Why Is Testosterone So Important?

Why Big Wood Was Created - Dr. Bryan Schuetz

WWW.GETBIGWOOD.COM

“Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice.” –William Jennings Bryant

After learning that most of the products out there marketed to men such as shave cream, deodorant, soap, shampoo, aftershave, and cologne have hormone disrupting chemicals that boost estrogen and reduce testosterone, I decided to make it my mission to change men’s health by creating a line of products that will provide handmade all natural solutions with the benefits of testosterone boosting ingredients from nature. This e-book will arm you with the essential small changes you can make to create a healthier lifestyle.

Please share this report with every man you know. 

There is only one thing that remains constant in life, and that is change. For men we see the vitality of youth begin to fade into our thirties and forties, and some even sooner than that. It is a hard thing to accept for most men, and they begin to go through the usual mid life crisis. A new sports car, a new motorcycle, or maybe even a new wife; but the real underlying problem is that they are going through changes.

Changes that signal an end to youth and the beginning of middle age. Reduction in hormone activity has a different effect on each man, and there are physical, social, and psychological implications that need to be discussed here. Men are used to being strong. They are used to being “on their game” in the bedroom and possibly the boardroom. This change in life where the hormones that made them a leader start to fade can make them feel like a loser.

This report is about how to identify if you might be suffering from andropause and preventing it from robbing you of the best years of your life. Join me in learning how to fight back and restore your manhood. Menopause vs. Andropause The hormonal changes of menopause are evident for women from the beginning of menopause, with all the associated changes. Hormone fluctuations, temperature intolerances and mood swings are the norm.

We have all been well versed on the changes to expect for women and there is much attention placed on women’s health at this time in life. Men however begin to suffer from changes as well. It is not just the reduction in sexual appetite and performance but weight gain, fatigue, sleep disturbances and mood changes that become the norm. There are also huge associated health risks with prostate and even heart problems that accompany a reduction in male hormone activity or andropause.

In fact, a 2004 study in The Journal of American Geriatrics states that subjects who maintained more normal levels of testosterone had HALF the mortality rate of those with low T! That’s right; they had half the risk of dying for ANY reason just because of good healthy testosterone levels. This is certainly a problem that deserves more than a late-night infomercial to let men know that andropause is real. It can not only reduce the life in your years but the years in your life. This report is dedicated to helping men understand the risks associated with andropause and how to fight back so that they can maximize their hormone function and live a better, longer, and more enjoyable life.

Change is going to happen, but that does not mean that we can’t do something about it. I thank you for reading this book and for making the choice to learn more about your health. Knowledge is power. A good place to start would be to explain exactly what is testosterone? It is an androgen type hormone meaning it helps to regulate sexual characteristics.

When a boy hits puberty, it is responsible for the deepening of the voice, formation of body hair, development of the reproductive system and prostate. These are the functions that most people relate to this all important hormone. What is even more important, testosterone is also an anabolic hormone, meaning it is responsible for building and maintaining all types of tissues in the body. Studies demonstrate that it is responsible for regulation of muscle tissue, controls fat deposition, bone formation, brain function, nerve transmission, sex drive… and the list goes on.

Biochemically, testosterone starts off as cholesterol, just like other hormones. It then goes through a process which takes it through many chemical forms before finishing as testosterone, The Big Kahuna! Testosterone is produced in the Leydig Cells of the testes in men and a bit in the adrenal glands. This process begins in the brain, (the hypothalamus to be exact), when gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is sent to the pituitary gland so that it will stimulate 2 hormones, Follicle Stimulating Hormone, (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone, (LH).

These two hormones then act on the testes in men to produce testosterone. Testosterone circulating in the bloodstream is mostly bound to Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG), and a small amount to albumin, a circulating protein in the blood. The left over few percent is actual fee testosterone that can be used by the body for building tissues and having the desired effect we are looking for such as increasing manly characteristics.

When levels are good in the body, this process turns down production as a negative feedback loop. When the levels get to low, if all the factors are right, then the process speeds up again to put more "T" into action! What Causes Low Testosterone?

1. Age- We might as well talk about this one first because it is the hardest one to fight. We all have to get older, and testosterone levels decline with age. The thing is, we can lay down and become a shell of what we used to be or we can put on our big boy pants and go to war with this evildoer. There are two types of aging. One is under your control and the other is not. Chronological aging, or the type of aging that follows a calendar, is going to happen one way or another. Physiological aging is much different. Have you ever seen a person that looks like they were 20 even though they were 35? Of course, you have. The opposite is also true. So, what makes one person look so good and the other so bad? Hormones.

We have the ability to change the rate at which we age physiologically by optimizing hormone levels and hormone efficiency in our bodies. Physiologic age is just an expression of our hormonal health.

2. Poor General Health- Being overweight and out of shape is one of the largest causes of low testosterone. Being out of shape means too much fat and or not enough muscle. Testosterone is higher in production when someone has proper muscle tissue and the right amount of fat on the body.

Yes, you do need fat in your diet and cholesterol to make testosterone, but too much and you reduce its production and effectiveness! When you are overweight, there are many hormones that get out of sync. One is insulin and another major player is cortisol. Insulin is normally an anabolic or muscle building hormone but when someone is overweight there is more insulin released over time and the cells become adaptive by reducing the amount of receptor sites therefore reducing the effect of insulin. It is a condition called insulin resistance.

Cortisol is a catabolic hormone meaning that is is responsible for tissue breakdown. It has an increased production in people who are overweight. Cortisol competes with testosterone for receptor sites on cells and thereby reduces the effect of testosterone in the body. It is important then to maintain a healthy weight and stay in shape to improve testosterone production and function.

3. Not Enough Sex- Sex is important to stimulate testosterone production. When the brain gears up for sex, it stimulates production of testosterone from the testes. When that stimulation is lets say, "less than optimal," the production slows down as the brain perceives that it is not necessary. There are many studies out there on this subject, but most agree that for good testosterone production and prostate function, at least once per week. Just tell your spouse it is for your health, and maybe buy some flowers.

4. Medications- Certain medications can contribute to low testosterone symptoms. Many times these meds are for treating things that you could prevent or correct with a healthy lifestyle, and then you can get off those meds to improve your testosterone number. Just check with your medical doctor about the possible side effects of your meds and before reducing or stopping medications. There is the short list of causes of low testosterone symptoms. These are things that you can influence.

Some men suffer from primary hypogonadism which means they just weren't born with the right equipment to produce testosterone such as testes that did not descend or were not properly functioning at birth.

5. Environmental Pollution- Terrible as it may seem, pollution in many forms will affect your testosterone levels. There are over 20,000 chemicals in the air we breathe and the water we drink every day. Some of those compounds are estrogen producing compounds that can have a serious impact on your T levels. Also, there are many estrogenic compounds in soaps, fragrances, shampoos, and the like. Artificial food compounds are also a huge contributor to reduced testosterone in men.

Soy is one controversial ingredient that is in so many processed foods it is very hard to avoid. Also, there is discussion that Genetically Modified Organisms, (GMO's) might have estrogen type effects in the body thereby reducing testosterone.

Help yourself here by eating whole organic foods, when possible, use only soap, shave cream, deodorant, after shave, and cologne without artificial fragrances or added chemicals, drink filtered water and possibly even filter the air in your home. What Are Normal Testosterone Levels?

You need to know the normal testosterone levels if you are experiencing symptoms of low testosterone. I like to keep levels as close to a 25-year-old man as my goal, because that is the age where most men start to see a reduction in testosterone levels.

Depending on your lifestyle, levels can drop 2-4 percent per year after age 25. So, after age 50 most men are reduced to half of their maximum testosterone production! 

Normal testosterone levels- medical range in general is from 250 ng/dl to 800 ng/dl depending on age.

The problem is that many men who are even "in range" for their age have problems with low testosterone symptoms. Medical doctors generally won't treat a patient with chemical means until they fall below "medically" low levels of 250 ng/dl.

Many times, at this point health damage is already done and you have spent years without feeling as well as you should. SHBG (Sex Hormone Binding Globulin) Sex Hormone Binding Globulin, (SHBG) is produced mainly in the liver. It is a glycoprotein that is responsible for transporting testosterone around the body. While testosterone levels drop with age and environmental factors such as pollution, diet, activity levels, frequency of sex and body fat, SHBG levels tend to rise with age.

These levels start at 35 ng/dl for a 25-year-old male and rise to over 65 ng/dl by age 80. Testosterone being bound to SHBG means there is less free testosterone for use in maintaining strength, tissue regeneration and sex drive in the average male as he goes through the aging process.

Free Test = 100 X (Total Test) SHBG Free testosterone is the best measure of a man's androgen level status. This test is highly expensive and hard to find a lab that will do the test. Many people tested in "normal" range may have little free testosterone even though a regular test shows ample amounts in the blood or saliva.

A free testosterone level near 150 or more is good level in general. Below 30 is considered a low "medical" level. To help with keeping the SHBG in check, try to control blood sugar, exercise regularly, maintain a normal weight, take healthy supplements, get proper rest and get proper hydration. Pretty much the same routine as when you are trying to improve your testosterone levels.

How to Control Normal Testosterone Levels

I have found over the years that many who are at the low end of normal testosterone levels have many symptoms such as fatigue, reduced sex drive and strength of erections, reduced sleep, prostate problems, loss of strength, atherosclerosis, and more. We have achieved great results working with these men through natural lifestyle changes such as natural supplementation, exercise, diet and improved mental focus.

How to Increase Testosterone

That is the 64,000-dollar question... How to increase testosterone? There are really two schools of thought when it comes to this question. One is to use natural means and the second is through synthetic chemicals. I tend to have an approach that blends the two schools together. I want to fully increase testosterone naturally, and then if we can't achieve a desirable testosterone number we move to medical (chemical) means (patches, injections, pellets).

The natural way is the safer of the two; using lifestyle modifications that we will discuss and using natural herbal supplements. The chemical way has some horrific side effects but for some men this is the only way to achieve results and living with low T is not really an option I recommend.

Natural Ways to Increase Testosterone

“Optimizing testosterone levels is as much about what you don’t do to your body as much as it is about what you do to your body.” -Dr. Bryan Schuetz

The first step for my patients on the web or in the office is to determine if they indeed are suffering from low testosterone symptoms. After completing a history, we decide how they want to move forward. This website contains the questions I ask my patients in the office with the Low Testosterone Symptoms Test.

This might be a good time for you to complete it if you haven't already. Many men then complete a simple saliva test, and we move on from there. Some guys want a chance to improve their symptoms before getting a baseline number because they are afraid of what that number might be. 

1. Eat Foods That Boost Testosterone- Here is a listing of some foods that will do the job- -Oysters -Lean Meat and Chicken -Fish (particularly shellfish) -Avocados -Eggs -Beans -Avoid Grapefruit, processed foods, and excessive alcohol consumption

2. Lose Weight- Losing weight gives you a big advantage to increasing testosterone production. It also improves testosterone effectiveness by reducing cortisol.

3. High Intensity Training- Particularly resistance training will increase testosterone levels, but you must also have rest days to recover, or you will actually reduce testosterone by over training. Be sure to check with your doctor before starting any exercise program.

4. Have Sex- Sexual arousal stimulates testosterone production. You can keep levels up by not ejaculating as often. 5. Take Supplements- I recommend to my patients who want to maximize testosterone naturally to do take the following:

a. Take Big Wood Men's Performance Max as directed. It is the longest used and researched supplement out there also take a good multi vitamin and extra Vitamin D.

b. Use Big Wood Shave Soap and Big Wood Luxury After Shave for every shave and every body part you shave! Use Big Wood Beard Oil if you don’t shave! These products not only contain pine pollen and tribulus but none of the chemicals in most men's grooming products!  Remove all shave cream, soap, deodorant and shampoos with chemicals like phthalates that actually boost estrogen and reduce testosterone!

c. Use Big Wood Transdermal Natural Testosterone Cream as directed on label, (3 weeks on and one week off). A canister should last 3 weeks so order a new one after each runs out.

5. Mental Stimulation- Just watching a good war movie or thinking of your lady promotes an increase in testosterone. Sports also has a positive effect on testosterone levels but only if your team wins. -No, I'm not kidding.

6. Relax- Taking time to rest and recuperate is an important aspect of increasing testosterone. When you give your body time to rebuild after a hard workout it improves your anabolic hormone profile.