The dangerous side of Low T: Serious heart health risks

While most of us think of low T as a “bedroom” problem, the truth is men who live with low levels of testosterone are at risk for much more than a loss of libido.

Low T can lead to everything from depression and memory problems to weight gain and loss of muscle mass.

And according to researchers from Australia and Europe, there’s an even bigger reason to take low-T seriously…

The low T heart problem

A review of 11 studies consisting of more than 20,000 men says low T is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease that can end a man’s life…

The studies in the review followed men for a minimum of five years. The men were between the ages of 49 to 76. And it found beyond a shadow of a doubt that men with the lowest testosterone levels were in trouble.

While a normal range of testosterone in men is considered to be 300 to 1,000 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL), men with levels of 244 ng/dL or lower had up to a nine percent higher chance of dying from any cause compared to men with normal levels.

Even more frightening, men with low T had up to a 32 percent higher chance of dying from cardiovascular disease compared to men without low T issues.

Low T: a weighty issue

If you’re living with low T, losing weight is one of the best ways to fight back. Fat cells lower testosterone by transforming the hormone into estrogen.

But it’s just one way estrogen dominance becomes a problem that can contribute to low T… Xenoestrogens, chemicals found in plastics, pesticides, water and everyday products, are another.

These chemicals act as endocrine disruptors, mimicking the hormone estrogen and disrupting hormonal balance.

In men, estrogen dominance affects testosterone, stamina, muscle tone and body fat. It can also impact prostate health.

In women, it can lead to facial hair, menopause symptoms and weight gain. It can also result in skin, bone, breast and thyroid problems.

Diet can help you clobber both…

In one study, researchers found that overweight men who followed a strict Keto diet for four weeks:

• Reduced their body weight, fat mass and body mass index (BMI) significantly
• Improved testicular function
• Showed a substantial increase in all sex hormones
• Dramatically raised their total testosterone levels

The men stuck to a daily limit of 800 calories, eating little protein and minimal carbohydrates, and instead focused on healthy fats and low-carb veggies.

Of course, the calorie restriction was pretty extreme. But another reason for its success may have been low-carb vegetables — especially broccoli…

Fighting back against hormone theft

Broccoli isn’t only low-carb, it has special benefits because it contains Di-indole methane (DIM).

If you haven’t heard of it, DIM is a compound found in cruciferous vegetables. It doesn’t actually raise testosterone levels, but it puts up a fight against estrogen dominance…

DIM works against “fake estrogens” by binding to the “bad” estrogen metabolites and flushing them from the body.

To get the amount of DIM that research has shown can neutralize the effects of fake estrogens you’d need to eat at least three pounds of cruciferous vegetable DAILY.

Fortunately DIM is also available in supplement form, so you’re not resigned to eating broccoli all throughout the day.

Try to also cut down on your exposure to plastics (especially as water bottles) and look for phthalate-free personal care products.

Sources:

Associations of Testosterone and Related Hormones With All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality and Incident Cardiovascular Disease in Men:Individual Participant Data Meta-analyses — Annal of Internal Medicine

Low Testosterone (Male Hypogonadism) – Cleveland Clinic

Health Benefits of DIM (Diindolylmethane) – WebMD