TESTOSTERONE

The Subtle Effects of Low-T

How Low Testosterone Can Slowly Degrade Psychological, Physical, and Sexual Health

A lot of men resign themselves to the decline associated with aging. What they don't realize is that a large number of symptoms most people associate with the aging process are actually the result of underlying hormone deficiencies. Because of their slow onset during mid-life, most men don't realize that the changes in their life are powerfully affected by these changes in hormone production.

The goal of this article is to help you realize the symptoms of Testosterone Deficiency so that you can recognize the signs early and seek treatment to extend the pep and vitality of your life.

Subtle Signs of Low-T

Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy has been shown to lead to miraculous changes in health for men that suffer from Low-T. Testosterone HRT has been shown to effectively reduce fatigue, increase libido, and improve mood. It is incredibly easy to resolve an underlying Testosterone Deficiency, so if you qualify for treatment, there is no reason not to consider it.

In order to qualify for Testosterone Replacement with the Conscious Evolution Institute, you have to pass three important criteria:

• You Must Have Clinically Low Testosterone Levels

• You Must Display Manifest Symptoms of Low-T

• You Must be Over the Age of Thirty

It should be noted that Low-T alone does not warrant medical treatment. Many men actually have Low Testosterone and don't display symptoms. For this reason, in order to qualify for Testosterone Replacement, you must actually be experiencing symptoms of Low-T. This means that Testosterone Replacement can only be used as a treatment and not as a preventative measure.

Before starting Testosterone Treatments, it is also important to recognize that the therapy does have certain side-effects associated with it, and there is a limited pool of data regarding the long term benefits and risks of treatment. If you think Testosterone Replacement Therapy may be the correct course of action for you, talk to a professional, like those at the Conscious Evolution Institute.

Signs of Testosterone Deficiency

Although the signs of Testosterone Deficiency are quite obvious when you actually take the time to acknowledge them, their effects over time can be incredibly subtle. Testosterone Deficiency is a spectrum disorder, meaning that dependant upon the level of deficiency, you will experience a different range of symptoms.

The severity of the symptoms also depends upon the severity of the deficiency. This means that as Testosterone Levels first start to decline you will feel absolutely no noticeable change, but as months and years continue to pass, the accumulated effects of continuous changes in Testosterone Concentration will have an ever-growing affect on your life.

Think of it like the old science experiment involving the toad. If a toad is placed in excessively hot water, it will immediately jump to safety. On the other hand, if you place the toad in water and slowly increase the temperature to dangerous levels, it will not realize the change in temperature and will not jump out to save its life. Hormone Deficiency acts in the same way. It happens so incrementally that there is significant chance that you are suffering from it and don't even realize it!

All men experience Testosterone Decline in a similar way. Men have healthy levels of Testosterone and HGH throughout the teens and twenties, but the ability to produce Testosterone slowly starts to decline as we grow older. Depending on your own personal sensitivity to hormone deficiency, as well as the unique rate at which your T-Levels decline, you may experience noticeable symptoms sooner than later.

Below are some of the common symptoms of Testosterone Deficiency:

Low Energy and Fatigue

Over the course of Testosterone Decline, the body becomes less and less effective and generating energy and positive metabolism. As a result of this, you will eventually start to have trouble keeping your energy levels in the black, causing you to tire out more easily, or be less able to engage in strenuous physical activity.

Low Libido

Testosterone is intricately involved with the male Sex Drive. When we are young, our veins are pulsing with Testosterone, which contributes to our voracious appetite for sex and romance when we are young. As we get older, however, our ability to generate that psychological spark slowly fades. Men often think their decline in libido is a natural result of age. Wives often think their husbands are simply losing interest. If you are unable to get excited for your lover, there is a significant chance that it isn't you, or her, it's your T-Levels.

Erectile Dysfunction

Many men also confuse Low Libido for a lack of ability to become sufficiently aroused. ED is the symptom of Testosterone Deficiency which is easily the most noticeable, but many men experience this issue and still don't think their problem is simply Low-T.

At first, Low-T simply reduces the frequency of erections, but over time, it can severely affect the firmness of the erection. The lack of blood flow reduces both the effectiveness of the erection and the pleasure gained through sexual activity. In cases of severe Testosterone Deficiency, the male will often lose the total ability to experience an erection.

Cognitive Complications

Most men don't realize that Low-T can have a negative effect upon psychological health as well as sexual health. Healthy Testosterone Levels have been strongly correlated with healthy cognitive activity. As Testosterone Deficiency worsens, it can become more difficult to focus and concentrate on completing tasks. These concentration difficulties may be the result of general fatigue which impacts a man's stamina in all aspects of life.

Depression and Dysthymia

Testosterone can also negatively impact psychological well-being. In men, Testosterone plays a role in maintaining a healthy baseline of happiness, and Testosterone Deficiency can negatively impact the release of pleasure chemicals in the brain which stimulate happiness. There are many men that mistakenly take anti-depressants, when they should be taking Testosterone.

Short Temper and Irritability

Low-T is directly correlated with an increase in the hormone, cortisol. Although Cortisol is a necessary hormone, men with Low-T start to produce way too much of it, which contributes to even further reductions in Testosterone Concentration. Increased cortisol levels induce stress on the body and mind, causing men to experience elevated levels of stress which contribute to increased anxiety issues. The cool, calm, collected influence of Testosterone is stripped down, leaving a man in a persistent and unhealthy beta-state.

Loss of Muscle Mass

As men grow older and their Testosterone Levels Decline, their muscle strength starts to fade. This is because Testosterone sustains male muscle mass. It's the single biological reason why men are stronger than women. Testosterone Deficiency reduces this natural advantage in muscle building power, however. Most men simply think that aging causes the muscles to weaken, but it's actually mostly the result of changes in hormone balance in the male body.

Increase in Bellyfat

This is another symptom that is frequently the result of Testosterone Deficiency, but most men resign the symptom to aging. Testosterone enhances general metabolism, helping to burn fat and maintain a healthy muscle-fat ratio. This is one reason why women naturally have a higher body fat percentage than men.

Their lower level of metabolism encourages them to distribute fat differently. Their natural, healthy hormone balance encourages this. Men with Low-T often start to pack on the pounds, and this extra belly fat has the capacity to further drain T-Levels because fat cells have the natural ability to convert Testosterone into Estrogen and Cortisol.

Reduced Perception of Self

All of these symptoms combine together and contribute to a general loss of self-worth. Testosterone Deficiency causes a slow drain of manhood which can have various negative impacts on overall health. As you are likely realizing by now, the symptoms of Testosterone Deficiency contribute heavily to what we perceive as simply aging, but it encourages an accelerated form of aging which has enhanced negative impact on all aspects of self.

Low-T Impacts Every Aspect of Health and Wellness

The thing that combines all of these symptoms is that they all come on slowly, and the cause of each symptom on its own could be the result of multiple different factors. What makes Testosterone Deficiency easy to recognize is that it impacts various systems at the same time, contributing to a slew of symptoms that all negatively impact health.

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms you may be experiencing Testosterone Deficiency. The more symptoms you are dealing with, the more likely that Low-T is a real and terrible problem for you. The good news is that Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy has the capability to return a stronger sex drive and a greater sense of youthfulness and health!

Methods of Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy

One of the great things about Testosterone HRT is that there are a number of different ways to get treated, simply dependant upon your personal preference. Below is a list of treatment options available to any man that suffers from Testosterone Deficiency:

Testosterone Creams and Gels- One of the simplest forms of Testosterone Treatment is Topical Testosterone. Testosterone Gels and Creams are absorbed directly into the skin, and require a daily treatment. Popular Testosterone Gels are Testim and AndroGel.

Testosterone Sprays- This form of Testosterone Treatment is similar to Testosterone Gels, but the Testosterone is aerated and applied using a pump mechanism. This simplifies the process of application and makes sure that you only apply Testosterone where you need it. Popular Testosterone Sprays are Fortesta and Axiron.

Testosterone Patches Testosterone is also available via transdermal patches, which provide Testosterone steadily over the course on an entire day. These patches are generally worn on the upper torso or arm. Like Testosterone Gels, they are applied on a daily basis.

Testosterone Oral Patches One of the newest forms of Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy provides Testosterone via a patch attached to the gums. This form of Testosterone Replacement is easy to conceal, and requires twice daily treatment to be effective. It works by releasing the hormone directly into the blood stream via the sensitive tissues of the mouth. The most popular Low-T Oral Patch is known as Striant.

Testosterone Implants Another newer form of Testosterone Replacement is Testosterone Subdermal Pellets. In this form of treatment, pellets of Testosterone are implanted just below the skin, where they release Testosterone steadily over an extended period of time. Testosterone Pellets last far longer than other forms of Testosterone Treatment. One dose can last three to six months! Although Testosterone Implantation is a minor surgical procedure, you trade one session of surgery for months of treatment.

Testosterone Injections Testosterone Injections were the original form of Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy, and are still quite popular today. With this form of treatment, Injections deliver Testosterone directly into muscle tissue, where it slowly works its way into your system. Testosterone Shots come in various forms. Some require multiple administrations per week, while others T-Injections can last for up to two weeks!

Why Isn't There a Testosterone Pill?

Testosterone Pills are simply not a viable form of Testosterone Treatment. When Testosterone is ingested orally, acids and enzymes in the stomach break down Testosterone into its component parts, preventing you from experiencing the full benefits of treatment.

This biological breakdown of Testosterone can also harm your liver over time, because the organ is not designed to handle such high concentrations of the amino acid fragments which cycle through the liver after injection.

All other forms of Testosterone Treatment directly deliver Testosterone to the bloodstream, bypassing the liver and providing treatment directly to the body.

Performance-Enhancing Anabolics vs. Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy

There is a widely spread misconception that Testosterone HRT is the equivalent of taking Steroids for Performance Enhancement. This simply isn't true. It certainly is true that Testosterone can and has been used for the purpose of enhancing athletic performance, but when used by patients with a medical need, it functions quite differently.

The goal of Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy isn't to rejuvenate the body by pumping it up with unnatural levels of Testosterone, the goal is simply to restore Testosterone to the healthy levels associated with optimal, healthy function. Testosterone Abuse does provide gains to muscle mass and cuts fat, but it also has a number of negative side-effects.

Testosterone HRT for men with Diagnosed Testosterone Deficiency is a safe and effective way to restore health and vitality! Although some men may experience certain side-effects, these side-effects are generally mild, and can be easily treated and reversed simply by adjusting dosage.

Don't Let Testosterone Deficiency Sneak Up on You!

To treat Low-T quickly and minimize the negative impact that it can have upon your health and well-being, it is important to be aware of both your own health circumstances and the Signs of Low-T. By recognizing the signs, you can talk to a qualified physician quickly and monitor your Testosterone Levels. By doing this, you can start Treating Low-T as soon as you become symptomatic optimizing your health and longevity!

If you think you may be a candidate for Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy, we encourage you to contact the Conscious Evolution Institute today. We have a staff of Board-Certified Physicians, and a well-trained clinical staff that can help you restore optimal hormone balance.

Testosterone Deficiency and Erectile Dysfunction

If you are suffering from Low Testosterone, this means that your testes are no longer producing enough Testosterone in order to promote optimal health and physiological function. One of the most noticeable physical symptoms of Low Testosterone is Erectile Dysfunction. Erectile Dysfunction is a general term meant to describe any set of circumstances which leads a man to be unable to effectively produce an erection that is suitable for sexual activity.

For some men, this means that you won't be able to get it up at all. For other men, Erectile Dysfunction makes it hard to become fully erect and aroused, little to difficult and unsatisfying sexual activity. A third group of men may be able to become aroused sometimes, but are not sufficiently in control of their sexual function.

The same processes which inhibit sexual ability also inhibit sexual desire itself. Testosterone is intricately involved in male libido, and without enough Testosterone, your interest in sex may start to slack. Men with severe Testosterone Deficiency experience both of these issues simultaneously, but men with mild to moderate Low-T will likely experience a loss of sex drive before they begin to fully lose the capability to maintain a full erection.

Erectile Dysfunction has Numerous Causes

Although Testosterone Deficiency (Also referred to as Male Hypogonadism) is a frequent cause of Erectile Dysfunction, it is important to recognize that there are multiple other reasons why Erectile Dysfunction occurs, and this is why it is important to see a specialist, so he or she can perform a medical assessment in order to pinpoint the source of your bedroom struggles.

Almost all forms of Erectile Dysfunction lead to a single particular and profound symptom: the ability to develop an erection is inhibited as a result of restricted or diminished blood circulation to the penis. There is an elaborate interplay of hormone release which precludes an erection, but ultimately, Testosterone leads to the formation of an erection by stimulating the release of nitric oxide, which encourages the vasodilation which sends blood rushing to the penis.

Many other conditions which restrict blood flow have an inhibitory effect upon erection stimulation. A few other common contributors to Erectile Dysfunction are elevated cholesterol levels, hypertension, and hardened arteries. Hardened arteries prevent the heart from pumping as hard as it needs to effectively circulate blood. Hypertension and high cholesterol cause Erectile Dysfunction because they restrict blood flow at the vascular level.

Although many of the primary sources of Erectile Deficiency are the direct result of physiological complications there are many psychological causes of Erectile Dysfunction as well. Anxiety can prevent you from focusing your attentions effectively on pleasure, preventing you from being interested in sex. Depression can cause you to lose your self-confidence and desire.

One incredibly common cause of Erectile Dysfunction and lack of sex drive is simply relationship complications. If you are unhappy with your current relationship, or are simply going through a rough patch in your relationship, then you may temporarily lose your desire or physical ability to have sex with your partner.

A few rarer causes of Erectile Dysfunction are spinal cord injuries, neurological problems, or multiple sclerosis.

The Connection Between Testosterone Deficiency and Erectile Dysfunction

The male erection is entirely dependent upon Testosterone, but scientists and medical researchers have not yet completely established how the two are interconnected. Although many of the basic processes are understood, there are still a lot of unanswered questions about Testosterone and ED.

Low-T and Erectile Dysfunction are powerfully linked, but the correlation is not quite as strong as you might think. For example, some men are able to have a healthy and active sex life even though they have Testosterone Levels far below normal. Other men experience sexual issues even though their Testosterone Production appears to be well within the normal range. It is true that at a certain threshold, Low-T will completely inhibit sexual activity, but in the end, every man has a different threshold for sexual function.

Erections depend on testosterone, but the relationship between the two is complex and not fully understood. Some men have healthy erections despite testosterone levels well below the normal range.

One thing that is crystal clear is that Low-T is correlated with several chronic medical issues which can inhibit healthy erectile function, including heart disease, obesity, and Type-2 Diabetes.

Erectile Dysfunction and Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy

If you are experiencing issues with Erectile Dysfunction, and your Testosterone Production is in the normal and healthy range, Testosterone Treatments will likely have a negligible effect upon your Erectile Dysfunction. In this case, the underlying issue inhibiting Erectile Function will have to be discovered and treated.

For males that do have abnormally low Testosterone Production, Physician-monitored Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy is most likely the most effective method by far at helping you to both restore libido and restore your ability to participate in normal sexual activity. It can even help you in a number of other ways that you didn't even realize. Testosterone Treatments have the capability to provide the following benefits to men with Testosterone Deficiency:

• Reduce Body fat

• Increase Lean Muscle Mass

• Strengthen the Bones

• Alleviate Mild Anxiety and Depression

• Increase Energy

• Decrease Fatigue

Because Testosterone Deficiency has multiple negative impacts upon normal health, it is important to treat Low-T with Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy even if you still need other forms of treatment to restore your sexual ability.

Testosterone Replacement and PDE-5 Inhibitors

Most men that take Testosterone HRT say that the treatments have a positive effect upon their sex drive, but many men still need supplemental treatments to fully restore function. These supplemental treatments generally take the form of Erectile Dysfunction Medications referred to as PDE-5 Inhibitors. You've definitely heard of a few of them:

• Cialis

• Levitral

• Viagra

• Stendra

For men with significant issues with blood flow that aren't related to the processes which directly stimulate erection, PDE-5 medications have the ability to increase circulation of blood to the penis. This doesn't mean that men that need PDE-5 inhibitors don't need Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy, it simply means that it may take both treatments simultaneously to both restore optimal sexual function and contribute to greater overall health.

Restoring healthy Testosterone Levels can help add fire to your sex life by enhancing your drive for sex and improving your mood. For individuals that suffer in the bedroom as a combination of Low-T and mild depression, Testosterone Replacement can help resolve both issues simultaneously, sparking fire to his sex life.

Testosterone Replacement Treats the Whole Problem

Testosterone Restoration also has a protective effect upon sexual desire and ability because it treats a number of issues which have a negative impact on all aspects of sexuality. It can help improve aesthetic self-perception by increasing muscle mass and decreasing body fat.

In addition to improving one's sense of physical self-worth, this also safeguards the male body from the devastating effects of diabetes, which can be utterly detrimental to male sexuality. For patients with Low-T, Testosterone Replacement has the ability to increase the body's receptiveness for insulin.

Testosterone Replacement Side-Effects

Although Testosterone Replacement Therapy is highly effective, there are some side-effects which should be considered before starting treatment. Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy Side-Effects include:

• Smaller Testicles

• Reduced Fertility

• Acne

• Increased Breast Size

• Benign Prostate Enlargement

None of these side-effects are dangerous, and they can be relieved simply by adjusting the dosage or suspending therapy.

To date, there is no connection between Testosterone Hormone Replacement on the development of Testicular, Breast, or Prostate Cancer, although you will have to suspend therapy if you develop any of these forms of cancer. Because of the effect upon fertility, if you are interested in conceiving a child, you should look to other ways to treat your Erectile Dysfunction.

Take Testosterone for a Test Drive

If your physician comes to the conclusion that you are suffering from the effects of Testosterone Deficiency, he or she may provide you with access to short-term Testosterone Replacement Therapy in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment in restoring your sexual function. If it is indeed effective, your doctor can provide you with an extended prescription.

If you decide to take Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy, you will need to make appointments with your doctor on a bi-annual or annual basis so that he or she can monitor your hormone levels and make sure you are still getting exactly what you need in order to have a happy and healthy sex life.

Additional Steps to Improving Testosterone Levels

Your doctor may recommend taking other courses of action in addition to starting Testosterone HRT. Because of the positive effect that a healthy lifestyle has upon sexual function, your physician will suggest a number of different ways you can take charge of your own health in order to further boost your sexual function.

Because of the inhibitory effect of obesity and diabetes, it would benefit you to lose weight. Because of the stimulative effects of physical activity, it would benefit you to improve your exercise habits.

Finally, a healthy diet can improve your hormone profile by simultaneously improving your cholesterol profile, encouraging weight loss, and directly stimulating the release of Testosterone.

Natural Testosterone Restoration

Although Bio-Identical Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy is an awesome option for a large number of men across the United States, there are a lot of natural ways to boost Testosterone Production. No matter how old you are, the tips in this article will benefit you and help you maximize the benefits of your body's own Testosterone. Whether twenty or sixty, these tips are all guaranteed to improve your hormone health.

Why Consider Natural Methods before Turning to Treatment?

Not everyone qualifies for therapy. Some men are too young. Other men have Normal Testosterone Levels but want to do everything they can to delay Testosterone Deficiency as long as humanly possible. Only men diagnosed with Low-T are approved for Testosterone Replacement Therapy, but any man can take steps in his own life to promote a healthier hormone balance.

Many Doctors Promote Natural Methods before They Turn to Hormone Treatments

The majority of physicians will not prescribe Testosterone without discussing your lifestyle choices and how they impact your hormone balance. There are a lot of healthy things that you can do to boost your natural Testosterone Production, and these methods may delay your need for Testosterone HRT.

Improving Personal Habits in Combination with Therapy Yields Profound Rewards

Even if you decide to utilize Testosterone Patches, Gels, or Injections, these same steps that improve Testosterone Release still positively impact your health and amplify the effects of your hormone treatment. Remember that, although Hormone Replacement Therapy can impact your life in a positive way even if you don't change any aspect of your lifestyle, the only way you can really maximize your health and wellness outcome is to become an active and conscientious participant in your own life.

That's why we call ourselves the Conscious Evolution Institute. We recognize that it is a combination of individual effort and high-quality medical supplementation that provides the life-changing outcomes that our patients desire.

In this article, we will discuss a few things that you can do to encourage your body to produce more of its own Testosterone.

Get the Sleep that Your Body Needs

Sleep is one of the most important aspects of a healthy life, even though we only partially understand it. Sleep is a period of rest and rehabilitation that repairs the body after a long day of wear and tear. If you don't get the sleep that your body so desperately requires, your hormone balance will suffer significantly as a result.

Two hormones that poor sleeping habits affect profoundly are Testosterone and Human Growth Hormone. When you don't get a full night's sleep, your body doesn't rehabilitate properly, and resources start to get reallocated as a result. Testosterone Production is one of the first processes which get diverted.

In one study, participants were forced to wake up after only four hours of sleep. Even after a single night of abridged sleep, Testosterone production dropped significantly. As a direct result of this relatively minor sleep deprivation, participants produced an average of twenty percent less Testosterone. Research also shows that Sleep Apnea can contribute to severe Testosterone Deficiency over time. It appears that Testosterone Secretion is linked not only to the length of sleep, but the quality as well.

What Can I do to Sleep Better?

Choose to make restful sleep one of the central goals of your life. Take a weekend to figure out exactly how much sleep that your body needs for you to fully recuperate. This ranges from person to person, and changes dependent upon age. Some men need nine hours of sleep per night, whereas others wake up refreshed after only seven hours of sleep.

Just figure out what your body needs, and make every effort to fulfill that need. Take the time to truly appreciate the importance of good sleep and the effect that it has upon your health. Sleep is equally as important as diet and exercise in regard to living a happy, healthy, and productive life.

If you are having trouble establishing a healthy sleeping pattern, think about turning to a therapeutic dose of melatonin about 45 minutes before bed. Also, limit your nighttime caffeine consumption. It takes eight hours for caffeine to fully leave your system, so try to avoid drinking any caffeine in the evening hours preceding your chosen bedtime.

Another way to encourage sleep is to eliminate sources of distraction from the bedroom. In this modern, wired culture, cell phones, televisions, and laptops make it to where you have the world at your fingertips even beneath a pile of blankets. Leave the toys in the living room. By establishing your bedroom solely as a place of rest, you turn your bedroom into a place of rest and relaxation, rather than a playroom.

If you still have trouble sleeping well, even after making a valid attempt at changing your habits, talk to a physician, because there are a number of options and treatments available that can help you solve the underlying issues which limit your ability to sleep.

Work to Maintain a Healthy Muscle-Fat Ratio

Testosterone Production is significantly affected by the presence of adipose fat. The more of it there is, the harder it will be for your body to produce Testosterone effectively. This is because fat cells produce an enzyme known as aromatase.

Aromatase has the nasty ability to convert Testosterone directly into Estrogen. The types of fat cells that produce the highest levels of aromatase are known as Adipose Fat Cells. The purpose of these cells is primarily to store excess body fat in case times get tough and meals get lean. The problem is that in America, most people's problem is that they eat way too much food, not that they don't eat enough.

Adipose fat is also the type of fat that creates the aesthetically displeasing shape associated with obesity. Adipose Fat develops in the highest concentrations around the core of the body, leading to the pear shape so often associated with obesity. The stomach lumps out, and the hips, butt, and thighs grow larger as well. The more fat stored in these adipose fat cells, the more active that Aromatase will be both in your cells and in your body at large, causing you to lose your ability to produce Testosterone in a natural and healthy way.

A certain level of Estrogen production is necessary to promote optimal health, and that level of production is associated with an optimal body fat percentage. Study after study has shown that Body Fat Percentage is the strongest indicator of Testosterone Production in younger males, dominant until Age-Related Decline eventually has a greater impact late in life.

Testosterone Deficiency can also be stunted by poor eating habits. Testosterone Production is bolstered by a healthy body, and if you starve yourself and don't maintain a healthy bodymass, your Testosterone Production will suffer. Testosterone is generated from fat, it's just that excess, pooled adipose fat counteracts the normal production of Testosterone.

Monounsaturated fats, saturated fats, and Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids all play a role in Testosterone production. Transfats and polyunsaturated fats should be limited as much as possible, because they mostly contribute negatively to overall health.

What can I do to correct Testosterone Deficiency caused unhealthy Body Fat?

Eat smart! If you are obese, talk to a diet specialist, or start taking steps to change the way you eat. Avoid simple sugars and carbohydrates, because they provide little in the way of nutrition, but they contribute to obesity more than any other food that you eat. In regard to meat, try to stick to lean meats such as chicken and fish in order to maintain your intake of protein and healthy fats while minimizing your overall intake of unhealthy forms of fat.

Choose physical activities that promote healthy cardiovascular health. Start jogging three to five times a week. Start slow if you'd like, and build up your tolerance to physical activity over time.

If you are underweight, start eating more and focus on complex carbohydrates and proteins which maximize efficient caloric intake while promoting optimal health. Don't just stuff your face with unhealthy forms of fat, sugar, and bread, but choose foods that contribute to healthy nutrition while not putting a strain on your pancreas or cardiovascular system.

Get Physically Active

One thing a lot of people don't realize is that Testosterone Regulation is controlled by a simple concept: If your brain recognizes that you need Testosterone, it will work harder to meet the demands of the body. Nowhere is this more true than in the case of physical activity. If you live a sedentary lifestyle, then it becomes obvious to your brain that you don't really need Testosterone.

This is kind of true in the short term, but your body has no long term concept of the detrimental effects of Testosterone Deficiency over time. In addition to this, the brain only recognizes that the body doesn't need Testosterone to survive, but you will still suffer because your body won't produce the Testosterone that it needs for you to have the energy to negotiate positive change or simply enjoy life.

A sedentary lifestyle promotes a physiological system designed to stay in place. It's essentially like physics. A body in motion tends to stay in motion. A body at rest tends to stay at rest. In order to convince your brain that you need more Testosterone, you will have to make the first move and GET ACTIVE.

Although muscles don't directly produce Testosterone on their own, the signals sent to the brain and body when you work out encourage the release of greater levels of Testosterone, as well as Human Growth Hormone. Exercise convinces your hypothalamus that your body needs more muscle mass to survive, and it starts sending signals to amplify Testosterone Production.

What Can I do To Increase Testosterone with Exercise?

If you haven't been active in a long time, we suggest taking things slow. Below are some steps that you can take to increase your Testosterone Production:

Spend twenty to thirty minutes per day walking at a healthy and brisk pace. Walking speeds up your heart rate and can shock your muscles back to life. Over time, jog or run rather than just walk, if you are physically capable.

Start to incorporate light weight training into your weekly routine. Just performing exercises with low levels of weight can have a very beneficial effect on your body. We also recommend resistance training utilizing bands or other tools. If you are unfamiliar with weight training, we suggest getting the advice of a trainer in your initial sessions.

If you are reasonably healthy and just want to maximize your Testosterone Production:

Focus on anaerobic exercise and moderate cardio over endurance training. Remember that Testosterone Production is promoted most effectively by anaerobic exercise. Incorporate short, frequent sprints into your runs, for example. Also, put a high emphasis on weight training rather than endurance-based cardio, focusing on high weights with low reps.

Get a Handle on Your Stress

Beyond fat and poor sleeping habits, there is nothing that contributes to Low-T like Stress. The number one hormone associated with stress is Cortisol. We don't intend to completely demonize cortisol, but for millions of people across America, Cortisol production is not managed in a healthy way. Cortisol is not only produced as a result of physical indicators of stress, but by emotional and psychological sources as well.

The primary goal of Cortisol is simple. Cortisol encourages physiological changes meant to help you instantly adapt to short term peaks of stimuli. It gets your body and mind amped up to make snap decisions. This change in physiological priority enhances your ability to do a lot of things, from negotiating a business deal, to dodging a punch in a fight, to thinking on your feet the first time you talk to a girl at a bar.

The problem is that, due to the way we are wired as human beings, we have a tendency to produce too much cortisol. One of the benefits of our large and advanced brains is that we are exceptional at managing and juggling long term goals. The problem with this, is that this management can cause us long term stress; stress that is essentially related to our own environment and self-perception. Cortisol is intended to help us manage short term stress, but if we are not good at compartmentalizing and managing stress, then our bodies will make way too much cortisol.

How Does Cortisol Relate to Testosterone Production?

The anxiety associated with the overproduction of Cortisol is bad enough on its own, but it also has a severely negative impact upon the body's ability to create and distribute Testosterone effectively. This is because Cortisol and Testosterone fight over the same pool of resources in terms of production. Depending upon specific variables in your life, either Testosterone or Cortisol production will be dominant. There are a lot of issues which contribute to Cortisol Dominance, including:

• Obesity Adipose fat cells have the ability to do a lot of things that are detrimental to the body in high doses. We are calibrated to be relatively lean creatures, so when our bodies store too much fat, from an evolutionary perspective it trades long term health for short term survivability. When an individual is overweight, he puts his cortisol production out of balance. The more fat on the body, the more enzymes that are produced which build and activate Cortisol, and this increase in production eats away at the body's ability to make enough Testosterone.

• Anxiety Psychological stress promotes the release of Cortisol into the body as a response. Increased Cortisol Production leads directly to a decrease in Testosterone Production. This creates a negative feedback loop for Testosterone, because Testosterone does have the capacity to regulate stress, but Cortisol eats away at Testosterone Secretion, inducing greater levels of stress and encouraging even greater Cortisol Secretion.

• Pain- Cortisol is one of the main hormones in charge of pain management. In terms of short-term sources of pain, this is a great thing. In combination with adrenaline, it lets you get out of a jam, or get yourself to safety without realizing how much you are really hurting. The problem is that chronic pain causes Cortisol levels to skyrocket.

How to Reduce Stress

If you are having problems with stress, there are some simple things that you can do to reduce stress in your life:

• Try to spend two hours daily doing things that you enjoy that aren't related to your anxieties. Play music, watch a movie, read, or just talk to friends. Just do something that gets your mind off the things that stress you out.

• Don't work yourself to death. Our bodies and minds have a limited amount of time that we can focus to tasks before we start to lose our edge. Try to stick with seven to ten hour days, tops, and try to be as effective as possible without straining yourself physically and psychologically.

• Think about engaging in some relaxation techniques. There are plenty of places where you can do yoga or work on meditation. For some people, prayer is even a form of meditation.

• Release that nervous energy in the gym. Physical activity is a fantastic way to cancel out some of the stress in your life while also promoting greater hormone balance.

Know Your Medications

There are particular medications that can cause your Testosterone Production to drop. If you are having issues that you feel are related to Testosterone Deficiency, talk to your doctor if you are using any of the following medications:

• Glucocorticoids Glucocorticoids are a class of drugs used for two primary purposes. They are used to suppress the immune system and they are also used to reduce various forms of inflammation. They are commonly used for arthritis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and asthma, among many other medical conditions.

Long term use of these drugs do have an inhibitory effect on Testosterone production, however, leading to a number of symptoms such as high blood pressure, loss of bone mineral density, rapid weight gain, and loss of strength.

• Opioids Opioids are a class of drugs which essentially imitate the function of endorphins by the human body. Opioids tend to be very strong medications used in order to treat chronic pain. They are commonly used in order to reduce the pain of cancer and cancer treatments, as well as to mask the pain of rheumatoid arthritis. Medications such as codeine can be used as cough suppressants, and certain forms can be used in order to relieve anxiety attacks.

There is some evidence that long term opioid use can diminish overall well-being as a result of Testosterone Deficiency. Testosterone Replacement Therapy can be used to increase quality of life and normalize hormone levels.

• Anabolic Steroids Anabolic Steroids are hormones used to encourage the body to build and repair body tissues. There are quite a few medical uses for this class of drugs, including the treatment of osteoporosis, anemia, body fat regulation, and muscle atrophy.

Anabolic Steroids can have the unfortunate side-effect of reducing the body's capacity to produce Testosterone, however. Anabolic steroids can send signals to the brain to reduce Testosterone Production as a result of the flux of other steroids present in the body.

If you want to work on boosting your Testosterone Levels, don't just quit your medications. We do of course recommend against recreational use of any of these drugs, but in the case of Opioid addiction, work with a specialist to try to eliminate your addiction, because Opioids can be difficult and dangerous to quit alone if you are very addicted.

In regard to medications that you are taking for a legitimate purpose, talk to your doctor about what you can do to simultaneously remain on important treatments while working to elevate your Testosterone to Normal levels. For most drugs, there are ways that you can make this work effectively, or if the drugs are having too powerful of an effect on your hormone balance, there may be other effective medical options.

Avoid Testosterone Supplements

If you want to boost your Testosterone Levels with supplements or medications, you are going to have to go to a physician and invest in the real thing. Over-the-Counter Supplements which claim to boost Testosterone Levels provide little benefit, if they provide benefits at all. Also avoid any product which claims to be Testosterone that you can get without a prescription. Sometimes you'll see products that claim to be Oral Testosterone Releasers. These simply are not effective.

The hormone DHEA is available over the counter, but it is not recommended to take the hormone as a means to increase Testosterone Production. DHEA can provide other valuable benefits, such as combating osteoporosis, increasing the likelihood of arousal for men with ED, and improving skin health, but it is not the same as Testosterone and should not be thought of as a cheap Testosterone Booster.

If you want to improve your Testosterone Levels naturally, rather than invest in various supplements in hopes of increasing Testosterone Production, just eat an intelligent diet which provides your body all of the essential nutrients that it needs for healthy function. Look up respected alternatives to the Standard FDA Recommended Daily Allowances. RDAs are rough estimates of what your body needs to be healthy, but it does not necessarily encourage optimal nutritional intake to persist at your peak!

If All Else Fails, Don't Be Afraid of Testosterone Replacement Therapy

If heeding all of this useful advice does not improve your T-Levels sufficiently, don't be afraid to talk to a doctor. Testosterone Deficiency is a real and detrimental medical condition which doesn't always respond to treatment. In fact, the older that you get, the less likely that your body will be able to produce the natural Testosterone that your body needs to ensure optimal health and vitality.

If you are interested in Physician-Monitored Bio-Identical Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy, we encourage you to contact the Conscious Evolution Institute today. Even if Testosterone Replacement isn't right for you, we will use a client-centered approach to do what we can to help you optimize your hormone balance in order to maximize your health and vitality!