Choosing Which (Testosterone) Therapy is Best For You
By Jacobus Hollewijn
March 13, 2023
Health Care - Self CareShort Reads
This is a longer version of a 1-minute radio ad that played in July of 2021
I have heard about a connection between LOW-Testosterone, LOW good-cholesterol HDL, and heart disease.
Browsing through some studies I see men who go on testosterone therapy may actually LOWER their HDL… Well, that’s not good!!
So, on the one hand you expect that healthy testosterone levels would increase HDL; but then we see when a man gets testosterone treatments it has the reverse effect!
If that is so we need to better understand what our body is telling us. We know young men usually have high testosterone and good HDL levels, as well as pretty good heart health. However, when men become older we are noticing a gradual decline in testosterone production with a gradual increase in heart disease.
Keep in mind: testosterone treatments from a doctor do nothing to help you to MAKE more testosterone naturally; it simply GIVES you testosterone, thereby making your body too lazy to produce its own!
There are ways to naturally help the body MAKE more of its own testosterone. These include supplements such as Pine Pollen, Fenugreek Extract, Yohimbe, Zinc, Tribulus Terrestis, Montana Yew Tip powder/capsules, and something called Gemmotherapy (the therapeutic use of buds), specifically Oak. Then there are promising reports about a newer herb called Ajuga Turkestanica (Turkesterone for short) containing a standardized extract called b-ecdysterone. The company Life Extension has a product Testosterone Elite, containing a proprietary formula that increases both Total and Free testosterone.(1)
Whichever product(s) you try, I suggest you first do a baseline hormone blood test. This test should include the following:
- Total Testosterone and Free-Testosterone,
- Estradiol levels, because testosterone converts into estradiol through an enzyme called aromatase. We don’t want estradiol to grow too much because it can have a negative effect on heart health and prostate function.
- DHEA-S (sulfate), because it is the youth hormone.
One of the problems becomes the reference ranges on the blood tests. They are actually adjusted for one’s age, because doctors know that hormones change as we get older. It’s up-to-you if you like to be in a reference range reflecting your age (let’s say over 40), or if you like to be in a more youthful range, and feeling more recharged?(2)
Now you can pick your product(s) for raising testosterone and perhaps DHEA; and you may have to take something for lowering estradiol levels. I recommend taking hormone-type supplements for three months before retesting. I have noticed when taking hormone precursors it’ll take two months to get the hormones to peak. Then go that extra month to see if the hormones hold at that level. Based on your new numbers you now make adjustments in your supplementation.
This could be a fun research project for you. And I hope to hear back from you through this platform. Hormone deficiencies and imbalance between them is actually a big issue, for both men and women, and maybe at the root of quite a few health challenges.
Because most people do their best to look great and dress well, it often is a hurdle to talk to someone about hormones. So, do a blood test and start learning more about new optimum levels for you. This way you will feel the charge from the inside, which will reflect even more on the outside!
REFERENCES
1. https://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2022/2/boost-testosterone-without-drugs
2. See article Manly Men on this site.
The purpose of this website is to inform, educate, and entertain, not to diagnose, treat, or cure. Jacobus is not a licensed physician. If you intend to utilize any of the information contained in the articles and/or podcasts, it is recommend you see a licensed, competent medical provider of your choice, or find additional information from other reputable sources. I cannot control the opinions of my guests. I will double-check my facts in good faith, but may not be able to fully verify every statement made by any third party. If you utilize any information from this Website, you do so at your own risk.
