When the average person hears the word testosterone, they think “libido in men.”
Well, yes that’s true. Testosterone is the numero uno male sex hormone. But there’s a lot more to it than that.
Plus it’s not limited to just men—we women have it in our bodies too, just at lower levels.
Let’s boldly go beyond manliness and see all that testosterone does for BOTH sexes, and how you can help boost your levels.
So much more than what’s happening between the sheets
A normal healthy adult male produces about 4-7 mg of testosterone a day. Women, on the other hand, make about 300 mcg in their ovaries and adrenal glands each day.
Testosterone is necessary for healthy desire, libido and satisfaction levels in both men and women. But it is also crucial for the following:
- Healthy pain response
- Red blood cell production
- Proper sleep habits
- Healthy bones
- Maintaining strong muscle mass
- High energy levels
So it’s easy to see how low testosterone can affect you in many ways over and above the bedroom.
Men have reported symptoms including changes in sleep patterns, emotional changes, lack of motivation or confidence, sluggishness, increased body fat, reduced muscle and increased susceptibility to fractures.
The most common symptoms in women are weight gain, fatigue, mood swings, depression, anxiety, difficulty concentrating and hair loss.
But it doesn’t end there—because it can have an impact on a man’s lifespan too!
A 2006 study done by the University of Washington and Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System found that study subjects who had shown low testosterone levels in their blood serum tended to have a higher mortality rate compared to men who had shown normal levels of testosterone.
Decreases are common
Decreases in testosterone levels are common as men and women age, but there are several factors around us that can accelerate that process including:
- Chronic stress
- Poor nutrition
- Dysbiosis in the gut
- Low vitamin D levels
- Lacking exercise
- Certain prescription drugs (including statins)
Support healthy testosterone levels!
Clearly, testosterone is vitally important to both men AND women, and it’s wise to make sure yours is where it should be. You can ask your doctor to do a test to see where you stand.
In addition, here are strategies you can use to help support healthy testosterone levels:
Reduce stress. Chronic stress is harmful to your health in countless ways, and you can add disrupting your hormone levels onto that list. When your body is under stress, your resources of pregnenolone (your body’s “molding clay” for all hormones) get used up to make stress hormones—leaving none available for any other hormones!
Support a healthy gut microbiome. Dysbiosis occurs when unhealthy bacteria in your gut overcome your friendly intestinal flora. The best ways to support a healthier gut microbiome are to concentrate on fiber-rich fresh vegetables; eat probiotic foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt, pickles, miso and kefir; and supplement with a full-spectrum, top-quality product like Super Shield Multi-strain probiotic formula.
Get sweating. Studies have shown that both strength training (weights) and interval training (boosts of aerobic activity) helped increase serum testosterone levels.
Get enough vitamin D. One of the most important nutrients that can help boost testosterone levels is vitamin D3. Support your healthy vitamin D3 level by getting 20 minutes of unprotected sun exposure on as many days as you can, and supplementing with an outstanding formula like Optimum DK Formula with FruiteX-B.
Look beyond statins. If you are on statins, talk to your doctor about alternatives. For example, fish oil formulas like VitalMega-3 have been shown to safely help lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure too!
To your health,
Sherry Brescia
