Testosterone is what connects a man to his masculinity. Attributes like a deep voice, big muscles, a great head of hair, and a healthy sex drive are all related to testosterone. According to studies, testosterone levels start to decline after the age of 40.

If you feel like you have Low T, there are a number of things you can do nutritionally.

Add Healthy Fats to Your Diet: Saturated Fat is something you want to avoid.  So when I say to add fat, I’m not talking about burgers and fries. The kinds of fats you want to include are monounsaturated fats that come from oily fish, nuts, seeds, olives, and avocadoes. Your body needs a healthy amount of fat to produce testosterone.

Eat foods high in vitamins: Vitamins A,B,C, E, and Zinc will help testosterone production. Eating generous servings of organic fruit, vegetables, and lean meats that are free of hormones and antibiotics will help you obtain these important nutrients.

Watch out for too much estrogen: Studies have shown that excessive consumption of soy foods can mimic the effects of estrogen and decrease testosterone levels. There are also toxins called Xenoestrogens that can come from plastics, shampoos containing parabens, fabric softeners, and air fresheners.  Be especially careful not to heat foods in plastic either.

One way to detoxify from all these estrogenic compounds is to eat plenty of fiber and raw cruciferous vegetables. Some suggestions are cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and dark green vegetables.

It’s also a good idea to have your blood levels checked. Then you can determine if hormone replacement or supplementation should be considered.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

The thyroid is responsible for a lot more than you may think. This little gland located in our neck secretes necessary hormones and controls metabolism. If your thyroid levels are out of balance, your weight can swing one way or the other regardless of your diet. For those being hypo-thyroid (underactive thyroid), it can make you feel sluggish and depressed, cause dry skin, make your joints ache, and create puffiness under your eyes as well as weight gain. Not to mention, it can put a damper on your sex drive.

Hashimoto’s Disease is one of the most common causes of hypothyroidism. This is an autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks its own thyroid gland.

On the flip side, a case of hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) can cause heart palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, diarrhea, and extreme weight loss.

Although the most common thyroid problem is hypothyroidism, neither scenario is easy to deal with…Unfortunately there are an estimated 27 million Americans that have some form of thyroid disease and a large percentage of those people go undiagnosed.

Before working with a new client, I always like to review their thyroid levels. A textbook situation I frequently see is someone who watches what they eat and exercises, but they continue to have poor energy levels and can’t seem to lose weight. They may also have issues with their partner for not being sympathetic to their unexplainable mood swings.

Often I find that the cause is hypothyroidism. Fortunately this can be corrected with a little thyroid medication and some dietary alterations. The key is not waiting too long to have it diagnosed.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »