368: The Top Causes of Low Testosterone in Men and How to Boost It Naturally | Tracy Gapin, MD
Feb 7, 2024
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Dr. Tracy Gapin, a men's health expert, discusses the decline in men's testosterone levels and its consequences on sexual health, cardiovascular health, insulin sensitivity, body composition, and inflammation. The conversation explores factors affecting testosterone levels, benefits of lean protein, understanding free testosterone, breathwork, and diet impact on testosterone levels. Personal experience, causes and consequences of testosterone decline in men, factors affecting testosterone levels, and importance of traditional healthcare are also discussed.
Toxins in the environment, such as endocrine disruptors found in food, water, and personal care products, contribute to the decline in testosterone levels and should be avoided.
A healthy diet, focusing on organic fruits and vegetables, clean proteins, and minimizing processed foods, can support testosterone production.
Chronic stress leads to elevated cortisol levels, which can suppress testosterone production, and lifestyle choices like adequate sleep, stress reduction techniques, and regular exercise can positively impact testosterone levels.
Deep dives
The Decline in Men's Testosterone Levels
Testosterone levels in men have been steadily declining worldwide. Studies have shown that testosterone levels and free testosterone levels, in particular, have dropped by almost 50% over the past 20 years. This decline in testosterone has significant implications for men's health, including sexual health, cardiovascular health, insulin sensitivity, body composition, inflammation, and cognitive function. Factors contributing to the decline in testosterone levels include toxins in the environment, such as endocrine disruptors found in food, water, and personal care products. Lifestyle factors like diet, stress, sleep, and exercise also play a role. It is essential to address these factors to optimize testosterone levels and overall health.
The Importance of Diet and Toxin Exposure
Diet and toxin exposure are critical factors that affect testosterone levels. Toxins in the environment, like endocrine disruptors, can impact hormone production and function. They are found in food, water, and personal care products. Avoiding exposure to these toxins is crucial. Eating a healthy diet, focusing on organic fruits and vegetables, clean proteins, and minimizing processed foods can also support testosterone production. Additionally, paying attention to water quality and using filters to remove synthetic estrogen compounds can be beneficial.
Impact of Stress and Lifestyle on Testosterone
Stress and lifestyle factors significantly influence testosterone levels. Chronic stress leads to elevated cortisol levels, which can suppress testosterone production. Lifestyle choices like adequate sleep, stress reduction techniques, and regular exercise, particularly resistance training, can positively impact testosterone levels. Maintaining a balanced and healthy lifestyle is key to supporting optimal testosterone levels and overall well-being.
Peptides and Their Role in Men's Health
Peptides are amino acids that can have various benefits for men's health. They can aid in musculoskeletal repair, cognitive function, inflammation reduction, weight loss, immune function, and mitochondrial function. Peptide therapy can provide a personalized approach to address specific health concerns. However, recent regulatory changes by the FDA have limited the availability of certain peptides. There is ongoing debate and legal action regarding the safety and usefulness of peptides. Nevertheless, many individuals have reported positive outcomes with peptide therapy for various health problems.
Importance of Personalized Medicine and Functional Medicine in Healthcare
The speaker shares their personal journey of discovering epigenetics, precision medicine, and functional medicine. They emphasize the importance of using genetics to guide lifestyle recommendations and treating the root cause of health issues rather than just relying on medication. They stress the need for medical education to focus more on nutrition, fitness, sleep, and stress management. The speaker believes in redefining healthcare and taking a comprehensive approach that goes beyond the traditional system.
Optimizing Sexual and Hormonal Health for Men
The speaker provides three key steps for men to optimize their sexual and hormonal health. First, they highlight the importance of advanced diagnostic tests to assess key drivers of sexual and metabolic health, such as testosterone, thyroid hormones, inflammation markers, and markers of blood sugar regulation. Second, they emphasize the value of tracking data using wearables and devices to monitor heart variability, sleep quality, and other relevant factors. Finally, they discuss the potential benefits of testosterone therapy and the importance of personalized dosing and subcutaneous injection to ensure consistent levels of testosterone in the body.
Tracy Gapin, MD, is a Board-certified urologist, men's health expert, author, and speaker who specializes in precision medicine. Using cutting-edge age management protocols, Dr. Gapin coaches Fortune 500 executives, entrepreneurs, and athletes to provide a personalized path to optimizing health & performance.
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