Testosterone. It’s the very symbol of strength, honor, dominance, self-reliance, sexuality, virility, muscularity, and every other character trait associated with masculinity that men always wish they had more of. It’s what determines the hair on our chests, how much muscle pops through our shirts, how much heft we can hoist over our heads, and the strength of our erections. It’s what gives a man an edge in competition, whether it’s winning the big game, wooing the ladies, or walloping his co-workers in the race for the corner office.
What makes men so crazy is when they learn this: If you’re middle-aged, your body’s testosterone levels (T-levels) have already begun their slow descent. The average guy experiences a gradual decline in testosterone starting around age 30. At age 40, T levels drop by about 2 percent each year. It’s a steady, natural tailspin, but as those endocrinology researchers found, that doesn’t mean time is the only factor contributing to the dip.
(Boost your T-levels today! Pick up a copy of Testosterone Transformation.)
Testosterone levels in American men have been declining steadily over the past 2 decades, declared a study in the prestigious Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. This study showed that 20 years ago 50-year olds had higher T concentrations than they do today, suggesting that something other than age may be contributing to declines. The researchers reported that the reasons for the decline were unclear but speculated that unmeasured health or environmental factors could be the cause. Seemingly everything you do—from what you eat and how many hours you sleep to the types of activities and exercises you choose—has either a “promising” or a “punishing” effect on testosterone production.
The fact is, if you’re not happy with how fit and muscular you are or how you’re performing in life, it may not be your testicles that are to blame but how you are holding them back from keeping you powerful, primed, and potent. Even if you’re 24, virile, and officially in the prime of your T-making years, that doesn’t mean you’re not facing a drop in testosterone right now.
Take this simple test: The next time you step out of the shower, before you reach for the towel, stand up straight and look down at your boys. If you can see your testicles, congratulations, Mr. T. But if a big belly is blocking your view, it’s likely that your testosterone levels aren’t what they could be. Belly fat is a testosterone buster. It’s secretly turning you into a woman! Stored body fat, you see, contains aromatase, an enzyme that’s responsible for converting testosterone into estrogen, the main sex hormone in women. What’s worse, having extra estrogen floating around your system automatically triggers your body to slow down its production of testosterone. That means the more fat you stockpile, the less testosterone your gonads will give up. It’s a vicious cycle: Belly fat means more estrogen and less testosterone, which in turn means additional belly fat.
According to a 2008 epidemiological study of 1,822 men by the New England Research Institutes (NERI), a man’s waist circumference is the single strongest predictor of low testosterone levels—even more accurate than age or overall health. Midriff weight, researchers say, also is the strongest predictor of what’s called symptomatic androgen deficiency, or AD, a condition marked by low libido, erectile dysfunction, osteoporosis, depression, lethargy, and diminished physical performance.
Compounding the problem of declining testosterone is the natural age-related loss of muscle mass. According to research at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, at Tufts University, muscle mass begins to decline about 1 to 2 percent a year from age 30 onward. That can amount to between 10 and 16 ounces of muscle each year. Muscle loss contributes to the age-related slowdown in your metabolic rate, which can cause your body to add a pound of fat per year as well. This is an ounce-for-ounce, pound-for-pound metabolic remodeling that most men never see coming. Even if you maintain your body weight, you could be saying goodbye to what you want to keep (muscle) and hello to what you want to lose (body fat). That swap, which may not be very noticeable from a visual standpoint, could be sending your T-levels down even further.
Use the science of testosterone to build bigger muscles, burn off belly fat, and ignite your sex life! Pick up a copy of Testosterone Transformation today.