Having normal testosterone levels is associated with better mood, better quality of life and health in men. Here are a few things you can do to keep your testosterone levels in check!
1. Heated / Hot Plastic
Plastics can have a lot of chemicals that work as estrogen mimickers. In other words, to your body, they are essentially absorbed like and treated like estrogen. When heated, plastics can release these substances. A few of the bad ones are phthalates and BPA (Bisphenol A).
2. Any Products labeled as being “high fragrance”
The label fragrance means it contains a phthalate compound. Phthalates are a group of chemicals used to soften and increase the flexibility of plastic and vinyl. Phthalates are used in hundreds of consumer products. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate is listed as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen”. It’s not good for your testosterone either. In any case you will want to steer clear of anything that has this label.
3. Alcohol, especially beer..
Heavy drinking lowers your testosterone. A good rule is no more than one or two drinks a day. However in the case of beer, the hops in beer are so estrogenic; they are currently being studied as a treatment for hot flashes in menopausal women! If you want to optimize your testosterone levels, it’s best to completely avoid alcohol.
4. Painkillers
Men who are on chronic-pain killers (especially opioids) can have super-low testosterone. Opioids are toxic to the endocrine system. According to this study, Long-term opioid therapy for either addiction or chronic pain often induces hypogonadism owing to central suppression of hypothalamic secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone.
