Much has been written on the effects of menopause for women but how many people know that men experience hormonal changes as well? As many as 25-30 million men in North America between the ages of 35 and 70 are experiencing such symptoms as: lack of energy, decreased physical strength and endurance, loss of sex drive, erectile dysfunction, irritability, moodiness, and weight gain. The medical term for these changes is "andropause" and is characterized by decreasing testosterone levels, and/or increasing estrogen levels. There are many factors that contribute to the gradual decline of testosterone including genetics, lifestyle, stress levels, nutrition, medication, trauma and obesity. Testosterone is important for male health for many reasons: it enhances sex drive; increases muscle mass; maintains strong bones; decreases risk of heart disease and helps to manage healthy blood sugar. As men age the estrogen in relation to testosterone increases, and it is not in "jest" when people say that men develop more female characteristics as they age. The average 60 year old male will have more estrogen circulating in his blood stream than a 60 year old female. There is a lot that can be done to prevent the health risks associated with andropause. First off, losing some of those extra pounds will reduce an enzyme called "aromatase" that converts testosterone to estrogen. Reducing stress will lower the hormone "cortisol" also known to have a negative impact on the production of testosterone. Maintaining a healthy liver is essential for elimination of that excess estrogen roaming around the body. Consume foods rich in Zinc such as oysters, wheat germ, dark leafy greens, beans, and pumpkin seeds. Zinc is a mineral essential for testosterone production and also inhibits the action of the enzyme "aromatase". When considering hormone replacement therapy it is necessary to first assess a patient by performing a complete male hormone analysis that may include free and total testosterone, DHT, estradiol, progesterone, growth hormone and a PSA test for the prostate. Medical treatments can include the use of oral or transdermal testosterone, and other hormone precursors such as DHEA or pregnenalone. A naturopathic approach includes assessing general organ health, levels of toxicity, exercise, nutrition, emotional and physical health as a part of the successful management and treatment of andropause. For further information you can call 403-288-4880, e-mail us at
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or access our website www.naturalmoodcure.com
