How good can a man feel? Imagine waking up with abundant energy, thinking more clearly, recovering faster, and feeling strong and capable. That’s how a man can feel when he focuses on supporting healthy testosterone and thyroid hormone levels, and balancing cortisol.
Unfortunately, many men are suffering. Some sources say men’s testosterone levels in the U.S. have dropped by as much as 30% since 1987. Why isn’t this seen as a bigger issue? Men’s hormones are under attack.
One contributor to hormonal disruption is exposure to xenoestrogens. These are chemicals that mimic or interfere with the body’s estrogen and act as endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs). They can bind to hormone receptors or otherwise interfere with normal hormonal function. To improve your hormone health, you must first reduce your exposure to toxins like these.
Common sources of EDC exposure include bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, PCBs, and certain pesticides. They can be found in plastics, food packaging, and food. Phytoestrogens from plants like soy may also affect men’s hormonal balance. Personal care products such as soaps, fragrances, and lotions may also contain EDCs.
Low testosterone can drain your energy and contribute to persistent fatigue. Testosterone is central to male sexual function, and when it drops, both desire and performance drop. “Low T” can result in reduced muscle mass, increased body fat, and decreased bone density. Long-term health risks associated with low T may include heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and anemia. Low T can also contribute to depression. In young males, it may also present as delayed puberty or incomplete development.
Low thyroid hormone levels in men can cause slower metabolism, weight gain, cold intolerance, and dry skin. They may also contribute to sexual dysfunction. Hypothyroidism can affect testosterone production and disrupt the hormonal signaling chain from the brain to the testes.
Stress causes the adrenal glands to release cortisol. When the body remains under chronic stress, prolonged changes in cortisol and other stress hormones can affect sleep, blood sugar, body composition, sexual function, and testosterone production. Elevated cortisol levels are also associated with visceral fat storage around the midsection, increased blood sugar, and insulin resistance.
Your body has an incredible capacity to heal, adapt, and perform when given the right support. Optimizing men’s hormonal health requires a holistic approach focused on reducing exposure to and detoxing from EDCs, supporting healthy testosterone production and thyroid function, managing stress, and harmonizing cortisol production.
It’s simple, but not easy. Professional support can be a game changer. Working with a natural healthcare practitioner and receiving acupuncture can be an incredible experience. Once we discover what your body needs and which organ systems are compromised, we can address nutritional deficiencies and other underlying imbalances with targeted clinical nutrition, acupuncture, and other individualized natural therapies. It works amazingly well.
I’m 59. After experimenting with testosterone therapy, I turned to natural medicine. I now have more energy, feel stronger and healthier, and have more motivation than I have had in years!
Learn more about our approach to men’s health here.
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