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Testosterone: What It Is and How It Affects Your Health

Posted: January 18, 2023 at 12:30 am

Testosterone is a hormone found in humans, as well as in other animals. In men, the testicles primarily make testosterone. Womens ovaries also make testosterone, though in much smaller amounts.

The production of testosterone starts to increase significantly during puberty and begins to dip after age 30 or so.

Testosterone is most often associated with sex drive and plays a vital role in sperm production. It also affects bone and muscle mass, the way men store fat in the body, and even red blood cell production.

A mans testosterone levels can also affect his mood.

Low levels of testosterone, also called low T levels, can produce a variety of symptoms in men, including:

While testosterone production naturally tapers off as a man ages, other factors can cause hormone levels to drop.

Injury to the testicles and cancer treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation can negatively affect testosterone production.

Chronic health conditions and stress can also reduce testosterone production. Some of these include:

Testosterone levels decline steadily in adult women, however, low T levels can also produce a variety of symptoms, including:

Low T levels in women can be caused by removal of the ovaries as well as diseases of the pituitary, hypothalamus, or adrenal glands.

Testosterone therapy may be prescribed for women with low T levels, however, the treatments effectiveness on improving sexual function or cognitive function among postmenopausal women is unclear.

A simple blood test can determine testosterone levels. Theres a wide range of normal or healthy levels of testosterone circulating in the bloodstream.

Normal male testosterone levels range between 280 and 1,100 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL) for adult males, and between 15 and 70 ng/dL for adult females, according to the University of Rochester Medical Center.

Ranges can vary among different labs, so its important to speak with your doctor about your results.

If an adult males testosterone levels are below 300 ng/dL, a doctor may do a workup to determine the cause of low testosterone, according to the American Urological Association.

Low testosterone levels could be a sign of pituitary gland problems. The pituitary gland sends a signaling hormone to the testicles to produce more testosterone.

A low T test result in an adult man could mean the pituitary gland isnt working properly. But a young teen with low testosterone levels might be experiencing delayed puberty.

Moderately elevated testosterone levels in men may produce few noticeable symptoms. Boys with higher levels of testosterone may begin puberty earlier. Women with high testosterone may develop masculine features.

Abnormally high levels of testosterone could be the result of an adrenal gland disorder, or even cancer of the testes.

High testosterone levels may also occur in less serious conditions. For example, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, which can affect males and females, is a rare but natural cause for elevated testosterone production.

If your testosterone levels are extremely high, your doctor may order other tests to find out the cause.

Reduced testosterone production, a condition known as hypogonadism, doesnt always require treatment.

You may be a candidate for testosterone replacement therapy if low T is interfering with your health and quality of life. Artificial testosterone can be administered orally, through injections, or with gels or skin patches.

Replacement therapy may produce desired results, such as greater muscle mass and a stronger sex drive. But the treatment does carry some side effects. These include:

Some studies have found no greater risk of prostate cancer with testosterone replacement therapy, but it continues to be a topic of ongoing research.

One study suggests that theres a lower risk of aggressive prostate cancers for those on testosterone replacement therapy, but more research is needed.

Testosterone is most commonly associated with sex drive in men. It also affects mental health, bone and muscle mass, fat storage, and red blood cell production.

Abnormally low or high levels can affect a mans mental and physical health.

Your doctor can check your testosterone levels with a simple blood test. Testosterone therapy is available to treat men with low levels of testosterone.

If you have low T, ask your doctor if this type of therapy might benefit you.

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Testosterone: What It Is and How It Affects Your Health

Low Testosterone: 12 Signs in Men – Healthline

Posted: January 18, 2023 at 12:30 am

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Low testosterone in males is common as they get older. Symptoms can be subtle, but there is treatment available if the symptoms affect your lifestyle.

Testosterone is a hormone produced by the testicles. Testosterone affects your appearance and sexual development, stimulates sperm production and sex drive, and helps build muscle and bone mass.

Testosterone production typically decreases with age. According to the American Urological Association, about 40 percent of males ages 45 and older have low testosterone.

If your testosterone production drastically drops, you may experience a range of symptoms. Signs of low testosterone are often subtle and can include:

Testosterone plays a key role in sex drive, also known as libido. Some people may experience a decline in sex drive as they get older, but those with low testosterone will likely experience a more drastic drop.

Testosterone aids in achieving and maintaining an erection. It tells brain receptors to produce nitric oxide, which is a molecule that helps trigger a series of chemical reactions necessary for an erection to occur.

When testosterone levels are too low, you may have difficulty achieving an erection before sex or having spontaneous erections, such as during sleep.

However, research is inconclusive on whether testosterone replacement therapy can successfully treat erectile dysfunction. In a 2016 review of studies that looked at the benefit of testosterone in men with erection difficulties, nearly half showed no improvement with testosterone treatment.

Other health conditions can often cause erectile difficulties. These include:

Smoking and alcohol use can also contribute.

Experiencing hot flashes can be a sign of low testosterone. This can feel like a sudden sensation of warmth. You may also experience heavy sweating, reddening of the skin, and night sweats.

Testosterone plays a role in several body functions, including hair production. Balding is a natural part of growing older for many men, and while it can be hereditary, those with low testosterone may lose body and facial hair as well.

Males with low testosterone may report extreme fatigue and decreased energy. You may have low testosterone if youre consistently tired despite getting plenty of sleep or if you find it harder to get motivated to exercise.

Males with low testosterone may notice a decrease in muscle mass, as testosterone contributes to building muscle. A 2016 review found that testosterone affects muscle mass but not necessarily strength or function.

Males with low testosterone may experience increased body fat or develop gynecomastia, which is enlarged breast tissue. Gynecomastia can occur when there is an imbalance of testosterone and estrogen in the body.

Osteoporosis is a condition many people often associate with females, but males with low testosterone can also experience bone loss. Testosterone helps produce and strengthen bone, so males with low testosterone, especially older men, may have lower bone volume and be more susceptible to bone fractures.

Males with low testosterone can experience mood changes. Since testosterone influences many of the bodys physical processes, it can also influence mood and mental capacity.

Both testosterone levels and cognitive functions, particularly memory, decline with age. As a result, doctors have theorized that lower testosterone levels could contribute to affected memory.

According to a 2019 review of studies, testosterone supplementation is linked with improved memory in older men with low testosterone though the effect may be small.

However, a 2017 study on testosterone supplementation did not find memory improvements in 493 men with low testosterone levels who took testosterone or a placebo.

The body requires testosterone to develop the penis and testicles, so low testosterone levels could contribute to a disproportionately smaller penis or testicles. There are other conditions and circumstances that can cause a smaller penis and testicles, as well.

These include:

Doctors have linked low testosterone with an increased risk for anemia, according to a 2017 study. When the researchers administered testosterone gel to anemic men with low testosterone, they saw improved blood counts compared to men who used a placebo.

Some symptoms of anemia include:

Testosterone levels naturally decrease as males get older, but other conditions or circumstances may also cause low testosterone. These may include:

Having low testosterone may increase your risk of developing other health conditions.

These conditions include:

Testosterone levels are typically 300 to 1,000 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL). Low testosterone is when testosterone levels fall below 300 ng/dL. A blood test called a serum testosterone test can determine your testosterone level.

Other tests may be performed to determine the cause of low testosterone.

Tests to diagnose low testosterone and its causes include:

Testosterone replacement therapy is a common treatment for low testosterone.

If you have low testosterone symptoms that are bothering you, you can talk with a doctor to determine if testosterone replacement therapy is right for you. Testosterone replacement therapy comes in a variety of forms, including:

Testosterone replacement therapy is a lifelong treatment. If you stop treatment, your testosterone levels will also drop.

Side effects of testosterone replacement therapy can include:

Testosterone replacement therapy may not be right for you if you:

Males experience a gradual decrease in testosterone as they get older. The older you are, the more likely that youll have low testosterone.

A variety of factors can cause low testosterone. Males with testosterone levels below 300 ng/dL may experience some symptoms. A doctor can check your testosterone level with a simple blood test.

If you have low testosterone and the symptoms bother you, testosterone replacement therapy is a common treatment.

If you would like to know your testosterone levels, LetsGetChecked offers male hormone tests at home at various price points.

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Low Testosterone: 12 Signs in Men - Healthline

10 Best Diets Of 2023, According To Experts Forbes Health

Posted: January 18, 2023 at 12:24 am

The first thing to consider when deciding on a diet is: Whats my goal? Am I trying to lose weight or body fat? Or am I trying to improve a specific aspect of my health or my life? A 2014 study in Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine found that examining the intersection of life goals and dietary goals can have an impact on your ability to achieve and maintain diet-related changes. Once you know what your desired outcome is, its time to delve into the details.

Dr. Cheskin says to determine if youre likely to stick with a diet, its important to know yourselfthe more you can be introspective, the better. After all, a 2018 study in JAMA Network found people achieved similar weight loss results on a healthy low-fat diet and a healthy low-carbohydrate diet. So the diet thats likely to work for you is the one youre most likely to stick with.

To that end, ask yourself the following questions:

The practicality of what youre choosing is really important because there are still only 24 hours in a day, says Leslie Bonci, a registered dietitian and owner of Active Eating Advice in Pittsburgh.

Its also wise to consider your dieting history, including what has worked for you and what hasntand why. There are very few people in this world who havent been through this a few times before, Bonci says.

There may be valuable lessons in your previous experiences. If you were tired and miserable on a low-carb approach in the past, you should probably look at a different one. On the other hand, if you were successful with a plan that included mini meals throughout the day, that approach might be worth trying again.

Also, think about whats realistic for your lifestyle. While a rigid, calorie-cutting plan may be appealing initially because it takes the guesswork out of what to eat, it may be hard to stick with it for an extended period of time.

If there isnt some flexibility built in, it probably wont work for you in the long term because life throws us curveballs, says Dr. Cheskin. It should be adaptable to different situations and personalities. In other words, it needs to be a plan you can live with.

Its also important to consider a particular diets safety and effectiveness. For example, is there research or science behind the diet? Or is it based on unproven assumptions? Look at statistics or clinical studies to gauge its success for other people, Dr. Cheskin advises. In general, experts say that a healthy, sustainable weight loss plan should include:

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10 Best Diets Of 2023, According To Experts Forbes Health

These Are the Best Diets of 2023 – Food Network

Posted: January 18, 2023 at 12:22 am

The "New Year, New You" movement often makes nutrition professionals cringe. A flood of dieters with good intentions latch on to crazy fads only to be disappointed when their overly restrictive conquests fail. But that's not a reason to toss well-intentioned healthy eating goals out the window. All hope is not lost: U.S. News and World Report's board of health experts, which includes a gaggle of dietitians, vet all the major diet plans out there on a yearly basis to find the best ones for achieving overall health and wellbeing based on the science and data behind them. If you're looking to make some healthy changes this year, these are the three healthiest diet plans of 2023.

U.S. News annually scores diets, evaluating them based on a rubric which includes various aspects including safety, ease of use and ability to produce long-term weight loss. Scores are tabulated and diets are then ranked. Mediterranean Diet, DASH Diet and the Flexitarian were crowned top three diets for 2023, with DASH and Flexitarian tied for second place for the second year in a row. The MIND Diet and TLC Diet rounded out the top five. Below, we break down the diets.

Coming in at first place (for the fourth year in a row), with an overall score of 4.6/5 the Mediterranean Diet is a consistent contender for top diet of the year. Much like the other top diets, this plan is not overly restrictive, and emphasizes whole foods and variety with a focus on olive oil, seafood, fruits, vegetable, whole grains and legumes. Red meat and added sugar are limited, while eggs, poultry and dairy are encouraged in moderation. Wine is also allowed in moderation, aligning with the Mediterranean lifestyle. A day on Mediterranean diet might look like avocado toast on whole grain bread for breakfast, a hummus platter with whole wheat pita and crudit for lunch and salmon, couscous and salad with olive oil based dressing for dinner. Snacks would include yogurt, nuts and fresh fruit.

One of the best features of the Mediterranean style of eating is that the principles can be modified other cuisines or cultures. For example, the emphasis on fruits and vegetables may lead to consumption of different types of produce depending on what part of the world you reside, and the benefits of eating more fruits and veggies is universal. Elements of the Mediterranean lifestyle have been observed in the Nordic Diet and the Asian Diet with subtle changes such as the use of more canola oil than olive oil in the Nordic style and more carbohydrates from rice and sweet potatoes in the Asian Diet.

Tied for second place with Flexitarian Diet (more on that plan below), the DASH Diet is a refreshingly reasonable way of eating. Originally designed based on research from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (part of the National Institutes of Health) in the 1990s, this plan aimed to help cut sodium and reduce hypertension through a well-balanced diet. Years of scientific evidence found it was successful. This research also determined that DASH can also be beneficial for weight loss and prevention of other chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease and Type 2 Diabetes. DASH was also ranked the #1 Heart-Healthy diet on the list. Karman Meyer, Registered dietitian and author of The Everything DASH Diet Meal Prep Cookbook supports the benefits of following this lifestyle plan in accordance with your physician.

The DASH Diet is ideal for anyone who has just been diagnosed with high blood pressure or for someone who has been living with it for years. Studies show that the DASH Diet can help lower blood pressure in just two weeks! she says. The lifestyle changes can have a big impact. For some individuals who have taken medications for years to manage blood pressure, they can see an improvement in blood pressure numbers by following the DASH Diet lifestyle changes," adds Meyer.

DASH emphasizes hefty amounts of fruits and veggies at every meal, along with lean meats, seafoods, whole grains and low-fat dairy products. Added sugars are limited but not forbidden, meat-free meals are encouraged, and herbs and spices take the place of salt to boost flavor without sodium. A day on DASH may include a veggie omelet and a small bowl of whole grain cereal with skim milk for breakfast, a green salad with grilled chicken and/or beans and piece of whole grain bread for lunch, a piece of salmon with broccoli and spaghetti squash for dinner and a smoothie made with low fat yogurt and fruit as a snack. Meal preppers will love flexibility of DASH and most of the recommended meals are easy to make in advance.

With a tie score of 4.4/5 with DASH diet, the Flexitarian style of eating continues to gain momentum with folks looking towards a more laid back approach to plant-based eating. Created by registered dietitian Dawn Jackson Blatner, this mix of mostly vegetarian foods, with the freedom to eat meat whenever you feel like it, helps inspire a balanced and sensible plan. The type of semi-vegetarian diet can also help promote heart health and weight loss. Dieters are encouraged to enjoy whole grains, plant protein, eggs, nuts and seeds, dairy or plant-based dairy alternatives and healthy plant-based fats. A Flexitarian day may include a bowl of oatmeal topped with nuts and berries for breakfast, whole grain crackers with almond butter and fruit for a snack, a bean burger with avocado for lunch and a tofu (or occasionally, chicken) stir fry for dinner.

Other honorable mentions include the MIND Diet (#4) and TLC Diet (#5). MIND combines concepts of Mediterranean and DASH with an emphasis on improving brain health. TLC stands for Therapeutic Lifestyle Change and like DASH, was created in partnership with the National Institutes of Health, this time targeting lowering cholesterol levels. Tied for sixth was Mayo Clinic Diet and Volumetrics Diet . Tara Schmidt, M. Ed., RDN, LD is a lead registered dietitian nutritionist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. She points out the appeal of Mayo plans flexibility. The Mayo Clinic Diet meets the needs of those who want flexibility, but with guidance. The Mayo Clinic Diet pairs learning about healthy eating and behavior change with tools like recipes, virtual support, a food tracker, and scientifically backed education, says Tara Schmidt, M. Ed., RDN, LD, a lead registered dietitian nutritionist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. The Volumetrics Diet focuses on high water-content foods like fruits and vegetables at every meal to help dieters feel full and satisfied while taking in fewer calories.

*This article was written and/or reviewed by an independent registered dietitian nutritionist.

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These Are the Best Diets of 2023 - Food Network