Testosterone is one of the most important hormones naturally produced by the human body. In men, it takes on some very important roles, especially in the development of male traits and characteristics and sexual functions. Without it, you may experience numerous problems and disorders that can impair you physically, mentally, and sexually.
What can testosterone do to improve a man’s health?
Below, we take a closer look at the different things that testosterone does.
1. Testosterone boosts a man’s sex drive
Testosterone is not known as the primary male sex hormone for nothing. It is vital in keeping your sex drive or libido up for many satisfying and pleasurable sexual encounters. If you can keep your testosterone levels normal, you are guaranteed a fun and active sex life for many years.
However, due to certain factors, some men have lower than normal testosterone levels in their bodies. As a result, their sex drives are negatively impacted, and they cannot enjoy sex as much. They lose the desire to engage in any sexual activity, and they end up living a pretty boring and sex-less life.
2. Testosterone prevents erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is a condition in which a man has trouble getting an erection or keeping an erection for sex. It is a prevalent problem that can afflict men of all ages and races. If you have it, you will have a hard time achieving an erect penis even after getting some sexual stimulation. Because of that, you will be put in an embarrassing situation, and leave your sex partner disappointed and unsatisfied.
With normal testosterone levels in your body, you can protect against erectile dysfunction. Testosterone helps in the production of more nitric oxide in the body, which facilitates erections.
3. Testosterone reduces body fat
Two of the major roles of testosterone in the body are the regulation of glucose and insulin, and the metabolism of fat. According to studies, if your testosterone levels decrease, your body becomes less capable of regulating glucose and insulin and metabolizing fat. This results to the accumulation of excess fat and formation of fatty deposits.
So, the usual scenario is like this: if you have low testosterone, you are more prone to gaining weight, and, if you are overweight or obese, your testosterone levels are low.
4. Testosterone improves cardiovascular health
Maintaining your testosterone levels in the normal range should keep you away from heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, and heart disease. You can live a long and healthy life, and enjoy many fun times in the bedroom.
However, if for some reason your testosterone levels fall below or go over the normal range, your risk of these diseases increases. Your overall health will start to decline, and you will also become prone to erectile and fertility problems.
5. Testosterone helps grow strong bones
Osteoporosis is a medical condition in which your bones lose their density and quality, making them fragile and porous. It usually strikes women, but it can affect men too, and leave them in poor health. If you have this disease, your odds of fracture and other injuries increase.
Because testosterone is vital to the proper growth and development of bones, you should always have normal testosterone levels to build strong and healthy bones. Otherwise, you will find yourself unable to a lot of physical activities that you enjoy, and you will live the rest of your life in pain and suffering.
6. Testosterone enhances the muscles
Testosterone is key to increasing muscle strength and mass. It facilitates muscle protein synthesis, and boosts your power for lifting heavy objects, and your resistance to muscle wear and tear. With normal testosterone levels, you can get closer to our fitness goals and stay in shape even as you reach old age.
In body builders and athletes, testosterone is used to help them build bigger and stronger muscles, and gain higher athletic abilities. It is usually taken as supplements to significantly raise testosterone levels in the body to see results sooner.
7. Testosterone lowers risk of Alzheimer’s disease
Through the years, numerous studies have been conducted to find if there exists a connection between testosterone levels and Alzheimer’s disease, and they found that there actually is. According to their findings, male test participants who had low testosterone levels in the body showed higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease than those who had normal testosterone. Those with low testosterone were also found to have memory loss, cognitive impairment, and concentration issues.
To keep your brain functioning right, keeping your testosterone levels in the normal range is important. It enhances your brain’s ability to remember and process information, and improve its visual, verbal, and spatial cognition.
What happens if there is not enough or too much testosterone?
There are several possibilities that can occur if a man has low testosterone levels or high testosterone levels in the body.
Low testosterone effects
- Decreased sex drive or libido
- Small or shrunken testicles
- Low sperm count
- Poor sperm quality and motility
- Erectile dysfunction or impotence
- Infertility
- Enlarged breast tissue
- Loss of bone density and muscle mass
- Loss of body hair, facial hair, or pubic hair
- High risk of bone fracture and other injuries
- Depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems
High testosterone effects
- Enlargement of the prostate gland
- Difficulty passing urine
- High risk of liver disease
- Fluid retention resulting to swelling of the feet and legs
- Increased appetite
- Weight gain
- More acne or oily skin
- High risk of blood clots
- Mood changes
How can you maintain normal testosterone levels in the body?
To not suffer from testosterone imbalance in the body, you should start making healthy lifestyle choices.
- You should eat foods that are rich in good fats, carbohydrates, and proteins, and stay away from foods that are high in sugar, salt, and other junk.
- You should be more physically active by exercising regularly.
- You should also get enough sleep every night and stay away from stress.
