Testosterone is the primary hormone that is responsible for regulating fertility, red blood cell production, muscle mass, and fat distribution in male bodies. Low testosterone levels can lead to low sex drive, decreased muscle mass, and other health problems.
You’ve probably never thought about running as a cause of low testosterone. New research has found this may be an issue.
That does not mean you should quit running. Running does have important health benefits. You should, though, be aware of the effects running has on your T levels.
Continue reading to find out more about the relationship between running and testosterone. The answer may surprise you.
Is Running Affecting My Manhood?
Don’t throw away your running shoes just yet. It isn’t running that is affecting your T levels. It’s the type of running.
Dangerously low levels of T are usually the result of overtraining. Endurance training is very stressful on the body. High stress levels are known to negatively impact overall health.
Additionally, endurance training may result in higher cortisol levels and thus lower testosterone levels.
Regular training should not dramatically T levels. Problems arise when the body is not allowed to rest.
Rest is essential to recovery. This is when the body will repair and strengthen itself. High-level athletes need to allow time to rest, otherwise, they could experience negative health effects.
Do I Need to Stop Running?
You do not need to stop running. In fact, running has important health benefits that you should continue working for.
Unless you are explicitly training for a long-distance event, you should stick to short, high-intensity cardio. As part of your workout routine, you should complete short sprints.
For example, try completing several one-minute sprints. Allow yourself to rest for a minute between sets.
Other High-Intensity Exercises
In addition to sprints, try incorporating other high-intensity exercises to your workout routine.
These could be kickboxing, judo, jump roping, wrestling, and burpees. The goal is to make your heart-rate increase dramatically.
These exercises will be much more painful but will be over much sooner. The rest of your time can be used to rest.
Any exercises that focus on strength and power will help boost T levels.
How Can I Know What My Testosterone Levels Are?
If you are concerned that your T levels are low, you may want to get them tested. Your T levels will fluctuate regularly, so don’t jump the gun.
If you are feeling fatigued or like you are unable to perform sexually, you might have low T. Your partner (or partners) may let you know about the latter.
An official diagnosis will require two morning blood tests a week apart.
This is important information, especially if you are in your prime reproductive years.
Consistently low T levels can permanently impact fertility over time. Over time, you may also increase your risk of osteoporosis and stress fractures.
What Else Could Be Causing It?
Low T levels can be caused by a variety of reasons. After age 30, T levels will naturally begin to decline. This is normal.
Young males can be affected if both testicles sustained damage at some point. They can also be affected by the use of opioids or other medications.
There are genetic defects, such as Kleinfelter Syndrom, which will cause lower T levels.
If there is a tumor in the pituitary gland, the organ cannot produce the luteinizing hormone. This hormone catalyzes the production of testosterone in the testes.
As a result of overtraining, lower fat levels may lead to lower T levels.
Be mindful of how you handle stress. Stay away from smoking, drinking, and other unhealthy habits to cope with stress.
Stress itself has a serious impact on health. Find ways to more healthily cope with daily stress.
What Can I Do About Running and Testosterone?
If you do experience low T levels, don’t worry. You can improve your T levels by making simple changes to your workout routine.
If you receive a diagnosis of low T levels, you may undergo further screening. Your doctor for tumors, examine your testes, ask about medications, and ask about your workout routine.
It is essential to your health that you allow your body to rest. If you overexert yourself, you stand to compromise your T levels. This will have more damaging effects than just your reproductive health.
Additionally, you can replace endurance training with short sprints. These will help improve your T levels.
Try adding strength and power-based exercises to your routine. This usually involves heavy weight training.
Weight training does not have to become the focus of your routine. It is supplementary.
Hormone Therapy
There are some cases in which changes to your routine may not be enough. These are usually cases involving tumors or genetic defects.
Hormone replacement therapy can be administered to improve sex drive, erections, mood, and bone and muscle health.
As with anything, you should be aware of the side effects.
This does not mean you should consider hormone therapy as a means of becoming a world-class athlete or a sex god.
Young males should be wary of hormone therapy, as it can damage sperm production over time.
Older men who receive hormone therapy may also be at higher risk of prostate cancer and cardiovascular problems.
As an athlete, you should be aware of doping regulations. Increasing red blood cells can give you an unfair advantage. There are exemptions for genetic defects and pituitary tumors.
Getting Your Manhood Back
Okay, nobody ever really stole it. It was never even lost.
Part of being a male human being is dealing with fluctuations in T levels. This is a normal part of life, and you should not stress too much about it.
There is, however, a relationship between running and testosterone that many runners may not understand. Whether you are training for a running event or just looking after your health, keep this in mind.
If you are looking for more ways you can improve your health and wellness, visit our blog.