According to John Gray, world famous author of Men are from Mars, women are from Venus:
- The average North American male has low testosterone levels.
- The average married man has low testosterone levels.
- A man needs 30 times more testosterone than a woman.
- Excessive talking increases estrogen.
- Guys who have more time to themselves tend to have more testosterone.
Gray explained the need for men to work alone or “retire into their caves” to restore their natural testosterone levels. This can be dirty and dangerous work, watching sports, doing car maintenance, or exercising. Guys need their time away from women, period. Gray describes the actions of the men as rubber bands. They run away, then come back, leave and come back. It’s not vindictive at all, but more of a natural behavior.
Women may think that this is strange behavior. But you better pay attention, as not only the boy-girl behavior has lowered testosterone, but the entire American lifestyle is draining the masculine drive.
I have observed both in the workplace and in the media, a definite drop in American male testosterone. It is more than evident in the dizzying examples of:
- Depression. There is a great increase in the lack of sexual desire and lack of concentration in men. In the past few years, five of the funerals I have attended have been of suicidal men, mostly soldiers and one firefighter. All of high testosterone works.
- Weight gain. You can’t walk down a street without seeing guys waddling around with big guts and “man tits.” It might be time to start marketing a “Manssierre” (designed by the character Kramer on the show Seinfeld). (I used to counsel a former Canadian Special Operations soldier on fitness to no avail, until one day I bluntly told him he was growing man boobs. This insult seemed to have snapped him out of his depressive daze and we started working out . .)
- Lack of ambition. You see this with the docile types on campus or workplace. There is a real “who cares” attitude, irritability, whining and lack of personal drive.
- Reduced muscles. It is the man’s testosterone that builds bigger muscles. Low testosterone means lack of muscles.
- Tired. Once again, the lack of personal drive. I overheard a very skinny guy with a depressed chest trying to get me to do a power washing job for myself while he claimed to have chronic fatigue. He looked more like a short tea
In addition to John Gray’s general behavioral recommendations, men can greatly increase their testosterone by taking action in their own personal lives. Namely:
- Avoid soy products. They contain plant estrogens.
- Avoid high sugar intake. Sugar inhibits the need for growth hormone to build muscle and burn fat.
- Performing strength training. Get out before the cardio machines and lift weights. Strength building increases growth hormone and testosterone and burns fat. It also trains your body to regenerate faster than cardio.
- Get a good eight hours of solid sleep a night. Even five or six hours of deep sleep is more productive than eight or ten hours of restless sleep.
- Eat foods rich in protein. Your muscles, skin, hair, brain, and nerves are made of protein. Weight loss diets from women’s fashion magazines often do NOT work for men. Protein is needed not only to build tissue, but also to fight infection and get rid of excess water.
I have seen marked physical, mental, and emotional improvements in men (and women) when they improve their hormonal balances through proper exercise, nutrition, and rest. Before reaching for another pill, consider improving your overall health first with lifestyle changes.