Mr n Mister asked Thom from Catalyst & Flow to give us the low down on men’s testosterone:
“The theme of this year’s Men’s Health Week was focussed on breaking down the barriers preventing men from talking openly about their health. In clinic, I do notice that male clients need extra time to warm up and feel comfortable talking about certain health issues they’re experiencing.
To be fair, they probably weren’t expecting to be asked about their libido and if they wake up with an erection. But these questions (if they’re answered honestly) give us a good understanding of what’s happening with their hormonal pathways, specifically testosterone (T) production.
To be clear, T isn’t the ‘male hormone’, women produce it too and it’s not the opposite oestrogen. For this blog post, I’m going to focus on T in males.
Men produce T primarily in the testes and it’s associated with sex drive/libido and sperm production, BUT it’s also involved in the following:
♂️ Mood & motivation
♂️ Fat storage
♂️ Muscle mass / physique
♂️ Red blood cell production
♂️ Bone density
I often ask male clients about their mood, energy levels, self-esteem, changes in weight distribution… and yes, libido and morning erections. Contrary to popular belief, these don’t happen because guys need to pee when they wake up! T is produced during deep sleep when pulsating growth hormone is circulating the body.
Some of the best ways for men to naturally support T production (which unfortunately starts to dip after we reach 30) include:
🏋♂️ Resistance training – and I mean lifting HEAVY. HIIT is also beneficial. In men who have entered andropause jumping (literally jumping on the spot) has been shown to maintain T levels and protect bone density
😴 Sleep hygiene – 8hrs of deep, restorative sleep that supports the natural production of T via pulsating growth hormone pathways
☣️ Reducing exposure to ‘oestrogenic’ chemicals – think plastics (e.g., the plastic bag the chicken comes in at Woolies, get rid of it!), parabens (e.g., colognes, perfumes, scented products) and BPA (e.g., the ink on receipts, steer clear!)
🤯 Reducing stress – chronically elevated cortisol and prolactin from stress can reduce T levels and disrupt its production pathways
Catalyst & Flow’s specialist areas of focus include men’s health (both general & hormonal), gut & digestive health, autoimmune condition, stress & anxiety management, insomnia & fatigue.”
As an introductory offer, Thom is offering 25% off initial consultations for new clients.
For more details and to book a consultation head on over to…
- Online: www.catalystandflow.com
- Email: thom@catalystandflow.com
- Instagram: @catalyst_and_flow