Testosterone Replacement, Natural & Unnatural Part 3
Beyond diet and exercise
Detoxification- Preparing the body for optimal health
As mentioned elsewhere in this article, it is imperative that we limit our exposure to toxins as well as cleanse our bodies of this toxic burden. Failure to do so will increase the chances of recurring symptoms as well as failure of testosterone replacement should it come to that.
Our bodies naturally detoxify through the liver, kidneys, lungs and skin. When these systems are overwhelmed, toxins are stored mostly in fat, although heavy metals are stored in bone and organs. Weight loss can be difficult if too many toxins are present as the body prefers calorie storage as fat to successfully sequester the toxins, and this explains why it is often difficult to lose those last few pounds.
To assist the body in eliminating toxins before they can be stored, we need to drink plenty of filtered water and eat toxin-free foods, which means eating organic whenever possible, and avoiding anything that comes in a box, can, bottle or bag. This diet should also be high in fruits and vegetables. The phytonutrients are essential and the fiber helps speed the transit time of stool to avoid reabsorption of toxins. Three bowel movements a day is the goal, and is considered normal. If this is surprising to you, you are eating the wrong diet. Generally speaking, the Mediterranean diet meets the most criteria for best diet. Unfortunately, our farming soils are becoming depleted (first addressed in the US by the 81st Congress in 1949) and our produce, even organic and whole food, is no longer as nutritious as it once was. This necessitates taking a high-quality multi-vitamin and mineral supplement every day to be sure you have the correct amount of nutrients to sustain your body’s immune and other processes.
You can take in all the high-quality food and water you like, but if you can’t properly digest it, you will have trouble properly assimilating it and then of course your body can’t use it. As we age (for numerous reasons including nutrient deficiency and salt restriction), our stomach acid production drops. At age 50, we release approximately 15% of the acid we did when we were 25 years old and 35% of folks over 65 make virtually no acid. Additionally, acid reflux is a common diagnosis and many are prescribed acid reducing medications. Sadly, many times the problem is that there isn’t enough stomach acid and this medication only worsens the problem. Only once the acidity reaches a pH of 1-2 does the lower esophageal sphincter close preventing food return and acid splashing back up into the unprotected esophagus. By lessening the acidity, the sphincter stays open and the acidity is lessened to a non-painful level and meanwhile food isn’t properly prepared and it’s elimination is slowed because the valve releasing stomach contents into the intestines opens at a pH of 1-2 as well. (The reason heartburn happens is because the lower esophageal sphincter is open and the pH of the stomach is higher than 2 which is still acidic enough to be painful).
The solution to both reflux and improvement of stomach acidity, is to regularly take apple cider vinegar or betaine HCl to increase the acidity of the stomach. I have suffered from reflux for years and was concerned with side-effects of the acid reducing medication (a proton-pump inhibitor) and was uneven in taking it. This makes heartburn worse as the acid levels jump higher after being suppressed and then released. A few years ago I just stopped the medication and instead would eat Tums or drink Maalox in the middle of the night for relief. I started drinking a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with most meals, and my reflux is MUCH improved (even with a somewhat dysfunctional lower esophageal sphincter after a tumor mangled it! I’m also fairly certain it has reduced much of the gas I used to have, but I also started limiting my sugar intake at the same time, so it’s not clear cut, and my wife would rather I not experiment). Betaine HCl is a capsule and thus more travel-friendly than vinegar. Consequences of low stomach acid include (and these are listed in the medication inserts): vitamin B12 deficiency, increased fracture risk, magnesium deficiency (not good!), zinc deficiency (essential in serotonic production- you definitely want that!), reflux, food allergies (food improperly prepared and become hazardous to the body as they enter the bloodstream), Barrett esophagus, and candida overgrowth. A good pre/probiotic with digestive enzymes is important as well, but we are drifting into the weeds at this point. www.refluxdefense.com is an excellent resource.
In order to remove the toxins already stored, it’s crucial to support the liver. Cancer researcher Thomas Slaga discusses, in his book The Detox Revolution, that the majority of toxins (80%) are removed by the liver through the glucuronidation pathway and that calcium d-glucarate is the best supplement to support this pathway. In animal studies, d-glucarate reduced the quantity of lung lesions, and both animal and human studies have demonstrated its ability to suppress beta-glucuronidase which is associated with an increased risk of cancer. An initial course of 6-12 capsules daily is recommended for 3-6 months depending on toxin exposure, tapering to 4-6 capsules daily for ongoing detoxification and liver support. The importance of detoxification cannot be stressed enough, and it really needs to happen 2-3 months prior to taking any medication for glandular function (thyroid, hypothalamus, pituitary, testicles) as it could restore proper function and if not, it will be more likely the medication will not encounter resistance.