Men like to put a lot of stock in their testosterone levels. Many might even blame age-related drops in testosterone for why they lack sexual desire, fatigue, strength, or the zest for life they once had.
But that doesn’t answer the question of why peers of similar age can have the exact opposite experience as they get older.
The answer may be in a 2011 Australian study that shows age, in and of itself, does not affect testosterone levels.
Instead, researchers say that testosterone is likely affected by overall health. Their study—which looked at 325 men over age 40 (with a median age of 60) who had self-reported excellent health and no symptoms—found that age did not affect blood testosterone levels.
To track blood testosterone, researchers took blood samples from the men nine times over three months.
Researchers determined that testosterone loss in older men was likely attributable to other cumulative health problems that are likely to appear in old age. These include conditions like obesity, heart disease, and contributing lifestyle factors.
Essentially, the study found that low testosterone is likely a symptom of something else.
Maintaining or regaining testosterone, therefore, may be essential for good health as you age.
So, how do you do that? Eating a healthy diet, getting more exercise, and losing some weight are great places to start.
The real challenge is getting to it. But by making an effort to include more healthy options in your diet, removing some processed foods, and committing to a 20-minute walk per day, you can give yourself something to build on.
When these things become routine, you’re likely to notice you’re doing more and feeling better!