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Hormones start affecting our bodies from the onset of puberty. It is important to note that hormones affect both men and women differently, and there is no “one size fits all” solution.
Let’s look at the effect of andropause on men and what options you have to counter them.
What Factors Result in an Age-Related Reduction of Testosterone Levels?
- Stressors: environmental and emotional
- Increased body fat, especially belly fat, which increases the conversion of testosterone into oestrogen
- Poor lifestyle factors & habits
- Oxidative damage to the tissues responsible for the production of testosterone
- Reduction in testicular testosterone synthesis
- Declining levels of preceding hormones, such as DHEA
- Poor nutritional status
- Liver functionality
Does Testosterone Replacement Cause Prostate Cancer?
For more than 60 years, medical professionals incorrectly speculated that testosterone replacement therapy would increase the risk of developing prostate cancer. This fear caused physicians to deprive low testosterone patients of therapy that could otherwise assist in improving their bodies.
Remarkably enough, it appears that the contrary is true in most cases – lower levels of endogenous testosterone present a larger risk of prostate cancer than if a patient had optimal levels.
The risk for prostate cancer is not increased by supplementing with bio–identical testosterone, however, high levels of oestrogen is most likely the culprit that has been missed for years. Remember, prostate cancer is the No. 1 cause of death among men.
What Are the Benefits of Optimising Testosterone Levels?
- Testosterone is vital for libido and healthy erectile function.
- It plays a central role in mood stability, maintaining energy levels, bone health, cardiac health and body composition.
- It can counter cognitive decline, obesity and chronic fatigue, which are all symptoms related to low levels.
- It can counter metabolic syndrome related to low testosterone, a risk factor for Type 2 Diabetes or cardiovascular disease.
- Contrary to popular belief, it has been found that bio-identical testosterone does not have a negative effect on a healthy prostate gland—in fact, it has the benefit of potentially improving prostate symptoms.
Health Renewal Tip: How Does One Prevent Unhealthy Testosterone Levels?
- Maintain a healthy body weight
- Exercise
- Get seven hours of good quality sleep each night
- Avoid the use of all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes
- Limit your alcohol intake
- Drink 2-3 litres of water every day
- Wear loose fitting underwear
- Avoid Xenobiotics
- Manage your stress
- Eat organic foods. The less human intervention in a food product, the better.
- High-quality supplementation is essential, for example, Pycnogenol, Zinc and Omega 3
The so-called “normal” levels in older men reflect population averages. At Health Renewal, we believe that most ageing men would prefer not to accept the loss of youthful vigour as normal.
We suggest that a more valid optimal level for all men would be in the UPPER one-third of the reference range used for men aged 21-49, and any supplementation should aim to restore hormone levels to that range.
Regular blood testing is essential to help both the patient and physician monitor healthy levels and ensure that bio-identical testosterone therapy is optimally utilised. It is also imperative to monitor oestrogen levels with any form of hormone therapy that is employed in men.
Consult a Health Renewal Doctor who can advise you on what blood tests are required to do a comprehensive integrative consultation. This will enable your Doctor to provide you with the correct bio-identical hormone therapy combination to restore your body’s hormone balance.
(original article from Health Renewal).
Get in touch
For more detailed information or to book a consult with a Renewal Institute Doctor, call your nearest Renewal Institute Branch…
Website: www.healthrenewal.co.za
Phone: 0861 754 672
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Rochelle is the founder and driving force behind Aesthetic Appointment. With a passion for the aesthetics and pro-ageing industry in South Africa, she has been in the aesthetic publishing industry since 2012, dedicated to creating a valuable platform for insights and knowledge, bridging the gap between patients and doctors - delivering reliable, medical-based information. Rochelle firmly believes in the power of a good skincare regimen, especially when started at home, and is committed to educating consumers about the myriad of treatments, procedures, and products available to them.