Men: BEWARE! Men, you should be afraid – VERY afraid! The average American male is less “manly” in 2014 than the men of 30 or more years ago. The reason: Lower testosterone. Studies show that there has been a significant decline in the average testosterone levels of men over the past decades. There are a number of reasons why this has happened. The even scarier part is that with declining testosterone there is generally an increase in estrogen.
Authored by Canton Fitness Center Men: BEWARE! Men, you should be afraid – VERY afraid! The average American male is less “manly” in 2014 than the men of 30 or more years ago. The reason: Lower testosterone. Studies show that there has been a significant decline in the average testosterone levels of men over the past decades. There are a number of reasons why this has happened. The even scarier part is that with declining testosterone there is generally an increase in estrogen. There are serious health issues associated with this imbalance that should concern men and the women that love them. One of the biggest culprits of declining testosterone and increased estrogen is processed foods. With the over use of preservatives, colorings, artificial flavorings and other chemicals that are used to enhance taste and texture, the hormone balance has been negatively shifted towards estrogen dominance. Studies have linked many of these chemicals in processed foods to decreased testosterone, decreased cognitive function and slower problem solving rates. There is new research that also shows there might be a link with Alzheimer’s disease. Who needs this? Processed foods also contain high amounts of salt and refined sugars. Over-consumption of both are known to decrease testosterone. Too much salt is often linked to high blood pressure and heart disease. Interestingly, just last week, it was reported that researchers are now linking sugar with high blood pressure also. As far as testosterone is concerned, a high glycemic response in food which elevates blood sugar and insulin, decreases testosterone levels and increases fat stores. Related to this category is consumption of alcohol and soda. Not that a soda or beer once in a while is going to do you in, but regular and excessive use of either is a sure way to lower testosterone. In an attempt to combat this, drink more water – but watch out for water in BPA plastic bottles. Your best bet is filtered tap water or water purified with a reverse osmosis system to remove toxins. When we talk about toxins, they are everywhere. The world is full of chemicals and it is virtually impossible to avoid them. Because of this, many people have allergies, cancer, inflammatory illnesses and hormonal imbalances – including low testosterone in men. Chemicals are used in food production, food preparation, perfume, cosmetics, plastics, personal care items like shampoo and soap, cleaning supplies, and the list goes on and on. To lower your exposure, try to use as natural of products as possible. Look for things that are BPA-free and paraben-free. Unfortunately, toxins and chemicals from the outside aren’t the only problem. Chemicals like herbicides, pesticides and fertilizer contaminate food and water making them negatively impact testosterone levels. In addition, hormones added to animal feed are passed on through the animal and its products. Commercial meat, chicken, eggs and dairy – along with soy and genetically modified grains- all work to decrease testosterone, while increasing estrogen. Higher levels of estrogen increase the risk of stroke, cardiovascular disease and heart attack. There is also speculation that increased estrogen leads to higher rates of enlarged prostate and prostate cancer. Elevated estrogen levels show up as a spare tire around the waist, enlarged fat deposits on the upper back and chest, and low muscle tone in men. Another thing that causes testosterone levels to fall is the lack of sleep. Sleep deprivation is interpreted by the body as stress. When the body is stressed, it doesn’t recover well. While many people think sleep is optional, sleep is one of the most vital components for the body to repair and regenerate.
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