I got my test results back from the doc and my Vitamin d levels were perfect, at 80ng/ML. My T-levels could definitely use a boost however. Right now they are at 600ng/dL. I want them to get to at least 800 ng/dl and preferably to 1000 ng/dl. Also I might point out that i tend to store fat right around the belly button area which according to Poliquin Biosignature means that I have a higher cortisol level. Higher Cortisol = Lower T.
Anyway my question to you great individuals is to give me any strategies that you have personally used to increase your T that have worked. Natural methods of course. Oh and by the way I am 27 years old. Thanks again.
In general things that help to normalize test are to improve your overall health.
Why does higher cholesterol mean lower test? You might have meant cortisol? Anyway, silver is right; focus on lowering your cortisol.
Also, do you actually have fat around your midsection? You said you tend to store it there. Does that mean that you are currently following that trend? If so, figure out why you stored that belly fat and just go on a cut to lose it. That could mean any number of things. Zinc could help, so could magnesium, so could calcium, trib may give you a slight boost, Z-12 might help you cut your cortisol (which battles with test). MOstly a general improvement in diet is what you need. Post what your intake looks like> I’d guess you eat a good amount of what I would consider junk, and less than adequate amount of veggies, lean meat and nuts. Meditation could help. So could relaxing breathing techniques (4 seconds in, 5 out – done sporadically 4 times per day). Morning sunlight can also help.
I’m 27 as well. I recently went through a divorce and I believe all the stress killed my T levels. Once I started lifting heavy again and got a new girl my energy and hormones returned to their previous levels if not higher. Now I’m better than ever. So my suggestion is to stay in a positive mood, eat clean, and lift heavy.
How many measurements have you had? I don’t know what the test-retest reliability tends to be for Testosterone levels, but you may want to consider multiple measurements if you haven’t done so yet. I had two measurements within about 3 weeks of one another and my levels changed by about 200 ng/dL (went from about 300 up to 500). While I was doing some things within that 3 weeks to try to boost T, I doubt I did anything that dramatic to account for all of the difference observed.
It’s a mistake to focus on your total testosterone level. Instead, you should be looking at your free testosterone since increasing this is what will make a difference.
Simply going from 600 Ng/dl to 800 Ng/dl may have no detectable effect if free t levels do not increase as well.
[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:
High dose vitamin C to lower cortisol. I read that somewhere. [/quote]
No[/quote]
I remember reading that it helped too, was that incorrect, or what are you going by? I actually pop some for this reason (as well as immune support, etc).
As far as cortisol lowering, you could try phosphdyl serine and glycine is supposed to help too.
[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:
High dose vitamin C to lower cortisol. I read that somewhere. [/quote]
No[/quote]
I remember reading that it helped too, was that incorrect, or what are you going by? I actually pop some for this reason (as well as immune support, etc).
As far as cortisol lowering, you could try phosphdyl serine and glycine is supposed to help too.[/quote]
And i readed somewhere else that vit. C boosts T as well, wtf?
[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:
High dose vitamin C to lower cortisol. I read that somewhere. [/quote]
No[/quote]
I remember reading that it helped too, was that incorrect, or what are you going by? I actually pop some for this reason (as well as immune support, etc).
As far as cortisol lowering, you could try phosphdyl serine and glycine is supposed to help too.[/quote]
And i readed somewhere else that vit. C boosts T as well, wtf?[/quote]
It seems the Vitamin C propaganda squad has been successful in saying that it does everything at all times.
Funny, I have read of its cancer fighting properties. I wouldn’t dismiss it all as propaganda though… I have first hand witnessed an increase in health from an increased vitamin c intake (and I’m the biggest skeptic I’ve ever known, for what its worth).
[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:
High dose vitamin C to lower cortisol. I read that somewhere. [/quote]
No[/quote]
No what?
Did you not get enough attention or something?
And by high dose I mean 2g twice a day. [/quote]
He’s probably waiting for you to ask about the latest study he’s read. He seems to like the idea of being the resident research guru.
Despite whatever research may say, I’ve felt positive effects with supplemental vitamin C. I don’t know whether it’s reduced cortisol or elevated T, but I definitely feel better during hard training cycles while taking it.
I don’t plan to stop using it out of fear that it may be a pro-oxidant, either.
I know I should’ve let this thread die, but I have to state a question regarding vitamin C.
Where, and how, was the threshold of anti-oxidant/pro-oxidant established?
I ask this as a majority of studies are conducted on normal people, not athletes, and we have much higher rates of oxidation than sedentary people. If it acts as a pro-oxidant when there are no radicals to mop up (so after it has done it’s job as an anti-oxidant) it should follow that there is more of a safety threshold for active people regarding this effect of Vitamin C.
It is very much along the lines of Vitamin E to me. I was scared shitless when that huge epidemiological study ‘revealed’ that vitamin C, E and selenium supplementation increased the risk of death from all causes. However, Fish oil depletes vitamin E levels in the brain. For the sedentary people who may not have been supplementing, this is not much of a concern, but for me, who takes 2 servings of Flameout a day (nearing 6g combined EPA/DHA) I would have the opposite effect. A lack of vitamin E supplementation would adversely affect me, and supplementing would more than likely balance out neurological oxidation.
End rant, but it seems the studies are being interpreted with no regard to population. (Plus even if Vitamin C acts as a pro-oxidant, our population more than likely consumes ample anti-oxidants to counter this with our excessively massive and healthy diets)
[quote]Bricknyce wrote:
Dietary strategies do almost nothing for increasing T levels just as the brief boost in T from weight training does little for muscle growth. [/quote]
This
There’s really not that much you can do to increase your testosterone to appreciable levels. Just focus on hard training and eating right