While many people are under the impression that the body’s hormone production is a self-contained system, a surprising number of lifestyle factors can influence the amount of testosterone in your body. In today’s post, we’ll take an in-depth look at four ways in which you may be unknowingly lowering your testosterone levels. If you think you may be suffering from the symptoms of low testosterone, then get in touch with our men’s health clinic to learn more about testosterone replacement therapy in Tucson!
Drinking
Your body has to metabolize the alcohol you consume, and when your liver is breaking down the ethanol from your favorite beverage, it’s not producing NAD+, an essential enzyme in testosterone production.
While a night on the town with your friends is almost a certainly a good time, your testosterone levels go down as your alcohol consumption goes up. While men with chronic drinking problems are more likely than recreational drinkers to have problems with their testosterone production, men who are concerned about their testosterone levels, or men who are currently receiving testosterone replacement therapy, should limit their drinking as much as possible.
Poor Sleep
Here at Men’s Vitality Center, we know that our clients lead busy lives. Whether you have young children, a demanding job, a busy school schedule, or a thriving social life, it can be difficult to make enough time for a good night’s sleep. However, decades of research show that if you’re losing sleep regularly, then your testosterone levels will almost certainly suffer. Your body’s testosterone production is at its peak during deep sleep, so poor or frequently interrupted sleep will compromise your testosterone levels the next day.
If your sleep quality is compromised due to low testosterone levels, then testosterone therapy may be a necessary first step before you begin to feel better.
Chronic Stress
Are you feeling stressed or anxious in your day-to-day life? Your body produces cortisol, the fight-or-flight hormone, in response to perceived threats or stressful situations. While this hormone served our ancestors well when they had to constantly watch for predators and other forms of danger, a high-stress lifestyle can lead to chronically elevated cortisol levels. Testosterone production is suppressed when your body is filled with cortisol, so find a way to destress and relax if you’re feeling overwhelmed in your day-to-day life.
BPA
Chemical bisphenol A, also known as BPA, is a chemical found in plastic bottles, packaging, and canned food linings. The FDA has ruled that BPA is safe to consume in small amounts, though the chemical has been banned in France and other areas of the world due to its effects on hormone production. More specifically, BPA has been strongly associated with changes in the endocrine system, which plays a role in testosterone production. There are numerous other risks of BPA exposure, so try to find BPA-free water bottles, cups, packages, and canned goods whenever possible. If you’re not sure about a certain bottle or container, then it’s better to err on the side of caution and purchase a new, BPA-free replacement.
We hope that this post has helped you to better understand how you may be unknowingly impacting your testosterone levels. If you’re interested in learning more about testosterone replacement therapy in Tucson, then reach out to a member of Men’s Vitality Center to request more information! We look forward to speaking with you soon.
