Various activities that your body performs are not independent of one another. Instead, one way or another, all of these activities are linked. There is coordination between different functions of the body. So, what coordinates these activities in your body? The answer is hormones.
Hormones are specific kinds of chemicals that communicate messages between different parts of the body for this coordination. Hence, they are also called chemical messengers.
Over fifty hormones in the body are used for many bodily activities. These hormones and the tissues that produce them are collectively known as the endocrine system.
Although all the hormones are essential for sustaining life, however, for men, testosterone is vital for masculine characteristics. Although found in both men and women, there is a difference in the amount. In women, it is produced in a minimal amount, while men release it in high quantity.
Also known as the androgenic hormone, it is released from the testes in men and ovaries in women. An optimum amount of this hormone in men is 10-35 nanomoles per little in males and 0.5-2.4 nanomoles in females. A higher or lower testosterone level than this estimated amount may result in many health issues.
Testosterone plays various functions in both males and females.
– Libido, sex drive, is the most crucial function of testosterone in males.
– It’s responsible for developing primary sex characteristics, for example, enlargement of the penis and testes.
– It also produces masculinity or secondary male characteristics.
– It also strengthens muscles.
– It increases bone robustness.
– It also helps produce sperm.
Testosterone also plays a vital role in females.
– It improves bone health in women.
– It is also essential for better cognitive performance in women.
– It also plays a role in driving women’s sexual desires.
– It improves the health of the reproductive system in females.
An optimum T level is vital for men and women; however, any deviation from the required amount results in serious problems. A low testosterone level causes a decline in sexual desires, impotence, depression, muscle weakness, and fatigue.
Decreased testosterone levels or hypogonadism leads to multiple health issues. Symptoms of hypogonadism are different in men and women.
The low T level in men results in the following abnormalities:
– Bones and muscle weakness.
– Anemia.
– Cognitive problems.
– Hair loss.
– Weak erection, also known as erectile dysfunction.
– Libido loss or loss of sexual desires.
– Absent-mindedness.
– Unexpected weight gain.
Women show the following signs when they have reduced T levels.
– Lethargy
– Loss of bone density.
– Impotence
– Weak muscles.
– They decreased sexual pleasure.
– Irregular menstruation.
– Low sex drive.
– Sleep problems
– Weight gain.
Hypogonadism does not always come with symptoms. However, if you are facing one or more symptoms, as mentioned above, immediately contact your physician.
There are various causes of low testosterone, both in men and women. Some of them are:
– Some metabolic problems like an excessive amount of iron in the body.
– Pituitary glands malfunctioning or tumors.
– Some congenital diseases like Noonan syndrome.
– Chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
– Testicular infection or trauma.
– Chronic problems.
– Higher levels of estrogen in the body.
– The t level also decreases as men age.
– Sometimes, obesity also reduces testosterone levels.
– Some medications, for example, prednisone.
– Alcoholism or drug abuse.
– Sometimes, head trauma also results in hypogonadism.
– Ovary removal in women.
– Testes removal in men.
Despite the above, other problems also cause reduced T levels, such as adrenal gland malfunctioning and estrogen therapy.
You can manage low testosterone levels either through natural ways or by using testosterone therapy (TT).
Naturally, you can manage low T levels via exercise, specific foods, and changing your lifestyle.
Exercise is the most efficient way to prevent and treat many diseases. Fortunately, you can also use exercise to raise your T level. Considerable research over the years shows the effectiveness of workouts and exercise in increasing T levels.
Heavy weight lifting is the best way to increase T levels, and research shows a link between lifting weights and a rise in testosterone levels. According to experts, older adults, who are regular weight lifters, show elevated testosterone levels.
Despite weight lifting, High-intensity interval training (HIIT) also positively impacts your testosterone production. If you combine HIIT with weight lifting, it will prove even more beneficial.
Eating a sufficient amount of all three macronutrients helps you manage low testosterone levels. As per nutritionists’ recommendations, macronutrients boost your T level in various ways.
Fats, specifically monounsaturated fatty acids, improve your testosterone release dramatically. Although, the reason is yet to be discovered.
Eating food high in protein decreases terrible fats in your body and improves health which is suitable for raising T levels.
A sufficient amount of sugar helps manage low testosterone levels during a workout.
Hence, to enhance testosterone production, eat a balanced diet rich in all the macronutrients.
Fatty fish, for instance, anchovies and salmon, provide you with healthy fats like omega-3 and other nutrients like vitamin D and zinc. These nutrients increase your testosterone production dramatically.
Healthy fats are linked with increased T levels; eating fatty fish at least twice a week helps you manage the low testosterone problem.
Vitamin D present in fatty fish is also essential for testosterone secretion because it is suitable for male reproductive system health.
Furthermore, this type of fish is high in minerals like zinc. According to experts, there is a clear-cut relation between zinc deficiency and low T levels. Consuming fatty fish increases your zinc level, thus elevating testosterone production.
Thereupon, including fatty fish in your diet will help you manage hypogonadism.
If you are suffering from low sexual desire due to decreased T levels, including oysters in your daily food can help you immensely.
Oysters are high in zinc, giving you five times more than the recommended amount. As we have already established the importance of zinc for managing low T levels, the oyster can effectively maintain your T level.
That said, eat oysters if you want to increase your libido by elevating your T level.
Despite zinc, magnesium also stimulates testes’ Leydig cells to increase testosterone secretion. Therefore, food rich in magnesium helps improve the release of testosterone.
Cocoa products are affluent in magnesium. Hence, adding cocoa products to your meal might prove helpful in maintaining testosterone amount at an optimum level.
Furthermore, cocoa products also contain flavonoids, and antioxidant compounds, which help boost your T level.
Therefore, eat more cocoa products like dark chocolate to escalate testosterone production.
Another most effective way of increasing testosterone is eating ginger daily. Recent studies have proven that ginger dramatically raises the T level if consumed daily.
Ginger positively affects testosterone production in many ways. For instance, it increases the release of luteinizing hormone (LH), which in turn stimulates Leydig cells in the testosterone to produce testosterone. Furthermore, ginger also elevates the testes’ cholesterol level, which is then converted into the T hormone.
Hence, adding ginger, extracts, or supplements to your diet helps you cope with hypogonadism.
Pomegranate juice is an excellent treatment for people suffering from erectile problems and low T levels. That is why pomegranate is also known as a sign of fertility.
Juicy seeds are rich in specific antioxidants, which decrease testes’ oxidative stress, thus elevating testosterone’s release. Research on rats shows that its origins boost T levels to 22%.
Therefore, this crowned fruit is suitable for both men and women suffering from hypogonadism.
Besides the natural ways, low T levels can also be managed using drugs, injections, or testosterone patches. TT is an artificial way of treating hypogonadism.
However, the effect of testosterone therapy on older people is not yet apparent. Some men claim that taking testosterone drugs has significantly raised T levels and increased libido. In comparison, some are not satisfied with the treatment.
Although it is effective for young males with a low testosterone level, there are a few side effects. Some risk factors linked to testosterone therapy (TT) are:
– Testosterone therapy increases RBCs above the average level, which may result in blood clotting.
– I am shrinking my testes due to TT, resulting in decreased sperm production.
– It can also cause gynecomastia or enlargement of breasts in males.
– It is unsuitable for people suffering from sleep apnea because TT may worsen their condition.
– Experts say that people with prostate cancer should avoid TT because it stimulates the growth of cancerous cells.
Therefore, contacting your doctor before going for testosterone therapy would be best.
Different ways to manage low T level are:
– Eat onions or drink onion juice daily.
– Consume leafy green vegetables.
– Have a good night’s sleep.
– If your low T level is due to obesity, try to shed some weight.
– Stay happy and get rid of chronic anxiety.
– A vitamin supplement or sun bath may also help you with hypogonadism.
– Abstain from drinking too much alcohol or beer.
– Experts recommend preferring glass over plastic because research shows that plastic contains certain chemicals that mess with your testosterone level.
Besides eating certain foods or undergoing testosterone replacement therapy, cutting on some foods also helps manage your condition.
Some foods that mess with your T level are:
Hence, avoid the foods mentioned above if you want to increase your T level. All of these foods are scientifically proven to suppress testosterone production.
Testosterone, also known as a male hormone, is a vital hormone. It is chiefly found in men and responsible for their masculinity; women also have a small amount of this hormone.
An optimum amount of testosterone is vital for both males and females. In men, along with producing primary and secondary sex characteristics, it strengthens bones, escalates sperm production, and elevates libido.
Women need this hormone to boost libido, normal cognitive activities, strong bones, and a healthy reproductive system.
Hypogonadism is a condition when your testosterone count drops below the optimum amount, and it can happen with both men and women. Symptoms of hypogonadism are decreased libido, infertility, hair loss, low sperm count, and anxiety.
While in women, low T level results in loss of sexual desires, vaginal dryness, disturbed menstrual cycle, and lethargy.
Hypogonadism can be treated both naturally or via testosterone replacement therapy. Natural ways include adding foods like oysters, fatty fish, pomegranates, and ginger to your daily meal plan. Furthermore, preventing certain foods such as sugar, nuts, and dairy products also helps with low T levels.
Testosterone replacement therapy uses testosterone patches, injections, or medications to enhance testosterone levels. However, it comes with some side effects.
There are many causes of hypogonadism or low T level. However, according to the latest studies, some people are genetically predisposed to this problem. Geneticists now believe that a gene, namely SHBG, is responsible for low T levels in both men and women.
Therefore, a DNA test will help determine your genetic predisposition to hypogonadism. HealthCodes DNA is a leading platform that enables you to evaluate the variations in your genome that are the possible cause of hypogonadism.
Our 3-Panel Analysis offers the best DNA testing for:
This way, you can enjoy a longer, healthier, and fuller life after knowing your genetics. Additionally, you will get your DNA test results within three weeks of the sample submission. The results contain a custom lifestyle, workout, and nutrition plan for your managing low T level.
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