Hormones and Him

Valeo Health’s Dr Mahmoud Musa discusses what hormones mean to men, how to maintain their healthy levels, and what it means when there is an imbalance

What does “good health” mean for men?
We have a saying at Valeo that health isn’t defined by being free from disease. Disease often takes years to develop. Just because you don’t have one, doesn’t mean you are healthy. Health is a state of complete physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being and the ultimate human health is the ability to reproduce. This is causing concerns for some in the health industry because of the rise of infertility, loss of sex drive and even loss of sexual function, especially in men.

Rather than looking for solutions, we really should be looking at the causes. The majority of them tend to be environmental, which means changes to our lifestyle, including a balanced diet, work, relationships, and early life experience, and so on.  

What is a balanced diet?
There is a famous quote from Michael Pollan, “Eat real food, not too often, mostly plants.” I would add lots of fish. In terms of nutrition, it is best to stay away from refined sugar, consume less meat and fats, and have enough vegetables and proteins from other sources.

However, diet is an entirely individual thing. We all recognise that each of us reacts to food in different ways and there are various views about what proper nutrition is around the world. At the end of the day, a balanced diet also means eating what you love, what feeds your soul and what makes you happy, but in moderation.

What is the consequence of eating too much sugar for men?
Problems occur when you consume too much added or refined sugar – sugar that food manufacturers add to products to increase flavour or extend shelf life. The effects of added sugar intake vary from acne, cellular ageing, higher blood pressure, inflammation, weight gain, diabetes, and fatty liver, which are all linked to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

But fat is needed also for the body to function properly so how to balance it?
There are good fats and bad fats; know the difference and you’re good to go. Hydrogenated oils like corn oil and sunflower oil should be avoided as they create inflammation and raise the levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides in the blood. Instead, we recommend using good unsaturated fats like olive oils, fish oils and avocado oil. These have been used for centuries as a source of energy and have been found to be healthy

What are the imbalances that can lead to health issues for men?
It is evident that an imbalanced diet can lead to all sorts of health issues like weight gain, cardiovascular diseases, and fertility issues among others. Lack of exercise is a cause of health deterioration, especially in men, as they have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. At the same time, excessive exercise has many negative consequences like an increase in stress hormones and risk of muscle loss, injury, and fatigue. Hormonal dysfunction, such as high prolactin levels directly affects the pituitary gland function, while excessive exercise can also lower testosterone levels.

What are the main hormones that men need to check?
Men and women have the same hormones, but in different levels, although men’s hormones do not fluctuate the way female hormones do. The main hormones in men that need to monitor are testosterone (the main male hormone), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinising hormone (LH). LH stimulates the testes to produce testosterone, and testosterone in turn controls FSH to stimulate the production of sperm. Prolactin, when present in high levels, can cause low sex drive and indicate pituitary tumours, excessive exercise and kidney diseases. Oestrogen, a feminine hormone, is also present in men, called oestradiol. High levels of oestradiol can cause erectile dysfunction and affect normal sperm production.

How often should men check their hormones?
Men should check their hormones at least once a year. However, you may notice some changes in your life and that can make the decision for you. Get checked when you notice a loss of sex drive, feeling down, experiencing low energy and motivation, unexplained weight loss or weight gain, acne in older age, increased hair loss, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and loss of libido. These may all indicate hormonal instability or disturbances. It’s best to check hormone levels early in the morning when they are at their peak.

What are the other consequences of low testosterone levels?
Low levels can lead to premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction and low libido. Remedies for such conditions include natural supplements and medications like testosterone replacement therapy, and medication. Any remedies need to be closely monitored by a doctor as some of them can lead to heart and blood pressure issues. However, testosterone is not limited to sexual performance; low levels can cause belly fat, mood swings, irritability, lack of interest, fatigue, high blood sugar, and palpitations.

What is your opinion of steroids?
Steroid use is illegal in the region without a prescription. The reason is clear – using steroids without a prescription has multiple potential issues. There are so many reasons to question this decision in the absence of a qualified medical practitioner.

Can you tell us more about male menopause?
Also called andropause, it’s a decrease in testosterone levels that often occurs as

men get older. However, testosterone isn’t the entire solution. As men, we experience multiple other changes: hair loss, erectile dysfunction, going grey and general ageing. It is essential to take care of physical and mental health as men age, including having a thorough exercise plan and a healthy diet.

Men really should lift weights as they age!

Men can also use supplements and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as potential solutions for those experiencing a decrease in testosterone. Hormones have an impact on the prostate hence maintaining healthy hormone levels to prevent benign prostatic hyperplasia (the need to get up at night to go to the washroom) and prostate cancer.

This article appeared in Issue 002 – the Men’s Edition