If you had to rank the most important factors for a healthy heart, hormones would likely show up last on your list. But the truth is that these chemical messengers have a strong influence on just about every single one of your body’s delicate systems… and your cardiovascular system is no exception.

You may not realize it, but your blood vessels are lined with estrogen receptors, which play a key role in regulating healthy blood pressure, cholesterol and normal clot formation in both men and women.1 This may be one reason why pre-menopausal women enjoy more optimal heart health statistics than their male and postmenopausal counterparts—and why heart health becomes an important focus for women as they grow older.

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Symptoms of low testosterone levels in men include decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, depression, osteoporosis, weight gain, muscle loss, diabetes, heart disease, and decreased physical performance. Unfortunately, 1 out of 4 men above the age of thirty in the US has lower than normal testosterone levels and will experience some of these symptoms.

Age, which we have little control over, obviously plays a big role in lower testosterone. Are there other factors that we can control, such as nutrition?

A study involving 42 men with normal blood sugar levels, 23 with pre-diabetic blood sugar levels, and 9 with type 2 diabetes was performed to make testing for testosterone levels more accurate. In the process however, researchers discovered that eating sugar cuts a man’s testosterone levels significantly.

Each participant was given a sugary solution and then had their testosterone levels checked. Regardless of whether the participants had diabetes or not, blood levels of testosterone dropped by as much as 25% and remained low for a period of 2 hours. 15% of the participants with normal testosterone levels before the test experienced a drop in testosterone so low they could be classified as having hypogonadism, which would require hormonal replacement therapy. (Alternatives.13(9);2010)

If nothing else, you’ll lose body fat and achieve a higher level of overall health by cutting out sugar. Sugar has been associated with diseases like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and many more. Now you can add improved testosterone levels to the list

Low testosterone levels in older men are associated with an increased risk of depression, according to an?Australian study.

Between 2001 and 2004, researchers at the University of Western Australia in Perth studied 3,987 males aged 71 to 89. The men provided demographic and health information and were tested for depression and cognitive difficulties. The researchers also checked the men’s testosterone levels.

The 203 men who met the criteria for depression had significantly lower total and free (not bound to proteins) testosterone levels than those who weren’t depressed. After controlling for other factors, such as cognitive scores, education level and body-mass index, the researchers concluded that men in the lowest quintile (20 percent) of free testosterone were three times more likely to have depression compared to those in the highest quintile.

The findings were published in the March issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.

There is more and more evidence mounting?for?medically supervised?hormone replacement therapy.?
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In a previous Did you know… column, which offers research, trends and other info to help with your fitness, health and nutritional needs. I reveal that: testosterone has been proven to help protect against heart disease; Cialis offers spontaneity over Viagra; how you can break your johnson, partial reps can be productive; and more.

Did you know…

?that half of all men over the age of 30 experience problems getting erections at one point or another. Viagra since its introduction has increased the sexual capacities of many men with erectile dysfunction (ED). Cialis is a new drug for the treatment of ED and was introduced in 2003. The side effects are the same as Viagra; headaches, flushing, heartburn and nasal congestion. Cialis, however, works faster than Viagra and lasts between 24 and 36 hours. Cialis allows a man to be more spontaneous.

?you can actually break your penis. Normally when we talk about breaking a part of the body we are concerned with bones. However, when fully erect the penis becomes almost as hard as bone. If you were to have vigorous sex and unintentionally slip out, the force of missing the target could cause a break. The tubes (corposa cavernosa) that are filled with blood can rupture. This can be accompanied by a popping sound, extreme pain and severe swelling. Unfortunately, the damage is difficult to repair and some men are prevented from ever having full erections. (mypleasure.com)

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Low testosterone levels are associated with a greater risk of heart attacks, diabetes, abdominal fat deposition and abnormal blood lipid levels. Cytokins, which cause inflammation in the arteries, are the latest suspected cause of heart disease. British researchers suggest testosterone suppresses cytokins and also boosts the immune system, thereby preventing heart disease. (J Endocrinol, 178: 373-380, 2003)