Happy Father’s Day to all of the Dads out there!
In honour of this day, I wanted to take the time to touch in on an aspect of health that is geared especially towards men.
Though I have a special interest in Women’s health, I see many men in my practice. Some of the main concerns that they have are around diminishing testosterone.
This is becoming more prevalent in today's world, as well as with increasingly younger men. Studies have shown that the average man’s testosterone in today’s society is nearly 25 percent lower than in the 1980s.
There is a wide range of factors that contribute to this decline in testosterone including prescribed drugs (statins), and many environmental pollutants such as estrogen-mimicking compounds found in food, water, personal hygiene products, plastics etc.
What’s the deal with low testosterone?
Men with low testosterone are 52.4 per cent more likely to be obese; 50 per cent more likely to develop diabetes; 42.4 per cent more likely to have high blood pressure and 40.4 per cent more likely to have high cholesterol.
Testosterone, a hormone produced primarily by the testicles plays a large role in male sexuality and reproduction, impacting such factors as sexual and reproductive function, muscle mass, and hair growth. Testosterone is also important for maintaining bone density, levels of red blood cells and a sense of well-being and vitality.
Unfortunately, around the age of 30 a man’s testosterone levels begin to decline, and continue to do so as he ages.
How can I boost my testosterone naturally?
- Maintain a healthy weight. If you are overweight, losing the excess pounds may help to increase your testosterone levels according to research. Overweight men are more likely to have low testosterone levels to begin with due to the fact that the adipose tissue (fat tissue) contains an enzyme called aromatase that converts testosterone into estrogen. So, if you want healthy testosterone levels, drop the body fat.
- Minimize the BPA and other environmental pollutants. BPA may be a large culprit to the declining levels of testosterone in modern times. Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a synthetic chemical often found in various plastic containers that leach out as it is heated. Studies have shown that when exposed to BPA, it resulted in lower levels of testosterone in men. Avoid drinking from plastic bottles or storing food in plastic and use glass or stainless steel whenever possible.
- Reduce your stress. When you are under a lot of
