Most men understand that they face fertility issues and the potential for erectile dysfunction as they age and testosterone production declines. However, it’s not as commonly known that low testosterone can also lead to bone and muscle mass loss, reduced insulin production, and a higher risk for both heart disease and cancer. For these reasons, it’s important to act when your doctor advises you that you have low testosterone. In many cases, you can follow a few tips to boost the production of this vital hormone naturally.
Natural Ways to Boost Your Testosterone
If you’re not ready to see a doctor about TRT (testosterone replacement therapy), there are a few things you can do to boost testosterone production naturally. These lifestyle changes may be sufficient to help your body replace a hormone deficiency without medical care.
Exercise and Physical Activity
Try increasing your participation in sports and exercise. Physical activity will increase your lean muscle mass by forcing your body to produce more testosterone. This means bulkier muscles will lead to higher production of the hormone. Resistance training offers the best results, but any exercise will help you increase your body’s testosterone levels.
Healthy diet
Change your diet to eliminate carbohydrates and increase healthy fats. More protein will also lead to better testosterone production. A primarily plant-based diet focusing on nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables will boost your hormone production. You can eat lean poultry and lean cuts of beef as well. Enjoy snacks that consist of seeds, nuts, and avocados. Other foods include lentils, beans, whole-grain rice, chickpeas, and eggs.
Sufficient Sleep
Seven to eight hours of deep sleep each night is essential. While you sleep, your body goes through a maintenance routine that includes increasing hormone production. Testosterone is one of the hormones that your body produces more abundantly as you sleep. To take full advantage of this process, follow a few steps to promote deep sleep:
- Invest in soft and comfortable bedding
- Avoid artificial light one hour before bedtime
- Reduce caffeine consumption
- Maintain a cool temperature in your bedroom
- Reduce ambient lighting and noise
Maintain a Healthy Weight
If you have low testosterone, take a look at your physique. Men who are overweight or obese typically suffer from low testosterone levels because fat cells convert testosterone to estrogen. During this process, there’s also a reduction of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). As a protein, SHBG is vital for delivering testosterone to the body. Fortunately, you can solve this problem and correct the hormone imbalance by changing your exercise routine and diet.
Lower Cortisol Levels
Cortisol is a stress hormone that interferes with the endocrine system’s ability to regulate hormone production. If you live with high-stress levels without taking steps to relax, this could explain your testosterone imbalance. Fortunately, you can do plenty of things to relieve stress and lower your cortisol levels. A healthy diet, exercise, and sufficient sleep all help relieve stress. In addition, practice yoga, listen to soothing music, or engage in a hobby that gives you peace. Some people find that aromatherapy helps with stress reduction.
Understand the Risks of Self-Medication
There are a number of reasons men might try to self-medicate for a testosterone deficiency. Whether out of pride or a desire to avoid a lengthy medical exam, some people might look for testosterone for sale on the open market. Here are a few reasons to see a healthcare professional for testosterone hormone replacement.
Hormonal Imbalances
You may not know how much replacement testosterone to administer. This can lead to too much of the hormone circulating in the body simultaneously. As a result of this imbalance, you might face an increased risk of kidney failure or liver disease.
More health issues created by too much testosterone include:
- Increased appetite and weight gain
- Insomnia
- Mood swings
- Heart disease
- Prostate problems
Dependency and Addiction
Many of the over-the-counter testosterone products on the market are misleading. Even though they might claim to be all-natural, that’s not always true. These products are rarely FDA-approved and may have addictive substances. This can lead to a cycle of addiction that would compel you to use more of the product despite your body’s need for testosterone. A doctor can regulate treatments and offer a prescription for injectable testosterone for sale. This will help you avoid unhealthy and addictive products.
Additional Health Risks
There are many more ways too much testosterone might affect you. For example, it’s common for hormone levels higher than normal to cause acne outbreaks. More importantly, an overabundance of the hormone promotes the rapid production of red blood cells. The flood of red blood cells thickens the blood and raises the risk that the blood will clot. This is why you might face a risk of a heart attack or stroke while taking unsupervised testosterone treatments.
Seek Professional Help for a Chronically Low Testosterone
Even after following tips to improve testosterone production naturally, you might find that you still suffer from the signs of low hormone production. These signs include fatigue, reduced libido, and frequent episodes of depression. In this case, a healthcare professional can help you. They can prescribe TRT to compensate for low hormone production. This will help you avoid the consequences of self-medicating as you restore your health under the guidance of a professional.
