Testosterone
and Prostate Health
Testosterone
is not Linked to Increased Risk of Prostate Cancer
Historically,
many scientists have hypothesized that Testosterone contributes
directly to the development of Prostate Cancer in correlation with
age. There are even a minority of doctors which have utilized
castration as a means to prevent Prostate Cancer. New research
suggests that the link between Testosterone and Prostate Cancer is
weaker than once believed, and there is a significant chance that
Testosterone has absolutely no link to the development of Prostate
Cancer.
What we
are actually learning now is that Testosterone is vitally important
for the optimal function of the Prostate.
Testosterone
Levels Fade with Age
There is a
major problem, however. The older that we get, the less Testosterone
that men produce. Generally, Testosterone Levels remain high
beginning at puberty and extending forward to the late twenties.
After this period of optimal hormone production, however, our bodies
start to produce many vital hormones, including Testosterone and
Human Growth Hormone, less efficiently.
Beginning
in the thirties, Testosterone Levels start to drop at a slow and
steady rate, hindering our health and preventing us from maintaining
our health and vitality. Although medical professionals have long
recognized that Testosterone Production drops with age, the
mechanisms for that decline have largely been a mystery.
What
Causes Testosterone Deficiency?
In recent
years, however, scientists are starting to more fully understand the
mechanisms which cause Testosterone Secretion to decline. Today,
endocrinologists have discovered that there is a certain enzyme which
seems to be primarily responsible for Age-Related Testosterone
Deficiency, known as 5-Alpha Reductase. It appears that as we get
older, out bodies start to produce too much of this hormone, limiting
the body's ability to maintain healthy Testosterone Levels.
5-Alpha
Reductase is a hormone which actually has the capability to
deconstruct Testosterone, converting it into a derivative hormone
known as Dihydrotestosterone. Increased levels of Dihydrotestosterone
are associated with numerous medical afflictions that were once
hypothesized to be the result of Testosterone, including cancer, hair
loss, prostate enlargement, and bladder control issues.
In
addition to these internal causes of Testosterone Deficiency, it
appears that there are many chemicals that contribute to Testosterone
Deficiency as well. These chemicals have the ability to limit
Testosterone Production even at an early age when Testosterone
Production is supposed to be at its peak. Because of certain chemical
contaminations, adolescents are even at risk of Testosterone
Deficiency.
There is
new evidence that certain Statin Drugs (used to treat abnormally high
cholesterol) suppress the body's ability to produce Testosterone
efficiently. Also, we are now learning that there are certain
herbicides which affect the body's ability to produce Testosterone.
The most common of these is a chemical known as gly-phosphate, which
has been linked to numerous other medical issues as well.
How
to Combat Age-Related Testosterone Deficiency
As we
discussed earlier, Testosterone levels naturally decline as a result
of the aging process. There are actually numerous ways that you can
slow down this Testosterone Decline and safeguard yourself deeper
into the lifespan. The following are ways that you can help maintain
healthier Testosterone Levels:
The
Hormone Replacement Method
Hormone
Replacement Therapy, under the advice and guidance of a medical
professional, is an excellent way to treat Age-Related Testosterone
Deficiency.
If you are
experiencing any of the following symptoms, then you may be dealing
with Testosterone Deficiency:
Reduced
Libido and Disinterest in Sex
Inability
to Produce or Maintain a Full Erection
Depression
Anxiety
Cognitive
Issues Related to Short Term and Working Memory
Accumulation
of Body Fat
Loss
of Muscle Mass
Loss
of Bone Mineral Density
A
qualified physician can provide the blood tests necessary to properly
diagnose Testosterone Deficiency. Once it has been determined that
you are experiencing Low-T, there are multiple ways that you can
treat your medical issue. The most direct way to treat Low-T is by
taking supplemental Testosterone.
There are
many forms of effective Testosterone Replacement Therapy, including
Testosterone Creams, Testosterone Sprays, Testosterone Dermal
Implants, and even Testosterone Injections. These forms of
Testosterone Treatment supplement the body's own production with
Bio-Identical Testosterone in order to help maintain a more optimal
level of Homone Balance, encouraging the body to perform in a higher
and more efficient state.
Avoid
Oral Testosterone
Although
there are multiple effective ways to provide Testosterone
Replacement, it is important to note that taking Testosterone orally
will either be minimally effective or completely ineffective.
Testosterone is too complex to survive the digestive fluids of the
stomach, and the Testosterone that you put in your mouth will not be
the same as the amino acids which are absorbed into your system.
DHEA
Hormone Replacement Therapy
There are
other potential alternatives to Testosterone Replacement Therapy,
especially if you are dealing with relatively minor levels of
Testosterone Deficiency. One hormone that provides benefits for many
people is known as DHEA. DHEA is a Bio-Identical Hormone which is
actually a direct precursor to naturally produced Testosterone. DHEA
is released by the adrenal glands, which are located just above your
kidneys. DHEA is responsible for the proper synthesis of a number of
hormones, including Testosterone.
Healthy
production of DHEA is heavily correlated with age. Before puberty,
the adrenal glands release a minimal amount of this hormone, but as
puberty takes place, the body begins to produce high levels of DHEA,
which leads directly to an influx of Testosterone Production.
Production of DHEA peaks during the late teens and twenties, and
begins to fall sometime between the late twenties and early thirties.
The
decline is gradual, but becomes more significant the older that you
get. The adrenal glands are also responsible for the production of
other hormones, one of which is Cortisone. Although Cortisone is a
natural and necessary hormone, the body begins to produce it in
greater and greater amounts throughout life.
Cortisol
Prevents DHEA Production
The
problem here is that DHEA and Cortisol are created from the same
component parts, and the more Cortisol that the Adrenal Glands
produce, the less DHEA, and thus, the less Testosterone, that is
created. Cortisol and DHEA are both synthesized using the substrate
pregnenolone, and Cortisol production slowly hordes this hormone
vital to Testosterone production.
Although
the natural aging process increases Cortisol production, factors such
as emotional stress, obesity, chronic pain, and even the
over-consumption of gluten products can increase Cortisol levels
unnecessarily.
Use
DHEA Only with a Doctor's Permission
Although
it is possible to purchase DHEA Over the Counter, it is important
that you only utilize DHEA under the recommendation of a physician.
In order to maximize the benefits, it is necessary that you have a
responsible physician that can monitor your hormone levels and
recommend optimal hormone intake. Although it is possible to take
DHEA by mouth, ingestion still limits the effectiveness of the
hormone.
How is
DHEA Most Effectively Delivered?
DHEA is
most effectively administered via the mucous membranes of the rectum
or the vagina, and it can help both sexes maintain healthy hormone
production by providing the building blocks of Testosterone and
Estrogen. It can also be delivered via the skin, but it's harder to
apply a consistent dose. Patients with significant Testosterone
Deficiency will likely still benefit from direct Testosterone Hormone
Replacement Therapy, but DHEA is also a valuable option for a certain
subset of patients.
The
Prostate Cancer-Testosterone Myth and Saw Palmetto
As men
grow older, they become increasingly at risk of developing a disorder
known as Prostate Hyperplasia. This means that the prostate begins to
grow abnormally large. This disorder most notably affects men that
are over the age of sixty, and the risk continues to increase with
continuing age. Although in the past, it was hypothesized that
Testosterone and Prostate Cancer and Prostate Enlargement were
linked, it appears in retrospect that this is not the case.
Rather
than Testosterone, it seems that enhanced levels of Estrogen and DHT
are responsible for these risks. Estrogen and DHT are created when
Testosterone is maintained inappropriately by the body, causing it to
break down into these alternative hormones.
There are
two types of drugs which primarily treat Prostate Enlargement, and
both of these treatments involve unhealthy and potentially dangerous
side-effects:
5-Alpha
Reductase Inhibitors for Prostate Enlargement
The most
commonly prescribed forms of this medication are Proscar and Avodart.
These drugs work by limiting the conversion of Testosterone into DHT.
Although this can lead to an increase in Testosterone Levels, it does
nothing to prevent Testosterone from converting into Estradiol and
other Estrogen compounds.
For this
reason, these medications increase the risk of prostate cancer even
though they do effectively treat prostate enlargement.
Alpha
Blockers for Prostate Enlargement
Alpha
Blockers treat the symptoms of prostate enlargement, but do not solve
the root causes. Alpha Blockers include Rapaflow, Cardura, Hytrin,
and Flomax. These drugs work by helping the smooth muscles of the
bladder and prostate relax, making it easier to urinate. Although
they are very effective, they only hide the underlying issues related
to Prostate Enlargement, without treating the disorder itself.
Saw
Palmetto for Prostate Enlargement and Healthy Testosterone Production
Rather
than turn to these synthetic medications, an option for many patients
is completely natural: Saw Palmetto. There are more than one hundred
studies that have been conducted regarding the efficacy of Saw
Palmetto, and there is evidence that Saw Palmetto can relieve the
symptoms of Prostate Enlargement without leading to adverse symptoms.
In
addition to this, there is some evidence that Saw Palmetto Capsules
can reduce the risk of Prostate Cancer as well. Although in the past,
studies have provided mixed results in regard to Saw Palmetto
Capsules, there is strong new evidence that the effectiveness of
treatment depends upon the form of Saw Palmetto used as well as the
way that it is administered.
Choose
the Right Form of Saw Palmetto
There are
many supplements which are manufactured using an ineffective plant
formulation. When used effectively, Saw Palmetto can provide
significant benefits. One physician tells us that for him, the most
trusted form of Saw Palmetto is a form of Saw Palmetto Oil extracted
usinga Super-Critical Carbon Dioxide Extraction echnique.
This form
of Saw Palmetto will be an oil which is colored a deep green. It is
also important to note that Saw Palmetto is soluble in fat rather
than water, so it is absorbed most effectively when eaten with a food
that contains fat, such as eggs.
Saw
Palmetto and Astaxanthin
New
research also shows that combining the Anti-Oxidant
Astaxanthin with Saw Palmetto Oil can increase the benefits of
both supplements. A study in 2009 showed that combining these two
supplements had a cumulative effect, both limiting production of
Estrogen and DHT while also boosting natural Testosterone Levels.
Natural
sources of Astaxanthin
include Krill Oil, Salmon, Rainbow Trout, and Shellfish. It is also
present in many vegetables, including Red Peppers and Carrots.
In
addition to combining these two supplements, you can also choose
foods and supplements which are high in aromatase-inhibitors which
help prevent Testosterone from converting into Estrogen. These foods
include Grape Seed Extract, Nettles, and White Button Mushrooms.
A
Healthy Prostate is Important to a Long and Healthy Life
If you are growing older and are concerned with your prostate health,
use the information in this article to inform yourself, and ask the
opinion of a qualified medical professional. Be a proactive patient
and do your part in avoiding prostate problems later in life!
|