Five testosterone robbers that steal your virility
Last week, we gave you a primer on healthy testosterone production. By now, you know why balance is so vital… and why ample stores of this sex hormone are critical for more than just a robust libido.
But here’s something you may not know: Modern living doesn’t make maintaining healthy testosterone levels easy—and that’s especially true for aging men. So today, let’s talk about some of the most notorious hormone disruptors you likely encounter every day…
Five common testosterone crushers
As we shared a couple of weeks ago, chronic stress is one factor that can seriously sabotage your body’s testosterone levels. An overabundance of the fight-or-flight hormone cortisol will interfere with the release of key testosterone-building signals, putting you at risk for low testosterone over time.
And it’s important to remember that lack of deep, restorative sleep is its own form of chronic stress. So going without your 7 to 8 hours every night is going to take its toll on your testosterone levels, too.
Obesity is another common testosterone robber—especially excess belly fat. Body fat itself is estrogenic, which can interfere with optimal hormone balance. But that visceral abdominal fat that widens your waistline is also inflammatory, putting added stress on your cardiometabolic health.
Industrial chemicals—in personal care products and processed food—spell trouble for testosterone levels, too.
Non-organic produce and conventionally raised animal products serve up a whole host of estrogen-mimicking compounds that can throw off your body’s hormonal balance. Not to mention the chemicals you’ll find in plastics, like BPA and phthalates (and those are just two of the better known environmental toxins).
Another toxin with strong and documented estrogenic effects: alcohol. Now, that’s not to say that you can’t indulge in moderation. But in excess, booze will drive down testosterone levels, even in otherwise healthy men.
Targeted support for special cases
Finally, there’s one obvious cause of low testosterone, unique to men with prostate cancer: androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). This treatment aims to reduce levels of male hormones (androgens) in the body to slow down or shrink prostate cancer tumors.
Needless to say, the side effects can be brutal for the men who need it. That’s why XY Wellness offers a complete regimen specially designed by Dr. Geo to offer nutritional support for men with a high-grade condition who are undergoing ADT.
There are a number of other safe, natural strategies that men of any age or health status can use to head off testosterone imbalances—and keep energy, sex drive, and overall health surging. We’ll cover that topic next week, so as always, stay tuned…
Until next time,
The XY Wellness Team