Low Testosterone Symptoms

If you’re a human being, and if you’re reading this it is assumed you are, then low testosterone may be a concern for you. In the U.S. alone more than 20million men suffer from low testosterone, and while women can suffer too it is men who most commonly fall prey to the problem. The low testosterone symptoms can be very easy to spot; however, as the often gradually occur many men become accustomed before they realize they have a problem. Fortunately, while this is a condition that is beyond bothersome there is a remedy for the problem, and it is quite simple. Such a remedy will not alter your life, it will not be inconvenient, and regardless of anything else it will greatly improve your overall quality of life.

The Low Testosterone Symptoms
There are several low testosterone symptoms that may point to you having a problem. In most cases, you will display at least two symptoms, and in most cases one of the sexually related will occur. As the problem is left ignored, other symptoms will begin to show, and each one will get worse the longer the problem is left unattended to. It is true, low testosterone symptoms are not life-threatening, but not only are they very problematic they can be an open door to many far more serious complications. The following chart displays the low testosterone symptoms, the gateway effects that can occur if the condition is ignored, as well as the possible severity of the initial low testosterone symptoms:

Low Testosterone Symptoms	Possible Severity	Gateway Effects
Loss of Libido	Severe	Diabetes
Erectile Dysfunction	Moderate to Severe	Osteoporosis
Loss of Muscle Mass	High Moderate	Alzheimer’s
Loss of Strength	Moderate to Severe	Anxiety
Increased Body-Fat	Moderate to Sever	High Cholesterol
Inability to lose Fat	Severe	Infertility
Loss of Energy	Severe	Polyuria
Loss of Concentration	Moderate	Constant Soreness & Aches
Depression	Moderate to Severe
Insomnia	Low to Moderate
Decreased Sense of Well-Being	Severe

       
Combating Low Testosterone Symptoms

There is only one thing on this earth that will combat the low testosterone symptoms, and that is testosterone. For some reason, by the manner in-which testosterone has been demonized in popular culture due to it being an anabolic steroid this surprises many people. This should not be a surprise; for example, if you’re hungry you need food, if you’re lacking in food the only thing that will fix it is more food. The same can be said of testosterone, if you’re lacking in testosterone the only thing you can do is provide your body more of the hormone. This isn’t brain surgery, although it’s often treated as such. In the U.S. to combat low testosterone symptoms there are many options regarding the type of testosterone therapy you receive. There is the most efficient injectable testosterone, topical solutions, implant pellets and even somewhat indirect measures through Aromatase Inhibitors (AI’s) and Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERM’s). AI’s and SERM’s work by stimulating the release of LH and FSH into the body, thereby stimulating natural testosterone production; they can work, but often they are not enough. There is also a peptide hormone, Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) that is sometimes used for early initial stimulation. In any case, to combat the low testosterone symptoms, we have listed all possible common measures, the type of measure or form, and its ability to remedy on a 1-10 scale:

Treatment	Form	Recovery Rating
Androderm	Topical Testosterone Patch	5
AndroGel	Topical Testosterone Gel	6
Arimidex	AI	4
Clomiphene Citrate (Clomid)	SERM	3
hCG	Peptide	5
Letrozole	AI	4
Tamoxifen Citrate (Nolvadex)	SERM	3
Testopel	Subcutaneous Implant Pellet	8-10
Sustanon-250	Injectable Testosterone	10
Testosterone-Cypionate	Injectable Testosterone	10
Testosterone-Enanthate	Injectable Testosterone	10
Testosterone-Propionate	Injectable Testosterone	10

How to Raise Your Testosterone Naturally

Testosterone is more than just a term used by men to justify athletic prowess and manliness; it is the essential hormone in maintaining several aspects of men's health. Testosterone levels are associated with bone density, muscle strength and mass, sex drive and even fat distribution.

Testosterone peaks during adolescence. Conversely, medical authorities indicate testosterone levels begin to decline by about 1% a year after age 30. Many people, especially athletes, turn to synthetic forms of testosterone to combat age-related and deficient-levels of testosterone for ergogenic improvements. However, did you know there are ways to raise testosterone naturally? By making some adjustments in your life, you will be able combat decreasing testosterone.

Get Sufficient Sleep
Getting adequate sleep is one way to optimize healthy hormonal levels. Sleep deprivation can be dangerous to your health, and according to a study published in the June issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), men who slept less than five hours a night for one week experienced notably lower testosterone levels than when they were able to get a good night's rest. Eve Van Cauter, PhD, a professor of medicine and director of the study says 15% of the US population get less than five hours of sleep a night.

So, turn off the late night television and set a regular bed time. Sleeping for 7-8 hours is ideal. But if you are ruled by your busy schedule, try to make up for lost sleep with naps. Keep in mind, napping too late in the afternoon might affect your night's sleep.

Mediate Oestrogen Levels
That's right, oestrogen is also found in men. Aromatase is a synthase responsible for converting testosterone to oestrogen. Fortunately, zinc inhibits aromatase, reducing testosterone's conversion into oestrogen.

Groups at risk for zinc deficiency include vegetarians and those with gastrointestinal diseases. Healthy daily levels of zinc in adults range from 8mg - 40mg. Some people may consume more than this in a single day, and medical authorities warn excessive long term zinc consumption may result in abdominal cramps and nausea. Cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli contain indoles. Indoles are clinically shown to regulate harmful oestrogen levels in the body. Eating said vegetables will not only raise testosterone but a study shows high cruciferous vegetable intake is associated with decreases in prostate cancer.

Lose Weight
There is a good chance that if you are overweight, you are crippling your testosterone production. Obese men are less likely to have normal free-testosterone concentrations.

In one study, researchers analyzed 1,849 men's free-testosterone levels. Research revealed 40% of obese non-diabetic men and 50% obese diabetic men had below-normal free testosterone concentrations. Researchers remark "Obesity is probably the condition most frequently associated with subnormal free testosterone concentrations in men." So, if you are overweight, shed some pounds. Keep eating those previously mentioned healthy cruciferous vegetables and even throw in some meat. Protein increases satiety and decreases snacking after meals.

Go Easy on the Sugar
Although found in many tasty foods, sugar can be detrimental to testosterone levels. One study perfectly illustrates sugar's negative effects: Researchers gave 74 men a sugary solution of 75g pure glucose. After ingestion, testosterone levels were measured in all test subjects. Researchers discovered, regardless of whether the men had diabetes or not, testosterone blood levels decreased as much as 25%. The study indicates insulin didn't seem to affect results, nor did other hormonal levels. If you must snack on something sugary, make it healthy. To fulfil that sugar craving, try adding 1 tablespoon peanut butter to celery sticks for under 5g carbohydrates. Or look for sugar-free confectionary.

Get Enough Vitamin D
Studies surrounding vitamin D reveal its testosterone boosting effects. One study published in 2011 shows, 83mcg vitamin D a day for a year resulted in an increase in total testosterone levels, compared to placebo. The sun offers the finest source of vitamin D, but it may be difficult to set apart some time to catch rays during the week. Eating foods richer in vitamin D will help. Such foods include salmon, tuna, milk, and orange juice. Vitamin D supplements may also help increase testosterone levels.

Exercise
Strength training increases testosterone levels. Testosterone levels were measured in both young (23 years) and elderly (63) test subjects prior to and after participating in resistance training during a 12-week study. According to the blood samples collected, testosterone levels increased in both groups, although the younger group experienced greater increases. Additionally, high testosterone levels and exercise synergistically affect muscle size.

Optimize your workouts by doing compound exercises. Compound exercises incorporate muscle fibres from various muscle groups. Exercises include dead lift, squat and bench press. Also lift heavier weight at lower reps so more force is placed on the muscles.

Manage Stress
There are several promising studies and hypothesis showing psychological stress may negatively affect testosterone. Though how and why stress affects testosterone is still being studied. Some claim higher stress-induced cortisol levels may be a reason, but this is subject for debate.

One study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry in 1972 shows plasma testosterone levels were lower in young men enrolled in Officer Candidate School during the early, stressful part of the course as compared with levels during the senior phase. Another study analyzed serum testosterone levels in male subjects (30-55 years) suffering from higher levels of anxiety, hostility and depression. Those subjects with higher psychological stress had lower testosterone levels than the subjects who did not. Interestingly, cortisol concentrations in both groups were the same.

Increase Testosterone

It’s no secret, if you’re an athlete, a gym rat or someone who simply wants to look a little better the higher you can increase testosterone the better off you’ll be; after all, testosterone is the primary anabolic hormone. When we’re trying to increase testosterone the first thing that often comes to mind is anabolic steroids, as this is one of the primary roles but there are actually many things we can do to increase testosterone besides regular injections. Make no mistake, if one needs or desires to increase testosterone anabolic steroids will always be best in-terms of ability, nothing else will come close but we can naturally provide small incremental increases if we follow certain principles. However, in the grand scheme of things, while these applications will prove to be useful where they really shine is aiding in staving off low testosterone; no, it is no guarantee but in greatly improves your odds.
Increase Testosterone with Food:

You’ve heard the old saying, “nothing is more anabolic than food” and that’s quite true; when it comes to growth and performance nothing on earth can beat or replace food. In that light there are certain foods that have been shown to have a positive effect on our natural testosterone levels and many studies have indicated that individuals who consume diets rich in these foods often increase testosterone production. The same can be said in the opposite direction; certain foods have been shown to have the opposite effect and if you’re trying to increase testosterone or at least maintain it they will be the foods you want to avoid.

For the individual who is a vegetarian this next part is probably going to be some pretty sad news; if you’re looking to increase testosterone through the foods you eat you’re not going to be able to do it through a vegetarian style diet. No, meats are not the only foods that will increase testosterone but things such as red meat and eggs are our primary increasing tools. The best foods for increasing natural testosterone production include:

    Red Meat
    Whole Eggs
    Pork
    Salmon
    Nuts & Legumes
    Broccoli (in addition, not alone)
    Cabbage (in addition, not alone)
    Cauliflower (in addition, not alone)

From looking at the list you may be a little concerned with cholesterol, especially when we consider red meat and whole eggs to be our two primary food sources. Do not let your heart fret, the idea of these foods being unfriendly to cholesterol levels has long since passed and neither will increase LDL levels; assuming you’re not covering your steak and eggs with oils, butter, massive amounts of cheese, etc.

The next step is going to be to avoid certain foods; no, we want list these out or you’d be reading for the next three and a half weeks but we can give you a pretty good idea. Saturated fat has been proven to be something you need to increase testosterone but it needs to come from the right sources such as the ones above; the saturated fat you’re getting at your favorite fast food chain is not such a fat. Further, processed foods in general have been shown to be horrific on how they affect testosterone production so the moral of the story is simple; don’t eat out so much and stay away from processed food; it’s really that simple and there’s not much more to say.
Lifestyle Choices:

There are three major factors beyond food that can greatly affect our testosterone levels; our physical activity level, stress and alcohol consumption, the most important being physical activity. Men who are more active than other men naturally maintain higher levels of testosterone and it has been shown that physical exercise, most notably weight training greatly boost testosterone production. For the individual who needs or desires to increase testosterone production beginning a regular and scheduled workout routine should be one of the first orders of business.

Stress and alcohol; we have stress in our life and so we drink to ease the load yet alcohol has been shown to be one of the most damaging things on this earth to testosterone production when consumed on a regular basis; not only does it damage production but it promotes fat gain and destroys muscle tissue. However, responsible alcohol consumption is an easy thing to control whereas stress can be a little tricky. Stress doesn’t simply mean worry or concern; although that is a role we’re more concerned with physical stress, the lack of sleep and rest and physical stress that can be caused by just those things. When our body is in a state of stress we end up releasing larger amounts of stress hormones known as glucocorticoid steroids and if you’re trying to increase testosterone this is going in the wrong direction.
The Bottom Line:

The bottom line is simple; there’s nothing magical about increasing testosterone levels, there’s no secret you haven’t been told, there’s no special workout or hidden secret only the elite know about. If you wish to produce a higher level of testosterone or at least maintain what you already have simply following a healthy lifestyle will do more for you than anything else, in-fact, short of injecting the primary anabolic androgenic steroid testosterone this is pretty much your only worthwhile option. Yes, it is worthwhile and very much so but you need to have understanding. Understand how to maximize your nutrition with your daily life and see your testosterone levels better off than your friends.

6 Ways Testosterone Affects Men's Health

Testosterone Makes the Man
Think of testosterone and you probably conjure images of Rocky Balboa, cavemen, or Christian Bale -- and with good reason. The most potent male hormone is responsible for big muscles and a hearty sex drive. But testosterone plays a bigger role than its macho reputation suggests. Here are 6 ways it impacts your everyday actions.

Builds Bone and Muscle Mass
Testosterone gives men the strength to swing a bat and hit a home run, which is why steroid use is popular among some athletes. The manly hormone, secreted by the testes, improves muscle mass and strength. When testosterone levels decrease, so do muscles, and researchers have found a link between low testosterone and body fat. In one study, 40% of obese men had lower-than-normal testosterone levels. Testosterone also improves bone density. Most guys don't brag about the brawniness of their bones, but weak bones are a major cause of disability and death among older people.

Boosts Sex Drive
While testosterone isn't only about your sex drive, it's a big part of the equation. Testosterone prompts the growth of genitals at puberty and drives reproduction.  Without it your penis can't operate and your testicles can't produce sperm. Low testosterone causes erectile dysfunction, in part, by dampening lusty thoughts and the desire to put them into action. If you have low testosterone, sex holds as much appeal as mowing the lawn.

Promotes Both Body Hair Growth and Baldness
Testosterone puts hair on your chest and other parts of your body, but it might be responsible for thinning hair on the scalp. When testosterone is converted into another male hormone, dihydrotestosterone, it stunts the hair follicles of men who are genetically predisposed to male pattern baldness. If you suddenly don't need to shave as often as usual, you might have low testosterone.

May Prevent Heart Disease
There's a link between heart health and testosterone, but scientists don't fully understand the connection. On the one hand, testosterone can dilate blood vessels, which may help circulation. On the other, it stimulates the growth of red blood cells, which can cause blood to clot more easily and increase stroke risk. Men who have low testosterone have a 25% greater risk of dying from heart disease. Whether low testosterone causes heart disease or is simply a sign of overall poor health is unknown.

Five Common Misconceptions about Testosterone

Low testosterone has emerged as an umbrella cause for numerous male health problems. Bombarded by advertisements suggesting insufficient testosterone could be causing everything from depression to low sex drive, men are increasingly seeking information on the male sex hormone.

However, not all of the available information is accurate.

Even in the nutrition and healthcare industry, trending topics generate just as many myths as usable truths. And because many people turn to testosterone for a boost in strength and athleticism, men must also sift through marketing claims when assessing testosterone. Unfortunately, these irrational beliefs and fears have kept men from trying hormone replacement therapy and testosterone-boosting supplements to improve flagging testosterone levels.

To dispel these common misconceptions about testosterone, here are five myths and the truths behind this hormone. Hopefully this dispels any fears you have about seeking treatment, or even trying a testosterone supplement to boost athletic performance.

1. Only Older Men Struggle with Low Testosterone
While it's true that older men disproportionately struggle with low testosterone thanks to andropause, low testosterone levels can affect men at any age. Even teenagers may suffer from low testosterone: known as hypogonadism.

During youth, testosterone is produced at a relatively steady rate. It helps trigger the onset of puberty and maintains bones, muscles and sex drive. However, after age 30, most men start to experience a gradual decline in testosterone. Because testosterone declines progressively, most men don't notice symptoms of low testosterone until their late 50s or early 60s. However, if the decline is too steep, testosterone can dip below recommended levels at a young age.

This means that, however remote the chances, every man is potentially at risk for low testosterone. Fortunately, medication and nutritional supplements are available to correct the imbalance. Not so fortunately, additional testosterone myths prevent some men from trying them.

2. Testosterone is Illegal and Dangerous Because it's a Steroid
Testosterone is technically a steroid, which leads many men to erroneously assume using testosterone is illegal and even dangerous. However, neither assumption is true. Testosterone is not illegal in the US. In fact, it's entirely possible to obtain legal prescription medications or injections in the US. There are also hundreds of supplement companies vying for your attention with advertisements for supplements that supposedly trigger greater testosterone production—all within the bounds of the law.

However, many sports organizations do have rules about substances like testosterone that influence athletic performance. Violating such organizational rules may have severe consequences, especially for professional athletes.

The second claim – that testosterone supplementation is dangerous – is also untrue. Steroids are simply molecules with four rings of carbon. Following that definition, even cholesterol is a steroid. While testosterone may be classed as an anabolic steroid because it builds muscle, it is relatively safe, even in high concentrations. While abuse of any anabolic steroid is potentially dangerous, testosterone is relatively safe and doesn't cause life-threatening side effects when used appropriately.

3. Supplementing with Testosterone Causes Aggression
Even men who know testosterone supplementation isn't life-threatening, are kept away by fear of lower-risk side effects. Perhaps the most common side effect-related misconception is supplementing with testosterone increases aggression, causing uncontrollable and even violent behavior.

However, there is absolutely no reliable evidence supporting these claims. In fact, a 2000 study conducted by Harvard researcher Harrison Pope finds no difference in mood between men supplementing with testosterone and men in a control group. During the study, 50 men were given high testosterone doses, higher than was needed for hormone therapy. However, only two men developed measurable aggression as a result. What's more, the opposite appears to be true: men with low testosterone are more likely to be irritable and short-tempered. This condition even has a name: irritable male syndrome.

Whorush: 8 sites by this AdSense ID

4. Testosterone Use Leads to Baldness
Another commonly-cited testosterone side effect is male pattern baldness. Because baldness treatments typically block conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), many men assumed testosterone is the root cause of a receding hairline. However, this is not the case. In fact, men with male pattern baldness generally have the same testosterone levels as men with a full head of hair.

The confusion?

Men who are already pre-destined to go bald typically do so when testosterone concentrations are especially low or high. To prevent these wild fluctuations, baldness medication limits testosterone levels, which affects the amount of testosterone that converts to DHT. Because the scalp needs very small amounts of DHT to carry out tasks pre-programmed in the genes (such as losing hair), an excess of testosterone and DHT can trigger earlier and greater baldness. Thus, limiting DHT becomes helpful in preventing baldness.

If your family history suggests you'll go bald, high testosterone levels may increase the likelihood of the unhappy event. Fortunately, many testosterone boosters contain ingredients specifically inhibiting DHT, keeping you safe from this side effect.

5. Testosterone Increases Prostate Cancer Risk
Perhaps the most insidious testosterone myth is increasing testosterone levels through supplementation or injection increases your risk of developing prostate cancer.

This myth originates from studies in the 1940s in which men with metastatic prostate cancer exhibited improvements when they were castrated. Scientists pointed to testosterone as the likely cause of these benefits. However, subsequent research reveals men with existing cancer are the only ones affected by high testosterone levels. Furthermore, more recent studies have failed to establish testosterone suppression provides a clear decrease in prostate cancer risk.

This suggests you should see a doctor before beginning testosterone supplementation, as testosterone exacerbates cancer and triggers metastasis. However, if you don't have cancer, increasing testosterone will have no effect on your prostate or your likelihood of developing cancer.

Using Testosterone in the Correct Way
If you suffer from low testosterone levels, consult your doctor about treatment methods. He or she will be able to direct you to the best possible treatment for your condition. This way, you won't have to worry about user error or any other variable that may cause side effects.

As for testosterone supplementation, most test boosters use accurate dosing levels. If you follow manufacturer instructions, you shouldn't have to focus on anything other than the benefits.

If you have questions or concerns, consult your doctor before beginning a testosterone supplement.