What Are The Risks Of Testosterone Replacement Therapy?


If you’re suffering from symptoms of low T, you’ll try anything to overcome low testosterone and get back to feeling vibrant, young, and sexy once again. So you visit your doctor, and your doctor mentions testosterone replacement therapy.

But what is TRT? What are the risks of testosterone replacement therapy for men looking to raise their T levels and revitalize their energetic wellness?

What is low testosterone?

Low testosterone levels can occur with age or as a cause of poor diet, stress, hormonal imbalance, and other irregularities in the body. “Low testosterone” is usually defined as a testosterone level below 300 ng/dL.

Some doctors will also look at the free-floating levels of testosterone, which may be a better indicator of the severity of symptoms for a man suffering from low T. Free-floating testosterone is the testosterone hanging out in the bloodstream that’s not currently being used for another hormonal process.


Low T can lead to a number of severe symptoms that drastically impact quality of life:

  • Lowered libido/sex drive
  • Reduced performance in bed
  • Increased anxiety and depression
  • Brain fog and difficulty concentrating
  • Diminished motivation and energy
  • Disturbed or not restful sleep
  • Increased body fat
  • Muscle loss
  • Fatigue
  • Swollen or tender breasts
  • Hot flashes
  • Fewer erections and/or difficulty sustaining erections

Low T creates a general sense of un-wellness that is often so severe it impacts the man’s ability to have a “normal” life. Moreover, low T is linked to a number of serious health issues including diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and ED. There is even a link between low testosterone and shorter life expectancy.

The only way to overcome low testosterone symptoms is to hit it at the source: raise your testosterone levels. There are two ways you can boost your T levels: artificial therapies and natural lifestyle changes. This article is talking about the artificial way. If you’d like natural ways, click here for a great article: https://fitnessvolt.com/boost-testosterone-naturally/

Want our Peptide Guide? Email us at [email protected]

What is Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT)?

TRT is an artificial form of testosterone that is applied or injected into the body to raise testosterone levels. There are a number of forms of testosterone replacement therapy: gels, injections, skin patches, mouth patches, and implants.

Most experts won’t administer oral testosterone because it can have negative effects on the liver. The other methods bypass the liver and deliver testosterone directly into the bloodstream to quickly raise free-floating T level.

Note that TRT is not the same thing as steroids. Although some athletes and gym goers will inappropriately use testosterone injections and implants to “boost their gains,” TRT isn’t worthy of that same “roid rage” reputation. When administered safely by a professional, TRT will not have these same hulk-like effects.

What are the benefits of Testosterone Replacement Therapy?

For some men, TRT is the right solution. For those men with severely low T levels, TRT can help bring them to a normal level quickly and effectively.

Moreover, studies have shown some significant improvements with TRT, including:

  • Increased bone strength and density
  • Improved muscle strength
  • Fiercer sexual function and libido
  • Enhanced endurance and ability to gain muscle
  • Heightened mood and energy
  • Improved hemoglobin levels in participants with anemia
  • Potential boost in cognitive function

What are the risks of Testosterone Replacement Therapy?

TRT is used to pull testosterone levels back to a healthy range. However, TRT has two serious restrictions.

The first is that TRT is artificial. When applying or taking this type of testosterone, you’re introducing unnatural hormones into the body. The body usually responds negatively to “foreign” entities, even though this artificial testosterone is constructed to mimic natural testosterone.

The second key restriction is that testosterone replacement therapy only works in the short term. It will alleviate your symptoms for a given time period… but then it wears off. You then have to go back for another treatment or go through another application.

Aside from these restrictions, TRT also has some other severe risks that are important to consider before beginning a therapy process.

1. Infertility

When your body doesn’t have enough free-floating testosterone (low T), your pituitary gland sends out a hormone called luteinizing hormone (LH). This LH signals the testicles to start producing more testosterone naturally in order to restore your levels. The pituitary gland also sends out a hormone called follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), which signals sperm production. When you have low T, it could be because your pituitary gland has stopped sending out these signals as it used to.

When you start introducing artificial testosterone through TRT, the pituitary gland doesn’t detect that the testosterone levels are naturally low. It says, “Okay, that’s enough,” so it stops sending out the LH and FSH at all. This, in essence, tells your testicles to stop producing testosterone and sperm—which are the two primary functions of the prostate.

In essence, one of the greatest risks of testosterone replacement therapy is that it tells your body to stop naturally creating sperm and testosterone.

When your testicles aren’t working, they start to shrink. In the long term, this can severely hurt your fertility. Your testicles will shrink and stop producing sperm, which will make it harder for you to get your partner pregnant.

Moreover, it tells your body to stop producing testosterone. This means that your body has “forgotten” how to naturally produce testosterone on its own, so you become dependent on TRT.

One of the risks of testosterone replacement therapy is the very thing that keeps TRT in business… once you’re on TRT, you’re on it for life.

Worse yet, this testicle shrinkage and infertility is often irreversible.

2. Breast Enlargement

Even with the natural production of testosterone, some T is converted into the hormone estradiol. Estradiol is a form of estrogen that can stimulate breast tissue to grow. When you add more testosterone quickly, as with TRT, your body senses an influx of T. It will the convert a higher percentage of the free testosterone to estradiol. This estradiol can cause gynecomastia, which is a fancy term for “man boobs.” It’s also important to note that gynecomastia is linked to a 10x higher risk for breast cancer in men.

If you spur testosterone production naturally, though, you have a slower release of testosterone into the bloodstream. The body won’t detect high levels of T to convert, so a smaller percentage of the testosterone will be converted to estradiol.

3. Swelling

TRT can make your body hang on to excess fluid. For many men. this can cause swelling in the feet and ankles. It’s similar to how pregnant women’s feet swell due to hormonal changes in their bodies!

4. Acne

Artificial testosterone introduces new hormones into the system, which can change the type of skin you have. You might go from a dry face to an oily one, a clear complexion to one filled with cystic acne. How your body responds to these foreign hormones can be unpredictable.

5. Spreading

One of the major concerns with at-home TRT is the proximity to women and children. For example, a man uses testosterone gel, applied to his arm once per day. After application, he bumps against his wife while reaching for the keys, and some of the gel wipes off on her without their knowledge. He then reaches down and picks up his eight-year-old son to give him a hug goodbye. He pets the family dog and leaves the house.

This has now spread testosterone to other members of the family. For women, this can throw off their estrogen balance and cause concerns with fertility, hair growth, and even ineffective birth control. Spreading testosterone to children frequently can even cause children to go through premature puberty. Testosterone spread to pets can actually make them more aggressive and volatile.

If you don’t properly wash your hands, dispose of the gel, and protect the application area every single time, you could do damage to your loved ones.

6. Other side effects

Other side effects include sleep apnea, moodiness, pain, soreness, rash, itching, and allergic reaction. Read the Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management review for the benefits and risks of testosterone replacement therapy to learn about more side effects.

7. Cardiovascular problems

There has been debate whether or not TRT is linked to cardiovascular problems. Early studies found that testosterone therapy was linked to coronary artery plaque buildup, but recent studies have overwhelmingly disproven these results. Most reviews conclude that there is “no compelling evidence to indicate that T therapy increases cardiovascular risk.”

However, there are still some potential clotting concerns with TRT. Testosterone therapy increases hematocrit, which is the percentage of red blood cells in the bloodstream. If this percentage gets too high, the blood thickens and can start causing clots. This should not be a concern when a doctor safely administers TRT in a regulated way.

Is prostate cancer a risk of Testosterone Replacement Therapy?

Early studies demonstrated a positive association between TRT and long-term growth of prostate cancer. However, experts are beginning to realize the relationship is much more complex than that. There are two key theories with regards to the link between TRT and prostate cancer.

Some believe the saturation theory, which says that the prostate becomes more sensitive to androgens when at lower testosterone levels. Then, when TRT introduces artificial androgens into the system—which already has low testosterone— it stimulates the prostate cells to grow more rapidly.

The second hypothesis is the dependence theory. This says that the duration of exposure to androgen levels is the primary driver for risk of cancer. Basically, the longer you introduce artificial testosterone androgens into the body, the more likely you’ll increase your risk for mutated cells.

However, neither theory has been proven or disproven. Rather, it’s been concluded that TRT does not necessarily cause prostate cancer, but it may worsen it. Most doctors will not give TRT to anyone with active prostate cancer, as it can progress the disease at a faster rate. When administering TRT to patients with a low-risk for prostate cancer, most doctors will check the patient’s PSA levels yearly.

The reason TRT may worsen prostate cancer? Because artificial testosterone converts to estradiol, which is a form of estrogen. And estrogen may be linked to prostate cancer! Learn more about the link between testosterone, estrogen, and prostate cancer here.

Although TRT does not necessarily cause prostate cancer, it still has some effect on the prostate. Testosterone replacement therapy has been linked to BPH and testicle shrinkage, as discussed above under “infertility.”

What is the alternative to TRT?

I believe that the natural solution is always the best solution first and foremost. It is possible to naturally increase your testosterone levels in the long-term without damaging your body.

Learn more about natural, effective methods to boost testosterone here:

Bottom line

TRT can have some benefits to improving quality of life right away—but ultimately, the long-term risks are not worth the short-term reward. TRT stops the natural production of testosterone and sperm, making you dependent upon TRT if you want to live a normal and healthy life. But there’s no need to worry about the serious, long-term risks of testosterone replacement therapy. Natural lifestyle changes can and will stimulate your body’s natural production of testosterone once again.

The best place to start if you want a hormonal optimization or peptide program is by seeing a physician first.  Have a doctor draw your blood and evaluate whether you are a candidate for therapy.

Smart Men’s Health with Dr. Tracy Gapin is currently accepting new clients and offers a comprehensive evaluation, blood test and state-of-the-art screening. If you are tired of being tired… or you have tried everything to lose that unwanted weight but nothing seems to be working, our Peptide therapy might be the piece to the puzzle that you are missing. Call us today to schedule your consultation. (941) 444-1441.

Upgrade to Male 2.0™– Schedule a Consult!

You’ll get access to a genetic-based report and analysis, along with a private consultation that will put you on track to your ultimate health.

With the Male 2.0 Method, I test your DNA, interpret the results, and create a customized strategy just for you. This plan is specific to YOUR individual genes and lifestyle.  It will improve every area of your life, from your health and professional productivity to your overall longevity and total wellbeing. Male 2.0 gives you the actionable tools you need right now.  It reveals what you need to customize and design your future limitless self.

Click here to learn more about the lifelong benefits of a personalized genetics consultation and epigenetic coaching program.

Want more tips to optimize your health?  Listen to the latest podcasts. Click HERE 

I look forward to working with you to take your health goals to the next level.

COMING SOON TO AMAZON

In Male 2.0™, Dr. Tracy Gapin has turned everything we once thought we knew about men’s health and performance upside down. The old model of how to be “a man” is broken. A man who works himself to death. A man who tries to NOT get sick but isn’t really healthy either. A man who takes a pill for every ill but is never really cured. That was Male 1.0. Now, imagine being THE MAN ─ owning your performance in the bedroom, the weight room, and the boardroom. Living a fully optimized life. Becoming limitless. This is Male 2.0!

Tracy Gapin, MD, FACS  is a board-certified Urologist, Men’s Health Expert, Author, and Professional Speaker. Using state-of-the-art biometric monitoring, nutrition and lifestyle intervention, Dr. Gapin coaches Fortune 500 executives and evolutionary leaders of business, sports medicine, and high performance. He specializes in cutting-edge precision medicine with an emphasis on Epigenetics, providing men with a personalized path to optimizing health & performance. www.SmartMensHealth.com 

7 Testosterone Boosting Myths No One Will Tell You About


If you’re one of the 25% of U.S. men suffering from symptoms of low testosterone-or one of the millions of men following testosterone boosting myths-you’ve probably tried anything and everything to raise your testosterone levels. But nothing seems to be working.

If you suffer from low testosterone, you may be experiencing:

  • Low libido and sex drive
  • Low sperm count
  • Weight gain
  • Muscle loss
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Diminished mood
  • Insomnia
  • Brain fog
  • Loss of vitality
  • Erectile dysfunction

Are you sick and tired of these symptoms making you sick and tired?

Of course, you are! So you visit your doctor, who prescribes some testosterone replacement therapy or medications or pumps or doodads… and yet you still feel the same crappy way.

That’s because most therapies for testosterone don’t get to the root of the issue. They raise T-levels in the short-term without attacking the underlying root cause.

So maybe you’ve even decided to make lifestyle changes to address these root-cause concerns. That’s the first step towards overall health and increased testosterone.

But months later and you’re still not seeing results.

Why?

Because there are a number of testosterone boosting myths floating around out in the “world wide web” that just don’t work.

I’m here to debunk those myths to ensure that every lifestyle choice you make is optimizing your health with increased testosterone, regulated hormone levels, and a vibrant sex life!

So what are these testosterone boosting myths? And what can you do instead to exponentially boost your testosterone levels for real?

Myth 1: “Working out boosts your testosterone.”

No, working out doesn’t boost your testosterone. This is a common testosterone boosting myth. Working out the right way boosts your testosterone. Not all exercise is created equal when it comes to raising your testosterone levels.

Endurance exercise, like running and cycling, may actually reduce your free-floating testosterone levels. A number of studies have shown that prolonged endurance training can interrupt hormone production and damage the male reproductive system—aka lower testosterone.

Moreover, low testosterone generally means increased estrogen; increased estrogen can lead to low bone density and osteoporosis. This means that men with low testosterone are more susceptible to injuries during endurance exercise. It becomes a double whammy of problematic low T!

But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be working out. In fact, you need physical exercise in order to lose weight and boost your testosterone. Instead, focus your exercise efforts on HIIT, lifting weights, and yoga.

High-intensity interval training has been shown to have a higher testosterone response than steady endurance exercise. It also burns more calories and boosts fat loss in both the short- and long-term. One study of overweight men found that 12 weeks of HIIT reduced their fat mass by 17%. Losing weight thus helps to increase the level of free-floating testosterone, regulate hormones, and reduce the risks of metabolic syndrome.

Combining HIIT with weightlifting has been shown to help burn fat at a higher rate. Lifting weights helps to build muscle. The more muscle you have, the higher your testosterone levels. Plus, body muscle helps your body use up more energy and burn more fat. You’ll burn fat at a faster rate, helping to quench weight-related low T.

Yoga has also been studied as a strong testosterone booster. Yoga can help lower stress and anxiety, which in turn lowers cortisol levels. Cortisol kills testosterone production and destabilizes hormones. Yoga is able to minimize cortisol to improve T levels and overall reproductive health. Yoga has also been shown to boost libido, improve erection quality, improve orgasms, stimulate genital blood flow, and enhance sexual pleasure. It’s time for downward dog if you ask me!

Myth 2: Eating fats hurts your testosterone levels.

Having fat on your body can lower your T levels, but eating fats will now lower your testosterone. In fact, you need fats in your diet because testosterone is fat-soluble. If you cut out fats, your free-floating testosterone has no where to run… so your T lowers in tandem.

In fact, low-fat diets are proven to kill your T. One study found that a diet with less than 40% fat drastically decreased testosterone levels. Another study found that increasing the percentage of calories from fat from 20% to 40% increased testosterone levels drastically. This study also found that a low-fat, high-fiber diet reduced testosterone by 12%. Moreover, fats are necessary to regulate the endocrine (hormone) system, including the production of testosterone.


Plus, eating fats can actually help you burn body fat. Research found that participants eating a low-fat diet only burned 18.8% of their energy from fat, while the high-fat diet group burned 41% of their energy from fat. Furthermore, the high-fat group had 13% higher testosterone levels.

Nevertheless, eating a diet too rich in fats can make you gain weight. And being overweight or obese will lower your testosterone levels. In this way, you’ll want to eat healthy fats like omega 3s (fish), avocados, and coconut oil. You should also evenly balance all three of your macronutrients: carbs, fats, and protein. 

Myth 3: Eating carbs hurts your testosterone levels.

In the same vein, people tend to demonize carbs. Nope, this is another testosterone boosting myth. In reality, carbs are absolutely necessary for hormone production. Sure, processed carbs are bad for you, but they give all carbs an unnecessarily bad rep. Whole-wheat products and grains are vital to ensure your body stays healthy and functioning.
A study by the University of North Carolina found that participants on a low-carb diet had reduced testosterone and raised cortisol (which kills the production of T). On the other hand, a Life Sciences Journal Study found that men on a high-carb diet for 10 days had higher levels of testosterone and lower levels of cortisol.

In this way, scientists have concluded that carbs help keep cortisol levels low. Cortisol not only stops the production of testosterone but also binds to free-floating testosterone for a double whammy of low T. Carbs can help fight off these T-killing effects of cortisol. If you want to boost your testosterone, stick to a moderate amount of whole-wheat, full-grain carbs.

Myth 4: Soy will increase testosterone levels.

Soy is commonly considered a healthy protein alternative to “fatty” meats. Not in the testosterone boosting myth busters house! Soy can be found in a number of protein powders, as people assume soy can help build muscle. The real reason “soy protein isolate” is used in so many protein powders? It’s cheap and easy to come by.

Researchers have found that soy can actually lower testosterone and raise cortisol. This is likely because soy is highly estrogenic, so much so that one study even found male subjects had enlarged breast and nipple discharge when eating high amounts of soy. This is obviously not what any guy wants who is trying to raise their testosterone levels. Perhaps they will have better luck with a testosterone booster taken as a dietary supplement.

Moreover, men who eat a lot of soy were found to have high levels of equol in their bloodstream. Equol is an anti-androgen that shuts down hormone production, making the manufacture of testosterone impossible. This soy-related diminishment of hormone production can also lead to infertility and low sperm count.


Steer clear of soy if you’re working on boosting your testosterone levels. Watch out for “soy protein isolate” in your protein powders. Be aware of the soy content in your sushi platters.

If you’re lactose intolerant and use soy as an alternative, try almond milk or cashew milk instead. These nut milks are lower in calories and higher in testosterone-boosting goodness. 

Myth 5: Drinking alcohol gives you a “man’s” boost.

The image of sipping a cold beer or scotch seems “manly,” and so many people naturally associate alcohol with testosterone. However, booze actually lowers your testosterone levels, reduces fertility, and promotes weight gain. One study found that alcohol, even in the short-term, can severely suppress the synthesis of testosterone. Some studies even show that two drinks per day can cause these testosterone-minimalizing effects. Alcohol has also been linked to erectile dysfunction, depression, and anxiety—all of which are related to low T.

Plus, alcohol makes you gain weight. Drinking your calories without any nutritious value is a sure-fire way to quickly increase the number on the scale. And the higher the number on the scale, the lower your testosterone.

Alcohol also influences the liver. The liver is responsible for metabolizing testosterone and ridding the body of excess estrogen. While you’re drinking, the liver has to instead work to metabolize the alcohol rather than rid the body of estrogen. Estrogen then builds up in the body, which suppresses T production and stores more fat.


Beer is especially a testosterone killer. The hops in beer are highly estrogenic, so much so that beer is being studied as a treatment for hot flashes in menopausal women. The estrogenic properties in beer slow down testosterone production and pack on the pounds towards a double whammy of low T.

Alcohol of any type is the enemy of your testosterone by stopping testosterone production, increasing estrogen, raising cortisol, damaging the liver, and increasing fat storage. The more you drink, the lower your testosterone.

It’s okay to drink in moderation, though. Have one glass per day or keep your drinking to once per week.

Myth 6: ED medications help with boosting testosterone.

The relationship between low testosterone and erectile dysfunction is complex and not fully understood. But we know that treating ED doesn’t solve low testosterone, and raising testosterone doesn’t necessarily treat ED. Although the two are linked, they’re not interdependent. A man could have low testosterone and diminished libido but still have the ability to have an erection. Another man may be incredibly horny with a high sex drive, but he can’t seem to have an erection when the time comes. ED and low T both affect sex, but they’re not the same.

In this way, erectile dysfunction medications are not a solution for low T.

Moreover, ED medications could actually affect your testosterone levels in some way. Because ED medications like Viagra and Cialis only mask the symptoms of an underlying problem, they can actually create more psychological concerns. These can influence your brain’s ability to send signals to the endocrine system to make testosterone.

If you have erectile dysfunction, talk to your doctor to see if you have low testosterone as well. The two are not the same, but they can often be treated with similar lifestyle changes.

Myth 7: Masturbation boosts your testosterone.

Some men have the belief that the more you masturbate, the higher your testosterone levels. The thought process goes that every time you get aroused, your testosterone levels go up. So masturbating and getting aroused often is good for T levels… right? Negative, this is another one of those crazy testosterone boosting myths.

Well, that’s not exactly how it works. While it’s true that arousal boosts testosterone in the short-term, masturbating too often can create hormonal imbalances and erectile dysfunction. Frequent masturbation over-stimulates the levels of dopamine (which is the hormone that triggers sexual pleasure).

If dopamine is released too often, your body stops responding to it. This means that when you masturbate, you won’t feel the same sort of satisfaction that you do in the past. This not only destabilizes your hormones and forces testosterone to take a back seat… it also creates a masturbation addiction.

You’re constantly looking for that sexual pleasure, but you can’t achieve it because your brain has become desensitized to the related dopamine.

Moreover, multiple ejaculations increase the level of estrogen in the body. The more you ejaculate, the lower your androgen receptor activity (aka lower free-floating testosterone). Higher estrogen and lower testosterone can throw your body out of whack for days. If this happens often, like with a masturbation addiction, this imbalance can severely damage your T levels long-term.

Still, some studies suggest that a short-term sexual abstinence of 7 days can result in a 145% spike in testosterone. Nevertheless, too much abstinence can lower your testosterone.

So what’s the solution? Have sex. Find a partner, though some prefer the use of a sex doll, and revel in that intimacy. Unlike masturbation, sex is proven to increase testosterone levels because of the sexual arousal and personal intimacy needed for the act. Older men who have sex have higher testosterone levels than those who don’t, and a study of couples found they had higher T levels on nights where they had sex over nights they didn’t.

Having sex 1-2 times a day will keep your testosterone strong and your health and wellness vivacious. Doctor’s orders!

Bottom Line

Don’t believe everything you read or hear about testosterone. It is possible to boost your testosterone with natural and healthy lifestyle changes. But those changes shouldn’t necessarily include endurance exercise, depriving yourself of fats and carbs, eating too much soy, over-drinking, and over-stimulating your mini-me.

If you want to increase your testosterone levels with healthy lifestyle changes, learn more with my article 13 Ways To Increase Testosterone Naturally. Ready to take the ultimate step? Sign up for our G1 Performance Health program, a genetic-based report and private consultation that will get you started on a total body transformation.

What are you waiting for? Sign up for G1 Performance Health now!

Transform Your Body In 24 Hours With Intermittent Fasting


Intermittent fasting (IF) has become a craze in the health and nutrition world in recent months… and I’m thrilled to see it’s finally becoming more widespread! Short-term fasting has proven beneficial for years, and IF diet-supplementation is finally getting the props it deserves.

So what is intermittent fasting? What are the benefits?

And how can you implement intermittent fasting to start seeing benefits instantly?

What is intermittent fasting?

What you put into your body isn’t the whole story. Your body responds to more than just calories. When you eat, how often you eat, and how you consume your food also plays a significant role in how your body responds to and uses your food-based nutrients. This is where the idea of intermittent fasting comes in.

Intermittent fasting is a dietary practice that limits the number of calories you consume in a daily or weekly period. While other dieting practices focus on what you eat, IF focuses on how you eat.

IF is not the same as starving yourself. Rather, it restricts your food consumption to a specific window of time. This “feeding” period ensures you still receive the proper daily nutrients your body needs for healthy functioning. Then the “fasting” period—the time in between meals—helps your body use those nutrients to reset and rejuvenate for optimal health.

There are a number of forms of intermittent fasting, which we’ll discuss below in our IF diet plans. But first… why should you even hop onboard the IF train?

What are the benefits of intermittent fasting?

1. Boosts weight loss

Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial to overall health. Obesity is linked to a number of serious and chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, gallbladder disease, arthritis, gout, and even cancers. Maintaining a healthy weight is also crucial to hormone regulation and a functioning endocrine system. This is especially important for men who are suffering from symptoms of low testosterone or erectile dysfunction.

Intermittent fasting can help improve your weight loss efforts in two key ways.

Firstly, your body uses food as its energy source. When fasting, your body still needs energy in order to function. When you’re not consuming energy through food, your body has to tap into its energy storage—aka your fat reserves.

Basically, your body has to burn fat in order to stay functioning while fasting. This can help you shed those extra few pounds that seem to be hanging on for dear life.

Secondly, fasting helps to limit the number of calories you consume. Your body physically can only eat so much in a period of time. This means that if you take away hours of the day where you could be consuming food, you naturally drop your caloric intake.

For example, say your body could consume 1,000 calories per meal. That’s 3,000 calories per day. If you fasted for one of those meals, you’re down to only 2,000 calories. Fast for two meals and you’re at a third of your caloric intake for that day.

This is especially useful for people who are overweight and have a tendency to eat a lot at one sitting. Cutting back on the meals you eat in one day can help you drastically cut your number of calories. Over time, your stomach will start to shrink and your body will crave fewer calories.

You’ll be eating less and burning more!

Note that too much fasting can actually have a negative effect on weight loss. Fasting too frequently or too long can actually put your body into “starvation mode.” Your body then thinks it’s starving, so it will actually hold on to your fat as a way of protection. This is why the practice is called intermittent fasting.

2. Improves workouts

Intermittent fasting can actually improve the efficacy of your workouts, which can then lead to increased weight loss and healthier functioning.

Working out in a fasted state can help build muscle during resistance training. Furthermore, eating post-workout after fasting promotes a faster absorption of nutrients. Two-for-one benefits just by fasting before a workout and eating after!

One study found that when weightlifters underwent 16 hours of fasting, their fat mass decreased significantly… but their muscle mass stayed the same. This means that fasting doesn’t “kill your muscles” as some Negative Nancies would have you believe.

Although the benefits of intermittent fasting are most pronounced for resistance training, IF also has benefits for aerobics and endurance as well. One study found that fasting can even improve training performance while running.

3. Gets rid of toxins


Intermittent fasting helps boost the body’s natural cell death process, which kills off toxic cells and promotes the rebirth of healthy ones.

This is the process of autophagy, which is when unhealthy cells devour themselves. This helps rid the body of toxicity, which can help reverse the aging process and prevent certain diseases. If this process isn’t activated, then damaged cells will hang around and harm the healthy cells. This can lead to cancers (like prostate cancer), growths, inflammation, and other diseases. Autophagy basically cleans out the bad cells, so fresh, healthy cells have room to be born.  

Intermittent fasting can initiate this autophagy process.

In fact, there have been several preliminary studies on the effects of intermittent fasting on cancer patients. A 2009 study found that fasting could help reduce the side effects from toxic chemotherapy. Patients also reported a higher quality of life post-treatment. This response is likely because fasting can help preserve lean body mass while promoting the death of toxic cells (aka those cells that are damaged by chemo).   

Another study concluded that “calorie restriction or fasting demonstrates a wide range of beneficial effects able to help prevent malignancies and increase the efficacy of cancer therapies.”

This research insinuates that intermittent fasting may be able to help protect the body from toxicity.

Those are three pretty consequential benefits of intermittent fasting. Lose weight, have more productive workouts, and get rid of toxins. Plus, these effects then lead to enhanced energy, mental clarity, concentration, hormonal balance, and more. Think of IF as the ultimate “reset” for your body when it’s feeling sluggish.

So how can you implement intermittent fasting in your life so you can reap these awesome rewards?

What are the types of fasting?

There are a number of fasting approaches. I recommend starting with the first approach and working your way up to the last to avoid “shocking” your body. Keep in mind that IF works differently for each person, so you’ll want to find the approach that best fits with your body’s rhythm.

1. Skipped meals

Start by skipping one meal. This will help your body fast for an extra period of time in an easy, convenient way.  

The best meal to skip is breakfast. This means you’ll have fasted for the entire nighttime and morning, which can be a fast of up to 12 hours. In fact, look at the word breakfast: it’s literally the meal that breaks your fast from a night of not eating. If you skip breakfast, you can hold off on breaking that fast just a little bit longer.

You can skip meals once a day, once every other day, or once a week. For this approach, the more frequent the fasting, the more you’ll see the effects.

2. Eating windows

This type of fast lengthens the number of hours you go without food, while still allowing for 1-2 meals during fast days. This type of intermittent fasting condenses your caloric intake to a window between 4 and 7 hours. The rest of the day (and night), you’ll be fasting. It’s most common to fast between 5pm and 11am or 6pm and 12am. This means basically skipping two meals—dinner and breakfast—and eating a heartier lunch.


3. Warrior fast

A similar fast is the “warrior” approach by Ori Hofmekler. This condenses the eating window to four hours at dinnertime, when you’re encouraged to “feast.” The rest of the day you should be fasting or only eating raw fruits and veggies.

This is my favorite type of intermittent fasting for big events (like Thanksgiving). Fast all morning, and then you can indulge in a delicious Thanksgiving dinner without too much guilt. (But this isn’t an excuse to eat 10,000 calories in mashed potatoes. Sorry!)   

4. 24/48 hour fast


These are the most common type of fasts for consistent fasters. The 24/48 hour fast is when you avoid eating food for a full day or two.

While fasting for a full day, you are usually permitted to have light liquids, raw veggies, and a small piece of protein like chicken. This usually allows for about 500-600 calories per day. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, refined sugars, and processed foods.

This can be a challenge for the inexperienced faster. Start with shorter periods of fasting, like 18 hours, and work your way up to a full 24 or 48 hours.

5. 5:2 fast

This is then related to the 5:2 fast, where you eat regularly for 5 days and fast for 2 days. The two fasting days can be consecutive—one 48 hour fast—or on opposite sides of the week—two 24 hour fasts. Follow the same rules as the 24/48 hour fast above.

6. Alternating fasts

An Obesity Reviews study looked at participants who alternated fasting for 24 hours and eating regularly for 24 hours. This was a consistent, consecutive alteration for 12 weeks. They found that these participants preserved more muscle mass than their dieting counterparts (those participating in a low-calorie diet). They also ate fewer calories, lost more weight, and saw improved energy.

If you’re comfortable with intermittent fasting, you can consider trying out an alternating schedule. This means that you have one day of eating as usual, followed by 24 hours of fasting. Then eating as usual, and then 24 hours of fasting.

7. Extended fasts

Some people will also do extended fasts a few times per year. These can be 3-5 days, eating less than 600 calories per day. This can be used in conjunction with other intermittent fasting approaches or on its own. However, this brings with it worries of “refeeding syndrome” for inexperienced fasters, which we’ll discuss below.

Determining the type of fast and the frequency of fasting is entirely up to you. Listen to your body. Try out different forms. When you feel the best, you’ve found your intermittent fasting schedule!

Need an intermittent fasting calculator?  Click here

What are the concerns with intermittent fasting?

Many critics of IF claim refeeding syndrome as a serious complication for fasters. Refeeding is when your body goes from 0 to 60—fasting to feeding—too quickly. Basically, it causes electrolytes and blood sugar levels to spike, which can cause serious sickness. However, refeeding syndrome is rare for any fasting length under 3 days and highly uncommon under 5 days.

Avoid any problems by just taking it slowly. If you’re new to fasting, don’t start with a 3-day cleanse. Take it slow and work up to larger fasts. Also, don’t guzzle food after an extended fast. Start with a small, healthy meal of salad and cold water fish. This will help break your fast and give your body the nutrients it needs without causing any unhealthy spikes.

Another “concern” is simply the mental roadblock that comes with not eating. When you first start fasting, your body will be begging for food. Your brain will try to trick you into thinking it’s starving… simply because it likes food! Our brains are conditioned to crave food to keep us alive.

But you can go for days without food and not harm your body. Mahatma Gandhi survived for 21 days without food. One monk even went for 36 days. You can handle 24 hours, trust me.

When you first start fasting, you’ll be thinking about food a lot. So do something to take your mind off of it. Have fun with your friends and family. Watch a movie. De-stress.

Go for a walk. In fact, walking actually helps boost the benefits of intermittent fasting, because it helps you use up additional energy to burn fat and kill toxic cells.

Enjoy the fast.

Once your body adjusts to fasting, you won’t be as hungry as you used to be. You’ll be more energized, healthy, happy, and ready to take on the world around you!

Psst… Don’t forget to drink a lot of water while you’re fasting! Water can help curb appetite and keep you energized.

The Bottom Line

Intermittent fasting is a healthy way to rejuvenate your body instantly. IF can help you lose weight, improve your workouts, and detox your cells for a better functioning brain, endocrine system, autonomic nervous system, immune system, and more. Your body will thank you.

Intermittent fasting is just one step of the Gapin Institute full-body transformation. If you want to start living your best life now, you need to sign up for our Male 90X program. I guarantee you’ll be thrilled you did!

5 Simple Ways To Normalize Your Hormones This Week


Hormones are involved in every function of your body. When your hormones are out of whack, you can start feeling severe symptoms that drastically minimize your quality of life.

If you want a happy, healthy life, you need a regulated hormonal system.

What is the endocrine system?

The endocrine system is your body’s regulator of hormones. A number of things can contribute to an unhealthy, poorly-functioning endocrine system.

I like to call hormones “social creatures.” They love to interact with cells, blood, and even one another. This means that high levels of one hormone can impact other hormonal and organ functions. Low levels of a hormone can also drastically throw the entire system off-balance.

Think of hormones like Tetris. Each colored block is a different hormone. When used correctly, they fit together harmoniously. But if even one block is out of place, the other blocks have to work twice as hard to try and fit together to function properly.


If you’ve never played Tetris, I’m basically saying that hormones are interdependent. They each need to be regulated and working together in order for the entire endocrine system to function at its optimal state.

Do you have a hormonal imbalance?

Imbalanced hormones can throw your entire body off: from side effects like growing hair in new places or a burst of cystic acne to feeling exhausted and depressed to diabetes and chronic inflammatory diseases. Hormonal imbalances are especially linked to risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and other health problems.

Usually, if you go into your doctor with a symptom that doesn’t have an easy explanation (like a cold or a wart), they’ll usually consider a hormonal imbalance first. They’ll do blood, saliva, and urine tests to see how your hormone levels may be influencing the overall function of your body.

A majority of the time, those symptoms you’re experiencing are linked to some sort of hormonal imbalance.

What are the four key hormones?

There are a number of hormones that can be out of whack in your system. For the purpose of this article, we are going to focus on four key hormones that play a significant role in healthy living: cortisol, insulin, testosterone, and estrogen.

Cortisol

Cortisol is the “stress hormone.” Your adrenal glands produce cortisol in response to some internal or external stressor. This hormone also helps your body break down carbs, lipids, and proteins.

A little bit of cortisol in the body can actually be beneficial. Along with adrenaline, these hormones can actually spur your body into action. They give you that “fight or flight” response to get you out of negative situations (or to remind you that public speaking is terrifying). In fact, super-low levels of long-term cortisol can actually wreak havoc on your body as well.

But of course, too much cortisol, and you put your body into a constant state of stress that can severely damage your body’s health.

Insulin

Insulin is made by the pancreas, and it helps the body convert carbs into sugar. This sugar is then used as energy or stored for future use. Basically, insulin keeps you moving. It also maintains your blood sugar level. It prevents your blood sugar levels from getting it too high, called hyperglycemia, or too low, hypoglycemia.

If your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or your cells are resistant to insulin, it can lead to high and low blood sugar. In the short term, this can cause symptoms of fatigue, energy loss, migraines, headaches, anxiety, depression, and more. In the long term, this can cause diabetes.

Testosterone

Testosterone is the “male” sex hormone, though women have it too. It’s the hormone that increases sex drive (in both men and women), and makes boys turn to muscled, hairy men during puberty. It also increases the penis and testes during puberty. Basically, testosterone is what generates a man biologically.

Symptoms of low testosterone can include loss of libido, weight gain, fatigue, depression, psychological concerns, erectile dysfunction, and more. Low T may even be linked to risk of prostate cancer.

Estrogen

Estrogen is the female sex hormone, but it’s also found in men. It’s the key hormone in female reproduction (and beauty). Men need estrogen to protect and maintain certain organ processes. But excess estrogen can cause weight gain, mood swings, psychological concerns, inflammation disorders, osteoporosis, and more.

The Link

All four of these interweave in unique ways. Estrogen and testosterone love each other… but also hate each other. High levels of T can lower estrogen (which is good for men); but high levels of estrogen can lower testosterone. High levels of cortisol and insulin both reduce sex hormones—which, in turn, means high levels of stress and weight gain.


Basically, you want to keep these four (and other) hormones balanced whenever possible. You want low to moderate levels of cortisol and insulin. As a man, you want higher levels of T and average levels of estrogen. (Women want higher levels of estrogen than T, but still shouldn’t have excessive levels of estrogen.)

So how do you keep these hormones regulated and balanced? What can you do to naturally normalize your endocrine system?

1. Get sleep.

Sleep more. Sleep is the prime time that your body regulates your hormones. When you have a long, deep sleep, your endocrine system is able to reset and normalize the hormones floating around in your system.

Sleep affects two major hormone pathways: the autonomic nervous system and the pituitary axes. When you fall into a deep sleep, your sympathetic system “turns off.” This is the system that creates cortisol and adrenaline. This allows your parasympathetic system to activate. This system helps lower cortisol and re-stabilize your body’s hormones.

The pituitary glands affect the growth hormone, which you need to stay healthy and functioning. If you don’t sleep enough, cortisol levels increase. Cortisol kills growth hormones and testosterone.

If you have chronic sleep loss, you’ll have an increase in cortisol levels. This can lower testosterone levels and promote insulin resistance (which is a risk factor for diabetes and obesity). Not sleeping enough is a key risk for obesity and type 2 diabetes in otherwise healthy adults.

For a healthy, hormone-happy rest, you should sleep at least 7 hours per night. You should also have a good bedtime routine, which will signal to your brain to start preparing for sleep. Moreover, you need to regulate your light and dark cycle and sleep in the cold, which I’ll further discuss below.

Regulate light and dark.

Studies show that hormones fluctuate daily according to circadian rhythms. Basically, your hormones change with the cycle of light and dark, awake and asleep. This is especially true for the hormones GH (growth hormone), cortisol, leptin, and melatonin. Any sort of sleep disturbances can negatively impact these rhythms and throw off hormonal imbalance.

In this way, you want to keep it dark at night and get light exposure during the day. In the evening, sleep in a dark room without any light disturbances. After 10pm, turn off all electronics and bright lights. Blue and green lights from electronic screens can especially confuse the endocrine system’s circadian rhythm. Darkness or only mild lighting can signal your body that it’s time to start drifting into rest and regulating your hormones. Some people decide to use Crystal lamps made of salt to have dim warm light to aid in their sleep, which might be an interesting option for those that are looking for a night light.

To avoid light at night:

  • Turn off your phone at 10pm. Read or spend time with your family. Or have sex… which is also great for boosting testosterone and lowering cortisol for more hormone regulation!
  • If you need to use your phone, turn it to Night Shift. This makes your phone yellowish rather than bluish.
  • You can also consider purchasing blue-light blocking goggles for nighttime use of the computer.

During the day, you should also get an appropriate amount of light. Sunlight tells your body it’s time to get up and start “using” your hormones. If you don’t get a lot of light because you’re in an office or live in a cloudy city, try purchasing a sun lamp (not a UV lamp). Some alarm clocks will even simulate the sunrise to help you and your endocrine system wake up refreshed. These can also simulate the sunset to help tell your body it’s time to drift to sleep.

Sleep in a cold room.

The University of South Australia found that a colder room leads to a more restorative sleep. Sleeping in a room warmer than 70 degrees can actually stop your body from releasing melatonin; melatonin is the hormone your body uses to help you sleep. Melatonin is also the perfect anti-aging hormone to keep you young and vibrant.

One study even found that rooms set to 66 degrees could help prevent certain metabolic diseases, like diabetes. Participants who slept in cold rooms were also more likely to burn fat while awake, and this fat burning can help further regulate hormones.

Crank the AC or sleep with a fan near your bed.

2. Eat the right diet.

What you put into your body becomes the building blocks for your hormones. For example, important micronutrients needed for hormone production are zinc, magnesium, calcium, and selenium.

Moreover, your hormones respond to the number of calories in your body. Overeating can raise insulin levels<span` style=”font-weight: 400;”>; under-eating puts the body into stress mode, increasing cortisol and triggering insulin resistance. In this way, it’s imperative that you get an appropriate amount of food and calories to maintain a healthy endocrine system.

What To Eat

This means that you need to get all three macronutrients: proteins, carbs, and fats. Experts recommend that you get 20-30g of protein per meal to keep you full and regulate your hormones. Carbs give your body the energy it needs to keep the organs and systems functioning.

Healthy fats can help reduce insulin resistance and improve hormone balance. MCTs (medium-chain triglycerides) have been shown to boost weight loss and lower insulin sensitivity. These can be found in coconut oil and palm oil. Monounsaturated fats from olive oil and nuts can also improve insulin sensitivity.


The best balance of proteins, carbs, and healthy fats comes from the Mediterranean diet. Time and time again the Mediterranean way of eating has been proven beneficial for vigorous endocrine systems, weight loss, heart and blood vessel health, brain function, and more.

What Not To Eat

Avoid sugars and refined carbohydrates. Fructose, a common form of sugar, has been linked to higher insulin levels, increased body fat and insulin resistance, and worsened inflammation in the body.

Refined carbohydrates are also a factor for insulin resistance. However, healthy carbs can keep your endocrine system operational. In this way, a moderate carb diet is best when monitoring levels of insulin and other hormones.

3. Get moving.

A recent study in 2016 found that sitting is linked to lower levels of testosterone. In fact, researchers found that men who watch long hours of television had lower levels of testosterone than low TV-consuming counterparts. This study also found that physical activity had a positive association with sperm counts.

Staying active is also necessary to regulate insulin levels. One study proved that just simply getting up and walking around can help improve insulin sensitivity, and another found that physical activity helps ease insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes. Overall, a study in 2000 reported: “It is concluded that physical training can be considered to play an important, if not essential, role in the treatment and prevention of insulin insensitivity.”


The best kind of exercise? A mixture of resistance training and walking. Resistance training has been shown to increase male sex hormones, like testosterone and growth hormone. A combination of resistance training and aerobics was found to produce more growth hormone than aerobics alone. Studies have also found that the intensity of exercise impacts the growth hormone secretion.

Physical activity also helps lower total body fat, and a healthy body fat contributes to a healthy hormonal system.

Even getting up and moving can help. Daily movement like fidgeting, walking, cleaning, and playing with the kids can all help burn calories and regulate hormones.

Plus, exercise lowers cortisol levels. And lower cortisol means a better regulated endocrine system, reduced levels of stress, and higher levels of testosterone.

Speaking of cortisol…

4. Lower your stress levels.

Stress increases cortisol. Cortisol levels disrupt the endocrine system, lower testosterone and estrogen production, inhibit growth hormones, increase insulin resistance, and more. Stress also increases levels of adrenaline, which can cause anxiety, high blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, fatigue, and dehydration. Some people experiencing high levels of stress could think about taking edibles or other types of marijuana to relieve some of their symptoms and completely relax themselves. Medical cannabis can be purchased online, but contacting your doctor beforehand might be a good idea if you’re already on medication.

It has been shown that increased levels of cortisol is linked to stress-eating, which increases belly fat and further damages the endocrine function. Cortisol is undoubtedly correlated with weight gain.

Reduce your stress levels by getting a massage, meditating, doing yoga, or even just hanging out with friends who make you laugh. Take time for yourself. If you let stress build up, it will chronically and permanently damage your endocrine system

5. Stress your body.

Huh? Didn’t I just say to avoid stress?

Yes, avoid mental stress. But putting your body under physical stress, like extreme temperatures, has been proven to help regulate hormones.

This is because these situations put your body into a state of high, short-term oxidative stress. Built-up oxidative stress can have serious problems like diabetes, depression, cancer, and Alzheimer’s. You can fight off oxidative stress with diet, exercise, and sleep (hmmm… those are all discussed in this article too!).

When your body senses stress, it increases its antioxidant defense. This boost in antioxidants has been proven in response to both heat therapies as well as cold treatments. Cold exposure has also been shown to regulate metabolism, improve insulin sensitivity, and reduce insulin levels.


Moreover, one study found that Finnish men who used a sauna 2-3 times per week had a 23% lower risk of having a fatal heart attack thanks to the antioxidant boost. Saunas have been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and boost growth hormone secretion (by as much as 140%).

Plus, that saying “sweat it out” may actually be true. Research has shown that sweat contains bioaccumulated toxins. This means that your body uses sweat as a way to discharge bad gunk, just like urine or waste. (That’s another reason to sweat while you workout.)

So take a cold shower and hop in the sauna—your body will thank you!

Bottom Line

Sleep in accordance with your circadian rhythms. Eat a healthy diet filled with macronutrients. Increase your physical activity. Lower your stress. Submit your body to extreme temperatures.

… and you’ll be on the road to hormone regulation in no time! What will you do to normalize hormones?

But if you want to change your life and your health starting today… sign up for The Male 90X Consult. With this genetic-based report and private consultation, you’ll obtain all the practical tips and advice you’ll need to feel the happiest, healthiest, and sexiest you’ve ever felt.

Testosterone and Prostate Cancer – What You Should Know


What is the relationship between testosterone and prostate cancer? Does testosterone stimulate the growth of prostate cancer? Let’s answer the many questions surrounding the association between men’s hormones and prostate cancer.

Starting with probably the single most common question that has been weighing on the minds of many scientists and medical professionals for decades:

Do high levels of testosterone cause prostate cancer?

In 2017, the answer most consistent within the medical and scientific field was, no.

Of course, within medicine, there are no real definites. However, after years of studies, recent analyses would suggest that raised levels of testosterone are likely not associated with prostate cancer.

The 2015 Therapeutic Advances in Urology analysis of multiple studies concluded, “there remains no clear association with higher testosterone and the development of severity of prostate cancer.” Another 2015 meta-analysis by the American Urological Association Annual Meeting concluded that there is no link between testosterone—both natural and prescription— and prostate cancer or PSA (prostate-specific antigen.)

Please note that it is still best to consult with a doctor in order to prevent and fight prostate cancer in a way that is most applicable to your situation.  As the Journal of Urology discussed in their review, the risk of high T and prostate cancer is not zero, so it should still be considered in certain cases.

Although raised T may not cause prostate cancer, there may still be some link between the two. The risk of prostate cancer increases with age; proportionally, testosterone levels decline with age. Is this correlated?

Do low testosterone levels cause prostate cancer?

Not necessarily. Although it may seem that way on the surface, there’s a missing link in this puzzle. As men age, the risk of prostate cancer increases and testosterone decreases… but something else hormonal also happens. Estrogen increases.

For years, scientists have linked prostate cancer with male hormones, otherwise known as androgens. They knew that men had estrogen, but they never considered that it played a role in male sexual cancers.

Back in the 1930s and 1940s, scientists understood that high levels of estrogen could influence the formation of the male reproductive system—both as a fetus and in developing years. It wasn’t until the early 1990s that scientists recognized the true role that estrogen played in male reproductive health.

In fact, men produce estrogen in sizable quantities in both the testes and brain. Estrogen plays a major role in adult testicular function by stimulating certain cells that release hormones and boost the quality of the sperm. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology concluded that estrogen is vital to healthy male fertility.

High estrogen levels

Although estrogen is an important part of male sexual health, high levels of estrogen have proven to lead to major health issues.


High levels of estradiol (male biologically-active estrogen) may cause:

  •     Low libido
  •     Risk of heart attack and coronary disease
  •     Weight gain
  •     Infertility
  •     Risk of hypertension and diabetes
  •     Arthritis
  •     Risk of stroke

Furthermore, increased estrogen production can block testosterone production. The enzyme aromatase converts testosterone to estrogen, which can create a hormone imbalance that’s a recipe for disaster. Low testosterone, in turn, is at the core of a number of health problems in aging men:

Notice how many symptoms overlap between high estrogen and low testosterone?

So one day, someone decided to put this together. A high estrogen level causes problems in the body, including infertility and weight gain. A low level of testosterone—which is also associated to male sexual health issues—is linked to increased estrogen due to blocked T production.

So, is this hormonal imbalance influencing the prostate?

Or even further…

Can estrogen cause prostate cancer?

Some recent studies say yes, and others say no. One study says yes and no!

Research presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2010 found something especially interesting. Kosti with Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center found that one type of estrogen metabolite, 4-OHE1, appeared to be more abundant in men diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Thus, this suggests that this form of estrogen could cause prostate cancer.

But there was another finding that confused researchers even more…

There are certain estrogen metabolites (16-KE2 and 17-epiE3) known to be “harmful estrogens” in breast cancer—meaning they are found at extraordinarily high levels in patients with breast cancer. These same estrogen metabolites were found in high amounts in men without prostate cancer and low amounts in men with prostate cancer.

This suggests that those particular types of breast-cancer-causing estrogens “may have a protective role against prostate cancer development.”

That’s right. Some estrogen types may be linked to prostate cancer, while others (the ones linked to breast cancer) may actually help fight prostate cancer.

What’s a guy to do?

Generally, you never want your estradiol or estrogen to be higher than your testosterone. In males, testosterone levels should always be higher in order to properly maintain sexual and overall wellbeing.

But there’s still one question left unanswered. If some estrogen forms can help fight prostate cancer, can T play a role in inhibiting prostate cancer?

Can high T help fight or prevent prostate cancer?

A study by European Urology found that some men diagnosed with cancer did not have a progression of disease when taking testosterone therapy. This suggests that testosterone could help prevent prostate cancer from developing further. Because of this success, the study concluded, “it appears reasonable to offer testosterone therapy in selected individuals with a history of prostate cancer.”

Because of this success, the study concluded, “it appears reasonable to offer testosterone therapy in selected individuals with a history of prostate cancer.”


Another study in the Journal of Urology found that testosterone therapy following radiation therapy had a low rate of recurrence. This again suggests prostate cancer prevention rather than treatment.

High testosterone is not linked to prostate cancer, and low testosterone may not be either. As for preventing prostate cancer before it hits, again the jury’s out.

So what can we gather from all this? Let’s tie it up in a pretty package.

Bottom line

The relationship between hormones and prostate cancer is still widely unknown. Hundreds of studies have come back with different conclusions, likely due to scientific variables.

However, our general conclusions are:

  • High testosterone likely does not cause prostate cancer.
  • There is no proven link between low testosterone and prostate cancer.
  • High testosterone may prevent prostate cancer recurrence.
  • There may be a link between some forms of estrogen and prostate cancer. (On the flip side, some forms of breast-cancer-causing estrogen may prevent prostate cancer.)

Despite these conclusions, one thing is for certain. It definitely doesn’t hurt to keep a healthy balance of hormones. For males, this usually means having slightly higher levels of testosterone than estrogen. This will help maintain prostate health, sex drive, weight, blood sugar levels, coronary strength, and more. Even consider your foods that lower testosterone.

Discuss hormone levels and prostate cancer screenings with your doctor to be sure you’re in a healthy range. Make the choice now to lower your risk of prostate cancer with The Male 90X Consult  a genetic-based report and private consultation that will give you the insight you need for a total body transformation to achieve your maximum potential!

13 Ways To Increase Testosterone Naturally


If you’ve been experiencing symptoms like diminished sex drive, low energy, difficulty losing weight or erectile problems, it’s time to consider some ways you can increase testosterone naturally.

What is testosterone?

Testosterone is widely known for its “manly” effects on boosting competitiveness and desire for power, but it plays a much bigger role in the body than that. It’s crucial to the health of male sexuality and reproduction by increasing libido, sperm count, and sexual pleasure.

Testosterone even improves the sex drive in females—it’s the ultimate libido-boosting hormone! But testosterone has a significant role in overall health and well being as well. It affects muscle mass, hair growth, bone density, and red blood cell development.

Normal levels are critical for normal cognitive function, mood stability, exercise endurance and energy. A low testosterone level can be associated with a variety of symptoms, including decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction, depressed mood, weight gain, reduced lean muscle mass, difficulty with concentration, poor memory, diminished cognitive function, arthritis, and an increased risk of heart disease.

You can have your T level tested by your doctor if you have any of these symptoms to determine if they may be a result of lowered testosterone levels.

Why increase testosterone naturally?

Since testosterone (T) plays such an important role in your sexual health and overall well-being, you want to ensure you’re doing everything you can to naturally maximize your testosterone level.

There are hundreds of products, supplements, and beverages on the market claiming to boost testosterone and improve sex drive. Many (most) of these products don’t work, and studies show that many of these supplements can actually have long-term, negative side effects including liver and kidney damage, hormone imbalances, loss in bone density, and more.

What you consume to help your health shouldn’t harm it. So I’ve created a list of 13 easy, dependable, natural ways to increase testosterone and boost your sexual health and overall vitality.

1. Exercise.


The first thing that often comes to mind when most people think of increasing testosterone is exercise. They think of huge, muscular men lifting 400lb dumbbells at the gym. And this isn’t entirely wrong.

Studies show that high-intensity exercise boosts testosterone both in the short- and long-term. Short intervals of high-intensity training prove to be more beneficial in producing natural testosterone than prolonged exercise, aerobics, or running.

Strength training can have this high-intensity interval effect on testosterone if it’s intense enough. The way to do this is to increase the weight being lifted, and lower the number of reps. Push yourself harder, for a shorter period of time.

Also, focus on exercises that work a large number of muscles at once to further increase the intensity.

Who knew deadlifts and squats were actually natural ways to increase testosterone? Push yourself as hard as you can for 30 seconds, and then rest (without slowing down your heart rate). Even 20 minutes a day of high-intensity interval training will boost your testosterone and start to build healthy, lean muscle.

Interval training exercise can also help you lose weight, which further increases testosterone levels, according to the Endocrine Society.

2. Eat good fats.

The idea of a Ron Swanson “manly” burger may have some truth behind it. Healthy fats are a natural way to increase testosterone quickly and effectively.

However, not all fat is good fat. Studies suggest that saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) are the best predictor of testosterone escalations, while poly-unsaturated fatty acids can actually lower testosterone.

A study by the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found that men who ate more than 100g of fat per day for 2 weeks had significantly higher levels of free testosterone. This is because fats reduce globulin, the hormone that binds to, and reduces T.

Ask your doctor about finding the right mix of fats in your diet.


Here are some natural ways to increase testosterone by consuming healthy, delicious fats:

Meat

Grass-fed beef is the number one source of testosterone-boosting protein with just the right amount of healthy fats. Make sure the beef is organic, because pesticides and insecticides can lower your testosterone.

Eggs

Eggs are considered the perfect protein because they have all vitamins and amino acids for human needs (except vitamin C). They have mostly SFA and MUFA, and the yolk contains high levels of cholesterol, which is a precursor to testosterone creation.

Coconut

One of the most comprehensive, natural ways to increase testosterone is consuming coconuts or coconut oil. Coconut is a saturated fat that generates healthy cholesterol while reducing body fat, boosting metabolic rate, and improving cognitive abilities—all of which can help ease symptoms of low testosterone.

Olive oil and argan oil

Cooking with and adding extra virgin olive oil to your food are natural ways to increase testosterone. Olive oil is an anti-inflammatory and high in antioxidants, but it also contains elevated levels of oleuropein, a testosterone-loving bitter.

One study found that Moroccan men who added olive oil to their diets saw an increase in testosterone levels by 17%. This study also substituted Argan oil for olive oil, and the testosterone levels increased by about 20%.

Add either—or both—to your daily consumption for a quick (and tasty) boost of testosterone.

3. Consume zinc.

Supplementing your diet with zinc for as little as six weeks can have marked improvement in testosterone levels. Because zinc is a metal, concentrated supplements can have severe side effects on the body. Instead, opt for natural ways to increase testosterone by consuming zinc-rich foods:

  • Raw milk
  • Raw cheese
  • Beans
  • Kefir from raw milk
  • Sardines
  • Anchovies
  • Cashews
  • Wild Salmon
  • Yogurt
  • Oysters

Oysters are so rich in zinc they can actually boost your testosterone in minutes. No wonder oysters are a sultry (and salty) aphrodisiac!

4. Increase your vitamin D level.

Vitamin D is crucial for the development of the sperm cell and maintenance of high sperm count and quality. A lot of men who suffer from low testosterone symptoms discover that they are deficient in vitamin D as well.

The best way to get vitamin D is by getting some sun (make sure to use sunscreen so you’re not at risk for skin cancer, though). Yes, I am saying that going for a swim, playing basketball, and taking a vacation are amazingly natural ways to increase testosterone.

If it’s cold or you have a tendency to burn, though, there are other natural ways to increase testosterone with vitamin D, like consuming fatty fish (salmon, trout, tuna, and mackerel), fortified milk or juice, and egg yolks (back to those healthy fats).

5. Reduce stress.

When you’re stressed, your body releases cortisol. A University of Texas Austin study found that cortisol blocks the production of testosterone. This can lead to long-term, low T levels, putting the body in a vicious cycle of stress and diminished testosterone.

Lower your cortisol by managing stress through relaxation techniques, like deep breathing or meditation. Make time to have fun with your family and friends, and find the relaxing methods that work for you.

Consuming garlic can help lower cortisol, because it contains the stress-relieving allicin, which allows the body to effectively continue producing testosterone. Pure pomegranate juice can also lower cortisol levels and enhance testosterone by 24% on average.

6. Consume probiotics.

Probiotics are good bacteria that your gut needs to function properly, leading to digestive health and overall well-being. Recent studies have shown that probiotics may increase testosterone levels, testicular size and weight, and even prevent age-related testicular shrinkage. The reason for this may be that probiotic microbes convert stress-related cortisol into testosterone derivatives, as found by Phillip Hylemon at Virginia Commonwealth University. Fermented foods tend to have probiotics, like yogurt, sauerkraut, and blue cheese. A blue-cheese burger sounds good right about now.

7. Eat more ginger and onion.


Ginger and onion may be the hidden gems of these natural ways to increase testosterone. Ginger improves nitric oxide count and blood flow, which puts your body in the “mood.” In a University of Tikrik study, consuming ginger raised testosterone by 17%. Another study found that adding onion juice to rodent feed increased testosterone levels by almost 200%. There aren’t any studies of the effects of onions on human hormones, but with such significant effects in rodents, it’s worth adding to your diet.

8. Limit sugar intake.

Not feeling sexy after a big slice of cake? That may be more than just your belly talking. Sugar leads to higher insulin, and insulin leads to lower testosterone. The more you cut high-sugar items out of your diet, the higher your testosterone will be.

9. Limit alcohol intake.

Alcohol has been found to have a negative effect on testosterone levels as well as raising estrogen and cortisol levels. Drinking alcohol stimulates the transformation of testosterone into estrogen, which can further lower your bone density and libido. If you tend to drink heavily, this may be a hidden cause of your diminished sex drive. The hops in beer are highly estrogenic—so much so that it is being studied as a treatment for menopausal women. Limiting sugar and alcohol are natural ways to increase testosterone by making simple lifestyle changes that will also improve your overall health and quality of life.

10. Caffeinate.


Although a highly debated fact, one cup of coffee a day has been proven to have health benefits. As far as raising testosterone levels, coffee stimulates the nervous system by boosting cAMP levels, which leads to increased testosterone production. One of the most deliciously natural ways to increase testosterone is to drink a cup of coffee before you workout. Caffeine brings your exercise routine up a notch, so you get better effects from your high-intensity interval training—for the same amount of work!

11. Try intermittent fasting.

Intermittent fasting has been found to have a profound impact on testosterone levels in non-obese men. There are a number of approaches to intermittent fasting, but all include fasting for 24 hours or less as a sort of ‘metabolic reset”. I’ll detail the physiologic effects about this in another article, but for now, consider skipping breakfast as a fairly simple approach to intermittent fasting and a quick way to boost your T level.

12. Sleep.

Sleep gives your body time to produce testosterone and other hormones. A lack of sleep, on the other hand, produces cortisol—the arch nemesis of testosterone. There is a direct correlation between hours slept and testosterone changes, so get to bed!

13. Have sex.


Now that you’re in bed… Sex can help increase testosterone naturally!

Testosterone gives you a higher sex drive, but the reverse is true too. A higher sex drive also helps to boost your testosterone. Sex is one of the best natural ways to increase testosterone, with so many other added benefits:

  • Improved cardiovascular health
  • Increased immunity
  • Reduced stress and pain
  • Increased blood circulation
  • Better sleep
  • Improved fitness

So, if you boost your testosterone levels and sex drive, your vibrant sex life will, in turn, boost your testosterone, relieve stress, and reduce symptoms of low testosterone.

It’s a win-win-win cycle of natural ways to increase testosterone!

Natural and smart nutrition and lifestyle adjustments can drastically raise your testosterone levels and optimize your sexual health. With these 13 natural ways to increase testosterone, you are sure to find healthy solutions that enhance your sexual drive and enrich your well-being.

Want to take control of your testosterone FAST?

Sign up for a G1 Performance Health consult to regain your life, vitality, and vigor right now!