It’s obvious that the modern medical establishment and the institutions that support it don’t like when men act like…well…men.
Young boys are discouraged from rough play. Traditionally “masculine” traits are dismissed as archaic or “problematic.”
Worst of all, they recommend foods and lifestyles that actively chip away at your testosterone.
But the latest “positive spin” on the feminization of men comes from a brand-new scientific study. Let me explain…
In a study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, researchers examined the effects of increasing testosterone in male gerbils. While convention might have you believe that this ended in the subjects reacting violently – the opposite happened.
Instead of fighting one another, the gerbils that received testosterone demonstrated more prosocial behaviors.
In the study, scientists observed 14 female and 14 male adult gerbils. After the animals established pair bonds, the males were injected with either testosterone or a placebo saline solution.1
Within 30 minutes, the gerbils that received testosterone acted friendlier with one another – even with other males.
Headlines around the world proclaimed that testosterone… “Promotes Hugging”2 and makes “Makes Men More Loving.”3
The authors of the study want you to believe that testosterone will make you softer and “more cuddly.” But here’s what the study didn’t scream in bold type:
In the second half of the experiment, the researchers removed the female gerbils and their offspring. The males were given another shot of testosterone and left alone in the cage. An unknown male was then introduced.
The friendly behavior changed dramatically. The gerbils began to exhibit the usual behavior of chasing away the intruder. In other words, they started acting like “men” again.
Of course, they did. Because this hormone is what makes a man a man.
Proving that this study didn’t prove a thing…
Don’t let them feminize you
Your innate drive to compete, break a sweat, take charge, and blow your partner away in the bedroom comes directly from your testosterone.
And it has a direct impact on your physical well-being.
I’ve seen what plummeting testosterone can do to my male patients, and it’s heartbreaking:
- Shrinking muscle mass
- Increased body fat
- Brittle bones
- Mood disorders like anxiety and depression
- Dreaded “man-boobs”
- And the complete erosion of sexual vigor
The truth is men need testosterone to live a happy, healthy life. And a modern world filled with T-killing chemicals and a culture that seems to despise manhood, in general, is making that harder than ever.
In fact, men today have about 20% less testosterone than men their same age did just two decades ago.4
But that doesn’t mean you have to just accept declining manhood. Even if you struggle with low testosterone now, there are things you can do right away…
Reclaim your inner man
There are three things you can start doing immediately to boost your testosterone back up to healthy levels. Here’s what I tell my patients:
-
- Eat like a man: When you imagine your primal hunter-gatherer-ancestors, you probably picture hulking muscle men. Looking at their diets, there’s every reason to expect this is accurate. Protein-rich meat made up a large chunk of the primal diet, helping your ancestors build and maintain the muscle mass they needed to survive the brutal conditions of their time. Today, most store-bought meat is polluted with artificial preservatives and toxins – chemicals that kill your testosterone. Shop for grass-fed red meat to add some primal power to your diet. Cut back on poultry items like chicken and turkey. You should also limit grains and starches. In time, you’ll see your waist shrink and your muscles expand.
- Don’t be afraid of fat: I’m not talking about the trans fats lurking in candies, cakes, and other artificial foods. I’m talking about the manhood-supporting animal fat that used to be a staple of our diets. Modern medicine has turned “fat” into a bad word – but it shouldn’t be. In fact, to maintain healthy testosterone, animal fat should make up 40% of your diet.5 You can easily add tasty animal fat to your diet by eating seafood such as salmon, trout, and herring. Pork shoulder and bacon are also great sources.
- Get the right exercise: Physical activity is critical for maintaining strong testosterone levels. Unfortunately, most of the exercise trends hyped up by the media over the past several decades are dead wrong. Cardio may help trim the fat at first – but with regularity, it will cut your muscle mass as well. Just compare the average distance runner to Olympic sprinters. You’ll notice a drastic difference. Most of the exercises you learned in school gym class will help you build and keep your muscle tone better than anything else. This includes push-ups, crunches, pull-ups, squats, and lunges. For even better results, you need to mix it up. That’s why I developed my PACE program. It’s a system designed to get you all the exercise you’ll need in just 10-20 minutes a day. The exercises involve simple but intense movements – rather than long, drawn out, and frankly boring routines like jogging.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD, CNS
References:
1. Kelly A, et al. “Beyond sex and aggression: testosterone rapidly matches behavioral responses to social context and tries to predict the future.” Proceed Royal Soc B. 2022;289(1976)
2. www.newsliveFlorida.com/testosterone-promotes-hugging.html.
3. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-11105787/Testosterone-make-males-cuddly-sociable-study-shows.html
4. Travison TG, et al. “A population-level decline in serum testosterone levels in American men.” J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007;196-202
5. Blouin, K., Bolvin, A., and Tchernof, A.(2007) “Androgens and body fat distribution.” The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2007, 108 (3-5), p.272-280.