According to the Endocrine Society, all men who have been diagnosed with type II diabetes should have their testosterone levels checked. This is due to the fact that those with diabetes have an increased chance of Low T. Sometimes when your mind is preoccupied it is hard to remember what exactly you have to ask your doctor about your current health status. Not to worry! A few things to keep in mind when you are at the doctor’s office are how you feel, symptoms you are experiencing, should you be tested for experiencing them, what kind of treatment is available, what are testosterone replacement therapies, what happens in the event of no treatment, and finally, what causes these Low T symptoms to occur? Asking about diet, fitness and lifestyle is a good bet as well, as they play huge roles in conditions you may find yourself in. You’ll want to include any prescription medications you are taking, over-the-counter medications, and vitamin supplements in your discussion with your doctor.

 Anything that you think might have an effect on your health or is already having an effect on your health is something you should consider reporting to your healthcare provider so you can receive the best possible treatment that exists. And if specific treatment is not something you need at the moment, it’s still nice to know your options or be able to catch a different medical condition early if possible. Remember, your doctor is here to help you get your health back on the right track. It’s important to include everything simply because omitting information may put you at risk. Your information is kept strictly confidential and there should be no reason to fear about disclosing health information to your doctor.

When people have the right levels of testosterone, they can increase their bone density as well as bone formation. Testosterone is basically great news for your bones! But not only that, you won’t be lacking in energy nor sex drive, which is great news as well, right? Your body will have decreased body fat while experiencing an increase in muscle strength and size. Testosterone also lowers blood pressure and affects LDL and HDL levels for the better, making it a hormone you don’t want to do without nor do with at a low level. With these benefits, your body is better able to fight against chronic illnesses like heart disease and certain types of cancer.

Women will be pleased to know that the hormone is responsible for keeping their skin soft and bending readily to prevent deformities that may make the skin uncomfortable, scratchy, or itchy. Testosterone does wonders for the prostate in men. It’s definitely a versatile hormone that takes care of both genders in its own little way. With a healthy prostate, men can avoid prostate cancer. With healthy skin, women can feel comfortable and avoid skin diseases. If needed, you can opt for testosterone supplementation. Not to worry if you have to go for this option because supplementation is not only cost-efficient, but it is an emotionally effective tool to bypass what they like to call “midlife crisis.” No matter who you are, you’ll want to consider supplementation if you feel that you are in danger of dipping below the normal amount and when you are heading into your fifties, you’ll want to be well-equipped. No need to worry or fear as supplementation is good as it comes and can provide your body with the TLC it needs. Rest assured that you are doing something nice for your body that will last a lifetime.

BMI is determined by your height in feet and inches, and your weight in pounds. For a certain height, a certain weight is expected to be considered within the normal range. If you already know how BMI is calculated, you can go ahead and calculate it yourself, knowing your information. If not, there are calculators online that you can search for where you can fill in the information in the proper boxes and get your BMI after you click ‘submit.’ This should be helpful when finding out your BMI and whether you fall under the obese range.

For those men who have diabetes, about 33-50% may have Low T. If you are one of those men, you already know how hard it can be to have to live with a chronic condition. Through research studies, men who have diabetes are more likely to have hypogonadism, which, as you may know, can be caused by Low T. If you feel this is you, be sure to talk to your doctor to see if you need to be checked for testosterone levels at your next checkup. And in the case that you do have Low T, your doctor should conduct another test just to be sure and confirm. Now that you are armed and ready, go out and get the proper tests and calculations done so you can make the right choice for your health!

Progesterone also fights against breast cancer, making it a hormone that is definitely highly beneficial to your health. It is common for many women who have had hysterectomies not to be on prescription for progesterone, meaning they are generally lacking benefits present in their earlier years. Natural progesterone collaborates with estrogen to fight against osteoporosis, heart disease and depression. This hormone has a mild tranquilizing effect, enhancing overall sense of well-being. Backed by scientific research, progesterone is seen as a feel-good hormone so you can definitely count on it to keep you in a good mood!

You also have the thyroid gland, which secretes the metabolic thyroid hormone. This hormone regulates temperature, energy, metabolism, and cerebral function in the body. At its best, the thyroid breaks down fat to help in the weight loss process and lowers cholesterol. This in turn battles heart disease and memory impairment. With a low thyroid level you can get fatigue, slowness in speech and action, depression, and immune dysfunction, which can lead to diseases such as certain types of cancer. At a low level you may also experience brittle nails and thinning hair. But because these symptoms are similar to those of getting old, it can get difficult to detect. You can change the effects of aging with a thyroid supplementation.

Many patients who tests come out normal for thyroid levels can still benefit from a thyroid supplementation, something that contributes to overall well-being. This is important for those who want to avoid certain health risks in the future. The thyroid hormone can be considered an underused hormone and one that many think about, but perhaps if people were to take a closer look, they will see that treating the possible problem now will hold back on this problem from developing. Taking care of your hormone levels is beneficial to your health status for sure. By learning about the natural hormones, you are doing your body a favor that will help with not only fighting health risks, but preventing them from ever happening.

It’s important to be able to identify the signs and symptoms of this condition so that you can get the proper treatment that you can. The only problem is, sometimes symptoms are hard to detect simply because they are very similar to things you may experience as a result of getting older. To not get mixed up, you’ll want to know what to look for. You have to be careful though, as each sign by itself may not look like it points to Low T. It could be a sign of normal aging or it may be a sign caused by a different medical condition.

However, a few key items to be on the lookout for in men include sexual dysfunction and reduced sex drive. These are the top ones, meaning that you feel unable to maintain erections and your level of sexual activity is reduced. Additionally, you feel a decrease in overall energy which can contribute to your mood. Because of these symptoms, you start to experience a loss of body hair, which results in less shaving. You start to feel depressed. With this depressed mood, you start to increase in body fat. Due to all these physical changes, your body decreases in bone strength. Finally, you also are reduced in muscle mass. If you feel that you are experiencing any or all of these symptoms, please don’t push them to the side.

Even if it turns out you don’t have Low T, you will be relieved to know what is causing these symptoms in the case it happens to be a different medical condition. Have it checked by your doctor and go through the proper medical exam along with blood tests to be sure. For men, if testosterone falls below 300 ng/dL, it is low. Low T can be treated, though, and your healthcare provider will know what treatment is right for you, including the benefits and risks if you decide to go for it.

When your testosterone falls below normal levels, it is called Low T. When Low T happens, it usually means there has been a signaling malfunction. In men, a signaling problem between the brain and testes can cause a drop in the amount of testosterone that is being produced in the body. In addition, whenever the brain feels that the level of testosterone in the body is too high, it sends a message to the testes to lower production of the hormone. A malfunction in the testes where your body just can’t produce the proper amount of testosterone causes Low T to happen.

Now it’s perfectly normal for men to make less testosterone later on in life. This is a natural process as part of aging. However, Low T can sometimes occur, causing a medical condition known as hypogonadism. Symptoms of this condition include reduced sexual function, depressed mood, and decreased energy as well. Unfortunately, telling the signs of Low T can be difficult as they are not readily obvious at the outset. Normal changes in the body due to aging are hard to tell apart from the symptoms of Low T. On top of that, some of the signs of Low T are similar to those of other medical conditions. In the case that you are concerned about your testosterone level, you can at least find out from your doctor if you have hypogonadism. Your doctor should be able to give you a medical exam to test your body for signs and symptoms, then afterwards, you can get blood tests done to further assess your condition. From that point on, your doctor can provide you with treatment options and resources should you need them. To bring your T levels back up again to normal, there is the option of TRT, or testosterone replacement therapy. TRT can help adjust your disrupted signals to get your body back on track. It’s never fun to feel out of sync with your body and mind, but hopefully, with the right medical exams and tests, your healthcare provider will find a viable solution to get you back!

The hormone estrogen, found in abundance in women, is the origin of hormone replacement therapy. For over 40 years, estrogen has been prescribed to those women who need relief from their menopausal symptoms. The great thing about this hormone is that its care extends well beyond than just helping women cope with menopause, leading many women to keep the therapy going, some for a lifetime. The effects are simply amazing, as many medical researchers feel strongly that hormone replacement therapy can be used not just for treatment of menopausal symptoms, but for life-long therapy of age-related diseases as well. With all the benefits that estrogen can provide to not only make you feel better and refreshed, but also to maintain the body you have in a healthy, disease-fighting manner, hormone replacement therapy can be a great way to achieve the health goals that your body requires.

Hormone replacement therapy works so well it goes above and beyond healthcare providers’ and scientists’ wildest imagination. Patients have found that the effects take place almost immediately, with the feeling of dipping into the fountain of youth. This therapy makes you feel a lot more energetic, allowing you to complete many activities that you may not have been able to do before without the proper treatment. Most importantly, hormone replacement therapy makes you feel alive again. It changes your thoughts about aging and prolongs your life, making it more enjoyable, adding life to your years. It will change your thoughts on the way medicine works and you will love the new body you are able to have.

DHEA is perhaps the most recognized hormone produced in the body as it also happens to be the most abundant hormone made in the human body. While not all the facts are absolutely clear, some believe this hormone is multifunctional and age-defying as well. DHEA may be converted into testosterone, estrogen, or progesterone. Through scientific studies, DHEA has shown to affect the immune system, sex drive, metabolism, and emotional stability. This definitely makes it highly abundant and present in many body systems to make sure the body functions properly in a healthy environment. And how does it defy age? By helping out the immune system, DHEA regulates the stress hormones by working as a strong antioxidant. DHEA is also known for many other health benefits. Some of these include lowering chances of cognitive decline, aiding in coping with stress, along with lowering cholesterol to reduce risks of heart disease.

Then you have melatonin, a hormone that is produced by the pineal gland, which to some researchers, is the gland that is the origin of our body’s aging process. Melatonin not only controls every cell in the body, but also regulates our body’s sleep schedule by tackling the circadian rhythm. By tapping into our immune system during our deepest sleep, melatonin can act as a powerful antioxidant that protects the health of our bodies against heart diseases, cancers, and is basically listed as an essential hormone.

Estrogen is the primary female hormone, just like testosterone is the primary male hormone. Women going through menopause love the effects of estrogen as it appeases menopause symptoms to make it easier to make it through the day. Estrogen also helps with muscle tone, wrinkles, hair texture, and libido. With all the natural benefits of hormones, it is no wonder that we are constantly on the search for ways to maintain our hormones at a healthy level. Natural hormones really work well together to help our bodies remain in good condition to last a long time. They can function as antioxidants to boost our immune systems and fight against diseases and chronic illnesses. They also help our reproductive systems so we can be at the top of our game. Thinking about all these benefits makes it necessary to learn a bit more about how they work and what we can do to manage our levels.

In addition to this great perk of effective testosterone in the body, the hormone stimulates and maintains sexual function. You can bet this is a beneficial factor in both men and women. But that’s not all testosterone is here for. It increases muscle mass and strength. With your muscles in good condition, your body stays fit. Of course, finally, your body needs strong bones to get through each day’s activities, day to day. Testosterone maintains bone strength for you.

With all these great benefits to maintain your body’s health, it’s definitely important to keep an eye out for your body’s testosterone level. Like many other things that must be regulated and kept balanced in the body, testosterone is no different. You may have heard of the big ones: keep your cholesterol and blood pressure levels in check to avoid heart disease and other evils of the world. There is nothing wrong with that while maintaining a healthy level of testosterone as well.

For those who are curious, normal numerical ranges are available to compare and look at to make sure your body is keeping normal testosterone levels, also called T levels. In men, the brain and testicles work together to help the body maintain an appropriate healthy level of the hormone. They collaborate to keep it within the healthy range. When T levels drop below the range, the brain is there to send signals to the testicles to produce more. When these levels make it to the normal range, the brain sends out signals again to the testicles to stop forming so much of the hormone. For this reason it is important for the body to have components that function well together to keep a steady amount of T levels going and not overdo it at the same time.

The study noted that it was a timing of eating issue. The article suggested that the bigger weight gains for the mice living with light at night were because the mice tended to eat at times they normally wouldn’t, particularly when they WERE NOT ACTIVE. They ate the same number of calories, just at the wrong times.

A follow-up study found that those “mice exposed to light at night — but that had food availability restricted to normal eating times [WHEN THEY WERE ACTIVE] gained no more weight than did mice in a normal light-dark cycle.”

This may seem like a new discovery to assist people in their efforts to lose weight and maintain weight. However, over the years, we have observed that many night shift workers have difficulty with weight gain, just like the mice. This includes many of the medical persons who work night shifts at their hospitals.

At NBH Lifetime Health, we have consistently advised our night shift clients to blacken their rooms to make it as dark as possible when they sleep. We have also advised those clients who do not work at night, to turn off all lights in their bedrooms and ensure that no light from the outside is shining into their bedrooms. TURN OFF THE NIGHT LIGHT TV!

Conclusion: One way to avoid weight gain if you work the night shift (like many medical persons) is to eat at normal times, that is, when you are active.

Melatonin: There are other factors at work here besides the timing of your eating, including the effects of the hormone Melatonin. This hormone is designed to increase at night and decrease with light.
When it is high, Melatonin helps ensure your deep sleep. As we age, this is one of many hormones that decrease. When Melatonin is low (exposed to light), it helps you wake up and stay awake. This is a reason to expose yourself to natural sunlight and perhaps take Melatonin at night (or day if you work night in a darkened room).

Timing of Eating: At our clinics, we also recommend that you not only you eat at those times when your body is still active, but if you work days, eat early in the evening, preferably so there are at least 12 hours between dinner and breakfast. If you must have a late night snack (for example to maintain glucose control), eat a small portion of protein.

By Mike Clark, Director of Education & Research
NBH Lifetime Health Weight Loss & Hormone Clinics, Medline South