More and more doctors are becoming increasingly aware of "male andropause" in which men as they age experience a drop in their testosterone level which can lead to lower energy, irritability, depression, insomnia, decreased libido, a loss of muscle mass, increased body fat and concentration difficulties. This can be detected be a blood test that measures testosterone levels. If the level is low, the doctor may prescribe hormone replacement therapy. I would like to touch on ten suggestions to help boost testosterone levels naturally. The first three suggestions are all herbs 1) long jack (tongkat ali) 2) tribulus terrestris and 3) sarsparilla. Some other suggestions would be: 4) Supplement with zinc. The mineral zinc is very important in testosterone production, so making sure one is getting adequate zinc intake would be a great idea. 5) Add 25-50 mg of DHEA to your supplement regimen. DHEA which can be obtained at most pharmacies or health food stores can be converted in the body to testosterone. DHEA may also help with low grade depression, energy, libido and healthier body composition. 6) Pump iron. Intense anaerobic exercise like weight training can help the body increase both its testosterone and growth hormone output. For someone who is or wants to get serious about weight training, I would highly recommend Robby Robinson's "Built" DVD- very inspirational and educational (see resource link for his website). Robby is 63 and looks unbelievable. He is the most winning body builder of all time. 7) Use it or lose it. A person with a healthy sex life is much more apt to have a higher testosterone level. Regular ejaculation will also reduce the risk of certain prostate problems. 8) Reduce the ingestion of soy products. Soy contains phyto-estrogens which is something that men may want to avoid. Although the data is mixed, soy may also suppress thyroid function. 9) Reduce saturated fat intake and supplement with healthy fats (see previous blog post on fish oil). 10) Get adequate sleep.