Testosterone is a well-known male hormone produced by both men and women. Testosterone is present throughout body, and can be detected in the brain, eyes, muscles, and bones. As a result, it has a wide range of benefits. It is responsible for the growth of the reproductive organs in men, and it affects the male appearance of including the growth of facial hair, deepening of the voice, and the appearance of body hair. In addition, testosterone provides energy, and it is responsible for the production of red blood cells.
Men have higher levels of testosterone in their bodies, but females also produce it. This is normal and generally not a problem, but can cause issues if production is excessive. For females, negative effects of excess testosterone can include:
- Fertility problems
- Low sex drive
- Osteoporosis
- Vaginal dryness
- Changes in breast tissue
Particularly high levels may cause:
- Acne
- Obesity
- Excessive body hair growth
- Blood sugar problems
- Lack of menstruation
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
Effects on Men
Testosterone is a key hormone and can affect both women and men’s bodies in profound ways. Luckily, having too much testosterone isn’t an issue that occurs naturally among men very often – however it can occur, particularly as a result of substance abuse. Some information about testosterone in men is available and well supported by evidence, but if you want to learn more detailed information about the effects of high testosterone relating to you personally, you need to talk to your own doctor.
Here are some issues associated with excessively high testosterone levels in men:
- Liver disease
- Low sperm count
- Acne
- Heart muscle damage
- Increased risk of heart attack
- Insomnia
- Headaches
- Irritability, mood changes, and euphoria
What Is Testosterone Good For?
As mentioned above, testosterone is essential for the development of male characteristics. Usually, testosterone increases during puberty and early adulthood. After this time, it is normal that levels of testosterone to drop. Your body sees a significant change in testosterone levels after age 30.
If you are concerned about your testosterone, make sure to contact your doctor. It can be normal to have lower levels of testosterone in your body, but you may also observe symptoms such as decreased muscle mass. If indicated by your doctor, you want to consider boosting your testosterone levels with testosterone replacement therapy.
If you are deficient in testosterone, there may be benefits of increasing your testosterone levels, including:
- Better heart health
- Increased muscle mass
- Less fat
- Increased libido
- Improved mood
Natural Ways to Increase Your Testosterone Levels
Vitamins, some foods, and other naturally occurring herbs can help to improve your testosterone levels. If considering alternative treatments, make sure you consult your doctor and check which treatments are most appropriate for you. Foods you may want to consider for increasing testosterone levels are:
- Tuna
- Egg yolks
- Beans
- Shellfish
- Beef
- Oysters
- Low-fat milk
However, be sure to check with your doctor that you actually have low testosterone! This will require physical exams and likely some blood tests. If you are diagnosed with low testosterone, your doctor may prefer to prescribe you hormone treatments in the form of pills, tablets, injections, skin patches or topical gels.
These treatments can come with side effects, so make sure to discuss these with your doctor. Don’t forget to make some diet adjustments to improve your overall health, not just to increase or lower your testosterone levels.
Low Testosterone in Young Men
Men under 30 years old generally have higher levels of naturally occurring testosterone, but there are situations in which low testosterone can still occur. What causes it?
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol levels
- Substance abuse
- Taking certain medications
- Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol
- Smoking
- Being overweight
Maintaining Stable Levels
A healthy diet can play an important role in keeping your testosterone levels in check. Changing your diet is one of the easiest things you can do right now to maintain healthy testosterone levels. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including ample amounts of sleep and exercise, is also highly recommended.
Conclusion
Hormones can have deep effects on your mental and physical health. They play an extremely important role in maintaining your weight, appetite, and mood. Maintaining proper levels of testosterone is important for both men and women. Some foods are known to improve testosterone levels, and these should be considered if you are interested in improving testosterone levels naturally. However, you should always talk to your doctor if you have health concerns before deciding on a course of action.