TESTOSTERONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY TO TREAT LOW T.
Testosterone levels decrease on average one percent a year in men after age 30. But there is a large variation in the rate of decrease as well as when it occurs. The situation is nothing like menopause in women whose levels drop over a short period of time.
Testosterone is important for muscle mass and to prevent the build up of fat. It affects the brain, not just in producing libido (sex drive) but also T is a factor in mental perception. It is important in maintaining bone density and low T can produce osteoporosis (low calcium in bones increasing the risk of fracture). The blood vessels in the penis are somewhat testosterone dependent, just like the blood vessels around the urethra in women are dependent on estrogen.
The first step in treating erectile dysfunction ED is to check testosterone levels and high cholesterol can be a gauge that testosterone levels are low.
The Testosterone Cycle
Testosterone in high doses can spike blood levels resulting in testosterone being converted into estrogen This not only causes loss of energy, weight gain, fatigue and difficulty adding lean muscle to your body, but it also leads to what is called estrogen dominance, which make you more vulnerable to a whole host of other problems including cancer.
What speeds up the conversion process for both men and women is the activation of an enzyme called aromatase. Too much of this enzyme and you convert more of your testosterone into estrogen for both men and women.
By using daily small amounts of testosterone gel (Androforte) it is very rare to see this conversion to DHT and this is the ultimate goal in TRT.
Propecia (finasteride 1 mg) prevents the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT causes balding and also causes prostate enlargement.
Arimidex is also an aromatase inhibitor as is Aromasin and Femara; however Tamoxifen is the only medication that has been proven to reduce fatty deposits in man boobs.
Zinc can also prevent the conversion of testosterone to estrogen.
Snacks or meals that are loaded with carbohydrates, especially carbohydrates from refined, processed white flour and sugar can cause the biggest surge in aromatase. Therefore, one of the last things you want to be eating especially at night is high carbohydrate meals. This will trigger the greatest conversion of your testosterone into estrogen.
If that’s you, look at your diet. Do you eat too many high carbohydrate meals or snacks? Do you have a sweet tooth at the end of the day? If so, make some changes to your diet. Cut out all the late night snacks and treats.
A simple test you can do at home to check their zinc status is a zinc ‘taste-test’ It quickly and cheaply determines if you’re low on zinc, which is an excellent indication in helping to verify if you are converting your testosterone or not making enough of it.
One key function of zinc besides the need for a strong immune and reproductive system is the importance of keeping that aromatase enzyme at bay. A few herbs such as: saw palmetto, pumpkin seeds and nettles are full of zinc and help keep your aromatase levels in their normal range.
