This is an audio program produced by the Conscious Evolution Institute and HGH.tv.
Testosterone and Prostate Health Testosterone is not linked to increased
risk of prostate cancer.
In the past, many scientists have hypothesized that testosterone contributes directly to
the development of prostate cancer and 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 one's believed, and there is a significant chance that testosterone has absolutely no
link to the development of prostate cancer on its own.
What we are actually learning now is that testosterone is mildly important for the optimal
function of the prostate gland throughout the lifespan.
Testosterone levels fade with age.
There is a major problem, though.
The older that we get, the less testosterone that men produced.
Generally, testosterone levels remain high at puberty and extending toward the late
20s.
After this period of optimal hormone production, however, our bodies start to produce many
vital hormones, such as testosterone and human growth hormone, much less efficiently.
Beginning in the 30s, our 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 grow older, our 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.
In addition to this, 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 glyphosphate, 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, and 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, sprays, dermal implants, and even testosterone injections.
These forms of testosterone treatment supplement your body's own production with bioidentical
testosterone in order to help you maintain a more optimal level of hormone balance, encouraging
your body to perform at a higher and more effective level.
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 bioidentical hormone which actually is a 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 20s, and begins to fall sometime
between the late 20s and early 30s.
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 is that DHEA and cortisol are created from the same component parts, and
the more cortisol that the body produces, the less DHEA, and thus the less testosterone
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 overconsumption of gluten products can increase
cortisol levels unnecessarily.
Use DHEA only with a doctor's prescription
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.
Though it is possible to take DHEA by the mouth, ingestion still limits the effectiveness
of the hormone.
How is DHEA most effectively delivered?
DHEA is most effectively administered via mucus 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 production.
It can also be delivered via the skin, but it is harder to apply a consistent dose.
People 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 a 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 is most notably affects men that are over the age of 60, and the risk
continues to increase with age.
Although in the past it was hypothesized that testosterone and prostate cancer and prostate
enlargement were linked, it appears that in retrospect 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
drugs involve unhealthy and potentially dangerous side effects.
5-Alpha Redeptase Inhibitors for Prostate Enlargement
The most commonly prescribed forms of this medication are ProScar and Abadark.
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.
6-Alpha Blockers for Prostate Enlargement
Alpha blockers treat the symptoms of prostate enlargement, but they do not treat the root
causes.
Alpha blockers include Rapaflow, Cardura, Hytrin, and Flowmax.
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.
7-Saw Palmetto for Prostate Enlargement and Healthy Testosterone Production
Rather than turn to these synthetic medications, an option for many patients is completely
natural.
8-Saw Palmetto
There are more than 100 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 any adverse symptoms.
In addition to this, there is some evidence that saw palmetto capsules can reduce 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 from supercritical carbon dioxide extraction techniques.
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 Estazanthin
New research also shows that combining the antioxidant Estazanthin 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 the production of estrogen and DHT, while boosting natural testosterone levels.
Natural sources of Estazanthin 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 living 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.
This article was a production of the Conscious Evolution Institute in HGH.TV.
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