Testosterone Replacement, Natural & Unnatural Part 4

Repairing the body- maximizing blood flow

Nitric oxide (NO) is a naturally produced molecule in the body that also begins to decline in production as we age (I mean WTF!), starting around age 30. This is in part why our blood pressure climbs slowly as we age (the other part is your crappy diet, yeah I’m talking to you.) It was awarded molecule of the year in 1992, and in 1998 the three American scientists who contributed to discovering it’s roles over the years shared the Nobel prize in Medicine/Physiology.  This molecule helps with: dilation and flexibility of blood vessels, maintains healthy blood pressure, inhibits plaque build-up, reduced inflammation and clotting and maintains the lining of blood vessels which is a better predictor of heart and vascular status than cholesterol or blood pressure.  This is because effective blood flow is essential to all cellular function.  NO also maximizes wound healing, improves brain function, and is important in anti-aging as it appears to contribute to stem cell availability and mitochondrial function (the “engine” of the cell).  Diagnosis is with a salivary test strip which can also be used to monitor progress.

Because proper blood flow is essential to normal functioning, it is important to maximize it for the same reasons we maximize quality food and water digestion, namely the problem could be from poor blood flow and if not, the optimized blood flow will help restore maximal function even if medication is necessary. 

Levels can be normalized with a diet high in dark, leafy vegetables (kale, chard, spinach, arugula and beets) which are part of a Mediterranean diet and high in nitrate/nitrites.  The DASH diet also has a high nitrate content.

Moderate exercise (22-30 minutes per day) stimulates blood vessels to make NO.  More intense exercise doesn’t further increase NO and, especially if you have diagnosed vascular issues- particularly in your heart, can be counter-productive. 

Stress reduction is also important. Breathing through the nose has been demonstrated to stimulate NO production and leads to 10-15% higher oxygenation of blood than does breathing through the mouth.

High quality oral supplementation is possible if test strip use demonstrates the need despite improvements in diet, stress reduction and exercise.  Once levels are normalized, every bodily organ system will benefit. Many patients are able to discontinue blood pressure medications once their NO levels are normalized.

Special Cases- Iodine and Magnesium

These are very important chemicals, and both are often, you guessed it, declining as we age.

Magnesium

Mg is involved in hundreds of enzyme processes in the body, most notably it controls the entry and exit of calcium from the cell and calcium causes contractions. In mild forms of deficiency, persistent cramping, muscle twitching and heart palpitations occur.  In chronic forms, heart disease, blood clots, diabetes, anxiety and depression, fatigue, migraines, asthma and heavy metal toxicity can occur as Mg is used in removal, especially lead and aluminum.

Supplements generally work better than food, but is often poorly absorbed and it can take time to find one that is tolerated without GI upset, and it comes in many forms. It cannot be absorbed without adequate amounts of stomach acid. Epsom salt baths can help mild cases.

Mg deficiency is not diagnosed often enough.  Then again, many things are and indicative of an overly-stressed medical system.  One of the few benefits of COVID-19 is the exposure of the many failings of our modern for-profit system (you could extend this to other sectors as well, but here come those weeks again).  Measurement of the blood (serum) is the most commonly used test and not because it’s the most accurate. It represents 1% of the total body level. An RBC test measures about 40%, while the EXA test measures full body stores.  This test is covered by Medicare and some insurance companies, so if you commonly experience muscle twitching, cramping and/or heart palpitations, you may consider discussing this test with your health provider.

Iodine

Iodine is essential to normal thyroid function and most of us are deficient.  Long ago it was used in the manufacturing of bread, but was replaced with bromine which competes with iodine uptake by the thyroid, as does fluoride and chlorine, both very prevalent in our world and taken orally on a daily basis.

Conditions that are associated with iodine deficiency are ADD/ADHD, artery hardening, infections, high blood pressure, goiter, fatigue, breast and ovarian disease and vaginal infections. 

The best test is a 24 hour urine challenge test which can be administered by your health care provider.

If you are deficient, and again, most of us are, especially as we age, supplements are best.  Lugol’s iodine drops work but have been reported as providing inconsistent results. Dosing should be discussed with your provider, and can take a year to correct.  As it is corrected, it can start to kick off the fluoride, chlorine and bromine and the higher concentrations of these in the body can cause unpleasant symptoms, including nausea, fatigue, rashes and headaches. This is another reason why detoxification for 2-3 months prior to beginning medication and/or supplementation use is important.  Removing these elements prior to supplement use can avoid this phenomenon.  As iodine levels normalize you will have more energy and be able to think more clearly.