The Cause of Low Testosterone Levels .
What is in your shower gel, Food, Water and Medication that contributes to low T levels?
Listen up men you may be destroying your testosterone! Read on to see if this sounds like your health situation.
#1 - Excess Body Fat
If you've got a thick layer of fat around your mid section, your testosterone is under direct attack.
The attack comes from an enzyme called aromatase, it is like some entity that lives and breathes inside your fat tissues.
So imagine the more body fat you have, the more of this you're going to have wreaking havoc on your internal system.
The definition of Aromatase is: An enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of androgens to estrogens. So this enzyme converts Testosterone into Estrogen for men. Not good!
You can see this estrogen at work in overweight men everywhere… as feminine fat distribution takes over a mans body…right down to man boobs, an boobs should really ONLY be found on a woman.
Fortunately, you don't need a powerful drug, surgery, or a degree in rocket science to figure this one out.
You have to lose the weight fast! That aromatase that's been making you cry like a little girl watching sponge bob, will dissolve from your body and you will feel like a real man again.
#2 - Alcohol
Alcohol Lowers Your Sex Hormones.
When you consume alcohol, do you normally...
Suffer from alcohol depression the following day?
Experience hangover symptoms once the party's over?
If you can say yes to either question, I can guarantee you, you're failing in the testosterone production department.
Bex what do you mean?
Research has proven that excessive alcohol consumption takes out your testosterone with a brutal one two punch.
Attack 1 one goes after the testosterone already in your system, breaking it down and removing it from your blood stream.
This happens because of an agent called testosterone reductase, an enzyme that increases dramatically after an alcohol binge. How much you think is too much vs your sex hormones, brain tissue or liver is totally different. Alcohol is a mild poison so keep that in mind as you understand further how it is destroying your manly man system.
This enzyme works in harmony with your liver, and it's primary job is to break down testosterone, and eliminate it from the body.
When you experience hangover symptoms, or suffer from alcohol depression, you can count on the fact that testosterone reductase is flying high in your system.
And high levels of reductase mean one thing, and one thing only...your testosterone levels are going down fast!
Alcohol is not the way out of handling life's barriers and problems and it should be understood as a toxic effect against you as a man internally.
Next...
Attack 2 goes after your internal testosterone production rate.
Here's how this destructive process begins...
When you drink, alcohol is rapidly converted to acetaldehyde then to acetate by your body.
The acetate is then acted on by enzymes and is eventually metabolized into carbon dioxide and water, before it is eliminated from your system.
Now here's the key point to remember...
Consume very small amounts of alcohol, and your liver will take care of this entire process, with out major internal system damage.
Now is this the way you want your liver to function? Stressed and struggling to break down a mild poison? Or do you choose to talk it out with a trusted friend or hit the gym, or battle plan it out logically so you can confront your own self rather than break down your holy temple. Remember you have a choice in everything you do in each and every moment.
Now the opposite side of the scale is: if you go overboard and drink too much, the enzyme stores in your liver will eventually dry up.
At this point, your body is going to need to find more enzymes, and the only place they can be found is inside your walnuts! See the problems stacking up here?
Now once your boys are distracted with this toxicity alcohol problem, testosterone production inside your testes shuts down quickly. Just like any other organ trying to carry a toxic load. (See other blog on toxic ingredients in your food that may be slowly killing you ).
Remember back to the toxic load and building muscle--the body will not function to lay down mass or any other creating of cellular life if it is burdened by toxic load. You must choose the path of purity in order to function at optimum capacity as a man in todays society. Big Pharma has laced your world with its insidious synthetic estrogens. They are in your food, water and even your shower gel and laundry detergent.
This happens because the enzymes that are used to convert alcohol to acetaldehyde, are the exact same enzymes your testicles use to produce testosterone.
Combine this with the fact that acetaldehyde is even more toxic to the Leydig cells in your testicles than alcohol is...and it becomes very clear why most male alcoholics develop severe testicular atrophy.
Alcohol consumption is only a distraction from your reality. You must face yourself in order to conqueror yourself. You are a power in this world. As a male you hold considerable responsibility to pass on your knowledge and wisdom to the next generation of men. You cannot let society and its toxic agenda strip you of what it is to be a man!
So you've taken the first 2 attacks to your manhood. Are ready to rise up and take your axe into battle? Good, but we're not quite done.
Here's what comes next...
Your body reacts to this assault by increasing production of the stress hormone, cortisol.
And once cortisol levels spike, a negative feedback mechanism kicks in causing down-regulation of genes which signal the body to manufacture testosterone.
This slows down your T production greatly. That production will remain suppressed as long as your cortisol levels are high.
So now what?
Let's get back to the testicles, because if anything can save you now, it's those boys you rely on so much.
Researchers have studied the effects of alcohol and testicular function, and have found that spermatogenesis, or sperm production is negatively impacted as well. Go figure right?
In clinical trials, men given alcohol chronically show advanced injury to the site of sperm production within the testis.
Researchers also found that alcohol has a negative impact on testicular dehydrogenase levels.
Dehydrogenase is an agent that converts vitamin A in your testes, so it can be used to manufacture sperm.
When this dehydrogenase is used to metabolize alcohol instead, spermatogenesis slows down, and ejaculation volume drops as a result. It goes back to toxic load.
One study performed on rats found that a diet consisting of 5% ethanol reduced testicular weight by a whopping fifty percent.
OMG WHAAAAAAAT?
Acetaldehyde metabolism in the testicles also reduces production of glutathione.
Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant which protects your testicular tissues and membranes from the destructive process know as lipid peroxidation.
When your glutathione levels drop after a binge, lipid peroxidation kicks into overdrive, leading to further testicular injury and decreased testosterone production in your body.
Not looking so good right? Not to mention the massive estrogen spikes, the erectile dysfunction, gynecomastia ( man boobs) risk, and more, but I think we all get the point by now.
Don't lose face, now to something more light hearted.
Solutions...
If you decide to drink you have to understand 1. it is a mild poison and 2 it will have effects of the above on your body, so you need to limit it so you do not have the above occur.
Find your limit You take 1 drink next day feel completely fine, now effects at all, no foggy head, no craving for sweets at 3pm etc. You take 2 drinks and notice a change the next day on waking then you know 1 is your safe limit.
2. You need to eat clean. Detox when you require it, get good rest 10:30pm is optimal time to be in sleeping and most importantly-- get regular exercise. For the male carbon burning machine this is extremely important you release from the mind into the physically universe, your day, stresses, issues, thoughts. Do this through weight lifting, cross fit or what ever physically demanding sport you so choose.
#3 Foods and other products high in Estrogen.
This is such a evil plot by Big Pharma and Big Food to estrogenize the populations food. You must understand this is happening so as to avoid the pit fall.
Examples of the foods containing Xenoestrogens. Definition: Xenoestrogens are foreign estrogens. They are estrogen mimickers that effect the estrogen in our bodies and can alter hormone activity. Growing evidence implicates xenoestrogens in a wide range of human and wildlife health problems. There are some 70,000 registered chemicals having hormonal effects, in addition to being toxic and carcinogenic. The synergistic effects of exposure are well documented, but largely unknown. These substances can increase the estrogen load in the body over time and are difficult to detoxify through the liver. It is now being discovered that these synthetic estrogens are making their way into our bodies and pretending to be our biological estrogen. They are present in our soil, water, air, food supply, personal care and household products.
· Organ chlorines are one of the largest sources. They are used in pesticides, dry cleaning, bleaching of feminine-hygiene products and the manufacture of plastics.
· Bisphenol-A, a breakdown of polycarbonate, is used in many plastic bottles. It’s found in the lining of many food cans and juice containers.
· Avoid heated plastics, plastic lined items, and Styrofoam (microwave, oven, sun), as the polycarbonate escapes.
· Avoid heated plastics, plastic lined items, and Styrofoam (microwave, oven, sun), as the polycarbonate escapes
· Choose organic produce. Always go organic with thin skinned fruits and vegetables.
· Buy hormone-free animal products (eggs, poultry, meats, dairy). To avoid xenoestrogen injections, supplements, bovine growth hormone.
· A common food preservative in processed foods (BHS: butylated hydroxyanisole).
· Avoid non-organic coffee and tea. They are highly sprayed with pesticides.
· Use Kangen water machine or SpringAqua water system.
· Use reverse-osmosis filter water or purchase your own filter (drinking and bathing).
· Most skin lotions, creams, soaps, shampoo, cosmetics use parabens and phenoxyethanol as a preservative. Substances are 100% absorbed into the body. Go natural or organic.
· Phthalates are commonly found in baby lotions and powders.
· Sunscreen can contain benzophenone-3, homosalate, 4-methyl-benzylidene camphor, octalmethoxycinnamate, octal-dimethyl-PABA. Go organic.
· Many perfumes, deodorizers, air fresheners have artificial scents and contain phthalates.
· Most perfumes are petrochemically based.
· Nail polish and removers contain harsh chemicals.
· The birth control pill contains high concentration of synthetic estrogen. Choose a condom or diaphragm gels without surfactants. Use a condom without spermicidal.
· Hormone replacement therapy (contains synthetic estrogens) - opt for paraben-free progesterone cream.
· Research ingredients in your pharmaceuticals.
· Dryer sheets, fabric softeners and detergents put petrochemicals right on your skin. Use laundry detergent with less chemicals or use white vinegar and baking soda.
· Be aware of noxious gas that comes from copiers and printers, carpets, fiberboards, new carpets.
· Do not inhale and protect your skin from: electrical oils, lubricants, adhesive paints, lacquers, solvents, oils, paints, fuel, industrial wastes, packing materials, harsh cleaning products, fertilizers.
· Become educated on: pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, parathion, plant and fungal estrogens, industrial chemicals (cadmium, lead, mercury), Primpro, DES, Premarin-cemeteries, Tagamet, Marijuana, insecticides (Dieldrin, DDT, Endosulfan, Heptachlor, Lindane/hexachlorocychohexan, methoxychlor), Erythrosine, FD&C Red No 3, Nonylphenol, Polychlorinated biphenyls, Phenosulfothizine, Phthalates, DEHP.
· Agricultural Chemicals such as: DDT, Atrazine, Endosulfan, and Methoxychlor
· Eat organic foods as often as possible
Agricultural Chemicals such as: DDT, Atrazine, Endosulfan, and Methoxychlor
· Use natural pest control in your home and garden.
· Avoid synthetic flea shampoos, flea collars, and flea pesticides for your pets and home
· If you must use synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, follow directions exactly.
· Campaign against pesticide use in schools and workplaces. Children are especially susceptible to the effects of xenoestrogens. Meat, dairy, and eggs: growth hormones fed to cattle, pigs, poultry, and other livestock
· Choose 100% organic grass fed and finished pasture raised meat, eggs, and dairy products.
· Reduce your consumption of animal products in general, especially uncultured dairy products.
Cosmetics and Toiletries Xenoestrogens absorbed by the skin are ten times more potent than those taken orally, because they travel directly to the tissues instead of passing through the liver. Choose natural plant-based products. Read the ingredients carefully! Some things to avoid are: Nail polish and sunscreen are more common sources of xenoestrogens, including phthalates , benzophenone-3, homosalate, 4-methyl-benzylidene camphor (4-MBC), octyl-methoxycinnamate and octyl-dimethyl-PABA. Other products, including body lotions, toothpastes, soaps, gels, hairsprays, and more may contain xenoestrogens in the form of parabens, phenoxyethanol, phthalates, and other compounds.
Plastics
Plastics, especially soft plastics, contain many compounds that are considered to be xenoestrogens. Phthalates, a type of plasticizer used to make plastics soft and flexible, are an especially common offender. These compounds can leach out or volatize over time or in response to heat or other stimuli. Phthalates are used in products from food storage containers and packaging to children's toys to certain clothing and footwear items to toiletries to pesticides to IV bags to baby bottles... the list goes on and on.
How To Avoid Them
· Use cling wrap that does not contain DEHA and replace cling wrap on meats and other foods as soon as you get home from the store. Wrapping in tin foil or storing food in ceramic or glass containers may be another option.
· Never heat food with plastic in the microwave, even if it claims to be microwave safe. Use glass or ceramics instead and cover with a paper towel if needed.
· Avoid Teflon and other non-stick cookware. Cast iron is an inexpensive, durable, and healthful alternative.
· Buy bottled water and other drinks in glass bottles instead of plastic.
· Minimize consumption of foods from tin cans. In the USA, over 85% of tin cans are lined with bisphenol-A (BPA) to reduce the metallic taste that can be present in canned foods. Unfortunately, BPA is a known xenoestrogen that leaches when exposed to heat, such as the sterilization process some cans undergo, or acid. BPA is also present in many plastics baby bottles, food storage containers, and other products.
· Don't drink hot liquid or eat hot food from Styrofoam cups or containers.
· Choose safer plastics if you need to eat or drink from them!
Household Cleaners Many household cleaners contain xenoestrogens. Particularly dangerous are laundry detergents and fabric softeners, because residues on clothing, towels, and other items are worn against the skin. 3 Air fresheners and insect repellents are also major sources of xenoestrogens.
How to Avoid Them:
· Use old-fashioned household cleaners like baking soda, Borax, and vinegar whenever possible.
· Avoid fabric softeners and dryer sheets.
· Use a simple laundry detergent with few chemicals.
#4 - Phthalates
HOW PHTHALATES DESTROY YOUR TESTICLES!
We talk about testicles quite often on this website, but not the Leydig cells that reside inside your testes.
Remember, 95 percent of the Testosterone in your body is produced by those testes of yours, and it's the Leydig cells that do all the work.
These cells manufacture most of your circulating DHEA and androstenedione as well.
In essence, they create the steroid hormones in your body that give you your masculine traits.
Your deep voice, beard, muscles, motivation, and drive to pursue, and have sex with your wife.
This explains why it's so critically important that Leydig cell function remain high throughout your life. But in actuality, Leydig cell function is declining in males living in industrialized countries throughout the world.
From 9 day old boys all the way up to 90 year old men.
Scientists are beginning to discover where this assault is coming from, and one of the main culprits are the phthalates swimming around in your environment.
That toxic chemical agent used to manufacture plastics and other items...that binds to hormone receptor sites, blunts Leydig cell function, and shuts down steroid synthesis, causing numerous reproductive problems in men, such as...
Infertility
Reduced Sperm Count
Estrogen Imbalance
Undescended Testicles
Feminine Fat Accumulation
Suppressed Androgen Production
The first clue that something was amiss occurred when scientists discovered male fish with immature eggs growing inside their testicles.
Next came the stunted genitals in male alligators in Florida, and the deformed frogs showing up all across the continent.
Pretty soon, scientists began connecting the dots, and figured out that this chemical was also responsible for the increase in genital deformities in newborn HUMAN males.
Reduced sperm production, and declining fertility in the adult population was soon added to the list, followed by a whole host of other reproductive problems.
Men appear to be hit by this chemical much harder than women do, as it's the masculine hormones that are affected most.
This explains in part why many a 55 year old man will have higher estrogen levels than his wife.
When you sit back and take in all these facts, it's no big surprise that so many men are dealing with hormonal and reproductive issues...low sex drive, shrinking testicles, erection problems, declining muscle, low motivation, fat gain, and more.
In essence, we're being chemically castrated...transformed, just like those fish, into something that falls somewhere between male and female.
For example, a very high percentage of middle aged men have developed feminine breast tissue...and the corresponding shrunken testicles that go along with them, to confirm that this transformation is taking place.
As a matter of fact, man boobs in the 50 + crowd are so common today, we hardly even notice them anymore.
But it's not just the boobs you need to be worried about.
A 1993 study done in the United Kingdom found that...
""Phthalate esters exerted a DIRECT EFFECT on Leydig cell structure and function as determined by testosterone output." (emphasis mine)
According to another study out of Rockefeller University...
"Leydig cells have been classified as one of the main targets for phthalate ester toxicity, as both insulin-like growth factor and testosterone are suppressed after phthalate exposure".
Yup, you read that right...this stuff goes DIRECTLY after the Leydig cells in your testicles!
Scientist have even given a name to males exposed to excessive phthalates early in life.
It's called "Phthalate Syndrome", and is characterized by small penis size, undescended testicles, and abnormal AGD readings.
ADG stands for anogenital distance, which is a measurement of the distance from the anus to the genitals.
Men typically measure about twice the distance women do, making ADG a good measurement of masculinity.
In other words, a large ADG reading denotes a masculine profile, while a shorter reading equates to a more feminine profile.
Shanna Swan, a scientist out of Mount Sinai Medical Center, took this information and started testing.
What she found was, that pregnant women with high levels of phthalates in their urine gave birth to boys with abnormally short AGDs and ALTERED GENITAL DEVELOPMENT!
What else do you need know?
How do we avoid this chemical?
Here's are some suggestions...
Avoid plastic containers whenever possible, and use glass, wood, and metal instead.
If you must use plastic, select containers with the recycling codes 1, 2 or 5.
Avoid plastics with the recycling codes 3 or 7, as they are likely to contain phthalates.
Limit use of conventionally produced cosmetics and personal care items, and switch to natural products, manufactured with coco butter, coconut oil, and shea butter.
Use natural, "Phthalate Free" cleaning products in your home as well.
There's a whole cottage industry built around manufacturing phthalate free cosmetics and cleaning supplies, so these items are easy to find.
Next...
When you purchase a product containing ANY chemicals, look at the ingredient list and watch out for the following...
1. DBP (di-n-butyl phthalate)
This deritive can be found in nail polish, antiperspirant, perfume and cologne, lotion, shampoos, and conditioner, and other personal care items.
2. DMP (dimethyl phthalate)
This can found in most insect repellents and several different types of plastic.
3. DEHP (di-(2-ethylhexyl)
Most often used in the manufacture of PVC plastics.
4. BzBP (benzylbutyl phthalate)
Used in auto cleaning products, cosmetics, and laminate flooring.
Look for phthalates in the following items as well...
Adhesives and sealants
Hair sprays and styling gels
Air Fresheners and furniture polish
Fragrance (quite often contains phthalates)
Vinyl wallpaper and vinyl shower curtains
Any and all soft plastic and vinyl products.
Also...
If a plastic is manufactured outside of the U.S, especially in a 3rd world country, ASSUME it's loaded with phthalates.
Finally...
I've just scratched the surface here, as there are literally thousands of other chemicals that can wreak havoc on your hormonal system...
From Bisphenol A, to the herbicides and pesticides sprayed onto your fruits and vegetables.
I'll be digging much deeper into this subject in the future, but for now...remember this!
From here on out, be very mindful of the chemicals you come into contact with on a daily basis.
Switch to organic produce, use chemical free personal care products, avoid excessive exposure to diesel fumes, fragrance, or anything else that emits a strong chemical odor.
You'll never avoid all chemicals entirely, but you can dramatically reduce your exposure, if you start paying attention.
Start today, and your testicles will reward you with enhanced Leydig cell function, increased sperm output, and elevated testosterone production.
#4 - Antidepressants- Not handling your problems and using pills as a band-aid.
One of the most prominent of these is Low T!
Antidepressants, diabetes drugs, beta blockers, and prostate meds are the most obvious culprits, but it certainly doesn't stop there.
Remember…before FDA approval, all medications were tested for negative side effects INDIVIDUALLY, not in combination with a fist full of other drugs. So imagine when you pair them?
When any man randomly swamps his system with several different medications all at once, no one knows for certain what's going to happen. Here's a couple example:
How about No Testosterone and No Erections for starters?
I've never met a men yet who is taking 2 or more medications, who is NOT suffering from severely suppressed testosterone, stone cold erectile dysfunction, or a demasculinizing combination of both.
If that number gets to 3 or more medications, it's game over….and by game over I mean your just an empty meat sack with no sex drive, no erections, no motivation, no personality, no humor, no NOTHING! Your relation will crumble under there conditions!
We're talking a sickly weak ZOMBIE creature …a life literally not worth living for any man.
Does this sounds familiar?
If yes, here's some advice that will aid your healing journey.
Find a Holistic MD who will work with you to get off ALL drugs and medications, as