When it comes to the overall health of women as they age, the concept of estrogen supplementation is something that’s been talked about for generations. Even though medical professionals disagree over what approach should be taken, at least they are talking about it and making their recommendations to patients. But for some reason there seems to be a lack of candor and open discussion when it comes to the topic of aging men and testosterone.
To be sure, testosterone is just as important to male health as estrogen is to the female. So as the levels of testosterone in men fall with age, there are some natural consequences that will result. It becomes a ticking time bomb that could easily reduce quality of life if not dealt with. Some of the more common symptoms of reduced testosterone levels include:
- Loss of muscle mass and tone
- Reduced bone density
- Weight gain
- Loss of energy and stamina
- Reduced libido
- Abnormal mood swings
If testosterone levels in an individual fall to low enough levels, you can imagine what the effects would be. Picture the out-of-shape, crotchety old man who yells at teenagers to get off his lawn. That’s pretty much it. If you don’t want to be that guy there are some things you can do about it.
Change Your Diet
It’s well documented that Americans have some of the worst dietary practices in the world. Convenience and processed food have led us to rob our diets of many of the natural vitamins, minerals, and other ingredients or bodies need to function properly.
For men and testosterone levels, one of most important minerals we need is zinc. Why? Because, among its other benefits, zinc is responsible for keeping male estrogen at bay. When estrogen levels get too high in a man they override testosterone production fairly significantly. By maintaining a diet high in sync a man’s body is much more able to control estrogen. Good sources of zinc include:
- Red meat and poultry
- Beans
- Onions and garlic
- Most dairy products
Another thing to consider is to make sure your protein sources are low-fat and your carbs come from unprocessed foods like whole grain breads and pastas, sweet potatoes, and corn. Low-fat proteins and unprocessed carbs provide the building blocks for muscle tissue; increased muscle tissue promotes testosterone production. In addition, reduce the amount of saturated fat you eat and keep alcohol consumption in moderation. Above all, quit smoking if that’s something you’re doing right now.
Getting Regular Exercise
Medical science has proven that testosterone production increases as a result of exercise. As a matter of fact, the highest levels of testosterone in men are usually measured right at the beginning of intense exercise and again in the minutes following. It’s believed the body produces testosterone during exercise as a means of supporting the muscles doing the work. And since testosterone levels remain fairly high during the time the body is recovering from exercise it stands to reason overall testosterone production can be encouraged naturally through a regular exercise program.
Using exercise as a natural way to increase testosterone does have one catch: exercise needs to be geared toward intense, but short, bursts rather than long and endurance-oriented. Cardio-intense workouts for 20 to 40 minutes seem to be best for this purpose. Workouts should never exceed 60 minutes or they will have the opposite effect of robbing essential nutrients from the muscles and reducing testosterone levels as a result.
Daily Supplementation
Lastly, daily supplementation with a male enhancement formula can be combined with proper diet and exercise to increase testosterone levels to where they need to be. Should you decide to begin a daily supplement just be careful of a couple of things. First of all, there have been several pharmaceutical hormone products the medical community has been using on a prescription basis. Like all pharmaceuticals these products have unintended side effects you may not want to deal with. As a result, doctors are trending toward hormone replacement therapy only as a last resort.
Second, you should probably stay away from over-the-counter testosterone products that claim to be nothing but the hormone itself suspended in some other innocuous ingredients. These products also could have some uncomfortable side effects as well. You’re better off sticking with something like male enhancement pills which doesn’t actually contain testosterone; rather, its natural herbal ingredients simply encourage the body to produce more testosterone on its own.
The combination of a proper diet, regular exercise, and daily supplementation should be enough to return your hormone levels to what they were at your peak. You’ll enjoy great benefits like increased libido, more stamina, less weight gain, and so on. As a matter of fact, you may even begin to feel young again. That will certainly be good for you, your spouse, and your overall outlook on life. Click here for a full review of the best selling male enhancement dietary supplements.