Saw Palmetto, is it worth it?

I was recently asked by a male client if I thought him taking the supplement Saw Palmetto was good idea. My answer to him was yes, and that pretty much any male over the age of 30, should take saw palmetto.

You see as we age, testosterone levels decline. One reason why this occurs is because of the overactivity of an enzyme known as 5-alpha reductase. This enzyme binds with testosterone and converts it into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This process not only lowers the amount of testosterone in the body, it also contributes to both the benign (BPH) and malignant (cancer) growth of the prostate gland.

Pharmaceutical companies have already capitalized on this biological fact by producing a class of drugs which inhibit 5-alpha reductase activity, essentially blocking the conversion of testosterone to DHT. Examples of these drugs are Proscar or Propecia, and Avodart. Unfortunately according to a number of health advocates, these drugs come with a significant set of risks, including get this, increasing your risk of developing prostate cancer.

Now how does saw palmetto factor into this equation? Unlike the pharmaceutical drugs mentioned above, saw palmetto is a natural source of blocking conversion of testosterone to DHT.

According to Dr. Rudi Moerck, drug industry insider and an expert in chemistry, the medical literature contains as many as 100 clinical studies on saw palmetto. (Incidentally one of the first prostate drugs on the US market was actually saw palmetto, released by Eli Lilly Company back in the early 1870s.)

He says:
"The mechanism of action of saw palmetto is not fully clear. We are certainly not making any drug claims, but the anecdotal evidence suggests that there is a reduction in the conversion of testosterone into the dihydrotestosterone, and therefore, men that take saw palmetto will have slightly higher levels of testosterone in their body…That's a good thing...

It turns out that if you don't have enough testosterone in your body it can cause all kinds of problems like gaining weight, breast enlargement in men, and problem with urinating. So saw palmetto alone, or with pumpkin seed or lycopene is an interesting proposition … It's something that you should definitely try."

Additionally, research done by The National Library of Medicine shows that saw palmetto may have therapeutic benefits over pharmaceutical 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, alleviating symptoms far beyond that of simply an enlarged prostate:

• Androgenic Alopecia (Hair Loss)
• Prostate Cancer
• Low Testosterone
• Chronic Prostatitis

Of course before you start taking any supplement, I encourage to check with your Doctor, and in this case be sure to have your testosterone levels tested to see if they are in fact below normal. I hope you found this information useful. Stay fit and well family.

Naturally Boosting Testosterone

Testosterone is a hormone found in both males and females. As we age, testosterone production slows down and the body has a decrease in the amount of free testosterone that is available in the bloodstream. This can cause us to lose muscle mass, gain weight, have a lowered sex drive, clinical depression, and a host of other issues. However, do note that there are several ways to increase your testosterone levels naturally, which in turn can help you look and feel better as we you age. Below you can find 5 ways to naturally increase your testosterone levels.

1) Lift Heavy & Basic
Incorporate basic movements that involve several muscle groups in your training routine. Great compound movements are barbell squats, dead lifts, and military presses. These basic core exercises have been shown to play an important role in testosterone levels. Make sure to train with high intensity for short periods of time. Your overall weight training workout should not last longer than 60 minutes. Train hard and get out of the gym to let your muscles recuperate and grow!

2) Sleep Well
If you are not getting enough sleep the body is not recuperating well, which causes less testosterone and more corticosteroids to be released. FYI corticosteroids like cortisol are in fact catabolic hormones meaning they use up muscle tissue to provide the brain and the heart with energy. Sleep has a tremendous impact on testosterone levels. Your testosterone levels can plummet 40% down by having poor sleep quality. Focus on getting 8-9 hours of sleep per night for optimal rest and recuperation.

3) Watch The Alcohol
I know it is easier said than done. But did you know that alcohol has the property to inhibit your ability to remove estrogen from the blood stream by acting as a central nervous system depressant and also by decreasing zinc levels. Alcohol should be avoided when trying to increase testosterone levels. FYI healthy normal men, consuming reasonable amounts of alcoholic drink, experience a 20% drop in their serum levels of testosterone, in women its worse, since they already have higher levels of estrogen.

4) Eat More Fat
Fats are used by the body create cholesterol, which is one of the ingredients used to make hormones such as testosterone. Be sure to consume the right amount of polyunsaturated fats (omega 3 fish oil), saturated fats found in organic meats such as beef, chicken, turkey, and monounsaturated fats found in avocados, nuts seeds, olives and other plant sources.

5) Don't Over Train
Always allow your body to recuperate adequately between your workout sessions. If you don't, your circulating testosterone levels can plunge by as much as 40 PERCENT as was discovered by studies performed at the University of North Carolina. The symptoms of over training are easy to diagnose: irritability, insomnia, muscle shrinkage and an overall feeling of fatigue. To avoid over training, make sure you rest at least 48 hours between muscle groups and sleep a full 8-9 hours per night.

Stay fit and well family.