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Decoding Low Testosterone: A Hidden Challenge for Men and Women
It's staggering how often I encounter low testosterone in both men and women while conducting hormone testing. Ladies, you need to be just as vigilant about this issue as men, because the effects of low testosterone don't discriminate between genders!
Testosterone, a steroid hormone, is predominantly produced in men's testes, women's ovaries, and in smaller quantities, the adrenal glands of both sexes. The level of free testosterone in your body is crucial, as is understanding how your body metabolizes androgenic hormones.
The more androgenic metabolites, often linked with obesity and insulin resistance, are typically produced via the alpha pathway. These conditions affect both men and women, and in women, it's also associated with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and unwanted hair growth.
So, what are the signs of low testosterone?
- Low libido (decreased sex drive)
- Impaired sexual function
- Decreased muscle mass and strength
- Aches and pains
- Wrinkled skin
- Dry thinning hair/skin
- Hot flashes
- Incontinence
- Depression
- Worry, anxiety, fear
- Lack of drive (unmotivated)
- Loss of self-confidence/low self-esteem
- Difficulty making decisions
- Poor concentration and memory
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
Even those who are diligent with their strength training, eating enough protein, and managing stress may still struggle to gain muscle and lose weight. This could be a clear sign that low testosterone is thwarting your efforts.
The causes of low testosterone can be wide-ranging.
- Chronic stress - Whether it’s physical, emotional, or dietary stress putting the body in fight, flight, or freeze mode, it’s only thinking about survival NOT about reproduction. Making reproductive hormones or losing weight is NOT a priority for the body when it is under stress. Cortisol (stress hormone) and testosterone are inversely proportional. That means that as cortisol levels go up, testosterone levels go down.
- Nutrient deficiencies - Deficiencies in the following nutrients have been associated with low testosterone levels: zinc, magnesium, vitamin D, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin A, and carnitine. When nutrients are deficient, we always need to ask - WHY are they deficient? Is the person eating a poor diet that lacks nutrient-dense food? Does the person have low levels of HCL or digestive enzymes...so they are unable to break down and assimilate the food they are eating? Are there pathogenic organisms in the GI tract that are “stealing” those nutrients?
- Poor diet and lifestyle habits - The consumption of refined sugar, trans fat, soy, and alcohol have all been linked to low testosterone. Not consuming sufficient fat or protein or being able to break it down and use it can also cause low testosterone.
- Overexposure to estrogen in the diet & environment - Xenoestrogens (man-made chemicals that exhibit estrogen-like activity in the body) inhibit the production of testosterone. These endocrine-disrupting chemicals can be found in pesticides, plastics, and personal care products. Regular consumption of foods high in phytoestrogens (plant-based estrogens, such as those found in soy) can also be problematic.
- Obesity - leads to low testosterone levels because the more fat cells an individual has, the more testosterone is converted to estrogen via a process called aromatization. This takes place mainly in fat cells. There is an inverse relationship between blood sugar levels and testosterone, if there is blood sugar dysregulation (high blood sugar, high A1C), testosterone is more likely to be low.
- Oxidative stress - in men can result in low testosterone levels. Causes of oxidative stress include poor diet (hydrogenated fats, refined sugar, artificial colors and preservatives), cigarette smoke, alcohol, chlorinated tap water, radiation exposure, EMFs (cell phones, power lines, etc), infections (parasites, viruses, bacteria, fungi), prescription medications, environmental chemicals (pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, cleaning supplies, personal care products, plastics, heavy metals (mercury, lead, cadmium, over-exercising, and emotional stress.
- Certain medications - will lower testosterone levels. Such medications include corticosteroids, opiate-based painkillers, statins, some beta-blockers, SSRI’s, and birth control pills. If a woman has used or is using birth control pills, decreased testosterone can occur.
The first step in managing low testosterone is getting your testosterone levels tested to understand how your body is metabolizing this hormone. Click here to learn about the most comprehensive hormone test available.
Unless levels are extremely low, it's best to start addressing the issue by improving your diet and lifestyle, fixing any HPA (hypothalamic pituitary adrenal) Axis dysfunction, and considering supplementation and bioidentical hormones, if appropriate.
Remember, understanding the effects of low testosterone is the first step to effective management.
If you'd like my help, CLICK HERE.
In Health & Happiness,
Janell Yule
Customize your program
Unlock the secret to looking, feeling, and performing your best with this easy hormone test that you can do from home...
Your hormones are the KEY to unlocking that secret!
The data from your hormone test will provide the puzzle pieces to the picture of your success…
With that information, we can truly customize a protocol for you around diet, rest, exercise, supplements, and stress reduction...
Understanding and applying this information will support you in having more energy, better sleep, increased weight loss (specifically FAT loss), a better sex drive, improved mood, and help you to minimize/avoid hormonal symptoms like headaches & hot flashes.
NOTE: This is a comprehensive hormone test that your doctor cannot perform. It's only available through certified specialists.
Hi, We're Justin & Janell Yule
Co-Founders of The Transformation Life
It is our mission to educate, motivate, and inspire you to become the BEST version of YOU!
We hope you enjoy our posts and find great value in them as you progress along your health & fitness journey...
HAVE FAITH & TAKE ACTION!
Hi, We're Justin & Janell Yule
Co-Founders of The Transformation Life
It is our mission to educate, motivate, and inspire you to become the BEST version of YOU!
We hope you enjoy our posts and find great value in them as you progress along your health & fitness journey...
HAVE FAITH & TAKE ACTION!
Decoding Low Testosterone: A Hidden Challenge for Men and Women
Wednesday, June 14, 2023
It's staggering how often I encounter low testosterone in both men and women while conducting hormone testing. Ladies, you need to be just as vigilant about this issue as men, because the effects of low testosterone don't discriminate between genders!
Testosterone, a steroid hormone, is predominantly produced in men's testes, women's ovaries, and in smaller quantities, the adrenal glands of both sexes. The level of free testosterone in your body is crucial, as is understanding how your body metabolizes androgenic hormones.
The more androgenic metabolites, often linked with obesity and insulin resistance, are typically produced via the alpha pathway. These conditions affect both men and women, and in women, it's also associated with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and unwanted hair growth.
So, what are the signs of low testosterone?
- Low libido (decreased sex drive)
- Impaired sexual function
- Decreased muscle mass and strength
- Aches and pains
- Wrinkled skin
- Dry thinning hair/skin
- Hot flashes
- Incontinence
- Depression
- Worry, anxiety, fear
- Lack of drive (unmotivated)
- Loss of self-confidence/low self-esteem
- Difficulty making decisions
- Poor concentration and memory
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
Even those who are diligent with their strength training, eating enough protein, and managing stress may still struggle to gain muscle and lose weight. This could be a clear sign that low testosterone is thwarting your efforts.
The causes of low testosterone can be wide-ranging.
- Chronic stress - Whether it’s physical, emotional, or dietary stress putting the body in fight, flight, or freeze mode, it’s only thinking about survival NOT about reproduction. Making reproductive hormones or losing weight is NOT a priority for the body when it is under stress. Cortisol (stress hormone) and testosterone are inversely proportional. That means that as cortisol levels go up, testosterone levels go down.
- Nutrient deficiencies - Deficiencies in the following nutrients have been associated with low testosterone levels: zinc, magnesium, vitamin D, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin A, and carnitine. When nutrients are deficient, we always need to ask - WHY are they deficient? Is the person eating a poor diet that lacks nutrient-dense food? Does the person have low levels of HCL or digestive enzymes...so they are unable to break down and assimilate the food they are eating? Are there pathogenic organisms in the GI tract that are “stealing” those nutrients?
- Poor diet and lifestyle habits - The consumption of refined sugar, trans fat, soy, and alcohol have all been linked to low testosterone. Not consuming sufficient fat or protein or being able to break it down and use it can also cause low testosterone.
- Overexposure to estrogen in the diet & environment - Xenoestrogens (man-made chemicals that exhibit estrogen-like activity in the body) inhibit the production of testosterone. These endocrine-disrupting chemicals can be found in pesticides, plastics, and personal care products. Regular consumption of foods high in phytoestrogens (plant-based estrogens, such as those found in soy) can also be problematic.
- Obesity - leads to low testosterone levels because the more fat cells an individual has, the more testosterone is converted to estrogen via a process called aromatization. This takes place mainly in fat cells. There is an inverse relationship between blood sugar levels and testosterone, if there is blood sugar dysregulation (high blood sugar, high A1C), testosterone is more likely to be low.
- Oxidative stress - in men can result in low testosterone levels. Causes of oxidative stress include poor diet (hydrogenated fats, refined sugar, artificial colors and preservatives), cigarette smoke, alcohol, chlorinated tap water, radiation exposure, EMFs (cell phones, power lines, etc), infections (parasites, viruses, bacteria, fungi), prescription medications, environmental chemicals (pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, cleaning supplies, personal care products, plastics, heavy metals (mercury, lead, cadmium, over-exercising, and emotional stress.
- Certain medications - will lower testosterone levels. Such medications include corticosteroids, opiate-based painkillers, statins, some beta-blockers, SSRI’s, and birth control pills. If a woman has used or is using birth control pills, decreased testosterone can occur.
The first step in managing low testosterone is getting your testosterone levels tested to understand how your body is metabolizing this hormone. Click here to learn about the most comprehensive hormone test available.
Unless levels are extremely low, it's best to start addressing the issue by improving your diet and lifestyle, fixing any HPA (hypothalamic pituitary adrenal) Axis dysfunction, and considering supplementation and bioidentical hormones, if appropriate.
Remember, understanding the effects of low testosterone is the first step to effective management.
If you'd like my help, CLICK HERE.
In Health & Happiness,
Janell Yule
Customize your program
Unlock the secret to looking, feeling, and performing your best with this easy hormone test that you can do from home...
Your hormones are the KEY to unlocking that secret!
The data from your hormone test will provide the puzzle pieces to the picture of your success…
With that information, we can truly customize a protocol for you around diet, rest, exercise, supplements, and stress reduction...
Understanding and applying this information will support you in having more energy, better sleep, increased weight loss (specifically FAT loss), a better sex drive, improved mood, and help you to minimize/avoid hormonal symptoms like headaches & hot flashes.
NOTE: This is a comprehensive hormone test that your doctor cannot perform. It's only available through certified specialists.
