Grumpy, Lumpy, Men Syndrome :: Weight Loss

Grumpy, Lumpy, Men Syndrome

Remember what it was like to be a teenager? That lean, muscular physique never seemed to gain an ounce of fat no matter how much you ate (or drank).

Do you now find yourself patting your belly more then you pat your dog? If so, you could well be experiencing a loss of your male hormone–testosterone.

Testosterone is one of a group of hormones referred to as the androgens. In men it is responsible for the development of the sex organs and male characteristics such as facial hair, deepening of the voice, and muscle development.

As we age, gain weight, become sedentary, or neglect our diet, we lose levels of this fundamental hormone. One of the first signs is the loss of muscle mass and strength and a gain in excess body fat, especially in the abdominal region. Abdominal fat also happens to be the most dangerous place to store fat due to its proximity to the vital organs.

Studies show that loss of testosterone and obesity are linked. As testosterone levels go up, lean body mass increases, and obesity decreases, and vice versa. A 1998 study of 284 middle-aged men reported in the journal Metabolism, showed that low testosterone levels were both directly and indirectly related to the amount of fat men carried around their midsections.

Another area of concern, when it comes to men and their declining metabolisms, is that as they are losing their valuable testosterone levels, they are gaining estrogen. Tissue accumulation of estrogen is a unique hallmark of andropause (male menopause).

As men lose muscle and gain body fat, their fat cells manufacture a special enzyme called aromatase which is responsible for converting valuable testosterone into estrogen. The more fat we accumulate, the more estrogen is produced. It is not uncommon for a man of retirement age to have higher estrogen levels in his body than a woman of the same age!

Now that you are aware of a few of the mechanics regarding your metabolic condition, let’s look at what you can do to reverse the situation.

Avoid Alcohol

Alcohol has been shown to raise circulating levels of estrogen by as much as 200 percent, and even one night on the bottle can lower testosterone levels for 24 hours.

Rejuvenate Your Liver

Estrogen is metabolized in the liver, so it is imperative to ensure strong liver function for the clearing of excess estrogen from the body. Proven liver-enhancing nutrients include milk thistle, artichoke, d-Glucarate, dandelion, lipoic acid, and TMG (trimethylglycine).

Boost Testosterone Naturally

Chrysin, stinging nettle root, Indole-3-carbinol, and zinc are all nutrients that have been shown to help boost testosterone levels by helping to block aromatase, free testosterone, or block negative estrogen metabolites.

All of these recommendations coupled with weight training–a proven testosterone booster–will help to bring back the messages that made you who you are–a man!

Source: alive #272, June 2005

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