I have always said, “testosterone feels good!” It is the hormone that motivates, that drives, and that gives you your “power”!
Even as women, we need testosterone. In fact, women have more testosterone than estrogen, they just have less than men.
But what are the benefits of high testosterone?
BENEFITS OF HIGH TESTOSTERONE LEVELS
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- A drive for life
- Increased muscle mass
- Increased heart health
- Increased libido for men and women
- Stronger bones
- Increased energy
- Increased fat burning
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When you don’t have enough testosterone, even as a woman, you will be constantly tired, possibly depressed, have a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease, increased fat storage, and low libido.
As we age, our hormones get out of balance, and we need to make sure we are stabilizing all of our hormones including testosterone. Most of us, men and women, lose testosterone as we age. Normal testosterone in a man ranges from 425 to 1000 NG/DL (nanograms per deciliter).
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF LOW TESTOSTERONE
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- Unexplained Weight Gain. Women tend to gain weight around the butt and thighs and men usually around the belly. Fat cells can increase estrogen levels by converting androgens into estrogens. This is known as aromatization. This becomes a vicious cycle because estrogenic toxins are then stored in the fat cells and extra fat can increase circulating androgens.
- Man boobs and enlarged prostates in men.
- Shrinking testes
- High voice
- Loss in body hair on the lower parts of your legs or chest in men
- Muscle loss and inability to maintain muscle definition
- Erectile dysfunction
- Leptin Resistance
- Hypothyroid. Too much estrogen can slow down the conversion of the inactive thyroid hormone (T4) into the active thyroid hormone (T3) in the liver. Additionally the excess toxins like to hide in the thyroid receptor sites, slowing down thyroid function.
- Decreased Libido in men and women.
- Menstrual irregularity, heavy menstrual flow, cramps in women.
- Mood changes.
- Migraines with the menstrual cycle.
- Infertility in men and women.
- Bloat.
- Water retention in the hands and Feet.
- Fatigue.
- Constipation.
- Slow Metabolism. Estrogen blocks the thyroid hormone receptors and inhibits proper conversion to testosterone.
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WHAT CAUSES LOW TESTOSTERONE IN MEN AND WOMEN
There can be multiple causes of low testosterone in men and women. These include:
High Insulin
When insulin is chronically released from the pancreas it shuts down the production of testosterone. Insulin’s job is to move carbs and sugar out of the blood and into the fat cells.
Your body releases insulin only when you are eating sugar and carbs, and that mechanism automatically shuts off the production of testosterone.
Furthermore, as you become insulin resistant and overweight, your fat cells hold more estrogen, and estrogen increases fat storage; it is a vicious cycle. As estrogen goes up, testosterone goes down.
Being overweight increases insulin resistance and can lead to type 2 diabetes. This increase in insulin decreases the production of testosterone, increases estradiol, a type of estrogen, and increases sleep problems.
All of these factors will lower your motivation and your feel-good hormones. Even if you are at a normal weight if you have visceral fat around your belly, that could be a sign you have insulin resistance and low testosterone.
Lack of Sleep
In one study, sleeping only 5 hours a night over 8 days lowered testosterone by 15%. Most testosterone is released during sleep, so if you are not sleeping, the production of testosterone is disrupted. This vicious cycle continues as low testosterone leads to poor sleep.
Increased Estrogen
Regardless of how high testosterone is, if there is a high level of estrogen, it will block the usable testosterone, rendering it useless. Estrogen is coming from our plastics, our conventionally fed meat, and our exposure to GMO foods. All of the environmental plastics we are exposed to including BPA, BPS, PVC, phthalates, GMO grains, soy, and corn that our animals are being fed, inhibit testosterone by disrupting the endocrine system. Anytime estrogen is increased in the body, testosterone automatically decreases.
More specifically, increased estrogen can come from:
1. Backed Up Liver
The liver produces ESTROGEN BINDING PROTEIN. When the liver is “clogged,” it has a difficult time doing this. Moreover, the liver is where Phase 1, 2 and 3 estrogen detoxification occurs. Read more about liver health to learn the signs your liver is stuggling.
2. Lack of Iodine
Iodine is utilized by the endocrine system to regulate estrogen production in both women and men. Without sufficient iodine, estrogen dominance surfaces and usable testosterone declines. A study shows 96% of test subjects were found to be extremely iodine deficient. Also, iodine is used to clean the blood which allows the liver to do its job effectively in producing the Estrogen Binding Protein. Iodine also helps break up a fatty liver; without it, the risk of the fatty liver will increase, and that in turn, increases estrogen even more. Unsure if you are lacking in Iodine? Get the facts about Iodine blood test results.
3. Tap water
From millions of women taking birth control and hormones, they contaminate the tap water with their urine. These hormones then travel to water treatment plants and the plants do not filter them out. As a result, tap water has perpetually increasing amounts of estrogen. Ocean waters are now approximately 4% estrogen.
4. Sugar
Eating refined sugar robs you of important minerals in addition to producing excess estrogen in the body. When white sugar is consumed, minerals are taken from the body in order to digest it. This disrupts the mineral ratios in the body. Learn how to stop sugar cravings once and for all.
5. Conventional Meat, Poultry, and Dairy
90% of the livestock animals in the U.S. have estrogen implants placed behind their ears in order to make them fatter faster for decreased time to market and increased profit. Eating estrogen-laden foods increases estrogen in the body.
6. Pesticides, Herbicides and Fungicides
Conventional produce is sprayed with pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides that contain xeno-estrogens, molecular look-alikes to the estrogen hormone, which can steal human receptor sites designed to attach only to real estrogen or real progesterone. This leads to estrogen dominance in men and women.
7. Improperly Combined Foods
When foods are improperly combined, the body is unable to digest the meal, and it goes into “acute metabolic acidosis;” which leads to an estrogen spike. The rule of thumb on properly combining foods is fruit always by itself; proteins with vegetables, or starches with vegetables are fine. Never combine proteins with starches like steak with potatoes, turkey with bread, fish with rice, or chicken with pasta. This will result in the foods not digesting and will result in increased estrogen.
8. Overeating
Too much food in the stomach strangulates the internal lining of the stomach preventing gastrin, hydrochloric acid, and pepsin from being properly secreted, and hence, acute metabolic acidosis can occur, once again creating more estrogen.
9. Plastic
Plastic bottles, containers, bags, and other items contain phthalate and bisphenol A, or BPA, known as xeno-estrogens, which can leak.
10. Parabens
Methylparabens, propylparabens, butyl parabens, and any other parabens are xeno-estrogens which lead to Estrogen Dominance. Parabens are typically found in hair care and skin care products.
11. Lack of Progesterone
Low levels of progesterone can lead to excess estrogen since they both attach to the exact same receptor site in the body. Progesterone is a hormone that requires saturated fat for the body to manufacture. Whereas estrogen has been shown to cause cellular mutation, progesterone, much like iodine and oxygen, induces apoptosis, halting cellular mutation and causing new, healthy cells to be regenerated.
12. Inflammation and Oxidative Stress
Inflammation and Oxidative Stress of any sort slow down Phase 3 estrogen detox. If detox pathways are backed up, estrogen builds up.
13. Consumption of Soy
Soy is estrogenic; all soy is GMO and mimics estrogen in the body, leading to estrogen dominance.
14. Consumption of GMO foods and All Grains
These are highly inflammatory, cause microbiome imbalances and Leaky Gut, and inhibit Phase 2 estrogen detox. Aromatase converts testosterone into estrogen, which worsens estrogen dominance. Aromatase is worsened with excess belly fat, and fat cells hold the bad estrogens, increasing Estrogen Dominance further; again it is a vicious cycle.
15. Stress
Stress in the body causes Leaky Gut which increases estrogen recycling in addition to having the oxidation and inflammation from stress disrupt Phase 1, 2, and 3 detox pathways.
16. Phase 3 Compromised Transporters
Phase 3 transporters move many toxins in and out of the cell. As we age, the cell walls become “stiff” and toxins have a harder time moving out of the cell. Those toxins include medications, chemicals, and hormones, including estrogen. Once they are out of the cell, they move into the kidneys, urine and bile, and intestines. What slows down these transporters are inflammation, oxidative stress, toxic overload, and medication.
17. Leaky Gut and Compromised Estrobolome
Estrobolome is the estrogen-detoxifying microbiome; in other words, it is the total of enteric bacterial genes that are capable of metabolizing estrogens. Its job is to help excrete and circulate estrogens out of the body. It can be affected by antibiotics, drugs, and diet. When this is compromised, estrogen that is meant to pass through the gut and out with feces gets reabsorbed into the body. Beta-Glucuronidase is what allows the estrogen to become reabsorbed.
18. Chronic Cortisol
Testosterone and human growth hormone are the anabolic hormones of growth and repair. The counter hormone is cortisol, the stress hormone, as it is catabolic and breaks things down. They can’t coexist, so when cortisol is high and stimulates the adrenals, it lowers testosterone. However, if you release cortisol during exercise, it doesn’t reduce testosterone, probably because the adrenals contribute free testosterone. Therefore, stress from fear, anxiety, and overworking will cause chronic cortisol to be released and lower your testosterone, but stress from exercise will not.
19. Low Thyroid
Suboptimal thyroid function can lead to low testosterone. Low thyroid hormone can result from an iodine deficiency, hormonal imbalance, autoimmune issues like Hashimoto’s, poor sleep, chronic stress, and an extremely low-calorie diet.
20. A Low-Fat Diet
Fat is needed to give the body cholesterol, and cholesterol is the backbone to making hormones. Without cholesterol, your body cannot make the proper sex hormones including testosterone.
21. Low Vitamin D
Vitamin D is actually a steroid hormone that helps produce testosterone. Low testosterone and low vitamin D are interrelated; it not only inhibits testosterone production but also suppress the immune system.
22. Fatty Liver
Fatty liver suppresses the production of testosterone and increases estrogen. A fatty liver comes from drinking alcohol and eating processed and high-carb foods.
23. High Iron
Iron is necessary, but too much can wreak havoc on the body. As we age, we accumulate more iron and have a difficult time getting rid of it. Too much iron will cause cirrhosis in the liver, inflammation in the joints, and increased oxidative stress. Increasing zinc, increasing copper, avoiding iron supplements, and incorporating Intermittent Fasting will help lower your iron levels.
24. Substance Abuse and Medication
Alcohol, marijuana, statin drugs, blood pressure medication, and diabetic medications will reduce testosterone. These substances will actually turn testosterone into estrogen. As a result many men actually start to grow man boobs and lose body hair on their chests and lower legs. Discover how to naturally overcome addiction.
25. Pornography and masturbation
Pornography and masturbation lower testosterone. On the other hand, sexual activity without ejaculation with a real person can increase testosterone. Ejaculating only once a week will significantly increase testosterone, whereas ejaculating more than once a week can lower testosterone.
NATURAL REMEDIES FOR LOW TESTOSTERONE
Here are my top ways to increase Testosterone and HGH:
Get Quality Sleep
To improve your sleep, focus on stabilizing your blood sugar with a low-carb ketogenic diet. Eliminating your exposure to light, abstaining from cell phones and computers 3 hours before bedtime, and going to bed before 10:30 p.m. to set your circadian rhythm properly help increase testosterone and HGH.
Accelerated Fast®™
Accelerated Fast®™ puts your body into ketosis and fat-burning mode within 30 minutes. When the body is in a state of ketosis, testosterone, growth hormone, and ATP increase significantly
Accelerated Fast®™ helps to control appetite and increases physical and mental energy, as it teaches your body to utilize its own fat stores for energy. As your energy increases and your cravings for sugar decrease, you are able to intermittently fast, reduce Insulin Resistance, cleanse the liver, clean up the excess estrogen, reduce inflammation, reduce oxidative stress, and produce healthy testosterone.
Where Accelerated Fast®™ is different from any other exogenous ketone supplement is it has multiple herbal cofactors in the formula to increase ATP production in the cells (which is your true ENERGY), to “De-Fat” the liver where fat burning occurs, hormones are regulated, and sugars are processed. The liver is where the body can detox the xeno-estrogens that bind up usable testosterone.
Hormone Fixxr focuses on raising testosterone in females gently and naturally. No, you won’t turn into a man. But you will help your body get the benefits of more lean sexy muscle, which then helps you burn more fat, and gives you more confidence.
Accelerated Thyroid®
By combining two different formulas into one and then enhancing it with Scalar Frequencies to support thyroid health, Accelerated Thyroid® becomes a powerful supplement that can help support thyroid health naturally, and provide the following benefits:
- Improve Hormonal Balance
- Increases Metabolism
- Increases Fat Burning
- Helps Prevent Fatty Liver
- Increases Mental and Physical Energy
- Accelerates Wound Healing
- Encourages Strong Connective Tissue & Bones
- Provides Immune Support
- Provides Mood support
- Strengthens Digestion
- Is Essential for B12 Production
If sex hormone binding globulin is high, it renders hormones including testosterone inactive in your body. That will lead to low metabolism, no strength, no energy, no brain function, no motivation, weight gain, anxiety, and depression.
You need T3, testosterone, and optimal levels of estrogen to function properly.
Acceleradine®
Acceleradine® regulates Estrogen production and cleans the blood so the liver can detox the estrogen properly. Iodine decreases estrogen in the receptor cells which helps reverse Estrogen Dominance and increase usable testosterone .
It also helps with fibroids, PCOS, and other issues related to hormonal imbalances. Acceleradine® is also anti-inflammatory and a powerful antioxidant, which helps neutralize the inflammation and oxidative stress that leads to Estrogen Dominance.
Acceleradine® also triggers healthy apoptosis (natural death of traumatized and unhealthy cells), which helps reverse Estrogen Dominance and increase testosterone in men and women. Acceleradine® is the only iodine that is enhanced with Scalar energy, radiation free, 100 percent absorbable, and can reverse damage done to the DNA.
Shine Aromatherapy Mist
Aromatherapy oils are known to increase testosterone, strength, libido, energy, and mood.
The ingredients in Shine include Canadian Pine Pollen, Tongkat Ali, Polyrhachis Extract, Blue Spruce Oil, Ginger Oil, and Sage Oil. The combination is infused with bio frequencies to enhance their efficacy.
Ca D-Glucarate is a specific form of calcium that assists the liver glucuronidation pathway by inhibiting the enzyme glucuronidase. Glucuronidation is one of the body’s many detoxification systems.
Calcium D Glucarate has been shown to support the body’s ability to excrete estrogen. It supports glucuronidation by turning estrogen into its inactive form in Phase 2 of the liver. It doesn’t lower beta-glucuronidase in the gut, but it does help facilitate estrogen metabolism to be eliminated in the gut. Furthermore, it has been shown to inhibit aromatization and the conversion from Testosterone into estrogen.
Virility Caps promotes male fertility, and is useful for impotence, poor sperm count, and poor sperm mobility.
Accelerated Ancient Salt™ “plumps up” the volume of fluid inside and outside the cells which helps clean the liver of xeno-estrogens, supports apoptosis, induces DNA repair, and cleanse the body of excess estrogen. It also helps with bile production, breaking down fats in the liver, and encourages improved digestive health.
Gut infections slow down and inhibit detoxification of excess estrogen.
Three supplements : Megaspore, MegaPre and MegaMucosa, help heal the gut, improve nutrient absorption, and optimize Phase 3 estrogen detoxification by repairing the Estrobolome (Estrogen Microbiome). As a result, free testosterone will increase.
Berberine HCL helps reduce inflammation, oxidative stress and toxicity while lowering glucose levels and increasing nutrient absorption; all of these factors help reverse Estrogen Dominance and increase free testosterone.
Magnesium helps with Phase 2 Liver detoxification of estrogen, in addition to performing over 600 other biochemical reactions in the body.
In addition to helping with Phase 2 liver detox, methylation of estrogen, and cell membrane support for Phase 3 detox, choline may help facilitate the burning of stored fat and has been shown to prevent abnormal or excessive liver accumulation of cholesterol and triglycerides. It also may help support insulin sensitivity and overall hormonal balance.
Accelerated Scalar Copper®™
Anemia usually is misdiagnosed as an iron deficiency, whereas copper deficiency may be the root of the problem. Copper is the key that unlocked the “door” for the iron to get to where it needs to go; it is needed for the absorption and utilization of iron and all minerals.
X39 Stem Cell Patches increase your own stem cell production and reset over 4,000 genes to a younger state, including the genes responsible for cell membrane support which allows the toxins out of the cells and the nutrients in, while healing the Gut. As a result, it improves hormonal balance and the detoxification of estrogen.
Directions: Wear it for 12 hours during the day at the base of the neck or 2 inches below the belly button.
X49 is a patch that is based on increasing AHK-Cu, a copper peptide. It helps increase testosterone and growth hormone, increases energy and recovery after exercise, increases stamina, improves cardiovascular function and focus, reduces belly fat, increases muscle tone and strength, and increases lean body mass and bone density. It also helps with osteoporosis. Many people experience faster, thicker hair growth. It may help protect from 5G and radiation.
Directions: Wear it 12 hours during the day, two inches below the belly button for men and women.
Lifewave Energy Enhancer patches help increase cellular health to improve detoxification and allow the toxins to pass through the cell walls easily.
When the cell walls become rigid, toxins cannot leave easily. The Energy Enhancer patches also increase energy at the cellular level, supporting digestion, circulation and optimal detoxification.
Eliminate Alcohol
Alcohol increases estrogen in two ways:
01 | alcohol increases Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth which will increase the recycling of estrogen, leading to less free testosterone,
02 | alcohol increases estrogen on its own, and will increase aromatase conversion of testosterone into estrogen in men and women.
Intermittent Fasting
- Intermittent fasting helps:
- Increase growth hormone and testosterone
- Reduce inflammation
- Reduce Estrogen Dominance
- Reduce belly fat, visceral fat, and liver fat which all lead to low testosterone
- Improves the overall balance of hormones.
By reducing belly fat, a reduction in aromatase occurs which causes testosterone to convert into estrogen. Moveover, during an intermittent fasting window, the body is engaged in autophagy, where the body “cleans up” the useless and damaged tissues, decreases the inflammation that causes pain, and helps heal the gut and improve nutrition absorption. All of these factors lead to healed tissues and an improvement in hormonal balance.
Focus On Wild Fish and Wild Animal Protein
Omega 3 fats and proteins from wild animal protein like bison, lamb, deer and elk provide the needed anti-inflammatory building blocks for hormonal balance , without causing inflammation in the body. On the other hand, protein from chicken, poultry, and conventional beef contain Amyloid proteins that will disrupt the gut, lead to Alzheimer’s and create a cascade of detrimental effects in the body including hormonal issues.
Wild animal proteins also help stabilize blood sugar and encourage insulin sensitivity, and improve bile production for liver detox. Furthermore, they help suppress the cravings for carbs and sugar that dysregulate insulin and lead to lower free testosterone.
Eliminate Processed foods and Sugar
Processed foods and sugar increase beta-glucuronidase, cause Leaky Gut, increase inflammation, and increase the recycling of estrogen. As a result, free testosterone will become limited.
Vitamin D
The best way to get vitamin D is through sunlight. If you are unable to do so, you want to make sure you’re supplementing with Vitamin D and eating foods rich in vitamin D which include fatty fish, egg yolks, meat, mushrooms and cheese. All of these foods additionally help with testosterone production and are part of the ketogenic diet. It also lowers cortisol.
HIIT Exercises
Exercise and especially high intensity interval training have been shown to increase testosterone and human growth hormone. I recommend doing two to three hit training sessions a week. On the other hand, over-exercising or doing too much cardio can lower testosterone.
Sara Banta
Sara Banta is a Stanford University Graduate with a Degree in Economics and Psychology, and a certified Natural Supplement Expert & Graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Sara is the Founder of Accelerated Health Products and host of the health & wellness podcast, Accelerated Health Radio.