The 6 Secrets to Increasing Male Testosterone Levels
Testosterone (T) is the hormone responsible for men’s physical and sexual development. Produced in the testicles, testosterone stimulates a man’s sex drive with the production of sperm as well as assisting in the growth of muscle and bone mass. Men over the age of 40 may notice some signs of low testosterone as levels begin to drop around this time. Symptoms of low testosterone levels can be subtle but may affect your day-to-day life. Some possible symptoms may include low sex drive, difficulties achieving erection, hair loss, fatigue and mood changes. Here are 6 secrets to try out and increase your testosterone levels.
Shed Pounds to Increase Testosterone Levels
Generally, overweight men are more likely to have lower levels of testosterone. Diet and exercise – or the lack there of – are important factors to take into account when analyzing the hormone reactions within your body. Because of this, testosterone works in an inverse relationship with losing weight and raising T levels. Eliminating processed sugars and excessive carbs are just two ways to trim the waistline and increase testosterone.
Vitamins for Male Testosterone
Decreasing your sugar intake leaves a gap in your diet for nutritional supplements such as vitamins and minerals. Vitamins are an excellent way to increase testosterone levels and overall health. One of the most important vitamins relating to T production is vitamin D. Studies have shown a strong relationship between higher levels of vitamin D in men and increased testosterone levels when compared to those with lower levels of vitamin D. Another essential mineral that assists in higher secretion of testosterone is zinc. With zinc deficiencies on the rise in American men, suppressed levels of zinc have been associated with lower testosterone. Taking vitamin supplements may help reduce your risk of low testosterone.
Stay Active
In addition to changing your diet, exercise is also helpful when trying to raise testosterone levels. Staying active is important with age and is necessary for your body to stay limber. While any exercise helps contribute to a healthier you, opting to do a high-intensity workout has been proven to increase testosterone production.
Rest Up
Lack of sleep can dramatically affect the way your body functions. Adults are recommended between 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night, however many often fall short of this recommended benchmark. This in time can take a toll on your body resulting in reduced muscle growth and weight gain, as well as a suppressed level of testosterone. Men with longer, more regular sleeping patterns tend to have higher levels of T. Understanding the relationship between sleep and overall health is one extra step towards raising testosterone levels in a healthy manner.
Reduce Stress, Increase Testosterone
Due to its strong influence on the body, stress is a crucial component in varying testosterone level. Overwhelming stress may lead to lower levels of T resulting in increased irritability, changes in mood, depression and overall lack of focus. Engaging in more relaxing activities like deep breathing or yoga can limit the negative influences stress has on the body.
Avoid Opioid Painkillers
Known to disrupt normal hormone function, opioid-based painkillers should be actively avoided especially when trying to increase testosterone levels. Opioid-using men will notice an almost 50% decrease in T levels when beginning treatment. This suppression can be found regardless of opioid type or indication of use.
Low Testosterone Treatment in New Jersey
With a range of subtle symptoms, low levels of testosterone often go unattended. To properly diagnose low testosterone in men, a serum testosterone blood test is conducted to accurately determine the current levels. By the US FDA standard, the normal range of T is commonly between 300 and 1,000 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL). Levels that fall below 300 ng/dL are considered low testosterone and need to be addressed quickly. If you suffer from low T as an adult male, you know that it can affect almost every aspect of your life. If you are a concerned New Jersey resident looking for advice from an experienced medical professional about low testosterone, stop by Somerset Urological Associates for an extensive consultation and urological services. To learn more about SUA, or to schedule an appointment, don’t hesitate to visit or give us a call at 908-927-0300 today.