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The Care of
the Masculine
By Thomas Stearns Lee, NMD
Why should you or your man settle for Viagra?
There are safer and better ways to treat the sad epidemic of sexual
dysfunction facing America today. Media reports have described
this epidemic, to some extent, but the true "male menopause" or
"andropause" condition is a story yet to be told.
Masculinity has been going through rapid change.
What it will become, we have yet to find out. This article
sidesteps the political and social drama of gender issues, and it
simply describes some physical things affecting men and the women
who love them. Problems facing women are just as critical to a
couple's love life, but they are presented more completely
elsewhere.
Picture an active and happy life for yourself.
It would probably include a healthy sex life with a loving partner.
High-level pleasure from sex requires a balance of hormone and
nutrient levels in strong bodies, good attitudes, and a positive,
healthy environment. Many things get in the way of these
ideals. Both men and women need testosterone, estrogen, growth
hormone, and many other biochemicals in different amounts, and at
different times in their lives. Your mission, if you should
accept it, is to figure out this puzzle and protect yourself and the
quality of your family life with that knowledge.
It is a tough time for testosterone. This
hormone, which is actually present in both men and women (in women
at about one-tenth the amount as men) has developed a bad-boy
reputation, and it isn't even as macho as it is made out to be.
We will look at things that hurt masculinity and male hormonal
health, and offer some products and information that will help.
Because so many factors are involved and the health
sciences are so complex, this article must be kept very basic.
For those who want more scholarly study as well as an entertaining
read, dive into these fascinating books:
The effects of testosterone include greater muscle
repair, anti-depression, cardiovascular benefits, and many types of
repair services that we don't want to lose, even if we are not in a
relationship or otherwise sexually deployed. The erection
power alone also requires growth hormone, estrogen, HCG, good muscle
tone, good circulation, a balanced nervous system, and an available
imagination. All of these can decline as we age.
Hormones work together in a web-like design of chemical balance
between our brain and body. They are a way that thought turns
into body chemistry. These biochemicals are difficult to
understand, but if you make the effort, potential benefits to your
health and happiness are enormous.
What is happening to human testosterone levels, and
why? They are in steep decline in our society for too many
reasons. Both men and women need testosterone for libido,
healthy hearts, and muscle tone. A common age-related decline
in testosterone is observed to be a straight line down from the late
twenties and early thirties, until whenever death takes us.
Low levels of testosterone are bad news for both men and women
because they are associated with heart and artery diseases, cancers,
chronic fatigue, depression, loss of libido, osteoporosis, lower
immunity, and even death.
But it gets more complex. Your brain (along
with the pituitary and hypothalamus glands) must monitor your
hormone levels. It uses positive and negative feedback from
blood levels to do this. If you want to rewire your car, you
need a schematic diagram of the circuits, right?
Hormone activities are just as complex. The
enzyme called aromatase works naturally to convert testosterone into
estrogen. If someone makes or takes testosterone and has lots
of this aromatase enzyme around, it will convert some of that
testosterone to estrogen, which in turn will shut off some of the
testosterone effects.
Aromatase is most concentrated in the skin,
especially over adipose and in the scrotum. Some men have a
lot of aromatase, and others far less. Fat cells contribute a
great amount of aromatase, and many nutrient deficiencies can also
produce higher levels. Things that inhibit aromatase will
preserve and stimulate more testosterone activity. And the
reverse is true. This is one answer to "Where have all the
cowboys gone?"
More bad news for our testosterone levels, with
their health benefits and resulting masculine behavior, is that many
household chemicals and environmental toxins from pesticides,
plastics, synthetic foods, and drugs have demonstrated partial
estrogen and/or anti-testosterone effects.
Adequate testosterone is required by so many healthy
functions that this decline in hormone levels is literally killing
people before their time. Even more men and women lose their
quality of life to depression, immunity problems, fatigue, and
apathy caused by inadequate levels or counterfeit forms of
testosterone.
Some common factors that raise levels of estrogens
in men's bodies are:
-
Age-related increase in aromatase activity.
-
Zinc deficiency -- Trial test your body
with 50-75 mg daily for 2 weeks, and 25 mg per day 6 days a week
from then on.
-
Obesity -- High estrogen is found in most
obese people of all ages.
-
Carbohydrate intolerance and insulin
sensitivity -- This affects the adrenal strength and all other
major hormone levels.
-
Overuse of alcohol -- If it makes you "feel
good," suspect higher blood sugar, and estrogens as nerve
stimulants.
-
Liver function changes -- All the above are
liver stressors.
-
Prescription drug side effects --
Especially diuretics and liver activity drugs.
Natural medicines shown to protect your testosterone
levels are herbs like sarsaparilla, ginseng, saw palmetto, tribulus,
yohimbe, and ashwaganda. Nutrient minerals like zinc, boron,
magnesium, Vitamin C, and some tonics from Chinese and Indian
medical systems are also effective. Regular exercise of the
major muscles like the thighs, gluteals, or lower legs can help,
too. So lower the negative factors in your life, increase
these helpful ones, and you will safely improve your hormone levels
and the quality of your life.
Hormonal balance will affect your quality of life --
for as long as you live. If you and your doctor agree that you
need to restore more youthful levels, (s)he now has access to
"natural" hormones, meaning human-identical hormones. Accept
no patented substitutes. These come in a variety of forms.
The hormone creams applied to the skin, or injections into muscle
work out as the most cost effective and gentle on your system.
If you build or regain a healthy balance in your hormone system,
you'll never need to consider Viagra again.
In the months ahead, many male tonics, diets, and
systems will get their moment of fame. Using these products,
and concepts, some men will finally gain ground in this epidemic of
male menopause.
But here's the bottom line: you'll save money
and help your health more by using these natural medicines than by
getting desperate and jumping for miracle cures or "elephant gun"
drugs.
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