Balance Blood Sugar To Lower Testosterone
Healthy blood sugar balance is so important to lower testosterone naturally. Blood sugar imbalances over time can lead to insulin resistance, or reduced insulin sensitivity. What should happen is when we eat something that breaks down into sugar in the body the sugar enters the bloodstream and insulin is the hormone that is released by the pancreas to pick up the sugar and escort it into the cells to be used for energy. Its like a lock and key sugar cannot get into the cell without insulin .
But spikes and crashes or elevated blood sugar levels over time causes our body to pump out more insulin and then that whole lock and key system can stop working as it should. Meaning insulin can get lazy and not pick up the sugar anymore or the key just isnt fitting in the lock as well. When insulin is high it can start telling the ovaries to produce more testosterone. Over time high testosterone = those symptoms mentioned above: acne, unwanted hair growth, hair loss, etc.So you can see that one of the foundations for lowering testosterone naturally is blood sugar balance or eating consistently, not skipping meals, and including protein, fat, and fiber at meals to prevent what I call the blood sugar rollercoaster, where we experience extreme highs and lows.
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Causes Of Low Testosterone In Men
What causes your testosterone to dip downwards? As it turns out, there are both direct and indirect causes of low T levels in both young and older men:
- Testicular failure â resulting from genetic and metabolic disorders, as well as autoimmune diseases and testicular trauma â is a direct cause.
- Indirect causes of low testosterone include excessive exercise, malnutrition, synthetic steroid abuse, and hormonal imbalances in the pituitary gland.
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How To Lower T Levels
Several natural and artificial substances may lead to various degrees of suppression of testosterone production in men.
Although the agents have only short-term effects, prolonged use may cause testicular atrophy or damage and lead to hypogonadism.
The main ways to lower T levels in men include:
- Unhealthy lifestyle habits
- Natural anti-androgens
Medications such as gonadotropin antagonists can lower T levels the most, yet they also have the highest risk of side effects.
On the other hand, natural antiandrogens such as licorice and spearmint have relatively minor effects on testosterone production, yet they also have the lowest risk of side effects.
Most of the agents that can help decrease testosterone in men will also work for women. In females, lowering T levels can help reduce the symptoms of several conditions which are associated with testosterone excess.
These include genetic disorders and conditions caused by hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance, such as hyperthecosis and polycystic ovary syndrome .
PCOS is the most common acquired condition that can lead to high T in women
Normalizing insulin levels is usually the first step toward lowering T levels and reducing symptoms of PCOS.
The main ways to reduce testosterone in women depend on the cause and may include:
- Lifestyle changes
What Can Lower Your Testosterone
Are you experiencing symptoms of low T? Testosterone levels everywhere are plummeting. Many men are concerned about their testosterone levels as a surge of low T diagnoses sweeps the nation. In fact, studies show that the average mans testosterone is nearly 25% lower than it was 30 years ago.
While many believe that decreased testosterone occurs only in older men, age is only one factor associated with your risk of low T. There are a variety of things you can do and also avoid that can affect your testosterone levels.
What Can Cause Testosterone Levels To Drop?
As testosterone continues dropping, there are a few factors you should consider:
There have been hundreds of studies showing particular foods have detrimental effects on your testosterone. These include soy, nuts, fish, spearmint tea, red reishi mushrooms, flaxseed, refined carbohydrates, and hormones in meat. To properly combat these effects, its important that you eat these foods in moderation.
Along with foods that affect your testosterone levels, there are also beverages to avoid. Two of the most commonly known drinks are beer and water with high estrogen levels. Even moderate alcohol consumption has been found to decrease testosterone levels up to 6.8%.
Sleep deprivation is a very common problem in American society. For middle-aged and older men , lack of sleep is proven to decrease morning testosterone levels.
Does Alcohol Lower Testosterone?
Can Stress Decrease Testosterone?
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Antibiotics And Antifungal Medications
Ketoconazole is a common antifungal medication that can be used topically to treat dandruff and other conditions.
Yet, taking it orally also blocks testosterone synthesis, and long-term use of this medication can lead to a dramatic decrease in serum T levels.
The medication is so potent in these effects that it has been successfully used to treat hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.
Other antimicrobial agents such as antibiotics do not appear to affect testosterone production. In fact, except for a few banned medications, most antibiotics may reduce the risk of infection to the reproductive organs and improve fertility.
Difficulty Achieving And Maintaining An Erection
Testosterone aids in achieving and maintaining an erection. It tells brain receptors to produce nitric oxide, which is a molecule that helps trigger a series of chemical reactions necessary for an erection to occur.
When testosterone levels are too low, you may have difficulty achieving an erection before sex or having spontaneous erections, such as during sleep.
However, research is inconclusive on whether testosterone replacement therapy can successfully treat erectile dysfunction. In a 2016 review of studies that looked at the benefit of testosterone in men with erection difficulties, showed no improvement with testosterone treatment.
Other health conditions can often cause erectile difficulties. These include:
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How To Decrease Testosterone: Natural Methods
- Exercise I know, it sounds like this is the answer to everything, but it really makes a huge difference when it comes to your hormones. Introducing or reintroducing exercise into your life can help your body to more effectively regulate itself.
- Eat right This is the other side of the exercise equation. All the exercise in the world isnt going to do much if youre eating food thats unhealthy and that messes with your hormones
Testosterone Therapy For Low Levels
In most cases, men need to have both low levels of testosterone in their blood and several symptoms of low testosterone to go on therapy.
It is possible to have low levels and not experience symptoms. But if you do not have any key symptoms, especially fatigue and sexual dysfunction, which are the most common, it is not recommended you go on the therapy given the uncertainty about long-term safety.
Even if your levels are low and you have symptoms, low-t therapy is not always the first course of action. If your doctor can identify the source for declining levelsfor instance, weight gain or a particular medicationhe or she may first address that problem.
If you and your doctor think testosterone replacement therapy is right for you, there are a variety of delivery methods to consider, as found in the Harvard Special Health Report Men’s Health: Fifty and Forward.
Most men feel improvement in symptoms within four to six weeks of taking testosterone replacement therapy, although changes like increases in muscle mass may take from three to six months.
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How To Boost Testosterone In Men
Read how to boost testosterone in men, decreasing testosterone is a common enough condition especially in older men, men in their late 40s, 50s and 60s talk about symptoms associated with low testosterone such as erectile dysfunction, hair loss, loss of libido, muscle loss, the list goes on.
So if you find yourself with any of these symptoms it may be time to find out how to boost testosterone in men, did you know that testosterone levels in males starts to peak in the late 20s, from there the drop off in levels is gradual from around 30 years of age.
Testosterone Levels Can Change Throughout The Day
Testosterone levels are pushed and pulled by a multitude of things. In one study, simply catching a whiff of an ovulating womans scent can increase testosterone in heterosexual men, especially if it came from certain parts of the body . Studies have shown that merely talking to a woman can increase testosterone levels in heterosexual men .
But the trigger doesnt even need to be sex-centric. For example, skipping dinner has been shown to temporarily lower testosterone levels .
Despite the many factors that might impact hormone levels from one moment to the next, none of them should impact them long or strong enough to have a significant impact on your sex life. Its important to note that much of the research on this topic has been performed in heterosexual men and we hope to see more inclusive research in the future.
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What Is The Normal Level Of Testosterone In A Woman
Women produce testosterone and free testosterone just like men, but in smaller amounts . The natural levels of testosterone in a woman will vary with agepeak production is just after birth and at puberty . Thereafter, levels will slowly drop and by the time a woman is in her 40s, her free testosterone levels will have halved.
Heres an example of normal testosterone levels in females from birth to 19 years:
- 0-5 months: 20-80 ng/dL
- 17-18 years: 20-75 ng/dL
- 19 years: 8-60 ng/dL
Any sort of hormone imbalances, either high or low testosterone may cause health issues of varying significance.
Read on to learn more about testosterone levels by age.
In Contrast We Can Also Use These Options To Reduce Dht Levels:
- Reishi : This mushroom is known as red reishi, LungZhi, or simply Ganoderma fungus. Among its benefits, it inhibits the enzyme 5-alpha reductase, which converts testosterone into DHT. With a lower concentration of DHT, we can avoid many consequences of high testosterone levels, especially baldness, acne, and benign prostatic hypertrophy.
- Green tea: This is a popular drink with many cardiovascular benefits. It also has an anti-androgen effect by inhibiting the enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT. It is widely available and popular in beverages and supplement form.
- Saw palmetto : This herb is also a popular anti-androgen due to various phytosterols. It treats androgenic alopecia and moderate benign prostatic hyperplasia. The evidence is still conflicting, but many authors have found a very promising effect in patients with various conditions triggered by high DHT levels.
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Reishi To Lower Testosterone
Red reishi is a mushroom, or adaptogen, that helps the body adapt to stress. It has also been shown to have anti-androgenic effects, meaning it can help to lower testosterone naturally. A study looking at the anti-androgenic effects of 19 mushrooms found that reishi mushrooms had the strongest effect inhibiting testosterone. Red reishi has been shown to reduce an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase, which helps with the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone . High DHT levels are associated with acne and hair loss, and heightened testosterone
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Proven Ways To Increase Testosterone Levels Naturally
Testosterone is the main male sex hormone. People assigned female at birth also have small amounts of it.
Its a steroid hormone thats mostly produced in the testicles and ovaries. The adrenal glands produce small amounts too.
During puberty in people assigned male at birth, testosterone is one of the main drivers of physical changes like increased muscle, a deeper voice, and hair growth .
Having optimal levels is also important throughout adulthood.
In adult males, healthy levels are important for general health and just about everything else, including disease risk, body composition, and sexual function (
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Is There A Medication To Reduce Testosterone In Females
If all else fails, or your case is more severe, there are medications that can help to lower testosterone.
Birth control
The standard hormonal contraceptive pill is effective at regulating hormonal imbalances and regulating menstrual cycles.
Prescription Medications
There is a large selection of prescription medications that can be very effective at reducing total testosterone levels. Depending on the presentation and/or severity of the condition your doctor can advise you of the best course of treatment.
Common medications include the following:
These medications are commonly known as anti-androgens or steroidal anti-androgens, and can be used by men, women and those in gender transition.
Androgen Blockers
These drugs may reduce the symptoms of your high testosterone but they do not address the underlying cause of the issue.
Minimize Stress And Cortisol Levels
Research often highlights the dangers of long-term stress, which can elevate levels of the hormone cortisol .
Sudden elevations in cortisol can quickly reduce testosterone. These hormones often work in a seesaw-like manner: As one goes up, the other comes down .
Stress and high cortisol can also increase food intake, weight gain, and the storage of harmful body fat around your organs. In turn, these changes may negatively affect testosterone levels (
To maintain healthy levels of vitamin D, try to get regular exposure to sunlight or consider taking a vitamin D3 supplement as directed by a healthcare professional.
Summary
Some studies have found that low levels of vitamin D could be associated with decreased testosterone levels. However, more research is needed to determine whether supplementation may be beneficial.
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How To Decrease Testosterone: Methods Your Medical Provider May Try
- Birth control hormone-based birth control medications can be effective at regulating hormones that are out of sync.
- Androgen blockers while these drugs may reduce the symptoms of your high testosterone, they arent going to address the cause. For example, if you suffer from PCOS, an androgen blocker isnt going to cure this disease.
- Some steroids a few different steroids can help reduce testosterone levels
- Prescription medications a wide variety of prescription medications may be effective at reducing your testosterone levels.
Sexual Activity And Its Effect On T Levels
Even though the effects of sex and masturbation on testosterone are common topics among men, very little research has investigated their impact in controlled settings.
The effect of masturbation is even less researched than that of sexual intercourse. A small trial has reported that sexual abstinence for up to 3 weeks may slightly increase T levels, but masturbation did not affect the hormone.
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Magnesium To Lower Testosterone
Magnesium is another great supplement to lower testosterone naturally. Magnesium helps with so many cellular functions in the body such as DNA synthesis, energy production, maintaining membrane structure, and most importantly for this case, insulin sensitivity. It has been shown to help improve insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control, making magnesium extremely effective for PCOS management and to lower testosterone naturally.
Antiandrogens Vs Anabolic Steroids
Antiandrogens are the opposite of anabolic steroids. While the former is taken to lower the male sex hormone, the latter is used when the goal is to increase testosterone.
Both drugs are regulated in most countries and must be taken under prescription and medical authorization.
Misuse of both antiandrogens and anabolic steroids can wreak havoc on the body. Self-medicating with these types of medications can enhance their side effects.
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What Can I Expect If I Have Low Testosterone
Theres no one-time fix for low testosterone. However, consistent hormone replacement therapy helps improve sex drive, ease symptoms of depression and increase energy levels for many people assigned male at birth experiencing low testosterone. Treatment may also boost muscle mass and bone density.
The mortality of people AMAB with testosterone deficiency is significantly higher than among people AMAB with normal testosterone levels. But, it is unclear whether replacing testosterone to a normal level reduces that increased mortality. Treatment is largely focused on the treatment of symptoms, not the specific testosterone level.
For congenital hypogonadism in children assigned male at birth, testosterone replacement therapy often helps prevent problems related to delayed puberty.
Low Testosterone Can Cause Unwanted Health Consequences In Men The Effects Of Low Testosterone May Lead To:
- Erectile dysfunction
- Loss of muscle mass
- Having greater fat and less muscle can then potentially increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other health conditions
Note that average levels of testosterone decrease as men age. Starting around age 30, testosterone decreases about 1% per year, on average. This decline is part of the normal aging process, so some older men develop abnormally low testosterone levels.
The Everlywell at-home Testosterone Test can help men identify if their hormone levels are lower than whatâs typical for their age. If your testosterone levels are low, you can share your Everlywell results with your healthcare provider, and collaborate on a plan for a healthier lifestyle and/or medication that may help improve your testosterone levels.
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