A Natural Approach To Health

Living With Low Testosterone

I had a question the other day about low testosterone.

Men who have low testosterone don’t make enough of the male hormone called testosterone.

This hormone allows men to produce sperm and to develop and keep normal physical male traits.

Low testosterone is also called testosterone deficiency or hypogonadism.

Low testosterone can lead to problems like loss of sex drive, muscle weakness, erection problems, infertility, and weakened bones.

Many things can cause this problem, like:

>Aging.  It’s normal for testosterone to decrease as you age.

>Injury to the testicles, or surgery or radiation treatment in your groin area.

>Certain medicines.

>Having a long-term medical condition, like kidney or liver disease or obesity.

>Problems related to the pituitary gland or hypothalamus.

Low testosterone also can be present at birth.

A blood test is usually done to find out if you have low testosterone.

If your doctor thinks low testosterone could be related to another medical problem, he or she may do other tests.

Since testosterone normally decreases with age, your doctor can help determine whether your symptoms are from low testosterone and whether you could benefit from treatment.

Treatment may depend on the cause.

The foods you eat can also have an effect on your testosterone levels.

These things will lower your testosterone, so avoid them:  Alcohol, licorice, a low-fat diet, a low-protein diet, and phytoestrogens, specifically flaxseed oil.

These things will raise your testosterone, so increase your intake:  Allicin (garlic and onion), B vitamins (beans, meat, poultry, fish), caffeine (1-2 caffeinated beverages a day and finish them before noon), niacin (dairy products, lean meats, poultry, fish, nuts, eggs), vegetable fat (canola and olive oil), and zinc (oysters, Dungeness crabs, beef, pork, dark meat chicken and turkey, yogurt, cheddar cheese, cashews, almonds, baked beans, and garbanzos).

To deal with low testosterone it’s beneficial to:

*Drink 6-8 cups of purified water daily hydrates body and brain cells and flushes toxins (whether thirsty or not!).

*Review my post on candida.

*Increase exercise, relaxation techniques.

*Increase fresh, raw fruits and veggies (organic when possible).

*Consider fresh juicing.

*Consume plenty of fresh, raw, unroasted pumpkin seeds.

*Increase fiber intake.

*Ensure good bowel function; avoid constipation.

*Consider a liver and/or colon cleanse.

*Decrease toxic exposures (food and environmental).

*Decrease any and all hydrogenated, trans fats, deep-fried foods, margarine, fast foods, artificial sweeteners.

*Decrease sugar, sweets, white flour products, processed foods.

*Avoid tobacco, alcohol, soda pop.

*Understand your medications and possible side effects.

*Maintain a healthy weight.

*Consider a hair analysis for heavy metal testing.

*Don’t carry a cell phone in your pants pocket.

Recommendations:

It is essential to use:  VitaLea, Protein, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Zinc, B-Complex, Alfalfa.

It is important to use:  OmegaGuard, GLA, Vivix, CoQHeart, Mental Acuity, CorEnergy.

It is beneficial to use:  Optiflora, Stress Relief Complex, CarotoMax and/or FlavoMax, VitalMag, 180 Energy Tea.

email:  lenayphillipps@gmail.com

PS:  If you have any questions about low testosterone, and would like to know how supplements can help, give us a call at 715-431-0657.  We’re here to help.