Testosterone

According to research, men’s testosterone levels have dropped at least 20% in the last 20 years with more and more younger men suffering the effects of low testosterone.

This is not a new trend. Seventy-year-old men in 1987-89 had an average testosterone level that was almost 100 points higher than even 55-year-old men in 2002-04. Meaning that the average 22-year-old man today, has an average testosterone level roughly equal to that of a 67 year old man in 2000. Therefore, it’s likely that your testosterone levels are half of those of your father and undoubtedly significantly less than your grandfather’s.

With this in mind if testosterone levels decline naturally as we age, these statistics should have remained constant over time. But we know that they aren’t. Far from it. The negative trend seems to be getting worse and happening to men at much younger ages than ever before.

Why It’s Important for Both Men and Women

Testosterone plays a vital role in everything from bone density and mass to mood.

While testosterone is usually considered an androgen, or “male” hormone, because it produces male characteristics in the body, it plays a significant role in women as well.

Let’s explore testosterone further by seeing how it plays a role in each of the following:

Bone Density

As you get older their bone density decreases and puts you at risk of osteoporosis or weak bones. Testosterone plays a key role in bone mineral density. Bone mineral density is basically a measure of bone density that reflects the strength of bones as represented by calcium content. This is important because stronger bones help support your muscles and internal organs.

Like bone density, testosterone also decreases as you get older. Studies are revealing that bone density increases with testosterone treatment, assuming that the dose is high enough. It can help hip and spinal bone density, as well as increased bone mineral density in individuals transitioning from female to male, but there’s still much more to be discovered.

Muscular Strength and Mass

Testosterone is directly linked to increased muscle mass. Leaner body mass boosts energy and also controls weight. If your testosterone levels are higher than normal, you’re more likely to have an easier time gaining muscle than someone with low levels.

However, it’s not how much testosterone someone has, but how sensitive they are to the hormone. For testosterone to impact muscle growth, it needs to interact with muscle tissue via your androgen receptors. One way that androgen receptors respond to testosterone is by signaling muscle cells to increase the rate at which new muscle protein is laid down. Over time, this increase in muscle protein synthesis leads to bigger, stronger bones.

Hair and Skin

As you start puberty, testosterone spurs hair growth on your arms, legs, armpits, and genital area, and for some people, their face and chest as well. If your testosterone levels decrease, you might actually lose some body hair. This can be fixed with testosterone replacement therapy, though that may come with some additional side effects.

Mood

Testosterone plays a significant role in your mental health – particularly your mood. The cells in your brain have testosterone receptors, so when your testosterone levels are lower than normal, those cells aren’t functioning optimally. This can lead to mood swings, anxiety, stress, irritability, and even depression.

Since testosterone decreases with age, the hormone plays a key role in menopause for women and “andropause” or “manopause” in men. However, low testosterone levels can decrease at any age. If you’re experiencing mood shifts without explanation, low testosterone levels may be the culprit.

Solution

Consistent strength building exercise and plenty of protein! And do not be afraid of red meat.