10 Steps to Naturally Treat or Prevent Low Testosterone
1) Know your problem. Testosterone, a hormone produced in the testicles, is regulated by the pituitary, which in turn is regulated by the hypothalamus. Low T is diagnosed in the setting of complaints which can include diminished sexual function including low sperm count, fatigue, obesity, bone frailty, diminished muscle mass and strength, as well as decreased motivation and depression. It is unclear if low T causes these or if these symptoms contribute to low T. Two separate low blood measurements are required as well before the diagnosis can be made. Generational ebbing of testosterone has been demonstrated, as have been tendencies toward sedentary living and diminished strength in men. Strength training has been shown to increase testosterone and testosterone replacement has been shown to increase muscle mass. Because testosterone replacement carries cardiovascular risks such as heart attack and stroke, natural restoration in the form of lifestyle changes, including supplement use, is almost always recommended first. These measures can also be used to avoid developing low testosterone, also known as hypogonadism. There are also certain conditions that are sufficient to make testosterone replacement too dangerous, and include history of heart disease, blood clots, prostate cancer, or elevated PSA or a lump on the prostate. A prostate biopsy is often required prior to hormone replacement.
2) A healthy mindset, diet and exercise that fully reflects your inherent worth. You are a being of extraordinary complexity and inestimable worth. You are the pilot and passenger of the most sophisticated organism known to exist. Your potential is limited only by your mind which can be trained to be unstoppable. Maximizing your potential is up to you, as is limiting yourself- it’s yet another choice to be made. If you choose to thrive, to live up to your true potential using the gifts and genius unique to you, then you will need the proper growth-oriented mindset, a high-quality diet and consistent age-appropriate exercise as a solid base from which to evolve. It is basic, but it is not easy. Whole and organic foods, filtered water and a grounded and secure perspective are essential.
3) Healthy Lifestyle. You thought that was already covered above? This is about balance. It’s easy to push yourself to have the right mindset, diet and exercise, but what about time to enjoy accomplishments, the right amount of sleep, time spent outdoors, avoidance of distractions and avoiding self-medication with drugs, alcohol, food, porn, TV, etc? Think about it and get curious, are you spending your focus, energy and time on what your soul needs, or are you just in it to win it and look good while doing it? Success in this area is allowing yourself to be pulled where you need to go by your values, instead of pushing yourself to achieve external rewards.
4) Detoxify. We live in an increasingly unnatural environment filled with chemicals and our food is becoming less nutritious due to soil depletion. BPA, phthalates, perchlorate, and others interfere with how our hormones function, including the hypothalamus-pituitary-testicular axis and disease at any of these levels can manifest as low T. Toxins are stored in our fat and the body often preferentially stores calories as fat in order to protect our body from their effects. Calcium d-glucarate has been clinically proven to diminish cancerous lesions in animals, and suppress beta-glucuronidase in humans- a compound associated with increased cancer risk. Successful detoxification results in removing barriers to hormone function as well as weight (fat) loss. A high-quality multivitamin that includes all of the essential minerals is important to provide what our food may not.
5) Maintain adequate stomach acid. Stomach acid diminishes as we age, and acid lowering medications are among the most commonly prescribed medications. We cannot digest and assimilate foods properly and safely without the right amount of stomach acid. In order to prevent reflux and maintain higher acidity, we often need to supplement with apple cider vinegar (1 tbs: 4 tbs water) or betaine HCl shortly after each meal. High acidity causes sphincters to close and prevent reflux, kills food contaminants, hastens movement of food through, and is required for proper preparation and breakdown of food molecules necessary to prevent leaky gut and food allergy formation and worse (gluten sensitivity can lead to thyroid dysfunction). See www.refluxdefense.com.
6) Maximize blood flow. Nitric oxide, normally produced by the body, declines as we age. It is responsible for the flexibility of blood vessels, maintains healthy blood pressure, reduces inflammation, plaque formation and clotting and maintains the lining of our blood vessels. Improved blood flow will maximize all organ function and wound healing as well as contribute to stem cell availability and overall efficiency of the body. The Mediterranean diet, moderate exercise daily, stress reduction, and sometimes supplementation are all highly recommended. It is often possible to discontinue blood pressure medication once levels normalize. By maximizing your blood flow, you may fix your symptoms and/or low testosterone.
7) Maximize magnesium and iodine. These two are essential, and deficiencies are often missed. The standard serum measurement is inadequate to test for magnesium levels- an EXA test is the best and is covered by Medicaid and some insurance companies. Iodine is tested via a 24-hour urine challenge test. In addition to hundreds of other processes, magnesium also controls the entry and exit of calcium from cells, and calcium causes muscles, including heart, to contract. Iodine is essential to normal thyroid function and most of us are deficient. There are many magnesium supplements available, and Lugol’s iodine drops are also available, though can be inconsistent. As iodine levels normalize, they make kick off bromine (bread), fluoride (tooth paste), and chlorine (unfiltered drinking water) from hormone receptors and cause rashes, nausea, fatigue and headaches, this is why it is important to detoxify first (minimum of 2 months), and open up the hormone receptors to your hormones. Restoring these elements may be the best thing you do for yourself.
8) Support your pituitary gland- the one that controls your testosterone availability. Studies show that Human Growth Hormone also diminishes as we age (just so friggin’ irritating!). It is possible that pituitary dysfunction is the cause of your low testosterone. HGH deficiency causes skin and organ atrophy, our skin to sag, muscles shrink, slower healing, and fatigue and depression settle in. Surveillance through IGF-1 can indirectly monitor HGH levels and they can be increased by providing all of the necessary nutrients to support its manufacture in the form of a spray. Improvements in muscle mass, sense of well-being, and improved sleep, as well as improved sexual performance have been reported. It may also normalize your testosterone if HGH deficiency is the underlying cause.
9) Fully evaluate and support your thyroid and adrenal glands. See my blog article for a more thorough discussion. The book Hypothyroidism Type 2, and the website www.adrenalfatigue.org are excellent resources. This step could reverse your symptoms and low testosterone as well, and contribute to an increased ability to exercise and a more vibrant mindset.
10) Restore testosterone. If, despite taking the previous steps, you still haven’t found increased energy, full resolution of symptoms, or normal blood measurements of testosterone, then you may need to supplement with testosterone. If you have increased energy, then I recommend you recommit to exercise, dieting and a balanced lifestyle. There are risks with hormone replacement, and this is why this step is last. Your body used to make testosterone in normal amounts, so it is used to it, but caution is still recommended, as discussed in Step 1 above. However, low testosterone has been shown to be associated with numerous disease states and early death. You are stuck between a rock and a hard place. If you and your trusted provider decide to pursue testosterone replacement, strongly consider using rhythmic dosing of testosterone and DHEA cream in bioidentical dosing made famous by the Wiley Protocol. Rhythmic dosing is used to mimic the normal rhythms of hormone fluctuations and bioidentical means non-synthetic. You will need at least annual monitoring of your prostate in the form of direct examination (the finger!) and PSA blood tests. Most men who receive testosterone for the right reasons are very happy with the outcome, and often report it feels like they were given their life back!
11) Thrive personally and give back to your community!