Do you find yourself feeling more fatigued than usual? Not motivated to hit the gym and having trouble getting out of bed in the morning?
You might be experiencing low testosterone levels. Low testosterone, for both men and women, can cause a myriad of issues – from hair loss, fatigue, erectile dysfunction and decreased sex drive, to increased belly fat and even bat wings for women.
If you're experiencing any (or all) of these symptoms, find out what could be causing it and how to take action.
If you've been noticing some changes with your gut recently, like seeing an increase in beer belly and love handles – even though you may not be drinking extra beers – low testosterone levels could be the cause.
Low testosterone can actually reduce the body's response to insulin and glucose, which can cause you to store more fat.
Low T also means you don’t build muscle as easily during workouts while accumulating more fat.
You love your partner and don’t want a low sex drive wrecking the hot connection you used to have. What’s worse, you’re not feeling as good about your body and feeling a little ashamed, causing your self-confidence to fizzle too. You feel old before your time and you know something is off. So the first step is to find out what can impair testosterone production and what you can do about it:
People underestimate the impact of high levels of chronic stress and poor sleep on their health, especially their hormones. Because when cortisol levels are high, testosterone levels decrease, leading to symptoms such as low libido, decreased muscle mass, and fatigue.
While we can’t avoid stress altogether, the truth is, that most men don’t effectively manage their stress – they make it worse.
Most people cope by drinking alcohol, stress eating, eating a high-carb, inflammatory diet and overexposure to electronics – which may make them feel better in the moment, but can all wreck testosterone by trashing their sleep, stressing their adrenals and crippling insulin. That’s why simple lifestyle shifts can help reclaim that kickass libido.
Does it feel like nothing excites you anymore? Have you noticed you have a general sense of feeling “bummed out” and you can’t figure out why?
Have you also noticed that you aren’t as mentally sharp as you used to be and have started to drop the ball on important stuff at work and with family?
Don't fret, you aren’t losing your mind, it could be low testosterone impacting your mood as well as your cognitive function!
While many lifestyle factors – including diet, sleep, exposure to toxins and EMFs, and gut dysbiosis – all can inhibit brain function, research suggests that poor memory, low moods, and other signs of cognitive decline can also be related to low testosterone.
Don't become discouraged, instead reboot your brain by taking care of your hormone balance and health.
“Women have testosterone?” you may be asking yourself. It’s true… and when it’s out of whack, you may even see the results on your body!
For example, if you've been noticing your arm muscles losing tone and starting to resemble “bat wings” – it could be a sign of low T. You may also notice that your legs have more cellulite than you know what to do with, caused by low testosterone as well as oestrogen imbalances.
Typically, women in menopause can struggle with low testosterone, as their ovaries are producing less hormones. Often women who are close to menopause or in perimenopause aren't getting the desired toning from their weekly workouts and just feel exhausted after they workout.
And yet, working out harder only makes them feel more tired and discouraged.
If you're based in the UK, book a free discovery call to find out more here.
If you're not based in the UK, you can't work with our BHRT Drs but you can still work with our functional medicine nutritionist and coach: please call the clinic on +44203 303 0237 to find out more.
London Bioidentical Hormones is a Virtual Practice in the United Kingdom and serves patients throughout the United Kingdom.
