Testosterone is a sex hormone which is produced by the testicles. It is also found in the ovaries in smaller amounts. It is a very important hormone because of its effect on the sexual and reproductive functions of men. This hormone is also responsible for muscle mass, maintaining bone density, hair growth, emotional health, red blood cell production and other such important elements of your life. Your prostate gland also needs testosterone to work at optimal condition.

Testosterone level in men decline naturally with age. As you advance in years, the level of testosterone starts reducing. Such ageing induced testosterone decline happens due to over activity of an enzyme known as 5-alpha reductase. When you have lower levels of testosterone, the possibility of prostate enlargement, androgenic alopecia and cancer increases.

Environmental toxins and testosterone

Widespread use of chemicals and exposure to them also cause testosterone decline. Such decline may happen at any age. That chemicals which are released into the environment from different activities are causing disruption to animal and human endocrine systems. These are known as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC). The problem is that such EDCs are present everywhere. They are available in human products such as personal hygiene products, contraceptive medicines, and chemical cleansers. There are also present in your food and drinking water. And so it becomes very difficult for you to keep away from them. Even if you try to avoid them, some way or other they come into contact with you. It's a very big threat to men because it interferes with testosterone production and as a result men may start showing more feminine characteristics.

EDC can start affecting men's health starting from infancy.

How to address testosterone decline

The following methods can help you by boosting your testosterone levels. These are more effective in case of age-related testosterone decline problems.

The hormone replacement method

If you have testosterone declining problem, there are several issues associated with it such as decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction, depression, memory issues and impaired concentration. Hormone replacement therapy can help you to boost your testosterone levels. There are several options including testosterone injections, testosterone therapy, growth hormone therapy, progesterone therapy, estrogen therapy are available. Before going for such therapy, you need to get a blood test done and find out if you really have low levels of testosterone in your body. There are synthetic and bioidentical testosterone products available for use in the hormone replacement therapy. You can use bioidentical hormones like DHEA. The natural production of DHEA reduces with age. The adrenal glands also produces the stress hormone cortisol and it competes directly with DHEA because both of them use pregnenolone, the same hormonal substrate. However, it is very important that you use such products with the supervision of a professional medical person. There are oral hormone supplementation, trans mucosal application, skin application and other types of applications available any can always decide what type of application is best for you. Your doctor can help you to find out the best treatment option for you. additional valuable infromation can also be found on TRT Medical website

Nutrients

Nutrients can also help you to prevent decline of testosterone levels. Zinc is such a nutrient that can improve testosterone production. That's why supplementation of zinc may be necessary to prevent testosterone level decline and to increase the existing low levels. Oysters, protein rich foods like meats and fish, beans, raw milk and raw cheese, fermented foods contain high amount of zinc.

Vitamin D can help you by increasing your testosterone level and increasing your libido. Vitamin D is easily available from three different sources, which are held the sun exposure, safe tanning beds and vitamin D3 supplementation.

References

1. TRT Medical website
2. Testosterone for the aging male
3. Understanding How Testosterone Affects Men