Boosting Testosterone

Paul Jenkins considers the pros and cons of increasing your levels of Testosterone.

It would seem that fundamentally, the very essence of sporting performance is due to our hormones, more specifically, the male sex hormone Testosterone. This androgenic hormone gives us all our manly assets, such as muscle size and strength, facial hair, deepening of the voice, aggression. As we age and grow older, our testosterone levels decline, and thus so do our strength, muscle mass, virility and other athletic and male assets.

Boosting Testosterone

At the core of being manly, we find Testosterone. Being such a huge factor in athletic performance, optimising natural endogenous testosterone levels has become common practice since the history of man has been recorded. As such, men, young and old alike, regularly endeavour to increase their Testosterone. It is even purported that the ancient Greek's used to ingest sheep testes to increase Testosterone levels before competing in the first Olympic Games.

In our modern-day quest for high Testosterone, we may find ourselves eating certain foodstuffs high in minerals and other micronutrients that benefit Testosterone production or supplement with natural Testosterone boosting supplements. By doing so, we may achieve our short-term goal - high Testosterone; however, are we looking at the bigger picture? Although the androgenic sex hormone - Testosterone is great for our virility working wonders for the art of being manly, having a high Testosterone level can harm the prostate gland.

Prostate Gland

The prostate is a small male gland, around the size of a walnut, located directly below the bladder, intertwined with the urethra. The prostate gland forms an integral component of the male reproductive system. Its function is to protect sperm by way of an alkaline fluid. The alkaline ph of the prostatic fluid helps protect the sperm from the acidity of the female vagina; the liquid also increases the mobility of sperm. During ejaculation, alkaline prostatic fluid is excreted into the urethra, where it is mixed with sperm and then released as semen.

Effects of High Testosterone on the Prostate

Why is this relevant to having a high Testosterone level? The prostate contains high levels of an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase, which converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The more testosterone your testes produce, the more DHT the prostate will provide via the conversion pathway of 5-alpha-reductase. DHT is more commonly known for its cause of male pattern baldness; however, DHT also harms the prostate gland, making it grow like a weed.

This condition, prostate enlargement, is called benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH). BPH has many poor symptoms, not limited to, but including; urinary pain, frequent urination at night, reduced sexual potency and painful sexual activity. While pharmaceutical treatments are available for this condition, these prescription medicines generally only seem to offer symptomatic relief, leaving the prostate in turmoil with the increased risk of prostate cancer.

Prevention is Better than Cure

If you are a powerlifter, bodybuilder, athlete, regular gym-goer, participate in any resistance training, and use any Testosterone boosting supplements. You are more at risk from BPH than your average Joe. The best way to prevent the degenerative condition BPH is to catch it early. For this reason, I would strongly suggest supplementing with Saw Palmetto. Saw Palmetto is an extract from the berries of two varieties of fan palm; Sabal serrulta and Serenoa repens.

These low growing palm trees are native to the southern United States, commonly in Florida and in certain parts of Europe. Their berries, saw palmetto, contain abundant amounts of fatty oils, fatty acids and phytosterols (plant-based steroid compounds). These extracts work by inhibiting the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme, which in turn leads to a reduction in the androgen DHT. Having stood the test of time, these wonder berries have been used for thousands of years.

In ancient times, the Mayans saw palmetto berries to make a tonic they drank to improve health and vitality. I would suggest taking 200 mg of Saw Palmetto once to twice daily, with food, depending on whether used as "prevention or cure".

Evidence vs Ancient Myth

While the ancient Mayan civilisation may have consumed Saw palmetto berries to better their health, does this quantify its benefits? Is this just an ancient myth? Is there any evidence to suggest that Saw palmetto has any positive effects whatsoever on the prostate? The Mayan civilisation had incredibly advanced knowledge of mathematics, the solar system and the universe.

They could construct architectural wonders, such as immense stone pyramids, aligning them perfectly to the celestial bodies of our night sky. Encode advanced mathematical formulas and other such calendars into their buildings. Hence, it is no surprise that they also possessed advanced knowledge of nature's plants their chemical components and knew how to harness the power of plants for their nutritional and biological properties. Our modern-day science also confirms what the Mayan's knew; Saw palmetto is of significant benefit to prostate health.

Studies show Saw palmetto has a positive effect on the prostate and can be used as an effective treatment against BPH. So much so, in the UK, the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Association (MHRA), a section of the government that deals with the classification of medicines and healthcare products, have now classified Saw palmetto extract as being "medicinal" due to its pharmacological effects on human physiology.

Summary

Elevating Testosterone, by any means, whether it be lifting weights, taking supplements, making dietary changes, or using synthetic Testosterone, increases the risk of BPH and prostate-related health issues. With that thought in mind, I would like to advise that if you are actively trying to improve your Testosterone, adding Saw palmetto into your nutritional regime will be beneficial.

Page Reference

If you quote information from this page in your work, then the reference for this page is:

JENKINS, P. (2015) Boosting Testosterone [WWW] Available from: https://www.brianmac.co.uk/articles/article184.htm [Accessed

About the Author

Paul Jenkins is a competitive British bodybuilder, nutritional coach, and CEO of DNA® Lean sports supplements.


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It would seem that fundamentally, the very essence of sporting performance is due to our hormones, more specifically, the male sex hormone Testosterone. This androgenic hormone gives us all our manly assets, such as muscle size and strength, facial hair, deepening of the voice, aggression. As we age and grow older, our testosterone levels decline, and thus so do our strength, muscle mass, virility and other athletic and male assets. Boosting Testosterone At the core of being manly, we find Testosterone. Being such a huge factor in athletic performance, optimising natural endogenous testosterone levels has become common practice since the history of man has been recorded. As such, men, young and old alike, regularly endeavour to increase their Testosterone. It is even purported that the ancient Greek's used to ingest sheep testes to increase Testosterone levels before competing in the first Olympic Games. In our modern-day quest for high Testosterone, we may find ourselves eating certain foodstuffs high in minerals and other micronutrients that benefit Testosterone production or supplement with natural Testosterone boosting supplements. By doing so, we may achieve our short-term goal - high Testosterone; however, are we looking at the bigger picture? Although the androgenic sex hormone - Testosterone is great for our virility working wonders for the art of being manly, having a high Testosterone level can harm the prostate gland. Prostate Gland The prostate is a small male gland, around the size of a walnut, located directly below the bladder, intertwined with the urethra. The prostate gland forms an integral component of the male reproductive system. Its function is to protect sperm by way of an alkaline fluid. The alkaline ph of the prostatic fluid helps protect the sperm from the acidity of the female vagina; the liquid also increases the mobility of sperm. During ejaculation, alkaline prostatic fluid is excreted into the urethra, where it is mixed with sperm and then released as semen. Effects of High Testosterone on the Prostate Why is this relevant to having a high Testosterone level? The prostate contains high levels of an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase, which converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The more testosterone your testes produce, the more DHT the prostate will provide via the conversion pathway of 5-alpha-reductase. DHT is more commonly known for its cause of male pattern baldness; however, DHT also harms the prostate gland, making it grow like a weed. This condition, prostate enlargement, is called benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH). BPH has many poor symptoms, not limited to, but including; urinary pain, frequent urination at night, reduced sexual potency and painful sexual activity. While pharmaceutical treatments are available for this condition, these prescription medicines generally only seem to offer symptomatic relief, leaving the prostate in turmoil with the increased risk of prostate cancer. Prevention is Better than Cure If you are a powerlifter, bodybuilder, athlete, regular gym-goer, participate in any resistance training, and use any Testosterone boosting supplements. You are more at risk from BPH than your average Joe. The best way to prevent the degenerative condition BPH is to catch it early. For this reason, I would strongly suggest supplementing with Saw Palmetto. Saw Palmetto is an extract from the berries of two varieties of fan palm; Sabal serrulta and Serenoa repens. These low growing palm trees are native to the southern United States, commonly in Florida and in certain parts of Europe. Their berries, saw palmetto, contain abundant amounts of fatty oils, fatty acids and phytosterols (plant-based steroid compounds). These extracts work by inhibiting the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme, which in turn leads to a reduction in the androgen DHT. Having stood the test of time, these wonder berries have been used for thousands of years. In ancient times, the Mayans saw palmetto berries to make a tonic they drank to improve health and vitality. I would suggest taking 200 mg of Saw Palmetto once to twice daily, with food, depending on whether used as "prevention or cure". Evidence vs Ancient Myth While the ancient Mayan civilisation may have consumed Saw palmetto berries to better their health, does this quantify its benefits? Is this just an ancient myth? Is there any evidence to suggest that Saw palmetto has any positive effects whatsoever on the prostate? The Mayan civilisation had incredibly advanced knowledge of mathematics, the solar system and the universe. They could construct architectural wonders, such as immense stone pyramids, aligning them perfectly to the celestial bodies of our night sky. Encode advanced mathematical formulas and other such calendars into their buildings. Hence, it is no surprise that they also possessed advanced knowledge of nature's plants their chemical components and knew how to harness the power of plants for their nutritional and biological properties. Our modern-day science also confirms what the Mayan's knew; Saw palmetto is of significant benefit to prostate health. Studies show Saw palmetto has a positive effect on the prostate and can be used as an effective treatment against BPH. So much so, in the UK, the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Association (MHRA), a section of the government that deals with the classification of medicines and healthcare products, have now classified Saw palmetto extract as being "medicinal" due to its pharmacological effects on human physiology. Summary Elevating Testosterone, by any means, whether it be lifting weights, taking supplements, making dietary changes, or using synthetic Testosterone, increases the risk of BPH and prostate-related health issues. With that thought in mind, I would like to advise that if you are actively trying to improve your Testosterone, adding Saw palmetto into your nutritional regime will be beneficial. Page Reference If you quote information from this page in your work, then the reference for this page is: JENKINS, P. (2015) Boosting Testosterone [WWW] Available from: https://www.brianmac.co.uk/articles/article184.htm [Accessed About the Author Paul Jenkins is a competitive British bodybuilder, nutritional coach, and CEO of DNA® Lean sports supplements.