially testosterone.

If you want to naturally boost testosterone and HGH then combining weight training with HIIT workouts (high intensity interval training). Go to the gym at least three days a week, ideally at least threedays a week, and lift heavy weights. Lifting heavy weights 612 reps with larger muscle groups like your quadriceps, hamstrings, back, shoulders and chest will help your body pack on the maximum amount of muscle. Specifically, liftingat least 30minutesup toas long as an hour or so can be very, very beneficial boost low testosterone levels.

Researchers at Ball State University found that strength training can induce growth hormone and testosterone release. (6) Another study from the University of Nebraska Medical Center researched the acute effects of weight lifting on serum testosterone levels. (7) The results concluded that even moderate weight lifting and light weightlifting increased serum testosterone levels in participants.

In addition to weight training, combining this with interval training like burst training is the best overall combo to increase HGH. In fact, Burst training has been proven to not only boost T-levels, it helps keeps your testosterone elevated and can prevent its decline. Burst training involves exercising at 90100 percent of your maximum effort for a short interval in order to burn your bodys stored sugar (glycogen), followed by a period of low impact for recovery.

This causes your body to burn fat for the next 36 hours to replace your bodys vital energy stores. It addition to increasing your T-levels, it can help burn between 39 times more fat, lower your resting heart rate, lower blood pressure, keep your brain young by increasing circulation, and aids in detoxification by stimulating the lymphatic system.

Step three is toadd a lot of healthy fats in your diet. Most men with low testosterone consume too much junk food and too many carbohydrates. Youhaveto get rid of those empty caloriesand load up on healthy fat.

A study published in theJournal of Steroid Biochemistrystudied the effects of diet on serum sex hormones in healthy men. Results showed that when men decreased their healthy fat intake, serum concentrations of androstenedione, testosterone and free testosterone also decreased. (8) This indicates you can add low testosterone to the list of low-fat diet risks.

There are three categories of healthy fat. Number one is healthy saturated fat. The truth about saturated fat is its actually good for you if its the proper kind. Healthy saturated fat is found in coconut oiland raw, fermented dairy products like goat milk kefir, yogurt, or raw goat or sheep milk cheese. However, avoidconventional dairy because it will actually damper your testosterone.

The other type of fat you need is healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Consuming benefit-rich salmon a couple times a week or addinga quality fish oil supplement is great. Flaxseeds, chia seeds and walnuts are also great for low testosterone as you get those omega-3s.

Finally, monounsaturated fats can be natural testosterone boosters. Consuming an avocado a day or some olive oil and almonds really helps get those healthy fats that can help you naturally boost your testosterone levels.

The next step on the natural testosterone boosters scale is to embark on a liver cleanse. Your liver is so crucial to testosterone levels. When your liver does not function optimally, it affects your testosterone output. Thats because the liver holds an enzyme that conjugates the 17beta-hydroxyl group of testosterone. (9)

A study published in theJournal of Gastroenterology and Hepatologynotes that serum testosterone is reduced in up to 90 percent ofmenwith cirrhosis, with levels falling as liver disease advances. (10) This shows just how vital liver health is to your testosterone, and countless studies verify the effects of liver function ontestosterone.

For most men with low testosterone, if you struggle with frustration, unforgiveness, anger issues, those things all drop your testosterone levels over time. Its one of the ways chronic stress is killing your quality of life.

Mental and physical stress can be quite therapeutic and is actually necessary for the body. The problem is when you are chronically stressed and your body gets stuck in the state where its pumping out cortisol (the stress hormone) nonstop.

A 2010 study published in the journalHormones and Behaviorfirst suggested this when researchersevaluated the dual-hormone hypothesis clinically. (11) They discovered that when cortisol is elevated, testosterone responds by elevating as well but soon after bottoms out at a much lower level than before cortisol kicked in! That means you want to find ways torelieve stress to keep your testosterone levels up.

Write down a list of the people you need to forgive and then do so. You can do that just yourself, between you and God, or you can do that in personbut it really is important. You can also turn to the Bible and other personal growth books, or seek out the help of a counselor or a good church. Really take care of those emotional issues, specifically resentment, unforgiveness, anger and frustration, and youll see thats going to really help you cleanse you and detoxify spiritually. Its going to also help naturally raise your testosterone levels.

One of the most importantnutrients that can help boost testosterone levels is vitamin D3.In 2011, the results of a study published in the journalHormone and Metabolic Researchannounced that vitamin D supplementation boosts testosterone naturally in overweight men by up to 30 percent. (12) This is pretty exciting because research has shown that vitamin D3 is also linked to helping to prevent and treat cancer! (13)

If you have vitamin D deficiency symptoms, it will absolutely crush your testosterone levels. So you want to get out in the sun 20to 30minutes every day to detox your body with the sun and get that all-important vitamin D.

Any day thatyoudontget 20 minutes of direct sunlight on your skin, you want to supplement with 5,000 IUs of vitamin D3. If you get your blood levels tested and youre extremely low below 50 IUs you typically want to do 5,000 IUs twice a day for three months until you get those numbers up.You can do everything in the world, but if your vitamin D levels arent right, your testosterone levels will stay low.

A few other supplements that can help include adaptogenic herbs that lower cortisol, like ginseng. Ginseng benefits healthy testosterone levels. In fact, research fromthe University of Hong Kong unveiled that ginseng increased testosterone levels in rats, making it yet another natural testosterone booster. (14)

If you want to normalize your hormone levels and naturally boost your testosterone, the first thing you need to do is kick the sugar habit immediately. It has been reported that the average American takes in 12 teaspoons of sugar a day (about two tons of sugar in a lifetime), and sugar has been linked to depleting T-levels in several ways.

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), for example, type II diabetics are twice as likely to develop low T-levels. Heres how it works:

Once diabetes develops your body isnt able to produce the right levels of testosterone as it should, and the ADA recommends that diabetics get their T-levels checked by their doctor if they start to develop any of the symptoms that I mentioned above.

If you can follow these steps, you are going to see great results in naturally boosting your testosterone levels.

According to an article from the journal Current Opinion of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Obesity, getting enough sleep and at the right times are two of the most effective natural ways to raise testosterone. (15) Most people require around 7 hours of sleep every night, and its critical to take advantage of the 10 p.m. 2 a.m. window.

Your bodys circadian rhythm essentially resets itself every night and releases chemicals like cortisol, which contribute to the overall hormone balance that can prevent low T-levels. I have even heard one endocrinologist claim that one hour of sleep between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. has the same healing effects on your body as two hours of sleep before or after this timeslot!

So ideally, go to bed around 10 p.m. and wake up around 6 a.m. for optimal hormone balance.

In the words of Dr. Gary Wittert Head of the School of Medicine at the University of Adelaide, Australia weight loss has a predictable and linear relationship with increased testosterone naturally. (16)

When you consider the effects that insulin resistance and poor sleeping habits have on testosterone, this makes perfect sense because they are all closely knit together with obesity. At the core of this issue is cutting out processed sugars from your diet, which has been linked to insomnia, obesity, diabetes and countless hormone disorders.

More:
9 Natural Testosterone Boosters for Energy, Sleep & More ...

These complexities hold in track and field events, too. Even the International Association of Athletics Federations own analysis of testosterone and performance, involving more than 1,100 women competing in track and field events, shows that for six of the 11 running events, women with lower testosterone actually did better than those with higher levels.

In other words, for most sports, testosterone levels do not correlate with superior performance. And yet even in the face of overwhelming evidence, the myths are so deeply ingrained in our assumptions about gender and athletics that the highest governing body in sports believes otherwise.

The obvious result is discrimination against female athletes such as Semenya who have naturally high levels of testosterone. But the harm doesnt stop there.

The athletics association insists that Semenya can still compete, as long as she undergoes medically unnecessary interventions to lower her testosterone level. (Because the testosterone rules have not yet gone into effect, she was able to run and win the womens 800-meter race at a meet in Doha on Friday.) The association underplays the risk of such measures, saying women with high testosterone can lower their levels dramatically by taking an oral contraceptive.

But hormonal contraceptives are often not enough to get testosterone down to the arbitrary permissible level. This means athletes must take stronger drugs, and endure chronic, significant side effects.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport expressed concern about these side effects, saying they could make compliance a practical impossibility for athletes. In fact, for that reason the court said its decision was provisional, and that the harms would need to be tracked.

Nevertheless, the International Association of Athletics Federations president, Seb Coe, gave reason for worry when asked whether he would delay the regulations for the 1,500-meter and the mile races regulated events for which the court said there was no evidence of a difference in performance among athletes with different testosterone levels. Showing a blatant disregard for caution, Coe simply replied, No, leaving us to wonder who will monitor the degree of harm, and how will problems be reported and recorded as they arise. How much harm will be acceptable to the court before it reconsiders its position?

Read the original here:
Opinion | The Myth of Testosterone - The New York Times

Testosterone is an androgenic sex hormone produced by the testicles (and in smaller amounts in womens ovaries), and is often associated with manhood. Primarily, this hormone plays a great role in mens sexual and reproductive function. It also contributes to their muscle mass, hair growth, maintaining bone density, red blood cell production, and emotional health.

Although testosterone is considered a male sex hormone, women, while having it at relatively low levels, are more sensitive to its effects. While conventional medical thought stresses that testosterone is a catalyst for prostate cancer,1 even employing castration (orchiectomy) as a form of treatment, recent findings have shown otherwise.

The prostate gland requires testosterone for it to remain at optimal condition. Testosterone levels in men naturally decline with age beginning at age 30 and continue to do so as men advance in years.

Aging-induced testosterone decline is associated with the overactivity of an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase, which converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This process simultaneously decreases the amount of testosterone in men, putting them at risk for prostate enlargement, androgenic alopecia (hair loss) and cancer.

Unfortunately, widespread chemical exposure is also causing this decline to occur in men as early as childhood, and is completely impacting their biology. Recently, for instance, both statin drugs and the active ingredient in Roundup herbicide were found to interfere with the testicles ability to produce testosterone.2

The escalating amount of chemicals being released into the environment can no longer be ignored, as these toxins are disrupting animal and human endocrine systems. Whats even more alarming is that many of these endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have gender-bending qualities.

EDCs are everywhere. They lurk inside your house, leaching from human products such as personal hygiene products, chemical cleansers, or contraceptive drugs. They also end up in your food and drinking water, causing you to unknowingly ingest them.

EDCs pose a threat to mens health as they interfere with testosterone production, causing men to take on more feminine characteristics.

Heres one proof: in a number of British rivers, 50 percent of male fish were found to produce eggs in their testes. According to EurekAlert,3 EDCs have been entering rivers and other waterways through sewage systems for years, altering the biology of male fish. It was also found that fish species affected by EDCs had 76 percent reduction in their reproductive function.

Sexual development in both girls and boys are occurring earlier than expected. In a study published in the journal Pediatrics,4 boys are experiencing sexual development six months to two years earlier than the medically-accepted norm, due to exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals.

Some boys even develop enlarged testicles and penis, armpit or pubic hair, as well as facial hair as early as age nine! Early puberty is not something to be taken lightly because it can significantly influence physical and psychological health, including an increased risk of hormone-related cancers. Precocious sexual development may also lead to emotional and behavioral issues, such as:

Pregnant or nursing women who are exposed to EDCs can transfer these chemicals to their child. Exposure to EDCs during pregnancy affects the development of male fetuses. Fewer boys have been born in the United States and Japan in the last three decades. The more women are exposed to these hormone-disrupting substances, the greater the chance that their sons will have smaller genitals and incomplete testicular descent, leading to poor reproductive health in the long term.

EDCs are also a threat to male fertility, as they contribute to testicular cancer and lower sperm count. All of these birth defects and abnormalities, collectively referred to as Testicular Dysgenesis Syndrome (TDS), are linked to the impaired production of testosterone.5

Phthalates are another class of gender-bending chemicals that can feminize men. A chemical often added to plastics, these endocrine-disrupting chemicals have a disastrous effect on male hormones and reproductive health. They are linked to birth defects in male infants and appear to alter the genital tracts of boys to be more femalelike.

Phthalates are found to cause poor testosterone synthesis by disrupting an enzyme required to create the male hormone. Women with high levels of DEHP and DBP (two types of phthalates) in their system during pregnancy were found to have sons that had feminine characteristics Phthalates are found in vinyl flooring, detergents, automotive plastics, soaps and shampoos, deodorants, perfumes, hair sprays, plastic bags and food packaging, among a long list of common products.

Aside from phthalates, other chemicals that possess gender-bending traits are:

It may be unlikely to completely eliminate products with EDCs, but there are a number of practical strategies that you can try to limit your exposure to these gender-bending substances. The first step would be to stop using Teflon cookware, as EDCs can leach out from contaminated cookware.

Replace them with ceramic ones. Stop eating out of cans, as the sealant used for the can liner is almost always made from powerful endocrine-disrupting petrochemicals known as bisphenols, e.g. Bisphenol A, Bisphenol S. You should also get rid of cleaning products loaded with chemicals, artificial air fresheners, dryer sheets, fabric softeners, vinyl shower curtains, chemical-laden shampoos, and personal hygiene products. Replace them all with natural, toxin-free alternatives.

Adjusting your diet can also help, since many processed foods contain gender-bending toxins. Switch to organic foods, which are cultivated without chemical interventions.

As mentioned above, your testosterone stores also decline naturally as you age. However, there are methods that can help boost your levels. Below are some options you can consider:

If you suspect that you have insufficient testosterone stores, you should have your levels tested. Issues linked to testosterone decline include:

A blood test may not be enough to determine your levels, because testosterone levels can fluctuate during the day. Once you determine that you do have low levels, there are a number of options to take.

There are synthetic and bioidentical testosterone products out on the market, but I advise using bioidentical hormones like DHEA. DHEA is a hormone secreted by your adrenal glands. This substance is the most abundant precursor hormone in the human body. It is crucial for the creation of vital hormones, including testosterone and other sex hormones.

The natural production of DHEA is also age-dependent. Prior to puberty, the body produces very little DHEA. Production of this prohormone peaks during your late 20s or early 30s. With age, DHEA production begins to decline. The adrenal glands also manufacture the stress hormone cortisol, which is in direct competition with DHEA for production because they use the same hormonal substrate known as pregnenolone.

Chronic stress basically causes excessive cortisol levels and impairs DHEA production, which is why stress is another factor for low testosterone levels.

It is important not to use any DHEA product without the supervision of a professional. Find a qualified health care provider who will monitor your hormone levels and determine if you require supplementation. Rather than using an oral hormone supplementation, I recommend trans-mucosal (vagina or rectum) application. Skin application may not be wise, as it makes it difficult to measure the dosage you receive. This may cause you to end up receiving more than what your body requires.

I recommend using a trans-mucosal DHEA cream. Applying it to the rectum or if you are a a woman, your vagina, will allow the mucous epithelial membranes that line your mucosa to perform effective absorption. These membranes regulate absorption and inhibit the production of unwanted metabolites of DHEA. I personally apply 50 milligrams of trans-rectal DHEA cream twice a day this has improved my own testosterone levels significantly.

However, please note that I do NOT recommend prolonged supplementation of hormones. Doing so can trick your body into halting its own DHEA production and may cause your adrenals to become seriously impaired down.

Prostate hyperplasia (BPH), or simply an enlarged prostate, is a serious problem among men, especially those over age 60. As Ive pointed out, high testosterone levels are not a precursor to an enlarged prostate or cancer; rather, excessive DHT and estrogen levels formed as metabolites of testosterone are. Conventional medicine uses two classes of drugs to treat BPH, each having a number of serious side effects. These are:

According to Dr. Rudi Moerck, an expert in chemistry and drug industry insider, men who have low levels of testosterone may experience the following problems:

Instead of turning to some drug that can only ameliorate symptoms and cause additional complications, I recommend using a natural saw palmetto supplement. Dr. Moerck says that there are about 100 clinical studies on the benefits of saw palmetto, one of them being a contributed to decreased prostate cancer risk. When choosing a saw palmetto supplement, you should be wary of the brand, as there are those that use an inactive form of the plant.

Saw palmetto is a very potent supplement, but only if a high-quality source is used. Dr. Moerck recommends using an organic supercritical CO2 extract of saw palmetto oil, which is dark green in color. Since saw palmetto is a fat-soluble supplement, taking it with eggs will enhance the absorption of its nutrients.

There is also solid research indicating that if you take astaxanthin in combination with saw palmetto, you may experience significant synergistic benefits. A 2009 study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition found that an optimal dose of saw palmetto and astaxanthin decreased both DHT and estrogen while simultaneously increasing testosterone.6

Also, in order to block the synthesis of excess estrogen (estradiol) from testosterone there are excellent foods and plant extracts that may help to block the enzyme known as aromatase which is responsible producing estrogen. Some of these include white button mushrooms, grape seed extract and nettles.7

In addition to using bioidentical hormones or saw palmetto, there are two nutrients that have been found to be beneficial to testicular health and testosterone production.

Zinc Zinc is an important mineral in testosterone production.8 Yet, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that about 45 percent of adults over 60 have low zinc levels due to insufficient intake. Regardless of supplementation, 20 to 25 percent of older adults still had inadequate levels.9

It was found that supplementing with zinc for as little as six weeks has been shown to improve testosterone in men with low levels. On the other hand, restricting zinc dietary sources yielded to a drop in the production of the male hormone.10 Excellent sources of zinc include:

Oysters

Protein-rich foods like meats and fish

Raw milk and raw cheese

Beans

Fermented foods, like yogurt and kefir

You may also take a zinc supplement to raise your levels. Just stick to a dosage of less than 40 milligrams a day. Overdosing on zinc may cause nausea or inhibit the absorption of essential minerals in your body, like copper.

Vitamin D Vitamin D deficiency is a growing epidemic in the US, and is profoundly affecting mens health. The cholesterol-derived steroid hormone vitamin D is crucial for mens health. It plays a role in the development of the sperm cell nucleus, and helps maintain semen quality and sperm count. Vitamin D can also increase your testosterone level, helping improve your libido.

Have your vitamin D levels tested using a 25(OH)D or a 25-hydroxyvitamin D test. The optimal level of vitamin D is around 50 to 70 ng/ml for adults. There are three effective sources of vitamin D:

Healthy sun exposure

Safe-tanning beds

Vitamin D3 supplementation

Learn more about how to optimize your vitamin D levels by watching my 1-hour lecture on vitamin D.

Research presented at the Endocrine Societys 2012 conference discussed the link between weight and testosterone levels. Overweight men were more prone to having low testosterone levels, and shedding excess pounds may alleviate this problem. Managing your weight means you have to manage your diet. Below are some ways to jumpstart a healthy diet:

Limit processed sugar in your diet As excessive sugar consumption (mainly fructose) is the driving force of obesity. But this isnt a license to use artificial sweeteners, because these also have their share of negative effects.

It is ideal to keep your total fructose consumption, including fructose from fruits, below 25 grams a day. If you have a chronic condition like diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol, it is wise to keep it below 15 grams per day.

Eliminate refined carbohydrates from processed foods Like cereals and soda, because they contribute to insulin resistance.

Consume vegetable carbohydrates and healthy fats Your body requires the carbohydrates from fresh vegetables rather than grains and sugars. In addition to mono- or polyunsaturated fats found in avocados and raw nuts, saturated fats are also essential to building your testosterone production. According to research, there was a decrease in testosterone stores in people who consumed a diet low in animal-based fat.11

Aside from avocados and raw nuts, ideal sources of healthy fat that can boost your testosterone levels include:

Olives and olive oil

Coconuts and coconut oil

Butter made from raw grass-fed organic milk

Raw nuts, such as almonds or pecans

Organic pastured egg yolks

Avocados

Grass-fed meats

Palm oil

Unheated organic nut oils

Consume organic dairy products, like high-quality cheeses and whey protein, to boost your branch chain amino acids (BCAA) According to research, BCAAs were found to raise testosterone levels, particularly when taken with strength training.12 While there are supplements that provide BCAAs, I believe that leucine, found in dairy products, carries the highest concentrations of this beneficial amino acid.

For a more comprehensive look at what you should or shouldnt eat, refer to my nutrition plan.

Unlike aerobics or prolonged moderate exercise, short, intense exercise was found to be beneficial in increasing testosterone levels.

The results are enhanced with the help of intermittent fasting. Intermittent fasting helps boost testosterone by improving the expression of satiety hormones, like insulin, leptin, adiponectin, glucacgon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), cholecystokinin (CKK), and melanocortins, which are linked to healthy testosterone function, increased libido, and the prevention of age-induced testosterone decline.

When it comes to an exercise plan that will complement testosterone function and production (along with overall health), I recommend including not just aerobics in your routine, but also:

High-intensity interval training Work out all your muscle fibers in under 20 to 30 minutes. Learn more about my Peak Fitness regimen.

Strength training When you use strength training to raise your testosterone, youll want to increase the weight and lower your number of reps. Focus on doing exercises that work a wider number of muscles, such as squats or dead lifts. Take your workout to the next level by learning the principles of Super-Slow Weight Training.

For more information on how exercise can be used as a natural testosterone booster, read my article Testosterone Surge After Exercise May Help Remodel the Mind.

The production of the stress hormone cortisol blocks the production and effects of testosterone. From a biological perspective, cortisol increases your fight or flight response, thereby lowering testosterone-associated functions such as mating, competing, and aggression. Chronic stress can take a toll on testosterone production, as well as your overall health.

Therefore, stress management is equally important to a healthy diet and regular exercise. Tools you can use to stay stress-free include prayer, meditation, laughter, and yoga. Relaxation skills, such as deep breathing and visualization, can also promote your emotional health.

Among my favorite stress management tools is the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), a method similar to acupuncture but without the use of needles. EFT is known to eliminate negative behavior and instill a positive mentality. Always bear in mind that your emotional health is strongly linked to your physical health, and you have to pay attention to your negative feelings as much as you do to the foods you eat.

Read this article:
How to Deal with Testosterone Decline

Aside from making healthy lifestyle choices and addressing medication side effects or untreated medical conditions, there's little you can do to naturally boost your testosterone level.

Testosterone levels vary greatly among men. In general, however, older men tend to have lower testosterone levels than do younger men. Testosterone levels gradually decline throughout adulthood about 1 percent a year after age 30 on average.

A blood test is the only way to diagnose a low testosterone level or a reduction in the bioavailability of testosterone. Some men have a lower than normal testosterone level without signs or symptoms. For most men, no treatment is needed. But for some others, very low testosterone levels lead to a condition in which bones become weak and brittle (osteoporosis). For others, low testosterone might cause changes in sexual function, sleep patterns, emotions and the body.

However, some of these signs and symptoms can be caused by factors other than low testosterone, including medication side effects, thyroid problems, depression and excessive alcohol use. There are also conditions, such as obstructive sleep apnea, that might affect testosterone levels. Once these conditions are identified and treated, testosterone typically will return to a normal level.

If you are experiencing signs and symptoms that might be the result of a low testosterone level, consult your doctor. He or she can evaluate possible causes for the way you feel and explain possible treatment options. In addition, these steps might help:

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Testosterone level: Can you boost it naturally? - Mayo Clinic

What are androgens?

Hormones are chemical messengers madeby glands in the body that are carried inthe blood to act on other organs in thebody. Hormones are needed for growth,reproduction and well-being.

Androgens are male sex hormones thatincrease at puberty and are needed for aboy to develop into a sexually mature adultwho can reproduce. The most importantandrogen is testosterone.

Testosterone is the most important androgen (male sex hormone) in men and it is needed for normal reproductive and sexual function. Testosterone is important for the physical changes that happen during male puberty, such as development of the penis and testes, and for the features typical of adult men such as facial and body hair and a masculine physique. Testosterone also acts on cells in the testes to make sperm.

Testosterone is also important for overall good health. It helps the growth of bones and muscles, and affects mood and libido (sex drive). Some testosterone is changed into oestrogen, the female sex hormone, and this is important for bone health in men.

Testosterone is mainly made in the testes. A small amount of testosterone is also made by the adrenal glands, which are walnut-sized glands that sit on top of the kidneys.

The pituitary gland and the hypothalamus,located at the base of the brain, controlthe production of male hormones andsperm. Luteinizing hormone (LH) andfollicle stimulating hormone (FSH) arethe two important messenger hormonesmade by the pituitary gland that act onthe testes.

LH is needed for the Leydig cells in thetestes to make testosterone, the male sexhormone. Testosterone and FSH from thepituitary gland then act together on theseminiferous tubules (sperm-producingtubes) in the testes to make sperm.

Androgen, or testosterone, deficiency iswhen the body is not able to make enoughtestosterone for the body to functionnormally. Although not a life-threateningproblem, androgen deficiency can affectyour quality of life.

Androgen deficiency due to diseases of the testes or hypothalamus-pituitary affects about one in 200 men under 60 years of age. It is likely that androgen deficiency is under-diagnosed and that many men are missing out on the benefits of treatment. About one in 10 older men may have testosterone levels lower than those in young men, but this is usually linked with chronic illness and obesity. The benefits and risks of testosterone treatment for such men are not yet known.

Testosterone levels in men are highestbetween the ages of 20 and 30 years. Asmen age there is a small, gradual drop intestosterone levels; they may drop by up toone third between 30 and 80 years of age.

Some men will have a greater drop intestosterone levels as they age, especiallywhen they are obese or have other chronic(long-term) medical problems. On the otherhand, healthy older men with normal bodyweight may not experience any drop inserum testosterone levels.

There is no such thing as male menopauseor andropause that can be compared tomenopause in women.

Low energy levels, mood swings, irritability,poor concentration, reduced muscle strengthand low sex drive can be symptoms ofandrogen deficiency (low testosterone).Symptoms often overlap with those of otherillnesses. The symptoms of androgen deficiencyare different for men of different ages.

Androgen deficiency can be caused bygenetic disorders, medical problems, ordamage to the testes or pituitary gland.Androgen deficiency happens when thereare problems within the testes or withhormone production in the brain. A commonchromosomal disorder that causes androgendeficiency is Klinefelters syndrome.

A diagnosis of androgen deficiency involveshaving a thorough medical evaluation andat least two blood samples (taken in themorning on different days) to measurehormone levels. Diagnosis should not be simply based on symptoms as these could becaused by other health problems that needdifferent treatment. A diagnosis of androgendeficiency is only confirmed when blood testsshow a lower than normal testosterone level.

A reference range is used as a guide by testing laboratories and doctors to decide whether a persons hormone levels are normal or low, and whether treatment may be needed. Testosterone is measured in units called nanomalor. The normal testosterone reference range for healthy, young adult men is about 8 to 27 nanomolar but these numbers vary between measurement systems.

Androgen deficiency is treated with testosterone therapy; this means giving testosterone in doses that return the testosterone levels in the blood to normal. Testosterone is prescribed for men with androgen deficiency confirmed by blood tests. Once started, testosterone therapy is usually continued for life and the man needs to be checked regularly by a doctor.

In Australia testosterone therapy is available in the form of injections, gels, creams, patches and tablets, and works very well for men with confirmed androgen (testosterone) deficiency. The type of treatment prescribed can depend on patient convenience, familiarity and cost. Commercial testosterone products contain only the natural testosterone molecule that is chemically produced from plant materials.

Side-effects are not expected because testosterone therapy aims to bring a mans testosterone levels back to normal. However, testosterone therapy can increase the growth of the prostate gland which can make the symptoms of benign prostate enlargement (such as needing to urinate more often) worse. In the case of prostate cancer, testosterone therapy is not used because of concerns that it can make the tumour grow. Too high a dose of testosterone can lead to acne, weight gain, gynaecomastia (breast development), male-pattern hair loss and changes in mood. Any side-effects should be managed by a doctor and the testosterone dose lowered.

There are many herbal products marketed, particularly on the Internet, as treatmentsthat can act like testosterone and improve muscle strength and libido (sex drive). However, there are no known herbal products that can replace testosterone in the body and be used to treat androgen deficiency.

Testosterone therapy generally stops the production of the pituitary hormones FSH and LH, which reduces the size of the testes and can lower or stop sperm being made.

Testosterone treatment should not be given to a man wanting to become a father in the foreseeable future. If sperm production was normal before testosterone therapy, it usually recovers after treatment stops but it can take many months to go back to normal.

Testosterone therapy in men with androgen deficiency aims to bring testosterone levels back to normal and to return muscle strength and energy levels back to normal. However, the use of androgens (anabolic steroids) by normal men to improve athletic performance is illegal and has important short-term and long-term health risks.

Men who use anabolic steroids will lower or even turn off their own testosterone and sperm production. It may take many months for testosterone levels and sperm counts to return to normal after stopping anabolic steroids.

There are no known ways to prevent androgen deficiency caused by damage to the testes or pituitary gland. However, if you live a healthier lifestyle and manage other health problems your testosterone levels may improve, if your low testosterone levels are caused by other illness.

Not all men have a drop in testosterone levels with age. A healthy lifestyle may help you to keep testosterone levels normal.

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Low testosterone | Andrology Australia

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