It seems that in every city drivers see billboards advertising testosterone therapy to "improve" men's well-being. This therapy promises to treat declining strength, endurance, muscle mass, and libido--among other symptoms. For many middle-aged men, testosterone therapy may appear to be an easy way to recapture the youthful physique and vitality they once enjoyed.

Too Good to be True?

In 2014 the FDA began requiring testosterone products to carry a label warning of possible increased risks of heart attack and stroke. This label requirement came after numerous studies linking testosterone therapy to cardiovascular events.

Other Risks

Increased likelihood of prostate cancer was found in a meta-analysis published 2000. Also, increased risk of blood clots due to a thickening of the blood is associated with testosterone replacement therapy. Although less common, sleep apnea and gynecomastia (breast enlargement) are other possible side effects of taking hormone treatments.

Natural Testosterone
It's natural for testosterone levels to gradually decrease as a man ages. Men can take control of the aging process with their diet and lifestyle. These lifestyle measures have a profound impact on every aspect of a man's health, including hormone production. Would you believe that men who eat an exclusively plant-centered diet have higher testosterone levels than their counterparts who eat the standard Western diet or vegetarians? My article What Factors Influence Testosterone Levels? identifies what men can do to enjoy excellent health, strength, and vitality throughout their entire lives.

For more information, click on the following links:

(1) Could Erectile Dysfunction Save Your Life?

(2) Erectile Dysfunction is a Warning Sign of Clogged Arteries

(3) Who has Heart Disease? Everyone?

(4) Dairy Products Promote Prostate Cancer

(5) Blogs on heart disease